A/N: As usual, I want to thank all the readers and especially the reviewers. All feedback, positive or negative is appreciated.

Some of you were asking if this was a Pathan fic or if it just starts that way and breaks off to other couples, so I'm just letting you all know this is most definitely a Pathan story. That's not to say they won't get with other people, but whatever happens with them in between, just know Nathan and Peyton are endgame.

Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of its characters.

Later that night, Nathan sat up in his bed, leaning against the pillows, and sliding the silver necklace between his large fingers. Memories of the day he'd given it to her flooded his mind. It had been the six-month 'anniversary' of their first date and he'd handed it to her beautifully wrapped – he'd gone through a lot of gift wrap, time, and patience, to get it perfect – and topped it off with a tiny bow. Along with that, just in case the jewelry was a complete failure, had come a box of her favorite chocolates, and a single yellow carnation – because he'd remembered she'd once told him something about not liking red roses. But because he'd only been half listening, he wasn't sure if it was roses she didn't like, or red flowers in general. To this day, he still didn't know.

Brooke, who'd gladly accompanied him to the jeweler's, had deemed the candy and flower nice bonuses, but totally unnecessary. Of course she'd been trying to convince him to give her the chocolates, claiming a sudden sweet tooth, and insisting that Peyton would love the necklace so much she wouldn't care about the other two.

But he'd refused, with the reasoning that, of the three gifts, the chocolates were the only guaranteed pleaser. The other two he wasn't so sure of.

The necklace was, by far, the most expensive gift he'd ever purchased for a girl, his mother included. He'd been nervous to give it to her, afraid she'd scoff at the obviously high-priced item, or she wouldn't like it and make him take it back. But Brooke had been right; Peyton had loved it. She'd been a little misty-eyed when she'd asked him to put it on her. The other two gifts had proven to be successful as well. She'd put the carnation in a vase with some water, and then she'd eaten the entire box of chocolates in one sitting, he remembered with amusement. Naturally she'd offered him some, but he had never been big on chocolate. As for the necklace, she'd sworn she'd never take it off. And until now, she hadn't.

He lifted the bottle he had tucked between his legs, to his lips and took a large swig, enjoying the burn as it slid smoothly down his throat. Setting it firmly back in place, he went back to examining the silver item he held.

He didn't respond to the light tap on his bedroom door. He didn't even really hear it, being too wrapped up in his own thoughts and memories.

Dan slowly swung the door open when his knock was met with silence. He'd noticed the light peering out from beneath the door and wondered what his son was still doing up. But since no sound came from inside, he figured the boy had fallen asleep. He poked his head in carefully, giving time, if need be, for a 'visitor' to cover up. He'd warned Nathan against it before he'd left for the evening, but you just never knew with that kid. He came fully into the room when he saw his son sitting solo.

"What are you still doing up?" he asked him. "You have to be awake in three hours for your morning run."

Nathan jumped at the sound of his father's voice, and quickly shifted position in an attempt to hide the whiskey bottle.

Dan could only chuckle at the pointless gesture. The smell of alcohol was potent in the closed-in area. "Don't spill it now," Dan warned, half sternly, half amusedly. "That'd be a waste." He extended his arm for Nathan to hand over the bottle.

Nathan sighed and obeyed the unspoken command, wishing he'd gotten in a few more gulps – at least enough to feel its effects, before having it taken away. As it was now, he was barely even buzzed.

Dan shook his head in disappointment. "What am I going to do with you?" he asked. "Can I not count on you to follow my orders for even one evening?" he continued harshly. "Do I need to be right beside you every second to make sure you do what you're told?"

Nathan shrugged slightly. His father hadn't said he couldn't drink. "I guess I'm not to be trusted," he mumbled. "By anyone," he added dejectedly.

Dan glanced at his son curiously, noticing the necklace in his hand. "What happened?" he inquired. "What's got you so down?"

Though Nathan could swear he felt zero effects of the whiskey, it did serve to loosen his tongue a bit. "Peyton broke up with me," he answered his dad.

"When?" Dan probed. His son had seemed to be in high spirits before he'd left.

"Tonight," Nathan answered. "She came over," he confessed. "I, uh, told her she could."

"I see," Dan said in monotone.

"I know you said no company, but I just wanted to spend time with her."

"Oh sure, disregard my orders and just make up your own rules. That sounds about right."

Nathan didn't reply, but silently wished he had obeyed his father and told Peyton she couldn't come over. Then she couldn't have dumped him. Or maybe she still would've, over the phone.

Dan shook his head, but wasn't at all surprised that Nathan had invited Peyton over. He'd been complaining of his lack of time with his girl ever since his punishment started, hoping his dad would cut him some slack. Dan couldn't really blame the kid. But neither could he let him away with it. Or could he? Hell, maybe the fight with his girlfriend was punishment enough. He clearly hadn't enjoyed his evening. "So, she dumped you again," Dan stated more than questioned.

Nathan just nodded solemnly in response.

"Well, I wouldn't worry about it," Dan suggested. "She'll take you back in a few days, right?" he added, reiterating what his son had previously told him with such confidence.

He didn't see the point in getting upset over each and every breakup when the boy knew the outcome. Hell, the breakups themselves were a joke with the same end result every time. He could see why his son took them in stride, even though he couldn't agree with his treatment of the girl.

"I don't think so," Nathan said softly. "Not this time."

Dan quirked an eyebrow in wonder. "Why? What make this time any different?"

"Everything," Nathan replied, but he didn't go into all the details. "She gave this back," he continued, lifting the necklace up for his father to see. "You can go ahead and say it now," Nathan went on after a moment of silence.

"Say what?"

"I told you so," Nathan answered. "I know it's coming so just say it and get it over with."

Dan sighed and ran his hands over his face. "Now why would I want to rub it in?"

"Because you like to be right."

"So you think I said all that stuff so I can gloat when it happens?"

"Why else?"

"Look, I admit I'm not the best father in the world, but I'm not a monster. I gave you advice to try to prevent this, not to get one over on you." He walked over to the exit, but paused and turned in the doorway. "Believe it or not, I do care, Nathan. I get no satisfaction out of seeing you upset. But when I see you doing things that jeopardize your happiness or your well being, I'm gonna say something, whether you want to hear it or not. Now get some sleep. Five o'clock comes early."

With those parting words he left his son to his own thoughts and made his way to his own bedroom, still carrying the bottle of whiskey. He sat on his bed with a deep sigh and took a large gulp of the fiery liquid, replaying the telephone conversation he'd had with his wife earlier.

Flashback

"It's been nearly three months, Deb. You said you'd be coming home next weekend," Dan complained.

Deb sighed. "I know, Dan, but the foundation needs me to stay and I agreed. This is important."

"More important than your husband and your son?"

"I didn't say that."

"May as well have. Deb, Nathan needs his mother. I need my wife."

"It's just a few more weeks, Dan. And the last time I was home, Nathan didn't want anything to do with me."

"Because he's mad at you. Can you blame him?"

"Look, I have to go. We'll talk about this when I get home, ok?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Tell Nathan I love him and I miss him."

End of Flashback

He took another drink. He thought about his wife, and then of the woman who'd propositioned him tonight. He couldn't deny he'd been tempted. He was lonely and he missed the soft touch of a woman's gentle hands. But he couldn't bring himself to do it. Unlike his wife, and for all his faults, in eighteen years of marriage, not once had he broken his wedding vows. And tonight had been no exception.

Then he thought of his son, depressed in the room down the hall, over the loss of his girl. As much as the boy took after him for most things, in the fidelity department, he was all Deb's. And now came the sad consequences.

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"P. Sawyer!" Brooke hollered as she bounded up the stairs to Peyton's room. "Your scrawny butt better not still be in bed because you promised you'd go shopping with me today!" She entered the bedroom where Peyton sat at her desk sketching. "Ok, what did boytoy do now?" she asked, noticing her best friend's eyes were red-rimmed.

"Just more of the same basically," Peyton answered with a dismissive wave, unable to pinpoint one exact thing. It was everything. "I broke up with him last night," she quickly informed the brunette.

Brooke sighed and put a comforting arm around the blonde. Would those two ever get it right? "It's gonna be ok, P.," she promised. "You'll be together again before you know it."

Peyton shook her head vehemently. "No, it's really over this time. For good."

"Oh, come here, hon," Brooke said sympathetically, pulling her into a hug. She knew Peyton didn't really mean it, but she was upset and needed comfort.

"Brooke, I'm fine," Peyton assured her, pulling away. "Really," she added when Brooke stared at her quizzically. "I'm all cried out," she told her. "I've cried my last tear for Nathan Scott," she said firmly. "I'm officially done."

Brooke glanced away from her to the sketch on the desk. It was of a girl with a heart shattered in pieces, but just above her shoulders, heavy weights hovered, with shadowing in between to indicate they'd just been lifted. On the girl's face was a look of pure relief, much like the one on Peyton's face. Across the top was written 'Sometimes moving on with the rest of your life starts with goodbye.'

"It's a Carrie Underwood lyric, from one of her songs," Peyton explained.

Brooke's eyebrows lifted in wonder. "You're listening to country now?"

Peyton shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm in love with music, B. All genres. And I have a current obsession with the 'idols', she said, referring to the popular T.V. show that put singers in direct competition with each other, all vying for the title of American Idol. She went on to explain the decision she'd made concerning Nathan after hearing David Archuleta's song.

"Ok, let me get this straight," Brooke said, clearly bewildered. "You made a life-altering decision based on a three minute song? P., that's crazy, even for you."

Peyton crossed her arms stubbornly. She shouldn't have told her. It figures she wouldn't understand.

"You realize he didn't even win last year, right? David Cook beat him," Brooke stated pointedly.

Peyton rolled her eyes. "Yes I know, and I got his album too. But what does it matter what place they came in? Look at the band Hedley. Did you know their lead singer, Jacob Hoggard, came in third place in the second season of Canadian Idol?"

"No, but so?"

"So, I'm saying you don't have to win first place to be picked up by a record label. And even Nathan likes Hedley."

"But would he base his life according to their lyrics?"

"People find inspiration in all sorts of things, Brooke. It can come from anywhere; a poem, a child, a sunset. For me, it's music. Would Nathan find it there? No, of course not. Because the words don't touch his soul. I really can't explain it any better. All I can tell you is I did what I had to do. Like I told Nathan, we're not good together. And I'm really tired of crying over him. I know he's tired of getting dumped. It's just best to end it. I know you don't get it, but can you at least not try to change my mind?"

Brooke stared at her friend for a moment, before finally nodding her head. "Ok," she agreed, seemingly understanding.

"Ok," Peyton replied in relief. "Now let's go shopping," she said, looping her arm with Brooke's.

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"Ok, superstar," Brooke said, joining him in the gym on Monday during lunch period. "We need a plan to get you and P. Sawyer back together pronto."

Nathan rested the basketball at his hip, glad for the distraction. Since Peyton had ended things, he still hadn't been able to make a decent shot and it was pissing both himself and his father off. But Brooke's words caught his attention. He could always count on his long time friend to be on his side. Yet Peyton's words and whole demeanor on Friday night were still fresh in his mind. "It's no use, Brooke. She doesn't want to be with me."

"We both know that's not true, so just stop right there. She loves you, Nate."

"I don't know about that," he countered miserably.

"Ok, could we maybe tone down insecure Nathan cuz I'm here to talk to cocky, arrogant Nathan.

"Good luck. He disappeared three days ago."

"Well, he needs to come back," Brooke insisted. "And fight for what he wants."

"Maybe this is what he wants," Nathan replied.

Brooke laughed at him. "Ok, you may be able to fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool me all of the time. Whatever," she said, waving her hands dramatically as she realized she'd messed up that saying somewhere.

He cracked a smile, his first since Friday night. "Basically you're saying you know me?" he teased.

"Exactly! And I know you want Peyton back. So, let's get her back, shall we?" she said upon his nod.

"How?"

"Same way you always win her over. You get her alone and you work your magic charm."

"I don't think that's gonna work. She seemed pretty serious about breaking up. She gave the necklace back."

"Really?" Brooke asked, momentarily stumped. "Oh well, no biggie. When you get back together, you can give it back to her."

"If we get back together. Ow!" he exclaimed when she slapped him hard in the arm.

"Oh, that didn't hurt, you big baby. And even if it did, you deserve it for downplaying my plan."

"What plan?"

"Weren't you listening?" she chided, hands on hips. "Do you want Peyton back or what?"

"Yeah, but seriously, what plan?"

"You get her alone and you talk to her, duh. Didn't I just say that?"

"She doesn't want to talk to me, Brooke."

"Yes she does. She's just being stubborn. It's been three days, trust me, she misses you by now."

"What if it doesn't work?"

"It will. She'll be at my house after school. Stop by," she said, heading out of the gym.

"I have to be home at 3:30 for tutoring," he replied. "My dad makes sure."

"Plenty of time," she assured him dismissively, exiting the gym.

She bumped into Rachel on her way out. "Hey slut," she greeted.

"Why do you always try to push him toward her?" Rachel asked.

Brooke stared for a moment, caught off guard by the question. "Because they love each other," she answered earnestly. "Why do you always try to pull her away from him?"