Jenny lay sprawled out on the couch next to Amy, watching the Cartoon Network with the stereo blaring in the background as both girls ate from two bowls of Cocoa Puffs. She cherished the moments alone in the house when her father, stepmother and of course Amanda were gone. At least she had two out of three. Jake was at the arena and Amanda was supposedly off at a friend's house. Peyton was upstairs but she had made herself scarce. Most mothers would have a fit about the level and volume of noise. That was one cool thing about Peyton…stuff like that didn't bother her.

It was a hot day after Field Hockey practice and the two kids wanted to relax…or relax as much as they could with both the television and CD player on full force.

"Did you hear that?" Amy asked.

"What?"

"The door. I think somebody just knocked."

"So?" the blonde shrugged.

"So…you have to answer it."

"Why? I'm not expecting anybody."

"But it might be important."

"Or it could be a serial killer", Jenny rolled her eyes as she stood up to get it.

She opened up and found herself face to face with a blonde lay wearing jeans and a tee shirt.

"Hey", the woman said after a few awkward seconds of just standing there.

Jenny just stared at her.

"We don't want any", she began to shut the door.

The woman stopped it with her foot.

"You must be Jenny."

"Who the hell are you?"

The woman smiled.

"You've got spunk, kid. I like that. Anyway, is Peyton home?"

Jenny rolled her eyes.

"Pey-ton!" she bellowed.

The door to the master bedroom opened from upstairs.

"You called, Jenny?"

"Door for you!"

With out another word Jenny marched back to join her friend on the couch as Peyton made her way downatairs.

"Who is it, Jen?" the older blonde asked.

"Some chick", Jenny shrugged, engrossed in cartoons.

Peyton shook her head and walked over to the door that was slightly ajar. She peeked outside and gasped loudly.

"Ellie…"

"Peyton, look…"

Peyton backed into the house, shaking her head.

"What are you doing here?"

"I had to come find you."

"Leave. What part of I don't want to see your face ever again, do you not get?"

Ellie looked away.

"I guess I deserved that one. Look, I know you don't want to be bothered but I had to come and see you. I won't stay long but I wanted you to know I left Tree Hill and I'm headed back out west."

"Have a nice life", Peyton attempted to shut the door.

"Peyton, wait. I know you're pissed. I know you're hurt and there are a lot f things you don't understand. If you don't want to see me, that's fine. But the stuff going on with your dad…it's not his fault. I mean, if you could just see…"

"Don't tell me what to see", Peyton said coolly. "And it's a little too late for explanations and apologies, don't you think?"

Ellie sighed.

"I guess your mind is made up."

"It is."

"Alright. I'll leave but I wanted you to have this", she handed her an envelope. "I would have mailed it but I was afraid you'd throw it away. You still might but at least I know it was in your hands."

"What the hell is this?"

"Just some stuff I thought you should know."

"Listen…" Peyton tried to hand it back.

Ellie put her hands up.

"You don't have to read any of it, although I wish you would, but I don't want it back. You can toss it, burn it, whatever…but I wanted you to have it."

With that, she turned and walked back to the curb where a taxi was waiting. A stunned Peyton simply shut the door and walked back to the house, her shaking hands still holding the envelope.

"Peyton, are you okay?" Amy asked, noticing the pale, trembling woman coming towards them. "Mrs. Jagielski…"

Jenny looked up to see her stepmother almost on the verge of passing out.

"Peyton, what's wrong with you?" Jenny asked in a scared voice.

She grabbed onto a chair for support, wincing at the piercing pain shooting through her head.

"I…I'm sorry, guys. My head…"

Jenny's heart pounded as she and Amy traded frightened looks.

"Who was that lady at the door?" Jenny asked.

Peyton closed her eyes and let the pain pass.

"No one", she finally sighed. "Um, I'm okay. I'm just gonna go back upstairs for a while. You girls okay?"

They nodded and Peyton, ignoring the confused looks on their little faces marched up to her bedroom and closed the door. She threw the envelope on the bed like it was a hot potato and stared at it curiously for an hour before finally summoning the courage to approach it. She opened it carefully and looked at the tri folded papers inside. One was on old, tattered, fading notebook paper. Peyton looked at the date. It was three months to the day after she had been born…

Dear Peyton,

By the time you read this, if you ever read this, I'm sure you will be a mature, young woman and not the tiny infant I cradled in my arms for the last time today. I guess it will be a while before you are old enough to understand this letter so for now I am writing it more for myself.

They say that angels roam around us everyday. I never thought that was true until now. I know that because for nine months I carried you inside me and for three months I have looked at your beautiful face. Every single time I felt you move inside me, I couldn't wait for you to be born so I could hold you in my arms and look into your eyes.

But I knew I couldn't keep you. I guess I've always known deep down inside and today is the day I had to face reality and stop being selfish. You aren't meant for me. I'm a screw up. I've made a lot of mistakes. I hung around a lot of people I shouldn't have…I had problems depending on alcohol and drugs, stuff I'm not proud of.

When I met your dad, I thought I was saved. But the thing is, as great as Larry is, he couldn't save me. No one can…I couldn't even save myself. As usual, I destroyed the relationship like I seem to screw up everything that is special and important to me. I can't blame him though. He's had enough and we aren't meant to be. Your dad is a wonderful guy. He deserves better. You deserve better.

I know I hurt him a lot and he has moved on. He has someone special in his life now and as much as that hurts, I am happy for him. Her name is Anna and I know together they can give you the love and happiness and stability you'll need…all the things I can't provide. She is your mother now. Even though you might not see me, I am with you all the time, just like you're with me.

One day I hope you understand why I did what I did. It's not because I don't love you…I do more than you can imagine, more than I ever thought possible. I am the mother that gave you life but Anna will shape your life. All I ask is that you have understanding in your heart and one day you grow up to be a beautiful, strong woman.

All My Love,

Mom

(Elizabeth Ann Burton)

Peyton stared at the words over and over again. The letter. That damned letter. What? Was it supposed to make her feel better? Make everything alright? Let Peyton know that no matter what, Ellie had always loved her?

Peyton laughed out loud as she crumbled up the paper. What a goddamned joke! Did it matter? Did any of it even matter? It wouldn't make Peyton forgive Ellie or Larry or even Anna for that matter. Larry had kept the truth from her. Anna had left her. And Ellie had abandoned her. Damn them. Damn all of them! Where had they been when she needed them? All those years alone in her room, drawing her creeped out sketches, having sex with Nathan, feeling alone and miserable like there was no way out. Where were they then?

Hot tears fell down Peyton's face as there was a knock on the door. She hurried to wipe them away as Jenny walked in.

"You okay?" the younger girl asked in a shaky voice.

Peyton nodded and managed to smile.

"I'm fine. Everything is great."

"Are you sure? Because you're acting really, really weird."

Peyton laughed.

"Sorry but I…I'm okay", she stood. "I need to start dinner before Amanda and your dad get home. You want to help?"

"Not particularly", Jenny answered.

"Well then is Amy staying on?"

"I guess."

"Well, come on. Let's find something edible downstairs if you guys haven't already ruined your appetites with Cocoa Puffs."

Jenny nodded but lingered behind as her hazel eyes fell upon the wadded paper by the bed. Scooping it up, she stuffed it in her pocket. She didn't know what it said but whatever it was, maybe it could explain Peyton's mood or the tears in her eyes or the headache she'd had…and more importantly, it would shed some light on the mysterious stranger at the door.