The front door opened and in came a giggling Peyton and Amanda. It was getting late and the sun was just beginning to set. The house had begun to grow dark.

"Peyton, I had so much fun today. Thank you! It was so awesome", Amanda squealed.

"You're welcome. I had fun, too."

"Where the hell have you been?"

Peyton and Amanda jumped in the darkness. They hadn't seen the shadowy figure that was Jake sitting at the table.

"Jake", Peyton put her hand over her heart. "You scared the shit out of me. What are you doing sitting here in the dark?"

"I asked you the question first", he said tersely. "Where were you?"

"Nowhere. Amanda and I went out. We did a little shopping, then we met with Brooke for lunch and after that she wanted to go to the spa. Amanda had never been so I said, what the hell? We went, relaxed and then it was time for dinner and we caught a movie. No big deal."

"Why didn't you call?"

"Gee, I didn't know I was required to check in", his wife folded her arms.

"I don't believe you", he shook his head, brushing past her.

Peyton grabbed his shirt.

"No. Get back here. What's your problem? What's with the attitude?"

Jake laughed out loud.

"My attitude? Are you kidding me?"

"What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing. Nothing now, Peyton. Everything is just real fucking swell. All is calm in the Jagielski household. But too bad I can't say that for this morning."

"What happened this morning?"

"You weren't here. While you were off having a girlie day getting your stupid manicures and mud masks, our daughter was having a crisis."

"Jake, what…"

"Is everything okay?" Amanda asked.

"Go to your room, Amanda!" Jake snapped.

Peyton was taken aback.

"Excuse you? Don't talk to her like that!"

"I'm not playing around. Peyton, you and I are about to have it out and not only is it not Amanda's business, she doesn't need to see this."

"I…I'm sorry. I…"

"It's okay", Peyton said. "Go on up to your room. I'll be by in a bit."

Amanda did what she was told, leaving the couple alone.

"Peyton, sit down."

"I don't think so. I don't want to sit and don't you tell me what to do. What is your problem?"

"You're my problem! Pey, this morning I'm in the office and I hear Jenny scream like she's on fire. I go up and she is absolutely hysterical. Do you know why? I'll tell you. She thought she was dying, Peyton!"

"Dying?"

"That's right. She said she was bleeding. I asked to take a look at it but there was no wound. She wasn't hurt or dying, she was just having her first period."

"Period? Wait, she didn't know what was going on?"

"No. She was terrified, Peyton."

"Nikki didn't explain to her?"

"Obviously not!"

"Oh God", Peyton ran her hands through her curls. "Poor Jenny. Let me go up and talk to her and…"

"Don't bother. Haley already took care of it."

"Haley?"

"Yeah. I didn't know who else to call and that must have been the time you were enjoying your brunch enough to turn off your phone."

"That's not fair, Jake. And I didn't turn it off. My battery must be low or something."

"Whatever. I don't want to hear it."

"Why are you acting like this? I feel bad, okay? I'm sorry Jenny was scared and that she went through that. And I'm glad Haley was here even though I wish I could have been."

"Bullshit! You were exactly where you wanted to be. With Amanda and out of this away from Jen and me."

"That's not true."

"Yes, it is and you know it."

"How was I supposed to know this would happen?"

"You didn't, Pey! Just like I didn't. I guess it's just one of those things like when you missed her game or you're too busy to spend time with her."

"What?"

"That's right. You can save the world and take care of everyone else's kid but our own!"

"Jake…"

"Amanda needs to go."

"Excuse me?"

"I didn't stutter. Look, she's a good kid and I want to help but we have too much on our plate already. Call Social Services on Monday."

"I will not."

"Then I will."

"And tell them what? To come take this innocent girl off your hands and put her God knows where, wherever they can whether it be an understaffed, overcrowded group home or somewhere she can get hurt or better yet another foster home with zero supervision so she can get ignored and neglected or better yet raped or beaten!"

"Peyton…"

"No. Don't Peyton me! I don't want to hear it. Look, I'm sorry that happened to Jenny. I'm sorry I wasn't here. But just because I wasn't doesn't make me not love her or want Amanda more or whatever the hell you're trying to get at. I have always been there for you and Jenny! I love that girl even though it's damned hard because she doesn't love me back. Every single day I thought of her and wanted and missed her and loved her…it was a slap in the face when we got her back. And it hurts, Jake. I won't give up on her but it's damn frustrating and you're not making matters better."

"And Amanda is?"

"Leave her out of this, please. She has nothing to do with this. She's not the reason for problems between us or with Jenny. Amanda is a good kid who had a lot of tough breaks. I relate to that, Jake. When I look at her I see so much of myself. I made a promise to protect her. How can I back out now? And how can you?"

"Pey…"

"No. You're having a tough time dealing with Jenny, too. I get that but don't take it out on Amanda…or me."

He bit his lip.

"What do you want from me? Pey, what am I supposed to do? We can't go on like this."

"What do you want from me?" she whispered.

He sighed.

"I want us to be a family. I want to be happy. I want my wife back."

"Jake…"

"I don't want to lose you, Pey. And I'm sorry if I went off about Amanda but I have to think of Jenny, too."

"I know", she said. "I know, I know."

Tears clouded Peyton's eyes and instinctively Jake reached out to her and pulled her in for a hug.

"What's happening to us?" he whispered.

"I'm sorry. I'm trying, okay? I love you and I'm trying to love Jenny and be there for her but I can't abandon Amanda either. And you can't ask me to do that."

"I know but Peyton you said it was temporary…"

"It is. They'll place her soon."

"Okay. That's fine that she's here and you're her teacher and friend but one day she's going to have to go and you need to be prepared for that. Pey, she's not…you can't substitute her for the baby we lost or for what you want Jenny to be."

"I know", she wiped at her eyes. "I'm not, Jake. I promise."

He nodded.

"I'm sorry, alright? I shouldn't have gone off like that but…"

Peyton pulled him closer to her and buried her face in his chest.

"It's okay", she sighed. "We're going to be okay. Um, I'm gonna go upstairs and check on Jenny."

Jake nodded, watching her go, still not sure that they would be okay. Peyton composed herself and knocked on Jenny's door before opening it. The girl was wide awake, lying on her side, staring at the wall.

"Go away", she said.

"I just wanted to check on you. I heard about what happened earlier. Um, I'm sorry you didn't know and that you were scared. And I'm sorry I wasn't here."

Peyton closed her eyes as her pleas fell on angry, little deaf ears. Without saying another word, she stood slowly and retreated back to Amanda's room for a brief good night before joining Jake in their room.

Hot tears slid down Jenny's face and she wiped them away. She hated to cry. Tears were for the weak.

"I said go away", she said again when her door opened.

But it wasn't Peyton or her father. It was Amanda.

"Hey Freak, welcome to womanhood", Amanda laughed.

"Shut up. You're a retard."

"I'm a retard? I'm not the one who thought I was dying. God, you're such a baby."

"I said get out!" Jenny said louder, picking up a pillow and throwing at her.

Amanda only laughed and threw something back of her own.

"That's called a tampon and you better learn how to use it. If you don't plug it up, you're gonna bleed to death!"

"You're a liar", Jenny tried to remain calm.

Amanda just laughed as she closed the door. She had managed to rattle Jenny which was always a plus but Jake was another story. She hadn't liked how he had reacted or talked to her earlier. Thank God, Peyton had come to the rescue by standing her ground. Good, sweet, loving, Peyton, the tough chick with the big heart who would do anything to look after her. Amanda smiled. As long as Peyton was on her side, nothing could go wrong.