Peyton nervously paced the perimeter of the house like a caged animal. She had spent the previous night cleaning the already spotless house spic and span. And she had been working on decorating the bedroom for the past week. Everything had to be perfect.

"Brooke, what the hell are you doing?" she snapped, hitting her best friend on the hand.

"Hey!" Brooke complained. "That totally hurt. I was just having a cheese ball."

Peyton moved the tray of snacks.

"Haley made those cheese balls and the finger sandwiches and the meatballs and the salad and the dessert trays for later.

"Okay, okay. Sorry. Pey, you need to calm down."

"Calm down? How can I calm down? Why would you even say that to me?"

"Peyton…"

"No, Brooke. Do you have any idea how important this day is?"

"Of course I do", Brooke answered softly. "It means a lot to you and I know it means a lot to Jake. I know how much Jenny meant to you, how much she still means to you. And I also know how hurt you were when she was taken away. I was there then and guess what? I still am. I'll always be here for you, Peyton. I will always be your best friend. I understand that right now you're nervous and scared and excited all at the same time. Who can blame you? You just want everything to be perfect. Well, it is. The food and the house and the room…it's all great but what matters the most is Jenny is coming home."

Peyton relaxed a little and smiled as she hugged her friend. Sure Brooke could be flighty and shallow and a tad superficial. Maybe she often spoke before she thought the words through and spending money obscene amounts of money on clothes and shoes for herself ranked slightly higher than the important social issues. But when it boiled down to it, she did and always had a heart of gold. She was a real friend through and through and she could always make Peyton feel better, no matter what.

"Thanks, Brooke, I needed that", she said as her husband entered the room.

Jake gave her a nervous smile as his lips briefly brushed hers.

"You look nice", he said.

"Thanks."

"You okay?"

"I'm fine", she tried to smile. "I just hope Jenny likes her new room."

Peyton had spent days pondering on how to decorate. She had even resorted to the Internet and quizzing her classes on what 12 years olds were currently into. Their information about Jenny's likes and dislikes as well as most aspects of life had been limited to almost zero information. So Peyton was winging it. She didn't want to be too girly or too tomboyish. Yet she didn't want it too plain or too over the top. So she had gone with a dark blue and red coloring scheme with matching bedding. The shelves were lined with books and a doll collection. A big screen TV, VCR, DVD and custom CD player as well as PlayStation 2 and a host of games had been provided as entertainment.

"The room is great. Who wouldn't love that room? Hell, babe, I'm tempted to move into that room", he laughed. "You did a good job. I'm sure Jenny will love it, okay?"

"Are you sure?"

"Positive", he winked.

"It's after three, Jake", Peyton checked her watch. "I thought Nikki said they would be here at three."

"They're just running a little late."

"How do you know? What if something happened? Or what if Nikki is doing this on purpose? What if…"

"Relax, babe", he smoothed her bare shoulders. "They'll be here."

Peyton nodded nervously as her husband guided her hand towards the living room.

"Nathan! What are you doing? I had those pillows arranged a certain way", Peyton fumed as she marched over to the sofa.

"Sorry", he stood, throwing his hands up. "Didn't know it was such a big deal where I sat. Damn. You and Haley switch personalities for the day or something?"

"I heard that", Haley admonished him from the other side of the room.

"We should definitely hang the sign up now", Peyton rushed over.

She had decided to make a large banner in honor of the celebration. She had taken it to school and let each of their students add a personal touch. Some had made small but elaborate drawings. Some had simply "tagged" their names. But all in all it was a magnificent and truly original piece of work. In the middle Peyton had colorfully and carefully scripted the words WELCOME HOME, JENNY!

The three women worked to center the banner.

"Down", Peyton instructed. "Haley, it's a little crooked on your side…over…Brooke, more to your left…your other left, Brooke."

Before they could finish, they heard a car pull up outside. Peyton gasped and dropped the banner, leaving an equally nervous and excited Haley and Brooke to finish hanging it up. Peyton's hands shook as she lingered in the background watching Lucas and Nathan stand while Jake hurried to the door. Their hearts were in their throats as he opened it.

"Is it them?" Lucas asked.

Jake peered outside.

"I don't see the rental car Nikki had. I just see a cab."

"Is anyone getting out of it?"

"No…wait a second", Jake's voice broke with clear emotion as he smiled broadly. "Wait. I think it's her! I think it's Jenny."

A child climbed out of the cab with two bags in hand. She paid the driver and dragged up the steps. Jake opened the door and she walked into the house being analyzed curiously by six onlookers. She was older, almost 12. Long and straight blonde hair fell down to the middle of her back. She was tan, tall and thin with large hazel eyes, wearing white Skechers, jeans and a blue tee shirt that simply said The Beatles. She was beautiful.

"Jenny", her father mouthed in awe.

"Are you Jake?" she asked.

He nodded.

"Yes."

"Good", she said. "Can you take these bags? They're heavy?"

Jake readily took them.

"Where's your mom?"

"Probably half way to Kansas City by now or wherever the hell she's going."

The four Scotts exchanged glances.

"Did she leave a note or say anything…"

"Let me check", Jenny said in a sarcastic voice, dramatically looking at her shirt, her jeans and the bottom of her shoes. "Nope. No note. Guess Mommie Dearest forgot but let's see…clothe me, feed me and periodically let me out for water and the occasional bathroom break."

Jake, still in a state of shock, ignored the attitude.

"Hey, Jenny. Remember us?" Lucas asked. "We're your Uncle Luke and Uncle Nathan."

"Of course I don't remember you. The last time I saw you I was approximately ten months and four days old. My memory span and brain cells at that tender age would not allow me to retain that type of recollection."

"Oh", Lucas said sheepishly.

"And by the way, you aren't my uncles. Nikki and Jake are only children, thank you very much."

"Dude, she told you", Nathan snickered as Haley gave his side a stern warning pinch. "Ouch!"

"Hey, sweetie", Haley bent down. "I'm Haley, Nathan's wife…"

"Too bad for you", she frowned

"…And a friend of your parents", she stuttered, a little intimidated by the child in front of her. "We are so happy to see you! Gosh, it's been so long. You were an itty bitty thing the last time I saw you. Can I have a great big hug?"

She was animated in typical sweet Haley fashion.

"Sure! Of course you can have a great big hug!" Jenny mocked her, rolling her eyes and making a gagging motion behind Haley's back as she embraced her.

"Hi, Jenny", Brooke smiled. "I'm Brooke, Luke's wife."

"Wow", Jenny said in amazement. "You're really pretty."

Brooke giggled and grinned, eating up the compliment.

"Aw shucks", she threw her hands up. "Do go on."

"Except that lipstick color is way too light for your complexion and the hair is really not working for you. Oh and who did your boob job?"

Brooke's lips tightened.

"They are real, thank you very much."

"Oh. Shame. I was gonna tell you to go and get your money back."

Peyton was taken aback. The attitude was unexpected. A bonafide brat was standing before them but Peyton saw past that. She looked into those hazel eyes and saw a world of hurt brought on by living a hard life in such a short amount of time. She didn't see a rude and obnoxious pre teen before her. She saw the sweet little baby she used to cradle before bed every night when she was a just a teen herself.

"Jenny", she instinctively put her arms around her.

Jenny immediately tensed up.

"Let me guess…you must be Peyton."

"Yeah", she nodded as she stroked the child's cheek.

Jenny turned away instantly.

"Well", Jake nervously clapped his hands. "Why don't we take this stuff up to your new room Jenny and let you get settled? We've got snacks and everything in the kitchen."

"You mean like a party?"

"Well…yeah."

The girl was unimpressed.

"I don't do parties."

"Um, okay…"

"Look, I'm really tired…"

"Okay", Peyton said. "We'll show you the room and you can rest. Come down later when you feel like it."

Father, step mother and daughter walked up the steps as the two couples remained downstairs. Peyton opened the door and turned on the light, stepping back so Jenny could walk in.

"What do you think, Jen?" Jake asked.

"It's okay."

"I…I didn't know what you liked", Peyton said. "If you want to change some stuff, it's okay…"

"Whatever."

"Alright then", Jake put his arm around Peyton. "I guess we'll leave you alone for a while. Um, make yourself at home, Jen. This is your home and we're glad you're here."

Jenny threw her belongings onto the bed.

"Like I said, whatever."

"Well, we'll see you later."

"Fine. Hey, Jake?"

"Yeah?" he asked.

"You owe me 25 bucks."

"Excuse me?"

"Nikki didn't give me money for the cab so you owe me. This was yours and her brilliant idea so why should I have to pay for it with my meager saved wages?"

"Um…okay. I'm sorry you had to pay. I didn't know. I offered to pick you up, Jen…"

"A ten, two fives and five ones will do. Leave them on the dresser and one more thing?"

"What's that?"

"It's Jenny. Not Jen or Jennifer or any other cutesy dutesy nicknames. Just Jenny."

With that, she slammed the door in their stunned faces. When the shock allowed them, they rejoined their friends downstairs who were eating snacks in the kitchen..

"That went well", Peyton finally said.

Jake sighed.

"She just needs time. Obviously there are some real anger issues there. Just let her adjust."

"Okay."

"It'll be okay", Haley tried to reassure them. "She'll come around. The important thing is, your girl is home."

Everyone murmured and nodded.

"Are you guys sure my boobs are okay?" Brooke whined again for the umpteenth time.

"They're fine", Lucas sighed.

"Just fine?"

"They are great, baby. Beautiful. Perfect. A temple to be worshipped."

"You're just saying that, Broody."

"No, I'm not. Jenny was just trying to dig at you."

Peyton and Jake looked at each other and took deep breaths. They knew it would be different and they even expected it to be hard but they had been totally unprepared for the smart mouthed, mad at the world kid who had breezed into their home.

"We can do this", Jake whispered, squeezing her arm.

"I know", she nodded, handing him a platter. "Cheese ball?"

"Anything harder? Like a rum ball maybe?"

Peyton managed to smile as she lay her head on his shoulder.

"I don't know but I have the feeling we're going to be needing it."