Laine: I know I changed the spelling and only because I went on and they spelled it Ephraim...I will change back to the way they spell it...thanks for informing me!

Okay I know it's been like forever so I tried to make the chapter a little longer. Been so busy lately I've been neglecting my stories! I'm soooo sorry! Please forgive me. Got nothing really going on anymore so I'll be able to update more frequently. Knock on wood! Please review and let me know what you think!


"You're up early Maddy." Nathan said sitting at the counter with her pouring some coffee into a mug. Taking a sip he looked disgusted, "What is this crap?"

"Decaf." Madison said flatly, "Pregnant remember?"

"So I have to drink crap?" Nathan needed his daily fix of caffeine to get started.

"Yes because I'm your cousin and you love me." Madison said adding a sweet little smile.

Haley made an appearance looking hung-over and disheveled, her hair flying every which way. She poured herself a cup of coffee and took a sip and spit it out in a cup.

"Is someone trying to poison me?" Haley said wiping her mouth.

"It's decaf." Nathan said with disgust.

"Why the hell are we drinking decaf?" Haley said dumping it down the drain.

"Well because," Nathan stuttered trying to think of an excuse.

"Because I'm pregnant." Madison jumped in feeling obligated to tell Nathan's wife the truth.

"Wow, congrats." Haley said leaning her head on the cool countertop, "If you caught me on a better day I'd be happier."

"Don't worry about it." Madison didn't expect people to be happy for her, "A girl's got the right to party from time to time."

"With Brooke and Peyton, but mainly Brooke you learn to deal with it." Haley smiled with her eyes squinted, blinded by the sunlight, "I'm going back to bed."

"Want me to come with you?" Nathan said starting to follow her.

"I actually want to sleep Nate." Haley said shutting the door behind him.

"Gross." Madison said making faces at her coffee.

"Like you've never done it before." Nathan sneered back.

"Yeah but not with family around." Madison got up and grabbed some clothes from her bag, "I'll be right out. I have to change."

"Then if you want I can take you to go see mom." Nathan yelled at the closed bathroom door. Sitting alone in the living room for a while he heard someone throwing up. Instinctively he rushed to the bathroom and banged on the door until it opened.

"Are you okay?" He asked Madison as she washed her mouth out.

"Morning sickness," Madison said nonchalantly, "A side effect of being pregnant.

"I see." Nathan nodded knowingly, "Sorry never been pregnant before."

"That means you are safe." Madison patted his shoulder, "Remember Short Stuff, sex is bad."

"No it's not. Unsafe sex is bad. Safe sex is good." Nathan smiled smugly, "Really good."

"Ew! Over share!" Madison squeezed past him, "Why don't you go tell Lucas about this stuff."

"Talk to my brother about sex?" Nathan laughed, "Hell no."

"So talk to your cousin instead?" Madison shoved her dirty clothes back in her bag, "Who is a girl I might add."

"You're not as closely related." Nathan shrugged leading Madison outside, "Want to walk or drive?"

"I'm not one for exercise." Madison pulled out her car keys, "We'll drive."

"Good choice." Nathan hopped into the passenger's side.

"I always was good at decision making." Madison said contently driving towards the hospital.

"Yeah, what happened?" Nathan joked but obviously he went too far and Madison drove along in silence.


"Okay so I have to warn you." Nathan spoke finally when they were in the elevator, "Dan's not going to be the same as you remember."

"How so?" Madison leaned up against the wall watching the numbers go up.

"He's being nice." Nathan cringed.

"You must be thrilled at that." Madison smiled remembering all the family holidays where Dan would end up starting a fight.

"Not really." Nathan shook his head, "I don't know what's worse, mean Dan or nice Dan."

"He can't be that bad," Nathan gave her a look, "I guess he could."

"Until you live with the guy for most of your life you'll never know." Nathan waited as the doors glided open.

"I guess I was blessed with not having that luxury." Madison tried to ease the tension but was failing miserably. As kids Madison and Nathan would've gotten along just fine but now as life had crept up on them things changed. They weren't Maddy and Short Stuff anymore. In their separation life had happened. Things would never be the same.

"Hey Mom," Nathan inched through the doorway with Madison close behind.

"'Morning Nate." Deb looked up towards her son, "Don't tell me you and Haley are over already."

"No such luck Mom," Nathan was sick of his mother's disapproval, "Plus I'm not into breeding inside the family."

"What are you - ?" Deb took a closer look at the girl, "Madison?"

"Aunt Deb." Madison smiled and hugged her aunt.

"What brings you to Tree Hill sweetie?" Deb asked obviously over tired.

"Well I was hoping to stay with my favorite aunt for a while until my life gets back on track." Madison said with a pleasing smile. She wasn't sure what her aunt was going to say because of the whole Dan in the hospital situation.

"And who is this favorite aunt of yours?" Deb smiled widely, taking the begging in disguise as a compliment.

"Her name's Deb Scott." Madison smiled genuinely, "Do you know her?"

"Deb Scott, hm, let me see." Deb figured having Madison around for a while would take her mind off of Dan and the divorce. Plus she never had a daughter so Madison could be her substitute.

"So is that a yes because there's no room at my place?" Nathan sifted impatiently in the corner.

"I love you too Nate." Madison said refocusing on Deb.

"Of course it's a yes!" Deb was annoyed that anyone had to even ask.

"Yay!" Madison said happily. The hard part now was breaking her little secret to her aunt. Madison's happiness suddenly turned sour. This was probably the hardest moment of her life.

"Maddy, what's wrong?" Deb stood up to hug her niece.

"I have something to tell you." Madison breathed deeply, gathering the courage to tell the truth.

"What is it sweetie?" Deb's face was etched with worry. Over the past week with Dan and now Madison could really do that too you.

"I'm pregnant." Madison had told more people, mainly strangers that she was pregnant and not even the father.

"Oh, wow." Deb stopped in her tracks, "How far along?"

"About three months." Madison didn't expect such a reaction. Everyone was congratulatory and everything but not Deb.

"And the father?" Madison knew that was coming. Everyone asked about Ephram and she just didn't know how to tell them.

"Back in Everwood." Madison didn't want to be interrogated; she just wanted to live her life.

"Well, congratulations." Deb half-heartedly smiled. She knew what it was like to be pregnant so young and she never dreamed that Madison would follow in her footsteps. Then she remembered something she really didn't have when she was pregnant and that was support. She would be Madison's support system.

"Dan, I'm taking Madison back to the house and I'll be back a little later." Deb didn't really wait for an answer. Any excuse to get out of that room was good enough for her.

"God it's been a while." Deb smiled as they drove to the Scott's mansion.

"Too long." Madison agreed, "I still can't get over that little Nate got married."

"It was a surprise to us all." Deb said with no enthusiasm.

"You don't like Haley?" Madison thought that Nathan and Haley were perfect for each other.

"No Haley's fine it's just the marriage part." Deb stared out the window, "They're not even seventeen yet and they think they know they're going to spend the rest of their lives together."

"You never know Aunt Deb." Madison wished she had a relationship like Nathan and Haley. A healthy one where it wasn't classified as 'robbing the cradle'.

"That's the scary thing about marriage honey," Deb sighed deeply, "You never know what's going to happen."

"But life is just like that," Madison explained her point better, "Full of twists and turns and surprises."

"But it's not always good twists and turns and surprises." Deb shook her head, "Look at me and Dan."

"People change Aunt Deb." Madison gave up riding the rest of the way with only small talk. Deb would never really understand life unless she chose to live it.

"Here we are." Deb said parking around the front loop, "Home sweet home."

"It's even bigger than I remember." Madison looked in awe. Never in her life had she lived in a house so big. Her last house was a two room shack. It was cozy but nothing to the degree of this mansion.

"It's a lot emptier too." Deb said sadly, "But Dan'll be coming home soon so it'll be a lot more colder too."

"Well now you have me to keep you sane." Madison smiled linking arms with her aunt. She felt the change in her aunt. Deb was a lot sadder and it showed in her face. She was just worn out to the point of no return.

"My savior." Deb squeezed Madison's hand. She missed having her family around her. Losing Nathan to her business trips and her husband to his stubborn asshole ways Madison was a worthy candidate to try to fill the void the men in her life had left her.

"I'm worthy of sainthood now." Madison followed her aunt through the foyer. Her footsteps echoed through the house, "You weren't kidding."

"I rarely kid my dear." Deb said with a touch of cynicism.

"Good thing to know." Madison gazed in awe of all that Nathan grew up with. She couldn't believe he just gave it all up to be on his own. He could've had anything he wanted. Was it just not enough for him? Couldn't he have stuck it out with his parents a few more years? How could he do this to Deb?

"Here's your room." Deb said as her cell phone began going off like crazy. Madison took the time to look around. Her one room was almost bigger than her last house. She could definitely get used to this.

"Madison honey, I need to get back to the hospital. Will you be alright here or would you like to come back with me?" Deb said walking back down the stairs with Madison behind her.

"I think I'll go explore." Madison walked outside and down the driveway.

"If you need me you know where to find me." Deb said as she sped away leaving Madison to her exploring.


Was it worth the wait? The more reviews I get the faster I'll be able to update!