Author's Note: Sophie, you're onto me, lol. I've been found out. Yes, it's true I do have dinner with Megan, Nathan and Haley everynight! LOL...

Tried to fix broken links to this story and others. Sorry for the inconvenience. Let me know if you guys are still having trouble...

Jake groaned in his sleep as the loud and irritatingly persistent banging just wouldn't stop. He opened one eye slowly, then the other just in time for Peyton to stir in his arms. The noise continued making it painfully obvious that it wasn't a dream.

"What in the hell?" his voice grumbled, still heavy with sleep. "It's like two in the morning. Who could be at the door at this hour."

He sat up and swung his feet over the edge of the bed not bothering to reach for a robe or tee shirt to cover his nicely chiseled abs and chest. Peyton followed suit and followed him out of their bedroom.

"Mom? Daddy?" Jenny called out sleepily from her bed.

"It's okay, pumpkin", he said. "Go back to sleep."

The two headed downstairs and towards the front door and the annoying stranger on the other side of it. Jake went to turn the lock but Peyton grabbed his wrist.

"Don't", she whispered.

"What?"

"Jake! It…what if it's a robber?"

Jake rolled his eyes.

"Babe, burglars don't knock, okay?"

She nodded uneasily but grabbed a nearby umbrella just in case. Jake couldn't help but laughed as he opened the door.

"It's about freaking time", an exasperated Brooke pushed her way through. "It's cold outside, you know? I could have caught pneumonia."

Jake wrinkled his nose.

"Aren't you supposed to be in Philadelphia with Lucas?"

"I guess Philly turned out to be no my kind of town and please do not mention 'he who cannot be named', Jagielski."

Jake nodded and turned to Peyton.

"I think I'll let you handle this one."

"Thanks", she half smiled, kissing him before he headed back upstairs.

"P. Sawyer, I need to move in", Brooke announced, opening the fridge and helping herself to a can of Diet Coke.

"Excuse me? Brooke, you show up unexpectedly and alone in the middle of the night…what's going on? And how about a 'hello, how are you?' first?"

"Fine", the brunette rolled her eyes. "Hello. How are you? I need to move in."

Peyton couldn't help but laugh.

"Okay, let's sit down and try to talk this one out first. Can I go out on a limb and guess you and Lucas…"

"Hey!"

"Sorry. I meant, 'he who cannot be named', had a fight?"

"No. Actually we didn't. When two people fight it's usually because of a drastic difference of opinion, right?"

"Right."

"Well, Lucas had no opinion, or at least not one that made any sense", Brooke pouted.

"Talk to me. What happened?"

"Haley James is pregnant."

"Yeah…I heard that. It's like all over the news. I left a message but she hasn't returned my calls."

"Consider yourself lucky. Believe me, the best thing you can do is steer as far clear from that drama as possible."

"I know but I'm just concerned."

"So was Lu…you know who. That's why he went tramping up there like the patron do gooder saint of Tree Hill that he's always been."

"Wait. Lucas went to see Haley? Weren't you guys supposed to be in Florida right now?"

"Damn right. My 48 hours of sun, fun, fashion, marathon sex and rubbing elbows with Jenny from the block and Marc, didn't happen. Know why? Because my so called boyfriend ran off to New York to console the artist formerly known as Tutor Wife and ditched me."

"Sorry."

"Not as sorry as I am. What a waste of a Brazilian wax."

"Brooke, I'm sure he's just worried."

"Well, she's a big girl and as naïve and innocent as she'd like for people to think she is, I'm sure the pop princess knows where babies come from so I have no pity for her. It's none of our business. That is strictly between her and Chris Keller."

"Chris?"

"Yeah or her baby's daddy, if you want to get technical."

"About that…I'm not so sure."

"What?"

"I just don't think Chris is the father of Haley's baby."

Brooke threw her hands in the air.

"You, too? I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone? Are you guys on drugs?"

"Haley told me she never slept with him."

"And you believe her?"

"Yes."

"Whatever", Brooke rolled her eyes.

"In all fairness, I'm like one of the only people who has kept in touch with her over all these years. We talked and in all that time she said nothing romantic ever went on with him. I do believe her. I don't want to be nosy but I do wish I knew what was going on. I just hope whoever the father is, he's a good guy and that he's going to be there for both Haley and the baby."

"Well according to Lucas, the baby's father is a certain basketball playing brother who has his hands full right now with his pregnant wife."

"Nathan?" Peyton practically yelled.

"Who else?"

"No. No way. That's impossible. I mean, Nathan has Meg and besides, when would he and Haley have had the time to make a baby? He hates her anyway."

"Let's just keep this between you and me, Pey, but let's say Mother Nature wasn't the only thing rocking the little mud shack in the Dominican."

Peyton's mouth fell open.

"No way!"

"Yes way!"

"Oh my God! That explains everything, why she crashed the wedding and…"

"Yep."

"Oh man. Poor Haley. Poor Nathan. Poor Megan."

"Poor me. I'm the one that missed J. Lo."

"Brooke!"

"Sorry."

"Who all knows?"

"Not that many people and certainly not Megan so let's keep this between us."

"Has anyone talked to Nathan?"

"No that I know of. I haven't."

"He should know. I just wonder what he's going to do."

"If he's smart? Nothing. And don't be so quick to rule out Chris."

"This is gonna sound weird but I know."

"Know what?"

"I know Nathan is the father. It doesn't make any sense but at the same time, it makes all the sense in the world. It's like the Dan, Karen and Deb thing happening all ovr again. The divorce, the tsunami, Haley at the reception…it's all coming together."

"Okay. Let's say you and Broody are right. If it is Nathan's baby, then why the hell is Haley letting them say it's Chris'?"

"I don't know", Peyton shrugged. "It's probably easier. Maybe it hurts too much. Maybe it's too complicated. God, she's probably so scared right now."

"How convenient."

"Dude, have a heart. Why do you hate her so much?"

"I don't hate her. I just don't feel sorry for her like you and Lucas. She made her own bed now she has to lie in it, that's all. That's just what I think."

"Well you know what I think? I think a long time ago she made a very difficult decision that was best for her but along the way, she made some mistakes that cost her dearly and she's been paying for them ever since. I think she is a wonderful, caring human being with real feelings and faults and she's confused and scared out of her mind right about now and she needs all the help and support she can get. And everything I just said, well I think that applies to Nathan, too. I understand that and Lucas does too."

"It was her mistake, Peyton. Haley left."

"Maybe so but don't repeat her mistake."

"What?"

"Lucas did what he had to do because he thought it was the right thing. He loves his friend and his brother and it hurts him to see them hurting. Maybe he went about it the wrong way leaving you behind but that doesn't mean he doesn't love you. Look, relationships can be tough. I know that. Jake and I work at it everyday to keep everything going. It takes more than love. Sometimes you have to throw in understanding, commitment, trust, loyalty and a whole lot of sacrifice. But in the end it's worth it. I know how much you and Lucas love each other. You guys are finally happy and together. If you're going to spend the rest of your life blaming and resenting Haley, take a look in the mirror right now. You truly love Lucas? Don't do what Haley did then. Go home, Brooke. Work it out."