Lucas walked out onto the front porch, rubbish in hand. He halted in his task as he took in the woman standing on the path leading down to the sidewalk.

'Mum' He breathed out, setting the binliner down. 'What, what're you doing here?'

'Lucas' Karen Roe smiled sadly, regretfully.

He was taken aback to say the least. He'd not seen his mother in a long while. She'd been travelling when this all started, she'd been stuck on a boat in the middle of the Atlantic and unable to get back and when she did Lucas was in prison and wouldn't see her. He couldn't. Everyone else he loved, discluding his daughter, had doubted him at some point and he couldn't handle seeing that doubt in his mother's face too. So he'd refused to see her. Ignored her letters, ignored her pleas to talk to him.

Karen took the few paces over to him and wrapped her arms around him fiercely. 'My boy' She exhaled, relief seeping through her voice as she clung to him. She had him in her arms at long last. 'Lucas'

He hugged her back and for a second he felt like a young child again, gaining the strength he needed to get through the day by cocooning himself in his mother's arms. 'Mum' He tried not to cry but the tears were inevitable. She pulled back and cupped his face.

'It's so good to see you'

He inhaled sharply and nodded.

'You're so stupid' She scolded, referring to his refusal to see her.

'I thought, I thought you probably thought I was crazy like everyone else' He mustered, avoiding her eyes.

'Crazy? Lucas, you're my son. I know you're not capable of murder' She exclaimed. 'I've never doubted you'

He knew that wasn't entirely true though. She had doubted him in the past. She'd doubted him when it came to his father. She'd not believed him when he'd told her the name of the evil man responsible for his uncles death.

'Not for a second did I believe that you hurt her' Karen declared sternly, as if reading his thoughts. She gripped him tightly. 'Never'

He nodded again and they both walked over to the swing seat on the porch.

'Where's Peyton?' She asked softly as they sat down.

'Inside, she's putting Sawyer down for a nap' Karen smiled. She'd heard all about her new grand-daughter from Haley 'Sawyer's a beautiful name'

He nodded with a smile of his own. 'She'll love you mum, you'll love her'

'I can't wait to meet her. How's my other grand-daughter?'

'She seems happier every day' That fact alone made him insanely happy himself. Erin deserved happiness.

'What about Peyton?'

He looked up from his hands. 'She's, she's getting there'

'And you?'

'I'm, I'm coping'

Karen took his hand. 'Honey, you can speak to me'

He concentrated on just breathing. In and out. In and out. 'I, I'm pretending I'm fine but I, I'm not coping that well I don't think' He shrugged a shoulder. 'I, I just can't stop thinking. I want to make everything go away for her. She's, she's doing so well considering but I want to be able to just erase everything that's happened, everything he did to her' He shook his head. 'We're meant to be going to the prison later. She wants to see him, I'm not sure I'm okay with that'.

'I know it's not remotely the same situation but when I found out the truth about your father, about what he'd done to Keith, I needed to see him. I went and saw him'

'You did?'

'Yes' Karen squeezed his hand, hoping to instill some reassurance into the broken man that looked so very much like a young boy right now. 'It helped, telling him what I thought, I don't think I could've let go if I hadn't'

'I get that. I do. It's just this man spent months hurting her, I don't want her to ever have to deal with being near that again'

'I know Lucas. I know. But she won't be alone. That's the difference. She has her husband'

'She should have always had her husband to protect her'

'Don't you ever blame yourself, it's not your fault'

'It doesn't matter, I wasn't there when my wife needed me, you can't even imagine how it feels, to have let her down'

'I know how it feels'

Lucas met her eyes.'I feel it every day, for letting you down'

'You never-'

'I wasn't here. I should have been here when this all happened' She wrapped her arms around him again. 'I'm sorry I wasn't here, I'm sorry you were so alone, I'm sorry I can't fix this for you' She kissed his forehead and let her hand linger on his cheek. 'You're going to get through this'.

'Karen' Peyton whispered, startling them both.

'Sweetie' Karen's eyes stung with tears. 'Oh darling' She was quick to her feet and across the porch, her arms around her daughter-in-law.

Peyton melted into her hug. This was the only mother figure she'd had since she was sixteen and she'd always adored her and relished in playing daughter.

'It's so good to have you in my arms' Karen exhaled unconsciously. 'How're you doing?' She pulled back abruptly, her hands cupping Peyton's face, ardently searching her green eyes.

'I'm fine'

Karen couldn't prevent the small smile that curled her lips. 'Of course you are' She nodded confidently. 'You're going to be just fine' She slid her hand into Peyton's. 'I'm so glad you're both okay' She brought Peyton's hand up to her mouth and left a sweet kiss there. 'Why don't you two take me inside so I can see my two beautiful grandchildren?' She changed the subject suddenly, intent on swallowing back her tears.

Lucas got to his feet, and led the way. He never thought he could feel so uplifted by his mother's presence but her just being here made him certain everything was going to be okay.

'Luke' Peyton stopped walking as they approached the prison gates.

'You okay?'

She smiled softly. 'I'm fine. Are you okay?' She fired back.

'I'm fine'

She furrowed her brow. 'Luke this is where you were kept for over a year, are you sure you want to go in there?' She asked gently. It angered her immensely that he'd been punished for something so ridiculous, for something completely fictional, for something he'd never be capable of doing.

He rubbed her arm. 'I don't care. I'm coming in there with you' He made to cross the threshold but she stopped him.

'Lucas' She looked down, chewing on the inside of her mouth. 'I heard you earlier'

He waited for her to elaborate.

'Talking to your mum' She gingerly looked up. 'You said you didn't want me to do this'.

He shamefully met her gaze. He didn't know what to say. She was right. He had huge doubts over whether this was going to be beneficial to anyone.

'I need to do this though' She uttered. 'For me and you. None of this is your fault Lucas and it, it hurts that you think you've let me down' Her hand drifted to his face. 'You haven't' She proclaimed sternly. 'You haven't'

'I should have-'

'You couldn't have done anything. I know if you could've you would have. He, he had it all planned and I need him to see it didn't work, that I'm not his. I need to do this for Grace' Her eyes didn't leave his for a second, she stared unblinking into his irises of blue. 'I know this is hard for you but I need you Luke' She brushed her lips over his in reassurance. There heads lingered together and she whispered those three little words. 'I love you'

'I love you' He professed back, holding her for a moment. 'I'm not going anywhere'

It was strange, returning here. As they were led through the reception, it felt like it had been years, not months since Lucas had been held here. It felt bizarre being a visitor, being the innocent citizen and not the inmate. The guards nodded at him and patted his back and in some weird way Lucas was comforted by all these familiar faces. They were given special treatment, they were pandered over in every possible way.

'We're just having Ian moved into a visiting room as we speak. We have high security here so there's nothing for you to worry about'

Lucas wanted to tell him that they needn't go into detail over the prison's facilities. He was well accustomed to the way everything worked.

'I'm afraid I can't permit you to accompany Peyton in there though Lucas'

Lucas' eyes narrowed. 'What?'

'After what happened in Louisiana-'

'What happened in Louisiana?' Peyton interrupted. Lucas let out a heavy breath. 'Luke?'

'Your husband paid a little visit to Mr Banks, giving a false identity'

'Luke' She exhaled. She didn't need anyone to tell her what had happened. She didn't yell, she just rested her head against his chest.

'I don't want you going in there by yourself Peyt' He blurted.

'I won't be by myself, there'll be a security guards'

'There's a double way mirror, you can watch everything' The officer informed him.

'See' She whispered gently. 'You can watch'

Peyton followed the police officer down the narrow corridor. She wasn't scared to see him, or so she kept telling herself. Nothing could happen to her, she knew that logically. But she was scared. Her stomach was in knots and her hands were clammy. It wasn't so much that she was frightened of what he was going to say or do, she'd already endured the worst of his abuse. She was more alarmed about the fact that her husband was on the other side of the wall, watching.

She need him there, she really, really needed him there but at the same time she wanted to protect him from the things she knew were going to be said. She wanted to protect him from this world she'd lived in. She wanted him to be free of Ian Banks.

She knew there wasn't a chance in hell that she'd be able to convince him to just wait outside though. He needed this as much as she did.

'Ok Mrs Scott, here we are. Are you ready?' The officer smiled sympathetically and she took an obvious deep breath and nodded. 'You'll be just fine. I'm going to be right in there with you and there's more officers on stand by. You're safe'

'I know' She forced a smile and the door was opened.

Her shoes sounded noisily against the hard floor and the bright lights reflected in the two way mirror that ran across the far wall.

The second he came into her vision she stiffened. 　

He smiled. It was familiar and more repulsive than ever.

He looked different. His usual well groomed appearance was gone, his hair a mess and his eyes wild.

'Sweetheart' He stood and moved to make physical contact but the guard was in front of her before he had a chance.

'There'll be no touching banks. You keep to your side of the table. Understood?'

She watched him struggle to contain himself. She watched his fingers flex within his restraints, watched his hands form fists.

'Darling, tell him it's okay'

She licked her dry lips and took a shaky breath. 'No, it, it's not okay. There'll be no touching' She announced bravely.

His eyes narrowed and she watched his confidence falter. She wasn't meant to say that. She was meant to do as she was told.

He sat down and masked his anger with that smile.

'I knew you'd come. I knew you'd see sense eventually'

The guard pulled the other seat out for her and she gingerly sat down, making sure not to venture too close to the table.

'You've come to get me out and we'll go back home with Sawyer. Where's Sawyer?'

'She's already at her home Ian'

He laughed. He laughed uncontrollably. 'Are you back in that house with him? You've taken her to fucking Tree Hill?'

'Yes' She answered surprisingly evenly. 'She's where she belongs'

'She belongs with me. She's mine. You're mine. You belong with me'

'She's not yours' She'd never seen the expression that was quick to form on his face. She'd never seen hurt invade his eyes and she hated that she delighted in the evident pain he was feeling. A quick thrill surged through her.

'She's Lucas' I was Pregnant, I was already pregnant' She enlightened him. His face twisted. 'You'll have it in front of you on paper in court. We've done a paternity test so you can see for yourself.'

His jaw clenched.

'You slut'

Lucas stood on the other side of the wall, his hands pressed against the screen dividing him from his wife. 'That's it, I want her out of there' Lucas snapped. 'Now'

'Mr Scott, Peyton's in control. The second she wants out she just has to say, she knows that'

Lucas gritted his teeth when Ian spoke again.

'He's here isn't he. He's watching right now isn't he?' Ian looked directly into the mirror. 'He put you up to this.'

'Put me up to this? He didn't want me to be here. Lucas is here, he's here because he loves me'

'He doesn't love you, I love you'

He stood up and Peyton was quick to follow suit, anxiously edging back. He didn't approach her though. He walked over to the screen and smiled.

Lucas could almost feel the hot breaths that were hitting the perspex, leaving a misty shadow of dirt behind.

'Hi Lucas' Ian snarled. 'Did you enjoy the video I sent you, cause I've got plenty more if you're interested'

Lucas was out the confined room in a second. He didn't hear the demands that were being fired at him from the assisting officers. He threw back the adjoining door, almost pulling it off it's hinges.

Ian was no longer standing by the screen. The guard was holding him and Peyton was too close for comfort.

'I'm going to court and I'm going to tell the truth. You're going to prison for everything you did to me, you're going to prison for killing Grace'

Ian laughed then. 'For everything I did to you? Sweetheart, I've done nothing but love you and you know that'

'I don't love you' She looked directly at him. She said it clearly, strongly, certainly. She turned then, well aware of Lucas' presence. She held her hand out and didn't look back. Lucas' fingers gripped hers tightly as he fort the urge to cross the room and make sure no words ever escaped Ian Banks mouth again. 'Take me home' His need to pummel his fist into Ian's dismayed face diminished with her plea. 'Take me home'

'Shh' Lucas hushed his daughters. Sawyer imitated her father and Erin giggled and he couldn't help but laugh right back.

Peyton opened one eye, spying on the three figures, not so subtly, standing in the doorway.

'Erin why don't I carry them'

'I wanna'

'I know but careful you're going to drop them'

Peyton could hear their whispers and shifted beneath the warm bed sheets. 'What's going on?' She murmured.

'Good Morning!' They all cheered, Erin skipped into the room, Sawyer toddling behind with Lucas.

Peyton shuffled upright in the bed, her eyebrows looking toward the ceiling as she took in the huge bunch of flowers.

'Happy, Happy' Erin paused in thought. 'Happy morning!' She decided on, thrusting the assorted bouquet into her mother's arms.

'Wow, these are beautiful' Peyton exclaimed, eying the array of pink, red and greens.

'Me and Daddy and Sawyer went into town and we had breakfast in a cafe and I had a huge pancake with chocolate sauce and Sawyer got it all round her mouth and then on the way back we picked you flowers and it was my idea' Erin rambled. Peyton laughed at her, she'd certainly become more talkative in the last few weeks.

'Thank you baby, I love them' Her thumb stroked over her daughter's cherub cheek affectionately. 'It's late' Peyton glanced at the clock. 'You should have woke me, I would have come too' She addressed Lucas and he sat down on the edge of the bed with a fidgety Sawyer.

'You looked so peaceful' He shrugged a shoulder and moved the flowers onto the bed side table out of harms way as Sawyer crawled up the bed, throwing herself onto Peyton.

'Why hello you' Peyton kissed her.

'Mumma' The one and a half year old scrunched her nose up and puckered her lips returning the gesture with a big wet kiss of her own.

Erin giggled and clambered up onto the bed too, shrieking when Lucas laid down, tugging her with him, sandwiching her between him and her mother.

'Daddy!'

He tickled her sides.

'Dadda' Sawyer joined in, her small hand pinching at Erin in an attempted tickling motion. All eyes jerked to the delighted little girl. It was the first time she'd said it. 'Dadda' She repeated, again and again.

Peyton and Lucas exchanged a look, a look of blissful happiness. It was just a word. But a word that meant so much, that meant so much to both of them.

Their eyes lingered on each other for a long moment and their heads automatically migrated over their two children, filling the void between them, their lips meeting in a kiss.

Not a kiss driven by lust, anger, sadness or frustration, a kiss driven by something far more significant, a kiss driven by happiness.

It was natural, it wasn't thought about.

It was that kiss that a couple share when they've just had a new child, when they're holding their new baby in their arms for the first time. It's the kiss they missed when Sawyer Grace Scott entered into the world.

Erin lay with Sawyer in between their parents and watched on. It was something she'd certainly not seen them do in a long, long time and she liked it because she'd learnt at a young, young age that this act meant that they loved each other and it only occurred when they were happy.

Sawyer wasn't so patient to wait for their attention to drift back to her, she was eager to continue with the tickle fight that was seemingly forgotten.

'Dadda' Her hand reached up, tapping Lucas' face and they pulled apart smiling and gazed down at the two children squashed between them. 'Dadda'

Lucas scooped her up and sat her on his chest, obliging by tickling her, while Peyton curled herself around Erin.

'I like it here' Erin announced.

Peyton smiled, kissing the infants' temple. 'Me too, it's my favourite place to be'

'In bed?' Erin craned her neck, smiling up into her mother's face.

'Uhuh, with you' Peyton tapped her nose. 'Your sister and your daddy.'

Lucas looked at her adoringly. ' It's the best place ever'

Peyton nodded seriously at him. 'It really is'