Chapter 14

A/N: Hello! I am sorry, I realize it's been a few weeks since I have updated, I have just been really busy. I am all ready working on chapter 15. I have decided to make this a twenty chapter story, so there will be six more chapters after this. I am hoping to finish this story within the next couple of weeks. Thank you for all of those who have reviewed and read this story. It means a lot to me, and I find the comments very helpful. Keep them coming :-)

Peyton stared at Jake, waiting for his response. As soon as she had asked him the question of why did we break up she regretted it. She wished she could reach out, grab the words and put them back in her mouth zipping her lips tight so they wouldn't get back out. It was too late for that now, it was out there, and she was nervous waiting for the answer.

"Peyton, you know why,"

"I know, you are just the only guy I ever cared about Jake the only guy I ever trusted and I guess I still always feel hurt by it,"

"You know why I had to do it. I loved you Peyton, but living so far away, it go too hard. I couldn't leave here, I had Jenny."

"I know, I don't know why I asked. I just miss you, a lot. Oh god, I shouldn't be saying all of this. We're friends, and I am just ruining it,"

"No, don't worry about it Peyton, I understand where you are coming from. I hope you are doing okay, and I hate to do this, but I really have to get going to work. I have to be on time, it's my last week on the night shift, finally,"

"I will be fine, thanks for coming by, though I am sure you wish you didn't,"

"Peyton, don't worry about it. Why don't you come over for dinner tomorrow, if you think you can,"

Peyton considered this. The visiting nurse would be coming over the following night, she could get out for a few hours without a problem.

"What time?"

"Six?"

"Alright, I'll see you then,"

They hugged and Peyton watched him walk out, momentarily wondering what her life would be like had she stayed in Tree Hill.

Haley stayed in bed a little later this morning then usual. Last night had made her worry for the first time about her and Nathan as a couple. He hadn't acted himself, he even said to her he wanted to quit basketball, his life long passion. Haley understood he was hurt, and was willing to give him a break for that, but the way he acted after had been awful. He ignored her for the rest of dinner, only mumbling a response when absolutely necessary. When Nathan dropped her off, she invited him in for a while and he said he was tired, and they wouldn't be having sex, so he didn't see why the invitation was necessary. He apologized but Haley had just slammed the door in his face and stormed into her home. Haley could forgive him and wanted too but he needed to come to her and apologize first. Just as she was about to get out of bed, and go downstairs, her phone rang.

It was Nathan calling, she answered simply, "Hello?"

"Haley, I am so so so so sorry. I acted horribly last night, and it wasn't fair of me. What I said to you, god it just came out so wrong. I am just very stressed out about everything, but I shouldn't have taken it out on you,"

"Nathan, what you said, I was just so hurt by it," Haley started to say, "but I know you are going through a lot, so we should just leave it at that,"

"Alright,"

"I just realized you have a lot of games coming up. I was wondering if you would want to come over tonight, and we could have a fun night in, with Brooke and Lucas,"

Nathan thought about it for a minute. He really wanted to spend sometime alone with Haley, but he would take what he could get. He wanted to make her happy, she deserved it after the way he treated her.

"Yeah that sounds good, what time should I come over?"

"Around six would be good,"

"Alright, I can't wait to see you,"

"Yeah, you too," Haley hung up, hoping things wouldn't change with them. Hoping

Nathan wasn't getting inpatient with her wanting to wait.

Haley walked into the kitchen, and found Lucas as usual down there before her.

"Hey Lucas, how are you today?"

"I'm fine. Just going to go get Brooke. We are spending the day together,"

"Oh, well I was wondering if you two would be interested in hanging out here with Nathan and I tonight. I actually picked up rock band, world tour, and I was wondering if you guys would want to have some pizza, some drinks, and play?"

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I will just run it by Brooke, and I am sure she would love to come over tonight,"

"Is she going to Nathan's game tomorrow night?" Haley asked him.

"Yeah, I mean if she is around and he is playing she usually doesn't miss it from what I hear,"

"You should come too then,"

"I don't know…"

"Come on! You love basketball. Brooke and I will be there, and I am sure it would mean a lot to Nathan,"

"Alright, I will come,"

"Great. So I will see you tonight then?"

"Yes," Lucas told her. He all ready knew Brooke wouldn't mind.

Peyton took her time getting dressed and doing her hair to go over Jake's. It was good to finally have something to look forward to with the recent events that had happened with her father and everything. Now that her father was on the fast road to recovery, and she had a great nurse helping out, she could finally be glad about getting to see Jake again. Once she was finished getting ready she headed over to Jake's house, a place she had been to about a thousand times.

Peyton knocked, but felt weird doing so. In the past, she was always encouraged to just let herself in, but things were different now.

"Peyton! You didn't have to knock! I couldn't believe it when Jake said you would be joining us for dinner, I was so excited. How have you been? How is LA?" Jakes mother said.

"Oh! It's great! It is actually good to be back, and it's a pleasure to see you again!"

"I am sorry about your father, how is he doing?"

"A lot better, he is going to be just fine,"

"Well we will go finish with dinner, but make yourself at home,"

Just then Peyton saw a familiar blonde little girl. She had really grown up since Peyton had last seen her.

"Peyton!"

"You remember me?" Peyton asked her.

"Yes, well a little bit. I was looking through daddy's stuff once, and I found this

drawings," Jenny told her, handing some of her old art work to her.

"Oh, wow, that was a long time ago," Peyton said, looking at them.

"I also made this for you," Jenny handed Peyton a folded piece of paper and Peyton took it and looked at it. The drawing was beautiful, it easily looked like it could have been completed by an adult. It was a drawing of the bridge entering Tree Hill, and homes in the distance, with the sun going down. It read "Welcome home, PEYTON,".

"Jenny, this is amazing thank you so much. I have missed you a lot, you are such a big girl now," Peyton hugged her.

"You do such great drawings Peyton, do you have any new stuff I could see sometime?"

Jenny asked her, and Peyton saw her deep brown eyes looking up at her.

Peyton shook her head, "No, I don't. I guess I have been so busy, I just haven't done much, but tell you what, while I am here I will draw something just for you,"

"Really?"

"Yes."

Jake then came in, and was glad the two of them had talked.

"Jenny, hunny, why don't you go and wash up for dinner, okay?"

"Okay!" Jenny did as she was told, and went upstairs to the bathroom.

Peyton thought about what Jenny had said for a moment. Peyton used to love doing her artwork. It was her outlet if she was upset, or having a bad day, she would always draw her feelings. If she was happy she would draw what made her happy. Jake has always been one of her favorite things to draw. Peyton had spent all this time in LA helping to make other people's dreams come true. Maybe it was time for her to think about what she really wanted to do.

"Hello, earth to Peyton," Jake joked.

"Sorry, I guess I was day dreaming for a minute," Peyton explained to him.

"It's cool. I'm really glad you came over, I know Jenny couldn't wait, and I couldn't either,"

Nathan showed up at Haley's, even though it was only five, he wanted to be there earlier to hopefully have some alone time with her. He brought flowers, white lily's and pink roses. He also bought her the new pop sing star game.

Haley went to go answer the door.

"Nathan, you're early, I'm not ready yet, wow those are beautiful," He kissed her as soon as she was done talking.

"I'm sorry Haley, I screwed up,"

"Come into the kitchen with me, I will just put these in some water, they are so beautiful,"

He then handed her the game, "I thought we could play it sometime, and make me feel the idiot I deserve to feel like,"

"Well, I am going to sing tonight on guitar hero world tour, so hopefully you can do the drums as well as I sing. I am going to change and stuff, you can watch TV or whatever, make yourself at home,"

"I thought we were going to go out and spend the day together," Lucas complained to Brooke, getting out of her bed, and starting to get dressed.

"I know, but I mean, come on this was pretty fun, right?" Brooke asked.

"Yes, of course it was, I just don't want you to think this is all we are about,"

"Well, plan something, and we can do it, but if we meet alone, in a house, with a bed within 20 feet, we are going to end up in it. You are just too sexy for me Lucas," Brooke smiled.

"Let's take a shower, and then head over to Haley and Nathan's," Lucas suggested.

"Alright, sounds good to me,"

"Oh, and I forgot to tell you, I am going to go to Nathan's game tomorrow, with you and Haley," Lucas mentioned to Brooke.

"Wow! You are going to come! That's great,"

"Yeah,"

Peyton stayed after dinner, and observed Jenny's bed time routine. She bathed, read a book, a little bit of TV, and then went to bed. Peyton observed how great Jenny had turned, and she realized just how much she missed Jake.

"Jake, she is great. You have done a great job raising her,"

"I try, but she really is a great girl. I am lucky to have her,"

"Well, I guess I should get going," Peyton said.

"Alright, I'll walk you out," Jake offered. "Will we being see you again anytime soon?"

"Yes, I promised Jenny to draw her something, so you can count on it,"

They went to go hug right outside of his door, but all of a sudden Jake did was just felt natural and kissed her on the lips. It felt so right, and Peyton didn't think anything of it.

"I'm sorry Peyton, that wasn't fair," Jake told her, after it was over.

"It's okay,"

"Do you want to go out on a date with me, while you're here. Just the two of us. My parent's won't mind watching Jenny,"

"Yeah, I would love that Jake. It would really feel like old times,"

"How about Saturday night?"

"Alright, that sounds good. Pick me up Saturday at eight?"

Jake smiled at her, "Yes, see you then,"

Haley and Nathan were waiting on the couch, watching tv, and kissing when Brooke and Lucas entered.

"Haley, Nathan, we're here," Brooke called out.

"Hi Brooke! It's nice to see you again," Haley said to her, politely.

Brooke and Nathan hugged, and then Brooke said to Haley they should go out and get the pizza. This would leave Lucas and Nathan alone, though she didn't admit that out loud.

Brooke and Haley headed into Haley's car, and headed for the store to get a few things.

"I figured it would be nice to give them a chance to talk for a little while, and get to know each other. I think they could end up being good brothers, and I think both of them kind of need it." Brooke explained to Haley.

"Yeah, I agree. Nathan hasn't been himself since he found out about him. He seems great today, but last night was a different story," Haley started to say.

"What do you mean? What happened?" Brooke asked.

"He just was saying he wanted to quit basketball, he wasn't with it after that. I would talk, but he just wouldn't hear me. At the end of the night, I asked him if he wanted to come in for a bit, he just didn't seem like he should be alone. He then made some put down at the fact that him and I haven't slept together yet. He apologized today, and brought me flowers, and a gift, and we kissed and talked for over an hour, and things seem okay now, but it just made me feel so unsure of things,"

"Don't worry about it, I am sure it was the stress talking. Nathan really cares about you, I can tell. He hasn't had a girlfriend in years, so this part of it is new to him as well. Learning to love someone, I am sure it's hard for him. He is not going to lose you over sex, or lack there of I should say. Don't worry about it Haley,"

"Thanks Brooke, it was good to talk about this with someone. I couldn't with Lucas, because I knew he would be upset. Speaking of Lucas, how are you two doing?"

Brooke smiled, "Well, all we really do together is have sex, which I am not complaining, and it's actually my fault, but I just want it to be more then that. I really cared about him, but I was always so paranoid the first time around of losing him to you. I was so jealous of the two of you. I am not scared of that anymore, but now it's losing him in general. I am really glad you invited us over tonight, it will be good to just have a night doing fun stuff, and it's nice to spend time with you, and Nathan,"

Lucas and Nathan were both sitting on the couch, after deciding to watch a game together.

"It must be great, being able to play. I loved playing, mostly just for fun, but I got a chance to play in college, and I loved it. I found out later I had a heart condition, so I really wasn't able to play anymore. I love writing though, and that seemed to work out for me,"

"HCM?" Nathan asked.

Lucas nodded, "How did you know? It's pretty rare,"

"Dan has it. He found out about five years ago, he had a heart attack."

"Now I hate having it even more," Lucas said, now knowing he had most likely inherited it from Dan.

"I'm sorry man, I know how you feel. I hate my father. I didn't like him before, but now I see he has NO redeemable qualities in him. I thought about quitting basketball last night,"

Lucas looked shocked, "What, why? You're great! Don't you love it?"

Nathan nodded, "Of course I do, but not as much as I hate Dan. Basketball was his dream, for himself and for me. He pushed me to do when I was younger, and I hated it at the time, the way he pushed me around, but I am glad now because it made me the player I am today. Nothing would make him more upset then if I quit,"

"Nathan, don't quit because of him. He will get over you not playing a lot faster then you would. You would be made to suffer. You don't play for him, you play for yourself, remember that. Don't let him force you to give up what you love,"

"Yeah, it was a moment of insanity. I was just so angry! I know when you were little, you probably wanted to have a father so badly, but be glad you got the life you got instead of mine. Having him around was not a good thing, you probably made out better,"

"Doesn't make any of this any easier though. I am glad I found out about you though," Lucas said.

"Yeah, I always wanted a brother. I pictured a younger one, but I guess and older one would work," Nathan smiled at him.

Haley and Brooke came back less then an hour later, and they all ate their pizza, had a few drinks, and played. Brook and Lucas both played a guitar, Nathan did the drums, and Haley sang. The whole night was really fun, and they laughed and drank until one in the morning.

Lucas left to take Brooke back to Peyton's, and Haley all ready anticipated that he wouldn't be back tonight. Nathan and Haley went into the kitchen and started to clean up.

"Haley, I had a really nice time tonight," Nathan said, and kissed her, "Thank you. Getting to know Lucas is actually going really well. We both admitted to each other of liking the idea of having a brother today,"

"Nathan, that is wonderful!"

"You really helped with that Haley, you have just been so great. I don't think I could have gotten through any of this without you,"

He kissed her, and hugged her tight, holding her in his arms. He knew with her everything would be alright, and anything was impossible. He also knew, in this moment, he was in love with her. It hadn't been a long since he met her, but it was there. He decide to tell her. The first time he had ever told anyone he loved them.

"I love you," He whispered in her ear.