Thanks so much for the reviews so far! Please continue and let me know what you think of the story. Sorry the update took so long—it's been busy with school and the holiday. I've been thinking about possibly starting two other stories – one that focuses on how Peyton and Lucas ended up married and one that explains what happened to ruin Peyton and Brooke's relationship. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

Chapter 13 – Getting Better

While the Scott family was having quite the trying night, the Jagielski residence was even a little crazier. Brooke sat on the living room sofa and listened uncomfortably as father and daughter argued in one of the rooms above her. The week after Monday obviously had not improved for Jenny; every day her return home had been marked with slamming doors and sullen silences. Despite her talks with Peyton, Jenny was still terribly upset about something. The car ride home from Peyton's house had been site of yet another disagreement between Brooke and the young girl. Arguing over what to have for dinner normally wouldn't have gotten serious but Jenny was still upset over being forced to relinquish her rebellious hair color and Brooke was simply tired of submitting to the tantrums of a teenager. The argument may not have lasted past dinner had Jake not been home, having returned early from his trip.

Brooke hugged a throw pillow and listened miserably as Jake continued to yell at Jenny for the way he had heard her speaking to Brooke. Granted, it hadn't been the most respectful tone of voice, but Brooke also wasn't the perfect guardian. She was wise enough to the teenage psyche to realize that Jake yelling at Jenny was just another roadblock in their ever-failing relationship. Her biggest fear was that Jenny would end up hating her and that hatred would extend to Jake. In all the time they had dated and then been married, Brooke had always done whatever was needed to not come between the father-daughter relationship; especially not when it meant so much to all of them.

Not able to listen to them argue anymore, Brooke scribbled a quick note to Jake and grabbed her coat and car keys. If she hadn't already known what a rough day Peyton had gone through, she may have headed there. As it was, she found herself driving along, not sure what she was doing or where she was going. Somehow, her car ended up in the parking lot of Lula's Lounge, a bar on the far side of town. Her hands trembled as she tapped them on the steering wheel, silently talking herself out of ruining her life; again. She knew she wasn't going in… right? Cutting the engine and pocketing the keys, she sat back in the driver's seat, staring at the sign in front of the somewhat-rundown bar.

The heels of her expensive boots hit the pavement with a deafening click and her hands remained on the polished red metal of the car door as she gently pushed it closed. As the latch caught and the lock slid into position, the streetlight behind her reflected off her left hand, illuminating the simple platinum band and diamond solitaire that glittered on manicured ring finger; this was not worth what she had to lose. She drew in a sharp breath and made it back into the car before the tears started to flow.

Arriving home to a dark house, she assumed Jake had already gone to bed and decided to go into the kitchen for a cup of cocoa; she wasn't falling asleep anytime soon. Jake's presence when she switched on the light caused her to jump. She was busy trying to catch her breath so she missed his skeptical glances at first.

"I wasn't drinking," Brooke said calmly, turning away from him and pretending to busy herself looking for a particular mug.

"I believe you." They were both silent for a few minute as she filled the mug with water and placed it in the microwave.

"Am I ever going to be able to leave the house without making excuses?"

"I wasn't asking for one."

"But you expected one."

"I'm not going to fight with you tonight. Stop trying to goad me into it."

"You shouldn't yell at Jenny because of me."

"She shouldn't talk to you like that—"

"We were arguing. It happens. But when you intervene, it makes me the bad guy all over again. And I can't live in a house where someone so blatantly hates me."

"Jenny doesn't hate you."

"Not yet. And I don't want it to get to that point. I can't live with that."

"She'll be over it by morning. I'm going to bed. You coming?"

"In a little bit," Brooke answered with a tiny smile over the rim of her mug. She watched from the dimmed kitchen as Jake walked up the stairs toward their bedroom. He had been her savior and closest friend for years; when has that stopped being completely fulfilled. More often in the recent days, she had found herself feeling incomplete; something was apparently missing.

"I just got off the phone with Peyton," Haley said as she sat down on her dark blue comforter. She was already clad in purple plaid pajama pants and a lighter purple maternity tank top, ready for bed whenever the day slowed down enough to allow it. Nathan was sitting at his desk across the room, reading over a piece of paper.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Something weird is going on with them."

"You're probably just imagining it," he said in a voice that clearly indicated that his attention was elsewhere.

"Hope so," she muttered. "What are you working on?"

"Looking over these insurance papers. There has to be something about changing providers—"

"Is this going to work out?"

"Of course," he assured her quickly.

"Nathan—"

"Hales, it'll work out. We might have to take out a loan, but we'll find a way."

"We can't afford another loan, Nathan."

"I could ask my parents—"

"Why not just sell them our first born?" She asked with a voice on the brink of hysteria. Nathan shook his head, his expression revealing that he also realized that asking his parents was a bad idea.

"We'll figure it out," he answered calmly. "I promise." She sighed but nodded with a brave smile. He continued with his pretended nonchalance until she was sleeping soundly. It was only then when he tiptoed into the living room and placed a hushed call on his cell phone. It didn't matter how much debt they were in; he wasn't going to allow Haley to have her baby with any doctor she wasn't comfortable with. He could live with swallowing his pride if it meant helping his loyal and loving wife.

The title of this chapter comes from a quote belonging to Dr. Seuss:

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."