The cool tunes of Modest Mouse blared in the background as Peyton stared up at the ceiling. Lying flat on her back on her bed, she sighed. Glancing over at the corner were the few reminders left of a once happy existence. The tie Jake had worn to Keith and Jules' almost wedding. It was the same tie she had hastily pulled off of him along with the rest of his clothing that afternoon they had finally succumbed to passion and made love for the first time.

She smiled at the memory. It had been so beautiful…so right…so perfect. Peyton closed her eyes and she could still smell him, still see him…still feel him. But in the blink of an eye it was all gone and the only tangible items left were the baby bed and carrier left behind from Jenny. She sighed. Sometimes the silence and the loneliness were too much.

"Knock, knock", said the soft voice.

Peyton lifted her head.

"Haley…"

"I tried the bell but no one answered. The front door was unlocked…"

"It always is."

Haley smiled.

"I know. I just needed to see you. You got a minute?"

"For you? Sure", the blonde said, sitting up and patting the space next to her.

Haley took a seat.

"Nathan's awake", she said calmly.

Peyton's eyes grew as large as saucers.

"He is? Oh thank God! Haley, that's great!"

"Yeah…"

"Did you guys get a chance to talk?"

"Yeah we did."

"How'd it go?"

Haley ran her fingers through her hair.

"Let's just say he was less than pleased to see me."

"I'm sorry…"

"It's okay. I was kind of expecting it. Anyway, I finally got the chance to talk to him."

"And? You guys okay?"

"I don't know. He told me to go on tour. He says I should follow my dreams, that we both should. I guess after he heals, he's going to try to go to High Fliers. But he says it's something we both have to do or else we'll just regret it later and end up resenting each other."

"You think that's true?"

Haley shrugged.

"I don't know. I'd like to think that isn't true. I'd like to think our love is more important than any dream but I'd be a hypocrite if I said that. I was the one who left for a dream in the first place."

"So what now?"

"Pey, I know what happens."

"What do you mean?"

"Remember how you said that if I stay on tour everything that happened in my dream will really happen?"

"Yeah."

"Well I know what happens if I stay."

"How?" Peyton asked, more curious than ever.

"Nathan had a dream or an out of body experience or whatever the hell it is. He told me about it."

"What did he say happens?"

"We're together. In the future we have this totally normal life here in Tree Hill with two kids and a third on the way and the house and the dog."

"So you mean, no matter what, you and Nathan will be together no matter what?"

"Yes. If I stay now, our life goes on just like in his dream. If I go, everything will happen as it did in my dream."

"You'll always be together. Nathan and Haley were always meant to be in the end. The question is, how do you get there? Do you stay now, both of you give up your dreams and be together and normal? Or do you go back to the tour, go through all the angst and years of separation and then end up together?"

"Regardless, we will always have each other and we'll always have Lillian."

"Wow."

"There's more though…about his dream. You know how in mine you and Jake were together and happy here with Jenny? You co own the club with Jules and she and Keith are together, Luke is in the NBA and he and Brooke get engaged and Karen has the café and Andy and Deb has Dan, unfortunately and the café and all that…"

"Yeah…"

"It changes, Peyton. If I leave, the dynamics all change. Jules never comes back. Dan runs Andy out of the country. Keith and Karen end up together. Dan and Deb get divorced."

"You were right. Change one thing, change everything. The choice you makes affects everyone's lives around you."

"There's more…"

"What?"

"Peyton, if I stay…Jake and Jenny don't come back."

Peyton swallowed hard.

"Oh."

"Brooke goes to California and stays. You and Lucas find comfort in each other and you end up married."

"Oh my God…"

"I know."

Peyton cleared her throat.

"What did Nathan have to say about your dream?"

Haley looked away.

"He, he doesn't know. I…I didn't tell him."

Peyton nodded.

"So what are you going to do?"

"Honestly? I don't know. If I go, the good thing is, I still get Nathan and Lillian. We both get to experience our dreams. Those are the pros."

"And the cons?"

"Being apart for seven years. The tsunami. The drama and heartache we'll go through to find happiness."

"The pros of staying?"

Haley smiled.

"Being with Nathan. Having a family. Normalcy, comfort…security, happiness."

"Cons?"

Haley sighed.

"I know we'd be happy but…it's weird. In a way, it's almost like settling. I never have the music and Nathan never has the basketball. We both know how much he loves basketball. Karen and Keith lose Andy and Jules so they kind of settle with each other. And the same thing with you and Lucas. In a way, Nathan and I ssettle too. And who's to say what kind of person he will be? Will resentment and regret make him another Dan? Or will he become just a shell?"

"I don't know, Haley."

"I don't either. I hate to say it but I think Megan made him a better person. I think experiencing everything he did in a roundabout way was good for Nathan. Peyton, I have no idea what to do."

"The choice is yours. It's a huge decision but it's all you. As insane as it is, it makes sense right now. Remember 'turkey or ham' from the hospital with Deb and in the diner? You had no other choice. Not tuna or chicken salad or peanut butter and jelly. It was turkey or ham, either or. There's no medium, Haley. Either you stay, sacrifice and possibly settle or you go for it, live your dreams, then go through hell and back to be together again. You can't have both and you can't make your own destiny. Two destinies have been laid out and you have to choose one. It's almost a catch 22."

"Fate is what we make…just like Megan said."

"This is unbelievable."

"You have no idea…"

"Just think about it, okay? Promise me that, Haley. And look…I know you care about me and Lucas and everyone else but you can't base your decision on us. This has to be for you and Nathan…even more for you."

"I know but I want you to be happy. I will always have my true love but it's up to me whether a bunch of other people I love get cheated out of theirs."

"Don't think of it that way."

Haley sighed, nodding and looking away.

"I need to think about everything. I guess I need to be alone…"

"Okay."

"I'm gonna get going but thanks for everything, Peyton. I mean it. I appreciate you understanding and just being there for me."

"Anytime, kid", the curly one winked.

Haley reached out and the two friends embraced.

"No matter what I choose, I love you, Peyton…and I'll always be here for you. Just please remember that."

Peyton nodded and managed to smile as Haley stood and headed towards the door. She gave a final wave and then she was gone. Peyton watched as her friend left, holding the power of a choice that could and would dictate everybody's life forever.

"I know", she took a deep breath. "Haley, I know."