"Okay, this stays strictly between us girls but boy am I glad the season is over", Brooke rolled her eyes.

"How bad could it have been?" Peyton asked.

"Don't get me wrong. I love Philadelphia. And I know basketball makes Luke happy but with everything that happened, he was so stressed out this year and besides, I get so bummed when he travels and I'm stuck home alone."

"But you're not bummed about the money, I bet", Peyton teased. "I shudder to see what your shoe closet looks like now. I mean, who has a closet in their house just for shoes?"

"It's practical, P. Sawyer", Brooke defended herself.

"Whatever you say, Mrs. Rockefeller."

"Speaking of which, would you ladies like to see the latest additions to my collection? I know you do", she squealed giddily as she ran to get her bags.

Peyton smiled and shook her head. It was full blown summer once again in Tree Hill and Lucas and Brooke were in town on an extended vacation. Nathan and Megan had joined them for the weekend at the beach house and the girls were enjoying a friendly, light hearted visit as the men had gone to the airport to pick up Karen.

"How in the world does she shop so much?" Megan asked. "Brooke is like the Energizer Bunny. Put her in a store and give her a credit card and she just keeps going and going."

Peyton giggled as Brooke returned lugging a huge almost crane like container.

"Brooke, what the hell is that?"

"Ta da! Look! Aren't these fabulous?"

The two blondes peered into the open box.

"Um, Brooke, they are really cute sandals but uh…you bought 12 pairs. 12 identical pairs", Megan observed.

"Not identical! Hel-lo! They're all different colors."

"Brooke, Brooke, Brooke", Peyton sighed.

"Oh leave me alone. You two are no fun and besides, they are Michael Kors."

The door opened and the Scott brothers returned sans Luke's mother.

"Did you guys already drop off Karen at her house?" Peyton asked.

"No", Lucas frowned. "She wasn't at the airport. She didn't get off the plane."

"That's odd, Broody", Brooke pecked his lips. "Maybe she missed her flight. Did you talk to Andy or did you try her cell?"

"Andy hasn't heard from her and her phone is going straight to voicemail."

"Well, I'm sure she'll call back soon."

There was a silence in the room. It was treading on thin ice. Although no one said it out loud, it was common knowledge among the present group that Karen was in New York visiting Haley, although the reasoning behind it still remained a secret. With Megan and Nathan around, Haley James was never a safe topic for conversation.

"Well until we hear back from Karen, I'm gonna go fire up the grill", Nathan announced. "It's a nice day for a barbecue and I'm starved. Burgers and steaks sound okay?"

"I'm in, man", Lucas sighed. "I'll help you. I'll throw some chicken on there, too. Peyton, why don't you call Jake and have him bring Jenny over?"

"Okay. I'll cut the watermelon and get the drinks and set up the table."

"And I'm all over on the salad", Megan added.

All eyes turned to Brooke.

"What?" she scoffed.

"And just what will you be doing, Miss Brooke while we are all slaving to put on this exquisite outdoor summer feast?" Peyton asked, an eyebrow raised and hands on her hips.

"I will be on the beach working on my tan, thank you very much", the sexy brunette winked as she grabbed a magazine and slipped off her shirt to reveal a skimpy bikini top and a fabulous body.

Typical Brooke, they all laughed as they went about making preparations. The brothers laughed and talked as they watched over the hamburgers, steaks and barbecue chicken. When all was done, they, joined by Jake and Jenny, headed out to the beach house's patio that overlooked the waves and began to devour the delicious spread before them.

The mood was fun and happy, two traits that had definitely been lacking among their recent get togethers. The women chatted as Brooke gave little Jenny a make up lesson, much to her parents' dismay. And the men messed around with a soccer ball as they frolicked in the sand. A few hours later, Lucas' cell phone rang.

"Broody!" Brooke called out.

"Just let it go to voice mail", he yelled. "I'm having too much fun right now with these jackholes."

"It's your mom, babe."

Lucas ran to where his phone was. He answered one ring before it went to voice mail.

"Hey, Mom. What's up…"

He walked back into the house for privacy as his friends continued what they were doing. Ten minutes later, a shell shocked Lucas returned. Everyone stopped what they were doing when they saw the look on his face.

"You okay, babe?"

"What's with Karen?" Peyton asked. "Is everything okay?"

Lucas took a deep breath.

"She um, she decided to stay on in New York for a while. Uh, Haley's baby is sick and she's helping out."

"Nothing too serious, I hope?" Peyton continued as Nathan and Megan just looked away.

"Actually it is pretty serious but uh…I didn't get any details."

No one quite knew what to say. They could only imagine what Nathan was thinking and the group couldn't even look at Megan in the eye. They hoped both Haley and her daughter would be okay. No one was looking forward to beginning the vigil again for another dying infant.

"Mom, Daddy, is Haley's baby going to be okay?" Jenny asked.

"We hope so, Jen", Jake sighed.

"I know she will."

"And how do you know that?" Peyton asked her daughter.

"Because Yoanna will watch over her", the little girl said quietly.

Everyone's eyes grew as big as saucers.

"Jenny!" Peyton exclaimed.

Nathan was stunned, as was everyone else. His wife, tears in her eyes, abruptly left the table.

"Excuse me", she whispered.

"Jen, that wasn't very nice to say. It hurt Aunt Meg's feelings", Jake told her.

"Why?" the child asked.

There was no time or way to explain to a 9 year old.

"We'll talk about it later", Peyton sighed. "Look, we're gonna get ready to go. Um, if you guys need anything…"

"We're fine", Brooke tried to smile. "Thanks for coming. It was uh…fun."

The Jagielski family left as Nathan disappeared into the house and Lucas and Brooke began clean up. They didn't speak and after a while Lucas excused himself.

"I'm gonna use the restroom", he kissed Brooke's forehead. "I'll be right back."

She nodded as he headed inside. He breathed a huge sigh of relief when he found Nathan alone in a bedroom.

"Hey dude."

"Nate, I have to talk to you."

"Lucas…"

"It's about Haley's baby."

"Look, man…"

"No, you look. I didn't want to get into it out there in front of everybody but the baby is sick. I mean, really sick."

"Luke, I don't want to hear this."

"You have to. You have to hear it. Jamarah…that's the baby's name, well Jamarah has aplastic anemia. It's a life threatening condition, Nathan. It means her blood system can't off infection and fatigue. She's only six weeks old."

"What do you want me to do, Lucas?"

"Jamarah's only hope is a bone marrow transplant. The best bet for a donor is a blood relative. Haley and her family are getting tested as we speak."

"Okay, so one of them will be a match right?"

"The odds are better than a stranger but still, it isn't too good."

"Luke…"

"You don't have to say it and I won't either but I don't think it's a ridiculous idea that I should fly up there and see if I'm a match."

Nathan stared at the floor.

"Whatever, man."

Lucas shook his head as he turned to leave.

"You know, your biggest fear was always turning into Dad but you're something far worse, Nathan", he shook his head. "Don't let this innocent little baby pay a big price for mistakes between you and Haley."

With that he left, leaving Nathan alone. But he wasn't completely alone. A few feet away in the next room, Megan stood with tear filled eyes and bated breath. The walls were thin at the beach house and she had heard everything…more than she meant to.