A/N: A quick little thing…
Ryder and Ella aka La-la are Peyton and mystery guy twins. Age 10
Lucas Jr aka LJ Brucas son age 11.
Angelina Brucas daughter age 7
Brooklyn Cassie and Davis daughter age 11 and a half.
Cassie is Skills daughter, Sean is Mouth and Millie's son.
-x-
10 years later…
Three thousand six hundred fifty three months, eighty seven days, eight hours, forty minutes and thirty-five seconds later Peyton inhaled her first real breath of fresh air, relishing everything about her newfound freedom. She lifted her bag up on her small shoulders and hailed a cab from the park across the street from the prison, dodging Sawyer in the meantime. Her cell had been ringing all morning mostly from Julian and Nathan but she had ignored them instead focusing on seeing her kids and Lucas who she had tried to forget but could not. Fake it til you make it wasn't that how the saying went? She licked her dried lips and continued calling out for a ride. Finally one came to a stop and she gave the directions of where she intended to go.
"Where the hell are you?" Julian snarled into her ear.
Peyton rolled her eyes and replied steadily, "Don't worry about me. I'm fine."
"How the hell can I not worry—you're my daughter's mother who just got out of—"
"I know where I was Julian and why I was in there and why you felt you had no choice but to let that bitch take custody of my children—I know Julian!" she said looking down at the photo of a smiling Brooke and Lucas with their child and her twins in a family photo. Talk about twisting the fucking knife in her back.
"Don't start—"
"Julian I'm recovered I meant no malice toward Brooke or Lucas!" She then sighed, "But I can't help but feel like she stole what was meant for me—that she has all that I was meant to cherish. Lucas…my children…my home…everything—she has my life. And I don't think that's fair that you take her side—"
Julian paused a beat before saying, "I don't think you're quite well enough for this—"
She cursed inwardly, Damn it, revealed too much. She then revised her earlier statement. "They told me that the only way to get better was to talk out my feelings and not to hold things like this in. To vent it all out so that I no longer feel the need to do violence."
"I still think you should spend more time in therapy—"
"Julian I spent 9 years in Prison then I spent a year and eight months in a psych ward. There's no way in hell I'm going back to Westvillage! Look I gotta go. Bye." she then hung up the phone and took a calming breath. She breathed in and breathed out and repeated the exercise until she felt more like herself. She began grinning as she came toward Lucas and Brooke's house but the grin was quickly wiped out when she saw that their house was emptied out and there was a For Sale sign out in front. "Oh my God! Is this it?"
"Yeah 730 New Hampshire Circle."
Peyton bit her lip savagely until it bled a little. "Ok as you can see no one lives there anymore—so I need you to take me to 398 Richard Ave ok. I'll pay you double."
The cabbie nodded then pulled out the meter still running. "Ok.. Sounds good to me."
Peyton did her breathing exercises again just to keep from having a nose bleed. "I can not believe how this day is turning out!" Her phone rang again and she answered it reluctantly. "Hello?"
"I hear you're out." Brooke said slowly.
Her anger was renewed in an instant. "Why didn't you tell me you guys had moved?"
"You know the reason why Peyton. As soon as we heard of your appending release Lucas searched for a new place to live and I agreed. I cannot risk you tearing my family apart again. We worked hard to get back to a point where we're solid and I'll be damned if I let you come between us again."
Peyton's eyes narrowed as that statement sank in. "I need to see my children Brooke."
"I'll bring them by to Naley's place tonight ok. But as far as you knowing where I live—that's out of the question."
"How's Lucas? Does he think of me a lot?" she smirked.
Brooke scoffed softly, "I knew there was no way you had recovered. Listen here bitch—you are no where on his mind—you're just his fucking ex wife while I am his wife. His wife. He is none of your concern—so don't ask about my husband alright—in fact don't talk to him unless it's kids related. You hear me bitch?!"
"Oh yeah I hear you loud and clear."
"Good. Like I said the kids will be at Naley's house… probably by nine. So be there and don't even think of doing anything funny—you hear me?"
Anger was transformed into full on rage. "Fine. See you then."
Brooke hadn't said another word but hung up promptly. Peyton laughed bitterly then watched the scenery pass by. She once again did her breathing exercises only this time they refused to work. "Damn her! Damn her to hell!"
The cabbie looked in the rearview mirror. "Are you alright miss?"
"Yes. I'm fine just get me there as fast as you possibly can please."
"Alright…"
Peyton tried to relax but couldn't manage to. She had not worked this hard faking recovery just for her plan to snag like this. She just had to refocus and make a new plan or embellish on the old one. Her cell rang again and she answered, "Hello?"
"Peyton? Are you ok? Do you need to go back to—"
"Oh my God I'm so sick of everybody doubting my recovery—Mia I'm fine…I'm fucking fine ok!"
Mia sighed with exhaustion, "Ok…do you need a place to stay? Because Chase and I would be glad to have you."
Sawyer had married her college sweetheart Mason McCall and had a nice two acre paradise on the other side of town with a small lake behind their house and plenty of peach trees. "I appreciate the thought but I need my own space—I'll find something as soon as possible."
"But what about tonight? You need a place to lay your head—"
Peyton rolled her eyes then said sweetly, "It's fine…I'll be fine. Talk to you later sweetie."
"Ok…but remember I'll always be here for you."
"Thank you baby." Not ten seconds after she hung up with Sawyer that her cell rang again. She sighed, her head in her hands, "Not again!"
The cabbie smiled at her through the mirror then commented, "Looks like someone's a popular somebody…"
She gave him a wary look and said, "Popularity is not all it's cracked up to be."
He smiled and nodded with understanding, "I'm Ryan Daniels and you are?"
She smiled charmingly, "I'm Peyton Sawyer."
"Peyton…that's actually a lovely name."
She licked her lips and leaned forward a little flirtatiously. "Are you trying to flirt with me Mr. Daniels?"
"Actually I'm just telling you my name…flirting would be asking for your number and what plans you had tonight?" He then waited a beat then said, "No really…what's your number?"
Peyton laughed and it felt good, "So you can blow up my phone too?"
"No not blow it up…but definitely call obsessively."
She laughed again then replied, "Ah is there a difference?"
They had stopped at a red light and he was free to face her through the plexiglass. "I think so…yeah. Blowing up a phone is not enough for me…I have to call every minute or every second. Which is much much worse."
Peyton had to crack a smile then said, "Ok my number is 867-5309—"
"Nice try Peyton. I love that song though—Jenny. It's quite catchy."
Peyton chuckled then nodded, feeling more relaxed, "You caught that did you?"
The car then lurched forward once the light had turned green, "Yeah I did… I'm not as dumb as I look so…"
She smiled then nodded, "Ok my real number is 436-7582. Got that?"
He nodded then tapped his head, "Don't be surprised that I'll call you. I have a hell of a memory."
"That makes two of us."
They came to an complete stop then he turned in his seat to face her again. "We're here. I kind of hate that I have to charge you—but not that much."
She handed him the cash with a bright smile, "I knew it."
His black brows drew together as if he were considering something. "You still didn't answer my question."
"You're right I didn't…" She then considered and shrugged, "My plans tonight are pretty much about meeting my twins—a boy and a girl—they're ten years old now."
"What are their names?"
She sighed with pride, "Ella and Ryder."
"Yeah I know that look…I have kids myself. Kimberly, Mitchell and Markus—Kimberly's five, Mitchell's four and Markus is two—although I don't have custody they're the light of my life."
"I hear your pain. My kids aren't with me either."
He nodded then replied, "Promise to call me—my number is 983-4767. Be sure to call me…it's very important."
Peyton nodded, knowing she most likely would call him. She got out of the cab and turned to face him, "Alright…talk to you later Ryan."
"You'd better or I'll call you."
She cocked her head to the side and asked coyly, "How do you know that I gave you the right number this time?"
"Because I can smell bullshit from a mile away. You gave me the right number the second time."
Peyton cracked a smile then said, "Ok…I gotta go—and so do you. After all you got a job to do."
He smiled, his teeth incredibly white and even. "You're right. I gotta go. Later Peyton Sawyer."
She smiled and nodded, "Later Ryan Daniels."
Ryan drove off leaving her to face her future. She gulped and walked up the driveway toward her Naley's large estate. Nathan came out and clasped her in his strong arms and held on tightly. Peyton held on just as tightly as tears cascaded down her cheeks. True they hadn't been on the best terms when she went away but they had missed her. She had almost forgotten how much she missed her family since being locked away to rot in that hellhole. Sawyer also came down and joined in the fierce hug, tears running down her face as well. It was quite touching. But the only ones she were missing were Sawyer, Lucas and her other two children.
She brushed the tears from her cheeks as soon as Sawyer parted from her. "How are the twins—are they happy?"
Sawyer smiled brightly and replied, "They're ecstatic that you're home now."
"I know they hated being there—now I can spend as much time with them as I want. I can't wait until I get a place and be able to take care of them the way that I want to—and need to. I want to be able to give them everything—" she saw the look on their face then hesitantly asked, "What is it?"
Haley and Nathan gave each other a look. Haley spoke first, "Sweetie about that…"
Sawyer sighed and admitted, "Brooke and Dad had petitioned for full custody…and it was granted."
Peyton's world swayed and it felt as if it would not be righted again. "When exactly were you going to tell me?! I can't have my kids?!" Her breaths became shallower and she looked from her daughter to Nathan and Haley. "Wait a minute is that even legal?! I don't remember signing away my parental rights!"
"You didn't have to…when you went in…you were a danger to those around you and that meant the twins—"
"I would have never hurt them! They're my life—my fucking life! I would cut my own wrists than hurt Ella and Ryder!"
Sawyer's eyes were tearing up in an entirely different way, "Mom…you can still have visitation—"
"Fuck that! They're going to live with me! They haven't been with me since they've been born! I'm their mother—not that bitch!"
"Peyton calm down—"
Her eyes snapped to her daughter, "How the hell can I calm down when Brooke took my kids—" she then scoffed and replied sourly, "why should this surprise me?! She takes everything of mine—"
"Peyton—that's not how it went. The kids are used to Brooke and Lucas so it makes more sense for them to let them stay in a stable home. If you love them—you'd want what's best for them—"
New tears, tears of pain cascaded down her cheeks at this new revelation. "Bullshit I'm what's best for them—I'm their fucking mother—I should be the one taking care of them!"
Nathan looked at Peyton with compassion in his blue eyes. "I'm sorry to say this—but it needs to be said. They don't know you. And you don't know what they need—Brooke and Lucas do. They were there…they know them as well as their own son and daughter"
"This is too much to absorb—I got to go! I can not be here!" She said brokenly, visibly shaking from the shock of everything.
Haley said reaching out for her, her heart aching for her troubled former friend. "Peyton wait—"
"I can not be here! I can not be here!" She repeated walking further and further away from the estate. She was so dazed she was almost hit by a car. It came to a screeching halt and honked furiously and drove around her. She continued to walk until she was well away from the estate and the park. "First Lucas now my kids?! Oh that bitch is going to pay!"
-x-
A few hours later after Peyton had talked to her over the phone; Brooke paced furiously as she wrestled with the decision to drop the twins off at Naley's house, unsure of what Peyton would do especially when she learned that they had full custody of Ryder and Ella. She nibbled on her lower lip nervously, worrying this much would surely give her more grey hair. Lucas understood her fears and went to comfort her. She sorely needed his arms around her so she leaned into him when he held her in his arms, sighing. Brooke closed her eyes trying to stay calm.
"It'll be ok Brooke…" he muttered, holding her closer.
"How can you know that? Peyton is crazy…she will do anything to get you and the twins."
Lucas sighed, then looked down into her eyes. "Honey, you're preaching to the choir. I know she's crazy…and I know how you feel. I'm just as shocked and outraged that she's out. But there's nothing we can do about it."
"Unless she does something really crazy…" she muttered softly.
"Exactly…which is an almost certainty."
Brooke sighed then flattened her lips, "I don't want to live like this…I just wish that everything would be more—normal. I wish my old best friend wasn't a crazy lunatic after my husband a-and my children…"
"Maybe one day we wouldn't have to worry about this…maybe one day she'll get her life together—"
Brooke looked at him then replied acidly, "If she didn't get it right in prison and the mental hospital, then she'll never get it right." She then paused and said, "I'm sorry baby…I know you're just trying to cheer me up but I'm just so—"
Lucas sighed then replied, "I know baby, I know…"
"Do you? Do you really get the anxiety and stress I'm under? Are you sure we have to go?"
"Yes, I'm under the same stress as you." He then sighed and replied, "And yes…we do have to go…at least this once. She does need to see her kids..."
Brooke sighed then leaned her forehead against his shoulder and replied, "I know…the twins do have to know their mother—but if she acts up—she is not going nowhere near you or them. We will simply disappear altogether. Understand?"
"Yes…I understand and agree."
"Good…then let's get the kids ready for the barbeque."
Two hours later they were at Haley and Nathan's house with their kids n tow. Peyton was nowhere to be found which made Brooke relax somewhat. She walked toward her friends with a smile on her face, her hands locked with Angel and Ella who were walking along. Mason and Sawyer, Jamie and his wife Keira, Mouth and Millie, and Skills with Cassie and her husband Sean Mcfadden were there drinking and talking but literally lit up at the sight of her and the kids.
"Hey babies!" Sawyer exclaimed, picking Ella up into her arms.
"Hi…Sawyer…" Ella said with a beautiful smile, looking both like Peyton and Lucas at once. She then waved and said, "Hi Auntie Millie, Keira, Jamie, Mason, Cassie, Uncle Mouth, and Uncle Skills."
"Hi La-La…" they all said at once, "Hi Angel…"
Angel, who had always been shy, smiled then hid behind Brooke's skirt and softly said, "Hi…"
"Where's Ryder and LJ?" Jamie asked, looking for him.
Brooke looked over and smiled then pointed and said, "He's over there with Lucas and Nate at the grill. He doesn't leave Lucas's side for nothing."
Jamie smiled then replied, "Let me go and get him. I'll be right back…"
"No let him be…he loves being with his father and he barely sees Nate…" She then sighed and added, "Plus…it's good that he wants to spend time with them…that means Lucas is doing something right."
"Or that he gives him no attention…" Antwon replied, also looking off to where Ryder was playing with LJ, Nathan and Lucas.
Brooke looked over at her brother and scowled, "You know what—"
"Just kidding Brooke, damn… Lucas is a good dad. And you're a terrific mom."
She flushed with pleasure at the praise then said, "Thank you—that means so much."
"Hey Ella want to show us that amazing runway walk Brooke has been raving about?" Millie asked, knowing that between the girls Ella was the bolder of the two. Ella smiled brightly then did her best confident model walk down the driveway. "Oh my God…that was amazing."
Ella smiled then replied, "Thank you…I've been working on it for months."
"She sure has…every hour on the hour." Angel said, rolling her eyes.
"Whatever—at least I don't spend my days in stupid books all the time." Ella snapped, her bright blue eyes sparkling in anger.
Aiden laughed then replied, "They sound just like Brooke and Peyton don't they?"
Anthony nodded, "Exactly…"
"But unlike us…they do get along once in awhile." Brooke said as she looked at her girls in affection. She then told them to go help Haley with the festivities. Once they were gone, she sighed, "To be honest…I would like to have a better relationship with Peyton—but I just can't trust her."
Peyton walked toward Brooke then replied acidly, "Just like I can't trust you."
"Peyton…nice to see you again." Brooke said tightly.
Peyton shook her head with disdain, "How could you?"
"How could you?" Brooke replied, looking at her also with disdain.
"I never took your kids from you…" she said accusingly.
Brooke squared her shoulders then answered acidly, "But you tried to take my husband, Peyton. By whatever means necessary. Which is just as bad." she then took a breath and replied calmly, "Look I don't want to argue with you…Ryder and Ella are here to see you—just as we agreed."
"Where are they?"
"Ella is helping Haley with the food and entertainment. And Ryder is with Nathan...you know what, I'll just go get them so you can spend time with them—supervised time." she then left her to hunt down the twins, needing to get away from the venom her nemesis carried around like a shield.
"How's it going?" Lucas asked, kissing her cheek.
Brooke smiled tightly, wound up so tightly that she felt like she was going to explode. "Peyton's here..."
"She is? Are you sure?" he said, looking around for her.
"Yes...we just had a very touching reunion. In fact I came over here to get Ryder."
"Oh he went with Nate and LJ to the store to get some more sausages for the grill...LJ couldn't stop eating them and ended up eating most of the sausages."
She laughed then nodded, "He is getting to be more and more like you everyday..."
"I hope not..." he said, thinking of his past.
Brooke knew her husband well and said softly, "Hey, don't go there...you didn't turn out that bad."
"You really get me. I love you...so much."
"I know...and I love you too but I have to find our daughters. Peyton wants to see Ella and I want her to see Angelina as well..."
Lucas frowned then said, "Why? You know she's not going to be interested and besides I don't really want our kids anywhere near her any—"
Brooke held up a hand interrupting him then said, "I know...but you know how Ella is when she's around Peyton—she's rigid, scared and barely even talks—she's not herself around her. So I really think it's best that Angel is by her side while she's meeting her mother. Ella needs her sister with her as well as her brother. And plus Angel can monitor their conversations while she's there."
"Genius...pure genius..." he said with an approving smile.
"I know...now let's go find our daughters..."
-x-
Hours had passed and Peyton felt like she was in hell as she watched Brooke and Lucas bond. They were smiling and were dancing to Sugar Ray's Someday and Peyton was seething at the sight of her with Lucas that she literally bit the inside of her mouth until it bled. They looked so blissfully happy that it physically made her sick. Ella was beside her, sitting rigidly, watching them as well, but the difference is that Ella had a beautiful smile on her face. Ryder was also sitting with them looking quite bored, while Angel—who looked exactly like Brooke, sat quietly and watched her. Almost like a hawk. Yes, she was definitely Brooke's daughter.
"Did you know your dad and I were married once?" she said, marveling her beautiful face once more.
Ella looked over at her then said softly, "Yeah, you had to have—or else Ryder and I wouldn't be here..."
Peyton smiled, "That's right...but did you know that he loved me first?"
"Yes I knew, Peyton, Mama told me that before..." Ryder said, not bothering to censer his words.
"She makes you call her Mama?!" she exclaimed, looking back over toward the couple where they kissed and held each other tightly.
Ryder, as always was quite frank, "No, we just do...she's the one raising us, and she's treating us really great and we love her just as she loves us."
"She can't love you like I love you...I'm your mother."
"Don't remind me..." Ryder said, folding his arms over his chest.
Peyton looked at him, rage building and building until she feared she would lose control. "What was that?!"
"You heard me...don't remind me that you're my mother. It's bad enough that I have to talk to you—" he snapped, angry at how she talked about Brooke.
"Ryder stop it!" Angel admonished, showing a maturity well beyond her years. "You know Mama always taught us to be respectful—"
"Well she doesn't have respect for Mama—So why should I have respect for her?"
Lucas and Brooke stopped dancing and immediately went over to where they sat, fuming. "What's going on here?"
Her anger and resentment boiled over at the sight of them. Peyton stood to her feet then pushed Brooke forcefully, "You poisoned them against me—that's what's going on!"
"Peyton no one poisoned anyone against you! You're doing it yourself." Brooke snapped, pushing her back. Peyton pushed her again, this time pushing her into Lucas. "Stop it Peyton, you're scaring the children!"
"And you! You're supposed to be with me! Why couldn't you just give me another chance?!"
Lucas made sure his kids went inside and then said, "What do you want me to say? Our love died over a decade ago!" he then sighed, "This was a bad idea…"