A loud knock wakes Peyton from her peaceful slumber. She sits up immediately and rubs her eyes. She groans a little dramatically before hearing another knock at her door. She rubs her eyes, and trudges out of the bed.

Her roommate, Leslie, had lost her key, again.

"Leslie, I swear-" she tops in shock when she sees Nathan standing before her. She hasn't seen him in months, since graduation. His hair is longer and shaggy, hanging into his eyes. She notices that his eyes are bloodshot and he's soaking wet. She glances behind her and notices that there is rain pounding against her window. "Nathan." she breathes his name out slowly, truly confused by his presence. "Nathan... what are you doing here?"

"It's my mom...she…" Nathan rubbed the water out of his eyes and finally met Peyton's eyes for the first time. The tears were stinging the back of his eyes. He swallowed and looked at his feet again. "She died."

Peyton's mouth opened in shock. She moved forward and pulled his body against hers immediately. "Oh Nathan…" she ran her hands up until they rested on the nape of his neck.

"I don't know what...fuck, I don't know what to do." He leaned forward and rested his forehead in her neck. He felt his body start to shake, and all he could do was cling to the small blonde girl in front of him.

The girl who he had cheated on, showed every ugly side of himself, and she was still here for him in his time of need. "I'm so sorry, Nate." She whispered in his ear and rubbed his back.

After what felt like hours, Peyton pulled Nathan inside of her dorm. She gave him a towel and searched through her drawers from some clothes of his from when they dated. "I have some shorts and a t-shirt." she handed him the folded clothes and sat down on her bed.

Nathan changed clothes silently. He walked over to small dorm window and looked outside. Peyton sat silently on the bed watching him, wondering what he could be thinking.

She knew what it felt like to lose her mother. It was the hardest thing she had ever experienced in her life.

Her heart broke for Nathan. Deb had her issues, she drank too much and took a wide array of pills that she probably didn't need, but she loved Nathan more than anything. She had been the only person in his life who had stood up for him, and defended him.

Dan had always expected so much yet, praised him so little.

"I don't know what to do, Peyton." he leaned onto Peyton's desk and sighed. "Where do I go?"

Peyton stood up and wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning her face into his back. "You'll figure it out. One day at a time."

"I just can't go home and look at him."

"So, don't."

Nathan nodded and placed his hands on top of hers. "Thank you. You probably should have told me to leave."

Peyton remained silent and kept her arms around him.

…

Nathan awoke the next morning in the tiny twin bed, his limbs clumsily tangled with Peyton's long legs. He rubbed his face and looked over at her peacefully sleeping.

He couldn't help but feel grateful for her presence.

Nathan also knew he didn't deserve her being there for him. After all, all he had done to try and make amends with her was call constantly drunk and leave shitty voicemails. He hadn't attempted to talk to her in person.

His 'fling' with Rachel - if you could even call it that fizzled out pretty quickly after the Prom and he had a few more flings here and there with girls from his college.

At the time he felt like it was great - but late at night after everyone had gone home and he was alone, he felt a longing for familiarity.

Peyton stretched beside him, opening her eyes and furrowing her brows.

Never a morning person.

"Hey." she said groggily, untangling herself from his limbs and sitting up in the bed. She leaned her back against the wall and closed her eyes again. "It takes me a minute."

He chuckled lightly and nodded. "I remember."

Peyton eventually got around to making them both some instant coffee and handing him a cold pop tart.

They ate together in silence.

"Will you go with me to my house?" his voice sounded desperate and almost childlike. Peyton had never seen Nathan be vulnerable except for rare fleeting moments.

"Of course."

…

Peyton sat down on the couch in the Scott's formal living room feeling out of place as always. She looked and saw family pictures of Nathan, Deb and Dan framed beautifully hanging on the walls. It made Peyton's heart clench in her chest.

She remembered taking down all the pictures of her mother when she was eight years old. Hurt, bitter and feeling alone she didn't want to be reminded of her mother. It just made her heart ache.

For her 12th birthday, Brooke had made copies of all the pictures and put them in a book so that Peyton didn't have to see them all the time, but could still look at them whenever she wanted.

It was the best gift she had ever received.

She heard Dan and Nathan arguing in the next room. The sound of Nathan's voice started to get louder as he suddenly appeared in the room again. "You ready?"

Peyton nodded and walked behind him and Nathan stormed out of his father's house. "He's such a fucking piece of shit."

"Nathan-"

"No, he constantly treated her like fucking garbage. He never appreciated her and she just kept drinking and drinking." Tears started to stream down his face, again and he wiped them away in frustration. "He doesn't love anyone but himself."

Peyton nodded and rubbed his shoulders, soothingly. She didn't disagree with him, because she was sure he was right. He had openly admitted to marrying Deb because she was from a better family than Karen, who he also had a child with.

Her father had faults, oh so many faults, but she knew he loved her unconditionally.

"Hey, come on, let's go stay at my house."

Nathan nodded, following Peyton to her car.

…

Sleep never seemed to find Nathan that night, as he lay in bed beside Peyton listening to her breathe. There were so many things he wanted to say. So many things he wished he still had the opportunity to say. Moments like this, he felt, would be a new constant in his life.

He could barely remember the last conversation he had with his mom. He knew it wasn't anything heartwarming or fantastic, he may have even been mildly annoyed that she had called.

He had to stop thinking of what ifs but right now, it's all that he could do.

Looking at the mess of blonde curls next to him, gave him a sense of relief. Familiarity that he hadn't felt in so long. He was so grateful for her, in this moment, more than he had ever been.

…

Author's Note: So, I really am incredibly sorry this update took so long. I haven't been able to find the time between work, meetings, etc to find time. I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint those who actually like the story...and those of you who do not, well...just don't read it.