"Mom, can we go to the park?"

Peyton sighed. There was no time for the park. She felt horrible. She had warned Jake that they better find a nice camp to occupy their daughter's time but it was a task he had put off and put off until it was too late. Summer had arrived and school was out for break, leaving a certain only child bored, restless and strapped for company.

"Kiddo, I don't think we'll make it today. I'm sorry."

"Why?" Jenny whined.

"I am swamped with work and…"

"You're always working", the little girl complained.

Peyton felt horrible. Jenny was right but starting a new business hadn't been easy. It was time consuming and a little overwhelming at times. Peyton had put all her blood, sweat, tears and not to mention money into Club Tric and although relatively successful, she and Jules were on their toes to ensure it remained that way.

Peyton was proud of her new venture but it had come at a cost. Family. Jake and Jenny Jagielski were everything to her. Although she hadn't given birth to the girl, she was the most stable female figure in her life considering the biological mother, Nikki, who harbored the reliability and responsibility of a cockroach, made only sporadic appearances in the child's life. Peyton had always prided herself at being a hands on "mom". She baked cookies and brought covered dishes for potlucks. She was there at every ballet recital and soccer game and had somehow become a card carrying member of the PTA. Jenny's needs had always come first and she and Jake had always managed to be there, even through the hectic schedules of college. Establishing careers had taken its toll and Jenny, used to having 100 percent access to her parents, was growing weary.

"Toots, I have a lot of stuff today that just can't wait but I promise we'll hit the park tomorrow, okay? What about Marissa? Want to see if she can come over today?"

"She's on vacation with her grandparents", the girl sighed.

"Amber?"

"Amber's grounded."

"Tiffany?"

"Tiff went to camp."

Peyton sighed as she made the turn onto their street. Pulling into the driveway of their townhouse sat a taxi cab. The door opened and Peyton's heart dropped.

"Mom, who is that?"

"Long time, no see, huh?"

"Haley…"

The women looked at each other, the element of surprise hindering any action at first. Then Peyton walked slowly and a pair of old friends embraced warmly.

"It's so good to see you."

"Haley, oh my God! What are you doing here?"

"I'm in town", she shrugged. "I have no idea for how long but there's some stuff I have to take care of. Sorry I didn't call first but I really wanted to see you."

"Well, come in. We can sit, have coffee, talk…"

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. Come on", the blonde prodded.

For the first time Haley noticed the brown haired child with the button nose.

"Hey", she kneeled down. "You must be Jenny."

"Hi", the child said shyly.

"Wow. I haven't seen you since you were a baby. You got big! And you're so pretty. Gosh, you probably don't remember me, huh?"

"You're Haley", Jenny answered. "I don't remember but Mom and Dad have pictures of you back when you guys were in school and I have your CDs."

"You do?"

"Yeah. I like your music. Can you autograph them for me?"

"Jenny!" Peyton admonished.

"It's okay. Of course I'll sign an autograph for you, sweetie."

The three entered the townhouse and Haley took a seat at the island in the kitchen where Jenny kept her entertained nonstop as Peyton put on a pot of coffee.

"Jen, look honey, I know you have a ton of stuff you want to tell Haley but I need to talk to her for a minute. Why don't you go upstairs to your room and we'll be up in a bit…"

"Aw, Mom! Do I have to? It's boring up there and…"

"Jenny, what did I say?"

"It's okay, sweetie", Haley smiled. "Listen to your mother and we'll come up when we're done and listen to music and I'll sign your CD. How does that sound?"

"Fine", the child stalked off, pouty and still not totally convinced.

"Sorry about that. It's summer and not many of her friends are around and we didn't sign up for camp in time and with Jake and me working, it's a mess. She gets bored."

"I understand. It's fine", Haley sipped her coffee. "I just can't believe how big she got. I was expecting to see that same little baby."

"Baby no more", Peyton shrugged. "They grow up fast."

"Well, she's beautiful."

"Thanks but uh…I find it hard to believe after all these years you show up in Tree Hill out of the blue just to visit with Jenny and me. What's up? What brings you back, Haley?"

Haley sighed before answering.

"You mean you don't know? I thought everyone would know by now that it turns out I'm still Mrs. Nathan Scott."

"Oh yeah. That", Peyton shifted uncomfortably. "Jake and I did hear about that. Um, how do you feel about that?"

Haley shrugged.

"I don't know. Honestly, I don't. I am shocked. I mean, you and I have talked about my decision to go on tour and at times I felt like you and Karen were the only ones who remotely understood. I never saw choosing the music as rejecting Nathan but I guess in his mind it was different. I know I hurt him but he hurt me too. It's like my life with him and my friendship with you guys and everything that ever happened in Tree Hill is just some memory. I gained a new life but I lost an old one too and that hurts. Peyton, I accepted a long time ago that Nate and I were done. I thought it was over. I had to deal with that and move on and I did the best I knew how, but to find out all these years later that I'm still his wife and always have been…it's wild. Surreal. I mean, how would you feel?"

Peyton shook her head.

"I can't imagine what you're going through."

"It's hard. I want to handle it. I want it quick and painless for everyone but I'm not exactly sure how to fix it."

"Have you seen Nathan yet?"

"No."

"Does he even know you're in town, Haley?"

"No", she took a deep breath.

"Haley! He's going to find out. You know how news travels around here."

"I know."

"You plan to see him, right?"

"That's the whole point. My lawyer flies in tomorrow night. I guess we'll arrange a meeting and try to figure stuff out."

"Are you scared? I mean, what's that going to be like facing him for the first time after all these years?"

"I'm terrified, Pey. I have no idea what's gonna happen. But I do know how Nathan handles things when he's pissed off or hurt. And I do know Papa Dan and Mama Deb. That combination could be lethal. I'm just trying to brace myself because I know it won't be pretty. You know, I've spent so much time trying to figure out how Nathan feels when I just realized I don't even know how I feel about the situation. I have no idea how I'm going to react seeing him again after so long."

"Haley, I don't know what to say. I'm sorry, you know? I just hope it all works out."

"Me too."

"When you left with Chris for the tour, I defended your decision. I tried to understand but it was hard seeing Nathan hurting so bad. Especially after you admitted to me that Chris had kissed you and everything. I didn't know what to think. And when you didn't come back…well, that hurt me. We grew pretty close over junior year. I was happy for your success because you're so talented and you deserve it but at the same time, it's like you turned your back on Tree Hill and everything associated with it. I think a lot of people felt that way."

"That's not the case, Peyton. I regret the way I did some things but everything happened so fast and I was just a kid…it was hard. I'm sorry."

Peyton managed a smile.

"It's done with now. That was a long time ago. We can't change the past."

"I guess not."

"But we can change the future. Maybe I didn't understand your decision but I always respected it. I'm not going to judge you and I'll always be here for you. I know these next few days are going to be tough."

"Thanks", Haley hugged her.

The second embrace was warmer and more genuine. It felt good. It brought back a lot of memories. Before they knew it, both women were crying softly.

"See what you did, dude?" Peyton laughed, dabbing at her eyes and passing Haley a tissue. "You're getting me all emotional all over here."

"I missed you."

"Yeah? I missed you, too."

"What do you say we get ourselves together and go up and see Jenny? After that, we'll talk and play catch up."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Awesome. I have some time. I just need to drop my stuff off at the hotel…"

"Hotel."

"Yeah. I got something on the outskirts of town. Quiet, low key…"

"Why don't you stay here with us?"

"Pey, I couldn't. I mean, thanks but…"

"But what?"

"I don't want to impose."

"It's no imposition. We have the room."

"Jake…"

"Jake won't mind and Jenny would love it."

"Look, I know when Nathan and I split, a lot of it came down to taking sides. I looked like the bad guy and I wasn't even around to defend the fact that I wasn't. All you guys saw was Nathan falling apart and me on TV with Chris and Michelle Branch. I know you were all there for him and I'm glad but now that I'm back…Nathan is not going to be happy. When this is all over, I go back to New York but you're the ones left to deal with the Scott wrath. That's not fair. I don't want to put anyone in the middle."

"You won't. We want you here. That's why I offered. Nathan is my friend and I love him, cockiness, moodiness and all the other flaws. I also love Megan, too. She is a great person. But that doesn't mean I can't be your friend, either. That wouldn't be right."

"But Nathan…"

"Nathan will just have to deal with it. Now I'm not taking no for an answer. We'll go up, see Jenny and then get you situated here, okay?"

Haley smiled.

"Do I have a choice?"

Peyton thought for a minute.

"No. Non negotiable deal, dude."

"Thank you", Haley took her hand.

"Welcome back, James. Welcome back."