I did not mean to go on such a long and unintended hiatus. Shortly after the last chapter I posted, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. I flew home to take care of her, and though she was successfully treated (thry caught it in time), the unexpected leave of absence caused me to be backed up at work which led to more time away from the story. Coupled with a horrible case of writer's block/ disinterest in anything one tree hill related, and all my stories languished. But no matter how long the hiatuses, know that these stories will be finished. I don't know how well the writing will be, but it will get done. Thanks Steff for the shout out and new story (Always on your side) inspired by this story's angst- that was also added inspiration to get this story's backstory out (luckily the backstory is already written- I just have to get to a place where the characters of the story can learn it so I can share it with you). I got so excited I was reading Leyton again I decided to try to write Leyton again and it worked. So thank Steff for continuing to write leyton so that I could find a way to come back. Let me know how I did.

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Haley pulled up to the front of the bungalow and turned off the engine, sitting in silence as she stared at the 'shack' Lucas described to her in great detail. At the time, Haley believed he had been exaggerating, but seeing it with her own eyes made her realize that every word he uttered was true. But it didn't make her angry.

It just made her sad.

Bracing herself, she got out of the car and walked toward the front of the house, thinking about how she wanted to handle this. What she wanted was answers, answers to the questions the entire situation posed and to which Lucas had no response.

From what Haley knew of Peyton, none of it rang true, but like Lucas said, it had been over 4 years.

A rhythmic banging stopped Haley from her trek to the front door, and caused her to follow the sound around the house to the back, where she found who she guessed was Peyton putting in new screens for the windows of the back of the house.

Haley cleared her throat, but the woman didn't turn around. Haley tried again, calling out her name questioningly. "Peyton?"

Still no answer.

Haley hesitated, then called out louder as she moved closer to tap the woman on her shoulder.

"Peyton?"

The woman started, turning in surprise as she pulled something out of her ear with one hand and gripped the hammer with the other.

"Haley?"

-lp-lp-lp-lp-lp-lp-lp-lp

From the moment he was born, I had been his protector, his defender. There was only one other time he had been away from me like this, and it felt the same. A dull-ache that had me rubbing my fist over my heart unconsciously to ease the ache that wasn't physical. Gut-wrenching terror that I had seen him for the last time. The only thing that was missing was the fear for his safety, but 2 out of 3 was still a place I had no desire to be again.

It was times like these I wished I was a crier, but I wasn't, so for me there was no release for the tension that kept building in my chest. Even my art had deserted me- the blank pages only reminding me of how foolish I was to think that this would all be eased by some pretty pictures and seashell accessories.

Staring vacantly at the wall had given me the inspiration to move, and the physical labor it provoked provided enough of a distraction that I was able to hold it together. After all, Lucas would calm down eventually and Braedon would be back- so wouldn't it be nice if he could come back to the fixer-upper that was fixed up? I had been holding off of the more major renovations, buying creature comforts for my preschool partner, but since he was no longer here- the money that had gone to the little items that made the place more homey could instead go to the house repairs.

And the screens were project numero uno. Though my landlord refused to buy anything for the house, he did agree that anything purchased for the house could be deducted from my rent, and I was taking him at his word.

I had finished one side of the house and was working on the second window of the back when I felt someone touch my shoulder. I whirled, a little frightened. After all, I wasn't expecting anyone and I was a female alone on the beach. I raised the hammer I had been using as a weapon and I pulled my Ipod out of my ears so I could be alert, and turned to face the person who had tapped me on the shoulder.

"Haley?"

-lp-lp-lp

Shock didn't begin to describe the emotions I felt at the sight of Haley James in front of me for the first time in 5 years. It wasn't the only emotion I felt, but it was the one I grabbed on too, doing my best to ignore the remembered pain of leaving someone who I knew to my soul would have been a good friend, and squelching down the hope that rose at the thought of Haley being back in my life again. Life had taught me well- true friendship was a lie, and hope only led to heartache.

We stared at each other, her and I, drinking in the sight of each other. The dark brown of her shoulder length hair suited her, and I had never seen her more beautiful- but then again, maybe the passing of time had just made me forget that she always was this way, and it was really I who had changed. I awkwardly tugged my windblown locks, tangled by the wind, feeling homely, feeling unworthy to be in her presence. Obviously life had been just a little better to her, if her looks were any indication.

I avoided her gaze, not wanting to feel the censure I was sure was in her eyes. She had always been Lucas' best friend, and no doubt, after viewing first hand the hovel he had undoubtedly told her about, she would be just as quick to judge and condemn.

"It's been a long time." Haley said solemnly.

"Yes, it has." I responded, raising my eyes to meet hers before looking away.

We stood there, the silence becoming awkward as it's length grew and neither of us knew what to say. I was still raw from the confrontation with Lucas, and I had no desire to begin the next one. If Haley had something to say, she could say it. But I wasn't going to make it easier for her.

-Lp-lp-lp-lp-lp-lp-

Haley didn't know what she expected when she arrived at the house Peyton was staying in, but this wasn't it. Remembering the Brooke and Peyton of high school, Lucas' protestations of inadequate clothing, no toys, and sleeping on the floor made her think that the women had been unfairly treating the little boy. She had imagined entering a space where Lucas' son had been deprived of all that had been afforded his guardians, and she couldn't have been more wrong. She stared at Peyton, taking in the threadbare top and the well-worn jean shorts, the hair that had not seen a salon in years, and the weary gaze of a woman who was on the brink of giving up.

This was not the Peyton she knew. This was not the Peyton Lucas described. The Peyton Lucas depicted deserved Haley's anger, but the Peyton before her needed understanding, and there were enough people in Haley's life she was at odds with- she was tired of fighting. It was time to try love.

"Wow. This is really awkward," Haley said, raising her hands in apology. "Cause I know it's been 5 years, but I've missed you, and I really want to hug you right now."

Peyton's shoulders sagged; in relief or worry, Haley wasn't sure, but it didn't matter because soon Haley's ams were filled with the other woman as her arms wrapped tentatively around her.

Haley hugged her back tightly, alarmed at how skinny she was. The mothering instinct in full force, Haley patted Peyton's back before releasing her and putting her hands on her hips.

"What exactly have you gotten yourself into since I've been gone, missy?"

Peyton laughed, a watery chuckle that had Haley's own eyes tearing as she heard the same relief in the sound that she felt at the realization that they were going to be okay.

-lp-

"So what exactly did Lucas tell you?" Peyton asked as she passed Haley a glass of homemade iced tea, settling herself on the bean bag next to Haley.

After the hug, Peyton invited Haley in and busied herself in the kitchen, to process the obvious shock of Haley being so welcoming, and to calm the anxiety that the unexpected welcome had caused. She poured Haley a glass of iced tea, a treat Peyton had made for Braedon by stealing tea bags and sugar packets from nearby coffee shops.

"He didn't tell me much" Haley said, sipping on the tea and doing her best not to stare at the abject poverty surrounding her that still had her in shock. "He said that you were here to to tell him Braedon was his son, and that Brooke is his mom."

"Where is Brooke by the way?" Haley glanced around. "Did she come with you guys or is she back in California?"

Peyton caught at the question and she stared at her glass trying to compose herself. "Brooke passed away a couple of weeks ago." Unable to stop the grief that welled up in her at having to say it out loud, Peyton scrambled to her feet and left the house, stumbling through the sand until she collapsed at the water's edge, tears flowing unchecked down her cheeks.

Haley sat in shock, mouth open as she had been about to take a sip of her drink. She expected Peyton to say that Brooke couldn't get away from work, or maybe couldn't face Lucas, or even, after seeing the dire straits Peyton was in, that they could only afford for one of them to come back and bring Braedon to Lucas. She never imagined that Peyton would be here with Brooke's son because Brooke was dead. It definitely put a different spin on things, and the negative light Lucas had painted Peyton in was quickly turning a more positive shade. It was entirely possible that Peyton knew as much as Lucas did about why Brooke neglected to tell him about his son, and that changed things.

Giving Peyton, and herself, a moment to pull it together, Haley got up and began to walk around the house. She took note of many of the same features Lucas did- the artwork done on white paper on the wall, the mattress on the floor of the bedroom, the pile of clothes on the side table. But instead of being angry, the sight made her smile tenderly. As a mother, she could see the sacrifices Peyton had made for Braedon. Though worn, Braedon's pile of clothes was substantially larger than Peyton's. There were no toys, true, but peeking out of the bedsheets was the ear of what Haley confirmed to be a well-worn teddy bear, and in the corner between the bed and the wall lay a tiny stack of books and a flashlight.

With what little she had, Peyton had provided a home for Braedon, and the question for Haley was now not why she was depriving the little boy, but why she had so little to give him.

Haley squared her shoulders in determination. She was going to get to the bottom of this mystery. And as she heard Peyton re-enter the house, she met her in the kitchen to begin step one of her plan. "So we obviously have a lot to talk about. And since I have a guest bedroom just begging to be used, we are going to do it at my house. So get your things and let's go."

At the protest she saw forming on Peyton's lips, Haley pulled out her best mommy voice, one that brooked no argument.

"This is not a debate, this is a statement of fact. You can argue with me later. Right now, we've got some packing to do. "

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What do you think? To OOC for Haley? Everything that happened on the show til season 5 happened to Haley, so this is Haley season 5, without the bitch, so basically haley character season 4 (you remember, the one that cried for the man that hit her with a car and forgave him? yeah, that haley, not season 5 pod haley). Let me know what you think. Next chapter- Lucas introduces Braedon to his mom.

Question. Should you guys find out the back story of this fic by Peyton telling Haley, or Peyton telling Lucas, or Peyton telling different people as the stories arise?