It was a hot June afternoon as the Tree Hill High School class of 2006 sat waiting to receive their diplomas. Peyton was glad she had taken Brooke's advice and worn only boxers and a bra under her gown. As she sat melting in the auditorium, she took a moment to look around the room, trying to remember the scene so she could get it down on paper later. The looks of excitement on some faces, sadness on others, relief for some and heat stroke for the rest. Graduation – the end of an era. She observed the faces of her friends seated around her. There were a few notable absences that were felt by all, but on this day, they tried to focus on the celebration, not the sadness. A year earlier they had sat in the auditorium, watching the seniors parade across the stage receiving their diplomas, and although they were aware it would be their turn in twelve months, twelve months felt like an eternity. Now, it seemed like a blink of an eye. As Peyton reflected on the past year, in fact the past two years, it seemed to pass so quickly, yet so much had happened. Loves lost, loves found, friendships made, broken and then made again. Families were created, ripped apart and reunited. Every person has a time in their life that they looked back on and just know it was the defining time. That point where you turn a corner and you just know it will always be different. Graduation definitely encouraged reflection, and Peyton was no exception. As she looked to her friends, Lucas, Nathan, Brooke, Jake...she could see how much the past years had changed them. Her too.

Brooke was seated in the front row; Jake was in the second. Alphabetical seating sucked, but lucky for her the Scott brothers were to her right. For a long time she believed that the word brothers would never apply to Lucas and Nathan, but Haley had changed that. They had become civil to each other when Haley entered Nathan's life, and when Haley and Nathan married, they became friends, but it was her leaving that forged their bond in blood. They shared each others pain and looked out for the other like brothers are supposed to. Peyton smiled to herself when she thought of how far those two had come.

Jake had leaned back in his chair to catch a glimpse of Peyton. He caught her grinning to herself, and once more he was struck by how beautiful she was when she thought no one was watching. And when her smile actually reached her eyes, like it was right now, he was blown away.

Peyton was not paying attention to the speaker drone on about the future, or Jake watching her - she was too busy reflecting on the past. If she ever tried to explain it to an outsider they wouldn't believe her but if she had to pick the moment it started, the moment the shift began, it would have to be...

Watching Jake get on her dad's boat brought out feelings she didn't realize were there. Peyton wasn't exactly sure why she kissed him, but the impulse over took her, and she went with it. What was more surprising to her was the half hug he gave her afterward. It was so tender...which was new to her. Nathan had been all about drama, fighting, breaking up, making up...Lucas...well you couldn't deny the emotional connection they had, but there was always something in the way. First her own fear, then her best friend, and now...she was disappointed in him. The whole Nikki debacle was not something she had expected from him. Trust was a difficult thing for her at the best of times and his betrayal cut deep.

She went home to an empty house...again. Her and Brooke had plans for that night after the game. Peyton was glad they had reconnected. She wasn't naïve enough to believe that things would ever be the same between them again, but she had missed her best friend. They had plans for Nikki that night...give Jake a head start at least.

The game was a heartbreaker. To lose in the final seconds, after an unbeaten year was an anti-climactic end to a dramatic season. After her and Brooke took care of Nikki, they simply came back to her place. It had been an emotional night, and they just wanted some quiet. Finding a note for them in the doorway the next morning was a little surprising. Lucas was leaving town...the note was an apology, an explanation, and a promise to live up to their expectations. He just felt it would be easier for him to do those things in Charleston with Keith. Brooke and Peyton looked from the note to each other and laughed. They didn't doubt his sincerity, but it just felt like they had come full circle. Back to just the two of them.

"So, you wanna meet at the café for lunch later?" Brooke asked as she was getting ready to leave.

"I have to drop a strip off at THUD, but I could do lunch." Peyton replied.

"Cool...say one thirty?"

"I'll be there."

Peyton spent the morning finishing up her strip and before she knew it, she had to leave to meet Brooke. She was surprised to see no familiar faces when she walked in. Neither Deb, Haley nor Karen seemed to be at the café and usually one of the three was there. Brooke hadn't arrived yet so Peyton took a seat at the counter. Brooke arrived shortly after.

"Where is everyone?" Brooke noticed their absence also.

"I don't know."

"Hey, cutie..." Brooke gestured to a bus boy. "Where's the Scott women?" Brooke asked.

"At the hospital." He replied.

"Hospital?" Peyton asked.

"Ya, Mr. Scott had a heart attack." The boy explained.

"Which Mr. Scott?" Brooke asked. There were too many to speculate.

"Dan."

"We should go down there Pey," Brooke said, gathering up her purse.

"I don't know Brooke."

"Come on, you can work out your issues on the way." Brooke dragged her out of the café. They left Peyton's car behind and took Brooke's bug.

The found out from the admin clerk where everyone was. As they rounded the corner to the cardiac ICU waiting room, they saw everyone anxiously sitting there. Dan Scott may have been the biggest ass God put on the planet, but family is family. And his whole crazy family was there. Karen, Deb, Nathan, and Haley all looked like they had been hit by a bus. Lucas and Keith were on their way back from Charleston and would arrive in about an hours time.

"Peyton, Brooke, what are you doing here?" Haley was the first to get up. They hugged her.

"We went to the café to get some lunch and the bus boy told us where you all were. How is he?" Brooke asked.

"We don't really know yet. Deb found him right away so that's in his favor. We just really have to wait and see." Haley explained. "I was just about to get some coffee. Peyton, wanna come with?"

"Sure. Brooke, you'll be OK here?" Peyton asked her.

"Yep. Go." Brooke took a seat next to Karen and gave her shoulders a squeeze. She seemed so lost without Lucas or Keith by her side.

The two girls walked to the cafeteria in silence.

"Kinda weird to be back here again, huh?" Peyton was the first to break the silence.

"Ya...it's been..." Haley ran her fingers through her hair.

"Haley?" Peyton had glimpsed Haley's wedding band. "Is that what I think it is?"

"What?"

"This," She said as she took Haley's left hand.

"Oh, shit...I forgot to take it off." Haley quickly pulled it off her finger.

"What is going on?" Peyton asked again.

"This.....well...it's just that Nathan wanted to tell you himself, so act surprised OK?" Haley stammered.

"You got married?" Peyton was more than surprised.

"Last night. Ya. But obviously considering the circumstances we are not advertising it. If Dan manages to pull through we don't exactly want to give him another heart attack, do we?" Haley half smiled.

"Wow," Peyton really didn't know what to say.

"You think it was stupid," Haley said.

"No...No" she said reassuringly. "Just surprised."

"Well, when everything settles down here, and Nathan has an chance to talk to you, I'll tell you the whole story. We better go back."

"Sure." Peyton was in a bit of a stupor which lasted the entire time they were at the hospital. Once Lucas and Keith arrived, Peyton and Brooke left. They agreed to come back the next day.

"Holy crap, huh? Kinda weird to see them all in one room." Brooke commented.

"Ya. And no one was throwing any punches or anything."

"Do you think he'll be OK?"

"Dan? He's too ornery to die." Peyton said sarcastically.

Brooke laughed at that.

The next few weeks were strange. Brooke and Peyton found a way to help though, they worked at the café. Seeing Brooke do dishes gave Peyton hours of amusement. She wondered how much help they actually were, but Karen and Deb knew that the effort was there and they appreciated it. Dan was in the cardiac ICU for three weeks and then another three weeks in the general ward. Finally, mid august, they let him go home. The day after he arrived home, Peyton had a visitor.

"Hey," came a voice from the doorway. Peyton was busy working on a strip and didn't hear anyone come in. She turned to see Nathan standing there.

"So, your dad's home?" Peyton asked, putting down her sketch book.

"Yep. Let him out yesterday." Nathan replied.

"How is he?"

"The same, and different. There is something I have to tell you Peyton." Nathan seemed uncomfortable.

"What is it?" Peyton remembered her promise to Haley and was working out how to be surprised.

"Haley and I....well before my dad had his heart attack...we got...." He seemed to struggle to find the words. Lucky for him, Peyton made a big show of noticing his wedding ring.

"Nathan Scott, are you trying to tell me that you got married?" Peyton smiled.

"How did....?" Nathan fumbled. Peyton pointed at his ring. "Oh. So my wife didn't already tell you?"

"No." Peyton acted her heart out.

"You are a bad liar." Nathan smiled.

"OK, ya I am. But in my defense, I've known for like six weeks dude. You try to maintain surprise that long. It's not easy." She smiled back at him.

"So what do you think?"

"I've already told you what I thought. Haley is too good for you. Hurt her, I break your legs." Peyton teased.

"Hey, considering you and I have a past, shouldn't you be saying that to Haley?" Nathan joked back.

"She doesn't have a history of being a jackass."

"Good point. When did she tell you?" Nathan sat down on the bed.

"She didn't exactly. She was wearing her ring at the hospital that first day. I noticed it then. She didn't mean to steal your thunder." Peyton explained.

"You are really OK with this Pey?" Nathan asked seriously.

"Ya...of course. It's your life. And you couldn't have picked a better girl than Haley. Plus, it's not like I'm holding some torch for you or anything." Peyton reassured him. Nathan jokingly made a face. "Oh, get over yourself Scott." She playfully punched him.

"You know, I'm glad we're friends." He said.

"What is this? Near death experience in the family and you get all sentimental?" Peyton was trying to keep things light.

"I'm just saying..." Nathan started.

"I get it. And you know if you need anything, I'm here for you. Are Lucas and Keith sticking around?" Peyton asked, changing the subject.

"Ya, I guess so. Keith is gonna run the dealership while Dad's laid up. He's different you know?" Nathan said.

"Who? Your dad?"

"Ya. Haley and I told him about us getting married last night and he took it way better than I expected. Maybe this heart attack was a good thing." Nathan offered.

"Maybe."

"So, have you heard from Jake?"

"Why would you ask me that?" Peyton asked.

"It's just I noticed the two of you were getting pretty tight before he disappeared."

"I helped him out with Jenny, that's all. He's a good guy." Peyton said.

"OK whatever you tell yourself," he teased. "I should get going. Tim was mentioning something about a bachelor party this weekend. Have you heard anything?" Nathan asked.

"Brooke and Tim are in charge of that. We have something planned for Haley too. I think we're all hooking up at the end of the night. That's all I know so far."

"Well, I guess I'll see you this weekend then."

"Later Nate, and hey.." she said as he headed for the door. "Congratulations." She smiled.

"Thanks." He returned the smile and then left.

Peyton felt a slight twinge when he left. They had become friends since their breakup which was surprising to her. Their relationship had been a roller coaster at best, a natural disaster at worst. In the end, they had this weird bond of friendship. Peyton was happy that Nathan had Haley. It was easy to see what a good influence she was for him. Sometimes Peyton wondered why she could never bring that out in him, not that she wanted to be with him again. All those feelings were long gone, but it was almost inspiring to see the effect one person could have on another. She wondered if she would ever do that for someone, or more so, would someone ever do that for her?

A/N Couldn't get this idea out of my head, so let me know your thoughts/suggestions. Have another chapter done that I'll post if there is any interest. Always, Carys