A/N: Okay, I realize that the Jeyton in this chapter is a little short, but I liked it and I didn't want to make it longer just for the sake of length so I didn't. Plus, the next (and final!) chapter will make up for it – I should know, I've already written it!

Chapter Four: Goodnight, but not Goodbye

"Sorry about that," Jake told Peyton as he closed the door behind his mum.

"It's okay," Peyton smiled. "Your mum's really nice."

"Yeah…" Jake sat back down on the chair opposite the bed, where Peyton was sitting. Jenny was asleep in her crib, which was placed between them. "She and dad have been really great with Jenny and everything. I don't know what I would have done without them."

"They've been really supportive, huh?"

"Yeah," Jake told her. "Well, at least they have been after they got over the initial shock."

Peyton nodded heartily at this. "Yeah, my dad would freak if I told him that news. That's if he was even here in the first place. Not that I'm in a situation to tell him – I mean, not that I haven't had – 'cause I have – well, a little, but I have – but I'm not a, you know – not that I'm implying you are – 'cause I don't mean that – I…" Peyton finally gave up, fully aware that she couldn't make herself sound any worse or any better.

Jake noticed Peyton's obvious discomfort and decided to 'forget' everything she said after she stopped talking about her dad. "So…your Dad's not home?"

"No," Peyton said, immensely relieved by Jake's reversal of the conversation, "he left soon after the Classic. He'll be back in another two weeks. But, until then it's just me."

"You must miss him a lot."

"I do. I mean, he's here a lot more than he used to be, which is really great. It's just; every time he goes...I guess I just hate saying goodbye." It was at this point that Peyton heard the clock in the hall chime, and she checked her watch to find that it was now eleven-fifteen. "Which is funny, since I should be leaving now."

"Are you sure?" Jake stood up with her.

"Yeah, it's kind of late and you look really tired."

Jake knew it was pointless to refute this statement since it was completely true. "Will you get home okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine," Peyton shrugged. She bent down to whisper, "Goodnight," to Jenny and kissed her forehead. Jake followed Peyton downstairs and walked her to his door. She turned back to say bye but Jake stopped her before she could.

"Don't say goodbye," he told her. "Say goodnight."

Peyton smiled shyly, but happily. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Jake grinned. After making a quick mental decision he kissed her forehead. Peyton did her best not to blush and walk, rather than skip, down the steps to her car. Her smile grew when she saw he was waiting for her to drive away before he closed the door. With a final wave, she put her keys in the ignition and headed back home.

……………

Nathan pulled his car up in front of Haley's house and jogged round to the passenger side to open her door for her. Haley thanked him and got out of the car. He took her hand and they started walking to the steps leading up to her house when Haley remembered something. "Oh, Nathan, my shopping bag's in the trunk!"

"Oh, yeah." He went back to the car, and unlocked the trunk. When he lifted the top, Haley was surprised by the contents.

"What's that other bag?" she asked as she took her bag out.

"Oh…" Nathan carefully took the bag out and handed it to her. "That's for you."

Haley's forehead creased in confusion. She put her hand into the bag and pulled out the dress she'd seen and loved in that shop window, but would never have been able to buy herself. "Nathan…" she breathed.

"I got it when you were in the arcade," he told her, nervous.

"Nathan, I can't keep this." She held the bag out to him.

"What? Haley I bought it for you – it sure as hell isn't for me."

"Nathan, you can't afford this! You just got emancipated from your parents; you need to take care of your money."

"It's my money, Haley, I can spend it how I want to, and if I want to spend some of it on you, then I will," he said in a tone that left no room for argument. But, Haley still looked sad. "I thought you liked it when you saw it –"

"I do Nathan, I love this dress – and I love you for getting it for me," she touched his cheek with her hand, "but you can't be as careless with your money as you were before. You won't be able to live on your own and keep the apartment if you are."

Nathan nodded. "I know; you're right. I'm no expert at managing money."

Haley looked up at him. "Well, I can help you with that."

Nathan leaned down and touched her nose with his. "Okay. But I still want you to keep the dress." When Haley made a face, he added, "after all, it is the last present I'll be able to give you for a while." Haley giggled at this, and Nathan smiled.

Their lips met in a tender, gentle kiss. When Nathan moved back, Haley took her present out and grinned at it happily. "It's so pretty," she squealed.

"I hope it fits. I got the same size as I got you before so it should."

"You haven't bought me a dress before," Haley said.

"Yes I have," Nathan replied, a little bugged that she didn't remember. "Sort of."

"When?" she questioned.

"Our first date."

"Oh. The nightdress," Haley blushed. "Yeah, that fit."

Nathan smirked. "Can I see? Just to make sure."

Haley clutched her shopping bags to her chest and blushed even harder. "No!"

Nathan chuckled, "Just relax, Hales. I didn't mean it. Well, actually I did, but I didn't think you'd say yes."

Haley smiled. She put both her shopping bags into one hand and gave her other to Nathan. They walked up the steps, content in the silence until they reached her door and they had to say goodbye.

"You know…" Haley told him, "you never did tell me your secret."

"My secret?"

"You know. On our first date we had to tell each other a secret no one else knew and I told you that I had cheated on a test-"

"But I never told you mine. Yeah, you're right." Nathan cringed as he remembered the arrival of Tim and the rest of his basketball buddies and how badly he had screwed things up with Haley that night. He had been afraid that she'd never talk to him. But now…now, Haley just stood there patiently waiting for him…and looking at him like…like he didn't know how…or maybe he did.

Maybe he had for a while.

"So…will you tell me it now?"

Nathan took a deep breath to calm himself down, and shoved his hands into his pockets so she couldn't see that he had started to sweat. He nodded and sat down on the front step.

Haley wordlessly put her bags down and sat next to him.

Nathan sat and contemplated. Haley thought it was about what secret to tell her, but he was really thinking about how to tell her what he was about to say.

"I guess…" he finally began. "I've never really loved anyone before. Relationships were always about having fun," he continued, "and – well, you've met my parents. My mum was always away, and my dad…kind of impossible there."

Haley listened kindly to what Nathan said, and comfortingly placed her hand on his knee when he mentioned his parents. Suddenly, a thought struck her. "Wait – you said 'before'."

Nathan finally met her gaze. "Yeah, I know."

She stared at him wide-eyed in wonder. "But, that – that means…"