"Wow, the house looks great", Peyton acknowledged. "Megan really outdid herself."

"I know. This is such a great house anyway. I just feel bad with her going through all this trouble to throw me a going away party when she's pregnant and has a million and one other things going on. But she insisted and who am I to turn down a great party? Especially when it's in my honor", Brooke smiled.

It was all happening so fast. After returning from Philadelphia she had immediately put in notice at her job and had begun making plans to move in with Lucas. It would be sad to leave Tree Hill but the town would always be home and it was a drive or plane ride away. She was looking forward to a new beginning.

Her friends had taken the news well. They would certainly miss her but were glad to finally see her admit and give in to her feelings for Lucas. Karen, in particular, was thrilled. She wanted her son to settle down and she had always had a warm, soft spot for Brooke.

When they broke the news to Nathan and Megan, the younger Scott man had reacted with his usual disinterest but Megan had been thrilled. She immediately threw herself into making plans for a going away gala and refused to take no for an answer. So the regular group, along with a few extras, had descended on the Charlotte residence to bid Brooke Davis farewell.

"I can't believe you're leaving me", Peyton pouted. "You're like my best friend in the whole world. Who am I gonna go shopping with and who's gonna drag me to the gym on the days I'm too lazy to go and who's gonna hold my hand when I get my Brazilian waxes?"

"Uh…Jake, maybe?" Brooke laughed.

"It's not funny."

"I know, I know but if you don't stop then you're gonna make me cry and my make up looks too good tonight for me to mess it all up and have raccoon eyes so let's save the kissing and crying for later."

"Sounds like a plan but we better get back. Meg is about to serve dinner."

"Good. I'm starved."

"Me too. Listen, Brooke, have you um, noticed anything weird about Megan?"

"Like what?"

"I don't know. She's different. Not herself lately. I've been out of the whole Nathan/Haley/Megan drama loop so I wasn't sure if everything got resolved. I haven't talked to either of them since the wedding."

"Yeah. Um, everything is okay for now…I guess."

"You sure?"

"Yes…wait, a minute. I don't know. Look, from what Luke and I know, Nathan has been acting really weird lately. More weird than usual. Anyway, I asked Meg if everything is okay earlier this morning she put on her apron and June Cleaver smile and began preparing tonight's dinner, by hand, thank you very much. Anyway, I went to the mall to do some last minute shopping and lo and behold, I see Boytoy who was supposed to be at practice but whatever. So I run out of the store to say hi but I didn't want to pull a Winona so I had to get back in line and pay for my lingerie, which I scored some pretty hot bras. And that one little crotchless number? It's gonna knock Broody's socks off."

"Brooke! Get on with the story. You know, Nathan. We can discuss your bras and panties later."

"Fine but where was I? Oh yeah. So I'm looking in all the stores and I finally track him down in the music store. I'm thinking he's going to buy some more rap CD's for those obnoxious speakers of his that are so loud, practically every window in Tree Hill rattles when he comes to town. But I see him in the Adult Contemporary section. And guess what he was buying? I'll tell you. The Haley James Collection. That's right. All of Tutor Wife's records."

Peyton gasped.

"Are you kidding me? Oh God. What did he say when he saw you?"

"Like I stuck around. I made like Michael Jackson and beat it. There was no way I was going to let him see me. Especially since he's been all moody lately. I seriously vote him next in line to go postal."

"Speaking of Nathan, where the hell is he? That's one face I haven't seen all day."

"Who has? And Luke and I have been in town since yesterday and I can tell you in minutes the times we've seen him."

"Poor Meg."

"Tell me about. It must be awful but every time you see her, she has that tight, fake pageant smile plastered on her face. You'd think she was married to Dick Van Dyke or something."

"Dinner! Time to eat, everyone", Megan yelled sweetly, as if on cue.

Peyton and Brooke exchanged looks and filed out to the dining area where everyone was assembled. Megan, whose bump was now showing, looked beautiful in a dark green maternity pantsuit that was covered by an apron. Hair and make up was perfect like usual and her smile was broad, almost cartoon like. She moved down the large table stopping at each seat to serve her guests much like a flight attendant.

"Beef or chicken?" she smiled. "Scalloped, baked or mashed potatoes? Butter with your roll?"

"What in the hell?" Brooke muttered into Luke's ear.

Once everyone was served, she insisted they all hold hands and join in saying grace. Then she took her place.

"Dinner is delicious", Karen commented. "And the place settings are gorgeous."

"Thank you. I was dying to take lessons from one of the chefs in town and my Nathan set it all up for my birthday."

"Well, it's certainly paying off", Keith grinned as he gobbled his food. "And where is that nephew of mine? Practice running late?"

Dan shot Keith a glare.

"Jules, can you instruct that drunken glut you call a husband to stop talking with his mouth full?"

Megan smiled and ignored her father in law.

"He had some things to take care of. Everything is going so well this season. As you all may have seen, he scored a triple double the other night. And he's had several press conferences and endorsement offers and he's even participating in a program reading to underprivileged children."

Brooke wrinkled her nose. To hear Megan tell it, Nathan was the patron saint of North Carolina but all she'd seen in 36 hours, what little she had seen was an aloof, unhappy drunk.

"Well, that's good", Jules smiled. "Glad to hear everything is going well. You two must be so excited about the baby. We were all thrilled to hear about your pregnancy."

"We're so excited. Nathan and I were just talking about painting the nursery but we want to wait and know the sex of the baby first."

"I'm glad he's taking such a hands on approach."

"Oh he's going to be a terrific dad", Megan plugged.

"He learned from the best", Dan added smugly.

There were giggles stifled as Karen began to choke on her food.

"Well, we can't wait to see him", Jules sighed.

Like by magic, he appeared. He was scruffy and still in his practice gear. Everyone spoke and a smiling Megan and Deb looked particularly happy to see him.

"What's up?" he muttered to everyone, not even looking up as he bounced a dirty basketball on the freshly scrubbed floors.

Dan just shook his head as his son headed for the stairs.

"Nathan, sweetie, don't you remember tonight is Brooke's going away?" his wife reminded him. "Why don't you come say good bye?"

"Bye", he said as he walked.

"Nathan…"

"What? Meg, we'll see her again."

"I know but come sit and have dinner. I made it myself and I made a lot of your favorites as well."

"Alright", he shrugged, plopping down. "Can you make me a plate?"

"Of course", she said, already up.

"Is something the matter with your arms and legs?" Brooke said loudly in between bites of food as Lucas gently kicked her underneath the table.

Megan dutifully prepared a plate for her husband and filled his glass with water. He ignored it and reached for an ice cold beer. He ate and didn't bother to join in the conversation. A half hour and two beers later, he had sunken into his chair resembling more of a pouting schoolboy than a star professional athlete. With a somber look on his face, he had used his utensils to build a "mountain" out of his uneaten mashed potatoes.

His odd behavior and excessive drinking did not go unnoticed by their guests. Almost everyone seemed to stare on except Megan who happily chatted as if nothing were out of the ordinary. Dan was seething and squirming in his seat.

"Son, please!" he finally admonished.

"What?" Nathan asked, offended. "It's my plate, my food."

"Well, stop making a mess out of it."

"What are you going to do, ground me?"

"Actually, I'd like to knock you out, son."

"Well, that's the beauty about this being my house, Dad. You don't get to ground me or knock me out but I can tell you to leave. So get to stepping, Danny Boy."

"What?"

"Nathan, honey, please. Why don't you go upstairs? I'll be up in a minute and start your shower. I'll bring you another beer."

"Whatever", he got up still bouncing his ball.

There was a big silence. No one quite knew what to say.

"Forgive him, he's a little cranky. I'll be right back…"

"Megan, what are you doing?" Brooke asked.

"I'll be right back. I just want to check on my husband and get him settled."

Everyone looked at their plates or the floor as Brooke laughed out loud.

"Are you joking? We must be on Candid Camera right now or either the aliens came down and kidnapped your brain. What are you doing?"

"Excuse me?"

"First of all, you're pregnant. As grateful as I am, you didn't have to throw this party for me, you didn't have to make everything from scratch and now you sure as hell shouldn't be doing everything for Nathan. He should be starting your shower. And another beer? I think we're all in agreement that's the last thing he needs."

"Oh shit", Peyton muttered softly.

"Well, not that it's any of your business, Brooke but I find it quite amusing that you're in a position to give relationship advice considering a few weeks ago you were still pining over Lucas and the fact that he dumped you for Peyton seven years ago."

"Whoa, leave me out of this, dude", Peyton threw her hands up.

"You dated Uncle Luke, Mom?" Jenny asked, confused.

"Eat your peas, Jen", Jake instructed.

Brooke's mouth fell open.

"Oh. No. You. Didn't."

"Oh yes, I did and what are you going to do about it? Nothing. Know why? Because I was nice enough to invite you into my home and do this for you and you repay me with your snooty, snobby, holier than thou bitchiness…"

"No, Meg, I'm not being a bitch, I'm being honest."

"Well, I'd like to be honest with you, too, Brooke. I no longer want you in my house. Please leave."

"Fine with me", Brooke threw down her dinner napkin and grabbed Lucas' hand. "Come on, Broody. We're out of here."

"Um, maybe we all should go", Karen suggested. "It's late and it's been a long day. Meg, I'm sure you must be tired and…"

"Don't you patronize me."

The shy but friendly blonde had turned into a mad woman.

"Sweetie, I'm not patronizing you. I just…"

"Just what? Feel sorry for me? Oh poor Meg is cracking up. I guess I can't handle the pressure like Haley did."

Everyone gasped at the mention of the name.

"Meg…"

"What? You guys all love her and Haley is the greatest thing since sliced bread and everybody in this room wanted Nathan to be with her.

"Not me", Dan smirked.

"Of course not. Sometimes I think you're my only ally. Well, I've had enough. I am doing the best I can and if you all are going to stand around criticizing me then you can all go and fuck yourselves", she yelled as she burst into tears and ran off.

Everyone just sat there dumbfounded. Their suspicions and fears had been confirmed but it turned out to be worse than they all thought. Something was seriously wrong in the Scott household and it was obvious the newest Mrs. Scott was at the end of her rope.