Disclaimer: I don't own these characters! (i wish i did...)
Author's Note: This is the final chapter, but I am working on the epilogue. I had a lot of fun with this story, and I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks again for all the reviews! I treasure them, trust me. Please tell me what you think about the latest (and final) part!
Part Six
Two weeks later, Peyton was feeling awful. She had woken up with a headache and hadn't felt well all day. Maybe it had to do with all the stress from the Army National Guard. They had declared Jake officially dead last week, and it just about killed her. The only thing that kept her going was Jenny. The Guard wanted her to have a memorial in honor of Jake, but Peyton didn't want to, not yet. She wasn't sure how she should tell Jenny. She needed to be gently with her. She was very sensitive. Peyton could hear her praying every night to bring her daddy home to her mommy. It absolutely broke her heart.
It was a normal Thursday afternoon around two o'clock. Peyton was in the den, watching television when suddenly she felt an extremely sharp pain in her stomach. She leaned over in pain, moaning. "Ow.." She reached for the phone. She dialed Brooke's number. "Brooke?"
"Pey? What's wrong?"
"Oh my God, ouch...I'm having a really sharp pain in my stomach. Something's wrong, I can tell."
Brooke panicked. "Aren't you only seven months pregnant?"
"Yes! Brooke, I can't be in labor. Its way too soon."
"Lucas and I will be right over."
Peyton hung up the phone. She stood up gingerly but had to sit down again. She was in so much pain. She rubbed her stomach, talking to the baby. "Sweetie, please stay in there just a little longer. You aren't ready to come out."
It was times like these that Peyton wished Jake was there. He was such a comfort for her, but he wasn't there and Peyton knew she would have to learn to accept that. She just didn't want to.
A few minutes later, Brooke and Lucas came through the door. Brooke rushed over. "Peyton, are you okay!"
She winced in pain. "No. It hurts so bad."
Lucas said, "Come on, we'll take you to the hospital."
Peyton was about to agree but, "No, wait! Oh my God, I am so stupid. Jenny gets off from school at two thirty and rides the bus home. No one will be here for her."
Brooke said, "I will. I'll stay. Luke will take you. As soon as she gets here, I will drop her at Nathan's and then go to the hospital."
Peyton smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Brooke."
She winked at her. "No problem. Now, go!"
Lucas helped Peyton into the car. Brooke sat on the couch, biting her nails. She had been sitting there for about fifteen minutes when the phone rang, which made her jump.
"Damn!" She reached over and grabbed it. "Hello?"
"Mrs. Jygelski?"
It caught Brooke off guard, but then she realized they were talking about Peyton. She decided to go with it. "Yes."
"This is Officer Jones from the Army National Guard."
Curiosity overcame Brooke. "Yes?"
"Can you come down as soon as possible?"
"Why?"
"Standard procedure. Thank you." He abruptly hung up. Brooke rolled her eyes. They probably needed Peyton to sign some papers or something. She called Lucas. "Hey, babe. the National Guard called and said Peyton needed to get there soon. Probably paperwork."
"Are you going to go?"
"Yeah, I guess I could go with Jen. How's Peyton?"
"I don't know, she's in there and they are running tests right now."
"Okay, well, I'll call you later, okay?"
"K. Love you."
"Love you too," Brooke said, hanging up. As she did so, Jenny walked through the door.
"MOM! I'm home!" She stopped when she saw Brooke standing there. "Brookie!"
"Hey, Jen. Come on, we gotta go." She grabbed Jenny's arm.
"Where are we going?"
"For a little ride, I think."
They got into Peyton's car and Brooke drove to the National Guard. On the way, she explained to Jenny what was going on with Peyton. She told her she was at the hospital because something happened with the baby.
Jenny was worried. "Is Mommy going to be okay?"
"Yes," Brooke assured. "She's going to be fine." Brooke herself wasn't too sure. Brooke parked once they arrived and helped Jenny out. "Now, remember, we have to be quiet in here."
They walked into the lobby and up to the receptionist. Brooke started talking, "Yes, my friend Peyton was called down here, and well..."
"Daddy," Jenny whispered.
Brooke continued, "She is in labor so I thought I would come down here for her, and..."
"Daddy!" Jenny said, her eyes wide.
Brooke, distracted, said to Jenny, "Jen, sweetie, be quiet. I have to talk to this lady..." Brooke's voice trailed off when she looked to where Jenny was looking. Down the hall a ways, there was Jake. Standing there, by himself. Her mouth dropped open. She looked as though she just saw a ghost.
"DADDY!" Jenny screeched, running down the hall. Brooke took off after her. Jenny kept yelling, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!"
She ran up, and Jake opened his arms and swung her around, holding her tight. She buried her head in his neck. Jake had tears running down his face, so relieved to finally see his daughter after all these months.
Brooke stood back, crying as well. This site was so precious.
Jake held Jenny for about five minutes before finally speaking, "I missed you so much."
Jenny touched his face and gave him butterfly kisses. "Me too. I knew you would come back. Mommy said some people said you wouldn't, but I didn't believe it."
"I promised you I would come back. Have I ever broken a promise?"
She shook her head, and then said to Brooke, "Brookie! Look, Daddy's back. Told you!" She smiled, hugging him close.
Brooke smiled through her tears. "I see that." She walked up and gave him a hug. "Welcome home."
Jake smiled at her. "Thanks, Brooke. Where's Peyton? I just got her letter about being pregnant and I am so happy for us."
Suddenly, Brooke's smile faded. "Oh my God. Peyton."
Jenny decided it was her duty to fill her dad in. "Mommy is in labor or something like that and in lots of pain and is at the hospital."
Alarmed, Jake looked at Brooke. "What?"
Brooke hurriedly explained, "Around two, Peyton started having really bad pains and Lucas rushed her to the hospital. I waited for Jenny, and when this place called and I came in her place. Oh my God, she will be so happy to see you."
Jake was extremely worried. "Is she going to be okay?"
Brooke shrugged helplessly. "When I talked to Luke, he said they were running tests."
Jake said urgently, "We have to get to the hospital!"
Brooke nodded. "Come on, I have Pey's car."
Jake, still holding Jenny, followed Brooke out of the building. On the way there, he had a million questions. "She's, what seven months?"
Brooke nodded, driving faster than usual. And she usually drove fast. "Seven months and a week."
Jake looked out the window. "Did she think I was dead?"
Brooke grinned. "Nope, she never lost faith. She came close at times, but she always knew you were alive. So did your daughter. Right Jen?" Brooke asked, looking at her in the rear view mirror.
"Right!" Jenny chirped. "Daddy, guess what?" She was full of news and events from the last few months.
"What?"
"Nathan and Haley had twins! They were girls, and they are named Kaylie and Kristen."
"Wow, that's great, honey."
"And you know what else?"
"What?"
"Mommy is having a baby boy!"
This struck a chord with Jake. His wife was in premature labor with a baby boy, and he hadn't seen her in months.
After what seemed like eternity, Brooke finally arrived at the hospital. The three jumped out and ran inside. Lucas was waiting in the emergency room. He saw Jake and did a double take.
"Jake?"
Jake grinned. "Yeah, its me, man. Long story." They hugged.
Lucas exclaimed, "I can't believe you're back!"
"Me neither."
Jenny said excitedly, "Daddy's back for good! Told ya," she bragged to Lucas.
Jake said anxiously, "How's Peyton?"
Luke shrugged, upset. "They won't tell me anything!"
Brooke asked, "Where is she?"
Lucas pointed towards a room. "In there."
Brooke pulled Jake and told him to wait outside while she went in. Peyton was sitting up in a bed. "Pey..."
Peyton's eyes lit up. "Brooke! Hey!"
"Hey... I have someone to show you."
Jake walked in and Peyton didn't believe it was him. "Jake?" She whispered.
He walked over to the bed and sat down beside her. "Yeah, its me."
She felt his face. "Are you real?"
"Yes, I'm real, I'm back."
Peyton collapsed into tears, leaning into him. She cried into his chest. All the praying and hoping had paid off. Her husband was finally with her again. Jake was crying too.
Brooke quietly slipped out of the room.
Peyton had a hundred questions. "How? Why? Where? ..."
"Shh, we'll talk about that later." He put his finger over her mouth, and then kissed her. She gave him a powerful, romantic, sweet kiss. It had been so long. "I love you so much."
"I love you too. I was so scared when they said you went missing."
"I know, but I'll explain about that later. What about you? What's going on with the baby?"
"Did you ever get my letter?"
"Yeah, about an hour ago."
Peyton smiled. "Wow. Anyways, they ran tests and stuff and say it was Braxton Hicks contractions. I don't know, but they said the baby and I are both fine. I'm just glad you are here now."
Jake nuzzled her neck. "I'm not going anywhere."
There was a light knock at the door and Jenny peered around it. "Can I come in?" She whispered. All these machines and cords scared her.
Peyton held out her arms. "Sweetie, come here!"
Jake helped Jenny climb on the bed and hug her mother. Jenny said, "Is the baby okay?"
"Yes, the baby is fine, and so am I ."
"Daddy's back," Jenny said excitedly.
"I know! You were right."
Jenny leaned into her mother, and Jake wrapped his arm around both of them. He smiled at Peyton over the top of Jenny's head.
"I Love You," he mouthed. She mouthed the same thing back to him.
Outside, Brooke was watching from the window and Lucas came up behind, putting his arms around her waist from behind. She leaned her head back on his chest. "This was the perfect ending."
"Yeah it was. But I'm tired. What do you say we give them some time together and go home?"
She turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I say that sounds great."
He led her by hand out the door.
Later that evening, Jenny had been picked up by Nathan and Peyton and Jake were in her hospital room alone in the dark. Jake was laying on the bed with his arm around her. Her head was resting on his shoulder.
His kissed the top of her head. "It feels so good to be with you again."
"Same here," she murmured. "I missed you so much."
"I promise, I'm not going anywhere anymore. You, me, Jenny, and this baby. Us four."
She looked up at him. "I love you."
"I love you too." She leaned up and kissed him before settling back down and falling asleep in his arms, just how it was supposed to be.
