Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill.
Pairing: Nathan and Peyton. Strong Rachel and Nathan friendship.
Rating: Strong T
Warnings: None.
A/N: thank you for read. An an extreme special thanks to my reviewer, You rock immensely.
Ordinary People
"What will you be doing while I'm with Jaime?" Nathan asked as he shrugged on his coat. He wasn't pissed at her for earlier, since it really wasn't his fault Haley had jumped to conclusion, and it was in Rachel's nature to rile Haley up when opportunity presented itself.
Rachel smirked, "making this more our space, than just your bachelor pad. What else would I be doing?"
"Not hiding out here," he deadpanned.
"Yeah 'cause you've been breaking down Lucas' door to see her again?" She hit back. What, it was in her nature to be defensive. "Get back to me when you actually have a face to face conversation with Blondie."
Rolling his eyes, he walked out. "No pink walls and we're good." He wasn't going to pressure her, just like she didn't try to pressure him.
Okay, she was a strong person, heck she was able to fool Nathan on that fact, but when it came to Lucas her defences were weak, and damn, it still hurt that he let her go for Peyton. Somehow she'd always known he was in love with Peyton, but she'd also hoped that Lucas would see her as the person who could help him forget Peyton.
Heck, she had always been phobic, when it came to babies and being a mother, but Lucas somehow changed all that and made her believe that she could want and have those things, just to have him take it away when she was ready for it.
So, was she ready to face Lucas yet? Probably, not. And until she was ready, she wouldn't go and risk her façade getting cracked.
***
"Hey there buddy," Nathan said in cheer. His son was the only light he had at the moment, and he'd failed him slightly by not calling when he'd taken his little trip. But, now that he was back he would concentrate on him and getting back in the game.
Jaime could barely contain his excitement at the sight of his father, and practically flung himself into his arms. "Daddy!"
"How you doing Jim Jam?" balancing him on his side, interested to know everything he'd missed in the last two weeks.
"Okay," he said, playing with Nathan collar before looking at him, trying to be grown up. "Where were you?"
"I… took a little trip, little guy. But, I'm back and so sorry I had you worried," setting the little blonde back on the ground and crouching down to get on eye level with him. "Tell you what, why don't you and I hang out the whole day today, and do whatever you want."
"Whatever I want?"
"Whatever you want Jim Jam," Nathan confirmed, ruffling his hair.
"Even ice-cream?"
"Ice-cream…Pizza…Candy…Basketball. Whatever you want."
"Great! I'm going to go tell mommy and aunt Peyton," running into the kitchen leaving his father frozen to the spot.
Peyton is here? He felt jumbled between being happy and heartbroken of that small fact. On one hand he wanted to see her so bad, simply because he missed her, but on the other hand the sight on her would probably break his heart more than make him happy. Why? Because, she wasn't his anymore. She was with Lucas. Married to Lucas.
"Nathan," Haley rather cool reception, brought him back from his thoughts.
There she was standing next to Haley, a hand resting on Jaime's golden head, with an unsure smile. It hurt, but he was more angry than he thought he would be. This was the woman who called their relationship a mistake, then proceeded to marry his brother. Did he still love her? Hell yes. Had he forgiven her for marrying Lucas? Not even close. But, for the sake of his son who was in the room, he was going to be civil. "Haley. Peyton."
"Can we go now daddy?" Jaime asked breaking the tension he seemed oblivious to, as he got from under Peyton's nurturing hand and hugging his father round the knees.
Nathan managed a smile, because for his son he would do anything. "Sure buddy. Let's hit the road," picking up his son. Haley seemed to still be pissed at him for earlier, but he couldn't bring himself to feel sorry for it. They were over, it was his life. Who he chose to live with or be friends with didn't concern her. "I'll bring him over by 9."
Haley nodded, and smiled at her excited son, "Have fun baby."
"I will," he called over his dad's shoulder, as they walked out
Peyton wasn't surprised that, he didn't even say goodbye. But it still hurt and pissed her off. He wasn't the only one hurting, yet he couldn't even manage being civil which was real childish.
***
"Hello," Peyton answered her cell after several rings, finding it under a bunch of paper on her cluttered desk. note to self: get organised.
-- "Hello. Is this Ms. Peyton Sawyer?" the woman on the other end inquired politely.
Balancing her cell phone between her ear and her shoulder, she got back to work. "Yes, this is she."
-- "I'm calling from the Tree Hill Medical centre, to inform you that your test results are ready, and to know when you'll be ready to schedule an appointment with Dr. Townsend."
She immediately froze. The doctor appointment earlier today had flown out of her mind, with her going through countless demos and the meeting with Nathan earlier. "Couldn't you tell me over the phone?"
-- "I'm sorry. Dr. Townsend requested us not to disclose it to you, because there are a few things she needs to discuss with you regarding your results."
That didn't sound good, but she nodded anyway. Only answering, "yes," when she realised the person couldn't see her over the phone.
-- "So when would you like me to schedule your appointment?"
That was the kicker wasn't it. She still needed to come to terms with everything, "Is next week Wednesday okay?"
-- After typing something, the woman answered, "Next week Wednesday at 9 am. But, are you sure you wouldn't like an earlier appointment?'
"I'm sure."
-- "Okay, we'll send you a reminder 24hr before the appointment, so if their any questions or cancellations you can do it then or beforehand."
"That's fine."
-- "Have a nice day Ms. Sawyer."
Even after the woman hung up, Peyton remained holding the phone, unmoving. Unsure, where she was going to go from here. Yes, the test results weren't known to her, but she could feel it in her gut already. She was pregnant.
Maybe, it was just her rational side that wanted concrete proof that the test would bring, rather than rely on the home-pregnancy test she'd taken and her gut-feeling. The question that kept popping up though, was should she tell Nathan if it was his?
Gut feeling: It was his.
***
It was about 9.30 when Nathan walked through the door once again, a small smile tugging at his lips. He had a good day with his son, which he hadn't doubted.
"Judging from that smile, It's safe to guess that you had a good day with the squirt?" Rachel comment, sticking her spoon back in her tub of ice-cream.
He smiled wider, "Yeah. I did," searching the fridge for his trusty bottle of water. "Have you eaten?"
"Okay dial down the daddy, Nathan. Mini-Nathan isn't around," rolling her eyes. She eat. In fact today, she pretty much binged, because hey, her career was over no need for carb watching.
She was happy he was happy. "When's Haley sending over the lynching mob?"
"Isn't that overreacting Gatina?"
"You mean, you didn't see her trying to kill me with her death glare earlier," handing him a spoon, she pushed the ice-cream to the middle of the island so they could share. "Fact is, wifey despises me."
"She's not my wife and, I thought you didn't care?"
"I don't, 'cause I could kick her goody-goody ass with my eyes close. Her back up's the problem. As much as Peyton's skinny, she can throw one hell of a punch. Reference Brooke for confirmation." savouring the melting ice-cream. She wasn't oblivious that she mentioned Peyton, in fact she did it intentionally. Her subtle way of getting something from Nathan about his lost love. Helping him, helped her.
"Same can be said about Lucas. Scrawny but can pack a punch," was all he said, a warning to her to drop it, but knowing Rachel she'd probably be less subtle the next time she asked.
"Who knew blondes could fight." getting the warning and backing off, "Seen Brooke yet?"
It wasn't a secret Rachel missed Brooke, but he wasn't going to out her game anytime soon. "At the pier. The only reason she didn't rip my head off, was because her favourite and only godson was with me."
Brooke had completely cut ties with her, when the divorce between her much beloved Naley pushed through, as the brunette chose to side with Haley. It had hurt, but facts were Haley was a friend to Brooke longer, and her godson's mother. She'd screwed up, back then, but hopefully she'd fix things this time round. "Hmm," shoving a spoonful of chocolate-y goodness in her mouth so she would have to say anything.
"You should call her."
"Last time Davis saw me, she wasn't exactly-"
"-You care about her. Just talk to her."
"Ok hot shot-" she began but, he cut her off.
"- Gatina, you want keep lying to yourself? You miss her. I know how sucky it is to be on her shit list," piercing her with the most earnest look in his sapphire orbs. "Just call her. If it doesn't work out, you can at least live with the fact that you tried."
She hated those blue eyes, and him being right. "Whatever. I'm off to bed," giving him a kiss on the cheek as a thank you. "I have an early start tomorrow."
He'd gotten through to her that's all that mattered. And honestly, he owed her a little and another project with him would be getting Brooke and Rachel back to the friends they were senior year.
***
It was Friday, when Peyton finally got the nerve to go to the hospital. Procrastination was a stupid thing to do, since it just prolonged the evitable, but she felt she reserved that small right. Beside, she'd only extended the time by a day, so she didn't see the harm. It didn't mean she was less nervous, sitting where she was, once again.
"I'm glad you finally managed to come in, Ms. Sawyer," Dr. Townsend said pleasantly. It didn't take a scientist to know the young woman was nervous. "I have your test result here, which all look standard. The missed period is due to the fact that you're pregnant. Congratulations."
Even though, she'd practically sung it as a mantra for last couple of days, it was still shocking to hear it from the doctor personally. Peyton couldn't find her voice, she just nodded a thank you.
"The reason I called you in was to make sure that everything is alright with the pregnancy," looking at the younger blonde with reassuring eyes. "To know how far along you are I'll need to do an ultrasound. But first I need to ask a few questions."
Peyton nodded, unsure of whether she liked where this was going.
"Have you ever been diagnosed with having high blood pressure?"
Of all the question she expected the doctor to throw at her, she never in a million years expected that one. "No…why?"
"During your last check up, you had quite a high blood pressure above the normal 140 over 90, as well as this time."
"Is that bad?" fearing creped into her heart, as she unconsciously placed a hand protectively over her flat belly.
The doctor, didn't want to lie or scare her patient. "In most cases, many pregnant women with high blood pressure have healthy babies without serious problems, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be prudent here. In some cases, women with high blood pressure, later develop a condition known as Preeclampsia at the 20th week of pregnancy. Which stops after the baby is delivery. But, with proper care and observation your baby will probably be just fine." The young blonde still seemed utterly scared and confused. "Like I said, Preeclampsia may or may not develop, all we have to do now is make sure you and that little one are safe, and deal with that huddle if it arises."
All Peyton could do once again was nod with uncertainty.
"I would like to do an ultrasound to see how far along you are, so we can determine delivery dates," When the girl didn't say anything but just nodded, she continued. "I'll just leave you for a few minutes to set everything up."
---
Peyton watched silently as Dr. Townsend lifted her shirt, and turned on the machine. "Now the gel is a little cold," was the only warning she got before the freezing substance was squirted onto her belly. Maybe she was over reacting, but the cool temperature of the room and the gel, just seemed that much colder.
"Ok…" the doctor said as she moved the machine over the her belly looking for the embryo. "There you go," she pointed out a spot on the monitor to Peyton, "that there, is your baby." It was nice to just see the young woman smile, "Judging from my calculations and what we are seeing now, I'd say you are about 4 weeks along."
Peyton barely heard the doctor talk as she looked at the monitor. A tear falling down her face.
"Now we won't be able to hear a heart beat for another couple of weeks, but everything looks ok for the time being. Would you like a sonograph?"
Finally snapping out of her slightly dazed state, Peyton answered. "Yes please." For now she didn't want to think or worry about anything other than the baby.
Everything else could wait.
More soon
A/N: Not much NP in this chapter, but I can assure you that the Nathan-Rachel story is very significant. Title is Ordinary People by John Legend. Also, the first parts are 3 weeks from the wedding, and the last scenes are 4 weeks after. As always…
Reviews would rock! Constructive Criticisms is welcomed. Flames … "to each his own".