Sorry it took so long to update but... I had a lot of homework.Anyways here's chapter 15!

Mercedes POV

I woke up the next morning to find myself wrapped in Nathan's arms. I could have stayed like this forever but I had a lot of thing that I had to do before we left so I got up kissing Nathan's cheek softly and headed to the shower. I got out of the shower and walked into my closet and got ready there so I wouldn't wake Nathan. When I walked out it was about 9 and Nathan was still sleeping. I walked over to the bed and leaned over him and whispered in his ear...

"Nathan... wake up."

He turned on his back and groaned while he stretched out. Before I knew it he had pulled me on top of him.

"How about I keep sleeping and you stay here with me?" He said smiling.

I smiled back. "I wish I could but I have a lot of thing to do before we leave today." I said running my fingers through his hair.

"Do you have to?" He said cuddling up closer.

"Nathan..."

"Ok, ok." He let go and got up. "I'm gonna go take a shower." He said walking to the bathroom. I shook my head and he walked inside.

While he was in the shower I was packing some things I wanted to take back with me. About 15 minutes later Nathan walked out with a towel around his waist.

"My stuff is in the other room so... I'll be back." He said as he headed to the door.

"Ok." I tried hard not to stare but he has such an amazing body! God! What does this boy do!

As he left Lucas walked in and looked at Nathan as he was leaving.

"Hey Luke." I said putting something in my suitcase. Trying to make it look likeI wasn't just staring a hole through Nathan's midsection.

"Hey." He said walking towards me and sitting on my bed. "How are you doing?"

"Ite. You know... as good as I can be." I said sitting down next to him.

"Are you wearing pants?" He asked surprised

"Yeah, why? You soundsurprised."

"That's because I am. You never wear pants. You're always in a skirt and heels, and now you're in pants and sneakers?"

"What? I have a lot of styles. Is that a bad thing?"

"No defiantly not."

"See... the way I see it... a guy likes a girl who can dress herself up. You know.. For a night out or something special. But... he also wants a girl who can be wearing pants and sneakers when she's kickin it with his friends. And no one rocks a pair of jeans better than I do. Am I right?"

"Pretty close."

"Pretty close? What am I missing?"

"She's gotta be wearing low cut jeans and a tight shirt. Then... that's what a guy really wants."

"Luke!" I said hitting his arm playfully. "God! I didn't know you were like that!"

"Like what! You asked!"

"Yeah whatevers."

"No but really... you look good."

"Thanks."I said smiling.

"So... Nathan stayed the night here last night?"

I knew this was going to be an interesting conversation.

"Yeah."

"Peyton told me you two weren't together."

"We're not. We were... he was just comforting me."

"Oh."

I knew I had kept Luke out of the loop the last week and I felt like I owed him an apology.

"Luke... I'm sorry for keeping things from you the last week. I should have told you about my mom and my brothers instead of running away."

"It's ok. You weren't ready. Plus Brooke got me and Peyton back on track. She told us about what happened with you and your mom. I'm sorry Mercedes."

"Thanks."

He pulled me into a hug and we stayed like that for a moment until Nathan walked in. We parted and we both turned to look at him.

"I'm going to go check on Peyton." Luke said turning back to look at me and getting up.

"Ok."

He walked out the door and Nathan walked over to me and sat on the bed while I packed.

"What was that about?" He asked.

"What do you mean?"

"What were you two talking about?"

"Nothing really."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing important." I looked at him and saw the expression on his face. "What's up Nathan?... Are you jealous?"

"Of Lucas! Yeah right!"

"Ok, whatevers." I said as I put the last thing in my suitcase. "There I'm done. Let's go downstairs and see who else is up."

I pulled him off the bed and we waled downstairs and into the kitchen where we found Brooke making a mess. Nathan sat down on a stool in the kitchen island and I walked over to Brooke.

"Brooke, what are you doing?"

"Trying to make breakfast. It isn't really working out though."

"I can tell."

Just the Peyton and Lucas walked into the kitchen and Luke sat down across from Nathan while Peyton walked over to us.

"What are you guys doing?" She asked smiling

"Brooke was trying to make breakfast." I said looking up at her.

Peyton looked over at Brooke amazed.

"You tried... since when do you..."

"Alright! Will both of you stop making fun of me and help me out here!"

Peyton and I both laughed and we heard the guys laughing so I assumed they had heard everything.

"Alright, alright, no more laughing." I sais as I turned off the stove. "Brooke what exactly were you trying to make?"

"Crepes."

"Crepes?"

"Yeah."

"Ok, well this batter is to thick. How about you get started on the filling and I'll make the crepes. Sound good?"

"Yep." Brooke said walking to the fridge.

"Can I help you with something?" Peyton asked.

"Sure. Can you get me the milk?"

She nodded her head and walked over with Brooke.

"Hey Z?... What exactly is in the filling?" Brooke asked peeking her head over the fridge door.

The guys looked at her and then looked at me. Peyton walked over and handed me the milk. I giggled and answered.

"There are strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries on the bottom shelf. Just wash everything up cut up the strawberries and toss them with some sugar."

Brooke and Peyton took out the berries and began to prepare the filling. I on the other hand was making the crepes.

"So what's the plan for today?" Brooke asked

"Umm... well Q's appointment is in a few hours so... I was thinking we take him to that and then I have to go see Ciara and Jorge before we go so... we can do that and then... Nathan said he's taking me somewhere."

Nathan looked up from his breakfast and smiled. Brooke lifted an eyebrow and turned to look at him.

"Where are you taking her?" She asked

"For a walk. Nowhere special really." He answered winking at me.

I winked back and turned to the stove. After breakfast was over Brooke, Peyton, and Lucas all walked into the livingroom and Nathan stayed behind to help me clean up. Most of the time was quiet and then he told me something that made me feel the pain inside was slowly being healed.

"You know... I'm really glad you're going to do this. You are so strong Mercedes, you're stronger than anyone I've ever known and I know that you don't feel like you are right now but... I'm glad I can be your shoulder to lean on."

He pulled me close to him and I put my arms around him. He looked at me for a second and kissed my forehead. It amazed me how he always knew exactly what to say to make me better. I held on a bit longer and we finished cleaning up. After the cleaning was done we loaded everything into the car and took Q to his appointment. Brooke and I both waited with Q in the examining room. I loved to see them both together and happy.

"Q are you ready to go to North Carolina?" I asked

"Yeah."

He answered so quickly it kinda freaked me out.

"Really? You don't have a problem with it then?"

"Nah Z, I lost Brooke once and I'm not about to make the same stupid mistake twice." He said looking at Brooke.

Brooke smiled and he pulled her to him and kissed her. The doctor walked in and looked at them for a second.

"Well... I see you're feeling better." He said closing the door.

We all laghed and Q let go of Brooke. And of course the doctor turned to me.

"So Mercedes... How is he?"

"I think you should ask Brooke that. She's the one who has been taking care of him."

"Alright. Brooke how is he doing?" He asked turning to Brooke.

"Better I think."

"No more headaches?"

"Not many."

"How is he doing with the pain?"

"He said the pain in his abdomen isn't as bad anymore. He said he wanted to get up and walk around but...I thought I should run it by you before I said anything."

"I think that would be a good idea. He can get up and walk around, maybe 5, 10 minutes. In his condition he'll run out of breath quickly, but that's just temporary. He looks fine to me. You did a great job taking care of him Brooke."

"Thank you."

Thanks again to OTH-Lucus'gurland Newyorkchickafor reviewing my last chapter! Makes me happy when you guys review. Please leave me one this chapter andI know I'll make it worth your while for whatI have in store for the next one.Hope you like it!