Chapter 26

Peyton woke up the next morning with arms around her. She smiled when she smelt the familiar cologne and gently rolled over to look at the man asleep by her side. His usual neutral expression that he wore the majority of the time was replaced with a look of peaceful bliss. He was happy and that made Peyton go to cloud nine. She gave him a peck on the lips before she got out of bed knowing he wouldn't wake since he was such a heavy sleeper. She pulled on his t-shirt (just in case one of her brother's came home since she heard neither of them come in last night) before she left the room and went in the kitchen to make omelets. Peyton did a sweep of the fridge after she put on the pot of coffee to find that there was leftover spinach, tomatoes, and ham from last night's dinner. She also pulled out a sweet pepper and the shredded cheese to add to the omelets as well. Peyton practically skipped around the kitchen ecstatic with the fact that she was making breakfast for the love of her life after the night they had spent together. Everything else that had happened over the weekend seemed to fade as she experienced this unusual pre-caffeine buzz she was on. When she re-entered her bedroom with a tray of food and beverages, Han was awake and still in the bed. He smiled at her proving what she had seen on his face when he was still asleep was true.

"I thought you might have pulled the old slip out before the other person wakes up as payback for the times I did it to avoid your Mother," Han teased as she put the tray on the nightstand. Peyton allowed him to pull her onto his lap.

"And miss the opportunity to gloat that once again the player has become the victim of love's game? I don't think so." Han kissed her before he gave her a smirk.

"Or maybe the player just played you to get in his shirt." He looked over her. "Especially when you look incredibly sexy in my clothes." Peyton laughed before she kissed him. They made out for a while until Han realized she was only wearing his shirt. Han pulled away from her and gave her a grin.

"The omelet I just made would be frozen by the time were done," she informed him as she reached for the tray. "Made with ham, spinach, cheese, and peppers. I think Rome ate the rest of the bacon either Sunday or yesterday." Han grumbled at the fact that they were not going at it again, but moved so that there was room in between the couple for the tray of food. Peyton (being the somewhat girly girlfriend that she was) fed Han his first piece of the omelet and waited for his critic.

"You know I almost believe you made this," he joked with a smile as he took the fork from her.

"And I almost want to kick you out of the room without clothes to go see the dishes," she said before he fed her a piece of the omelet.

"I don't think Brian would care to see that much of me since he saw clad only in my boxers last night." Peyton choked and took a sip of her coffee. "Yeah that wasn't the way I wanted him to know we had sex either.

"He's home?" Han nodded as he took a bite of the omelet. "So him and Mia…"

"Are still together," Han answered with his mouth full. "I asked so you wouldn't have to and because him and I were having an older brother to younger sister's boyfriend heart to heart. He actually almost seemed human rather than the badass Brian O'Connor." Peyton kissed Han.

"You have your moments of perfection. That would have been one of them if you didn't have food in your mouth while you said that." Han dropped the fork and tackled her so she was on her back. He then tickled her knowing all her ticklish spots. Peyton laughed as she told him to stop and let out a playful scream.

"You're going to wake Brian," he warned as he hovered over. Peyton pulled Han closer to her to kiss him. He obliged and was about to pull his shirt off her when there was a knock. Han gave her an 'I-told-you-so' look before he got off her.

"It's unlocked Brian," Peyton called as she pulled the blanket to cover everything the shirt didn't. Brian opened the door and to the couple's surprise was relatively calm.

"Everything okay?" he asked half asleep.

"Just a slight misunderstanding about the omelet," Peyton assured him.

"It's my fault, Sir," Han told him. "Sorry if we woke you." Brian was surprised by Han's apology. From the conversation they had last night, Brian didn't peg Han as the kind of guy to apologize, but Brian knew he probably didn't want Peyton taking the blame.

"It's fine I need to be up anyway in case we get an emergency shipment in." Brian looked at Peyton. "Did you say something about an Omelet?"

"There's some leftover in the form of scrambled eggs on a plate in the kitchen," Peyton offered. "We'll be out in a minute." Brian nodded and closed the door behind him. Han gave her gentle kiss on the nose.

"The omelet is perfect Shiratori just like last night and this morning." Peyton smiled at him.

"Making your favorite breakfast food is the least a girl can do for her man especially when he has your talented tongue. I seriously forgot how good you were at that." Han pulled the blanket off her.

"I'd be happy to do it again," he offered as he head went toward her lower region. Peyton took his head in her hands trying not to smile.

"Brian's waiting for us." Peyton laughed as he gave her a sad look and the two got dressed. The two then grabbed their plates and cups before the two joined Brian in the kitchen. The three of them ate and chatted as if it perfectly normal for Han to spend the night like it was with Mia.

"I should get going," Han said after a half hour. "I have my parole check in twenty minutes and traffic sucks this time of day."

"Yeah it's probably don't want to breaking speeding laws on your way to your parole officer," Brian said with a smile. "Although I'd probably do every single day just for shits and giggles." Peyton gave her brother a look that clearly said to stop embarrassing me, but Han smiled as him and Brian pounded fist.

"It makes the meeting more amusing when I have to hit a hundred on main street to get there on time," Han agreed. Brian gave his sister an 'I-told-you-so' look as she got up.

"I'll walk you out," Peyton told Han before he turned around. Peyton gave Brian a head slap before she made her way to the door.

"No kinky stuff on the way out. The walls have eyes." Han laughed and Peyton shot daggers at Brian. He gave her an open mouth smile to show her the food he was currently chewing and Peyton couldn't help sticking her tongue out at him before she closed the apartment door. Han immediately took her hand as soon as the door was shut.

"Well that was interesting," Han said as the two made their way down the stairs.

"He was being kind of nice," Peyton agreed.

"You know he cares about you even if he not as vocal as you are…which is probably a good thing." Peyton looked over at him with a blank stare, but her eyes full of laughter.

"Are you saying that I talk too much?" Han kissed her.

"Never. Just suggesting you should look at things from his perspective when you go back up. He's be broken up the last few days." Peyton gave him a sideways glance as they stopped at the shop door.

"And you know this how?" Han pulled her into his arms.

"I actually listened when your brother was talking to me last night." Peyton leaned her head against his. "Just promise me you'll hear him out. I'd rather hang out here with you and crew than at my place with just the two of us." Peyton kissed him.

"Have a good meeting and call me after work." Han gave her a look. "I'll hear him out okay." Han kissed her and they kissed for a few minutes before there was a knock on the shop door. Peyton looked over to see Leon and Collin outside the shop making suggestive movements at the couple. Peyton turned away as her face redden and Han opened the door.

"Carry on kids," Leon said. Han looked at Peyton with a grin as she playfully shoved him towards the door.

"Drive safe," she said. Han kissed her head and said goodbye to the guys before he left. Peyton turned around and both the guys gave her a knowing look. "Save it."

"So it was shag," Collin confirmed. "And here I though you would never even snog a guy on your brother's couch."

"Been there done that and many other things on that couch," Peyton said as she passed them. She looked over her shoulder and saw both men were speechless. "That was a joke guys."

"So you didn't sleep with Han last night?" Peyton didn't answer Leon and went upstairs instead. She found Brian sitting right where she left him.

"Collin and Leon just clocked in," Peyton told him as she sat at the table. Brian looked at the clock.

"They're early."

"The apocalypse can commence." Brian laughed as he sipped his coffee. "Which I guess is the only reason you would ever allow a guy to spend the night."

"That wasn't a guy that was Han," Brian corrected.

"Who I am sexual active with." Brian playfully wince when she said the word sex and Peyton gave him a stern look. "Han may not have been concerned with how cool you're being about the whole situation, but I am. What's going on?" Brian looked at her.

"Did you ever think maybe I could change my mind about him?" Peyton didn't look convinced. "Okay maybe I was letting it slide this one time to make up for this weekend." Peyton surprised him by laughing.

"It's going to take a hell of a lot more than that to make thing right with me."

"Two nights?" Peyton tilted her head. "And possibly not coming home Prom night?"

"Deal," Peyton said having already forgiven Brian. Her face became serious. "So all the blocked phone calls and hang ups have been Eric." Brian took a minute to choose the right words.

"Vito has made threats against Eric including having him arrested. Eric somehow thinks having you in L.A. will ensure that Vito stops." Brian looked at his sister and Peyton willed her face to remain neutral. "He thinks as soon as you marry into the O'Neil family that Vito will want nothing to do with you." Peyton took Brian's hand.

"That not going to happen," Peyton told him. "You know that so why keep his calls a secret?"

"Because you were happy again. His threats were only against me and I thought I could handle it."

"Until he ruins your birthday party by sending goons. I gotta say this is a new low even for him." Brian let go of her hand.

"Yeah I didn't see that one coming." Peyton began to comb her hand with her fingers.

"You never can with him. I'm going to have to talk to Kieran when he gets back in town."

"I am grateful that Eric did it." Peyton looked at Brian confused. "It allowed me to see things that I probably would have taken longer to figure out."

"Like?"

"Like the fact that my Mother is still a total bitch who always has a personally motive for the shit she does. Or the fact that my best friend will always love my sister as his own and would do anything for her." Peyton couldn't help but smile. "I was reminded that Mia is without a doubt everything I want in my future." Brian noogied her head. "And I also happen to have an incredible sister who forgives my faults more than she should and has a boyfriend who is everything I want to see her have in relationship especially when he would easily lay his life down for her in order to keep her safe." Peyton's jaw dropped a bit. "His communication skills and facial emotions could use a bit of work, but there's no way in hell my sister would date a perfect guy. You'd be bored out of your mind." Peyton punched him in the arm even though the last part of his statement was dead on.

"This weekend isn't the only reason you're being lenient with him," Peyton accused. Brian gave her a smile.

"Well there's also the fact that your current ex is giving your former ex now boyfriend a chance. If Dom's kept the kid around this long he obliviously sees something in Han. So long as Han doesn't give me a reason to distrust him then I'm done looking for one." Brian put a finger in her face. "I'll tell you the same thing I told him last night. Don't think nights like last night are going to be a usual thing especially when Rome and I aren't home. You're still in High School and living under my roof. I swear if you two throw it my or any of the crew's face I will put you on lock down so that Collin, Mike, and Peter's attempt of blocking you from any action looks like a joke. We copasetic?" Peyton leaned across the table and kissed Brian's cheek. Things were back to normal and he was still her over protective big brother.

"I love you Brian." Brian looked at her somewhat confused. "I heard everything you said and I appreciate what you do for me even if I don't agree with the decisions you make." Peyton grabbed her coffee cup as she walked out of the room. "You should probably call Rome and let him know Han stayed the night before he walks in the shop and is told by Collin or Leon." Brian looked at her as if she was joking.

"Bull shit Peyton Han's your boyfriend and you're the one that slept with him not me." Peyton turned around and gave her brother a smile.

"Yes but you're the one who let him spend the night." It was Brian's turn to be unconvinced. "Did I mention your Mother spent all day Saturday calling me a whore, slut, and bastard in a lot more words." Brian sighed and she knew she had him.

"Sometimes I think you're a damn con artist." Peyton laughed.

"You wish so I would be off you back and on my own private Island with some old fart."

XXXXX

"So Rome didn't kill Han?" Dom asked Peyton the next day during class. With the medication that Peyton was on, she was unable to handle heavy machinery including a car. Dom had saved her papers and tests from his intro classes for her to grade while her classmates spent the period under a car. Peyton was beyond pissed (even though Mia had threatened to starve her brother if she heard he allowed Peyton to work on any car) and had a sneaky suspicion that Dom had planned this before the Doctors had even spoken to Mia. He had won the first round, but the many sexual innuendos the racer chasers were using to fill the answers they didn't know was enough to get him to grade his own papers in exchange for her not telling Molly if Peyton decided to use the blackmail. Peyton was actually enjoying grading the test as it gave her an accomplished feeling which had been lacking her entire day due to her missing class the last two day and her head pounding the majority of the day making it difficult to concentrate.

"I think he was more pissed at Brian," Peyton replied quietly as she tossed the most recent graded test on his desk. Peter and Mike had been told what had happened as soon as they walked in the shop after school on Tuesday, but that didn't mean she wanted the entire class to know. It was bad enough the Miami and Toretto crews were talking about her sex life nonstop including anyone who worked with any of them. "Rome did tell me he would personally hunt Han down to cut off Han's equipment if Han is playing you and Brian." Dom laughed as the bell rang signaling the end of the day. Peyton kept working on the test she was grading so it wasn't half graded when she got the stack back tomorrow.

"I think I might have said something similar to one of Mia's boyfriends when she was in High School.

"It's the price her and I pay for loving or brothers biological and honorary alike." Peyton finished the page she was on before she handed the stack to Dom.

"Is that just your fancy way of saying that's the problem with being a tomboy?" Dom asked as he looked through the stack. Peyton rolled her eyes as she grabbed her backpack. "I was hoping to hand these back tomorrow." Peyton looked at him and saw a familiar smile.

"I'm not staying after school Mr. Toretto." Peyton made sure to put the epenthesis on Mr to let him know she was in no way joking.

"You can come home with me since you're coming over for dinner anyway."

"I have a mountain of homework to make up for being out for two days," she reminded him. Dom still gave her one of his movie star/you-know-you-want-to smiles. "Let me see how much homework done before I come over for dinner then I'll consider taking the rest of the test home to finish grading tonight." The class was heading towards them.

"It's a pleasure having you in class Miss O'Connor." Peyton shot him a look before she turned to Mike who needed to change and wash up before they left school for the day.

"Do you mind if I run to my locker?" Peyton asked Mike.

"No not at all. If you want take the keys since you'll probably beat us out there."

"Ask PC if she wants to go," Peter demanded as he passed the two. Peyton looked at Mike confused.

"Some of the guys were talking about getting food because the band isn't playing at N2O tonight since it's still closed," Mike explained. "I think the consensus was burgers." Peyton raised an eyebrow.

"Consensus," Peyton repeated mockingly. Jennifer was rubbing off on him like Peyton. Mike playfully punched her cheek. "I'm down. I'll meet you guys outside."

"We won't be long." Peyton made her way to her locker and switched her afternoon books for her morning books. Although she would have liked the extra AP credit, Peyton was glad she had switched out of Art History. There was no way she could make up the work of her four morning AP classes and handle the extra reading for Art History for missing the last two days. As it was she was already worried about making up the work for the four classes all in one night. Peyton looked down the hall and saw Aidan grabbing both his Art History books. Even though every molecule in her body screamed for her to leave the school, Peyton made her way to his locker. The two had kept their distance from one another since homecoming but Peyton knew she needed to talk to him. Aidan saw her as he closed his locker and immediately opened it back up.

"Here's the notes you missed from calc," he said as he handed her a copy of the notes without looking at her. "I figured you get Economics from Jennifer but if you need mine I can give you them tomorrow. You really didn't miss much since we just started the class."

"I actually didn't come here for notes." Aidan looked at her confused and Peyton closed her eyes for a moment while she took a deep breath. "I wanted to thank you for Saturday. You didn't need to take that phone call and you sure as hell didn't need to send Kieran when you heard Pat." Aidan leaned against the locker and studied her face.

"Why me?" he asked her when he couldn't find the answer in her face. "Why not call Kieran directly or Customs for that matter?"

"Because you're still in my phone as Aidan so it was easier to not have to scroll through my contacts." Aidan smirked at her as if to say bullshit. "And I might have been banking on your curiosity to know why I was calling." Aidan laughed as he shut the locker. It was nice to hear him laugh in a non-mocking way again.

"You were right." Aidan stopped laughing and began staring at her. "Listen about Homecoming I was way out of line and there was no reason for what happened." Peyton was surprised by his words. He could of easily walked away gloating about how she owed him. Peyton gave him a small smile.

"Out of line yes, but I think Rose's anniversary counts as valid reason and will get you a get out of jail free card this time around." Aidan leaned against his locker and looked at her slightly surprised at her words.

"You remembered?" Peyton nodded.

"We may have been opposite sides, but I always liked your Sister." Peyton looked away from him. "She was the one who taught me you need to be strong when you're in families like ours instead of whining about how unlucky we are and to go for what you want or you'll never be happy." Peyton looked at Aidan who was watching her carefully. "Plus you weren't completely wrong about what you said that night or any other time for that matter. I do lie to myself the majority of the time so it's easier to pretend I fit in when I rather be alone so I be numb." Aidan reached for her face.

"Peyton," he whispered in a soothing voice. Peyton stepped back to avoid his reach and to retreat from this bonding connection that she had not planned when she decided to talk to him.

"Do me a favor and have Kieran give me a call when he comes back in town," she requested.

"I can give him a message if it's urgent. He's in California so his phone is always on."

"It's not urgent…I just think him and I should talk about Saturday and this week." Aidan nodded.

"I'll let him know." Peyton turned around and began to walk away. "Peyton." Peyton turned around.

"Hmm." Aidan took a few steps so she was in arm's length again. His body language told her he was nervous and it was the only thing keeping her from bolting.

"I'm having a party Friday night at the house so Derik's band can play since they can't tonight at N2O because of Saturday." He took a deep breath. "If you weren't doing anything I wouldn't mind if you stopped by for a bit. It would be nice to see someone there who wasn't there for my money or because they had be there." Peyton was speechless. Was this the same guy who had nearly rapped her four months ago.

"Peyton!" Peyton looked over her shoulder to see a very upset Mike and Peter waiting for her at the end of the hall. Derik along with Chris stood with her boys and were both very confused by the fact Peyton was talking with Aidan.

"Let me check to see what's going on with my crew," Peyton told him as she backed away from him afraid Mike would start a fight. "I'll try to stop be either way but I make no promises." Aidan gave her suggestive smile.

"The house will be locked since the party is outside so don't worry your pretty little head about my room." Peyton laughed despite her best attempt not to and turned away from him.

"Good bye Riley," she called over her shoulder.

"Bye Peyton Swan." Her smile faded when she reached her boys.

"I can't decide if you're crazy or stupid," Mike criticized as they walked to the car with Peter. "Why would you ever go near him again?" Peyton stopped him and stared in his eyes.

"He's the one that got Kieran to come Saturday night and is the reason your best friend's cousin didn't bleed out or get a bullet in her head for talking to the cops."

"Peyton that doesn't make him a hero," Peter replied. "It just means he did the right thing for once." Peyton shook her head and the three walked in silence. They didn't and couldn't understand the world her and Aidan lived in or how much it meant for Aidan to say something that went against Patrick. Her boys had never witnessed a punishment for disloyalty to one's family like Peyton and Aidan had seen. As they stepped outside, they noticed a crowd in the parking lot. The three looked at each other all unsure of what was going on. Fortunate it for them, Jennifer came towards them from the crowd.

"What's going on?" Mike questioned his girlfriend.

"Some guy in his mid twenties showed up in 1955 T-Bird convertible in the classic eggshell blue and everyone is taking pictures," she informed the three. "Especially the girls. He's kind of hot but a little too army and not enough bad boy for m…Peyton?" Peyton went down the stairs in an angry stride with her three friends behind her. They tried to keep up, but her New York speed pace was too fast for them and they only caught up when she reached the crowd.

"Peyton what's going on?" Peter asked as he tried to follow her maneuvers to get through the crowd.

"I'll let you know as soon as I ask him what the fuck he's doing here," Peyton replied as she shoved through the last few people. She looked in front of her to see a familiar T-Bird that had survived the trip from New York and it's owner taking pictures with a group of giggling girls. The girls had convinced the man to hold up a peace sign which Peyton found ironic since he hadn't believed in the word since he first enlisted in the Marines.

"What the hell is he doing here?" Mike asked her when he reached her.

"I can't decide if I want to ask him that or yell at O'Kelley for putting eleven hundred miles on that beauty." Jennifer looked at Peyton a bit surprise and other people began to look at Peyton when they realized she knew the man.

"Do you know that sexy roman god?" Leslie asked as she appeared beside Peyton. Peyton noticed some other girls around them began to make their way towards Peyton.

"Sexy Roman God," O'Kelley repeated as he lowered his shades to get a better look at Leslie. "That's a high compliment from a pretty girl such as yourself." Mike looked at Peyton as if to ask if O'Kelley was seriously flirting with Leslie. Peyton rolled her eyes at the situation and took a step towards the guy who was invading her High School.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Peyton asked him. O'Kelley's green eyes went from Leslie to Peyton.

"Right now speaking to this lovely young lady…"

"Dalton!" Peyton's tone said cut the crap and Leslie was fuming at Peyton. Both New Yorkers ignored the girl.

"Neither of you called me back on Saturday," O'Kelley answered. "I had no idea how you were doing and started to get worried." Peyton opened her mouth to tell him he didn't have her phone still and Molly's was broken, but a voice made her stop.

"You shouldn't be here." O'Kelley looked over Peyton shoulder to see Aidan joining the crowd. He gave Peyton a condescending stare as he passed her which caused both Mike and Peter to move closer to her. The crowd sensing things were going bad became bigger and Peyton wished she had her car.

"Hey Riley how's it going? I thought you were living it up in Calafornia this week."

"I have school," Aidan answered O'Kelley. The younger man gave the New Yorker a smirk. "But I'm sure my Cousin will be delighted to hear you've moved into town."

"Actually I'm just here until Sunday but I would like to see him if he's back before that."

"I'll pass along the information." Aidan turned to Peyton. "If you get a moment I would appreciate a phone call later."

"Of course," Peyton sweetly replied. The crowd watched as Aidan made his way through it to get to his car.

"We need to talk," O'Kelley informed Peyton.

"You bet your ass we do." Peyton looked a Mike. "I'll meet you guys at the shop."

"Or you could get your ass in my car," Mike suggested.

"Come get food with us," Peter added. Peyton pulled both of them in a hug.

"I'll be fine," she whispered before she let go of them and made her way to the T-Bird. O'Kelley held the door for her as she got. A minute later, the two were on the road away from prying ears.

"You actually made that believable," O'Kelley praised as they drove.

"I was pissed you showed up at the school so I really didn't have to act like I didn't know you were coming," Peyton said as she began to dig through her backpack. "It was carless for you to show up like that. Too many people know you're in town now."

"Did you think maybe I wanted it that way?" Peyton was not amused. "So you want to tell me why you called me on the burn phone and dragged me down here?" Peyton sighed.

"Too much for your attention to be diverted to the road. We need a safe house." O'Kelley grinned.

"I got one of those. It even comes with after school snacks."

I'm not sure if I'll be able to get another chapter out until after the Holidays so if I don't I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year with your family...whatever kind they be.

Feedback and reviews are always welcome and shout out to Ersy for your constant support :)