AU/AR story Nathan follows in the footsteps of the parents he loathes by when he has a drunken one night stand with Peyton, where she conceives their daughter Sawyer. When Nathan himself becomes the absentee father Peyton runs into someone else's arms. Couples: BL NP CH. Maybe some others later
Cast of Characters
Nathan Scott—Nathan Scott is the twenty-year-old husband of Peyton Scott and father of Gianna. An NBA player for the Charlotte Bobcats Scott was recruited to the pro leagues directly after high school. Following an away game with the Lakers eighteen-year-old Nathan visits a dejected Peyton and offers her comfort. After a night of drunken sex Nathan is surprised to find out that Peyton is pregnant. Nathan's time-consuming career is a source of drama for the couple.
Peyton Sawyer-Scott—Peyton Scott is the twenty one-year-old founder of the music label Red Bedroom Records She had Nathan's Scott's baby at barely nineteen. When Deb Lee finds out that Peyton is pregnant, she insists they get married which Nathan agrees to because he doesn't want to do to his child what Dan did to Lucas. Peyton often resents Nathan for making her virtually a single mother.
Gianna "Anna" Brooke Scott—Nathan and Peyton's daughter who adores her mother, Uncle Lucas and Aunt Brooke but would be hard put to recognize her father without microphones in his face because she rarely sees him except on TV. Stays the day with her Uncle Lucas while Peyton works. Peyton calls Anna the superglue of the damaged family because she is the only reason Peyton and Nathan try to make their marriage work at all.
Lucas Scott—Lucas is about to publish his second book detailing his adolescence as the unclaimed son of Dan Scott. He is pretty disgusted with his brother Nathan for treating Peyton and Anna the way Dan once treated him and Karen. Lucas and Brooke help Peyton raise his niece in Nathan's absence.
Brooke Davis—Waking up next to the guy of her dreams is great but Brooke finds herself wondering if Lucas will find the courage to get down on one knee after the Peyton debacle. In the meantime she spends her days designing clothes and looking after her goddaughter Anna.
Haley James —One half of Hollywood's favorite rock star couple Haley James (married name Haley Keller) and her husband Chris seem to be living the ultimate dream. But Haley left her small hometown four years ago with a secret that could ruin her chance at the perfect life.
Chapter 1: She Didn't Have Time
"That's a wrap," Peyton announced after a long day of recording with Mia Catalano her label's best (and technically only) artist.
The seventeen-year-old starlet smiled as she came out of the sound booth. "What'd you think about the key change?" she asked plopping down in the leather chair, grateful that Peyton was an informal enough boss to do nothing more than roll her eyes when Mia put her feet up on the desk. "Doesn't the song sound so much better now?"
Peyton laughed. "Let me put it this way: With that song on it, your next album will kick some major ass!"
"I'm glad I finally got right," Mia continued. "Otherwise I might feel guilty about having plans with Chase tonight."
Peyton's eyes lit up before she could stop herself. Even at twenty-one, she still had as big an appetite for gossip as a high school girl, a habit of Brooke's that must have rubbed off on her at some point. "You and Chase are getting pretty serious?"
Mia blushed but nodded. "Yeah. He is a really great guy Pey. Last night I played him the new arrangement while we were hanging out at TRIC and he loved it. Said I could be the next Haley James."
The color suddenly drained from Peyton face and she moved quicker to gather her stuff. "Look Mia, I should really go get Anna off Brooke's hands."
The abrupt change in her boss's demeanor made Mia's forehead pucker with worry. "What's the rush? Everything's okay isn't it?"
"Oh yeah, it's nothing like that," Peyton assured her. "Its just Gianna was there really late yesterday."
"Honestly Pey I think Anna loves those two almost as much as they love her," Mia pointed out. "Besides aren't they her godparents
The mentor shrug-nodded. "As much as Brooke and Luke really want a baby I don't want them to feel like they have to raise mine for me. "As Peyton rushed out to The Comet she help but be haunted by the confused look on Mia's face.
It wasn't her fault for mentioning Haley. After all how Mia supposed to know that Peyton and Brooke had been best friends with Haley in the days before she left on tour with Chris? She was Haley James-Scott back then, but different ambitions had driven her and Nathan apart. The night Haley's older sister Taylor had informed Nathan that Haley had accepted the Wreckers and Chris Keller he smashed her keyboard against the wall in frustration. For a while he continued to pine for her but after a few m he sold their apartment and moved back in with Peyton's mother-in-law Deb until graduation. Now at twenty he had a daughter of his own…
"This is the last time thank God!" Peyton muttered to herself pulling out of a rest stop in Fayetteville. Even as a little girl she had hated going rest stops and always insisted Larry and Anna pack enough snacks whenever they planned to go on a road trip. At least the transit bus she rode for the better part of the trip had on-board bathrooms—however disgusting they were.
"Only a little longer," she chanted for the next half an hour. Soon enough she was coming and soon enough the familiar sights she had tried to get away from surrounded her. His house looked exactly the same and so did the steel blue buggy parked in the driveway. Brooke.
Her heart pounded with her footsteps as she came up the walk and gripped the brass knocker. The sound of heels echoed on the floors inside.
"What's up B. Davis?" Every time she saw Brooke now Peyton's eyes rested on her friend's left hand. She couldn't help but marvel at the way Keith's ring threw rainbows in the light. " So I believe you have something of mine?"
Brooke pretended to pout as she stepped aside. "Can't we keep her a little longer?"
"Brooke I appreciate this I really do. I mean you are designing from home just so there will be someone to watch Anna while I'm at the label but you and Lucas are about to get married. And if I remember correctly you will need some alone time to make a baby. By the way as said baby's future aunt and godmother I reserve the right to spoil them just as rotten as you two spoil Anna!"
"Well duh," laughed Brooke as she slid open the glass door that led out to the backyard where Lucas was pushing Anna on the baby swing. Peyton knelt down and opened her arms wide.
"Mama!" Anna leapt into her mother's arms almost knocking Peyton backward.
"Hi pumpkin, how's Mommy's favorite girl?"
"She was perfect as usual," responded Lucas coming to stand next to his fiancée and giving Brooke's shoulder a loving squeeze. "Hey Cheery."
"Hey broody," Brooke replied leaning into him. "Peyton says we need to step on it and make her an aunt."
"We'll get right on that." Lucas cast an amused glance between Brooke and Peyton.
"Brooke!" Peyton gasped. "Luke, I didn't…well not in those exact words anyway."
"Hey Tigger," Brooke smiled at the little girl who was now carrying her old nickname. "How would you like a baby cousin?"
Anna's eyes widened in excitement, "Where?"
"Oh no sweetheart," Peyton bounced Anna nervously while glaring at Brooke. She was hoping to go about thirty years without having this particular conversation with her daughter. "You don't have a little cousin right this minute. How bout we go home and Daddy can clear it up for you when he comes home.
"Down!"" Anna ordered.
"Gianna Brooke Scott," said Peyton sternly. "We will speak nicely to people."
"Down pease."
"That's better," Peyton kissed her on the forehead. "Go give Auntie Brooke her hug and we'll head home."
Lucas kissed Anna and then Brooke on the cheek. "I'm going to walk Peyton out all right," he whispered.
Brooke nodded.
"What's your deal Luke," Peyton asked after buckling her daughter in the car seat, She laughed at his pouty look. "Whatever it is I'm a big girl."
"I know you are," agreed Lucas, leaning against the Comet's hood. " My mom called. She said she's knows about the incredibly short notice but apparently Lily likes to brag that she has a famous basketball player for a cousin and she wanted to come to the party tomorrow and see Nate. Mom couldn't talk her out of the idea so I said I would ask you."
"Of course they can come," cried Peyton. "Karen never has to ask about that! I just Lily and Gianna aren't disappointed when he doesn't show up."
"Peyton," Lucas signed. "Look if anybody knows what a massive dick Nathan can be it's me but…"
Peyton climbed into the Comet's driver seat and rolled down the window. "I've got to get Anna home but I'll be seeing you, Brooke, and your family at our house tomorrow."
Before he could say anything else Peyton was gone.
"Have to call the painter," Peyton muttered looking at the peeling chips of red as she unlocked the front door. "Pumpkin," she added making her voice bright. "Why don't you go in the playroom and draw a picture while I make dinner? I'm going to make Mac n Cheese!"
"Yay!"
"Yay!" Peyton repeated giving her a box of colored pencils. "Mommy will call you when dinner is ready. When she had shepherded Anna in the playroom Peyton set a pot of water to boil on the stove and stirred it glancing occasionally at the kitchen TV
"Goldilocks dinner," Peyton called. The little girl careened into the kitchen her unruly golden curls flying and was at the table before Peyton had set the bowl in front of her.
"'ooby," Anna cheered biting the head off a dog-shaped noodle.
"That's right," her mother replied. "Scooby is your favorite cartoon,"
"Daddy?"
"I don't know what Daddy's favorite cartoon is."
Anna giggled pointing at the screen above her. Peyton's head snapped up in the direction of her daughter's finger "Yeah there's your uncle," She saw Mouth standing in the Charlotte sports arena holding a microphone in front of her husband. "Mouth, she finished.
"I'm Marvin McFadden and I'm here at The Time Warner Cable Arena with the breaking news in basketball. It was just announced that Nathan Scott and two other Bobcats will participate in the Special Olympics NBA All-Star Summer Camp. Nate you're a hero to many of these kids. How did it feel when they asked you to be one of three Bobcat pros to attend?"
"It's feels great Mouth," Nathan laughed. "But I can tell you even though we may be considered heroes to these kids but trust me when the three of us come back here next week we'll get hammered in preseason like everyone else."
"All right well this is Marvin McFadden with the very modest Nathan Scott and you've just heard a mouthful. Back to you Frank."
Anna's giggle made snapped Peyton out of her thoughts to find her daughter covered up to the elbows in sticky orange cheese sauce.
"Oh Gianna," she said not knowing whether to sigh or laugh along. Picking the little girl up Peyton carried her into the bathroom and undressed her before testing the water. When Anna realized what was when was happening she jutted out her little lip.
"No bath!"
"I know it's not the most fun part of the day but we need to get you cleaned up. Once we're done here we'll snuggle up with a storybook alright?"
Peyton held out her arms and began to bounce. "One, two, three!" she chuckled plopping a laughing Anna in to the water and grabbing the berry-scented soap. "Daddy 'ere?" asked Gianna fifteen minutes later when Peyton led her into the bedroom to put on her pajamas.
With her daughter looking at her so expectantly Peyton had no choice but to come up with an excuse on the fly. "Yeah honey, your daddy will be here in the morning to wish you 'happy birthday'
That seemed to appease the girl's curiosity so Peyton cleared her throat ceremoniously and began to read Rainbow Fish for the thousandth time, not getting past the third page before her daughter's breathing began to even out.
" More Mommy." Anna whispered sleepily her innocence making Peyton smile.
"We can read some more tomorrow pumpkin. But I happen to know a little girl named Gianna who needs to get some sleep. So let's wrap you up tight and kiss Mommy g'night,"
It was a rhyme Peyton's mother used to recite, a tradition Peyton had continued since the day she brought her little one home from the hospital. Anna sat up on her elbows meeting Peyton halfway and returned the Eskimo kiss.
"'ove you Momma," she murmured as she snuggled into the blankets.
"You too pumpkin," Peyton replied, running the back of her hand along Anna's cheek and heading to her own room.
Once she was curled up securely in her bed Peyton let one salty tear slide down the bridge of her nose and then another. She never liked to watch sports highlights with her daughter in earshot in case Anna got jealous that her father was on TV instead of at home with the two of them. It was better if Anna continued looking forward to Nathan's visits with the excitement they warranted. But in her heart of hearts Peyton knew she was also guarding herself from disappointment. Now she was starting to understand how Karen must have felt…but she still blessed the day she found out she was pregnant.
"What's up B. Davis?" Peyton said.
Brooke's jaw dropped. She must been loosing more loosing more sleep working on that new line than she thought because now she was hallucinating.
Peyton smiled. She'd missed Brooke while she was in Los Angeles. This wasn't exactly the welcome but if she were in Brooke's place she would be shocked too.
"It's me. The one you laughed at when I told you I could've gone to that Cure concert with Lucas if I hadn't gone and lost those damn tickets. We built a snow fort with a tunnel in sixth grade and every year since we were nine I helped you "steal" your birthday present from my dad's friend's store and never told you because it would kill you rush."
Brooke finally found her voice. "I know you are best friend. But I didn't know your dad's friend owned that store."
"Oops."
The brunette laughed enveloping her friend in crushing hug. "No worries. Get you skinny ass inside. Me, you and Luke can catch up while we get so hosed I'll forget you ever told me."
A lump formed in the back of Peyton's throat. Now was as good a time as any since Brooke had inadvertently forced her hand. Immediately her friend's brow furrowed in concern.
"What is it?"
"Nothing, nothing. I really wanna catch up with you guys but I can't drink."
"Honey, I've seen you drink. You can put a sailor to shame when you have a half a mind to. Is there something you not tell me?"
Peyton gaze was glued to the sidewalk. "Has Luke said anything about seeing Nathan lately."
"No why?"
"He had a game against the Lakers a couple months ago. We talked and…"
The pause allowed everything Peyton said to sink into Brooke's conscience. "P. Sawyer!" she cried eyebrows shooting to her hairline.
"Yeah…"
"Oh my God!"
"I know."
"Are you…you are sure aren't you?"
Little red blotches bloomed on Peyton's cheeks, as she grew offended. "What are you trying to say Brooke?"
"Well in high school I was so certain that I was having Lucas's baby and that turned out to be a false alarm. There is only one way to be sure."
As the numbers on her bedside clock turned from 11:59 to 12:00 Peyton crept back down the hallway and leaned against the door lintel of her daughter's bedroom. "Happy birthday little angel," she whispered knowing full well there would be no reply. The only sound in the room apart from the wind outside was Gianna sucking contentedly on her fingers. The simple scene made Peyton realize that she was sure of one thing. For all his faults Nathan had given her something that night. He'd given her Anna and she could never repay his lousy ass for that.