Anna breathed a huge sigh of relief when she heard the door finally unlock. It was late, well after midnight but at least she had come home. Even if she hadn't, what could Anna say after the way she had behaved? Peyton would be angry and she had every right to be.

"I didn't think you'd come back", she said softly.

"Why?" Peyton shrugged. "I don't live here according to you. I'm just a visitor, right?"

"No babe…"

"That's what you told Mommy and Daddy."

"I had to. I'm sorry. Their visit took me off guard and I freaked."

"Whatever Anna. If that's your story, then stick to it but I'm not buying it anymore, okay?"

"Peyton…"

"Save it. You haven't told them and you're not going to."

"I am…I will. I promise."

"You never had any intention of telling them."

"Yes, I do, Pey. It's complicated, alright? You don't understand."

"I sure don't Anna so make me understand."

"They are going to flip."

"So? Let them flip. They're going to be pissed, so what? Let them be pissed. Kids do things all the time parents don't agree with and parents get pissed. That's like their job. Are you going to let them dictate how you live your life?"

"No but…"

"But nothing. Tell them the truth and if they can't handle it, tell your crazy, prejudiced family to stay the hell out of our lives."

"They can't handle it."

"How do you know?"

"Peyton, damn! We've been through this already. I told you the story about my old high school. They moved us across the country for God's sake, based on a rumor. My parents are religious and conservative and traditional and very old fashioned. And Felix…"

"Who cares about Felix?"

"Peyton, he was the one who vandalized your car", Anna blurted out.

"What?"

Peyton was stunned and angrier than hell.

"You heard me. It was Felix."

"How…how long have you known, Anna?"

"A few weeks."

"Weeks? And you didn't tell me?"

"No. I'm sorry. I didn't know how and what good would it have done anyway?"

"Let's see, for starters he could have paid for the damage! Next, he could have apologized and third he could tell his pathetic story to a judge. Last time I checked, it was illegal to destroy someone else's property."

"He was wrong and he's an asshole but he didn't mean anything by it."

"Oh please! I'm not stupid! And stop protecting him! He's not a baby. He is a grown ass man who slashed my tires and broke my windows and spray painted the word dyke in huge letters on my car. And because he's your brother, I'm supposed to just turn the other cheek like you apparently are doing?"

"What do you want from me, Peyton?"

"Man up. Be an adult. Where is the bad ass that rescued me from Rick? Huh? Where's that chick? Because she was a lot cooler than the sniveling wimp in front of me now."

"You don't get it. It's about family and loyalty and being Catholic and Latin…"

"No, you don't get it, Anna. It's about being a grown up. It's about choices and living your life for you. You are who you are and that can't change. Why would you live a lie?"

"It's hard, Peyton!"

"No shit! Do you think I'm blind? Stupid? I see the looks we get from people and from the landlord and everyone else. I deal with it. That's my choice. You're my choice and I'd never regret that, Anna. Damn!"

"We're different and they will never get that?"

"Who is 'they'? I don't care about them. And we're not different. That's your problem for even thinking that way."

"Yes, we are different."

"No, we're not! We're people! We're human beings with hearts and emotions and fears and flesh and blood. The day before I fell in love with you, I woke up, had breakfast, worked in my sketchpad, went to class and made a Sloppy Joe for dinner. You know what I did the day after I fell in love with you, Anna? I woke up, had breakfast, worked in my sketchpad, went to class and made a Sloppy Joe for dinner. Nothing changed. I was still the same Peyton."

"Then why haven't you told your dad?"

"Oh no! Don't put your bullshit on me. My dad is out of town. When he gets back, I will sit him down and tell him. That is not the type of news you give someone over the phone or just casually drop in an e-mail."

"And you think it's gonna be peaches and cream after that? You think Daddy will be oh so understanding? I'll be welcomed into the Sawyer clan with open arms?"

"Yes. I think that will happen because my father loves me and he accepts me and my happiness is important to him even if we don't always agree. But you know something? Even if he flips out and vows to never talk to me again…so fucking what? That's his loss."

"Pey…"

"We're supposed to be a team. If you're not accepted, then I'm not accepted."

"You jump, I jump, huh?" Anna quoted Titanic with a smile through tears.

"This isn't funny", Peyton muttered.

"I know. Look, baby. I love you. I'm sorry I hurt you. I'm sorry I don't always know how to handle things. I need some time but I promise I'll make it right."

She kissed Peyton's shoulder and the blonde pulled away.

"Don't, okay?"

"Babe, please. Don't be mad."

"How can I not be? You really hurt my feelings, Anna."

"I never meant to. It hurts me that I hurt you. Please. I just don't want to fight. Say we can work through this. Say we can make it right."

"Anna, that's up to you."

She sighed.

"I know. Just don't push me away. I don't want to lose you, Pey."

Peyton wiped at her own tears.

"You won't baby but something has to change. I can't keep living like this. It's tearing me apart inside."

Anna kissed her and Peyton relented.

"I love you. I love you so much. I'll fix it. I'll do anything."

Peyton leaned back and kissed her softly.

"Okay."

"Okay? You forgive me?"

"This time."

"Thank you. I mean that. I do love you, Pey."

"I love you, too."

Anna smiled in the darkness.

"Sloppy Joes will always be home?"

"Always", Peyton answered softly.