Notes: I hope you guys like this! I usually don't write real life people, but I wanted to write Pete into the story. I have the AU that Peyton and Pete stayed friends after the events from season three.

- Little Scott -

Chapter Three: Goodbyes.

Lucas stood at the back of the large room where Peyton was being held. He is brought back into the world when he hears the word, "Daddy." and a soft hand pulling at his suit jacket. He looks down, smiling softly at the little girl who reminds him a little of his wife. "Grandma's here."

The word grandma catches his attention. "What?"

"Grandma is here with aunty Lily!" She grabs his hand, pulling him along to the doors to where the two are standing.

"Mom. Lil. I didn't think you would make it." Lucas says, he looks and sounds defeated. He half hugs his little sister before he hugs his mother tightly. "I'm so glad you are here."

"I am so sorry, baby." Karen Scott says softly to her son. They go apart and Karen looks down to the her four year old granddaughter she has not seen in person since she was a baby. "Sawyer."

"Grandma." Sawyer says. She walks over slowly and gives a small hug. "Daddy, I wanna go sit down and wait for everyone."

Lucas nods and he watches her go.

"How is she?"

"We are working on it." Lucas says carefully.

"Hard to crack?" Lily asks, ignoring the looks from her mother.

"Something like that." He says to his little sister.

- Little Scott -

"Lucas Eugene Scott." He would know that voice anywhere. "Even though, this is bad timing. I am so happy to see you."

"Brooke." He says in a half whisper, he hugs his old friend close to him.

"I'm so sorry about Peyton." She looks around the home that the services are being held at. "I love the idea of wearing colors that are not black. Banning black from a funeral last moment. Pure genius. Peyton would've loved this."

He smirks at the comment. He was sure lots of people thought this idea was his. "It was Sawyer's idea." He states.

"Sawyer?" Brooke questions, looking over to her goddaughter. "Still as special as always?"

"Beyond special. She is amazing." Lucas sighs, rubbing his hand over his face.

He was exhausted. He was more than exhausted, he would say he was emotionally drained. He thought about taking Haley or his mom's offer about taking Sawyer with them for the night. Just so he had hours to process the days that have passed since the police has arrived at his door by himself. But he didn't want to be away from Sawyer.

Brooke looked at the man before her. "You need coffee or a beer."

"Both." He laughs softly. "Everyone has been offering to keep an eye on Sawyer for the night but I'm not ready to let her go. Where's the twins and Julian?"

"Around. I wanted to say hello before the crowds start coming in. I am sure we will see you at the wake. I have some gifts for my goddaughter over there."

"I hear a lot of people have gifts for her. She's gonna love it." His eyes go forward to the little girl in the first row. "Thank you for coming, Brooke." His voice breaks.

"Anytime. Call me and I will always be here for the both of you. We will always be family." Lucas hugs her once more, thankful for his friends and family that are here with him, with his daughter.

- Little Scott -

She kicked her shoes against the air as she waited watched people go up, greet her dad saying soft words then moving to her mom to say goodbye. She knows Grandma wants her to stand up with her family, but she didn't care to talk to people at the moment.

She watches the faces, naming who they are as they pass by. Some faces she knew from pictures, others were important. Her attention goes to a face and

she calls, "Uncle Pete!" She climbs out of her seat and runs over to where he stood. "You came!"

Uncle Pete was better known to many others as Pete Wentz. He bends down to hug the little girl. "Sawyer." He smiles widely. "You look nice."

Pete found the little one to have held a special place in his heart since his good friend, Peyton, called on Skye and showed him her smiling face as an infant. He was surprised through everything Peyton always made sure the two stayed friends, with many text messages, facetime calls and visits over the years. After Sawyer was born, he became a good friends to Uncle. And he couldn't be happier. Family was always a good thing, even if it was a makeshift family. He liked for a fact he could call Peyton, Lucas and Sawyer Scott part of his family.

She shrugs at his comment. "I know. I thought mommy said you were in France."

"I was, but I had time off in my schedule. And this important. I see your dad is busy, can I come sit by you?" Peter figured he could keep an eye on the four year old and away from everyone else.

"Okay. But you have to be quiet. I'm watching."

He looks confused. "Watching?"

"I don't know what else to do but to watch. It helps."

Pete smiles, pulling a small Eiffel Tower bear he picked up in the airport in Pairs. "Before you start watching." He hands over the small gift to her. "This is for you."

"From Pairs?"

He nods. "I thought you might like it."

She smiles, moving her hands over the gift. "I love it. Thanks, Uncle Pete!"

This is the moment, Sawyer knew, distractions could be a good thing.

- Little Scott -

The funeral service was sweet serivce. Lucas stands up, walking over to the podium. He smiles a shaky sad. He looks to the crowd and his eyes are brought to his little girl. She is leaned against his suit jacket.

"Peyton Sawyer. Peyton Sawyer. Peyton Sawyer. The love of my life. The light of my life until our little daughter was born. I am so happy that she was not just apart of my life, but all of yours. She had such a great appreciation for life, that she has passed on to me and her baby girl. I wish I could gather my thoughts with many stories I have of my wife, but everything is a little jumble these days." He looks down. "But she was amazing. She taught me the true meaning of love, she believed in me when I didn't believe me. She loved life. After all the pain she felt in her life, she still believed in the goodness of people. And I know that her life, memories and love will move on with all of us in this room."

"Thank you for coming here to say goodbye to Peyton." He looks to her coffin. He steps down, pressing a small kiss to his lips then her now closed coffin.

Sawyer runs up and smiles at her daddy. Lucas holds Sawyer's hand, squeezing her hand. "How you feeling, baby girl?"

"Sad. Sad, daddy." She sighs sadly.

- Little Scott -

The wake was held at the beach house Lucas was renting for the time being. Lucas looked around the house, then outside. He smiles softly, Peyton was so loved.

Fuck, he missed her. This had to be one the hardest thing he ever had to do, say goodbye to someone he loved. It reminded him of his days in high school, it reminded the day he lost Keith.

His eyes move to Pete holding his daughter's hand as they were walking on the beach. He more than appreciated him coming to say goodbye. He thought it was kind of funny how his daughter and Pete got along so well.

"What's your plan now?" Nathan comes up behind Lucas, handing his older brother a beer before bringing his own to his lips.

"Sawyer needs a family, now. I think it's time for me to come back home."

"Tree Hill?" Lucas nods. "I think that would be good. We would all love to have you back."

"I would have to look for an actual house, some kind of schooling that would fit for Sawyer, and then moving out of my place…" He sighs, sliding his hand through his hair.

"You don't have to worry about doing this by yourself. Haley and I are here to help." Nathan tells his brother, meaning every word.

"Thank you, Nate. I am gonna take you up on that."

He squeezes his shoulder. "Just tell me what you need…"