Chapter 15 – Dead and Gone

A/N: Haven't updated in… I don't know how long. Sorry, sorry, sorry. Inspiration has failed me on this story, the new one has been coming along well and totally pushed this and Open Your Eyes out of my radar, which is very frustrating as well as awful. Can't seem to pick it up again, just about squeezed this out, out of sheer desperation which shouldn't be the way. Have a new system now, when you write a story, write it all at once, then post, much better idea. The new story will be a long time coming yet as well, sorry again.

Pulling on the cream suit – Peyton had insisted no one was to wear black – he surveyed his appearance in the mirror, Keith stood behind him and patted him on the shoulder, nodding reassuringly.

Having reconciled with his mother as well, the support system was getting larger than just Brooke and Larry, both of whom weren't in very good condition they themselves considering. He couldn't see anyone else who would be joining though.

'You're gonna be ok,' Keith had turned Lucas around by this point and as his nephew looked into his eyes, all he could see was a tragic plea for help, it crushed Keith to see him like this. Lucas took a long breath, not removing the look of hurt and cleared his throat.

'What time are we supposed to be there?' Lucas couldn't remember at all, it was insane and awful but he didn't have the strength to feel ashamed.

Keith looked back at him even more sympathetically than Lucas had thought possible and a fiery flash of resentment passed over Lucas in that moment. Turning away to rummage through his drawer he resisted the urge to pick a fight with his uncle for being all-too-sympathetic.

'Two.'

Lucas didn't reply yet having found what he was searching for left his room and locked himself in the bathroom, clearly sending the right message to Keith. He couldn't find it in him to care that he was behaving very immaturely. To be honest, he thought he had the right to have an 'excuse to act in any way I like' card.

Opening the velvet box in his hand he looked at the ring inside, her wedding ring was perfect, just as it should be and how he'd always imagined it, he only wished that the rushed marriage was in better circumstances. He hated the fact that they felt they needed to; her cancer shouldn't give them reason to live their life any differently – except it did, of course it did…

Waking up this morning he had almost had a panic attack not seeing her living, breathing form lying next to him. Eventually realisation had dawned on him that it was their wedding day and they had decided to carry on with tradition.

This was also supposed to be the happiest day of his life; waking up insanely happy and imagining a long and wonderful future lay out ahead of them. If only they could both truly trust that that would actually happen.

Pulling himself together he looked into the mirror and dragged a hand over his face. Forcing his thoughts to count on how lucky they actually were in the situation he thought about all that the doctor had told them two days prior.

Peyton was in stage one of ovarian cancer, therefore treatable. However there were three sections to stage one, Peyton being in the third. Surgery was booked in already and the leaflet they had been given with all the information had very kindly bullet pointed all the things that the surgeon would remove. Sitting in bed that night, Peyton had cried on his shoulder having the realization that after this she would be infertile.

She would be stripped of all the body parts capable of bearing children and they were devastated.

After surgery Peyton would feel awful and weak, therefore Lucas and Brooke had resolved to remain as strong as they possibly could. Chemotherapy would be next ensuring that the cancer wouldn't come back, however there was nothing definite about that being the final glimpse they see of her cancer.

Having never thought Peyton to be the kind of girl who cared that much about appearances, he had been marginally surprised to the extent of her grief towards losing her hair and quality of nails. He had whispered in her ear comforting words, promising that neither of these things would make him see her any differently. She had shouted that she didn't care what he thought – although he knew that to be a lie – and screamed that she just didn't want to loose her curls. He would have laughed if the situation wasn't as it was.

It was true after some more research that your hair could grow back differently but he said that he would buy her the best curlers there possibly were if, god forbid, her hair grew back straight.

The fact that a few days ago he had thought he was going to be a father seemed impossible, it felt like a dream he had years ago. Now they would never have biological children but he had no doubt if after this all, that wouldn't stop them from becoming parents anyway.

Deciding that he had spent enough time in the bathroom he unlocked the door as quietly as possible and walked slowly out into the hall, Keith was in the sitting room of their small apartment and gave him an apologetic glance.

'Will you drive me to the woman of my dreams, I believe we are to be married at two o'clock and I'd hate to be late' he said in the most posh accent he could create and the shadow of laughter passed between them both as Keith opened the door for Lucas to follow.

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Both Brooke and Peyton had tears in their eyes as they stood in the mirror in awe of how they both looked. Brooke had done Peyton's make-up to perfection, subtly averting anyone's thoughts to the fact that she was looking pale by adding blusher and a mild bronzer.

'You look amazing P,' Brooke said after sniffing and clearing her throat.

'No, we look amazing, you did amazing in two days B. Davis,' she looked at Brooke into her eyes rather than through the mirror, grasping her shoulders gently and looking at her face directly, 'thank you, so much.'

Brooke nodded a silent acceptance. 'Lets go get you married shall we Peyton Scott to be.'

Peyton nodded 'I can't think of anything I'd rather do.'

Hopefully having written some more inspiration will come back, maybe reviews would help? Pretty pleeeeasseeeee?? :)