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 reading. And an extreme special thanks to my reviewers, You rock immensely.
Faraway
The silence and soft music from the stereo, were rudely interrupted by the loud banging on the door followed by: "Nathan Royal Scott. Open this door right now!"
For a few moments Rachel, stayed frozen not sure she should open the door. But after a few irrational moments, and more banging on the door. She knew it was time to face her, so she took a breath and snatched the door open. "Nate's not here. Can I take a message?"
"You know I hoped it wouldn't be true, but damn, you brought skanky back," Brooke stormed passed the red head into the house in a huff, not waiting for an invitation. "What the hell are you doing here, Slut? What? Breaking up his marriage the first time wasn't enough, you're swing for a second?"
She should have known that Haley would go squealing to Brooke about her being back. "Such a warm welcome, B. I feel the love," Rachel drawled bored that she had to go through this again. Besides, if Haley had hoped for some sort of reconciliation she was sadly mistaken. Nathan was pathetically and completely in love with Peyton, it wasn't even funny anymore.
"It wasn't meant to be, Gatina." Brooke countered, hand on her hips, brown eyes blazing. "So why don't you crawl back to your little hole and die there!"
It hurt hearing those words coming from the closest thing she had had to a best friend in high school, but Rachel couldn't let her know that, "Look, if Saint Haley had a problem with me, why are you the one here yelling?"
"'cause I'm not afraid of beating your skanky as that's why!"
"Fine, bring it on then," Rachel figured that Brooke was being on the irrational side of angry, so she needed to make her point. "But know this Brookie, your precious Haley was the first one to sign the papers."
"Only because you-"
"-Tried to comfort him, when his wife was to busy threatening him with papers to see that he was hurting too? Yeah, I'm a regular devil with horns and she's the angel with a halo."
"Don't even try to twist it around to make yourself feel better, you were trying to sleep with a married guy that had a kid."
"And he turned me down. If Haley really wanted to work it then, she could have, but she chose to sign those papers. Then, she looked for a scapegoat and guess what: it's Rachel's fault. Why can't people stop villainizing me and stop baby her."
"We-"
"-Listen if you want to wait for him, he'll be back in anytime now, I've got carpets to buy," with that, the red-head grabbed her bag, and walked out of the house leaving Brooke alone.
Nathan headed straight for the fridge for a cold bottle of water, not noticing the petite brunette sitting on the sofa in the living room waiting for him. "Rach?"
"She's not here." Brooke said with deadly calm, something that just wasn't in her nature. "But you and I need to talk."
He could already see the train wreck waiting to happen. "Brooke-"
"-Don't Brooke me," she interrupted, then quickly added, "not like that- but what the hell are you doing Nate?"
"What do you mean?" knowing exactly what she meant but, needing to hear it for himself. It was time they both ironed out everything.
Brooke sighed. "I mean what are you doing to Haley, Nate?" Unable to understand why her friend would let a woman who'd destroyed his marriage back into their lives.
Just a few weeks ago, Haley had been excitedly telling her about her impeding reconciliation with Nathan, only to tell her yesterday that the destructive red-head was in town and living with Nathan, of all people.
"Brooke-"
"-No Nate. Rachel did major damage to your marriage, and it isn't fair to Haley that you parade that skanky slut around in front of her. It still hurt her you know?"
"What hurts her?" he asked surprised at the anger he felt at the statement. He knew how it felt to be constantly blamed for something that didn't really happen. "The fact that she jumped to conclusion and signed the papers because I didn't sleep with Rachel? Brooke quit blaming Rachel for something she didn't do. Yes, she did once preposition me in high school, but backed off as soon as she knew Haley was pregnant. That night you and Haley supposedly saw us, nothing happened."
Brooke had wanted to believe it, but come on, this was Rachel they were talking about. She'd tried taking Lucas from her, lied about her age to get with Cooper then, went after Nathan. So naturally, when she'd seen the red-head and Nate dancing in that seedy bar, her mind was set on believing the worst. And heck, she still believed that Rachel wasn't quite innocent as Nathan had thought she'd been at that moment. But for Nate, she would give the red the benefit of doubt. For now. "Tell me, why it looked like you were getting back together before going MIA, only to come back with Gatina hanging on your arm."
"I'm sorry if that's what Haley thought I was trying to do," truth was he had needed comfort after the engagement, and Haley had offered willingly. Now looking back he had, unfortunately, led her on and that was something he really was sorry for. "I love her. I do, but only as a friend and mother of my child. I respect her, but Rachel has been there for me through a pretty dark few weeks and become a good friend. I think it's only fair that you treat her like she isn't public enemy."
Brooke hated how those honest blue eyes could convince her of anything. Damn those Scott blue eyes. "I just don't think you should trust her."
"Brooke, she's been through a lot the last couple of years. And we both know, as a friend she'd do a lot for you. It maybe hard to trust her, but she misses you Brooke. You're one of the reason she moved back you know," Rachel would probably have his ass later for saying that, but it was time she stopped getting the brunt of the blame for the break of his marriage. "Besides, Rachel and I as a couple would be a hot mess."
Brooke couldn't help laugh at that. If Nathan defended someone so fierce they were probably worth his protection.
***
Peyton hadn't stopped looking at the sonogram since she got it the day before. It was hard to believe that in 8 months she would have a baby. A teary smile grace her face, as she traced the sonogram with her finger tips. She hadn't told anyone yet, because she wanted to he happy for just a while before the explosion of the news rocked their happy world. As much as confirmation was needed, she already knew who the father was. It was Nathan's she could feel it in every bone in her body.
How on earth was she going to tell him that she was pregnant? Because at the moment, she could barely look at him without her heartbreaking at the lie told. Heck, he could barely stand being in the room with her or be civil when around her. How was she suppose to approach him and tell him that, yes she was married to his brother but, she was carrying his child?
"So if we ever have these drop dead gorgeous kids, what do you think they'll look like?" Peyton asked doodling on the planes of his chest. They'd began discussing babies, lately and she wasn't quite sure whether it was Nathan's subtle hint to her that he was ready for a child or just talking. Either way, it made her nervous and excited all at once. She wasn't looking at him, she was scared she was stepping over bounds they weren't ready for, so she kept her head on his shoulder and focused on her doodling.
He gently began to playing with her hair. "If it's a girl, she'll probably have green eyes, and raven hair with curls and have me wrapped round her little finger," then he chuckled softly, "hopefully she doesn't inherit your crappy taste in music."
Peyton rewarded his with a playful shove, before balancing on an elbow and looking him in the eye, finally confident enough. "How about a boy?"
"Blue eyes probably, hair colour is optional. Total momma's boy with a killer jump shot and listens to decent music," smiling at the image that flashed in his mind, of two gorgeous kids being lead around by their cool, but protective older brother James.
She laughed, "Names?"
"Jordan both ways," he teased
"Let me think about that…no!"
Pulling her closer, he kissed her forehead. "Okay fine. How about Anna Jordan Scott for a girl, and Sawyer … Keith Scott for a boy?"
What could she say to that? It all sounded perfect. Ellie had already been honoured by her mom, by Peyton's middle name. So him choosing Anna, had her falling in love with him all over again. Straddling him once again, she captured his lips in a kiss that contained every single emotion and every bit of love she felt for him.
A silent tear, escaped her eye as she run a gentle hand over her stomach. They finally had it, and she couldn't even be sure that they could be happy about it. Their baby was the most beautiful thing that had happened to her in a long time, but it's very existence could only bring drama to their lives.
She'd messed up, she would deny it.
***
Lucas did his best to contain his reaction at the news. Rachel was in town? Not only that, she was living with Nathan. "I'm sure Nate has a good explanation about it."
"About disappearing with her for two weeks last month? And now he's living with her, Lucas. How could he explain that?" Haley paced the room completely frustrated. She was going to admit she was jealous and pissed, that Nathan was doing god knows what with that…bitch!
"I guess this is the part where I should cough and make my presences known right," Rachel commented, leaning on the wall watching them, "but that's kind of forced right? Talk about the devil and she appears, ever heard of that phrase?"
Haley was about to advance out of irrational anger but, Lucas held her back. "Rachel, what are you doing here?"
"Relax, I just came by to remind you guys that it Nate's birthday in a few days," Rachel said, inviting herself and plopping down on the sofa. "I wanted to know what you guys had planned for the occasion. But… judging by the clueless looks on your faces, I'd say you forgot, right?"
It was true and that just made Haley even more pissed. Oh how she despised Rachel. "What does that have to do with why you're here, you could have called."
"Retract the claws kitty-cat," Rachel taunted the smaller brunette, keeping her eyes firmly on Haley and away from Lucas. "How about we be civil, for Nathan's sake."
Lucas knew Rachel was just baiting Haley, but he also knew stepping in would divulge his past with Rachel and no-one was ready for that. He'd hurt her badly, and to be honest he wasn't really ready to face her. "How about you tell us what you had in mind, Rachel?"
"Nate adores Jamie, so I was thinking you could let him spend the night over at Nathan's on the eve of the day as well as the whole day on his birthday. And then you guys can have a happy family dinner."
"I'm just suppose to let Jaime under the same roof as you? No way in hell."
Rachel just sniggered, "okay, Kitty, your going to deprive your son and Nate -"
"- Don't even think of bringing Jamie into this."
Rolling her eyes, Rachel sighed. She wasn't going to fight someone who was being emotional and inconsiderate for nothing. "If I'm the problem, then I won't be around for the sleepover. Just stop thinking about how much you distrust me, and instead think about how much this would help your son and Nathan," that shut her up. "Think about it Haley." She didn't even bother acknowledging Lucas' presence as she left, instead she just walked out, letting them mull it over.
***
Her concentration was so focused on the sonogram once again, that she didn't hear the door close, or sense Lucas as he approached her. The gasp was the only thing that was able to pull her out of her own world.
"Peyton are you…" he whispered, almost too scared to say it. "Are you pregnant?"
The evidence was in her hands she couldn't lie. A silent tears, streamed down her face not knowing what to do. Should she tell him? God, this wasn't the way or the time she had planned to tell him, but the universe always had a way of screwing with her.
"Yes," she whispered in an equally quiet voice.
More soon
A/N: Title is Faraway by Nickleback. As always…
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