AN: Hey guys, sorry for the wait! Thanks for the wonderful reviews: Beachiegal, jeytonlover, InspiredbySong, was-an-angel, jeyton4ever, hybridwolf10.
CHAPTER 6: Pleasant Surprises
July
A couple weeks passed. Brooke and Nathan visited every weekend. It was really great for the gang, Peyton, Brooke, Lucas, Nathan and Haley to hang out again all together. Of course, for Peyton there would be that 'something missing'. Her life just seemed... incomplete without him. They had been exchanging e-mails since she had found Nikki and although it hadn't been said yet, it was pretty clear that they were getting back together once he came home.
He was stuck in New Jersey for a while, because it turned out that he had to do all the legal stuff there and not in Tree Hill. But since it was certain he was getting custody of Jenny, what with Nikki's lie under oath and her running away, it shouldn't take long 'till he came home.
Jake was thrilled. He was going to get his daughter; get rid of Nikki; and go home. When Jake came to court that first day and saw Jenny in the guard's arms, he almost cried of joy. Even better, when she saw him, she held out her arms and yelled "Dadda!"
The guard had given her to him to hold and that's when Jake finally realized that all was fine. For once in his life, everything was going to work out. With Jenny... With Peyton...And it felt great.
It was Tuesday night, and Brooke and Lucas were talking on the phone. It wasn't enough to see each other every weekend they had to talk to each other every night of the week as well. Of course, it was Brooke who always called Luke because the cost of long distance phone calls everyday was pretty high.
"Any idea if your parents are letting you come back for senior year?" Lucas asked, hopefully.
"None; every time I bring it up, they change the subject. But I don't know, now that you and I are back together, maybe they'll reconsider. They like you," Brooke said.
"I don't think I've ever even met them," Lucas said, confused.
"I might have put in a good word for you," she said. "Besides, they like Karen."
"I can try to get her to talk to them if you want?" Lucas asked.
Brooke squealed in joy. "Thank you, boyfriend, that'd be great!" She said and Lucas laughed at her enthusiasm.
"Just convince them to let you come back. I need you here with me." Lucas said sweetly, making Brooke's heart melt.
"I'll try my best. I love you," Brooke said.
"I love you too," Lucas said. Then they hung up. This was how they always ended their conversations: hopeful that Brooke would move back to Tree Hill, and sealing it with 'I love you's'.
The next weekend everyone was together, except Jake, that is. But Peyton was still happy because he was coming back in just a couple of days. She was getting butterflies in her stomach just thinking about it.
Everyone was sitting in Karen's cafe. Karen had come back from New Zealand and she hadn't told anyone about Andy not being there. In fact, when anyone brought up Andy or her trip to New Zealand, she would quickly change the subject. She came by to give everyone refills of their soda.
"I have some excellent news," She said, getting everyone's attention. "Brooke, I just got off the phone with your mother. And although it was tough to convince her and your father, they agreed to let you stay with us for your senior year." She said smiling. Brooke squealed and jumped up off of Lucas's lap to go hug Karen.
"Thank you, thank you thank you," She exclaimed. Lucas smiled broadly and went to hug Brooke and kissed her on the cheek. Everyone else proceeded to hug Brooke and jump up and down in joy. They were making so much noise, they didn't even notice the bells ringing when the door opened and closed and someone walked in.
"What's everyone so excited about?" said the male voice of the person who just came in. Everyone turned around to see Jake standing there with Jenny in his arms, soundly asleep. If Peyton didn't know any better, she would have sworn she was dreaming. The vision was to die for. Jake was even better looking than she could remember, and Jenny looked even more angelic. It had been so long since Peyton had felt that exhilarating feeling in her heart that she was feeling at that instant. Her eyes filled with tears of joy as she went to hug him. It wasn't the greatest hug, since Jenny was in the middle, but it still felt great.
"Hey, don't cry," Jake said in a warm, soothing voice as he wiped her tears away.
"Haven't you ever cried 'cause you were happy?" Peyton asked, making him smile, remembering that time she had said the same thing at the jail. "I thought you were coming back in two days." Peyton said.
"Well, the hearings ended sooner, so I wanted to come back earlier and surprise you." Jake said. God, she was so beautiful, Jake thought. How could he ever leave a face like that?
"Well, welcome back, man," Nathan said, receiving a hit from Haley on the shoulder. Nathan looked at her confused. She whispered something in his ear.
"Oh," Nathan said and turned to Jake. "Sorry, I didn't realize I was interrupting a 'special moment' between you two," He said using air quotes. Haley hit him again, and everyone started to laugh. Then Jake made the rounds, hugging everyone, even Karen and Deb.
"I can watch Jenny if you want to go out with your friends," Karen said.
"Thanks, Ms. Roe," Jake said, saying good-bye to his daughter and handing her over to Karen.
The gang ended up just staying at the cafe all day and just talking and laughing, enjoying each others' company. Once in a while, Brooke would exclaim randomly in the middle of a conversation that she couldn't believe that she was coming back home.
"We know, baby, you've told us only twenty times," Lucas would say every time, and everyone would laugh.
And sometimes Nathan and Haley would sneak sweet kisses, when they thought no one was paying attention to them. Quite a few times, Peyton would look over to Jake and smile, and he would always be looking right back at her.
"I'm going to take Brooke home, okay?" Lucas told his mom. It was hours later, and although it had been great to talk to everyone, him and Brooke needed to... celebrate her moving back. Karen just nodded.
"Bye, guys," Brooke said as she jumped up to join Lucas near the door.
"Have fun!" Peyton yelled back at her. Brooke just winked at her as her and Lucas left the cafe. When they were walking to Brooke's car, Brooke leaving into Lucas, who had put one arm around her waist, and he kissed the top of her head, making Peyton and Haley, who were watching, gush at how cute they were.
"It's so weird. A year ago, no one would have ever imagined them together," Haley said. "And yet, they make the perfect couple."
"I guess that's kind of true for all of us," Jake said, smiling towards Peyton. And it was true. Cheerleading captain, with broody low-key guy. Shy tutor, with high-profile jock. And punk, tortured artist, with sensitive-singer-songwriter. Peyton was so busy thinking about that, that she didn't even notice Nathan and Haley get up.
"I think we're going to go, too" Nathan said. Nathan kind of opened his mouth wide and put his hand in front of it, pretending to yawn. "I'm getting kind of tired." He said.
Peyton tried to control her laughter and keep a straight face. "Right, yeah... you should really get some rest," she said.
"Right," Nathan said. "Well, I'm leaving tomorrow morning, so, I guess I'll see you next weekend?"
"Yeah, definitely. Bye," Jake and Peyton said good-bye to the happy couple. And that's when it really sank in for Peyton. Jake was back... for good. He would be here next weekend, and the next, and the next...
After Nathan and Haley had left, an awkward silence fell upon Jake and Peyton. They both knew very well that they needed to talk eventually about where they stood, in their relationship. Or even if there was a relationship in the first place. They both hoped there was, but were both too unsure of the others feelings to start the conversation.
"So, um," Peyton said. "It's getting kind of late, I think I should probably go home." She didn't want to go. She would have wanted to stay with Jake all night, even with the awkwardness, but it sounded like the right think to say at the time.
Jake was disappointed that Peyton wanted to go. Even though they didn't have much of a conversation going on, he was really enjoying her company. "You have a ride?" He asked.
Peyton had completely forgotten about that. She had gone there with Brooke, but now Brooke was gone, obviously, with her car.
"Um... actually a ride would be great," Peyton said. "Thanks."
Jake blushed, "Uh, well I was kind of asking you, because I need a ride. Sorry, I should have made that more clear." Jake said, embarrassed. Peyton laughed.
"I guess I'm walking," Peyton said as she got up.
"I'll walk with you," Jake said a little too quickly. Peyton was about to remind him that his house was in the opposite direction, but she stopped herself. Who was she kidding? She wanted him to walk her home.
"Okay," Peyton said, smiling. "I'd like that." Jake smiled, too and got up.
"Yeah well, someone has to protect you from the creeps that wonder the streets at this hour," Jake said.
"Ah... my night in shining armor." Peyton joked. She had said it jokingly, but for some reason, it created more weirdness in the air. Peyton, not liking this tension between them, added, "Plus, I have my pepper spray... just incase."
"Good idea," Jake said. Then he went to Karen to get a still-sleeping Jenny, and him and Peyton started their midnight stroll.
Nathan and Haley got home around midnight. When Haley first entered the apartment she jumped in fright at the sight of the clown on the wall in the dark. Nathan laughed at her.
"You know, we can take it down if you want," He said. He knew that she felt bad for how she hurt him, she didn't need a freaky clown there to remind her.
"No, that's okay," Haley said. "As much as it freaks me out... it kind of makes me feel... home." She said. "I don't know, it's stupid," She added blushing.
"No it's not," Nathan said, "You should feel home here," He kissed her on the forehead. "I'm going to go brush my teeth." He said and walked off to the bathroom.
Later that night, Nathan was sitting on his and Haley's bed, waiting for Haley to come. Haley came in carrying her toothbrush, with an expression that was unreadable to Nathan. One thing he knew, was that she was not happy.
"Did you use my toothbrush?" Haley asked.
"What? I don't know," Nathan said. She was acting really weird to him. She actually seemed to be mad.
"You did!" She yelled.
"So?" Nathan said. He really didn't see what the big deal was. "What's gotten into you?"
"Do you know how many germs you can get from sharing toothbrushes?"
"No," Nathan said, "But since when do you care about germs?" He couldn't believe this. They were actually getting into a fight about a stupid toothbrush! He didn't know whether to laugh or get mad himself.
"I don't know! What does it matter?" Haley said, yelling. "The point is you used my toothbrush and didn't ask me. And now if I get sick, it's your fault!"
"Look, I didn't know it was your toothbrush. I probably just confused yours for mine." Nathan said, and now he was yelling too.
Neither of them spoke for a little while. Both of them were practically fuming. This is ridiculous, thought Nathan. What is going on?
"How the hell did we get into a fight over a toothbrush?" He asked.
"I don't know!" Haley said.
"It's stupid." Nathan said.
"Yeah, I know!" Haley yelled. They were both still yelling. Nathan did the only thing possible, he thought, could end this fight: He walked up to her, and kissed her passionately. Just like that. Haley kissed him back with just as much passion. The kiss relieved them of all the anger.
"You want to tell me what's really wrong, Hales?" Nathan said softly, when they broke apart. Haley looked at the ground and breathed deaply.
"I'm late," Haley said after a while. Nathan straightened up a little. This was not what he had expected.
"Oh," was all he could say. He knew he should say something else; something reassuring, but the words just didn't come.
"Ten days..." Haley said.
"Well, did you take a..." Nathan said, not even able to finish the sentence. He figured she'd get what he meant.
"Yeah," Haley said, "It was negative. But you know how those things aren't always accurate."
"OK, well we'll go to the doctor's first thing in the morning." Nathan said, trying to sound like everything was fine, but inside he was scared as hell.
"No, I'll go. I'll bring Peyton or something. You can't miss High-Flyers for something that probably doesn't exist." Haley said.
"What? No. I'm going with you." He said in a tone that said that he was sure about it. Haley didn't know what to say, so she just gave him a thankful smile. "I'm here for you, Hales. Always will be." he added.
The awkwardness only grew between Jake and Peyton all through the long walk to Peyton's house. Neither of them wanted to make small talk, they just wanted to get to the point, but for some reason the subject wasn't coming up.
"I want to thank you... in person, for what you did for me and Jenny," Jake said. Peyton was going to say that it was actually more for herself than for him and Jenny, but she decided not to.
"You don't need to," Peyton said sincerely, "I wanted to do it."
Jake didn't know what to say. Peyton, to him, was too good to be true; and almost too good for him. He always felt like she deserved better. He just hoped he could make things better between them. Whatever was lurking between them, he just wanted to crush it and just kiss her senseless, but for some reason he couldn't.
"So," Jake started, "Are you excited for senior year?"
"Yeah. Are you?" Peyton asked before she remembered that it wasn't even sure that he was going to go back to school with them.
"Yeah," He said. If him and Peyton ever got through this awkwardness it could be a great year, he thought.
The rest of their walk was in silence; both of them took that time to sort out their thoughts.
Later, when they finally reached Peyton's house, she didn't have to ask him if he wanted to come in, which she would have done anyway, because he just followed her in and up to her room.
"I don't like this," Jake blurted out once they got to her room, as he put Jenny down on the bed.
"What? My room?" Peyton asked, confused.
"No. This." he said motioning with his hand the space in between them. "This weirdness, between us," He said. "I don't like it."
"Yeah," Peyton answered. "Me either. It's like something's... changed, or something." She said.
"I love you," Jake said, decided to just say it. What the hell right? It was the truth. "So... that hasn't changed."
This caught Peyton off-guard. But she looked closely at Jake's face, and she saw the same Jake that she loved and that loved her. And just like that, the wall between them disappeared.
"I love you, too," Peyton whispered. Jake stepped closer to her, and took both her hands in his. And right when he was about to lean in and kiss her, the phone rang. Peyton sighed and pulled away from Jake to pick up the phone. Of course, she could have just let the machine get it, but the ring had already ruined the moment.
"Hello?" Peyton said into the phone.
"Hello," Said a voice Peyton didn't know. "I'm Joan Smith from the Wall street Journal. Here at the company, we would like to see if you are interested in a one-year subscription. the advantages of owning the wall street journal are..." Peyton couldn't believe this. A telemarketer? She was about to finally kiss Jake, but was interrupted by a stupid telemarketer? No, she wasn't going to let the moment be ruined for this. She hung up on the person, turned to Jake, who looked like he was about to say something, probably to ask who it was. But before he could say a word, Peyton pulled him to her and kissed him. This surprised Jake, but he didn't waist one second before kissing her back. All their feelings toward each other: love, lust, passion, wanting... came out in this kiss. It was like all the weeks before, they weren't apart. All along they had stayed with each other.
Nathan woke up, alone in his and Haley's bed. He got up, remembered about the night before, and got dressed pretty fast. He went into the kitchen and found Haley there with a glass of orange juice.
"Oh, you're awake," She said seeing Nathan, "I was just going to go wake you. You're going to miss the bus back to High-Flyers."
Nathan looked at the front door, and right beside it were his bags for High-Flyers. Did Haley not remember about the doctors? Did last night not actually happen? Could it have just been a dream? Haley saw his confused look and figured she should explain.
"I'm not pregnant," she said. "I know for sure now."
"How'd you know?" Nathan asked. He was a little slow, especially after he just woke up.
Haley gave him a knowing look. She had gotten her period this morning. To her relief. It's not that being pregnant would have been bad or anything, but she just wasn't ready, and she didn't know if their marriage could handle it right now. "Um..." Haley said a little embarrassed. "I just know..." She said. Nathan finally understood.
"Oh, right." He said a little awkwardly. Haley gave a small nervous laugh.
"So, you're all set for High-Flyers," She said, pointing to the bags by the door. "I packed your stuff this morning."
Nathan gazed lovingly, down at his adoring wife. "Thank you," He said and he bent down to kiss her.
"See you next weekend!" Haley said when they pulled apart. Nathan nodded and walked out the door. He, too, was relieved at the news that Haley was not pregnant. It would have been wonderful if she was. But now wasn't exactly the best time. He knew it would happen to them later, and it would be wonderful then too.
Brooke flew back to California on Monday to pack her things, only to fly back to Tree Hill on Thursday. Lucas met her at the airport. He was surprised to see her only carrying two suitcases. But he soon realized the two men that worked there behind her, each carrying two large suitcases themselves. Brooke saw Lucas and she dropped her suitcases and ran to him. Lucas smiled as Brooke leapt into his arms and kissed him intensely. It had only been four days, but it seemed like forever.
"Brooke, you only had half that stuff when you left." Lucas said when they broke apart, pointing to all six suitcases, now on the floor.
"Yeah, but I was all depressed in California, and since my family got rich again, all I did there was go comfort-shopping!" She said. Lucas laughed at her. They somehow managed to get all the suitcases to the car with just the two of them.
"I'm sorry to hear you were depressing in California. I wish I could have been there." Lucas said in the car.
"That's okay. I couldn't be any happier now," She said frankly, looking lovingly at Lucas.
AN: OK so, technically that was the last chapter! But I'm working on an epilogue that will be soon to come, so this is not the end of this fic yet! I hope you liked it! Sorry for the long wait! please Review! thx!