A/N: Here it is, the final chapter! I hope you've enjoyed the ride! I hope it doesn't seem to rushed, I didn't want to drag anything out too much. And, I'm still new at this so any helpful pointers/tips are greatly appreciated! Let me know what you think, hope the ending is satisfactory and that some of you appreciate it for all its cheesiness!
Despite the events of the previous night, Peyton slept well. She was happy and excited and the mere memory of Lucas' words protected her that night. She awoke the next morning, smiling and feeling more positive than she had done for three years. Haley smiled as she watched Peyton walk into the kitchen looking as if she had had the weight of the world removed from her shoulders. She looked refreshed. She had a smile back on her face and the light back in her eyes.
"Somebody's happy this morning?"
Peyton looked over and smiled. "Somebody is," she replied.
"Well it's good to see, I can tell you that. What are you doing today?"
"I'm going to go down to the gym and tell Lucas that he doesn't have to fight for me and that's he's already proved whatever it is he feels the need to prove."
Haley couldn't contain her excitement. She squealed and ran over to Peyton and hugged her. "I'm so happy for you. You deserve this, Girly."
"Thanks Foxy. For everything, especially the last few days." Peyton squeezed Haley a little tighter and then released her.
"Any time. We're just glad we could be there for you. Besides, Jamie loves you and you're so great with him, me and Nate have appreciated the break!" Haley laughed.
"Okay. Well, I'm gonna go and make Lucas Scott's day a little better." She winked and headed out to her car.
Lucas blew his whistle and called the team over.
"Okay guys, I don't know need to tell you how important the next game is. We have one more game to go before we're in the State Championship. I want you to know that all three of us believe in you. But I also want you to know that it's okay if we don't win. Sure it'd suck to lose but as long as all of you go out and play your hearts out and do all that you can, we'll never be disappointed in you." The door of the gym slammed causing them all to look over. Lucas smiled as he saw Peyton walking towards.
She walked right up to him, put her hands up to his face and pulled him into a passionate kiss. The players around them, as well as Nathan and Skills starting cheering and wolf whistling. Peyton pulled away and laughed a little when she saw the look on Lucas' face.
"Not that I'm complaining but-"
Peyton cut him off. "You don't have to fight for me Lucas Scott. You've been fighting for me for the last few days and you've proven that the man I knew all those years ago is still in there. I know you're sorry for what happened before, but it doesn't matter now. I love you, Lucas Scott." Lucas beamed down at her and pulled her towards for another kiss. "I love you too, Peyton Sawyer."
"Well, I'll let you get back to your game. You guys have some Championship to win right? I'll see you tonight, Coach." She gave him another quick kiss and smiled all the way out of the gym, knowing that Lucas was watching her.
"Damn, Luke."
"Okay, back to work." He blew his whistle and the players returned to the caught. Nathan stepped forward and clapped his hand on Lucas' shoulder.
Later that night Lucas and Peyton were curled up on the sofa in the house she shared with Brooke making up for lost time. They both jumped when they heard the front door slam and Brooke's raspy voice call out.
"P. Sawyer, is your bony ass home?"
Lucas and Peyton both sat up so she could see them.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" She smiled with an eyebrow raised. Peyton stood up and walked over to her friend and pulled her into a hug.
"Hey B. Davis, I missed you. And I made you a promise right?" she whispered the last part.
"Well as happy as I am to see your two brooding blondes back together again, I am kicking you out Luke." Lucas looked over pouting. "Sorry, Broody but I have a lot of catching up to do with this one and we can't talk about you when you're here." She winked at him.
"Okay, okay. I surrender. Call me later, Blondie. I love you." He leaned into and kissed Peyton.
"Of course. I love you too." Lucas winked at her before giving Brooke a welcome home hug and leaving the house.
Within seconds both Brooke and Peyton were holding hands, jumping in the air and squealing loudly.
"So, tell me everything."
"There's not much more to tell, Brooke. I spoke to you a couple of hours ago," she laughed.
"Okay. But I am so happy for you P. Sawyer. I'm glad you took my advice and opened your heart to him again. So it's going good?"
"So good. It honestly feels like it it's been this way all along you know?"
"Well, it certainly looked like it. Are you gonna move in with him or something?"
"Um, we haven't really talked about it. He's gonna be busy the next couple of weeks what with the State Championship and stuff, if they get there, so I think we're just going to take it steady until that's over."
"Good. It means I have my best friend for a couple more weeks! I think this calls for a celebration." Brooke made her way to the kitchen, opened the fridge door and turned back round waving a bottle of wine in Peyton's direction.
The Tree Hill Ravens made it to the State Championship just like Lucas and Nathan had done a few years before. Everyone was incredibly excited for the game, especially Jamie. They were all going to travel up together and make a day of it.
Peyton arrived at Nathan and Haley's after having Jamie for the day.
"Hey, Sawyer. How was he?" Nathan asked as Jamie ran off to check on Chester.
"He was fine. He's so excited for the State Championship. He was asking me all these questions about the last one and wanted to see all the pictures I've got. He was pretty amazed that me, Haley and Brooke were al cheerleaders," she laughed.
"I'm still amazed that Haley was a cheerleader. You and Brooke, not so much." He teased.
"Shut up!"
"How's my little brother treating you?"
"Fine, thank you very much." She smiled coyly. "Thank you, by the way."
"For what?"
"I know you must have said something to him."
"How, I mean, why?"
"Well, if I didn't know before I do now!" she laughed. "I just had a feeling that when one Scott brother doesn't have my back, that the other one does."
Nathan blushed slightly and just smiled. "I just want to see you happy, Peyt. It's all I've ever wanted. And I've always got your back, even when the less attractive Scott does too."
"so, you excited for the game yourself?"
"I guess, yeah. I'm so happy to have been a part of it and I'm so proud of Luke. But it also brings back some bad memories about the choices I made."
"We all make mistakes Nate. And it's a whole lot easier to get past the ones we make with the best intentions."
"I know." He smiled at her thankfully. "Let's just hope no one has a heart attack or gets hit by a car this time."
Peyton just glared at him.
"Still not funny?" He asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Nope."
"Sorry."
The next few weeks went by quite quickly. Lucas and Peyton were spending as much time together as possible and she had stayed over at his a few times. They'd had a couple of hiccups when Peyton had found some old pictures of Lindsey, but she got over them quite quickly when she came across the 'Peyton Box.' Lucas found her one evening after a late practise with the contents of the box sprawled out all over his bed. She had tears running down her face and Lucas didn't fail to notice that the CD she was playing were 'their' songs.
"Peyt, are those happy tears?" Lucas edged into the bedroom cautiously.
She didn't look up but she nodded. He walked over to the bed slowly and put some of the photos and unsent letters back into the box. She looked up at him with a look in her eyes that Lucas knew well. She lunged forward pushing him back on the bed, both of them laughing.
On the day of the State Championship the girls drove up together like they had done so many years before.
"Well, I for one am happy you two aren't on the verge of scratching each others eyes out." Haley said, glancing at both Brooke and Peyton.
"Yeah, well we're glad you aren't on the verge of popping one out, Tutor Mum." Peyton burst into laughter and leant over to give Brooke a high-five. It was Haley's turn to glare.
They pulled into the car park, found a space and made their way into the stadium. They found Lucas, Nathan and Skills talking over some plays on the sidelines.
Lucas paused for a few moments as they girls made their way over. Peyton kissed him. "Good luck tonight, babe."
"Thank you. Gotta admit, was kinda hoping you were going to be your old Ravens uniform…" He winked at her.
She leaned forward and whispered in his ear, "I might be later." She laughed at Lucas' sharp intake of breath.
The game had been tense. The Ravens were up by three at half time but with only four seconds to go, they were down by a point. Everyone held their breath as a Raven planted his feet on the ground, raised his hand and pushed the ball through the air. When it fell smoothly through the centre of the basket, and the final buzzer went, the Ravens fan erupted.
Lucas punched the air screaming as Nathan ran to him. Jamie ran into the arms of Skills who lifted him in the air and carried him to his father and uncle.
Peyton, Haley and Brooke ran from the stands and joined the many other supporters in celebrating with the players. Peyton jumped into Lucas' arms and he lifted off the ground and span her round. She kissed him passionately as he set her back on the ground. She turned to hug Nathan and Skills and give Haley the opportunity to congratulate her best friend. After hugging Haley and Brooke and congratulating his players he turned to see Peyton standing with his brother. Brooke looked over as he put his hand inside his jacket and took something from the inside pocket.
"Oh my god."
"What?" Haley had heard her.
"Just wait." She turned to Haley with the biggest smile on her face and pointed in the direction of Lucas.
"Peyton!" he called and she turned to look at him. Brooke sucked in a breath, unable to contain her excitement.
"What?" she looked at him slightly confused as he walked towards. She gasped and covered her mouth as he bent down on one knee, opened a small black box and extended Keith's ring out to her.
"I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life showing you that. Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer, will you marry me?"
Nathan and Skills had joined Brooke and Haley who were both in tears.
"Yes! God, Luke, yes! I love you!" She shouted, the tears running freely. Lucas stood to face her properly, placed the ring on her finger and brushed the tears aside. He cupped her face just like he had before and for the second time that night, he lifted Peyton Sawyer off her feet.