She looks at the headline on the magazine cover again. She never buys into this crap but there's something about the snap of her husband and the younger artist that makes her uncomfortable.

She opens her mouth and then shuts it again. Watches him out of the corner of her eye. He's just got out of the shower. His hair is still damp. His aftershave lingers in the air and she finds her mind going down a dangerous path. Finds herself wondering if him having a shower right now is out of character.

This week hasn't been easy. On either of them. Sawyer knowing the truth has caused a tornado of emotions that they're trying to navigate. They don't exactly see eye to eye when it comes to how to deal with the matter so of course it's put an added strain on their relationship. She's aware of such and wonders if she's being utterly ridiculous. Tries to stop herself from even acknowledging it but her tight lips soon part.

'You and Mia look cosy' She blurts.

He looks over at her. Hears her suspicion 'You know how this shit works' He snatches the glossy mag from her hands and tosses it in the waste paper basket that sits in the corner.

'Yes. I know how it works and I also know that whilst there's no truth in a lot of these stories you can't always deny what's fucking in front of you. Don't expect me to sit here and not question you. You told me you were with Jenny yesterday' She points out, sharing the reasoning behind that niggling feeling in the pit of her belly.

'And I bumped into Mia in town. It wasn't some planned meeting' He dismisses. 'Are you for real right now?'

'You're being really defensive right now'

'Because I can't believe you have the nerve to even come at me with this. After everything with Lucas. You've been in a magazine with him everyday for the last month. Everyday. And I haven't said a god damn word about it'

'A first' She mutters.

'You're the reason I'm suddenly being targeted with these trashy stories Peyton!'

Her temple is starting to pound because they always end up back at Lucas and she wasn't ready to go there yet. She was trying to stay clear of the "L" word. And she does get it. She gets it a hundred percent. Because they both know Jake wasn't her number one choice. Neither of them have ever said it but it's an undeniable fact. And of course it's more of a sore point this week than any other time because the daughter he's bought up has just found out that the man she's grown up calling Daddy isn't her biological father. So she does what she's been trying to do for the past few days; she does her best not to loose her temper. Tries to ignore his jealous tendencies. Ignores the innocent photos in the magazine. Because that's what they surely are. Pretends the photographer hasn't captured him looking at her most popular artist like he's only meant to look at her. Endeavours to trust him in the way he clearly struggles to trust her. Which isn't hard considering he's never given her any reason not to trust him.

She sighs. 'I'm sorry...I just...You've never lied to me before-'

'I didn't lie. I forgot. It was five minutes of my day. With everything going on with Jen and Sawyer a five minute encounter isn't that memorable' He sits down on the sofa that sits at the far side of their bed.

'Okay...I'm sorry okay?'

He watches her. Wonders if this really is the end of her doubt. A part of him relishes in her apparent jealousy because lord knows he's always the jealous one in their relationship. 'How was your day?' He changes the subject.

'Ok...Long. Julian wants us to change things up a bit for the next few shows. I get why but Lucas is anti change and...' She abruptly stops confiding because she's said the "L" word again. 'I don't want to talk about work. Tell me about Jenny. How was she today?' She joins him. Jenny is a safe topic as ironic as it is considering her current whereabouts.

He pulls her legs up onto his lap and rubs her feet.

'Better I think. She was more chatty and positive than I've seen her in a while. She was asking after Sawyer and Indie'

'They miss her. I miss her'

'You can visit her you know?'

'I know I just...'

'I know' He sighs. 'I know it's difficult what with everything with your Dad' He tersely mutters because it's not just her Dad.

'She knows I love her right?'

'Of course she does. She gets it Peyt. She knows she's put the label in the shit too- she knows you're run of your feet-'

'God I don't want her even thinking about that. How much longer do you think she'll be there?'

'I don't know. The Doctor's were talking like she could potentially come out in a couple of weeks if she keeps progressing as she is'

'So soon?' Peyton worries her bottom lip.

'We'll get her through it' She nods. His hands stop running soothingly over the soles of her tired feet. 'Has Sawyer come out of her room since she got back from school?'

'At dinner. I bribed her with pizza'

'Did she mention...'

'Yes. She wants to know if you've decided to stop being a controlling dick' His brow kinks. 'Her words, not mine'

'You don't agree?'

'Of course not but I've got the whole story...I get why. She doesn't' She pulls her legs off his lap and curls them beneath her.

'You do?'

'Of course I do. You've bought her up Babe' She wonders if he thinks so little of her. Wonders when he stopped thinking she'll always try and fight his battles. 'You're her Daddy, you're scared of anything coming in between that. You're scared that this is going to change that but you're wrong. Her feelings haven't changed over night'

'You promised me Peyton!' He bleats then.

'I kept my promise to you. I've never broken a promise to you!' He stops himself from calling her a liar. 'She found this out herself. I didn't actively tell her!'

'But you're encouraging her-'

'I'm not-'

'No? You told her we'd talk about it. You've made her think it's up for debate'

'She's not a baby anymore Jake. She does have a say. She's entitled to make her own decisions' Peyton sighs.

'So you wanna tell Lucas?'

'She's not asking for that-'

'Yet!' He abruptly jumps to his feet, arms wavering before him. 'She's not asking for that yet. First she starts spending time with him. She'll let the cat out the bag at some point and then what?'

'Then...' She takes a deep breath. Since Sawyer's blunt threat, the realisation that Lucas could potentially find out about his daughter has been weighing heavily on her shoulders. It's her worst nightmare as it is Jake's. Just not for the same reasons. He's scared of loosing his child to the man that is a constant threat to stealing his wife away. She's scared of Lucas hating her. Scared of what this piece of information will do to his mental health. Scared of him turning back to the bottle. '...then we deal with it. We act like grown ups. Lord knows if we'd done that in the very beginning everything would be different right now'

'You regret the choice we made-'

'No-'

'You just regret the choice you made?!' He accuses. 'In choosing me'

'That's not what I meant-'

'No?! Why aren't you on the same page as me about this then?! You want her to have a proper relationship with an alcoholic that's 100% gonna wind up breaking her heart. He did it to you enough times, you want that for her too?!'

'He's been well for a long time Jake! It's not the same as me and him. She's not gonna be dating him! I want her to be happy!'

'And I don't?!'

'I don't think you're listening to what she wants!'

'If we'd given her every damn thing she wanted she'd have grown up with ten fucking ponies and be a bloody brat right now-'

'We're not talking about materialistic shit right now! Do you think this is easy for me? Cause it's not but I'm trying to hear her. I'm trying to let her run this because this is her life! We're talking about her family-'

'We're her family'

'Yes! Nothing is going to ever change that-'

'Not for you- you'll always be her Mum-'

'And you'll never stop being her Dad! This doesn't change that-'

'How can it not?'

'Because you're the one that sung her to sleep and held her when she rode her bike for the first time. You're the one that has guided her whenever she's been wrong. You've loved her every single day. You're the one she calls Daddy. This won't stop that. But she has a right to get to know Luke. A person can have more than one parent. Jesus if only I'd grown up with that bloody problem!' She's aware that her voice has risen. Aware that her throat is starting to hurt because everyday of the last week they've seemed to end up here in the middle of the same dispute.

'...What's the point?' He shakes his head irately.

'What?'

'There's no point in us having this conversation over and over is there? You're the one that gets the casting vote. Not me and you've already made up your mind'

'That's not-'

'It is true Peyton! What I think hasn't mattered around here for a long time'

'I know you're upset' She grits her teeth together. 'I know you've got a load of shit going on right now but don't act like we're not a team. I consult you on everything'

'Yeah? Like the tour?'

'I told you about the tour-'

'Not that my opinion mattered!'

'We've been through this Jake. I can't keep having the same conversation with you! Talk to Sawyer. She needs you to be the one to tell her you're okay with her having a fucking guitar lesson with Luke. A guitar lesson. That's all it is. That's all she's asking for! Despite all the mouth she's given you this week I know she needs your permission. I know she doesn't want to upset you' Peyton emphasises. 'You know we're only going to be here a few days here and there for the next few weeks- it's not like she's going to be able to seem him everyday' She sighs. 'You can make the final call' She surrenders. 'But know this. If you tell her no, she's going to do her utmost to let him know the truth and you'll be pushing her further and further away from you and me' The lump in the back of her throat makes her following words come out in a squeak. 'Don't let your scorn over me and Luke ruin your relationship with her Jake'