No one was up early on Christmas Eve. Except Jake and Peyton. They had gotten up at their normal hour, after going to bed at a regular time. They ate breakfast and waited in silence for someone to come down.

"Wow, they sure can sleep." Peyton said softly.

"Yeah." Jake said smiling.

"Jake, can we tal-" she started but stopped when she heard footsteps on the stairs.

"Good morning!" Brooke announced happily with Tyler in her arms, and holding Ellie's hand.

"Morning to you too or should I say afternoon? And happy Christmas Eve." Peyton said picking up her daughter.

"You too, P. Sawyer-Jagelski, and Jakey."

"How'd you sleep?" Jake asked.

"I didn't." she whispered happily.

"What?" Peyton asked with a grin, "Again?"

Brooke shrugged, "A lady doesn't kiss and tell."

"Brooke, you and I both know that you are not a lady." Peyton said.

Brooke glared at her as Jenny and the boys entered the kitchen, "God you three are always together? Did you get in the glue again Keith?" she joked.

"Ma, I was seven when that happened."

"I know, you were a very bad seven year old."

"Love you too." He said.

"Merry Christmas Eve baby." She said.


Throughout the day it was obvious to everyone that Brooke and Lucas were back together. Though they hadn't officially said anything, Jenny had walked in on them kissing in the kitchen when it was empty, and she ran for Haley to tell her it had worked. Every now and then Lucas and Brooke would grin at one another and Jenny, Jamie, and Keith would have to start high fiving all over again.

Like every Christmas Eve this one went by too fast for their liking, considering they still had Jake and Peyton to get back together and Haley was too busy prepping for Christmas day to help.

Jenny had decided they shouldn't try anything else until Christmas day itself, so they could come up with something good. And not just get lucky like they had with throwing Brooke and Lucas in a room together.

"Get to bed," Brooke said after kissing Penelope's cheek, "Santa's gonna be here soon."

"Merry Christmas mommy." She said before walking upstairs with Andy.

"Merry Christmas you guys." Haley called, "So, how much longer till we send you three packing?"

"Aw just a little longer, Aunt Hales." Keith said pleading.

Haley knew he was still happy about his parents so she nodded, "Just a little bit longer than."

"Thanks." Jenny said sitting on the floor in front of the fire next to Lucas.

Brooke and Peyton were sitting on the couch munching on popcorn, while Haley and Nathan sat in one of the overstuffed love chairs, and Jake said in another chair staring into the fire. Keith and Jamie meanwhile were laying on the floor in front of the couch playing war.

"You know, I kind of have something to confess." Haley said.

The boys put down their cards and everyone directed their attention to Haley.

"Well, Nathan and I invited you all here this year as a way to hide something from the kids." She admitted, "Nathan and I were considering separating but, the kids- they figured it out and- they helped pick up the pieces of our marriage." She smiled at Jenny, Keith, and Jamie.

"What?" Nathan asked, having been left out of the loop.

Haley laughed and kissed her husband, who shrugged and high fived his son.

"Lucas and I are giving it another go." Brooke said.

"No duh, sweetie." Haley laughed.

"Yeah, well it was all thanks to my soulful eyes." Lucas said, to which the rest of them burst out laughing, "They are soulful." he added annoyed.

"Of course they are baby." Brooke said kissing him.

"Let's get married." he said.

"Lucas!" Brooke said, "We just got back together. Don't you think we should wait and make sure this is going to work out first?"

"Have you ever before?" Peyton asked.

Brooke paused, "Good point, but no. Not till we're sure."

Lucas grinned and turned to Keith, "Me and your mom are getting re-married. Wanna be my best man?" Brooke sighed and mumbled 'This is never going to work if you don't listen.' But Lucas just reached over and held her hand in his, and nodded, "We'll be fine Pretty Girl."

"It's only fair. We did all the work." Keith said nodding.

"Hey, we did some." Brooke said.

"Please all you guys did was moan about how you didn't really care about each other." Jenny joked, "While really secretly being in love." Everyone laughed.

"Jake and I are separating." Peyton announced, interrupting the fun.

"What?" Nathan and Brooke asked, being the only two people left in the room who didn't know.

"No." Jenny said softly, "Not yet, we have plans."

"Why?" Brooke asked, putting an arm around Peyton.

Peyton and Jake avoiding looking in one another's direction while Peyton shrugged, "You know, just uh just a bunch of little stuff, combined together make bigger things."

Jake nodded, "It just got to a point."

"Yeah, a point when the two of you had a choice, "Work on it- or just call it quits." Jenny said angrily.

"Jen." Haley said, moving to sit next to Peyton on the couch.

"No, Aunt Haley, this isn't a poor Jake and Peyton moment. I can't believe you two. When I was little you used to tell me to never give up. Ever hear of practicing what you preach? I mean a bunch of little things? That's what we get? Really mom? You and dad just fell out of love because of a bunch of little things?" Jenny demanded.

"Jenny that isn't your business." Jake said.

"I'm your daughter! If it's not my business then I'd like to know whose business it is dad?"

"That's not what he means hon." Peyton said.

"You are both still in love with each other, you're just too damn stubborn to admit it." She said in a disgusted tone, when neither contradicted her, they just stared at their shoes she added, "See?"

"Jenny it's not that easy." Peyton said.

"Then make it simple, mom. Explain to me how two people whose love lasted what five years apart and then seven- eight- years together can just wake up one morning wanting a divorce."

"We're not getting divorced." Jake interrupted.

"Oh so your plan is to be separated for the rest of your life. Great idea dad." She said sarcastically.

"Jennifer Lynn Jagelski, don't talk to your father like that." Peyton said.

"You're both acting like children." She said angrily, "And I'm the one getting scolded."

"Nice use of the word scolded." Brooke commented softly nodding in appreciation, when both Jake and Peyton turned to glare at her she shut up.

"It's Christmas Eve!" Jenny said loudly, "You used to tell me Christmas Eve was magical, remember mom?"

Peyton nodded, "I remember honey, but-"

"No! No buts anymore! I don't care about the stupid car, all I want is you two happy. You love each other! Okay if you love each other no amount of little things can ruin that."

"Jennifer." Jake said.

"No, no. Dad," Jenny said desperately, "Dad look," she pointed to Peyton, "It's the lady from my dreams. Look there she is."

Peyton started crying almost as hard as Jenny was, "Jenny," she started, "You can't- you can't fix this baby."

"There she is." Jenny said louder the tears flowing harder now. Jamie and Keith tried to comfort her but she pushed them away, "No! Dad the woman from my dreams, she's right there."

Jake said nothing as Peyton broke down on the couch next to Haley and Brooke who hugged her.

"Dad please." Jenny begged, "You're going to loose her. The woman that you love. But she is right here, right now. Remember what you told me three years ago? It was Christmas Eve and Ellie was only-" she coughed through her tears, "El was only two. She and mom had fallen asleep on the couch after you read Twas the night before Christmas, and you had mom leaning on your shoulder with Ellie sleeping- sleeping in her arms and you looked at me- you looked down and said that you have no regrets in your life. That you are so happy. If you don't do something now then you're going to regret it. So dad," She pointed to Peyton again, "Look it's the lady from my dreams."

No one said anything for a few moments. All that could be heard was Jenny's sobs and Peyton's soft cries, finally Jake spoke softly, his voice thick with tears, "That's the lady from my dreams too." Peyton looked up from Brooke's arms, and Jenny stopped coughing.

Jake and Peyton looked into one another's eyes for about a minute before Jake opened his arms, Peyton jumped off the couch and all but leapt into them, crying almost as hysterically as Jenny had been.

Jenny couldn't even form words, as she sunk down onto the floor, Lucas at her side, "You did good kid." he whispered hugging the small girl.

"I- I-" Jenny was shaking her head and crying with happiness now.

Peyton and Jake had fallen onto one of Haley's oversized love seats, Peyton still crying and hugging him for all she's worth and Jake called, "Come here baby girl."

Jenny didn't need to be told twice as she went into her parent's embrace.

Brooke glanced at the clock, and grinned, "Merry Christmas."


Okay well I'm really happy with the way I reunited Jake and Peyton, but that's all I like about this chapter. I hope you guys like it better than I do.

There's only one chapter left, so please review, even if you hate the beginning as much as I do lol.

You'll see a little more about the couples actual reconciliation as a family. Not much cause it's only one chapter but… well okay just review and find out.

-Em