2013

Atlanta, Georgia

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, Micah and Mason…Happy Birthday to you…"

"Blow out the candles, guys", Peyton smiled.

Jake zoomed in with the video camera.

"Come on, boys. Big breath, you can do it", the proud father grinned as his twins blew out the five candles on the custom made chocolate cowboy cake. "Yeah! Good job!"

Peyton clapped along with the rest of the parents and other children who had filled their home for the twins' birthday party.

"Mama, can we open our presents now? Please, please", Micah turned and begged to his mother.

"Not yet, baby. We're almost there. Eat your birthday cake and I promise right after we can open presents, okay?"

He smiled and joined his brother who already had a mass of frosting alongside his mouth and chin.

"I can't believe they're five already", Jake sighed with a grin as he wrapped an arm around his wife.

"Me either. Time flew by."

"I…I just wish Jen was here to see this."

Peyton looked in her husband's eyes.

"She is. She can see us, Jake but I know what you mean. I wish she were here, too, babe."

He placed a kiss on her forehead.

"I love you."

"Love you, too."

Peyton closed her eyes as she nestled further into Jake's embrace. Their sweet, shared moment was quickly interrupted by the sound of a newborn screaming her pretty little head off on the baby monitor.

"Uh oh. It was good while it lasted, right?" Jake asked with a grin.

Peyton sighed.

"It's my turn. I'll go get her. You stay out here with the kids, keep the chocolate icing out of their eyes", she quipped as he gave her a pat on the behind.

Peyton traveled upstairs into the nursery she had painted and decorated herself. She walked over to the bassinette and grinned as she lifted the tiny infant into her arms. Once with her mother, baby Minnie instantly quieted as she looked in her eyes. Peyton tickled the side of her daughter's cheek as her heart swelled with love. During her tumultuous teenage years, she had never seen herself as one so maternal. Then Jenny had come along and changed everything. After her stepdaughter, then the birth of her own three biological children, was a reminder that family was precious. Jake and the kids were Peyton's life. She treasured and cherished them, loving them more than she thought possible to love anyone else.

Walking over to the changing table, little Minnie was given a fresh diaper. Then mother and daughter took a seat in the old rocking chair Jake had lovingly refurbished by hand. It had always been a favorite place of Peyton's to cradle, feed, or just bond with her children. Minnie was no exception as she tended to the baby, her hum of a lullaby interrupted by the ring of the phone. She had brought the cordless in with her and it took a moment to find it but finally she did.

"Hello?"

"Hey."

Peyton's throat tightened as her heart sank.

"What are you doing?"

"I just wanted to hear your voice."

She closed her eyes.

"Lucas, you can't call me here. What the hell is wrong with you? I'm trying to give Micah and Mason a birthday party."

"I wish I was there to see them. Sorry I couldn't make it."

"I'm not. Jesus, the last thing I need is you and Brooke here."

Lucas sighed into the phone.

"I miss you."

"Stop it."

"What? I mean it. I really do. I miss you, Pey…and I miss Minnie."

"Lucas…"

"Where is she?"

Peyton looked down at the beautiful baby in her arms.

"Right here. I'm holding her, giving her a bottle."

"I bet she's growing so much. Thank you for the pictures you sent…"

"I sent them to everyone. You're not special. They were a present from Jake and I and the boys to my dad, Jake's folks, Nathan and Haley and Landon and to you and Brooke."

"I want to see her. I want to see both of you soon…"

"That's not a good idea."

"Why not?"

Peyton rolled her eyes, exasperated.

"You know why not. Dammitt, Lucas. Why the hell are you still doing this?"

"Peyton, I…"

"You what? Lucas, this is crazy. It's over. I told you a long time ago."

"No, it's not."

"Yes, it is."

"Well, can you just talk to me? I mean, we could meet somewhere. Make up something to Jake, find a sitter for the twins and you and Minnie come see me."

"Why? What good would that do?"

"Because we need to talk. I need to see you."

"No! The answer is no, Lucas, just like it's been no. God, why don't you get that? You have to leave me alone. I have a family that I love and I can't and won't leave. All that other stuff? It's in the past and that's where we have to leave it. Things are going good here and I intend to keep it that way. I suggest you try fixing things with your wife."

Lucas sighed.

"We have. Brooke and I decided to work things out."

"Good."

"But I still need to talk to you."

"No! Why?"

He was silent for a moment but when he finally spoke, his words made chills go up and down Peyton's whole body.

"You know why."

Yes, she certainly did.

"Look, some other time. Please. Just not now, not today. Let me get back with you…"

"Brooke's pregnant", he blurted out.

"What?"

"I said, Brooke is pregnant. We're having a baby."

Peyton closed her eyes as she felt pure relief with just a twinge of guilt.

"I'm happy for you both. Now you have your own family."

Lucas chuckled into the phone.

"The secrets are getting kind of old, aren't they, Pey?"

Minnie began to cry.

"I can't do this. Look, I'll talk to you later. Don't call me here anymore. I will call you."

"Fine. Kiss Minnie for me."

"I have to go", Peyton hung up as she stood and desperately tried to comfort the child.

"Mama, Mama, bring Sissy down so she can watch us open our presents", little Micah happily ran to his mother.

Trying to gather herself, Peyton managed a smile and patted her son on the head.

"Okay, Cowboy. You run ahead. Minnie and I will be right down."

Minnie continued to wail as no amount of walking, cooing, rocking or comforting would calm her down. Peyton shuffled the fussy baby in her arms and when she finally fell silent, it was Peyton's turn to scream. Jake was right behind her and she hadn't even heard him come in.

"Hey", he simply said.

"Jake! My God…"

"Did I scare you?"

"Yes. I mean, no. I didn't even hear you come in."

He looked at Minnie.

"Is she okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, she just got fussy. She'll be okay."

He nodded.

"Maybe when the phone rang it startled her."

Peyton got an uneasy feeling.

"Yeah…maybe."

"Who was it?"

"Who was what?"

Jake pointed to the cordless.

"Who was on the phone?"

Peyton's mouth fell open.

"Oh. Um, I don't know. Wrong number. Anyway, we should get downstairs. Do you have the camera? I don't want to miss the twins opening their presents. They look so cute", she headed out the door.

"I heard him, Peyton", Jake said.

She stopped.

"What?"

"I said I heard him. And I heard you. I heard everything."

"Jake…" she nervously laughed.

"Stop it, Peyton. Stop it now. The act ends here. I have one question for you. I just want to know one thing. Yes or no."

"Jake, listen to me…"

"Yes or no, Peyton."

Fresh tears sprang to her eyes as she hung her head in shame.

"Yes", she whispered.

Jake clenched his fists and let one fly into the wall, leaving a large hole.

"I knew it! I fucking knew it!"

"Baby, let me explain…"

"Let you explain? Explain what, Peyton? You want to go into detail about how you've been fucking one of my best friends behind my back?"

"It's not like that!"

"Yeah? Then how is it like?"

"Jake…"

"How long, Peyton? How long have you been having an affair? The whole time we were married?"

"No. No, Jake you have to believe me. It started right after Ellie died and it lasted a few months."

"Are you in love with him?"

She shook her head, tears spilling.

"No! No, never. I love you."

She tried to touch him but he pulled away.

"Liar! That's bullshit! You don't love me!"

"Yes, I do! Oh God, I am so sorry, Jake. It's over, it's been over for a long time and I was going to tell you…"

"I don't believe you, Peyton."

"I…I made a mistake. We weren't getting along and I needed comfort and I reached out to the wrong person."

"I'll say. That's a lame ass excuse. What about me? What about your best friend Brooke?"

"We never meant to hurt anyone", she whispered.

"You disgust me right now, you know that? I look at you and I want to throw up. You lied to me and you cheated on me and you betrayed me, you nasty, fucking cunt!"

"Jake…"

"I hate you! Damn you, Peyton! I can't do this!" he started to walk away.

She chased after him throwing herself, Minnie in her arms still, between her husband and the doorway.

"Jake, don't leave! I'm sorry! I love you. Please…"

"Get out of my sight!"

"You can't leave us! We're a family! If you walk out that door again, those boys will be devastated."

Jake smirked, laughing in spite of the situation.

"You think I'll leave my boys? Hell no! Fuck that, Peyton. I'm taking my kids with me."

"Jake!"

"Tell me, should I leave Minnie here?"

Peyton felt like she might faint.

"I am so sorry…"

"What does Lucas want to talk to you about? What else is left to say? What unfinished business could you two possibly have if it's really over?"

She opened her mouth but the words wouldn't come.

"Jake…"

His anger got the best of him as he pushed his wife into the wall. Jake Jagielski was on the verge of losing it.

"How could you do this? How could you, Peyton? You fucking whore!"

"Daddy, Mama, what's wrong?" Mason asked as he had wondered into the room.

Jake quickly pulled away.

"Nothing, Spud. Everything is cool."

"Why are you crying, Mama?"

"I'm not, baby. Something got in my eye. I'm okay. Um, let's go open presents with your brother."

Mason took one hand of his mother and the other of his father.

"Let's go open the one from Uncle Lucas and Aunt Brooke first!" the little boy exclaimed. "That's the biggest!"

Jake and Peyton exchanged glances as they followed their son out to the rest of the party.

"Jake, please…" she whispered.

"We'll talk about it later."

"Promise you won't leave."

Jake stopped.

"Is it over, Peyton?"

She nodded emphatically.

"I swear. My life is here with you and our children, all of our children. I love you."

Jake bit his lip and looked her right in the eye.

"You know I love you and I love Micah, Mason and Minnie. You guys are my life. I'd do anything to take care of and protect this family. I have always loved you Peyton but I swear to God and on Jenny's grave if I ever even think you're back with him, if I even catch you looking at Lucas Scott sideways, I will kill his ass, you got me?"

Peyton could only catch her breath as she went back out to the guests. She felt sick with what had happened. She loved Jake and never meant to hurt him or Brooke. She shuddered to think what the brunette would do if she ever found out. It would devastate her just as it devastated Jake. All Peyton wanted was her husband's love and forgiveness. She didn't want her children to suffer for her mistakes. Maybe her family still had a chance left but she knew all ties would have to be cut from Lucas forever. She had seen the anger and hatred in Jake's eyes. It was real as anything she had ever witnessed. Their forbidden love affair had exploded in their faces. If the truth wasn't buried once and for all, the next time someone could die for it.