Chapter 2

"Well, well. Nathan and Haley James Scott" Brooke sarcastically said. "Why I'm not surprised? What are you doing here?"

"We saw when Peyton crashed her car and we brought her here"

"I see. So what exactly happened Tutor wife?"

"We just told you"

"Don't you lie to me Haley James Scott!"

"What? Brooke, I'm... fine!" She gave Brooke a mad look. "Peyton hit our car. Nathan didn't want to save her but I convinced him"

"Thanks Haley" Nathan said angrily. "Who's that baby Brooke?"

"Oh that's Mary"

"Is she... by any chance... Peyton's daughter?"

"No. Why would you think that?" Brooke lied. "She's a girl I'm taking care of"

"You're babysitting?"

Haley was really surprised but Brooke was losing her pacience.

"Yeah. You got a problem?" She said harshly.

"No. I don't. Geez." Haley held the child in her arms tighter. "Come on Nathan, let's go. See ya Brooke" Haley sarcastically added.

Once alone in the room, Brooke sat in the chair.

"Hi Peyton" She lightly squeezed my hand. "How are you holding up? I miss you. Mary misses you. Please come back soon. We need to talk Peyton. You need to call him"

I squeezed her hand as my eyes slowly opened. Brooke surprisingly looked at me.

"Peyton"

"I can't... call him"

"That's okay. Let's not talk about this here okay sweetie?"

"Can I see my daughter?"

"Sure"

Brooke handed my child and I held her in my arms. I couldn't help but remember that day.

"One more push Peyton. You can do it. It's almost over"

I was exhausted. My face was sweating and I didn't have enough strenght to keep pushing.

"Come on Peyton. It's almost over"

Brooke was holding my hand and incentivating me to continue all the time. I could even say she was more excited about being an aunt than I was about being a mother. I gave the decisive push and she finally came out. I lied back on the bed as I heard her first cry. Brooke was smiling and telling how gorgeous she was. And she was so right. When I held that baby in my arms I knew she was beautiful and I knew I could love her forever. My eyes filled with tears as I rocked my baby girl. Brooke was in tears as well.

"You made it"

"Thanks to you"

"So what will be her name?"

"Mary. Mary Sawyer Scott"

"Peyton, you need to tell him"

"No Brooke. He won't know"

"Peyton"

"No please. It's better this way"

"Are you thinking about that day?"

I was brought back to reality when I heard Brooke's voice. I looked at her and nodded sadly.

"Aww Peyton"

"Please Brooke"

"Peyton look at you! You're a mess! You need him, it's clear"

I looked down. I knew she was right.

"Call him Peyton"

"I can't Brooke"

"Why not?"

"Cause I don't want to be hurt again okay?"

"Hi mom"

Lucas entered the café with his little sister on his shoulder.

"Hi Luke"

"Here you go" He put his little sister Stephanie on the ground and she ran to the kitchen. He couldn't help but laugh. "Skills called"

Karen continued cleaning the table "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. He told me to call Peyton"

Lucas sat on a chair. Karen looked at him.

"Did you?"

"Well, yeah. Did I do the right thing?"

"Do you feel like you did?"

"Yeah, I do"

"Good then. There's your answer"

"Mom, what's wrong?"

"Why this suddenly?"

"You're too direct. Tell me"

"Dan proposed"

"Holy crap what!"

"Watch your mouth! You don't want Steph to learn bad words"

"Sorry"

"Yeah he did"

"What are you gonna do? What did you say?"

"I don't know. And I said nothing"

"Skills, I want chocolate"

Skills had been getting things for Bevin all the day. Rachel was cooking dinner and couldn't help but laugh. Mouth was in the living room watching a Bulls game.

"I'm coming Bev"

Mouth turned the TV off and went to the kitchen. He placed a delicate kiss on Rachel's shoulder.

"It smells good"

"Thanks. It's french"

"Funny. I meant the food"

"So did I"

Rachel turned to him and looked in his eyes for a long time. Mouth walked closer to her and placed his hands on her waist. He then crashed his lips on hers and Rachel deepened the kiss by allowing their tongues to meet. Rachel sat herself on the sink, never breaking the kiss. Mouth lifted her up and she wrapped her legs over his waist as they headed to the bedroom.

"Are you expecting her to call you back?" Karen asked as she poured coffee on a cup for her son.

"Honestly, I don't know. Well, yeah"

"You miss her huh?"

"Everyday since she left. But I buried it for my own safety"

"I see"

"Mom, I really want to rekindle my relationship with her"

"Then why don't you go and talk to her?"

"You think I should?"

"It's never too late to start over. You've been waiting for this girl since you were 13. That is six years. Don't give up on you. You never know how she feels if you don't try"

"Yeah. I guess you're right. Alright, I'm going to New York then"

Karen was smiling at her son. He was finally chasing for his dream again. That made her really proud and happy.

"Well, now I'm gonna go home. I'll see you there"

"Bye sweetie"

"Steph let's go"

Lucas walked into the kitchen only to find his sister sleeping peacefully on the floor. He smiled and picked her up.

Nathan, Haley and Jamie arrived at her hotel.

"Nathan, I think we should stay in New York"

"You think so?"

"Yeah, just for a few days. I mean, Brooke and Peyton are here, and that's our chance to reconnect with them. Plus Rachel, Bevin, Skills and Mouth are here also"

"Yes sure. We can stay"

"That would be great!"

"Lucas. I'm home"

He appeared in the hall.

"Thank god mom! I'm running late for the flight"

"Sorry. The Café was crowded"

Lucas came out with his bag.

"Tell Steph I'll come back soon, would you? Thanks mom, for incentivating me in going"

"I will. And you're welcome"

"Ok bye"

Lucas gave his mom a kiss on the cheek and left.

I had left the hospital. Me and Brooke were driving back home.

"Have you thought about it?"

"About it what?" I looked from her daughter to Brooke.

"Lucas"

"Brooke"

"Peyton, you're miserable!"

"I am not having this discussion again"

"Ok. You can deny all over you want. But it's clear to everyone"

"Whatever"

Brooke parked the car in front of the house,

"Ok, we're here"

I carefully put a blanket over the sleepy baby before she got out of the car. Brooke pressed the play button from the answering machine first thing as we walked into the house.

You have two messages.

"Hi Brooke. It's me Rachel. Look, I know it's been a long time but I was thinking we could meet up since we're in the same city. Mouth, stop it. I'm on the phone. Anyway, please call me when you see it. Bye"

Brooke looked at me with a huge smile on her face. Rachel was one of her best friends.

"Peyton. Hi. It's me. Listen... hmm... I know we've lost touch this whole year and I kinda promised Skills I would call you. So, how have you been? Well, don't make me feel like it was a big mistake calling you. I wanna hear from you okay? So please call me back. Bye"

I looked over at Brooke. I couldn't tell what I was feeling at that moment.