A/N: I don't normally start off with authors notes, but I decided to do this chapter completely in flashback, and I didn't want to confuse anyone. So, this is about what happened between Lucas and Peyton. Here's the chapter:
When the alarm clock went off, Peyton wanted to hit the snooze, but she knew if she didn't make sure the kids were up, no one would. Lucas was probably already up, running or working out, or whatever he did this early in the morning. As she opened her eyes and sat up, turning off her alarm clock she noticed that she was, in fact, alone in their bed. With a sigh, she got up, grabbed a hair tie so she could pull back her messy curls, and went to the bathroom. After she finished her business, she washed her hands, then splashed some water on her face before leaving the bathroom.
As she walked through the house, she knocked on each door and shouted at each teenager, for the first wake up call. It would only wake up about three of them, if she was lucky, but she was going to go start breakfast before the second wake up call, which would wake up most of the rest. A lot of the times there didn't have to be a third wake up call, but she had had to pour some water on teenagers that just didn't want to wake up, when breakfast was ready. She was hoping that everyone would wake up by the second wake up call, because she really didn't want to start the morning fighting with her children.
Peyton went to the kitchen and began getting out some food so she could start cooking breakfast. She didn't even notice Lucas sitting at the kitchen table, until he spoke up. He looked like he had been up all night. She knew he hadn't been in bed when she went to sleep last night, but lately she had found him asleep in his office a lot, sometimes at his desk, with his laptop in front of him, sometimes on his couch. It looked like he hadn't even done that though. He had come home a bit moody yesterday, which was why she hadn't expected him to come to bed. "We need to talk, Peyton," he said, standing from the table.
The words made Peyton stop what she was doing, but only for a moment. "Not now, Lucas. I have to make breakfast for eight teenagers, and then get them to school. This can wait until later," she said, as she got to work again, trying to hide the dread she felt. What had happened? What went wrong? Her marriage wasn't supposed to be like this, with Lucas sleeping in another bedroom most nights. They rarely slept together anymore, and she missed sex, but she also missed the closeness she used to feel to him. She wasn't sure she wanted to have the conversation he wanted to have though. "I'm already running late," she sighed.
After a moment of staring at her, Lucas just shook his head, and went upstairs. Peyton closed her eyes and leaned against the counter for a moment. Less than a year ago, things had still been perfect. Lucas slept in their room every night, the kids were all happy, she was happy. Then Lucas sent his book to the publishers again, and things went downhill from there. He spent so much time with his editor, Peyton barely got to see him, and most of the time they did get to spend together was spent fighting. She didn't understand how things had gone downhill so fast.
When she heard the shower start up, she opened her eyes, and continued cooking breakfest. When she was about halfway done, she started going into the teenagers rooms, to make sure they were awake. Kerri was already awake, which was normal. Madison was still sleeping, but she sat up in bed as Peyton stood above her, shaking her slightly as she asked her to wake up. Ainsley was also still in bed. She opened her eyes when Peyton shook her, but Peyton knew they were closed again as she closed Ainsley's door behind herself. Marissa was already up and getting ready, which was good, because she took the most time to get ready.
After shutting the door to Marissa's room behind herself, Peyton headed up the stairs, to make sure the boys and Jessalyn were awake. The first room she came to was Ryan's, and he was already dressed and had moved on to his morning workout. She smiled at him before closing the door, and moving further down the hallway. She didn't make it two steps before she noticed Jessalyn and Seth arguing over the bathroom. Rolling her eyes, she told them it was only fair if Jessalyn went first, because she would take longer. Jessalyn smirked at her brother, smiled at her mother, and entered the bathroom. Peyton kissed her son on the forehead and headed into Martin's room.
The middle boy was still sleeping, but Peyton knew just the spot to tickle on his neck to wake him up. "Mom," he moaned without opening his eyes. He tried swatting her away, but she didn't stop, and eventually he had to sit up and glare at her, becuase it was the only thing that would get her to stop. "Glad you're awake," she said innocently, as she left the room, heading back downstairs to finish breakfast. Even though he had been sitting up when she left, Peyton knew he just fell back into bed again. Ainsley and Martin had inherited her sleeping habits, neither of them wanting to wake up early.
By the time she finshed cooking breakfast, everyone except Marissa, Martin and Ainsley were downstairs to eat. Of course, Lucas had already gone to the school, mumbling something about looking over his playbook, and they'd talk that afternoon as he grabbed an apple and a thermos of coffee from the kitchen. "Anyone not in the kitchen in ten minutes not only gets no breakfast, but they have to walk to school," she called up the stairs as the rest of the brood got themselves seated at the table. Martin came down a few moments later, looking rumpled and still half-asleep.
Trying not to laugh at her son, she handed him a cup of coffee and a plate of food before he took a seat at the dining room table. Peyton was just sitting down to eat when Ainsley ambled down the stairs, wearing a pair of jeans, a band tee and black Converse. Her unruly curls were pulled into a messy bun, and she had no make-up on. It was clear that she'd only gotten out of bed when Peyton had yelled just moments ago. Peyton gestured toward the plate of food and cup of coffee she had left out for Ainsley. They all knew that Marissa wouldn't be down until every last second of that ten minutes was up, and she'd probably only grab an apple for breakfast, because Peyton would force her to.
The twins each had their own car, and Peyton drove her own car to work too. They had five cars total. One for each twin, one for Lucas, one for Peyton and the van, which was used when they wanted to save on gas. The twins' cars weren't the nicest on the road, but they were much appreciated. It meant they didn't have to ride with their mom or dad to school anymore, and they didn't have to ride in that hideous van that they all hated. Peyton still had her Comet, but they had had to sell Lucas's Mustang over the years, and he was now driving a beat up Ford truck. He missed that Mustang more than Peyton thought he should, but then again, she hadn't been able to let go of her Comet.
Just as the ten minutes was up, Marissa sauntered down the stairs. Peyton tossed her daughter an apple and they all left the house, grabbing their stuff for school. Martin and Ryan got into the car with Kerri, Jessalyn and Marissa rode with Madison, and Ainsley and Seth got to ride in the Comet. That was the habit they had fallen into in recent months. It just worked. The others drove straight to school, but Peyton made a pit stop at her best friends house first. She was going to pick up Sophia, like she always did, but today she needed to talk to Brooke, too.
As Peyton turned off the car, she looked to her kids. "I will be right back. I need to talk to Brooke. Don't go anywhere," she said, getting out of the car as Sophia came out of the house. "I'll be right back. Your mom's inside, right?" she asked as she passed, barely waiting for Sophia's nod before heading into the house. Her husband was acting weird, and she needed just a little bit of reassurance from her best friend that everything was going to be alright. She really hoped that Brooke could give her that, becuase she wasn't sure what she was going to do if things weren't alright.
Sophia opened the drivers side door, and climbed into the back next to Ainsley. "What's up with your mom?" she asked, cocking her eyebrow curiously. All three of them watched as Peyton headed into the house. Ainsley and Seth could only shrug, because they had been wondering the same thing all morning, and they had yet to come up with an answer. They had noticed that she was nervous this morning, and they wondered if it had to do with the fact that their dad was rarely around anymore. He had been getting more distant, and Peyton had been acting more strange. Something was up with their parents.
Inside, Peyton had just found Brooke, in the kitchen with Mariah and Justin. She was trying to get them to eat their breakfast while Owen distracted them. As soon as she saw her best friend, and noticed the look on her face, she instantly gave up. "Owen, please make sure they eat," she said before pulling Peyton into the living room. Justin and Mariah, of course, didn't notice anything, except the fact that their Aunt Peyton was there and they didn't get to say hi. Peyton waved over her shoulder and offered them a false smile, and Owen managed to keep them in their seats. "What is going on?" Brooke asked when they were in the living room.
Staying on her feet, so she could pace back and forth, Peyton looked at Brooke, biting her lip. "Lucas told me this morning that we need to talk. I'm scared it's something really bad, Brooke. I don't want my family to be destroyed. We were supposed to last forever. I know things have been bad lately, but things always get worse before they get better, right? I just want things to get better. Tell me they're going to get better," she pleaded, both of them knowing that she needed to hear it, even if it was a lie. She wouldn't make it through the day if she didn't hear that.
With a worried look, Brooke walked over to Peyton and pulled her into a hug. "Oh, P. Sawyer, of course everything is going to be fine. You guys are Lucas and Peyton. You're meant to be together. You always have been," she said as she rubbed her best friend's back. "If Lucas has somehow lost sight of that, he's an idiot, and he doesn't deserve you. You're the best of the best, P. Sawyer, and you have your happy ending. This is just a bump in the road. I promise," she reassured her, pulling back so she could look Peyton in the eye. "Now, go take the teenagers to school, while I go find out what hijinks my husband and the young ones have gotten up to in my absence," she smiled, dimples showing.
Of course, Peyton wasn't completely reassured, and she could still see the worry in Brooke's eyes for her, but she faked a smile back, pretending to be reassured, and Brooke pretended to believe her. They didn't have time to stop pretending, because school started in twenty minutes. "I'll see you later, B. Davis," the blonde said as she retreated. Even though they were both married, they still used those old nicknames that Brooke had devised long ago. It was too late to change it now, and really, neither of them would, even though they were both very much in love with their husbands, which Peyton was, in spite of the shambles her marriage was in.
A few hours later, Peyton had her prep period, at the same time Haley had hers, so she went over to Haley's classroom, because she knew that her husband's best friend would be there. She wanted to do some recon, see if she could figure out what Lucas needed to talk about later. Also, she always went to Haley's room for her prep period. The two teachers had specifically requested the same prep period. Lucas was still teaching gym, so Peyton knew he wouldn't show up. "Hey, Hales, how's it going?" she asked as she entered the classroom, shutting the door behind her when she noticed no one else was in there.
The brunette was sitting at her desk, looking over some papers, and she looked up when Peyton came in. She smiled at the blonde, and gestured for her to pull up a chair. Her reading glasses were resting on the bridge of her nose because she had forgotton her contacts, and her hair was shoulder-legnth and dark locks kept falling in her face, but she didn't have a hair tie today. She looked over her glasses at Peyton, instantly noticing that something was wrong. "What's going on, Peyton?" she asked, removing her glasses and leaning forward, giving Peyton her full attention.
Taking a deep breath, Peyton pulled up a chair, and took a seat. She took another minute to compose herself before she decided to just bring up the topic she wanted to talk about. "Do you know what's going on with Lucas? I mean, he's been acting so distant lately, and he's barely home. I know he's busy with editing, but we've been fighting so much, and we barely sleep in the same room anymore. He told me today that we need to talk. Do you know what it's about? Hales, am I wrong to think that my marriage is falling apart at the seams?" she said all of this in a rush, her tendency to babble when she's nervous coming into play.
The effect of Peyton's words on Haley was instantaneous. Her demeanor was still concerned for Peyton, but she was also guarded. She leaned back in her chair and sighed, not sure what she should do. Of course, she and Nathan both knew what was going on with Lucas. Only because he was feeling so bad that he confessed to Haley, who had in turn told Nathan, because she couldn't keep anything from him. They were both incredibly disappointed in him, but they agreed not to tell Peyton, as long as he told her. It was hard keeping her mouth shut, but it was Lucas's duty to tell his wife. "I'm so sorry, Peyton. He has to be the one to tell you, though," she said, reaching across the desk to place her hand on Peytons.
As Haley gave Peyton's hand a squeeze, the blonde realized that Haley already knew what was going on with her husband, which meant Nathan probably did to. She was pretty sure Brooke didn't, because Brooke would have told Peyton for sure, but Haley's loyalty would always lay with Lucas first, and Nathan had to take his wife's side. She didn't resent Haley, though, for knowing, when she didn't. She could tell that Haley was upset with whatever was going on, and she could also tell that it was big. She sunk her head down into her hands, letting out a groan as a few tears slipped down her cheeks. "I understand," she said, so Haley would know that she didn't blame her.
There wasn't anything to say to that, so Haley just silently moved her chair around to Peyton's side of the desk, sitting next to her and rubbing her back gently, trying to comfort the blonde. It wasn't her fault, not at all, but she still felt bad for the pain her best friend was causing Peyton. Peyton was her best friend too, and if it was anyone but Lucas doing this to Peyton, she would have told already, but it was Lucas and Lucas had been by her side for a lot longer, and she just couldn't tell. "It'll be alright, Peyton, I promise. It'll all be okay," she murmured as she rubbed Peyton's back, hoping that she wasn't lying.
When the period ended, it was lunch time and Peyton's tears were gone, but Peyton sitll had her face in her hands. The door opened and Ainsley came in, immediately noticing her mom was upset, even though Peyton sat up, forcing a smile. There wasn't a chance to question it, though, because Haley stood up, moving back around to her chair, and Peyton stood as well, saying she needed to head to her classroom to get her lunch. A couple of seconds later, she was gone. Ainsley looked at her aunt. "I'm worried about her, Aunt Haley," she said, walking over to her. Haley just nodded. She was, too.
Hours later, Peyton was pacing the house as she waited for her husband to get home from his practice. The house was empty, because Peyton had requested that her children find something to do, if they didn't already have something planned. She knew her kids were worried about her, and she vowed that no matter the outcome of the talk, her kids wouldn't worry about her anymore. She wouldn't give them reason to. It was supposed to be the other way around. She wouldn't let them see her pain, or her stress. They had never had cause to worry about her before. She hated seeing worry in their eyes when they looked at her. Especially when their eyes so closely resembled Lucas's.
The door opened and she stopped pacing, picking up the glass of wine she'd poured herself just a few minutes ago. It was halfway empty, and she draimed it before picking up the bottle to refill it as she sat on the couch. "Peyton," Lucas called. She answered, and he appeared in the doorway to the living room. He sighed, taking a seat next to her, but far enough away that they weren't touching. "Peyton, I'm so sorry, but I think I have to say this now, because I should have told you a long time ago. Peyton, I've been having an affair, with my editor," he told her, like he was ripping off a band-aid.
It was probably stupid, and naive of her, but she really had not been expecting that. And she definately did not expect him to go on to tell her that he had gotten the woman pregnant. She just sat there in shock for a moment, wondering why she wasn't crying. Then she was glad she wasn't, as the anger came on. She stood, pointing toward the door. "Get out!" she yelled. He didn't move, just stared up at her with remorseful eyes. She didn't feel sympathy. "Get the fuck out of my house, Lucas. I don't want to see you. I don't want to talk to you. Not for a while. Get out!" she shouted, using the anger to hide the overwhelming hurt.
Finally, he moved, walking toward the door with his head hung low. He had the audacity to turn back at the doorway and ask about the children. "We'll deal with that later. Just get the fuck out of my house," she screamed, and he did. She heard him go upstairs, and gather some stuff, and then the front door clicked shut, indicating he was gone. Peyton threw her glass at the wall, where it shattered, spilling wine everywhere. Then she knocked over all the papers on the coffee table, throwing them everywhere. She spotted the one lamp that Lucas had picked out to furnish their house and she grabbed it, too, throwing it into the wall.
When she was done destroying things, she collapsed onto the couch. She wasn't sure when she started crying, but there were definately tears running down her cheeks. They weren't stopping. For some reason, she started remembering the good times. She remembered giving birth to the twins, and the sextuplets. She remembered first meeting Lucas, and nearly running him over with her car. She had been nothing but a bitch to him the first time they talked, but he kept trying anyway. She could remember their wedding, and the promises of forever he'd made. She wasn't sure why, but she remembered their first dance.
FLASHBACK
Peyton and Lucas made their way onto the dance floor. "And now, for the couple's first dance as Mr and Mrs Lucas Scott," Mouth, the DJ for their wedding, announced. Peyton was wearing a stunning white strapless dress, which flowed out, to cover her growing belly. She was pregnant with the twins. It was a complicated pregnancy, and there was a chance of losing her, or the babies, but Peyton hadn't been able to terminate it, even if it meant she died. Lucas had to support her. He had to admit standing there with her in his arms, with that pregnancy glow, it was worth it.
The twirled around the dance floor, Peyton gazing up adoringly at her new husband. "I love you so much, Peyton Elizabeth Scott. I will never love anyone more in my life, and I will love you until the day I die. I'll never stop, and I hope that if I start doing something to lose you, you'll tell me what an idiot I am," he said, dropping a kiss on her lips, that quickly became heated. He loved that he could call her his wife. He'd been waiting for so long. With her in his arms, he knew they could get through anything. It wouldn't matter what life threw their way. They could make it. They were Lucas and Peyton. True Love Always.
Blushing, Peyton buried her face in the crook of his neck for a moment, taking in his scent, and taking in the moment. She had waited a long time for this, too, and, while she had been hesitant at first, she knew he was her forever, and it would never get better than him, and their family. "I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I'm going to love you forever, Lucas Eugene Scott," she said, giggling as she used his middle name, becuase he had used hers. "You can bet that I won't let you go. If I do, I'll be the idiot," she beamed up at him as they kept dancing.
They both wanted the dance to go on forever. It was a perfect moment, just the two of them. It was like there was no one else. There didn't need to be. Each of them was all the other had ever needed. He was her world, and she was his. Sure, there were other people in that world, but she would die if something happened to him, and vice versa. There world was about to expand, to include their two baby girls, but that didn't mean their love for each other would decrease. "You, an idiot? Never. Not Peyton Scott," he said, just because he liked saying it. She definately didn't reject to hearing it.
END FLASHBACK
The dance ended soon after that, and the moment was over as he forced Peyton to get off her feet, but it was one Peyton would always look back on. In that moment, Peyton had been so sure of herself, and her whole world. Now, what she had been so sure of in that moment was gone. It was painful, and raw, and her heart was now broken. Would she go back, and change things, if she knew then that she would end up like this? Maybe, but she knew she wouldn't want to. Despite the pain, and all the hard times, she was glad she'd gone through them, becuase bad times came with good times.
So, she wouldn't change things, even if she could. If she could go back and stick to her first answer to Lucas's proposal, and save herself the pain she was feeling right now, she wouldn't. If she did, she wouldn't have gotten that dance, and she wouldn't have gotten all those good years with Lucas Scott. Even if her marriage was crumbling, and possibly unfixable-her husband had fathered another woman's child-she wouldn't change anything, because that dance, had been one of the best moments of her life. That thought made her get up, dry her tears, pick up the glass, and papers, and begin cooking dinner for her children.
A/N2: Okay, this ends another chapter. I wanted to give some insight as to what happened. Next chapter will be the sextuplets birthday party. Thanks so much for the reviews, and I hope you all keep reviewing. Let me know if you have any questions, and if I can, I'll answer them in the next chapter. I might not be able to update next week, because I'm going to be in Oakland and I'm camping this week, and I'm just really busy. I'm not sure I'll have access to a computer, but I will try my hardest. Let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.