"Luke can you please tell me where we are going?" Peyton pleaded as she climbed into the Comet 2 hours later. Lucas coyly grinned at her before replying "You'll know soon enough!"
"Hmph!" Peyton grunted as she sunk back into the passenger seat.
"Not even a little hint?!"
"Nope?!"
"Anything?!"
"Nothing!"
"Oh you are no fun! At least tell me how long we are going to be driving for?"
"You'll find out when we get there!" was all Lucas would say.
For a while the two of them sat in silence… a companionable silence. Peyton was trying to work out where they might be headed, and Lucas was trying not to say anything lest he gave the secret away. Peyton could always wean most things out of him, so in situations like these he found the less he said the better.
"This reminds me of our road trip just before we went to college" Peyton mused.
"The one where we went to the Cure concert with only one ticket?"
Peyton laughed at the memory. "Ah well – it turned out for the best anyway seeing as you don't even like The Cure!"
"Ahhh… but I loved kissing you to the Cure, so that's what I would have spent most of my time doing!" Lucas replied.
In response, Peyton leaned over, gently kissed Lucas on the cheek and rested her head on his shoulder. A place that was so familiar now it was so comfortable for the both of them.
"We had all of our hopes and dreams ahead of us then" Peyton mused.
"We still do"
"Yes, but not young and hopeful dreams like we had then. Our dreams now are so much more realistic and…. mature. We thought we could take on the world then"
"I still think we can…. don't you?"
"Sure… just not in the same way we saw the world back then."
"Remember what we said about this car? That we would make so many babies in the back of this car with you…" Peyton mused.
Lucas pulled the car over to the side of the road. They were in the middle of nowhere with no traffic around.
"Peyton… it's going to be ok, you know that right?! It's just that these things take time.." Lucas tried to reassure her.
Peyton simply leant over and kissed him hard. "Shhhh…. I don't want to talk about it. I want to enjoy our anniversary weekend and not talk about any of our troubles back home ok?!" she pleaded.
Lucas didn't reply, but merely took her into his arms and kissed her again.
"So Miss Sawyer-Brooke… A whole weekend with your favourite Aunt. What do you want to do?!" Brooke asked as they sat down at the kitchen bench together.
"Why do you call me Sawyer-Brooke? Nobody else does."
"Don't you like it?!"
"No I like it! But my name is just Sawyer"
"Well you're my namesake" Brooke began coyly, "and your mother gave you your middle name after me. So I like to call you by your full name"
Sawyer sat and pondered for a while. "I like that it's a name just for me and you"
"Me too kiddo! Now… answer my question about what you want to do!"
Once again, Sawyer paused, finger to chin as if pondering the worlds global problems. "Fashion Parade!" Sawyer responded simply.
"Now that is something that's definitely up my alley!" Brooke replied.
"C'mon – surely we must be getting close now?! The suspense is killing me!!" Peyton complained. She had kept the peace for the majority of the trip, but now, feeling that they were close to their destination, she couldn't keep her silence much longer. Lucas merely smiled and pursed his lips shut.
"We would have been here a lot faster if you hadn't distracted me in the car before" Lucas said cheekily.
"Aw c'mon – you know you loved it"
They continued to drive and a house caught Peyton's eye.
"Wouldn't you just love to live in a house like that?!" Peyton commented.
"So peaceful and quiet. A nice little country cottage with farmland on one side and beaches on the other."
"Yes, but Peyton, think of how far away you would be from everything… not to mention that your best friend would never come and visit you out here!"
"Oh stop being so practical Luke! Don't you think it would be lovely and serene living in a place like that?!"
"I guess so…" Lucas said after a while. Slowly he steered the car around the bend and into the exact driveway of the house they were talking about.
"Lucas…. You don't mean?!" Peyton began
"Yep. It's ours for 3 nights and 2 days" he replied smiling, knowing he hit the jackpot.
"It's perfect!" Peyton exclaimed in awe.
"A perfect little getaway from everything. Somewhere to unwind and just enjoy each other" Lucas agreed.
Peyton went to get out of the car, but Lucas quickly pulled her back and ran around to open the door. Peyton giggled as he picked her up and carried her into the house and straight to the bedroom.
"Oh…. My…. God…. What on earth has been going on in here?! It looks like a bomb has hit my own living room!" Julian exclaimed as he surveyed the living area of his house. Clothes were strewn everywhere. There was not a place left to sit or move.
"Brooke… is there something you aren't telling me?! Are we moving?!" Julian joked. In fact, he had no idea where Brooke was, he couldn't even see her under all of this mess. Suddenly he saw a little head bob up between the boxes.
"Fashion parade uncle Julian!" Sawyer said matter-of-factly, as though that could be the only reason that the living room was in such a shambles.
"Of course! A fashion parade! I should know, living with a fashion designer and all"
Julian grinned to himself as he caught sight of Sawyer. Her face was all made up with makeup and she was wearing shoes and dresses that were far too big for her. He was sure that Brooke was enjoying herself as much as her niece was.
"Watch it buddy! You are staring at my next fashion model if her parents will ever loosen their grip on her!" Brooke replied, her head now bopping up from behind all of the mess.
"Good luck with that one!" Julian replied, knowing Peyton and Lucas' protectiveness over their daughter far too well… "And on that note…. I'm going into the study. I have a few things to finish." The girls watched him exit, before Brooke turned her attention back to Sawyer and grinned.
"Ok little one, what next?" Sawyer quickly perked up, eyes scanning the room, looking for something to grab her eyes, and finally she pointed to a dress. "That one!" She exclaimed running over to grab it.
Meanwhile, Julian, left the door to the study ajar, so that he could peek a glance at the girls having fun together. Grabbing out his camera, he stood in the doorway and silently started taking photos of the two of them playing dress-up with a large portion of Brooke's fashion label. It was his new hobby, yet he usually took the photos in private as he found Brooke became too self-conscious as soon as his camera was whipped out. He usually got the best shots when she was unawares. After a few moments, Brooke's phone rang and she raced to pick it up. He could hear her arguing over the phone, so he came out to see what was happening.
"I told you, I'm not free this weekend. Can't you cope on your own?! Surely it can't be that urgent?!" Brooke pleaded on the phone.
"Well getting to New York at the drop of a hat has never been easy you know!"
"Yes, of course I knew that was a risk, which is why I left it for you to be in charge"
Brooke let out a long sigh and paused for a long time before saying "Ok, let me see what I can do." With that she hung up the phone and sighed. What a way to ruin an afternoon. She looked around her at the mess, at the face of a three year old who was looking at her expectantly, and then at Julian who was looking at her worried. Exasperated she began to explain to Julian
"It's that darn new spring line. They need be to just 'pop on by' over to New York to oversee some of the dresses for the models. Apparently there is some designs that are not quite right…. Their words not mine!"
"You should go!" Julian said simply. He knew that if she didn't go, Brooke wouldn't be able to rest until she was sure that everything was ok.
"I can't just go!" Brooke said exasperated. "What would we do with Sawyer? I can't exactly just ship her out with me now can I!? What would I say to Peyton? Oh by the way Peyton, your daughter and I just decided to go on an interstate visit for the weekend!"
Julian smiled. "What's wrong with me!? I've finished for the weekend. Sawyer and I can spend some time together!?"
Brooke paused and looked at him hard.
"You?! You want to look after Sawyer? You, who usually runs as fast as he can in the other direction when he sees kids?!"
"Hey c'mon, it can't be that hard can it?! I mean Sawyer and I are mates? Aren't we Sawyer!?"
"Yup!" she replied, happy to join in the conversation.
"Are you sure? I mean it's not exactly easy…"
"I'm sure I can handle it. You go to New York, and I'll stay here with Sawyer."
Brooke paused while she weighed up her options. Problem was that she was really looking forward to spending a full weekend with her niece. Yet… she felt this really needed her attention and she couldn't leave all of this to her assistants back in New York. Julian's plan did seem the most reasonable.
"Ok, just let me make a few phone calls first." Brooke reasoned.
"Who was that?!" Lucas asked as Peyton re-entered the bedroom wearing one of his shirts.
"It was Brooke. Apparently she's been called on urgent business to New York."
"Oh?!"
"Yeah, she said she really felt she couldn't not go, but would totally understand if we didn't want her to go so she could look after Sawyer."
"Can't Julian look after her!?"
"That's the most obvious solution, although it seems that Brooke has little faith in his babysitting abilities!" Peyton laughed.
"I'm sure he'll be fine!"
"If not, I'm sure that Sawyer will set him right" Peyton laughed as she climbed back into bed with her husband.
They spent some time lying there cuddled together in each others arms both thinking of various things.
"This is weird…" Peyton finally commented.
"Weird?! Wow… I probably wasn't going for… weird!" Lucas replied.
Peyton gently hit him. "I don't mean like that. This is nice… lying here, not having to worry about anything. This holiday is perfect Luke. Just what we needed! But I dunno…. Don't you find it a little weird?"
Lucas paused, trying to figure where Peyton's mind was exactly.
"I'm still not following…."
"Naw c'mon… that we can lie here quietly, for such a length and not be interrupted!"
"Oh THAT!" Lucas laughed. He then pondered for a short while… "Yeah... I guess it's weird!"
"I dunno, I just find it weird. I mean I'm sitting here constantly thinking 'I miss my baby girl. I want to go home just to see her', but in exactly the same moment, I'm sitting her and just relishing the peace and quiet. The lack of agenda. It's…. weird!"
Lucas merely laughed and kissed her.
"You're the weird one."
"Ok, so Haley's details are here. Call her if you need anything. Peyton and Lucas' number is here. Don't call them unless it's an emergency. All the emergency numbers are here…' Brooke paused with a worried look on her face. Was she really doing the right thing? Maybe she should stay after all.
"Brooke we'll be fine" Julian emphasised. Should he be taking offence to all of her worry he wondered?
"OK ok. Well I'll be back first thing tomorrow morning. Behave yourselves" She said kissing Julian goodbye. As Brooke bent down to hug Sawyer, she whispered in her ear "Look after him ok!"
"Ok!" Sawyer responded.
As the door shut behind a nervous Brooke, Julian turned to the little girl staring at him expectantly. It was true. He wasn't that confident about kids. Especially the young ones. He had a bad track record with babies who wouldn't stop crying whenever he held them, only to have them stop as soon as someone else took hold of them. He also never knew what to talk about with kids. How on earth was he to keep this little girl entertained?! Maybe Brooke was right?! Tentatively he smiled at Sawyer before saying "How about some Pizza for dinner eh?!" At the sound of one of Sawyer's favourite food groups, her eyes lit up and Julian knew he was onto a winner.
"Mmmm…. this is a perfect anniversary weekend" Peyton said languorously as they lay out on the deck chairs together looking out at the beach. Each had a glass of wine next to them as they watched the sun set out in front of them.
"I'm glad you approve" Lucas joked.
"We needed this"
"Yeah… we certainly did!"
"I love you so much do you know that?" Peyton said.
"I kind of had an inkling." Lucas smiled, kissing her forehead.
"We've kind of got it good don't we?"
'I think so. I mean we are pretty lucky. Great friends, great family…"
Peyton smiled to herself. They pretty much had everything she ever dreamed of. The life she was living was pretty close to what she always imagined in her wildest dreams being married to Lucas would be like. She couldn't be happier with him. Why was it then that she was so hung up on this baby thing? Why couldn't she just enjoy what she had. I mean… she did have a pretty good deal going on here.
Sighing, she nuzzled in deeper into Lucas' arms.
"This is pretty near perfect" She said again.
A short while later, the moment was interrupted by Lucas' phone ringing.
"Leave it" Peyton whispered ½ asleep. Lucas sighed and had a look at the number. Reluctantly he rose from their comfortable spot "I have to take this" he said simply.
Peyton remained lazed out on the deck chair and waited for Lucas to return. A while later he returned, phone in hand with a shocked look on his face.
Instantly worried, with her mind jumping to Sawyer, Peyton jumped up. "Lucas?! What is it?!"
"My book…. That was the publishing house…. They found a publisher…. They want to publish my book!"
Peyton instantly broke into a smile. "Oh that's fantastic Lucas!!!!" She ran over to him and jumped into his arms hugging him as Lucas too broke into a big grin.
"They're publishing my book!" He repeated.
"So Uncle Julian are you married to my Aunt Brooke?!" Sawyer asked innocently. Julian nearly choked on his pizza. He and Sawyer, having cleaned up the living room as best they could were sitting around the coffee table, and Sawyer, was giving Julian the 411.
"Umm… no not yet we're not"
"Are you going to marry her?"
"I don't really know… I guess so?"
"How can you not know?!" Julian's throat constricted. Why did he all of a sudden feel so hot and clammy?!
"I don't know. I guess I've never really thought that much about it?"
"Do you love her?!"
"Of course. I love her more than anything."
"Mama says if you love someone heaps, then you know. How come you don't know?!"
"It's a big commitment Sawyer" Julian tried to reason
"But everybody's married" Sawyer said simply. Julian couldn't help but chuckle. In this little three year olds mind, everybody included her Aunt Haley, Uncle Nathan, her Mum, Dad, Skills, Mouth and himself and Brooke. To her, it would seem like everyone was coupled up or married. He wasn't going to be the one to break that bubble for her.
"One day Sawyer, we'll marry one day." Satisfied, Sawyer then moved on to her next question
"Will you have lots of babies?!"
Julian laughed outright at this. "What's with all the serious questions kiddo?!"
Sawyer merely shrugged. "I want to know!"
"Well you'll just have to wait and see" Julian replied coyly. "Now, other than asking me a million questions, what would you like to do now?"
Once again, Sawyer mulled the question over, contemplating what she would want to do. Silently she got up from the floor and ran to the room where all of her belongings lay. Thirty seconds later, she came running back out, board game in hand and thrust it at Julian grinning. It was a small jigsaw puzzle. Happy to avoid anymore questions she might have, Julian quickly opened the box and they began to play.
Brooke quietly entered through the front door, careful not to wake anyone. Everything had gone well in New York, but she was utterly exhausted. She wanted nothing more than to flop on the couch and not wake up until next week. As she entered the living room she paused and smiled at the sight. Julian and Sawyer were flaked out on the couch. Pizza boxes were open on the table and board games, soft toys and everything else imaginable was strewn over the floor. Sawyer had flaked out ontop of Julian, evidently while watching a DVD, and Julian had his arm protectively around her. Feeling as though someone was watching him, Julian opened his eyes to see Brooke smiling over him.
"Hey" He said sleepily
"Hey, sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
"'tis ok. How'd it go?"
"Great, another disaster saved for another day" Brooke joked.
"Go back to sleep, I'll put her to bed"
Brooke gently went to take Sawyer and carried her to the spare room. Sawyer stirred quietly but quickly fell back to sleep. She went into her room to find Julian just crawling back into bed.
"Looks like you guys had fun"
"Yeah. She was great" Julian mumbled too tired to continue the conversation.
Smiling, Brooke climbed in next to him and enveloped him in her arms.
"Lucas that was the best weekend ever! Thank you so much for such a great anniversary." It was Sunday afternoon and they were heading back to life. Back from their little weekend bubble to the usual humdrum of their current lifestyle.
"We should do this more often." Lucas said.
"Definitely, but next time we should bring Sawyer. She'd love it here"
"Yeah… she certainly would"
"You miss her?"
"Nope, I've enjoyed the peace and quiet for a change" Lucas joked.
"So peaceful not having the 20 questions every minute of every day" Peyton agreed
"And not having to constantly investigate what mischief she might be up to"
They both paused and looked at each other.
"You miss her?" Peyton asked again.
"So much I am aching to get back to her and give her the biggest hug in the world"
Peyton laughed, knowing he felt exactly the same way that she did.