Age Is Just A Number

Chapter 24 Happy Ever After, Or Not...

'Peyton was smiling big, as she got out of her car. Even thou she had just spent the last seven hours at school, bored out of her mind. She just couldn't wait to get home. Lucas and Peyton had decided last night that Lucas was going to move in with her and Brooke, So he could be there for all the mood swings, and cravings, and whatever else comes with being pregnant. She opened the door, still smiling, as she noticed a couple of box's here and there. She wasn't to sure he was even home. Till she heard a noise for the bedroom.

"Hey babe' Lucas greeted.

She smiled. 'Hey you.' She looked him up and down, sniffing the air 'Have you even had a shower today' she asked as she walked through their bedroom door.

Scratching the back of his head, he boldly said "no". He stuck out his tongue and grinned. He reached out for her hand and pulled her in for a hug 'I've missed you, how was school?"

'I've missed you too' she replied. "Same as always, expect, I don't have that good-looking basketball coach to flirt with anymore." They had also decided that Lucas was going to quit coaching at Tree Hill, for now at least, while Peyton was a student there. They still aren't to sure what going to happen in the future. Where she wants to go to college or if she wants to wait. All she really knows is that Lucas will be with her no matter what she decides.

He inhaled her scent and planted a soft kiss in her curls. "Aww, I'm sorry baby, I miss flirting with you to, But I could get use to you coming home to me everyday." He smiled, as he lean down to kiss her. Both smiling brightly, as the broke away.

Peyton closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him tighter. They just stood there for a few minutes, taking in each other's presence.

They broke apart and went to sit on the chair. Peyton sat sideways on his lap, her head resting on his chest 'So what are we watching?'

'I really don't know, I was just flipping through channels.!' He said animatedly

"Okay, you're crazy."

"Just about you baby" He said, as he kissed her sweetly

Together they watched the rest of the whatever he was watching. Peyton didn't really care, as Luke held her close, stroking her arm softly up and down. Sometimes she feels like she is living in her own little happy ever after world. She was in love and engaged to amazing man, and carrying his child. What more could she want. For someone who never really believed in love, was sure in the hell happy she took a chance with Lucas.

"Where you going?" Lucas asked, as she stood up

"The bathroom, this baby of ours keeps me going like every twenty minutes or so"

Lucas just smiled, as he watched her walk out of their room. There was nothing more sweeter than to hear her talk about their baby. He got up to and, walk to the kitchen. He was putting away the dishes, with Peyton walked in.

"I could get use to this" She said, as she lean up against the door frame.

"What?"

"You cleaning for me and cooking for me. It's kinda nice." She said, in her sweet voice

"I told you, I would do anything for you." He said, as he walked over towards her. "And our baby." he whispered, as he bend down, just enough to kiss her stomach. "Daddy, loves you."

Comments like that make Peyton Heart swell, "Your to cute, you know that?" She said, as he stood back up facing her.

"And you are just so beautiful." He said, in the most husky voice. "Daddy, loves Mommy to, so damn much."

"That's good, because Baby and mommy, love daddy to, very, very much."

Lucas reached out to move a strand of hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. He brought his hand to her cheek and cupped it pulling her close.

Her mouth opened up, allowing him to slip his tongue inside and stroke hers. After what seemed like an eternity of duelling, they broke apart. His hands now roaming every inch of her body. Taking in every curve and raise before him. Even her little baby bump, that he loved so much.

'Lucas" she purr, as his lips attacked her neck.

"Hmm."

"Baby, we can't do this."

"Yes we can"

"No we can't" she said, as she pushed him away.

"We could go in the bedroom, if your afraid Brooke is going to walk in."

"No Brooke isn't going to walk in, she is actually with Chase for the night.. And speaking of Brooke and Chase, there's something I have to tell you."

"What?" He asked, as he wrapped his arms tighter around her.

"Um...I kinda made plans with them tonight"

"Okay, what are we doing?" He asked, as he rested his forehead against hers.

"We are going to dinner." She said, then bit her lip. Lucas raised his eye brow at her, Knowing there was more. She just wasn't saying

"And?"

"We're going to have dinner with Brooke and Chase, and..." She took a short pause. "And Nathan and Haley" she whispered, looking down at the floor.

"What?" Lucas asked, Wondering if he heard what he thought he heard.

Peyton closed her eyes, taking a moment. "Nathan called me thi...

"Nathan who?" he asked, interrupting her

"Lucas, you know who, I'm talking about"

"Why?"

"Look, Nathan called me this morning and, asked if you and I would join him and Haley tonight at their house for a little dinner party. Brooke and Chase will be there."

"You told him yes?" Clearly he was shocked

"Yes I did, I like Nathan, he seems really sweet, and I want to get to know Haley."

"Haley is trying to break us up Peyton, Did you forget the whole Lindsey and Joshua thing?"

"No, Lucas, I didn't forget about your ex-wife and you're son" How could she forget it all she can ever think about anymore. She closed her eyes trying to keep herself calm.

"Peyton," Lucas said, in a low voice. He knew she was upset,

"Look Lucas, I want to be accepted, by your family. I want our baby to have an aunt and uncle. "

"It will, Brooke and Chase"

"And Nathan and Haley." She said, locking eyes with him. "Rather you like it all not"

"Peyton, Baby, Haley is up to something. If we go tonight, something is going to happen."

"You don't know that"

"Yes I do, I know Haley and she doesn't want me with you. She wants me with Lindsey, Lindsey is her best friend. She was so pissed of when I filed for divorce, that she wouldn't even let me in her house for like two months. "

"I know, Nathan told me. But Nathan said that the dinner was Haley's idea because, she felt so bad for everything that happen. And Lindsey will not be there. I asked. Haley just wants to make things right."

"Whatever" He walked over to the window in looked out. "This dinner is a really, really, bad idea Peyton. "

She closed her eyes for a moment again. "Lucas, I already told Nathan that we will be there."

"Well, call him back and tell him. We aren't coming." He said, still looking out the window

"I'm not doing that, We are going"

"The hell we are." Lucas yelled, as he turn to face her.

"Excuse me?" she said in an annoyed tone raising one eyebrow and crossing her arms in a defensive position; she hated people telling her what to do.

"We are not going!" he said matter-of-factly.

Noticing her pissy body language which he thought was bratty because he only had her well-being in mind.

"Fine you don't want to go, then don't. I'm going" She said, using the same tone as he was.

"No you're not, " he said, as he walked over towards her. "Dammit Peyton why are you acting like this. You know how Haley is, I've told you over and over. Don't you trust me?" He asked, as he eyeball her, not one to step down from a staring match.

Peyton could feel her blood boiling making her face increasingly redder as Lucas continued acting like a jackass. She crossed her arms tighter and being the stubborn girl she was gave him the deadliest evil stare; if looks could kill Lucas would be six feet under.

"First off, I trusted you with my life, you know that you jackass. Secondly, Don't you ever tell me what I can and. can't do. Do you hear me? I'm not to sure how things worked with you and Lindsey, But I'll be damn before I let you start ordering me around. I'm my own person Lucas, If you haven't realized that yet. Then I don't even know why we are together. "

"Peyton, I..."

"No, Lucas, you don't get it. This dinner means a lot to me." She cried. "I'm going, I really don't give a damn what you do. but I'm going" she said, as she walked back to their bedroom. Clearly her happy ever after, wasn't suppose to last long.

"Fine," he huffed and stormed off out of the apartment trying to put as much distance between them as possible. He knew what this dinner meant to her, but he couldn't help, but have this feeling that something was going to happen tonight, Haley is up to something.