Post by Kandiman on Nov 11, 2010 23:25:15 GMT
[We don't have a fan-fic section, so I'm going to deposit this here until we have an alternate plan.]
Disclaimer: The following is a work of ongoing One Tree Hill-based fan-fiction. Characters originating in the show (including, but not limited to, Lucas Scott, Peyton Scott, Sawyer Scott, Karen Roe, Lindsay Strauss, Andy Hargrove and Lily Scott) belong to Mark Schwahn, Warner Brothers Television and their associates. One Tree Hill is a trademark of Warner Brothers Television and is used out of love because getting permission would’ve been a nightmare. Please don’t sue!
Author’s note: This fan-fic largely ignore Mark Schwahn’s stated canon that Leyton are travelling the world. Otherwise this story would’ve been a nightmare to write. Everything that happened in the first six seasons remains unchanged. Angel City should be considered an unofficial ‘spin-off’ from the original show, the One Tree Hill equivalent of Frasier. Except I’ve written it like a book.
Chapter One: City Of Angels
Marcel Proust one wrote that “time, which changes people, does not alter the image we have retained of them.” With so much time behind us, with so many changes in ourselves and the people we have left behind, we know that in out heart of hearts, the important things never change. In spite of thousands of miles between us, the friendships remain strong, the family bonds permanent and the ties that bind us ever-strengthened by the passing of time.
It was late afternoon when Lucas Scott first caught sight of the Pacific Ocean. He and Peyton had taken it in shifts to take charge of driving, sleeping and parenting duties on the long drive from their hometown of Tree Hill, North Carolina to the west coast. Peyton had been asleep since they crossed into California and he was happy to let her rest.
After the recent birth of their daughter, Sawyer, they’d decided that it was time to leave their old lives behind and seek a new adventure for themselves. It was finally time to leave their childhood memories behind and start a real, independent life as adults, as a real, married couple. As a family.
Would they miss North Carolina? Of course. All their oldest friends were there. But those guys had long since grown up and gotten on with their lives; Lucas’ best friend Haley was a successful singer-songwriter and teacher. Peyton’s best friend was now universally known as the Brooke Davis, founder of Clothes Over Bros. Lucas’ half-brother, Nathan, had recently signed to play in the NBA for the Charlotte Bobcats. It was almost as if their friends and family had left them behind.
Lucas and Peyton had been successful in their own right, of course, though Lucas’ career as a novelist had hit something of a standstill following the release of his second novel, The Comet. Peyton, meanwhile, had found success in starting her own record label, Red Bedroom Records, which she’d left under the management of Haley and her distribution partner, John Knight.
Lucas couldn’t help noticing that motherhood had changed Peyton’s priorities a little. Sure, she was still proud of her accomplishments, she loved running Red Bedroom Records, but now she was focussed on motherhood. It hadn’t replaced her love of music - she’d talked excitedly for much of the journey about getting involved in the LA music scene - but it had rearranged her priorities. Lucas, meanwhile, was hoping that a change of scenery and a change of circumstance might inspire his writing.
As he drove the trusty Comet along the I-10, he caught a glimpse of the glamour of Beverly Hills to the north. He’d been to Los Angeles before, of course, but for Lucas Scott, a small-town boy from North Carolina, to actually be moving there was a surreal experience. He knew he needed to make a turn, to head for the new house just off Santa Monica Boulevard but he had something he wanted to do first. He carried on driving, finally pulling to a stop at the end of Colorado Avenue. The jolt of the car stopping finally caused Peyton to stir back to life.
“Are we there yet?” she asked, still half-asleep.
“Sorry, we didn’t mean to wake you.”
“That’s alright, what’s going on, where are we?”
“We’re nearly at the new house, I just wanted to make a quick stop for Sawyer.”
Lucas climbed from the car, reaching into the backseat to free Sawyer from her chair. As he held his daughter in his arms, all he could think was that she was the most beautiful and precious little girl in the world. He knew that every father thought that and, once upon a time, he might even have been a little cynical. Fatherhood was changing him. As Peyton gathered her things and stepped from the car, Lucas and Sawyer came around to join her. Grabbing her hand, Lucas lead Peyton into their future, towards the bright light of the setting sun and on to Santa Monica Pier.
“Sawyer,” he said, “take a look at this. This is the Pacific Ocean. And it’s right on our doorstep.”