"Tell me you love me."

Peyton smiled.

"That depends. What did you do?"

"I am only the best business partner in the world", Jules happily announced. "Guess who, after weeks of trying, mind you, finally got through to the agency that represents Jimmy Eat World?"

"No shit?"

"No shit."

"Well, in that case, I do love you and you are the greatest business partner ever", Peyton hugged her. "Good deal. I have been trying for weeks, no, months now. Calls, messages, e-mails, faxes…I had yet to speak to an actual human. I was beginning to think it was hopeless."

"Well, it's hopeless no more", Jules grinned. "Looks like they can headline Tric next month."

"Kick ass, dude! That's the best news I've heard in a long time."

"Well, I've got even better news?"

"Better than this?" Peyton grinned with a raised eyebrow. "Keep this up and I'm gonna trade Jake in for you. What's up?"

"The firm that represents their band also represents Haley."

"Haley?"

"Yeah and I got an early press release. It hasn't been announced yet but she had her baby. A little girl. 6 pounds, 10 ounces. There's the official statement. They sent it to us because they know we're friends of hers."

Peyton sighed.

"Wow. That…that's awesome news."

"It is. Well, I have to run. I'm having lunch with my equally fabulous husband. So I'll catch you back here later?"

"Huh? Oh yeah. Sure. Later. Um, tell Keith I said hi."

Jules smiled, grabbing her bag as she was off leaving Peyton alone in the office. Peyton eyed the fax with the information of the birth of Haley's daughter. She stared at it, chewing nervously on a pencil until finally she could take it no more. She picked up the phone and began to dial.

"Hello?" answered the groggy voice.

"Hey you", Peyton smiled, upon hearing her friend. "What's up, Mom?"

"What?"

"I heard, you know, about the baby. Um, congratulations!"

"Thanks", Haley said flatly.

"Jamarah? I like that name. It's different. What made you come up with it?"

"Excuse me?"

"The baby's name…"

"No. Her name is Lillian."

"Yeah, her middle name. Jamarah Lillian James is what's on the press release."

"What?"

"Uh, that's what it says. Is everything okay?"

Haley sighed into the phone.

"Everything is fine. I just have to go and murder Chris and Taylor."

"Okaaayyy", Peyton laughed. "Well, I don't want to keep you from missing out on contributing to the early demise of those two. I just called to say congratulations…and to see how you're doing."

"I…I'm fine. Thanks."

"You sure? You don't sound fine."

"I am. I'm just tired."

"Okay. Well, I'll let you get back to your rest then."

"Thank you."

"Listen, I know we haven't talked in a while and stuff but…I, I think about you all the time, Haley. I miss you…and I love you. I just hope we stay in touch more. I really want to be apart of your life and little Jamarah's or Lillian or whatever you name her."

"I know", Haley sighed. "Thanks. I appreciate it. Um, I promise as soon as I feel better, we'll talk, okay?"

Peyton managed to smile.

"Okay. Definitely. Just give me a call."

Haley hung up the phone and cursed as she climbed out of bed. She walked into her living room, which was a mess. She tried to ignore the bassinet, bottles and baby clothes strewn about. Chris was on the couch rocking the baby as Taylor was eating up a TV dinner.

"What the hell are you two doing?" Haley demanded, hands on her hips.

Taylor could tell her little sister was angry.

"Making dinner and taking care of your daughter because somebody has to. Get enough beauty sleep, Princess?"

"Not funny, Tay. What is up with…her name? I thought I told you to put Lillian."

"We did", Taylor shrugged.

"Well how did my publicist get Jamarah out of Lillian?"

"Because that's what is on her birth certificate. Jamarah Lillian James. Kind of has a nice ring, doesn't it?"

"No, it doesn't! Dammitt, Taylor! And you too, Chris. Why don't you two ever listen? I told you to put Lillian. That was the name. Lillian! What's so hard about that?"

"It was kind of…boring", Taylor shrugged. "Jamarah sounded way cooler. And you know what the best part is? Her nickname is Jamma. Isn't that adorable? She already likes it when Chris plays the guitar for her. She sort of jams out. So the name totally fits. Pretty cool, huh?"

"No, Taylor. It's not cool."

Chris looked down at the baby.

"Well, if it was that big of a deal, we thought you would have said something when you saw the birth certificate?"

"What?"

"Chris is right, sis. You signed the birth certificate. Why didn't you say something then?"

Haley frowned. She hadn't even noticed. She had just scribbled her name down.

"Whatever. Look, I'm going back to bed."

"You want to take your daughter with you?"

Haley rolled her eyes.

"No, I…"

"Why not? What's the excuse today?"

"I'm tired, okay? God! And I'm not feeling well. Just…can we drop it already?"

"Fine", Taylor shook her head. "Whatever."

Haley turned to go back to her room but tripped over a stuffed animal.

"Damn! This place is a freaking pigsty! I could have broken my ankle."

"Sorry. Chris or I will clean it up later, you know, after we feed the baby and change her and bathe her and put her down for a nap and between all that find time for us to eat and get in a shower and some sleep. No problem. Just make a list of anything else you need us to do oh wicked sister."

"I can't deal with this right now…"

"Well, you better learn to deal with it. You're gonna have to sooner or later. She is your daughter, Haley. Jamma is your responsibility. Chris and I don't mind helping out but we're not her mother…and this baby needs her mother, Haley. She deserves a mother."

"I'm gonna go lie down", Haley practically whispered as Taylor just shook her head in disgust.

"Hey Haley?" Chris called out.

Haley stopped and turned around.

"What Chris?"

"Sorry if you don't like the name. Personally, I think Jamma and Jamarah are pretty cool but don't blame me. It was Taylor's final decision. Personally, I voted for Wrecker."

Haley answered by slamming her bedroom door causing both her sister and friend to giggle.

"I am exhausted", Taylor complained. "I mean, I love Jamma to death and I don't mind taking care of her but when is Haley going to snap out of this? How much longer, Keller?"

"I have no idea", he sighed. "I just know we have to be here until she does. Haley's attitude sucks right about now and so does she but we have to be here for her…and for little Jamma."

"You're right."

Taylor took a deep breath, then began to laugh.

"What's so funny over there? Taylor, this isn't exactly a laughing matter, you know?"

"I know. It's certainly not funny but I can't help but be struck by the irony of the situation."

"What irony?"

"Depression aside, Haley is being a total selfish, irresponsible, unreliable, bratty, lazy, mean spirited, ungrateful little bitch, right?"

"No objections here", Chris shrugged.

"That's the irony. See, usually that's my role. Haley is the good one and the responsible one and the reliable one. Now the roles are switched. Who knew that one day I would be the responsible one? Kind of crazy, huh?"

Chris looked and he could see what appeared to be a tear in her eye as she smiled sadly. For the few days that Jamarah had been on earth, it was Taylor who had unconditionally loved and cared for the baby's every need. He had seen a new side of her, an unselfish and sweet motherly side…and he liked it.

"No", he replied. "I don't think it's crazy at all."

She smiled at him. She knew what he was getting at.

"Thanks, Chris."

"No problem. Hey, why don't you get your nap in now? It's my shift anyway. We'll trade in a few hours. Sound cool."

She nodded as she looked at the gurgling, precious bundle in his arms.

"Yeah…sounds cool."