Okay so this is the sequal to A Safe Place to Cry. If you haven't read that you might want too. This is completely AU, but some of the stuff from the show still applies. This basically takes place after the other one ended.
My Saving Grace
Chapter 1 The Party Guy is Gone
Some pessimists do not believe that anyone can change, but I am positive that if it is in your heart you can change and become a better person.
It had been two weeks since Lucas had proposed to Peyton, and she had said yes. They were still debating on which house they would live in. Lucas' was bigger, but it wasn't technically his, and his mom could come back home at anytime. Peyton owned the house she was living in and thought that it would be best for Riley and Lucas to move in with them, but they were still trying to decide.
Lucas had to go to New York again. Peyton missed him like crazy, but she felt like it was best that he was going to be in New York when Brooke arrived for her little voice. Peyton hadn't told her the good news yet. Mainly because she knew Brooke wouldn't consider it to be good news. She hated the fact that Peyton was seeing Lucas. She thought it was a mistake on Peyton's part, but Peyton knew that Lucas had changed. She believed in him.
Peyton heard a knock on the door, and she knew that it was Brooke. She opened the door to see Brooke smiling at her. "Hey best friend," she squealed as she pulled Peyton into a hug. "Wow P. Sawyer you look incredible."
"Thank you," Peyton smiled. She knew it was because Lucas made her entirely too happy.
"You have this weird glow about you." Brooke told her as she walked into the house.
"Yeah well I think that it works for me." Peyton couldn't stop smiling.
"It really does. I haven't seen you this happy in well I've never seen you this happy come to think about it." Brooke walked into the living room. "So how is your life?"
"It is perfect Brooke." Peyton took a deep breath, "There is something I have to tell you."
"Uh oh," Brooke had a bad feeling about what Peyton was going to say. "Please tell me that you broke up with Lucas."
"Um well we aren't dating anymore." Peyton wasn't lying.
"Thank God," Brooke breathed a sigh of relief.
"We're not dating anymore because we are engaged." Peyton smiled.
Brooke's face turned six shades of red. She couldn't believe that her best friend was marrying America's biggest playboy. "Hell no," she exclaimed.
"Hell yes," Peyton exclaimed back. "And I hope that my best friend will be happy for me."
Brooke didn't say anything.
………………………………………
Lucas had only been in New York for a couple of hours, and he was already missing his family. He couldn't believe the man that he had turned into, but he was proud that he had changed.
His new book The Reason was about to hit stores soon. He was happy and sad all at the same time. He knew that as soon as the book was released he would have to start his book tour, and that meant that he would have to spend sometime away from his family. He was heartbroken, but he also knew that it was important for him to go on the tour and promote his book.
He felt like The Reason was his best book yet. It was about a single father who struggled to be a better man for his family. It wasn't biographical, but it was very close to his heart.
Lucas had a very busy week in New York. He had to do an interview with Ellen, attend a movie premiere, and meet with his agent. He couldn't wait until the three days were over so he could go back to the life he loved so much.
The first thing he had to do was go to the movie premiere. He arrived to the premiere with his friend and agent, Austin. "Okay you ready for this?" Lucas asked.
"Actually I'm not going with you tonight Lucas."
"Oh well I don't want to do this thing by myself." Lucas told him.
"Oh you won't be alone. No movie premiere is complete without a Lucas Scott girl."
"What?" He was confused.
A woman walked up next to them. "Hi Lucas, I'm your date." She was absolutely gorgeous, and the old Lucas would have definitely slept with her, but he wasn't that guy anymore.
"No," he shook his head. "I can't have a date. I have a fiancé."
"That does matter Lucas. We don't want you to sleep with Ava we just want people to think the two of you are sleeping together. She's the next up and coming model. This will be good for your reputation."
"I don't care about my reputation, but I do care about Peyton."
Austin shook his head, "You don't even have to hold her hand Lucas. Just let her walk beside you. You can explain everything to your fiancé. I'm sure she will understand."
"I don't like this Austin."
"Trust me on this Lucas. You have to do this."
Lucas reluctantly agreed. He just hoped Peyton didn't watch the news.
…………………………………………….
Later that night Brooke sat on the couch next to Peyton. "You really love him?"
"With all of my heart Brooke," she told her. "He really has changed."
"I just don't believe that Peyton. I'm sure he is going to hurt you."
"I wish you would just trust me Brooke. He loves me, and I know that he wants the same things that I want."
"Guys are jerks."
"He used to be a jerk, but he isn't that guy anymore." Peyton smiled, "I love him so much, and I can't wait to be his wife."
"Well for your sake I hope you're right. I hope that people really can change because you deserve that." Brooke smiled at her best friend. "Can I make your wedding dress?"
Peyton smiled, "I wouldn't want it any other way."
"Great, I have all kinds of ideas." Brooke was a little excited, but she was still nervous about Lucas and his intentions.
"Oh crap I almost forgot. We've got to watch the news. Lucas might be on there. He was going to a movie premiere tonight."
She grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. They had missed most of it but not the best part.
Peyton saw Lucas. "There's Lucas." She smiled when she saw him, but her happiness soon turned into anger.
"Peyton who's that girl with Lucas?"
"I don't know."
They saw the beautiful brunette girl walking side by side with Lucas.
An ET correspondent stopped them as they made there way down the carpet. "Lucas Scott it is so good to see you back in the scene."
"Yeah it is good to be here tonight."
"And who is this beautiful lady here with you tonight?"
"Well actually…."
He was cut off by Ava, "I'm his girlfriend. We are very, very close."
Lucas was shocked he tried to say something, but Ava kissed him instead.
"Well there you have it Lucas Scott is taken ladies."
Peyton was fuming. "What the hell?"
"Peyton," Brooke could tell that she was upset.
"I can't believe I trusted him." Peyton got off the couch and walked upstairs.
…………………………………….
Lucas spent the entire night trying to call Peyton, but she wouldn't answer. He knew that she had probably seen what had happened. He was so upset, but he had to do his interview with Ellen.
"Okay guys we have a treat for you today. He is the hottest author I know please welcome Lucas Scott." Ellen introduces Lucas, and the crowd cheers for him.
Lucas walks out and gives Ellen a hug. "It is good to see you again." He told her.
"It has been far too long."
They both sat down.
Peyton had reluctantly decided to watch the interview on TV even though she was very upset with him.
"How have you been?" She asked but before he could answer. "Well we all know how you have been." She pulls up a picture of Lucas and Ava kissing. "Wow! That is some hot stuff. How long have the two of you been dating?"
Lucas shook his head. He wanted everyone to know the truth. "Well to tell you the truth Ellen last night was the first time I have ever seen that woman."
"Ooh you move fast my friend."
"No, it isn't like that." Lucas told her. "My agent thought that it would be best to lead my fans on about my life. I have to tell you Ellen I haven't been a very good guy in the past, and my agent seems to think that is the only reason people read my books. He thinks they like my wild edge. Well I'm not that guy anymore."
"Really? It looked that way last night."
"She kissed me. I didn't kiss her. It was all a set up. The thing is I'm very much in love, and I'm happier than I have ever been in my life."
Ellen smiles, "Please tell us more."
Lucas smiled and Peyton continued to listen. "Her name is Peyton Sawyer. She is everything to me. Well her and my daughter, Riley, and Peyton's son Preston."
"It sounds like the four of you are a family."
"We will be soon. Peyton and I are getting married very soon."
The crowd cheers.
"I know that it goes against my reputation, but I don't care. If my fans aren't willing to read my books because I'm not a bad guy that likes to party then it is their loss. I love my fans, but I love the man that I am becoming, and that is all because of Peyton and my daughter Riley. Without them I would be nothing."
Ellen smiles, "It is very good to hear you say that. It looks like you are finally going to settle down."
"Do you guys want to see a picture of my family?"
The crowd cheers. He pulls a picture out of his wallet and holds it up for everyone to see. He has one of Peyton, one of Riley, and one of Preston. "This is my life now, and I couldn't be happier."
"Wow she is beautiful."
Peyton smiled. She couldn't believe Ellen thought she was beautiful. Brooke was standing behind Peyton.
"If she's watching I want her to know that I am sorry about that kiss. It didn't mean anything to me. The only person I ever want to kiss is you Peyton. I love you with all my heart, and I can't wait to be your husband." He looks at Ellen. "She changed me, and I think it was definitely for the better."
"I do too." Ellen agreed.
Peyton looked at Brooke. Brooke put her hand on Peyton's shoulder. "I was wrong. People really can change."
……………………………………………
Riley and Preston were hanging out at the River Court. "So do you think that my mom will forgive your dad?"
"I think so. I mean they are in love, and that's what you do when you are in love. You fight and get mad, and then you make-up. It is how it all works."
"I really hope that she does because I can't wait to be your brother."
Riley smiled, "You are already my brother. I mean you are my brother in all the ways that count."
"I'll always be there for you Riley. I want you to know that because no matter what happens between our parents I will always be there for you."
She gives him a hug, "I'll always be there for you too. I'm so glad that we are best friends, and our parents are getting married. How cool is that?"
"I think it is pretty cool."
They both laugh. They really did think that it was unbelievably cool that they were not only best friends, but were about to be brother and sister.
………………………………………….
That night Peyton was lying in her bed. She still had not talked to Lucas. She figured that she would wait until he got home tomorrow. She heard the door open and then she saw Lucas standing next to her bed.
"I thought you were going to be gone until tomorrow."
"I caught an earlier flight. I couldn't stand to be away from you any longer."
"I thought you might be with your model friend." She sat up in the bed.
"I'm sorry about that. I am so sorry, and it will never happen again. I fired Austin."
"You fired your agent?"
"Yeah, I don't want to get publicity that way. I want people to read my books because they are good not because they think I'm some badass."
He sat beside her. "I love you so much Peyton. I missed you."
"I missed you too." She touches his face. "Promise me that you will never kiss some fake model bimbo ever again."
"I promise you that these lips will only ever touch your lips. Well and maybe your neck, and maybe your…." He kissed her neck. "You get the picture."
She smiled, "Why don't you show me? You know so I can have a better idea of it." She pulled him onto the bed, and they started kissing. She knew he had changed, and she refused to hold his past against him.
AN: Okay so that is the first chapter to this story. I really liked it, and I had a lot of fun writing it. I love Ellen, and I hope you guys liked that little part I threw in. I know that Ellen isn't live, but for the sake of the story just pretend it is. I wanted to show that Lucas really has changed and become a better man.
Brooke is going to be a bigger part in this story, but not in a bad way, but a supportive best friend way. I can tell you that I have to about chapter seven planned in my head, and it is going to have a lot of drama. I have taken into consideration what a lot of you had told me in your reviews, so don't be surprised when some of your ideas pop into the story because you all really have great ideas.
And as for the title it was between this one and The Beginning of Forever, and I chose this one just because I felt it really fit Peyton and Lucas. They both saved each other.
Okay I'm gonna stop rambling so you guys can review.
Was it good? Was it bad? Should I have stopped with A Safe Place to Cry? Should I continue?