Two weeks passed quickly, and Peyton had been frantically working to get the office space at Tric ready so Haley could start recording, and she could start looking for other artists. Things were finally on track, and beginning to run smoothly. The studio was ready, and Peyton had finally chosen a name for her label. She was just finishing the decorating of her office, when she caught sight of the time, and she realized she had to go, or she would be late to sign her own divorce papers.
Honestly, she knew the real reason she had been so busy at Tric the past two weeks. She had been keeping herself busy to keep her mind off of the fact that she had to sign the divorce papers. As she headed to the car, locking the office behind her, she still couldn't understand why she actually had to do this. She wished she didn't have to. If only things were that simple. If only she could just wish for things to go back to normal, and they actually would. It didn't work that way, and she had to face the fact that she would be signing the papers today, and she would be receiving the filed and final papers in the mail in six months and, just like that, an 18 year marriage would be over. She decided she had to move on, and not just by starting a label.
As she was walking through the bar to get to the exit, she noticed something. Instantly changing directions, she headed over to the bartender. Pulling up a barstool in front of him, she sat on it. "I'll have a tall glass of anything, please," she ordered. When he looked up at her from the glass he was cleaning, he smiled, tossing the rag over his shoulder and setting the glass down. "Chase, I haven't seen you in years. What's got you doing Owen's work for him?" she asked, leaning across the bar to give the brunette a hug.
When she pulled back and looked at him, he couldn't help but notice how gorgeous she had become. Sure, she had been beautiful before, and she still was, but now she had a maturity about her, which made her even more beautiful. Yes, he had been dating Brooke while she was dating Lucas, but he had always noticed her. He had just known her heart belonged to someone else. Of course, now he knew that she was divorcing the blond, but that didn't mean they had to be anything more than friends, right? That was all he wanted. "He hired me on, since I just lost my job. I'm back in Tree Hill for good," he informed her.
They chatted and caught up on each others live for a few minutes before Peyton really had to go. "I'm glad you're back, Chase, it's good to see you. I've got to go divorce my husband, but you'll see me around," she smiled and waved before she left Tric. She had driven her Comet to the club after getting off of work, so she got in it to drive to the lawyers office. The teens had various activities to do after school, and since they didn't depend on her for a ride anymore, she hadn't really told them that she was signing the papers today. It was painful enough without the sympathy from her kids. She'd tell them later on, at dinner.
As she reached the lawyers offices, she parked the car on the street, noticing that his familiar Mustang was already there. She locked the car and shut the door behind her, staring at the building for a minute before she began walking towards it. So many angry words had been said in there, while trying to come to an agreement on the terms of the divorce. They had been doing this nearly six months, way longer than most couples do this, but she knew that she had been dragging it out because she was afraid of this very day. If that was her truth, what was Lucas dragging it out for?
With a long sigh, she finally pulled open the door to the building, waving to the building's receptionist before heading for the elevator. She pressed the button, hoping the elevator would take a long time. When the doors finally opened she stepped inside, and the doors slid shut behind her. It was not the longest elevator ride of her life, and she kind of wished that it was. All too soon the doors opened again, and she was faced with her lawyer's personal secretary. There was a sympathetic smile on the woman's face as she waved Peyton into the conference room, where she would end the biggest, and what she had thought was the best part of her life.
Maybe she had been wrong. Maybe she would find something better now that she wasn't tied down to Lucas. He obviously had. Even as she was thinking that, she wondered if she ever would. She also wondered if he really had. Was Lindsey really the best thing for him? Should she had heard him out on that fateful day, and listened to what he had to say instead of just kicking him out. Since that day she had wondered that very thing too many times to count. What if she hadn't let her anger get the best of her? Would she still be with her husband and the man she wanted to spend forever with?
That brought another question to mind, though. If she had, would she have ever been able to forgive him for stepping out on her and getting another woman pregnant? She would have to see him with another child all the time, because she knew he wouldn't do the same thing Dan did to him to any child of his own. Would she be able to take it, though, having a child that belonged to Lucas and not her hanging around the house whenever Lindsey let him see it? Would she be able to interact with Lindsey on a regular basis, knowing that her husband had not been faithful? She wasn't sure, but that wasn't even the end of the questions her mind could cook up.
There was also another issue entirely. All those questions depended on one question alone. Would Lucas have even picked her over Lindsey? If Peyton had given him the choice, would he have chosen the wife he had been with for nearly eighteen years, or the woman who he had cheated on her with, and was having a child with? Peyton was really scared of the answer to that question, and that was why she never asked it. She tried to keep the conversation between her and Lucas limited to fighting over the material things, and she tried to steer clear of the emotional all together.
When she stepped into the room, the lawyers stood up, and she walked over to the chair across from Lucas, avoiding looking at him, because she just didn't want to feel all of the reactions her body got from him. She wished they weren't there, but every single time, they happened, and, despite the circumstances for seeing him, she knew they would still be there. She was still sitting there when the stack of papers landed in front of her. The loud noise forced her to look up, and her eyes were met by Lucas's.
FLASHBACK
Holding his new wife bridal style, he made his way into the house. There was a path of candles leading to the bedroom, and rose petals spread all over the floor. "Babe, set me down, I'm a seven month pregnant fat cow, and you're going to hurt your back," she demanded, not even noticing the candles and rose petals. He did as she requested, and she finally looked around the room.
With a look of amazement on her face, she turned to look at her husband of less than twelve hours. "Aw, Luke, this is so sweet. I knew there was a reason I married you," she said, reaching up on her tiptoes to place a kiss on his lips. He placed one hand on the small of her back, the other on the back of her neck, and pulled her even closer. She tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss even more. The hand on her back trailed down to her thigh, slowly pulling up the dress so he could draw circles on her creamy skin.
Then, just like that, the whole scene changed. She was kissing him one minute, the next she had pulled away, clutching her stomach and moaning in pain. "Luke. Lucas. I need to get to the hospital. Something's wrong with our baby girls," she managed to answer his question through waves of pain that made her want to pass out. She didn't even realize she had fallen until he gently set her on the ground, running to blow out all the candles.
When he returned to the living room, cell phone in hand, she had already passed out. After a moment of staring at her, he flipped his phone open, calling an ambulance. He didn't move from her side as he waited, and he was able to breathe at least a little easier when he heard the sirens getting closer. When the ambulance finally arrived, he climbed in back with her, not letting go of her hand. He finally remembered to call everyone on the way to the hospital.
There was a point during surgery when they almost lost her, but, hours later, Lucas and Peyton finally had two baby girls. Of course, Peyton was still unconscious, from the surgery, but everyone was gathered in the waiting room, except Lucas, who was standing outside the NICU, looking at the two tiny babies in incubators, both with little tufts of blonde hair on their heads. He raised his hand and pressed it to the glass. "I'm always going to be here for the two of you, and your mom will, too, I promise. You guys are my family, forever and always," he spoke to them.
Once he finished his little speech, a nurse came up to him and told him that his wife was looking for him. He went to the waiting room and shared the bit of information with his family and friends before going into Peyton's room, because only he was allowed, due to the fact that it was after visiting hours. As soon as he saw her, lying in that bed, surrounded by white sheets and machines, he was at her side, carefully kissing her forehead. "How ya doing, Blondie? You cave everyone a scare for a while there?" he said as he lovingly brushed some curls out of her face.
With a weak smile aimed at her husband, Peyton reached for the water glass so she could get rid of the dryness in her mouth. Lucas helped her swallow some down and then set the cup aside again as she returned her attention to the blonde man. "I'll be fine, Mr. Scott. What about our babies, though? Are they okay? Did they make it?" she asked worriedly. Her heart rate began to increase as she tried to sit up.
Placing his hands on her shoulders, Lucas gently eased Peyton back down. "Chill out, Mrs. Scott," he smiled at the use of her new name, and she did, too. "Everything is fine. Our two little girls will have to stay in NICU for a couple of weeks, but everything will be okay. I promise you that, and when have I ever broken a promise to you?" he asked with the Scott smirk in place on his face.
Instead of answering, Peyton pulled him down for a kiss, letting his lips linger on hers as she relaxed. "Say it again," she requested when she pulled back, green eyes meeting blue. He knew exactly what she was talking about, and said the three words. "Peyton Elizabeth Scott," she repeated after him, with a huge smile. "I like it," she kissed him again.
END FLASHBACK
Both blondes looked down at the papers. All Peyton could see was her name there, in bold, right next to Lucas's. There was so much that she had never gotten to say to him, and she was fairly sure there were things that he had never said, although every angry word he threw at her in this very room had struck her like a knife. She had thrown back just as many words as she had received, if not more. She wished she could take it all back, or at least tell him everything she was thinking. Maybe then they could have an actual conversation about this.
Of course, she couldn't take it back, and it was far too late for any conversation. Her marriage was ending, and there was not one thing she could do about it. So she picked up the pen that her lawyer had set in front of her, trusting that everything was in order, because she couldn't bear to read the words. Just as she was about to press pen to paper, though, another memory washed over her.
FLASHBACK
The month before they found out they were pregnant was pure bliss. So were the others, but something was different about that first month. They both moved into the house he grew up in, because his mother had already started traveling with Andy, and Lucas continued his studies at the community college instead. Everything was really perfect in their world for the time being, and Peyton found that she really liked perfect. She was attending classes at the community college, too, but she was a year behind him, because she hadn't been taking classes the year before.
Currently, she was working a shift at the Café when her fiancé walked into the building. Karen sent her a smile and a wink from where she was working the cash register, and allowed Peyton to take her sons order when he walked up to the counter. Before she could ask him what she wanted, he leaned over and pulled her into a kiss. Conscious of the customers, not to mention Karen, Peyton pulled back quickly, thinking of an excuse. "Um, Karen, I need to, um, go do something in the back and, um, I need Lucas to help me," she said, not even waiting for Karen to respond as she headed for the back.
Once in the back, the couple proceeded to make out like the teenagers they still were, at least, until they turned twenty. Then they wouldn't be teenagers anymore, but they'd probably still act like it. Needing air, Peyton pulled back, leaning her forehead against Lucas's as she tried to even out her breathing. Lucas just moved his lips down to her shoulder, finding her spot quickly. "So, what are you doing here?" she asked between giggles and shivers going up and down her spine. "Not that I'm complaining," she was quick to add, catching his lips with hers again.
Smirking, he the kiss a second time, when he was the one who needed air. Peyton began to kiss his neck, moving to the place just below his ear, that only she had found. "I just wanted to tell you that I love you, and I missed you today," he murmured, his eyes drifting closed as she suckled on that spot. "I love you, Peyton Sawyer, soon-to-be-Scott, and I always will. You're the only thing I live for, and I just wanted you to know that," he added. "You're all I'm living for," he repeated, unnecessarily, for she had heard him the first time.
There were no words to say. Her lips froze on his neck and than she pulled back, looking into is clear blue eyes that were shining with love, for her. For Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer. She still found that concept hard to get her mind around. She loved Lucas so much, more than she could ever imagine loving anyone, and he loved her back. She smiled up at him, a dazzling smile that lit up her green eyes. "I really am going to love you forever, Lucas Eugene Scott. Especially if you keep thinking of the most perfect things to say," she said, before devouring his lips with hers again.
END FLASHBACK
Without real reason or warning, tears started slipping down Peyton's cheeks. She just wanted things to go back to the way they were then. Things were great, and they were happy, and in love. He regularly told her that he loved her and she was the best thing in his life. She missed those days, and she missed the days when the little ones were beginning to walk. The days when she could sit in the living room or lay in bed and hear little feet padding down the hallway. Or when she could hear laughter floating through the house. Back before Lindsey, and Lucas editing his book. Just back before everything.
FLASHBACK
Feeling lips on her shoulder, Peyton's eyes fluttered open. She turned her head and noticed her husband's mischievous grin. "Oh, good, you're awake," he said, flipping her so she was facing him, and letting his lips attack hers before she could respond. Despite the fact that she had had eight kids, and six of them at the same time, he still loved running his hands over her body, especially her legs. His hand trailed down her thigh and hitched it up onto his hip as he pulled her closer, not breaking the contact of their lips. "I love you," he whispered, breathing heavily against her mouth.
Smiling, Peyton repeated the phrase. She couldn't help it. Despite the early hour, she could never say no to him. It was pretty much impossible. If she had realized anything during the first seven years of her marriage, it was that. The good thing about it, though, was that he could never say no to her either. "I love you, too, Lucas Eugene Scott," she smiled as he grimaced at her use of his middle name. He disliked his middle name greatly, and it bugged him when she used it, but she continued to use it, and he really didn't think he could stop her.
Before either of them could say anything else, Peyton shushed Lucas, telling him to listen. The sound of little footsteps could be heard pitter pattering down the hall, accompanied by the sound of giggles, as the kids tried to be sneaky. As the door slipped open, both blondes pretended to be asleep. A few seconds later their six of their blonde children had crawled up into bed with them, and Madison and Kerri were standing on either side of the bed, after they had each helped three little ones up onto it. All six of the now five year olds thought they were being quiet, but they were very loud whisperers.
Then they began jumping on the bed, trying to wake their parents up. Peyton slowly moved her arm so her hand was resting on Lucas's arm. She pressed three fingers carefully into his skin and then pulled them back before slowly putting them up again, one by one. As the third finger his hit skin, both of their eyes shot open, and they began tickling each little body in their way. They each pulled up one of the twins so they could get into it as well. The laughing grew louder for a while as both parents sat up for better access to their kids.
Once they all collapsed into a heap on the bed, the laughter began to die down. Eventually, it was silent in the room. Then Marissa sat up. "Come on Mama, Daddy. It's our birfday. Yous have to make brefast so we can alls eat togever," she said with a firm nod, and the other five sat up as well, agreeing with her. They began to climb all over their parents again, getting up in their faces, tugging on their arms, trying to make them get up.
Cocking an eyebrow at her husband, Peyton put a disbelieving look on her face. "Oh, no, Luke our kids can't be five today, can they?" she shook her head, and Lucas agreed with her, sounding grave. "No way, they're little kids, they can't be five yet. Five is a big kid age," she teased, much to the displeasure of the six five year olds. After a few minutes they 'convinced' her how old they were, and the family of ten went downstairs for breakfast.
END FLASHBACK
Suddenly, Peyton was being wrapped up in strong, familiar arms. It had been far too long since she had felt those arms around her. She wanted to just melt into his embrace. This was how things should be, comforting, and loving. She wished they could go back and make things right, but they couldn't, really. In reality, she knew that. She wasn't sure she could ever trust her husband again, and if they didn't have trust, what did they have, besides love? Sometimes love just wasn't enough to make a relationship work.
Really, she knew that it wasn't just Lucas's fault. There were other factors, things she could have done, signs she should have recognizes, and this could possibly have been prevented. It wasn't as simple as the 'could-have-beens' though. It was a lot more complicated than that. There was no set right and wrong, or who's to blame and who's not. She wished it was that simple, though. She wished they could take back everything that had been said and done, and it would just be as simple as she loved him and he loved her and they could be together.
Now it was too late. Their vows had been broken, her trust in him had been shattered, and now she had to live in an empty house every other weekend. She missed the way it was when things were good. When she could come home in the evening and cook dinner for her whole family. She missed the good days, when things were really great between her and Lucas. It was hard to remember those times now, but they had happened. They had been so in love with each other, so high on their relationship. She still didn't understand how they could fall so low.
They had shared the same dreams, at least she thought they had. Her dream had always been him, a life as the wife of Lucas Scott, and the mother to his children. Yes, the record label was nice, and drawing was nice, but Lucas was honestly all she needed to make her happy. She had thought the same had been true for him. She had thought she was enough for him. Then a complication came into their lives in the form of Lindsey and things had never been the same. She got to comfortable, and they fell out of touch without realizing it, and before she knew it, it had all came crashing down around her.
Pulling suddenly out of his grasp, she realized she couldn't hang on anymore. It was time to let go, to him and their relationship. She had to sign the papers. She pushed away, avoiding his gaze, and called the lawyers back in. She picked up the pen and signed on the line, watching as the pen move across the paper to avoid looking into his eyes. She knew they would still shine with concern, and she couldn't handle it. She noticed how closely his signature resembled hers and she wanted to cry all over again over what was lost.
When he was finished signing, the lawyers took the papers, and they all stood, shaking hands around the room, except Peyton avoided touching Lucas. She tried to follow the lawyers out of the room, but he grabbed her arm. She spun, noticing the tenderness in his eyes. She wished it wasn't there. She didn't want to know he still cared, because she still couldn't believe their love had ended like this. "I miss it, Peyt. I miss the days when we were the only thing that mattered, when love was the only thing we lived for. I never dreamed it would come to this," he admitted softly, meeting her gaze head on, while she tried to avoid his eyes.
Struck still on the spot. That what happened to her when she heard him utter those words. She never expected him to say anything like that. They had just signed their divorce papers, for goodness sake. He was shacked up with another woman. What right did he have to want say those words? It made no difference that she had just been thinking things along those lines. She was the woman scorned. He had no right to expect her to fall back in his arms. He had no right to even tell her he wished she would. Sighing, she closed her eyes briefly before opening them again and finally meeting his stare. "It's too late, Lucas," she answered, taking the chain off of her neck and placing her wedding band and engagement ring into his hand before turning and leaving the room.
A/N: I understand if you hate me for this chapter. I kind of hate myself for it, but it had to be done. I promise, they will get back together soon, just a few more chapters. I added lots of happy Leyton memories so that it could balance out the sadness. Anyway, I hope you like it, and leave reviews, please, even if you didn't. Thanks for the reviews for the last chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.