It had started with random research on the Internet she had been performing for a little over a year. That's when the process first began. She had been serious back then but now she was a young woman on a mission. Fear had hampered her previous efforts but now curiosity was getting the better of her. She couldn't take it anymore. Peyton Sawyer was on a quest for the truth.

Larry and Anna Sawyer had been the only parents she had known for 19 years. And they were fantastic parents. Giving, open, loving. They were the parents who had shaped her life but Peyton desperately wanted information on the parents who had given her life. She wanted to know where she came from. Did her biological mother and father look like her? Did they share the same moody and rebellious characteristics? Were they artists, too?

She tried to prepare herself mentally. Peyton knew to expect the unexpected. It would be a difficult and emotional adventure. The road to the results could produce incredible high and devastating lows. But it was something she had to do and could not put off a day longer.

The first objective to finding her birth parents was to get their names. That was the first obstacle. It had been a closed adoption. The birth certificate did not name a mother or father. All Larry and Anna had known was that a young woman had terminated her parental rights.

Peyton sighed and chewed her pencil tip as she stared at the screen on her laptop. She knew she had to get her hands on those termination papers. She knew she had officially been adopted in Charleston so that had to be the first step. Any records that still existed had to be there. But she couldn't do it alone. After hours messing around on the computer, help came that meant she might not have to. A Google search produced a link to the American Adoption Congress. After browsing their website, Peyton picked up the phone.

"AAC, this is Susan. May I help you?"

Peyton took a nervous breath, praying words would come out.

"Hey. This is Peyton. Um, Peyton Sawyer. I was adopted 19 years ago and I'm looking for my birth parents. Maybe you guys can help me", she blurted out.

"I'll see what we can do", Susan said on the other end. "Was your adoption open or closed?"

"Closed. I know I need their names but it isn't on the birth certificate. I also know my biological mother officially terminated her parental rights before the adoption. This all happened in Charleston, South Carolina but I can't find any of those documents."

"Okay, Peyton, as you know, the first step is finding the names of your biological parents. In your case, it will be extremely difficult. Impossible, no but difficult, yes."

"Can you help me?" Peyton asked. "I mean, I could pay you. I…"

"It's okay, honey. We're a non profit organization. Our services don't cost you a dime. I'd be willing to assist you in doing all the things you need to aid your search but first of all, have you given this a lot of thought? It's a tedious process and you might uncover some things you may or may not want to find out. Are you in for the long haul?

Peyton sighed.

"I've been thinking about this ever since I was nine years old."

"Okay. The first thing you need to do is a genealogy search. On paper, write down every single detail you know about your birth and adoption. Don't leave anything out. Include the hospital you were born at and the agency that handled it."

"Okay", Peyton jotted down notes.

"Now what about your adoptive parents?"

"What about them?"

"They are your next best bet. Talk to them. Even though it was a closed adoption, they might have clues, stuff that seemed insignificant before."

Peyton rubbed her eyes.

"That's not possible. I mean, do I have to?"

"You don't have to but it really helps sometimes."

"Well, I can't. We're not exactly on the best of terms right now and they have no idea what I'm doing. If they found out I was searching for my birth parents, they'd probably flip. In fact, I know they would. And I've put them through enough already. I don't want to hurt their feelings."

"Okay. That's more than understandable. Um, you're going to need some important documents so write this down as well. You'll want the original birth certificate, the amended one, the termination of parental rights decree, the petition for adoption and the final decree of adoption."

"Okay."

"Okay. You'll also need what is called non identifying information. That is usually health or medical information and sometimes other family background stuff. Any information that does not give away identity such as, name, birth dates, addresses, or phone numbers."

"Where can I get that?"

"The state of South Carolina or the agency that handled the adoption."

"Can they really give me all that, even with the adoption being closed?"

"It's possible. The amount of information varies depending upon the details that were recorded at the time of the birth and adoption. Each agency, governed by state law and agency policy, releases what is considered appropriate and non-identifying information."

"Like?"

"Like what I said before. Medical history, health status, ethic origins, height, weight and eye color, religion…things like that. You might even get your parents' age at the time of your birth or the age and sex of other children if they have them, general geographical location or the reason for the adoption. Now I hope that helps you out some."

"Yeah. Um, it does. Thanks."

"We can't physically do the work for you but we can answer any questions you might have and hopefully point you in the right direction. Now is there anything else I can help you with tonight?"

"Um, no. This is good. Thank you."

"Thank you for calling Peyton and feel free to give us a ring back if you need anymore help. Good luck with your search, hon."

Peyton sighed as she hung up. Well, now she had a starting block. It wasn't something that was obviously going to happen overnight but now the goal seemed more attainable. It was within reach and that brought butterflies to her stomach. It was nerve racking, yet so exciting at the same time. As she was compiling all the information into a file on her computer, her phone rang back and scared her. She looked at the Caller ID. Excellent timing, she thought.

"Yeah?"

"Hi, hon, it's Mom."

"Hey."

"Hadn't talked to you in a while so I felt like calling. You were on my mind."

"Oh."

"So how are you?"

"Okay, I guess."

"How is school?"

"Good."

"Well, that's nice to hear."

Peyton sighed.

"Are you and Dad doing okay?"

"We're fine. We miss you, though. Your dad had a run out on the coast, just four days so he's due back in tomorrow but I talked to him today and of course he sends his love. He was looking to chat with you on the web cam but he couldn't get a hold of you."

"Oh yeah. That. Uh, I haven't had it turned on lately. Um, Mom, listen, I hate to cut you off but I have this really important test in the morning that I'm trying to cram for. Would you mind if I called you back?"

"Oh heaven's no. You go study. I'm glad to hear that. We can talk anytime. I just wanted to hear my little girl's voice."

Peyton closed her eyes.

"Thanks. I guess I'll talk to you soon."

"Soon."

"Tell Dad I love him."

"I sure will but what about me?" she joked. "Don't I get anything?"

Peyton managed a small smile.

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you too, Pey. Good bye, honey."

She hung up the phone panged by guilt for lying and for all the information spread out in front of her. It wasn't something she wanted to do behind their backs but she couldn't exactly be upfront and truthful either. They would never understand. In fact, it would kill them.

Going back to her file, Peyton got situated and comfortable on her bed. If she was in it for the long haul, she might as well start sometime. It would be a lengthy journey, her desperate search for something more.

"Hey there, hi there, ho there", opened the door.

Peyton smiled as she looked up.

"What's up, Haley?"

"Oh nothing much."

Peyton made a face.

"Dude, what the hell is that smell? Have you, have you been drinking?"

Haley giggled.

"Just a wee little bit."

"And your hair? It's wet. And your clothes look like they haven't been on your back all night long. Wait, do I even want to ask where you've been and what you've been doing?"

Haley shrugged.

"I had a tutoring session with Nathan Scott", she said all innocent.

Peyton laughed out loud.

"My God, what did you two study?"

"It's not what you think. He talked me into skipping school and we spent the day eating junk food, goofing off at Jolly Time and then we went down to the lake where we had a few drinks and went swimming."

"Skinny dipping or swimming?"

Haley grinned.

"Get your mind out of the gutter, Sawyer. We kept our underwear on."

"Famous last words", the blonde quipped.

"Anyway, I'm back and I'm tired and my head is spinning. I need a shower and then I'm gonna crash. You look pretty busy. You studying?"

"Huh?" Peyton looked down. "Oh yeah. Um, it's nothing. Just some school work."

She wasn't ready to share something so private just yet.

"Cool. Well, I'm going into the bathroom."

Peyton nodded and smiled before looking back at the notes she had taken from her conversation with Susan. Ready or not, it was time for the search to begin.