A Safe Place to Cry

Chapter 17 Six Months Later

Life for you and me will never change. I'll always love you.

It had been six months since Lucas and Peyton had admitted how they truly felt about each other.

They were taking things slow, but were happier than either one of them had ever been before.

Riley had grown a lot over the six months. She had been dating different guys, and Lucas wasn't too happy with some of her choices. She dated Roy, the guy from the basketball game, but it didn't work out. He was too wild for Lucas' liking, and Riley decided to respect his wishes and broke up with him. She also dated Clark, the other guy from the basketball game. He was too sweet for her, and she broke up with him too. Now she was single, but she probably wouldn't stay that way for long.

As for Preston he never liked anyone Riley dated. He thought none of them were good enough for her, and he never dated anyone because he suffered from trust issues. Riley hoped to fix that for him. She felt everyone deserved to be happy with someone they could love.

Lucas had asked Riley to spend the night with Preston. He had something very special for Peyton, and he didn't want to be interrupted. Riley understood and hoped when she fell in love he would do the same. Lucas joked by saying that he would never leave her alone ever again.

He wanted the night to be perfect for him and Peyton. It was beginning of forever for them. At least he hoped it was.

Lucas had cooked her favorite food, shrimp fettuccini, and he also had her favorite beverage, beer. He loved the fact that Peyton was a beer girl. That was one of the many things he loved about her.

He also had rose petals leading up to the bedroom where her surprise was waiting for her. He also had one hundred candles lit all over the house.

Peyton arrived at seven o clock on the dot just as Lucas had requested. She was dressed in the beautiful black cocktail dress that he had bought for her and requested that she wear.

"Wow you are breath taking." He kissed her softly.

Peyton looked around the house at all Lucas had done for her. "This is breath taking Lucas," she used his words for what he had done for her.

"Oh it only gets better." He smiled. He couldn't wait.

She smiled back at him. "So what's the big occasion?"

"Well it has been exactly six months since you told me that you loved me."

She thought back to that time, and he was right. "Oh Luke I'm so sorry I forgot. I'm not good with dates."

"That's okay you're forgiven." He kissed her again. "I made your favorite dinner."

"Ooh well this is a big deal then." She smiled.

They ate dinner, and after Lucas led her up the stairs. "Lucas you didn't have to do all of this. What if Riley comes home?"

"She's staying at your house tonight."

"Oh," she smiled. "I guess that means I get to spend the night with my man tonight."

"I sure hope so, but if you don't want too you don't have too."

"I'm pretty sure I'll want too." She started kissing him again.

"Wait," he pulled away. "Right this way," he led her into the bedroom.

It really did take Peyton's breath away. Everything was absolutely perfect. There were candles, roses, and a book sit in the middle of the bed.

"Lucas," she smiled.

"The book sitting on the bed is yours."

"You bought me a book?" She was a little surprised by that gift. It wasn't really what she was expecting.

"I didn't buy you a book. Just go look at it." He told her with his famous Scott smirk.

"Okay," she wasn't sure what to expect, especially when it came to Lucas and his surprises.

She went to the bed and picked up the book. She had her back turned from Lucas. She opened the book and all the pages were blank. She was a little confused. She thought she might have it turned the wrong way so she flipped it over. The first page said I love you Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer. She smiled. She flipped the page, and it said will you marry me?

Peyton already had tears running down her face. When she turned around she saw that Lucas had knelt down on one knee.

"Lucas Scott," she was shaking.

He took her hand in his. "That book represents our future Peyton. It is time for us to write on our book together. We both have written other chapters in our lives, but I think that we our ready to write our own together. I want more than anything for you to be my wife, my life, and my everything in this world. Will you marry me?"

Peyton sat silent for a minute trying to catch her breath. "Wow, I can't believe this. When I fell in love with you I had always hoped that this day would happen someday, and I am so happy that someday is today. Of course I will marry you Lucas Scott. How could I say no to you?"

"I was hoping you would say that." He smiled and slipped the ring on her finger. He stood up and kissed her passionately. "I love you so much. I can't imagine living my life without you."

"Me either," she was extremely excited. "I can't wait to spend forever with you."

"I know it has only been six months," he started to talk, but she put her finger over his mouth.

"Shh, I promise you it has been long enough. I never want to be without you." They kissed again.

Lucas carried her to the bed and continued to kiss her. "Wait, wait…"

"What's wrong?"

"I want to make love to you right now, I really do, but I really want to go tell the kids that we're gonna be a family."

Lucas smiled. He wanted nothing more than to rip her clothes off and make passionate love to her, but he understood that she wanted to inform the kids of their happy news. "Okay, let's go."

"I love you Lucas Scott."

"I love you too Peyton Sawyer soon to be Scott."

……………………………

Over at Peyton's house Riley had convinced Preston to help her raid Peyton's wine cabinet. Peyton didn't keep much alcohol in the house, but she had some wine. Preston never touched it because he knew better, but Riley was rebellious and was sure that Peyton and her dad would be busy the entire night.

"Are you sure we should be drinking? I think we've had enough."

She scoffed, "You are such a wuss. A little wine never hurt anyone besides like I told you before your mom is going to be way busy with my dad tonight."

"How do you know that?"

"I just do now drink up buddy boy." She poured him some more wine, and he started to drink.

Peyton and Lucas walked in to see the wine bottle sitting in between the two kids. "What the hell is going on here?" Lucas said with anger in his voice.

"Oh crap, daddy what are you doing here?" Riley smiled hoping her cuteness would get her out of trouble.

"I live here." Peyton told her as she crossed her arms. "What are the two of you doing with my wine? That's my best bottle."

"Mom it was all her idea."

"Don't blame someone else for the choices that you make Preston." She wasn't happy with him.

"Riley," Lucas wanted answers.

"We were thirsty." She smiled, but he didn't laugh. "Dad what are you guys really doing here?" Riley could tell something was going on.

"You know you two are in so much trouble." Peyton told them.

"Yeah but I guess it is a good thing that the two of you can be grounded together."

"What are you talking about?"

Peyton held out her hand. "Your father asked me to marry him, and I said yes." She smiled and her face lit up the room.

Riley squealed, "Oh my God this is the best news ever. This is so cool." She hugged Peyton, and then she hugged her dad. "And I still want to talk about that grounding thing. We were totally celebrating."

"Yeah, yeah," Lucas couldn't help but laugh.

Preston jumped up and hugged his mom and Lucas. "We're really gonna be a family now."

"Yeah forever," Lucas smiled. "One big happy family," he kissed Peyton's forehead.

Okay so first of all I want to thank you guys so much for the reviews for the last chapter and all the chapters of this story. I was so excited about how many I got the last chapter. I have never got that many for one chapter in all the stories that I have written before so thanks so much for the support.

Second of all this was the last chapter of this story. I felt like this was the perfect place to end it. I know all of you wanted me to continue with the story so I decided to do a sequal. A few of you mentioned that, and I figured the ones that wanted me to continue would like the idea of a sequal.

I'm really excited about how many people liked this story. I never expected to ever do a sequal for this story. It was just supposed to end and be over. So thanks!

I will try to have the first chapter of the sequal posted soon.

I need your guys help one last time. I need to know what I should call the sequal. Here are the choices: A Safe Place to Cry Pt2, My Safe Place to Cry, You Are My Saving Grace, No More Tears, or The Beginning of Forever

Ok so last thing I promise I want to know what you guys thought of the proposal, and what you thought of the story as a whole.

Thanks Again! You Guys Rock And I Hope I Have All You Reviewers and Readers Back for the Sequal!