'Callie' Lucas sighed, not taking his eyes off the computer screen. 'I can see you Callie' The little girls head bobbed up from the other side of the desk, her dark hair peeking out of the red and white polka dot bandana, an eye patch securely over her left eye and a fake beard drawn on with eye liner. She rose her right hand, holding a wooden sword over the desk, pointing it at Lucas.

'Raaaa, put ya hands up daddy' She growled.

'Callie, daddy's busy, you know you're not meant to come in here when the blue sign is on the door- I'm working'. Lucas explained, trying not to laugh at her comical expression. The little girl pouted, throwing her weapon to the floor and crossing her arms angrily.

'I am not happy' She said loudly, stomping her feet for affect. 'Nobody loves me. Mummy is putting Edie down for a nap and your working, nobody will play with me!' She put her hands on her hips, glaring at him. Lucas looked at her sympathetically, patting his knee and gesturing for her to come sit with him. She hesitantly walked round the desk, dragging her feet along the carpet.

'Darling you can't always have someone to play with' He said gently, lifting her onto his knee. 'Sometimes you have to play by yourself. You're very lucky, you've got lots of toys' He carefully pulled the eye patch back so he could look into both of her hazel eyes.

'But I want you to play' She moaned.

'I've got to work'

'You can write a book anytime' She rolled her eyes humorously. Lucas laughed. 'It's not funny'.

'No' Lucas agreed, stroking her cheek.

'If Edie wasn't here, mummy would play'

'Callie don't say that, that's mean, she's your little sister, you love her right?' Callie looked at her hands guiltily.

'I do love her' She said slowly. 'But she is a pain'

'I'm sure all little brother and sisters can be a pain from time to time'.

'There you are madam' Callie's eyes darted to the door, biting her lip anxiously as she stared at Peyton. 'Didn't I tell you to leave daddy alone?'

'I did he asked me to play pirates' She held her hands out, shrugging.

'Callie don't lie' Lucas frowned.

'Fine, I just wanted to play' She whimpered, sliding off his lap and sauntering over to her. Peyton crouched down to her level.

'What is that on your chin young lady?' Peyton raised her eyebrows, frowning as she inspected the little girls drawn on beard.

Callie's eyes widened a little. 'Er…face paints' She answered simply, smiling angelically.

'Have you been touching my make up again?…Callie?'

The child's fake smile dropped and she pouted. 'I might have used an ickle bit…but you were looking after Edie and I had no one to play with' Peyton couldn't help but laugh at her expression.

'Tell you what, you go and tidy your crayons up and then we'll play pirates' Peyton suggested.

Callie's eyes lit up. She nodded happily and darted off in the direction of the kitchen. Peyton smiled. 'Sorry' She said as she walked further into the room. 'I didn't know she'd come in here'.

'It's alright' He sighed, wrapping an arm around her waist as she peered over his shoulder, trying to sneak a peek at his latest novel. 'Hey no reading' He minimized the word document so she couldn't see.

'Pleeeese' She whined playfully, sitting herself in his lap and leaning in dangerously close.

'No' He said dismissively, trailing her lips with his thumb.

'Then you don't get me' She said simply, getting up and smirking at him.

'Hey that's not fair' He piped up.

'I think it's perfectly reasonable' She crossed her arms in front of her.

'Mummmmmmy I'm done' Callie called from down the hall, putting a stop to their playful banter.

'You can have a kiss a page' She offered before pulling the study door shut, not waiting for an answer.

Lucas stared at the back of the door a small smirk on his face.

---

Lucas immerged from his study an hour later, walking into the living room. His eyes widened as he took in the sight before him. The two sofas were pushed together and several umbrellas were poking up through the centre, making a mast. Callie was sat over the arm of one sofa waving her sword back and forth and a little blonde curly headed two year old was sat inside the "boat" on Peyton's lap.

'You know, having an umbrella up inside is bad luck' Lucas made his presence known.

'Dadda'

'Hey' Lucas lifted Edie into his arms.

'Me playin pyrates'

'I can see that' Lucas smiled, watching as Peyton pulled Callie into her arms, tickling her. The doorbell chiming interrupted their fun. 'I'll get it, I'll get it'. Callie shouted happily, scrambling out of Peyton's arms and running out of the room.

'Dadda look' Edie held her hand out, showing him a colourful plastic bracelet.

'Wow, where'd you get that'.

'Trchers' She grinned proudly. Lucas smiled at her.

'Treasure? Wow, you better keep that safe away from the pirates' She scrambled out of his hold and toddled off to hide it under a pillow on the sofa.

'I'll go check she's ok' Peyton called over her shoulder, following Callie .

---

Callie stood on her tip toes opening the door. She stared up at the figure, biting her lip shyly.

'Hi'

'Hello'. Callie said hesitantly, staring at the stranger.

'You must be Callie?'

She nodded, becoming a little more comfortable as it became clear the stranger knew her. 'I'm being a pirate' She said more confidently, gesturing to her attire.

'You're being a very good pirate'.

'Who are you?' Callie asked, intrigued by the visitor. The stranger shifted her weight uneasily and tucked a fallen strand of hair behind her ear before answering.

'My names Brooke'.

'Callie ' Peyton put her hand on Callie 's shoulder protectively. 'Sweetie go find Daddy'. Callie smiled at the stranger and gave her a small wave before skipping back down the hall.

'What are you doing here Brooke?'

'I just want to talk Peyton'.

'Don't do this' Peyton shook her head. 'You left, you can't do this, you can't come back.'

Brooke smiled sadly. 'I never meant to hurt any of you….I just want to talk'.

'No' Peyton snapped.

'Peyton, please'

'Baby I'm going to start dinner- whose at the door?' Lucas's voice travelled down the hall. Peyton blinked back her tears, searching for words. 'Peyton?' His footsteps followed seconds later at her lack of response. '…Brooke'.

'Hey'. Brooke smiled uncomfortably, her eyes scanning the blonde haired child in his arms. 'You, you've had another child' She stated lamely, staring at the replica of Peyton. The little girl shyly laid her head on her daddy's shoulder.

'What…what are you doing here?' Lucas stuttered.

'I just want to talk' Brooke pleaded, glancing at them both. Lucas instinctively linked his free hand with Peyton's, squeezing it reassuringly. He was silent for a long minute before he spoke hesitantly.

'We're just about to cook dinner. You want to stay?'

Brooke looked at Peyton who appeared to be just as surprised at Lucas's suggestion as she was.

'Er yeah that would be great' She nodded, avoiding Peyton's deathly glare.

'I don't want her in my house' Peyton snapped, abruptly taking Edie from Lucas's arms and storming inside the house.

Brooke exhaled heavily. 'I just need to talk to you…please Luke'