Disclaimer: I don't own anything

--

Peyton sipped her coffee as she watched Nathan step out of his car and walk to the door.

She smiled slightly when he opened the door, walking to her.

"Did you tell her?" He asked.

She nodded, remembering the conversation she and her aunt had had this morning at the breakfast table. "Yeah, I told her this morning,"

"Well?" He said, pushing her.

"She didn't take it too well,"

"Did she leave?"

"No, she's just out, cooling down while she walks around the town,"

"You didn't have to do that you know? I would have gone a long with it,"

She raised her eyebrows at him, "Really?"

He scowled, "Not like that, you needed the help,"

"Yeah, I know. Thanks anyways, I guess." She said, "I needed to tell her, she would have found out sooner or later, I mean it's not like we're actually dating,"

He opened his mouth to say something but shut it, nodding his head.

She squinted her eyes up at him, "Is there something wrong?"

"No, No, there's nothing wrong. I just, I have to go. I'll see ya later," And he was gone, leaving Peyton to look after him.

--

Nathan was sitting in the chair in Paige's hospital room. They had taken Paige down for some tests to see if her platelet count was any higher. He looked up when Lucas walked in and sat down next to him.

"Hey, Bro, what's up?"

Lucas held up his left hand.

"You got married?"

"We eloped. I have to tell you, married life is good, very very good,"

Nathan grinned, chuckling. "I guess this would be the best time to tell you that Mom just called and she is flying in to help you with your wedding."

The older Scotts eyes got big.

Nathan continued laughing. "Boy is she gonna kill you when she finds out you guys eloped,"

"Whoa, Nathan, man, you gotta help me out here, what am I supposed to do now?"

Nathan shrugged. "Well, one, you could get your head chopped off by mom after telling her the truth, or, two, you could pretend you two didn't elope and go on with the wedding,"

"I'd go with number two, but Brooke is really excited about already being married and not having to go through with the wedding and that sounds a little too Seventh Heaven-ish"

"Has she told her parents you guys eloped?"

"Her parents don't care either way. Do you think Mom will ever forgive us for this?"

"Eventually, but she will still hold it over your head for as long as she lives,"

"When is she coming?"

"Tomorrow evening,"

"Is Frank coming with her?"

"Yep,"

"Great,"

"Yeah, this is gonna be fun,"

Lucas turned his head to face him, smiling, "Maybe I should tell her about Peyton,"

Nathan glared at him, "You wouldn't"

"I would,"

Nathan sighed, "Okay, you win,"

"I always do,"

Nathan scoffed, "Yeah right,"

Lucas laughed, "Oh, and guess what we found out at the doctor's today?"

"It's a boy?"

"No, they don't know that yet. But, they do know that there are two heartbeats."

"Twins?"

Lucas nodded, "Yep, twins, Brooke is freaking out,"

"I bet, and what about you?"

"I'm trying not to think about it,"

--

"P, Sawyer!" Brooke called as she walked into the store.

"Yeah, B. Davis?" Peyton called as she walked in from the back room.

"Oh! I like it!" Brooke lifted her left hand. "Guess who eloped?"

"Good, now I don't have to go to a wedding,"

Brooke stuck her tongue out at her. "And you want to know something else?"

"There's an elephant growing inside of you?"

"Close, but no, Twins are growing inside of me,"

"Twins?"

"Yep, twins,"

"Huh, you're screwed,"

Brooke pouted, "Peyton Marie Sawyer!"

"My middle name is Elizabeth,"

"So?"

"You said Peyton Marie,"

"Uh duh, ever heard of PMS?"

"Okay, cow"

"Cow?"

"No, I change my mind, you're a whale,"

Brooke's eyes widened when she realized what Peyton meant, "Oh my god! I am going to be a whale!"

She sat down at Peyton's chair behind the cash register. "I am completely screwed! How will I do this?"

"Well, first, your water will break, then Lucas will drive you to the hospital, where the doctors will proceed to push your legs apart, and make you-"

"You know that I mean!" Brooke bellowed at her, "How am I going to be a mother to two?!"

"You'll do fine, I promise."

Brooke pouted, "You want to go on a shopping spree with me?"

"Do I have to?"

"Oh, come on, Peyton! It will make me feel better!"

Peyton rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll go with you, I guess,"

"Yeah!" Brooke squealed, throwing her arms around Peyton.

Peyton got her shoes on before following Brooke out the door to her car. They picked up Lindsey and headed to the mall.

"Hey, guess who is coming in tomorrow," Lindsey said as they sat down with their food.

"Santa?" Peyton guessed.

Lindsey chuckled. "No, Grandma,"

Brooke froze, "As in Nathan and Lucas's mom?"

"Yep, good ol' Grandma Deb"

"Shit,"

"I thought you liked her?"

"She and Lucas eloped last night," Peyton told the young girl,

Lindsey laughed. "Boy is Grandma gonna kill you!"

"Maybe we can tell her the other good news after we tell her there won't be a wedding,"

"What other good news?"

"They're having twins," Peyton said,

"Twins?!"

"Yep, twins,"

"What do you think they're gonna be?" Peyton asked as she took a sip of her diet coke.

"Hmmm," Brooke thought, "I hope a boy and a girl, then Lucas will have his boy and I will have my girl,"

Peyton turned to Lindsey, "Twenty dollars says it's two boys,"

"You're on; it's totally going to be two girls,"

"Wait! You guys are betting on my twins?"

They both nodded.

"Fine," Brooke said, "I want in, I say it's a boy and a girl,"

--

Peyton walked beside Brooke as Lindsey walked on the other side of her, into the hospital room where Nathan had his head rested against the wall, snoring.

"Can I wake him?" Lindsey whispered to them.

"He looks so peaceful," Peyton observed,

Brooke raised her eyebrows at her before turning to the 'sleeping beauty', "Nathan!" She yelled, "Wake up!"

His eyes popped open as he jumped with surprise. The three girls laughed. He glared at them. "Is Paige back yet?"

"Daddy!" As if on cue, Paige, riding in a wheelchair pushed by a nurse, came in. "I'm back!"

Nathan smiled. "Yes, you are. How'd it go?"

"The tests went great," The nurse told him, "The results should be in soon," She helped Paige into the hospital bed before smiling and walking out the door.

"How do you feel, Paige?" Lindsey asked as she stood at the side of the bed.

"Good," The young child answered. She turned to Nathan. "Can I go home now, Daddy?"

"No, sorry, honey," Nathan answered her, "You need to stay here a little while longer until your healthy again,"

"I feel healthy,"

"I'm sure you do but the doctor wants you to stay here for awhile,"

"And then," Brooke added, "We will throw you a big party in celebration of your homecoming,"

"Yeah! Daddy did you hear that? I get my own party!"

"Can I have my own party, Dad?" Lindsey asked him.

"Why do you need your own party?"

"Because….I'm the oldest?"

"Ah, Lindsey!" Brooke scoffed, "Have I taught you nothing? That's no way to suck up!"

"Well, how do you think I should ask for my own party?"

"Tell him you feel unloved,"

"Daddy, I feel unloved," Lindsey said to him,

"And unwanted," Brooke gave her,

"And unwanted," Lindsey repeated,

"If you let Brooke throw me a party I will be very happy and love you forever,"

"If you let Brooke throw me a party, I will be very happy and love you forever,"

"You remember the puppy dog eyes I taught you when you were five? Now is the time to use them!"

Nathan scowled at the puppy dog eyes, "No puppy dog eyes! Fine," He caved, sighing, "You can have your own party!"

"Yeah! Thanks Daddy!" Lindsey grinned, giving him a hug. "Now, I gotta figure out who I want to invite,"

"No guys!" Nathan declared.

"Dad!"

"Don't worry," Brooke told her, "I'll talk to him,"

"Thank you, Aunt Brooke!" Lindsey squealed, "I'm gonna go call everyone!" And she was gone.

"Brooke!" Nathan groaned.

"Oh come on, Nate," Peyton said, "Be a good Dad and make her happy!"

He glared at her.

"Hey, Dad?" Paige asked from her spot on the bed.

"Yeah?"

"Can I invite guys to my party?"

"No! Definitely not!"

She pouted. "I'll be good, I promise"

Brooke pouted with her, "Yeah, she promises."

Nathan cocked a finger to the pregnant woman. "You are a bad influence to my children,"

Brooke grinned, "Why, thank you, kind sir,"

--

Peyton placed the dishes into the sink. Jenna had gone to bed, after finishing packing, of course. She had told Peyton of her departure that evening as they ate dinner, informing her niece that she was taking a plane back to New York. She said she needed to get back to her life, but Peyton knew this was a lie. She was simply disappointed in Peyton, that's all. Sighing, Peyton began to wash them. She hated washing dishes, but tonight it provided something to do, something to take her mind off of her aunt.

But it was currently failing miserably.

For some reason, this time, she was hurt because of her aunts' disappointment in her. Before Jack, when she came home, every time Jenna would ask if she had a boyfriend. Peyton would say no and brush it off. She had gotten use to the question and the constant disappointment. She didn't let it get to her. But, for some reason she didn't know, it was getting to her now.

Or is it my own disappointment in myself that Nathan and I aren't dating that's getting to me?

No, Peyton scolded herself, that wasn't it. She didn't like him. Okay, so maybe she liked him a little. Okay, a lot. A lot a lot.

But, Nathan didn't like her. She had to stop liking him. It was that simple.

But how to do it? Peyton asked herself. She had tried again with Jack, to forget Nathan, but it hadn't worked.

Peytons shoulders dropped. She needed coffee. She threw the dishrag into the coffee and walked over to Karen's Café.

The place was empty, no one but her and Karen who was behind the counter, were there.

Karen smiled at her. "Well, hello Peyton. How are you tonight?"

"I'm doing okay, and yourself?"

"I'm doing good. Nathan called; the doctor told him two weeks until Paige can come home. He said Brooke was planning on throwing the party the next day."

"Good, that's good. I know she's pretty excited for that party,"

"Yeah, she is. So is Lindsey,"

"Yeah," Peyton agreed, chuckling. "Although, I'm not sure Nathan is too excited about that one."

"Nathan's not excited about what?"

Peyton turned to see a lady, an older lady, with blonde hair, Nathan's eyes and Lucas's mouth. She was about to say something but Karen cut her off.

"Oh, Deb! Nathan didn't tell me you were coming in! How are you?" Karen rushed around the counter to give her a hug before turning to Peyton. "Peyton, this is Nathan and Lucas's mom, Deb Fairfield"

Peyton smiled, shaking the womans' hand. "Oh, Hello, I'm Peyton Sawyer,"

"It's nice to meet you,"

"Peyton owns the music store next door." Karen told her. "Now, where is Frank?"

"Frank is waiting in the car; I just needed some coffee,"

"Oh, well I will get you some right now," Karen said, returning to the other side of the counter to make coffee, "Do you want any, Peyton?"

"Yes, please" Peyton answered.

"How is Paige?" Deb asked. "Nathan is so hard to talk to on the phone. Even Lucas!"

Karen laughed. "Oh, she is doing better. Nathan says she gets awful tired though. The doctor said about two weeks and then she is free to go home. Brooke is throwing her a coming home party after that,"

"Bet she's excited for that,"

"She is,"

"Is Nathan down there with her, now?"

"Yeah, I think so,"

"We're gonna head down there then. I need to see how she's doing for myself. See ya guys later. It was nice to meet you, Peyton,"

"Nice to meet you too, Deb" Peyton replied as the older woman walked away.

"So that's Lucas's and Nathan's mom,"

"Yep, that's her."

"Who is Frank?"

"Her second husband," Karen told her, "Nathan and Lucas don't like him very much,"

"Why not?"

Karen shrugged. "I don't know. They've never told me."

Peyton sipped her coffee, turning around to see the older lady get in a black Maxim, the guy, taller with dark hair and dark sunglasses. They both laughed about something and drove off.

"Now," Karen said, grabbing Peytons attention once again. "I met your aunt earlier today. She stopped by,"

Peyton smiled slightly, nodding. "Yeah, she's leaving in the morning,"

"Yeah, she told me she was planning to," Karen replied. "Would her departure have something to do with you and Nathan?"

Peyton bit her lip, furrowing her eyebrows. "You know?"

"Know what? Know that you and Nathan pretended to be dating to impress her?" Karen laughed. "Yeah, Nathan told me,"

"Yeah, she was disappointed,"

"Hmm," Karen nodded. "So when are you two finally going to admit your feelings to each other?"

Peyton's mouth fell open, and then closed, as she scowled. "What?"

"He likes you, you like him. Can't you two just get together?"