Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters.
Author's Note: It's finally here, the long-awaited first chapter of the sequel to The Man Who Was His Father. Thank you guys so much for all your patience and support, I hope you all like it. And I noticed while I was going through TMWWHF that my timeline got mixed up, so let me just clear all that up. The story takes place ten years after their senior year in high school, Peyton and Lucas married at 22 they are now both 28.
Chapter 1Peyton's toe slammed into the corner of the brown moving box for what seemed like the hundredth time that week. "Damn it Lucas!" She howled in pain. The cluttered mess in their new home was beginning to grate on her last nerve. They had moved into their cozy little one-story house, located a few blocks away from Nathan and Haley, over two weeks ago but three quarters of the boxes remained unpacked.
"What? What's the matter?" Lucas came rushing into the room. The larger Peyton's belly grew the more worrisome Lucas had become.
"I swear to God Lucas, if we don't get these boxes unpacked really soon I am going to freak out." She walked over to the couch and sat down in a huff.
"So you're going to freak out even more than you are right now." He looked over at her to see if she had managed to crack a smile at his weak attempt at a joke. She remained stone-faced on the sofa. He sighed and made his way through the maze of boxes and came to sit down beside her.
"How's your toe?" He asked cautiously, rubbing her back.
"My toe's fine Lucas."
"Than what's the matter Peyt."
She sighed loudly, alerting him of her annoyance. "Nothing is going on Lucas."
"Don't lie to me Peyton. You've been on edge since we moved in. Tell me what the problem is so we can fix it."
"The problem is all these damn boxes." That was a lie, the boxes weren't the whole problem and she knew it. But that's what she was going to use for right now, and the boxes really were an annoyance. They were all labeled and stacked in the appropriate room, creating a walking hazard every way they turned. They'd managed to build a path that led from the front door to each room. It was a ridiculous way to live even if the situation was only temporary. "I can't live like this anymore, it's crazy. If I'm not running into one box, I'm digging through another to find an empty sketchbook. I don't know why you won't let me help you unpack, the doctor never said I couldn't lift anything. I'm not completely helpless."
"I know you're not helpless Peyton."
"Than why are treating me like I am."
"Do you just feel like arguing today, or what?" The truth was that they had been arguing a lot more than usual over the past month. The stress of moving and packing and house shopping was finally catching up to them.
Peyton glared at him and shook her head angrily. "You know what Lucas? I'm going to bed. Feel free to sleep on the couch." She pulled herself to her feet as quickly as a pregnant woman can.
"What the hell am I sleeping on the couch for?" Lucas instantly regretted raising his voice to her. "Peyton I'm sorry." She walked right past him and down the hallway, slamming their bedroom door behind her.
"Shit." He muttered to himself. He exhaled sharply and scratched the back of his head. All the pregnancy books he'd been reading had made it very clear that stress was the last thing an expectant mother needed. But her mood swings weren't making his life any easier.
He waited a few minutes before going to check on her. It had been quiet in the back room for a while he figured it was safe. Tapping softly on the door, Lucas waited for a response, when she didn't answer he opened the door. Peyton was lying across their bed with her back to the door.
"Peyton." He said quietly as he walked across the room towards the bed.
"What?" she asked, still not looking at him.
"Can we talk?" He sat at the spot near the end of the bed and reached out his arm to gently touch her leg.
"I don't really feel like talking, I'm tired and I want to go to bed."
"Please talk to me Peyton."
"About what Lucas?"
"Your mini-rampage a few minutes ago would be a good place to start. What was that all about."
"It's just stress." Her voice began to soften. "There's just stuff all over the place. I don't have a place to draw, which is something I need."
"That's it? You promise me that there is nothing bigger going on."
"That's it." She nodded.
Lucas stretched out on the bed next to her. "I'm sorry."
"It wasn't just you Lucas, believe me." She said. Her finger lightly traced the outline of his jaw. "I'm sorry too."
I shouldn't be egging you on like I did. No more arguing alright? You and the baby don't need it." He kissed her.
"You don't need me yelling at you about the clutter and my stubbed toe. You've been busting your ass for the last two weeks trying to get our house in order by yourself. I just hope you know how much I appreciate everything you do for me."
"I do know."
"Moving back here was supposed to be a good thing for us, you know. But we can't seem to stop arguing, and we used to never fight. Do you even remember the last time we fought?"
Lucas grinned and covered his eyes with his hands. "I do remember actually. It was a few months after we had gotten married and I, regrettably, put the empty milk carton back into the fridge. You were so pissed, but in your defense you did have a strip due. You whipped that empty carton at me with impressive force. That fight ended up lasting almost a week, I slept on the couch."
"You seem to remember that well." Peyton pushed him playfully. "I wasn't looking for a specific example. My point is that we hardly ever fight and this move is getting really getting to us, and I don't want that."
"I don't want it either. That's why I think that you need to call Haley, and you two need to go spend the day together. Get out of the house, relax, and I'll work on these boxes." Peyton started to protest but he quickly cut her off. "No arguing Peyton, remember. Now will you please go and call Haley."
"Alright, I'm going to call her right now, don't get in a huff now. I'll be right back." She kissed him before grabbing the phone from it's nightstand cradle and leaving the room.
Lucas felt his eyelids grow heavy, the darkness of the room allowing him to drift easily in and out of sleep. His eyes finally closed, his tired body finally succumbing to the necessity of rest.
But his slumber didn't last long, Peyton's voice cut through the quiet house. His eyes shot open and he sprang forward in bed when he heard her yell his name. There was panic evident in her already shaky voice, he knew instantly that something was very wrong. He flew out of bed and ran down the hallway to the living room. Turning the corner he stood frozen at the sight of his wife, hunched over in pain. Lucas rushed to her side and caught her just as she fell to her knees.
"Lucas help me." She pleaded with him, holding her stomach. "Oh god it hurts."
He was lost with no idea what to do. Should he call 911 or stay by his wife's side? His body felt like someone had pushed the slow-motion button.
"Lucas there's something wrong with the baby." Those six words terrified him to the core. He was completely helpless, there was nothing he could do.
"Lucas wake up." He felt a slight nudge from the person next to him. He sat forward in bed and turned to see Peyton with a look of concern washed over her face, sitting next to him. He breathed a small sigh of relief knowing that what he'd just experienced was just a dream. "Are you ok, you were tossing around in your sleep."
He closed his eyes at the touch of her cool hand to his cheek and kissed the inside of her palm. "It was just a bad dream, I'm ok."
"You want to tell me what it was about?"
"No. I'm ok though, really." He offered reassuringly. "Go back to sleep Peyt."
"Lucas, you're shaking." She grabbed his hand.
"Peyton." He kissed her. "I'm fine."
A little more convincing and Lucas had finally gotten Peyton back to sleep, but rest wouldn't come as easily for him. He was wide-awake, staring up at the ceiling trying in vain to push the nightmarish images from his mind. Lucas rolled over on his side, finding some comfort after placing his hand on Peyton's stomach. He felt the slight movements of their baby from under his hand, the constant rhythm aiding his sleep. He finally closed his eyes and let sleep overtake him.
So there it is, the first chapter of the sequel. Like always, tell me what you guys think, your reviews mean everything. I couldn't find the right place to put the effects Dan's death had on everyone, so that will all be in the upcoming chapters.