Hey guys, I wasn't going to update this story for awhile, but I just realized that I got 202 reviews, none of my stories have ever hit the 200 mark. So thank you for all the reviews, And especially to Brookelover22, who just readied my story in review every chapter, that means so much to me, you are the reason I hit the 200 mark, thanks for that.

I'm working on chapter 4, of my new story Beside you through it all, I haven't watched the new OTH yet, I did dvr it so I will probably watch it this weekend, then I will update that story.

Anyways here is chapter 16, hope you enjoy.


Age Is Just A Number

Chapter 16 Letting Go, and Keeping Secrets.

Peyton finally fell asleep, after three hours of crying on Brooke's shoulder. Brooke was still awake, wondered how they both ended up this way. The used to spend their days flirting, cheering, and laughing. But now they both are nursing broken hearts, She wasn't to should how to fix hers, but she was determined to fix Peyton's. She knew that the connect between her in Luke, was deeper than anything she has ever witnessed.

She was almost out, when her cell went off, "Now who?" she wondered, as she reached for her phone. She bit her lip, as Lucas name flashed on the screen. She looked to make sure Peyton was still, asleep, then slowly got up off the bed.

"Hello" she whispered, as she step out of her room, trying not to wake Peyton.

"Brooke, hey it Lucas...

"I know, who it is, why are you calling me?"

"Brooke, I know Peyton is with you, I really want to talk to her"

"Peyton's not here," She lied,

"Yes, she is, Brooke, I know her, and she is upset, in we both know how she likes to run when things get hard. So that's how I know she is there, you're her best friend, she always turns to you"

Brooke closed her eyes for a moment, "Fine, Lucas she is here, but no you can't talk to her"

"Please Brooke, I need to tell he...

"Lucas, no she just shown up on my door step crying, and she is sleeping now, I'm not going to wake her. I will tell her you called" Brooke said, as she went to hang up but his voice stopped her.

"I'm in LA"

"What" she said, with disbelief.

"I'm in LA, I'm at the airport, I just realized that I didn't know where you live, so that's why I'm calling, So please tell me your address, I really need to see Peyton" he begged, his voice was low and full of emotion.

Brooke was shocked that he actually chased after her. He really did love her, she wondered why Chase wasn't man enough like Lucas, to chase after her. Oh that's right he didn't love her enough.


Peyton woke looking around the room, wondering where she was, Then reality come back to her, she was at Brooke's and, Lucas was a dad, She really wished it was all a dream, She slowly climbs out of Brooke's bed in search of her best friend.

"Hey" Peyton said, as she found her best friend sitting in the living room.

"Hey," Brooke said, as she moved over so she could sit beside her, "how did you sleep?" knowing she only slept and hour.

"OK, I guess, I woke thinking it was a dream, but I guess it isn't huh?"

"No, it not sweetie, this doesn't change anything between you two. You both love each other, right"

"Yeah I love him so much and, I know that he loves me, but he is a father and I don't know how to handle that."

"Well, you really don't know if the baby is his, and if it is Peyton, it shouldn't change how you feel, he loves you not Lindsey" Brooke try to assure her, "Hell you are hundred percent prettier then that Lindsey bitch"

Peyton just smile, "You don't even know what she looks like"

"I don't give a damn what she looks like, no one is hotter or sexier than me and my best friend" she laughed, as Peyton shook her head,

"Who could that be" Peyton asked, as there was a knock on the door, Brooke just give her a weak smile, before saying, "I did this because I love you and I want you to be happy." then she went to answer the door. Peyton watched confusedly, wondering what she was up to, she heard Brooke say come on in, she is in the living room."

"Hi" Lucas said, as he walked in the room Peyton was in.

Peyton's eyes widen at the sight of him, "Hi" she whispered, "what are you doing here?" she asked, as she stood up.

"I needed to talk to you," He said, as he took a couple of steps towards her. "I needed to see you"

"Lucas...

"Don't Peyton, I'm not going anywhere, till I talk to you, " He said, in a serious tone. They locket eyes, as there was another knock on the door.

"Now who is that" Brooke questioned, as she walked back to the door. "Chase, what are you doing here?"

"My mom didn't want Luke to be alone, so I followed him" He said, looked down at the floor.

Brooke was disappoint, she was kinda hoping he was here for the some reason Lucas was. "Come in" she said, in a bitter tone.

"Brooke can we go somewhere in talk, please" Chase asked, once he was inside, his eyes gazing her body, a body that he missed so much.

"Why?" She asked, as she try to hide the blush, that appear once she noticed he was checking her out. " I really don't think that's a good idea."

"I really need to talk to you, Please. " he begged,

She looked at him for a moment, "fine, you get five minute " she glared at him, " follow me" she said, as she walked away.


Back in the living room, Lucas and Peyton continued to stare at each other. Lucas was the first to break the silenced. "I'm sorry"

"Lucas, it not your fault, you had no idea that they were going to show up" She said, as she wrapped her arms around herself.

He walked over to her, standing right in front of her. "Peyt, I love you, please believe that, I really didn't know about the baby."

"I believe you, I seen the shocked look on your face I know you would have never kept something like that from me. I'm sorry I ran, I didn't really know what to do or to say"

He smiled, as he pulled her to him, "I don't blame you for running, hell I probably would run to, if my legs weren't numb." he teased, she smiled at him, "If you are going to be a real couple, then you can't run every time something happens, I want to be there for you when your scared, or confused, upset, angry, whatever, And I hope you would be there for me to," He said, as he lifted her chin. " I promise, we will get through this." he said, as kissed her forehead.

"Are we going to get through this?" she was having doubts now, she hated herself for it.


Brooke sat on the bed, staring at the floor, Chase paced back in forth, "Look you wanted to talk so talk already" she said, bitterly

"I'm sorry"

"your sorry" she repeated, looking at him

"Brooke, I really like you a lot, but everything was getting so out of hand, and it scared me. Nathan said that..."

"Nathan,, I knew he was the reason for all this" she said, cutting him off, She stands up. "I'm young, I know, but that shouldn't change anything, Look at Peyton and Luke. Luke was man enough to stand up to Nathan and Haley, he even introduce her to your mom, Because he loves her, and he wanted everyone to know, that their say didn't count."She took a deep breath. "I guess I thought you and I were soul mates, but I was wrong huh?"

"I'm sorry, I lead you to believe we were anything more than sex." he looked down at the floor, afraid of seeing the hurt in her eyes, "We had fun while it lasted, but Brooke you and I were never written in the stars."

Brooke closed her eyes, trying to hold back the tears, "Yeah, I realized that now, I just wished I realized that soon, before I gave you my heart," she said, as she walked past him, Leaving him alone in the room, to question what the hell he just did.


"Yes Peyton, we are going to get through this, If Josh is my son, then I will do what I have to do, But I don't love Lindsey anymore she is my past, you are my future"

"I know that you love me Lucas, and I love you so so much" she said, as she plays with the buttons on his shirt. "But are lives are going to change, if Josh is yours and I'm not sure if I can be in this relationship anymore," she told him, as she pulled away from him.

"Peyton, no you can't do this to me" he was angry, he run his hand through his hair. " Please, baby.."

"Look, Lucas I don't want to end this with you, I really don't, but...

"Then don't, Peyton please don't do this" he interupped her, he pulls her to him. " I love you" he eyes tear up

"I'm going to stay here in LA for a few more days, and you need to go back to Tree Hill, and figure out what you want and stuff." she wouldn't look at him. if she did she would have seen the tears in his eyes.

"Your what I want, I want you with me in Tree Hill," He couldn't believe she was doing this, "Peyton I know your scared, but...

"Yes I'm scared, Dammit Lucas, I love you and I don't want to lose you, but you have a child now, and that changes everything." she said, as she starts to cry.

"But why? Peyton a lot of people have children with someone else, and still have relationship with other people. And besides you don't even know if the baby is mine yet"

"Yes he is Lucas, he looks just like you he has your nose, your eyes, he is your son. Lindsey has given you the one thing that I wanted to give you."

"What are you talking about?" He was getting more confused by the second now.

She pulled away from him. She walked over to the window, "You have given me so much Lucas, and I thought that I could pay you back for everything you have done for me. " she took a deep breath. "Last week, when I was so moody over Brooke leaving, well that wasn't the only reason."

"What was the other reason?" he walked over to her pulling her to him. so that her back was against his chest. "Peyton, what's wrong? tell me." he said, as he kissed her temple

"They say that every man cherishes his first-born, and I wanted that for us. I wanted to give you the one thing no one else has ever given you, and now I can't"

Lucas turn her so now she was facing him. "Baby, I really don't understand where this is going, and what this means."

"Lindsey give you the only true gift that ever man wants, She give you a baby, a son, and now I feel like my dreams with you are gone."

"Peyton"

"You loved her first, you married her first, and now she gave you a child first, There is really nothing left for me to give you," she looked down at her shaking hands, "I think it best if we take some time apart, I have a lot to figure out, and you need to go back, for your son."

Lucas just stood there, his arms dropped to his side, he couldn't move or speak, He looked at her one more time, "Okay, I go back for my son" he said, as sighed, he wanted to say more to her, but deep now he understood why she was scared, "But I'm coming back for you, I love you Peyton, and no matter how much you push me away, I will kept fighting, because you mean the world to me," He said, then walked over to her in kissed her like it has been years since there last kiss. "I'll be see ya Peyton" he said, before he walked away, leaving her speechless this time. H e then turn around as he reached the door, " And Peyton, there is still something you could give me, that Lindsey could never give me " she didn't respond just looked at him " A future with you, a family, and your heart. "


Brooke who heard the last part of their conversation, walked back into the living room. Once Chase and Lucas were both gone. "Hey, you okay" she asked, as she wrapped her arm around her shoulder.

"No, I got something to tell you Brooke"

"I got something to tell you to Peyt"

Both girls share a little nervous smiles, "You go first" Brooke said, she was thinking Peyton's news wasn't going to be as big as hers.

"Well, I really can't believe this, but I went to the doctor last week after you left, and I'm...Pregnant" she whispered, the last part. It was still a shock to her. Brooke's eyes widen

"Seriously,?"

"Yeah, eight weeks"

"I can't believe this, you and me both pregnant, expect I'm ten weeks, who would have guess, th...

"Your pregnant?" Peyton asked, interrupting Brooke's rumple,

"Oh, sorry," totally forgetting she hasn't told her yet. "Yeah, I found out before I left, I wanted to tell you Peyt, I just needed the news to settle in first."

"Wow." Peyton said, after a moment of silent. "You know this is kinda funny" she laughed, as Brooke give her a confused look. "We always said, we want to get married together and be pregnant at the same time. Well we are pregnant"

"Yeah," Brooke laughed, "Yeah we are. and are kids are going to be cousins" Peyton just smiled, at that thought.

A few moments later, as both girls took in each others news, "Brooke, we have to go back home" Peyton said, as she thought about Lucas.

"I know, I know peyt, let's enjoy a few days together, before we go adding drama to the Scott family" Brooke teased, as Peyton nodded, she knew this would not go over smoothly with that family, especially Haley, but a part of couldn't wait to tell Lindsey.