Author's Note: "Many Rivers To Cross" featured in One Tree Hill, Season 1, Episode 5, "All That You Can't Leave Behind". Credited to Jimmy Cliff in that episode, although I am uncertain if he is the original composer and lyricist...

Peyton let out a tired sigh as her key turned in the lock to open the front door. It had been an exhausting week with all the events that had happened and checking in with Nathan and Haley was a full time job in itself, in addition to her teaching gig.

There had been some noticeable changes. Amanda Marshall had been removed from her class of course and as the case built against him, it had been strongly advised that Nathan not participate in any games that involved overnight road trips. So as Amanda continued spewing her vicious lies and Nathan and his family and attorney waited with bated breath, Peyton had been left alone for a couple of days as Jake had two back to back road games. It was only two days but the separation felt like a lifetime and Peyton could feel the energy draining from her physically, mentally and emotionally.

"Jen! I'm home!" she bellowed out to a quiet house.

No answer. Big surprise. Peyton rolled her eyes as she climbed the steps and looked around. Jenny's room was empty. Sighing she headed back downstairs, calling out for her stepdaughter. Still no response.

Peyton was beginning to get antsy. It was late and Jenny knew to be home. There was no sign she had even come home from school. With her nerves on the edge teetering dangerously somewhere between anger and panic, her shaking hands picked up the phone to call the Coopers. As far as Peyton knew, Amy was Jenny's only real friend. Seconds later, the family answering machine picked up.

Peyton closed her eyes. A missing child was the last thing she needed. But Jenny was nowhere to be found and Peyton had no idea where to begin looking. She was half tempted to jump back in her car but where would she drive to? Jenny could be anywhere. Trying to get a hold of herself, she searched the roster of Jenny's Filed Hockey team. She'd start by phoning each girl's parents. If that didn't work, the next phone call would be to the police.

Peyton dialed the first digits of the first number when the front door open. Jenny walked in casually.

"Oh my God", Peyton breathed, hanging up the phone.

"What's with you?"

"You're alive."

"That's a good thing", Jenny shrugged.

Peyton felt her anger surfacing.

"That's not funny. Where were you? Do you have any idea what time it is? I was worried sick!"

"I was at school."

"School?" Peyton placed her hands on her hips. "At this time of night? Jenny, it's a struggle making sure you're there during regular hours. Why would you be there this late?"

"It was a stupid concert."

"Concert?"

Jenny rolled her eyes before digging in her bag and handing over the balled up piece of paper. It was a colorful flier announcing a concert being given by the sixth and seventh grade classes.

"Believe me now?"

Peyton looked and for the first time at what Jenny was wearing. Her long hair had been combed back and was neatly kept in place by the use of a headband. She wore a simple blue long sleeved button up blouse that was partially covered by a dark blue vest that matched the skirt that stopped just before her knees. Navy socks were pulled up just below them. And on her face was light pink lip gloss. She looked like a little pre teen model. She looked beautiful.

"Jenny, you…you were in this tonight?"

"Duh."

"Wait a minute. That means you'd have to be a member of the middle school choir to join…"

"Yeah. So…"

"Why, why didn't you tell me or your dad?"

Jenny shrugged.

"It's no big deal."

"It's a very big deal."

"Mrs. Cooper gave me a ride."

"I'm not talking about a ride, Jenny. Who was there to watch you?"

"The auditorium was full of people."

"But who was there for you?"

Jenny looked away.

"I don't care about stuff like that."

"Well, I do", Peyton said softly.

"Well, I'm gonna go to bed now…"

"Jen, wait. Sit down. Please."

Jenny rolled her eyes and sat down at the kitchen table.

"What now?"

"We need to talk. In fact, we should have had this talk a long time ago."

"Can we talk later? I'm really tired now."

"Will you tell me why you didn't tell me about the concert? Or the fact that you had even joined choir?"

"You're busy", she said in a low voice. "Nathan and Haley really need you now."

Peyton sighed.

"You're right. They do. Because I'm their friend, I have a responsibility to be there. But that's not my only responsibility, Jenny. You're my priority, too. Of course I would have been there. What did you guys sing?"

"I don't know. A bunch of stuff, I guess. I did a stupid solo at the end…"

"They gave you a solo, Jen? What did you sing?"

"I forgot."

"You forgot? Jen, come on. That's a very big deal. I'm sure you have a great voice. I wouldn't have missed that…"

"I didn't think you'd want to come, okay? I didn't think you'd show up."

"Now why would you think something like that?"

"Because you never cared before", the girl blurted out.

"What?"

"It's nothing."

"Jenny, talk to me. What do you mean I never cared?"

Jenny took a deep breath.

"You were always so busy with Amanda and stuff. Helping her with art or shopping or just hanging out."

"I spent a lot of time with Amanda but I always had time for you. And anywhere we went, you were always welcome to come. It just always seemed like you weren't interested."

"I guess. I just like doing stuff with my dad, I guess."

"That's cool. Your dad likes spending time with you, too. I know moving here and dealing with Amanda and now everything else…well, I know it's been real hard on you. It's not fair and I'm sorry. It's okay if you prefer your dad over me. I can understand that. And I'm sorry if you're not happy here or if you don't like me. This has been rough on me, too. A long time ago, I used to take care of you. You were very happy then. We were a real family, you, your dad and me. And when we lost you, it hurt real bad. Getting you back was all we ever thought about and when it happened, I guess I thought it would be like it was before. But it wasn't. It isn't. You're not a baby anymore and I guess I'm not the same person either. I didn't know how to act. So if I came of trying to replace your mom, then I'm sorry."

Peyton stood to leave.

"It wasn't that", Jenny said quietly.

"What?"

Peyton sat back down.

"Nikki said when I was first born, she and my dad were real happy. We were a family. They were even gonna get married…until you came along."

"What? Nikki told you that?"

"Yeah. She said you broke them up and you never wanted me around. She said my dad chose you over me."

Peyton swallowed hard. She couldn't believe it even though she put nothing past Nikki.

"So, so that's why you hated us all those years?"

Jenny shrugged.

"I guess. Nikki was crazy and sometimes it sucked living with her. We'd always move around and I'd have too start new schools. And her creepy douche bag friends and boyfriends were always around. Sometimes she'd yell at me or leave me by myself to get drunk and high or we wouldn't have food for a night and it'd really suck. And I'd just think about my dad and you being all happy and stuff. I'd get mad. It wasn't fair. Like if you guys really cared, then you would have come and got me…or you never would have let me go in the first place. I don't know. It's done now. It's stupid…"

"No, Jenny. It's not stupid. Look, I don't want to badmouth Nikki because no matter what, she is still your mother. But she wasn't always the nicest person…or the greatest mother. Jake knew that and that's why he took custody. He wanted to protect you. I was just his friend and he asked me start to babysitting when she came back in the picture. Your dad was kind of on the fence about her being around because she had left you once before but then your mom wanted to get back together. Your dad wouldn't so she threatened to take you away. Jake panicked so he decided to run away with you first…and I helped him."

"You did?"

"Yeah. My dad was going out on business on his boat and it docked in Savannah, Georgia for a few days. You guys had family there so I arranged for you two to hitch a ride and Brooke and I told Nikki you were in Seattle."

"Did she go there looking for us?"

"Yeah."

Jenny smiled.

"She must have been pretty pissed, huh?"

Peyton returned the girl's smile.

"She was. I knew you guys were safe but I missed you both a lot. And I was having all kinds of high school drama I couldn't deal with and I felt really alone. So I made some pretty stupid mistakes."

"Like the drugs?"

Peyton closed her eyes.

"Like the drugs. Anyway, Lucas knew I was going under so he called your dad to come check on me. Jake did and we talked and it was great and he decided to come home. We brought you back and you guys moved in with me. It was really great. It was only then when your father and I got together.."

"So what happened?"

"Nikki happened. She came back. Turns out when you guys were on the run, she had gone to court and gotten temporary custody. Jake never even knew about it but that meant he violated a court order by not showing. He was ordered to give you back or go to jail. And he went to jail. He went to protect you. He didn't even tell me beforehand. Just sent you down here to Florida with some relatives. And we got a lawyer who could help and they let your dad out and the judge reversed the court order. But by that time it was too late. Your mother found you. She got you back and she took you. You guys just vanished."

"She kidnapped me?"

"I'm sorry, Jen, but yes. And we wanted you back, both of us, and we never stopped looking for you."

Jenny looked away.

"Oh", was all she could say.

"Listen, it's no secret your mom and me never got along. I'm sure she said some pretty bad things about me over the years. I can't change that. And I can't change the bad things you went through. All I can do is tell you the truth. I, we, loved you then and we both love you now. And your dad would give anything to have back those years you lost…and so would I."

Jenny stared at the floor.

"I know", she finally said.

"And I owe you an apology. Sorry about all this Amanda business. I'm sorry if she hurt you and I'm sorry if I neglected you or it seems like I chose her over you. I don't know what happened. Maybe I was looking for the easy road. I thought it would be easy when you came home but it wasn't and it was hard to deal. So I turned to someone who seemed to worship the ground I walked on. I saw a lot of myself in her. I guess I got lost. But the joke was on me, huh? I was pretty stupid."

Jenny shrugged.

"You weren't stupid. Amanda was just really good at being evil. You were just trying to be nice."

"And I'm sorry about the coke stuff, too. That was stupid and I promise you it won't happen again. I know you went through some stuff like that with your mom and I want you to know it's not like that here. I messed up and I admit that. I'm sorry. I just wanted you to know that."

Jenny looked right at Peyton.

"Many Rivers To Cross."

"Excuse me?"

"That was the song I sang tonight. My solo. I don't know if you know it…"

Tears stung Peyton's eyes. Of course she knew that song. She knew it well. She opened her mouth to sing and the words flowed perfectly.

Many rivers to cross
But I can't seem to find my way over
Wandering I am lost as I travel along
The white cliffs of Dover

Jenny was surprised. Surprised that Peyton knew the words. Surprised that her voice was so good. Slowly, quietly, she sang the next few lines.

Many rivers to cross and it's only my will
That keeps me alive
I've been licked, washed up for years and
I merely survive because of my pride
And this loneliness won't leave me alone
It's such a drag to be on your own

And when it couldn't have been scripted any better, they did a part in unison.

I've got many rivers to cross
But I can't seem to find my way over
Wandering I am lost as I travel along
The white cliffs of Dover
Many rivers to cross and it's only my will
That keeps me alive
I've been licked, washed up for years and
I merely survive because of my pride.

"What made you pick that song?" Peyton asked.

Jenny shrugged.

"I don't know. I guess I just like it. How did you know the words?"

"Someone sang it at my mom's…Anna's funeral. And I have the Jimmy Cliff CD in my car. I play it sometimes."

Jenny nodded.

"You didn't sound half bad."

Peyton smiled.

"Thanks. You're pretty decent yourself."

"Well, I'm gonna go to bed. I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay. Um, sweet dreams."

Peyton stood and began straightening up the kitchen before bed. She thought Jenny had long gone upstairs but the girl hadn't. When Peyton turned around, she was just standing there. Peyton was surprised and gasped but not nearly as surprised at what happened next. Without a word, Jenny threw her arms around her stepmother. Peyton was frozen for a second, in shock at what was happening and remembering what it was like when she used to hold a baby Jenny in her arms. Peyton quickly enveloped Jenny's body and they remained that way for a few moments. She forgot how nice it could be.

"Night", Jenny finally pulled away.

Peyton wiped the tears spilling down her cheeks.

"Jen!" she called out.

"Yeah?" Jenny stopped on the steps.

"I love you."

Jenny just nodded and smiled.

"Ditto."