Jake and Amanda were fuming, faces mere inches apart.

"Guys! Dinner's ready! Come and get it!" Peyton bellowed from downstairs.

Amanda, still looking deadly serious, backed away as Jake followed her downstairs to Peyton and Jenny already seated at the table.

"Smells good, Peyton", Amanda said.

"It's pot roast. Kind of trial and error but I got the recipe from Haley so how bad can it be, right?"

"If it tastes as good as it smells, we're in for a real treat", Amanda winked.

"Thanks", Peyton smiled. "Now how was your day?"

"Pretty good. I'm working on this really cool drawing with the oil paints you gave me. I got all my homework done and I got to lay out by the pool for a while."

"What about you?" Peyton nodded at Jenny. "You have a good day?"

"I guess", Jenny shrugged.

"Anything fun or interesting happen at school?"

"Nope."

That was the norm…trying to get a decent conversation out of Jenny was like trying to squeeze blood from a turnip. It just wouldn't happen! But as usual, Amanda was full of polite and animated chatter. However a few feet away, Jake sat in virtual silence, picking at his meal.

"Dad!" Jenny yelled.

"Huh?" Jake looked up distracted.

"I've only asked you 50 times. Can you please pass the salt?"

"Oh", he said, reaching for the shaker. "I guess I didn't hear you, bug. Sorry. Here you go."

Jenny doused her meat with sodium as Jake seemed to go back in his trance, nervously clutching at his fork.

"Babe, you okay?" Peyton asked.

"What?"

"Are you okay? You look distracted and you haven't said more than two words. What's up?"

"Nothing. I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"Yeah", he sighed. "I'm just really tired and…"

"Peyton, Jake has something to tell you", Amanda blurted out.

"What?"

"I did something really bad and Jake wants to tell you about it but he doesn't know how. Isn't that right, Jake?"

Jake and Amanda locked eyes as Peyton and Jenny curiously looked on.

"Babe?"

"Um…uh…"

Amanda watched him stutter and sputter and when it was no longer amusing to watch him squirm, she intervened.

"I went in your bathroom and borrowed you new, expensive red nail polish and I accidentally spilled it. It's a complete mess and I'm really sorry."

Peyton nodded as she wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin.

"Is that it? Just an accident?"

"Yep", Amanda said as Jake just stared at his plate speechless.

"Well, that's not a big deal. Accidents happen. I'll call Haley. I'm sure she knows a way to get it up without leaving too bad of a stain."

"I hope so", Amanda smiled sweetly.

Peyton grinned as she rolled up a napkin and playfully hit Jake.

"And you? Babe, come on. You know me better than that. I can't believe you thought I would get mad."

"I…"

"And why didn't you help her clean it up?"

Peyton's tone was less than please as Amanda shot him an "I Told You So" grin. Jenny quickly looked away.

"Can I be excused?"

"You get enough to eat?" Peyton asked.

"Yeah."

"You want dessert?"

"No."

"Jen, you're excused", Jake told her.

Peyton and Amanda cleared the table then served pie for dessert as Jake sat at the table trying to avoid the young girl's gaze. She had dared him to call her bluff and instead she called his and when the moment that counted the most presented itself, Jake Jagielski had punked out.

"Jake, is the pie okay?" Peyton brushed his arm.

"Huh? Oh it's fine. Um, it's real good, babe."

"You want some more?"

"I'll just save it for later. I'm really not hungry."

"Okay", Peyton nodded uneasily as Jake stood.

"Dinner was good, Pey. Um, I'm just gonna go upstairs."

Peyton watched as he disappeared.

"God, I hope he's okay. He was kind of acting weird."

Amanda shrugged.

"He said he was tired."

"I guess", Peyton said sadly.

"You should go after him."

"In a bit. I've got to wash these dishes and…"

"I'll clean up the kitchen", Amanda volunteered. "And anything else, well, it can wait. You should go see about Jake."

Peyton nodded as she wiped her damp hands on a nearby dishrag.

"You're right. Um, thanks, Amanda."

"Anytime", the younger blonde smiled as Peyton headed towards the bedroom.

She found him sitting on the bed hunched over. He looked dejected and after so many years together it was easy to tell his mood was due to more than just fatigue. From the doorway Peyton studied her husband, trying to figure out what was wrong. But she would never guess the bad spot he was in. How could she possibly know that he was trapped like a caged animal. She had no idea Amanda had him right where she wanted him. Peyton was unaware that her precious Amanda was like a wretched disease that was slowly draining his energy.

"Jake…"

"How long you been standing there?" he looked up.

"Long enough", she walked over to him. "What's wrong?"

"Just one of those days, I guess", he shrugged.

"Are you upset about Amanda? I mean, the nail polish will come up, I'm sure."

"I don't care about the nail polish, Pey."

"She'll be leaving soon", Peyton blurted out. "It's just a legal thing with the Gillespies now but it shouldn't take more than a week or so."

"Good."

It wasn't good. A week didn't seem that long but it was long enough for Amanda to cause some more destruction before her final out.

"You were right…they're nice people."

"They are."

Tense, uncomfortable, awkward silence.

"Jake…"

"I'm gonna go check on Jenny, then I'm gonna turn in. I'm really tired, babe", he kissed her forehead.

Peyton grabbed his arm and held onto it.

"Don't go", she whispered.

"Peyton…"

"Stay", she practically begged. "Please. I need you, Jake. I…need you here with me.

He just looked at her. His whole life was right there in her eyes. Words couldn't describe his love for her. Everything he ever did was in the name of loving and protecting Peyton.

"I love you", he whispered.

"Then show me", she said right back. "Make love to me, Jake."

Those five magical words he had loved hearing over the course of the years. But he couldn't. It wasn't in him. Jake was void of all emotion, intent and desire. He sat near motionless as Peyton kissed his neck and chest. It would take everything he had to attempt to reciprocate and perform the simple and once enjoyable task of making love to his wife.

Jake returned her kisses and gentle touches. He was almost timid in their lovemaking, exploring her familiar body like a curious puppy sniffing at a new play toy. It was quiet and slow and when it was over, he held her in his arms listening to the in sync sound of their wildly beating hearts.

"What's really wrong, Jake?" she asked as she lightly scratched his hair speckled chest. "Talk to me. Tell me what's on your mind."

He looked over at her and pulled a stray curly lock away from her beautiful face.

"You. You're on my mind. You know that? I love you, Peyton. I always have. I just want us to be okay."

"Me too."

"I feel like we haven't been okay, like we lost our way or something. I just want to get that back. I just want my life with our perfect little house and our daughter and our jobs and our friends…and I just want us to be together forever, as corny as it sounds. I just want to be happy, Pey."

She sighed as she buried her face in his arm. No, that didn't sound corny at all. Happiness…wasn't that what everyone wanted?