When Peyton got home, she noticed that the tow truck Lucas used to drive in high school and usually only drove now if his car was in the shop or something, was parked in front of her house. She wondered why as she took Jenny's hand and led her into the house. She didn't get more than twenty steps inside before Lucas called out for her to stop where she was. She did, and a few seconds later she saw him coming from around the corner. "Close your eyes," he demanded, and she looked cautiously at Jenny before following his instructions.
The little brunette had no answers to offer, so Peyton looked back at Lucas again, who repeated his instruction. "Come on, Peyton," he stepped forward and clasped her hand. "I've got a surprise for you. I promise that you won't regret this. I won't let you run into any walls or anything. Just close your eyes. I've got you," he squeezed her hand, and suddenly this became more of a trust exercise than anything. They were both now wondering if she really trusted him like she said she did. She immediately closed her eyes, ready to follow him anywhere.
Trailing along as Lucas led Peyton through the house, Jenny was more excited about the surprise than Peyton was, or, more accurately, she showed it more. Jenny bounced along after the two, and Peyton asked her what was going on, but, after a look from Lucas she revealed nothing. Lucas led the blonde and, consequently the little girl, to the garage, where he finally told Peyton she could open her eyes. She did, and she saw her Comet, looking as good as it ever had. She felt her jaw drop in amazement, but couldn't find a single word.
Of course, the little girl didn't have that problem. She grabbed Peyton's hand, tugging to get her attention as she gaped and pointed at the car. "Mommy, Mommy, look, that's your car. Daddy said that you wouldn't be able to get it fixed. He said it was totaled, and that meant it cost more to fix than it was worth before the accident," as a very astute child, she realized what this meant, and she looked in awe up at Lucas, turning now to grab his hand and tug on it. "You fixed it, Lukey, you really fixed Mommy's car?" she asked as she tugged.
Not taking his gaze from Peyton's, Lucas nodded, but didn't immediately answer as he glanced down at Jenny first. "You spend too much time with my sister if she talked you into calling me 'Lukey' too," he winced around the word, clearly not liking it, but he ruffled the little girls' hair as he looked back up to meet Peyton's gaze. "I just couldn't accept that the car was unfixable. I knew you couldn't accept it either, so I've been spending every moment of my free time since the accident working on this car," he gestured toward it, breaking the eye contact.
Realizing that he was wondering whether or not she liked the surprise, she finally forced herself to break the shock and threw herself at him in a hug. She nearly toppled them as she lifted her feet off of the ground, but he managed to keep his balance and his arms snaked around her waist, holding her tightly. She gave him a long kiss before she remembered Jenny in the garage too. She made him set her down, and walked to the car, taking everything in. "Thank you, Lucas, this is the best thing anyone has ever done for me," she said sincerely.
Waiting patiently for only a few moments, Peyton realized her hesitation to get in had little to do with the fact that she was amazed to see her car, and more to do with the fact that she was scared to get in the car again. She knew it was ridiculous, she had driven the car for years without getting in an accident; she had no reason to fear the Comet now. She knew that fear wasn't always rational, though, and all she kept remembering at the moment was that one instance, the last time she was in the car, when she lost her baby and almost lost her life.
So lost in her thoughts, the rest of the people in the room had disappeared, and Peyton was surprised to feel a hand wrap around hers. She looked up, into Lucas's eyes, and she realized that he had immediately known what her fear would be when he had sensed her hesitation, and he was mentally kicking himself for not realizing that sooner. She didn't want him to think she didn't appreciate this though, and she suddenly realized that if Lucas was next to her, she could handle anything. She got in behind the wheel of the Comet.
Looking at him expectantly, she held her hand out for the keys to the Comet, and gestured for the two of them to get in the car. He handed her the keys and let Jenny get in the back seat. He even buckled her up before he got in himself. She waited until he had his seatbelt buckled before she pressed the button to open the garage, which he had removed from the car she had driven in to get Jenny, though she hadn't noticed it until now. She took a deep breath as the garage door opened, and cautiously backed out of the garage.
For the first few blocks, she drove slower than she needed to, knowing that she didn't have to, she had just been driving a car not five minutes ago, but something about being in the Comet made her press lighter on the gas than she normally would in any other car. She got to the first light, and she had a strong sense of déjà vu, of the last time she had been in the car, with Jenny in the backseat. She knew there were differences, for instance, Lucas was in the passenger side, not Jake, and she wasn't pregnant, but for a moment, she couldn't breathe.
Forcing herself to take a deep breath, she focused on Lucas's hand, which was resting on her leg, and she knew that right now he was the one link to the present for her. He didn't say anything, and neither did she, but when the light turned green, she slowly edged forward, and once she saw no one else was going to go, she sped up, making it through the intersection only because Lucas had his hand on her leg. She kept reminding herself that she was going to be okay, that she had Lucas with her, and somehow, she made it through a twenty minute drive.
Pulling back into her driveway, and into the garage, Peyton felt a strange sense of relief, and she knew she wouldn't have been able to handle the drive if he hadn't been for Lucas there, with her. She got out and walked around the car as he got out, and when she reached him, she threw her arms around his neck again, silently thanking him, not just for the car, and for being there for the drive, but for everything. She honestly didn't know how she would have made it through without him, and she only stayed silent because Jenny was around.
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Standing up, Haley began to pick up the now empty dinner plates, protesting when both Peyton and Lucas got up to help. She said she'd be right back with coffee for the adults. James and Jenny asked to be excused, and were allowed, because dinner was now over. They stood and James took Jenny's hand as they ran up to his room. Peyton just chuckled as Nathan watched his son go, hand in hand with Jenny. "Oh, yeah, he is so going to be like me," he nodded in satisfaction, his trademark Scott smirk on his face.
Rolling her eyes at her best friend's ego, Peyton flicked the cork from the wine bottle at him. He scowled at her when it hit him right in the forehead, and Lucas chuckled. "You mean he's going to be a complete jackass when he gets to high school. I feel bad for all the other girls his age, then, especially the poor sap that gets stuck being his girlfriend. I can only hope it won't be Jenny," she teased, dodging the cork when he threw it back at her. He probably could have hit her, if he had really wanted to, and she was thankful that he didn't.
As Haley came back into the room, a tray with four cups of coffee on it in her hands, she saw Nathan just as he threw the cork at Peyton. She cocked her head at her husband. "Hey, we hardly ever get to see these people and you show your appreciation that they came over by throwing things at them. Seriously, I can't leave you alone with guests for five minutes, can I?" she teased Peyton and Lucas for their lack of hanging out as much as she teased her husband, laughing as she passed out the coffee cups, dodging Nathan when he tried to smack her butt.
Making a face at Haley, Peyton turned to Lucas, tilting her head as she replied to him. "You know what; I guess we shouldn't have come over here then. All we're getting is insulted and abused," her tone held just as much teasing as Haley's had, of course, and she stuck her tongue out at Nathan as she subconsciously scooted closer to Lucas. She just sometimes felt the need to be even closer to him and this had been one of those moments. She saw Nathan and Haley share a look and knew what she had done, but she didn't say anything and neither did they.
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Sitting on the back porch, Haley looked up when her best friend joined her. She patted the seat next to her on the swing. Nathan and Peyton were having their own bonding moment, so Lucas and Haley were probably going to have one of their own moments. Haley nudged him with her shoulder when he sat down. "Hey, you, it's been a while since we've had a chat. That really was a great thing you did for Peyton, you know. Not just the car, but all of it. I know you're going to say you love her, but I love her too, and I couldn't have done what you did," she said.
Shrugging, Lucas tried to look like it was no big deal, but they both knew it was. He looked out over the lawn, trying to figure out a way to explain his need to keep Peyton safe, or even his need to have Peyton in his life. He couldn't really find any. It was just indescribable. "I just needed her back, Hales, and that's it. Even though I was with Brooke for so long, I never felt like this about Brooke. When I thought I might lose Peyton, that just put things into perspective for me, that's all," he finally said, figuring she would know what he was talking about.
Thinking of Nathan, Haley nodded that she did get it. She knew that wasn't the real reason that she had come out here to be alone a little while ago, though. She had known for a week now, and now was the time to tell her best friend. She knew it wasn't him that might be disappointed by the news, though. She took a deep breath. "Listen, I have something to tell you, and I know you'll be happy for me, but you let me know if Peyton won't be able to handle it right now, and I'll go get Nathan right now and stop him from telling her," she started.
As Haley babbled around the subject, without actually telling him what it was she needed to tell him, Lucas wondered what it was that would get her so nervous, or what would make her think that Peyton would be anything but happy for her with any news she had to give. He considered this for a moment, and all Peyton had been through, and he came to the correct conclusion before Haley even had to say it. He grinned and pulled her into a hug. "Hales, that is great, and I doubt she'll be anything but as happy for you as I am," he said.
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As they stood out by the car, Peyton gushing about how great Lucas was, she realized that Nathan was being even quieter than he normally would be, and she knew it had less to do with the fact that she wouldn't shut up about his brother, and more to do with the fact that he had something to tell her. She knew that if it was just the former, he would be teasing her, he wouldn't be staying silent. She hip checked him and cocked an eyebrow as she tilted her head. "What's on your mind, Nathan, and don't tell me nothing. I know you, remember," she said.
Taking a deep breath, Nathan idly ran his hand over the car, trying to decide if he should just blurt out the news, or if he should beat around the bush for a while. He knew Peyton would not appreciate the latter, but he was worried about her reaction. He was so pleased with the news, though, so he decided to just say it, and deal with however he reacted later. "I know you know me, Sawyer," he paused, and then just said it. "Well, we just found out the other day, but Haley's pregnant again," he said, trying to gauge her reaction.
The wave of pain that washed over her as she considered this was relatively small, and she was able to ignore it and put on a smile that wasn't entirely forced. She pulled Nathan into a hug as she tried to pull her expression together. "That's really great, Nathan, but if you don't follow that up by asking me to be godmother, then I might have to rethink my reaction," she really was only teasing, but she saw by his reaction that he had been about to do that. "Nathan, that's really awesome. I would love to be godmother," she gushed, pulling him into another hug.
A few minutes later, the front door opened, and Haley, with Lucas close behind, poked her head out the door. "Hey, we just checked on the kids, and you've really got to see this. It's so cute," Haley said, gesturing for the two of them to come in. Nathan and Lucas went right up the stairs, so Lucas could congratulate Nathan, and so the girls could have a moment alone. Peyton grabbed Haley's arm and linked hers through it pulling her back as Haley tried to follow the guys. "So, did he get to tell you?" Haley asked cautiously, knowing the answer.
Knowing that Haley was fishing for a reaction more than an answer, she turned to Haley with a grin, pulling them both to a stop. "I couldn't be happier for you guys, Hales. If anyone deserves it, it's the two of you. To be honest, I was surprised that you guys waited this long to have another. I would have thought nature would have taken its course by now," she teased, becoming more serious as she went on. "I would be honored to be the godmother, really, it couldn't make me happier," she told Haley, honestly meaning it.
There was an undercurrent there, and both women knew it wouldn't be easy for Peyton, even if she was being honest about being happy to be the godmother. Peyton was willing to deal with whatever she had to go through, though, because it really meant a lot that Haley and Nathan would choose her to be the godmother to their second child. She had understood at the time why Brooke had been James's godmother, but it had still kind of hurt, though she would never admit that to anyone. She would do her best as the godmother to the new baby.
Before either woman could say anything else, Nathan reappeared at the top of the stairs. "You are going to want to see this, Peyt, believe me. You want to see this," he gestured for the two of them to come up. Peyton glanced at Haley, who had a knowing smile on her face now that Nathan had reminded her of what they had been going up the stairs for anyway, and she started up the stairs again, following Nathan to James's room, peeking in when she got there. She couldn't stop the grin that formed on her face and she wanted to 'aw' but she didn't want to disturb them.
Looking at Haley, who had the same look on her face, and then at Nathan, who looked smug and amuses, Peyton finally glanced at Lucas, who was looking at her, torn between being amused by the sight in the room, and concerned for her, regarding the news they had just gotten. She sent him a smile before looking at the pair of children again. Jenny and James were laying side by side, their hands still linked together as they slept. "I'm just glad it's not anything worse, because, as Nathan earlier pointed out, this is his son," she couldn't resist teasing.
Scowling at her, Nathan resisted from saying anything back, and she walked into the room and picked up the little girl, which woke up both of the children, of course, and Nathan entered the room and picked up his son, taking him over to the bed, as Haley followed him into the room, going to the dresser and getting out a pair of pajamas to put on James. Peyton and Lucas shared a look and decided to leave the parents alone. "We'll see you guys later. I've got to get this one home," Peyton stepped forward and put a hand on Haley's still flat stomach. "I'll see you later too, goddaughter or godson," she said, leading Lucas from the room.
A/N: I was surprised by the Naley pregnancy, as I'm sure some of you were. I had intended to have Peyton interact with her brother, but I guess that will have to wait until next chapter. For now you guys will have to enjoy this chapter which was full of Naley love. Not that I don't like chapters like these, I just didn't expect it to happen, really. I guess that's just how it goes sometimes. I don't control the writing, it controls me. Hope y'all like the chapter, and leave lots of reviews!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.