AN: Thanks for the great reviews: S0phiaVal3ntine, jeyton4ever, and OTH.daddy'sgurl.06! Now I know I've said this before but I'll say it again: even though I don't get quite as many reviews as I would like, I'm constantly blown away by the amazing feedback I get from you guys! So thanks a million times, you guys are great!

Chapter 14

A Few Days Later

After the couple of weeks they had spent on the cruise, everyone on the boat had fallen in love with little Jenny Jegelski. They would spoil her with kisses, hugs, and candy every time they saw the little angel. Which only made it harder for her to leave.

"Daddy, do we have to go?" She pleaded, glancing up at her father with puppy-eyes.

"Yes, sweetie," Jake said, picking up his daughter. "It's time to go." Jenny pouted for a little, but then let it go. She wasn't one to pick a fight, or hold a grudge and Jake was very thankful for that. How could a child, growing up with a teenage father and without a mother, be so perfect? It blew him away.

Speaking of perfection, Jake thought as he noticed a certain blonde standing in the crowd. There was a large crowd of everyone on the boat waiting to get out. They had arrived back to North Carolina that morning.

Jake stared at Peyton Sawyer openly. Her beauty and poise had taken over his thoughts. She was so gorgeous and she didn't even know it. Her laugh made Jake's heart fly in his chest, yet she rarely laughed. Jake stared at the girl that made the last two weeks of his life the best he had ever had, standing next to the certain brunette who had made Lucas probably the happiest he had ever been, too.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Jake shook himself out of his thoughts, and focused on Jenny, who was now jumping up and down to get his attention.

"Yes, angel, what is it?" Jake asked.

"Can I say buy to Peyton and Brooke?"

"Um. You know, I'm not sure if that's such a great idea..." Jake hesitated.

"So..." Peyton said, "You said something about asking for forgiveness?"

"Ok..." Jake started, "The thing is: I didn't know that- no, wait, let me start over... Well, I know that you're mad. And... I know that I hate the fact that you're mad. And...," Jake sighed, "This isn't making any sense, is it?"

"Not really."

"Right..." Jake said, desperate for something perfect to say, but nothing came. Oh well, he thought, I'll just improvise. "Um, I'm really not experienced with giving big, meaningful apologies-"

"Clearly," Peyton said, losing interest. She thought that maybe him hiding in her closet meant that he was actually going to try to get her back. She thought that maybe just maybe he would sweep her off her feet and she could finally be happy. But now Jake made it seem like he hadn't thought this through at all. What a waste of my time, Peyton thought to herself.

Jake saw Jenny's sad face. She had really bonded with Peyton and Brooke over that past two weeks. "I mean, of course you can go say good-bye to them!" Jake said, instantly cheering Jenny up. "Let's go." And he led the way towards where Lucas was with his arm around Brooke, and Peyton nearby.

"Jenny!" Brooke's face lit up when she saw the little girl running towards her. Peyton was glad to see her as well. This brought a smile to Jake's face, the two girls he cared for the most in his life.

"Jenny wanted to say good-bye, before we leave." Jake said, staring at Peyton the whole time, noticing that she was averting her eyes, so that she didn't have to look at him. She was obviously uncomfortable.

Brooke had noticed this, too and was looking from Peyton to Jake and from Jake to Peyton weirdly. Jake gave her a shrug as to point out that he had no idea why Peyton was acting like this.

As Jenny was saying good-bye to Peyton and Brooke, Lucas and Jake were able to talk. "OK, so what was that about with you and Peyton?" Lucas asked.

"I really don't know," He answered. "I guess I should try and talk to her before we leave."

Lucas sighed, "I really don't want to leave..." He said, looking over at Brooke. "God, I am going to miss her so much. There is no limit to how much money I'm going to spend on gas, driving down to Tree Hill to visit her."

---

"Peyton, what's wrong?" Brooke asked.

"What? Nothing's wrong," Peyton lied, not looking Brooke in the eye.

"Is it Jake?" Ok, Peyton thought, there's no use in lying to my best friend.

"I'm just..." Peyton started, "Not sure that we made the right choice."

"Look, Jake, maybe you're just not ready. It's obvious that you haven't really thought this through, and if you're just hear to say random things that you don't mean, then I don't want to hear it," Peyton said.

"No! No no no, Peyton, it's not like that. I've been wanting to talk to you since the night of the dance and this whole... thing happened, but I've been too shy and afraid and stupid!" Jake said. He didn't want her to think even for a second that he wasn't interested, or ready. He wanted this to work more than anything!

"God, Peyton, I am so sorry!" Jake continued, "None of this was supposed to happen. It's so hard for me to have relationships because of the paparazzi, and the confusion, and the politics and everything, and I had never really met anyone that was worth all the trouble... Until I met you." Jake said, pouring his heart and soul into this speech.

"Jake... You have to know that I care about you as much as you care about me... But, paparazzi, politics, rumors... It's all too much for me to handle." She said sadly. She wanted this to work out, she really did, but she didn't think it was possible.

"Well... what if we can find a way to make it work?" Jake said.

"Maybe you should talk to him," Brooke suggested, "See what he thinks. Maybe he agrees with you."

"Yeah, maybe." Peyton said, but she stayed where she was.

---

"Hey, Luke, can you take Jenny for a second?" Jake asked.

"Yeah, sure, man. Where are you going?"

"I'm going to see if I can talk to Peyton." Jake said, and Lucas patted him on the back.

Jake walked over, about ten feet from where Peyton and Brooke were standing in the crowd. He looked around to see if anyone was paying attention to him, but he didn't see anything. He looked over at Peyton and saw that she was looking right at him. He, as casually as he could, nodded his head in the direction of the bathrooms. Peyton seemed to get it and nodded. They wanted to be in private.

Jake walked into the guys bathroom first, to see if anyone was there, but the coast was clear, so Peyton followed soon after. As soon as the door was closed, she quickly attached herself to Jake, kissing him hard and passionately. Jake tried to keep up and pushed them against a wall, he was kissing her back with such force, and he wrapped his arms around her waist. They had waited so long to do this. Walking around outside like they were strangers only made them eager to be finally alone, where they could be together.

Peyton looked at Jake curiously. "Well, what did you have in mind?"

"OK, now you may not like it. But it might be the only way to really make this work. At least until we get back home." Jake said nervously. What if she doesn't like the plan?

"What is it?" Peyton asked impatiently. "Wait, first..." She said, getting up and walking over to him. She reached her arms around his neck and kissed him, sweetly. It was over in a second, and Jake would have nothing of that, so he dipped back down and kissed her fully, pulling her body against his. She felt so good in his arms, and he never wanted to let her go. After several lovely moments of pure bliss, they pulled apart.

Jake was so pleased to see that wide smile upon Peyton's lips. "So, what's your plan, boyfriend?" Peyton asked, very curious now as to what he was going to say.

"Well, I just think that until we get back to North Carolina, since the photographer is still here, and by now probably everyone on the boat knows about... well, our little story... We could be together, but-"

"Secretly." Peyton finished for him, knowing where it was going. "I think that's do-able."

"Really? I know it kind of sucks. And believe me I want to show you off to the world so badly, but I think right now, considering everything, if we just kind of act like nothing's going on for the public, we can still be together in private."

Although deep down it bothered Peyton a little that they would have to keep their relationship a secret, she knew that this was the best way to make it work. At least until they got off the cruise.

"It's fine by me." Peyton said, reaching up to kiss him once more.

Peyton thought that that plan would be cool, even fun to pretend that they weren't talking. And she had to admit, it was a little fun at times, but she really missed Jake. She wanted to hold his hand, kiss him sweetly, whisper sweet nothings in his ear! She wanted them to be a couple! These little moments they had in the bathrooms or in their cabins weren't enough. Only a couple more hours, she told herself, and then we'll be off the cruise and free to be together!

"I can't wait until we get off this boat!" She said to Jake after they broke for air.

"Me either, Peyton." Jake said, stroking her hair, "You, me, Lucas, and Brooke can all go hang out afterwards. We can meet somewhere far away from any photographers." He said, smiling.

"Sounds good." Peyton said.

"I was worried that you were actually mad at me earlier. I mean, I know we said this had to be secret, but you can still talk to me in public, you know."

"I know... It's just weird... I don't really know how to act around someone I'm having a secret romance with."

"Oh, well I've had so many I'm practically a pro at it!" Jake joked. Peyton hit him lightly.

"I just don't like all the sneaking around and stuff. I want to actually be a couple, Jake."

"I know, I'm sorry," Jake said. He had noticed that last couple of days that while they enjoyed being together, the whole secrecy thing was still bugging her. And it was bugging him too. "I want us to be an actual couple, too. And in like a matter of minutes, we will be." He said bending down to give her another kiss.

"I'm sorry about everything, Peyton." Jake said when they broke apart. "You shouldn't have had to go through all this."

"It's fine, Jake. You're worth it." Peyton said, kissing him once again, with a knee-weakening, sensual kiss.

"I love you, Peyton. I really mean it." Jake said, uttering the words he had never said out loud to Peyton, but that he had felt for quite some time now.

"I love you, too, Jake. So much." She said, meaning it with all her heart and soul.

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AN: Ok guys, two more chapters to go! Well actually technically one more chapter and then an epilogue. Please review! I hope you liked it, thanks for reading!