"Mom what's going on, who's coming over for dinner?"

Nathan leaned against the bannister as he whispered to her. Everyone in the foyer was practically silent awaiting the guests who were getting out of their car.

"My guess is as good as yours sweetie, I just came home from the Cafe. Your father planned this whole get together, which is very annoying seeing as he never informed me about it," she fixed her crumpled shirt trying to make the best of how she looked after a tiring day at work, "Dan who are we having over for dinner?"

Dan ripped himself away for a second from the window to answer her question.

"It's a surprise my dear wife, a surprise. Don't worry the wait is almost over."

He was right. Just a couple of seconds later the doorbell rang.

The grin on Dan's face grew even wider. However no one saw it since he was facing the door.

"I hope our house wasn't hard to find," he smiled. His whole body presence turned from mysteriously sinister to mysteriously creepy with a big smile on it.

The man and woman giggled as they entered the house.

"It was no trouble. We live practically a block away. We could've walked if we wanted."

Jill stared at the guests. She was in a state of shock, not knowing whether she was seeing a mirage or if her mind was playing tricks on her.

"Mom? Dad?"

Her parents smiled at her rushing to give their baby girl a warm hug. They did only see each other on the weekend. So every minute they had was treasured.

"Hi sweet pea, we missed you," her father kissed her forehead.

"I um missed you too daddy but umm what's going on, you never told me we were going to have dinner with the Scott's?"

"It was a last minute decision. Dan here is part of the PTA for Tree Hill. We got to talking and next thing we knew we were invited over for dinner."

She gave Dan a weird look.

"Oh okay."

"Ive got a lot to tell your father involving Tree Hill," Dan looked at Jill with a straight face, "Conner and Theresa I want you to meet my wife Deb and our son Nathan. Nathan and Jill are very close friends."

The four exchanged handshakes and hugs especially from Jill's mother.

"We've heard a lot about you Nathan. Our Jill is a chatterbox, but you probably know that by now."

"Mom?" Jill completely embarassed interrupted her mother.

"Oh sweet pea you know it's true. Once you start talking you can't stop."

"Yes mom I'm very aware of my talking habit but umm," she coughed, "can you not tell every person in the whole wide world about it."

"Mmm Dan and Deb what have you got stirring in the kitchen. It smells divine." Jill's father was entranced by the aroma coming from the kitchen.

"Actually Dan cooked dinner tonight, I was stuck at work."

"Oh that's right, Dan told me you co-own a Cafe?"

Deb nodded.

"Mhmm my friend Karen and I partnered up. Karen is the mother of Dan's other son."

The two guests look shocked. While Nathan and Jill giggled in the background.

"Oh."

Dan let out a small laugh to cover the little slash attempt his wife made.

"Tree Hill history, to be told another day. Now we eat. Let me take your coats and we'll proceed into the dining room."

Good save! It got the guests looking forward to dinner leaving Dan and his mistake a figment of three seconds past.

Nathan interrupted the adults who were on their way to the dining room.

"Jill and I are going to go upstairs for a second. I want to show her a book I've been telling her about. You guys start with out us."

Dan looked up at his son who was standing on the steps with Jill.

"Okay but hurry down."

Nathan nodded and grabbed Jill's arm as they went up the stairs. The adults engulfed with laughter proceeded into the dining room. Their voices diminshed as they walked through the foyer.

"Okay that was weird," he led her into his room closing the door behind them.

"You're telling me, I'm still shocked as we speak."

"Did you know my dad knew your parents?"

"No but he said they were bound to meet because he was part of the PTA at Tree Hill."

"That's messed up. What do you think he's up to?"

"What makes you think he's up to something?" She remembered her encounter with him a while back.

"Because my dad is always up to something. It's just routine for him to pull stuff like that."

She nodded.

"Really?"

"Yeah. But oh well maybe not today. He doesn't have anything against your parents."

"Yeah," deep inside she wanted to tell Nathan about her little confrontation with Dan. But maybe he was right, maybe Dan was up to nothing this time. She was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

"Ready?"

Jill nodded and followed Nathan down to the dining room. Everyone had already started eating.

"Finally you two decide to come down, take a seat," Dan eyed the two teens as they sat down before talking again, "so Nathan and Jill are very close friends."

"Yes we heard he was the first person she met," her mother smiled.

Dan nodded.

"They hang out a lot alone. Sometimes he sleeps over during the week. We hardly see him around the house anymore," he said it with such ease. Flowing out of is mouth like it was no big thing.

"Is that so?" Mr. Reynolds raised an eye brow.

Dan chewed on his food and quickly swallowed it. He stared at Jill with a grin from ear to ear cascading his face.

"You didn't know?"

Mr. Reynolds shook his head.

"Apparently not."

"Well it's not something to worry about I bet. They're smart kids, they know what they're doing. Always strap up and have the right protection."

"Dad what are you talking about?" Nathan interrupted his father.

"It's true though right Nathan? You and Jill spend a lot of time together?"

"Yeah we do."

"See, I'm only giving you advice, don't be so offensive."

"But you don't need to. Jill and I are just friends."

"Just friends mhmm," he wiped his mouth with his napkin, "well then good that you're just friends. If you two were going out then there would be a lot of talk about you two circling Tree Hill," he got up from his seat," I'll go grab the scalloped potatoes."

Dan disappeared into the kitchen. Shortly after Jill spoke. Her parents were looking at her and Nathan with such a disaray look.

"Excuse me," she got up and headed in the direction of the kitchen.

There was an akward silence around the table.

"So what do you do Theresa?" Deb tried to lighten the mood.

In the kitchen Dan picked up the potatoes and was about to head back into the dining room until he was stopped by an angry Jill.

"What are you trying to do?"

Dan just smiled, his evil grinch grin everyone had grown to hate.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"You damn well know what I mean. Inviting my parents over for dinner and bombarding them with lies about me and Nathan."

"Oh those aren't lies."

"Yes they are and you're telling them to my parents. What are you doing?"

"Sweetie I told you not to question my motives, but yet you insist, why?"

"Because I don't like you Mr. Scott. I don't like how you try to scare and manipulate people."

He put his hand to his heart.

"That hurt Jill," he smiled then put on a serious face, "I offered you something and you turned it down. You could have been on my side but you refused so I had no choice but to handle it my way."

"Well don't. You have no right and I won't let you. I'm not scared of you Mr. Scott and this shit you're pulling, better stop."

"Oh really?"

"Yes," she shot back at him very icily.

Dan was taken back by her tone and response. She was feisty! Too bad she wasn't on his side.

"Okay."

"Okay what?"

"Okay I'll drop lying about you and Nathan."

"Just like that, what's the catch?"

"No catch. I respect you and I decided to just drop it."

Jill looked at him suspiciously.

"I don't believe it."

"Well you should. I'm not going to sugar coat it any other way, but if you don't believe me then so be it."

"You gave me your word Mr. Scott, don't break it."

She turned around and went back to join the others. Dan stayed back still with that grin on his face. Nothing could phase him. Not now not ever.