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𝗙𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀
::  xlix. | hope you're ok

"It seems you'll be fine, Peyton." The doctor smiled, "A little more rest and you'll be out of here by tonight." With that, he exited the room and everyone else came in.

Brooke immediately went over to Peyton and wrapped her arms around her. She couldn't explain how relieved she was to know that her best friend was going to live.

As Chad stayed seated with the baby in his arms, he began to speak. "You have no idea how happy I am right now." He looked at Peyton, "Now Penelope has both of her parents."

"Penelope?" Brooke smiled.

"Penelope Rose." Peyton corrected, sending Chad a light smile.

"Wait— Rose?" Ashely chimed in.

Chad nodded, "Speaking of my daughter, could we ask you both something?" Chad sent Peyton a look that she could continue.

Peyton continued, "How would you guys like to be her god mother and father?"

"Oh my god, yeah!" Ashely exclaimed as she went in for a hug as well did Brooke.

As they all were hugging each other and continuing conversation, Lucas walked in. He hugged Peyton and told her that he was happy she's ok. He then asked Chad if he could talk with him real quick, so Chad handed Penelope over to his wife before following Lucas out the room.

• • •

Chad had his hands in his pockets as he waited for Lucas to begin speaking whatever it was he wanted to tell chad. It took him a second because he was still processing the news and it all just seemed surreal. He still couldn't believe it that Teressa was gone and she's never coming back.

Chad noticed something was eating at him, so he placed his hand on Lucas' shoulder gesturing to take his time and it's ok. Lucas nodded then after another couple of moments, he finally began to speak.

"The reason why I've been off isn't because of Peyton. It's Teressa, man. She's not with us anymore." Lucas spoke softly.

Chad's eyes soften. He just stared at Lucas before pulling him into a hug. It was a quiet hug, but the silence didn't last long.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Chad ask as the two broke away from the hug.

"I didn't want to burden you. You already had so much on your plate, I didn't want to add anymore." Lucas was truthful about his feelings.

"Dude, you could never be a burden. Whatever you're dealing with, I'm here for you. Always." He reassured his friend.

"Uh—" Lucas clicked his tongue, "You and Brooke are the only ones who know so could we keep it that way?"

"It's your truth not mine." Chad plainly said.

"Yeah." Lucas shifted in his stance, "Give Peyton my best. I would stay but I don't feel up to it right now."

Chad nodded understandingly, "Yeah."

Lucas turned on his heels and went on his way. Chad took a deep breath in before heading back into the hospital to Peyton's room.

• • •

While Chad was making his way back to the room, Ashely was playing with baby penelope. She was holding her up and talking in a baby voice when her phone vibrated in her pocket. She put penelope in one of her arms as she pulled out her phone.

It was a text message form Rachel. It read could you swing by?

Ashely was a bit hesitant but got up and handed penelope over to Peyton. As she picked up her bag and began to head towards the door, Peyton said something that got her attention.

"You're going to see Rachel, right?" Peyton looked at her friend. Brooke turned her head towards Ashely as well.

Ashely breathed out, "Yeah."

Peyton continued, "Don't mess it up. It seems like you have something good with Logan."

Ashely turned around, "I don't need too. It's been messed up from the beginning."

And with that, Ashely went on her way to speak to rachel. As she was leaving the hospital, she passed by her brother. She said her see you later and resumed to her car. It was only about ten minutes away, didn't take her long to get to the hotel.

Once she did, she parked and then found her way to Rachel's room. Logan doesn't know about any of this. She doesn't know that Ashely went the night of the wedding and she doesn't know about it now. Ashely remembers telling Logan she has nothing to worry about, but saying that and not seeing Rachel is a lot different from saying it and seeing her now.

Once again, the guilt and regret kicked in because she knew whatever happened on the other side of that door would change her relationship with Logan forever. But she had to know, she had to know what the other reason was of why Rachel decided to come. So she knocked and it didn't take long for Rachel to answer.

Rachel began as soon as Ashely walked through the door, "Last night you came by so I take that as you want to hear what I have to say."

"Full disclosure. I'm well aware I could be jeopardizing my relationship with the woman I love. Anything you say in the next hours or so, may or may not change how I feel about Logan." Ashely had a serious expression across on her face.

"Funny, cause I think it might." Rachel began to walk around the room, "There's no debate of how much I love you. These past two years taught me one thing— you're my soulmate. I realized that the only way I could ever have another chance with you is if I changed."

"Pause." Ashely interrupted, "We don't have to exactly share the same values to be in a relationship. You don't have to change for me. The big flaw in our relationship was that I wanted kids and you didn't. So if you're trying to tell me, you miraculously want kids now, then . . "

Rachel nodded, "That's exactly what I'm trying to tell you."

Ashely scoffed, "Why the sudden change?"

"It was anything but sudden." Rachel went and sat on the couch, "I dated this guy a year and a half ago. He had kids and sometimes I baby sat them. I don't know, I grew attach to them. They were the cutest things."

"We baby sat Jamie all the time!" Ashley exclaimed.

"Yeah and he was like six. These kids were like three year olds." Rachel sighed, "Bottom line is— I want to be with you. I love you."

Ashely couldn't believe what she was hearing. She didn't know what to really say or how to process any of this.

Ashely began to make her way to the door, "Um, I need time to think about all this. I hope you stick around. For. Chad." With that, she exited the hotel room. From there, she immediately went home, home to Logan.

Eventually later in the day, Chad was able to bring Peyton and little penelope home. When they got there, Haley, Nathan and Jamie were all waiting for them.

Apparently, Nathan wanted to do something nice so he cleaned up the blood in the room while Haley and Jamie figured out where to put their washer and dryer. You might be wondering how they got in the house, well they stole Chad's house key. Luckily, Peyton's was still intact.

As the Donovan household wind down, penelope was being introduced to the James-Scott family.

a/n:
one chapter left )):