Sequel to In Every Second of Every Day

Lucas & Peyton: Sawyer is now 8. Christopher is 4 and their newest daughter, Bethany, has just turned 1.

Brooke & Julian: Ant is 4 & Madeline is 1.

Haley & Nathan: Emily is 5, Jamie is 14, Michael is 8

Her eye lids were heavy and begging to be shut. Through the open window, the spring breeze did not numb the ache of her fever. Peyton's lips were parted, as she was forced to breathe through her mouth. She darted her eyes up towards the clock, and sighed. She'd been bed ridden for two days and eight hours, since she first came down with her mysterious illness. She was at her desk at Red Bedroom Records when she was overcome with fatigue and a sense of nauseating vertigo. Lucas came from Raven's practice immediately to pick her up, her having complained she was too revolted to drive. She was settled onto the bed, and really hadn't left that spot since then.

Lucas called a doctor to make a visit to the house, seeing how Peyton's stomach was to unsettled to stand another car ride, the first one ending in a deep fabric cleaning of Luke's mustang. She was still overtly apologetic for that. Anyhow, the doctor called it a late flu, and left it at that. Now she was just waiting for it to pass.

What really hurt about the entirety of the situation was that she hadn't seen her kids either. She was locked away, Lucas only allowing himself to enter their bedroom while Peyton was still contagious. She wined, in her sickening state, to let them stand in the doorway so she could see that they were still alive, but Luke only laughed and shook his head. He was right though, Bethany was still too young to hold the flu without possible hospitalization and Christopher and Sawyer were at risk as well.

There was a quick knock at the door before Luke entered and shut the door behind him. He had the same routine which Peyton simply followed with her eyes. He traced over to her side, and knelt on the floor, his face by hers. Luke lifted his hand and danced his fingers over her hot forehead.

"No change in temperature, I can tell you that much without a doctorate" She didn't smile, or move, she just stared with sad eyes. "You being like this is horrible. Sawyer's angry at me because I don't make waffles like you, Chris wants his mom to 'hug him tight' before nap time, and Beth's babbles have come to a halt."

Her eyes flickered and he knew she was grateful.

"I was thinking" He squeezed her hand softly. "That I should send the kids out of the house for the weekend? Brooke said she would take Chris and Beth, and Sawyer wants to go and play with Emily and Michael."

Her eyes said she was unhappy, but understood his reasoning. Luke bent down and kissed her forehead before standing over her. "I'm going to help the kids pack and then drop them off, I'll be back soon, but if you need me…" He fingered the phone placed next to her on the bed. "…immediately"

Her glance said she agreed, so he backed out of the room.

"Luke" Her raspy voice called in an almost inaudible whisper. He poked his head back into the room. "Tell the kids I love them"

He smiled, "Of course"

"Mommy" Christopher called from the doorway.

Peyton turned away from the crib in the nursery to see her tiny son standing there, blue blanket, fisted in his hand.

"What's up baby?" She asked, approaching him slowly. "It's late, shouldn't you be asleep?"

"Can I see Bethy again?" He whispered, and a smile spread across Peyton's cheeks. She lifted him into her arms and set him on her hip, while leaning back over the crib. "She's so tiny" He stated, amazed.

Peyton laughed, because his three year old body really wasn't that big either. "Yes she is"

"Daddy said that I'm gunna be the best big brover ever."

"I think he's right"

"Cause I can teach her stuff" His smile, made Peyton elated. "Cool stuff."

When Lucas returned home, Peyton was asleep against her pillow, washcloth against her forehead, blankets kicked down to her feet and a plastic bowl clutched to her stomach. He placed two bottles of water on her night stand, and then sat in the lounge chair on the other side of the room with his macbook. Close to two hours later, Peyton woke up and moved herself enough to sit up a bit.

"Bad?" Luke questioned, hearing her move amongst the mattress.

She nodded and reached her hand out to him. He thought she was beckoning him to her, but her eyes enlarged as he stepped away from his chair. "If you get sick then so will our kids."

"They're gone till Sunday night, and plus, I've been taking vitamin C like a pro to keep up my immunity. And I've never been sick a day in my life."

"Never?" She questioned.

"Once, chicken pox, third grade"

Peyton bit her lip. "Chris didn't want to go to Brooke's?"

Luke laughed and sat on the edge of the bed, holding her cheek. "You heard him crying?"

"More like screaming…"

"He misses you."

"I miss him"

His fingers moved around her face softly. "Your fevers down a bit and you've got more color."

"I feel a bit better, I needed a nap, and to throw up"

He rolled his eyes. "Who knows maybe we can go get the kids together on Sunday?"

"Maybe, I hope so" Her cell phone began to vibrate beside her, and she quickly lifted it to her face. "It's Brooke" She pressed send and lifted the speaker to her ear. "Hello?"

"Hey Peyt, how are you feeling?" Luke kissed her cheek and then moved back to his chair.

"Like shit"

"I'm sorry" Brooke whispered softly. "Can your son talk to you real quick?"

Peyton smiled. "Of course."

Brooke bent down and handed her godson her phone.

"Hi Mommy"

"Hi baby"

"Are you better yet?"

She laughed. "Not quite"

"Oh…" He was silent. "How about now"

"Silly boy" She coughed into her shoulder.

"I hope you feel better soon"

"Thank you baby; I love you"

"I love you too mommy, see you Sunday" She heard the line go flat so she hung up the phone and placed it back at her side. "He's a great kid"

"You're a great mom"

"If I felt better, I'd say stop seducing me, but you so don't want me right now, well, not unless you wanna get thrown up all over, cause the way my stomach's churning…"

"Enough," Luke held up his hand. "Keep your bodily functions to yourself please" She smiled and pressed her face into her pillow, and brought the blankets back up around her chin.

Short start, but It has a point, I promise. I'll get there very soon.