AN: Thanks for the amazing reviews to: S0phiaVal3ntine, OTH.daddy'sgurl.06, and MarinaW! Oh yeah, and just so you know, I wrote this chapter with an idea in mind, and it turned into something completely different! It's almost a story within a story, so yeah, it may not be what you're expecting, but I hope you like it anyways! (I think you will).

Things to know: it's set a little in the future, you'll find out how much in the chapter. And it's all written in a General POV. The flashbacks are in italics. and song lyrics in bold. (sorry if it's a little confusing) ENJOY!

Chapter 16: EPILOGUE

"And then...?" Dr. Philip asked Peyton for the third time. And then? And then what? Peyton didn't really know for sure. That is why she stayed silent. Avoiding the question? Maybe. But truthfully and honestly, she couldn't really put her answer into words.

"Listen Philip..." Peyton started, knowing what was coming.

"That's Dr. Philip." He said, pushing his glasses higher on the bridge of his nose. Peyton couldn't help thinking, if you're going to be calling yourself a doctor then why use your first name? And anyways, she could hardly call him her "doctor."

"Right. Well, you asked me 'and then?' But what am I supposed to say?" Peyton said. She knew she was not being fair. She was in a mood. In fact she had been in a bad mood for... what, three years? When Dr. Philip didn't answer, she continued. "You see, I think you already know the answer to that question. I mean, isn't that what I'm here for? For you to tell me the answers. For you to analyze me?"

"On the contrary, Ms. Sawyer. You are here to analyze yourself."

"Well in that case I already know myself. Does that mean I'm done?" She knew very well that she wasn't done. In fact Brooke had told her when she made her sign up for these therapy treatments, that she had to at least meet with the guy five times. And she was only one her second.

"If you already know your self, Peyton, then why don't you tell me. What happened after that cruise you were on."

Peyton swallowed. She didn't resent Brooke for making her get a therapist. She knew that she had changed. She knew that these past three years had put her in a not so good place. In fact, she even knew that she may need 'professional' help. Maybe this just wasn't the right person.

"After the cruise?"

In many ways, they'll miss the good old days

Someday, someday

"What time is it?" Peyton asked again, frantically.

"The same time it was when you asked twenty seconds ago. 5:24." Brooke said rolling her eyes, and laughing at her best friend. She had never seen her this way. Frantic, excited, nervous and overjoyed all at once. It was nice.

Peyton sighed, "Okay... okay, six minutes... How can I keep myself busy for six minutes?" She said while running around the room.

"I would say you could sketch, but it seems that your hands are shaking," Brooke said giggling. "What has gotten into you?"

"Nothing... nothing... it's just... well, I haven't seen Jake in two weeks, you know? I miss him." Peyton said.

"Peyton, it's more than that. You've spent more than two weeks away from him before, and you weren't half as nervous as you are right now. What is it?" Brooke said, always knowing her way around Peyton's lies.

"Okay, well you know how me and Jake, we haven't... well, we haven't... you know..." She said, hoping she would get the gist. Which she of course did, as her eyes widened and she squealed.

"Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer, you want to have sex?"

"Yes."

"With Jake?"

"Of course!"

"Today?"

"Well, yeah," Peyton said. She was more sure than ever. They were half way into the school year and every second away from Jake, she missed him like crazy. Fortunately she got to see him at least twice a month. And his last few visits she could tell that... well he was growing impatient, and they were growing closer and closer. It seemed like the only thing left to do, and the thing they both wanted the most. They talked incessantly, and they e-mailed everyday, and lately their conversations and e-mails had become... well, heated.

Before Peyton could snap out from her thoughts, she was suddenly attacked by Brooke's bear hug. "I'm so happy! I'm so happy! I'm so happy!" She recited over and over again, making Peyton almost regret having told her.

"I just..." Jake said, stumbling over his words, like he always did when he was uncomfortable.

"What? Just say it! I can't believe this, the least you could do is tell me why?"

"I just.. I just don't think it's really... working out." He said, trying to choose his words just right, but ending up sounding like any ordinary loser trying to break up.

"I don't understand where this is coming from, Jake. You don't have any explanation? Jake felt horrible. Really, he did. Angela was a great girl. She just wasn't great for him. For some reason, in the last three years he hadn't found any girl that was great for him. But when he met Angela, he decided to give it a shot. Why not, right? And she was nice. She was fun. She was attractive. But she wasn't her. And for some reason his mind could only concentrate on that last part. And while their relationship was pretty solid, at least an outsider looking in would think so, for a few months, he really was never that into it.

Of course, that would be much too long, and painful for him to say to her as an 'explanation.' "I'm sorry," He said, lamely. He felt terrible for giving her the lame, dumb typical 'break-up speech.' But he didn't really want to go to deep into things.

"Jake... I have tried to make you open up to me. I guess you're just not ready for that." Jake stayed silent, and looked at the floor. What she said was true. "So... well, it was fun hanging out with you. I hope we can still be friends."

She was saying all the right things. All the things that he should have been saying. "Yes, absolutely... I'm really sorry about this, Angela. It's like you said: I think I'm just not ready..." But unfortunately, he really didn't think he would ever be read to really let anyone else in. Because to do that he would have to get over it. Meaning he would have to finally tell someone about all his pent-up feelings, and that would just open up old wounds and memories that he didn't wand to go into.

Yeah, it hurts to say, but I want you to stay

Sometimes, sometimes

Once Peyton and Jake were finally alone in her room, they had managed to say a few word to each other before frantically ripping each other's clothes off. Jake kissed her hard, and passionately, a mind-blowing kiss that left Peyton weak in the knees. They couldn't get enough of each other.

"You sure you want to do this?" Jake asked, catching his breath. He didn't want to do anything she might regret. He had to remember that she was still in high school, and even though he had been wanting this for quite some time, she may not have been so enthused.

Peyton kissed him lightly, but lovingly. "More than ever," She replied. Her head was spinning. Her heart was beating faster than it ever had before. Her stomach was doing flip-flops and she couldn't tear her eyes away from Jake. And not just because of how sexy he looked right at the moment in his wife-beater and boxers, but because he was actually there, standing right in front of her- the love of her life. She couldn't believe her luck.

When we was young, oh man, did we have fun

Always, always

It wasn't long before they re-attached themselves to each other. For some couples the night of their first time together, is the most important of their whole relationship. But why just choose one day? For Peyton and Jake, everyday they spent together was the best. Of course, only when they became one, only when they made love for the first time, did they truly realize just how important they were to each other. And they knew that after they had done that, they had made a silent, unsaid promise to each other.

Promises, they break before they're made

Sometimes, sometimes

"Mhm... mhm..." Dr. Philip said, pensively as he scribbled his notes on a pad of paper. Peyton never thought that therapists did that, she always thought it was just in the movies. Apparently, she was wrong. "And how did that make you feel?"

How did that make her feel? Wonderful. Amazing. Sexy. Beautiful. Of course that was then. And this, sadly, is now. And now, having to recount the most magical, intimate night of her life to a complete stranger was making her feel... well, anything but those things.

"Oh, look at the time. It looks like our session is over." She said just as the seconds hand hit the twelve and it had officially been one hour in the devil's lair.

"Um, Peyton. Just one more moment, please."

"Well, I'm only paying you for one hour, I feel like I would be taking advantage of you if I stayed longer. So-"

"I just want to talk with you for a minute."

"I really actually have somewhere I need to-"

"The sooner you let me talk to you, the sooner I let you go." He said. God, he was good. Peyton gave up and sat back down. "Peyton... while I see you opening up a little more since our first meeting. I'm a little concerned."

"And why is that?" Peyton asked, knowing the answer.

"There's a reason why you signed up for these sessions. You know, you can't expect to get help, if I don't even know what you need help with. I'm not trying to put you on the spot, but if you want to get anything out of these sessions than you have to open up more. I understand if you're not comfortable, you can always come to me when you're ready. You may go now."

While walking back to her apartment, she realized something. Dr. Philip may have thought that they didn't get anywhere with those two sessions, and up until now, Peyton thought the same. But in that last minute of the session, he had opened her eyes like nothing else had in the past three years. All this time she had wanted to get away from it all, to think of anything but that. Actually opening up to someone, other than Brooke, and maybe re-telling the story, talking about her feelings, maybe that would help her to accept everything.

But that mean she would have to think about that night. That one night that everything changed. That one night that marked the period from when she was happy, to when she was no-longer happy. From when she was taken, to when she was single. And from when she was truly herself, to when she stepped out of herself.

Oh, My-ex says I'm lacking in depth

I will do my best

She tried to look at his face, but it was becoming blurry from her teary eyes. She sniffed, and tried to gain composure, but once he spoke she soon lost it again.

"Don't cry, Peyton. Please don't cry, I don't know if I could take it." Jake said, his voice shaking.

"I know, I'm sorry," She said as fresh tears rolled down her face. This was her fault. This was all her fault.

"No, don't be sorry... God, I wish this wasn't happening..." Jake said. Why was this so hard? The words of love, the memories, they happened. And they were all so real. So why was this so hard? Why was this happening right now? He didn't understand.

Peyton had heard of love fading. But this wasn't it. At least, she didn't think it was. True love doesn't fade. That's what she always thought. But her and Jake have true love. Or maybe they had it. Lost in a world of despair, her silent tears turned to sobs, and she could barely breath through them. This wasn't supposed to happen. This wasn't supposed to happen.

You say you wanna stay by my side

Darlin', your head's not right

See, alone we stand, together we fall apart

"Me too," Peyton managed to say, "I don't regret anything, Jake... Not one single thing," She said, calming down, but not looking at him directly yet. That was just too hard. What she was really saying was that although she was crying, and maybe in a bad place right then, she was in a way happy. She was happy that she had been able to enjoy their love and time spent together. She was happy that they had made love.

Maybe she had been a little too happy. After that memorable night, she had felt closer to him than she had to anyone, even Brooke. She felt like he knew her better than she did. She felt like he understood her, like he completed her. And she knew he felt the same. She knew from the way he kissed her, from the way he touched her, and from his sincere loving words.

"Me either... I still love you, you know? With all my heart," Jake said, happy to hear that she didn't regret a thing, but still a little sad. He wasn't angry, wasn't disappointed. He definitely wasn't surprised when she had brought it up. They both knew this was coming. And they both dreaded the day the one of them would have to bring it up. And it was a million times harder than Jake had ever thought it would be.

Maybe Peyton needed more. Maybe it wasn't just his loving words, his kissed and the way he touched her. Maybe she just wanted him. All of him. All the time. But that couldn't happen. Hell, she was still in high school! And this relationship was more intense, more real and most people had a chance to experience in their whole lives. Making love just intensified their relationship. It just made her miss him even more when he was away. Which he was, most of the time.

It was just all too much. Too intense. Too close. Too serious. She couldn't get herself too deep into it, and living off of seeing him only twice a month. She knew he felt it too, which made it a little easier. A little, but not much.

"I know you do," I love you too, she wanted to say. But it was best to just leave it at that. It was just easier.

Yeah, I think I'll be alright

I'm working so I won't have to try so hard

Tables, they turn sometimes

"She just... she just wasn't your type." Lucas said, trying to make Jake feel better about breaking up with Angela.

"No, no, no, she was definitely my type. She was pretty. She was fun, and sweet. She made the first move... Do you think I made a mistake?" Jake said, but he could have answered that question himself. He knew he hadn't made a mistake. He knew he did what was right. He couldn't keep leading Angela on like that. Pretending that he was in it 100.

"Honestly, no. I know you liked her, and I know she was nice. But that's pretty much it. Jake, you're the one who broke up with her."

"I know..."

"So, there must have been a reason. Now, personally, I think I know the reason. But I'm leaving it up to you to figure it out. Hopefully, once you've found it you'll make the right decisions. Good luck, buddy." Lucas said, and then left Jake alone with his thoughts. Jake sighed. Of course he already knew the reason. It had been the same reason why he never found any inspiration to write a song anymore. The same reason he still had trouble sleeping at night. The same reason he couldn't seem to have a girlfriend for more than a few months in the last three years.

He was suddenly brought back to reality by his daughter, now almost seven year old Jenny, came into the room. She had that look on her face. That knowing look.

"Have you been listening to Uncle Lucas and Daddy's conversation?" Jake said picking her up onto his lap. She had a thing with eavesdropping. Such an intelligent young girl. She nodded shamefully.

"No more Angela?" She said. She wasn't sad, or happy. In fact, she had probably seen it coming. Jake had a thing with not letting Jenny get too close with whomever he dated recently. It had just been to hard after Peyton. Jenny missed her like crazy, but after a while, she stopped asking about her.

"No more Angela. I'm sorry, baby," Jake said. He didn't want to give the impression to his daughter that he was some serial dater, and never serious. But it seemed he was doing that anyways. Jenny was getting used to him starting relationships and then ending them soon after. But that still didn't make it okay. And Jake knew that.

"That's okay, daddy..."

"Hey! I've got an idea. How about we take a road trip, hun? Just you and me?" He was in a better mood already, when he saw his daughter's face light up.

"Okay! Where?"

"How about Tree Hill?" He said, expecting to dread the words right after they leave his mouth. But he didn't. In fact, he was disappointed that he didn't do this before. No more waiting around, he told himself. Jenny looked at him knowingly. She had been with him to visit Peyton in Tree Hill three years ago, but Jake had guessed that she wouldn't remember. Of course she did. "How about... we go see Peyton?"

Oh, someday...

No I ain't wastin' no more time

Peyton starred at the phone. Two days. They had only been broken up for two days. Then why did it feel like two years? Why did it feel like it had been so long since she'd heard his voice? The answer to those questions, she couldn't figure out. She didn't understand, she was the one who broke up with him. Yeah, but it's not like it was her fault! But it's not like it was Jake's fault either!

This ongoing argument with herself had been going on in her head for two whole, long days.

"You need to get out of the house," Brooke decided one day.

"Am I becoming pathetic?" Peyton said, knowing very well that she had reached the pathetic line, long ago.

"A little," She answered with a sympathetic look on her face.

"I need to call him," Peyton said for the trillionth time. Brooke always had the same reaction. For some reason she always believed her, got excited and waited for her to call him. And she never did. It seems that by now she had learned. She just smiled.

"Than call him."

"But see, I'm the one who broke up with him. He probably doesn't ever want to see him again or hear from me. I mean what message would it send. One day I break it off and then two days later I call him? No. This is just the kind of thing that takes time. In due time, I will get over him."

She never got over him. She waited and she waited. She didn't call him. Barely talked about him. For three whole years. And she wasn't over him. As she glanced at the phone right now, she couldn't help but feel the old Peyton inside her. The Peyton that spent days and days starring at that phone, hesitating to just pick it up and call him. And then never calling him. And spending three whole years not getting over him.

Her mind suddenly went somewhere, she never allowed it to go before. Jake. Of course she had always been thinking of him. However, she forced herself to push those thoughts aside. And sometimes it worked. But now, she allowed it. Where was he? What was he doing? Was he seeing anyone? Does he miss her? Has he spent days starring at the phone?

Her mind had never wandered so far. She found herself spending hours just thinking of Jake and Jenny. And something happened that she would have never even imagined. She slept better that night than she had in three years.

So, I sometimes say

"Fate my friend, you say the strangest things

I find, sometimes"

Peyton needed to go for a walk. Clear her head. Maybe shed some tears. She just needed some air. Grabbing her keys she ran out the door.

However, she didn't get very far. Because parked in her driveway, was one way-too-familiar car. She found her breaths getting shorter, her stomach getting lighter, and her head spinning. Because climbing out of the car was Jake Jagelski. And right next to him was little, or not so little anymore, Jenny Jagelski.

He looked over at her, right in her eyes. God, he had almost forgotten how beautiful she was. All the pictures, or dreams he'd had of her couldn't compare to the real her. But before he even had time to walk over to her, Jenny let go of his hand and sprinted over to give Peyton a hug.

She was surprised, confused, uncomfortable. And Jake could tell, even though she was trying to hide it. "Hey, Jenny! I missed you." She said, and Jake could have sworn he saw her eyes tear up a little. But quickly it was gone.

"Hi." He said.

"Hi, Jake." Peyton said.

Oh... someday

Peyton poured some coffee into two mugs and handed one to Jake. Jenny had been exhausted so she had been sleeping in Brooke's room. The hardest thing for Peyton to do was look at Jake, yet she couldn't keep her eyes off him. He looked good. The man she fell in love with. The man she was still in love with. The man that can to visit her, completely unexpected after three whole years of not speaking...

"So... how've you been?" He asked, looking a little nervous.

"What are you doing here, Jake?" Peyton asked. Not rudely, she just wanted to skip the small talk. They both knew that his reason for coming to Tree Hill was more than just to see how she was doing.

"Um... what am I doing here... yeah, that's um..." He said stuttering. But suddenly he took a deep breath and regained his composure. "You want to know why I'm here? Okay, well I'm not completely sure. But one thing I do know is that, I've missed you. Okay, I've missed you for the last three years. And if you didn't miss me, well then... I'm sorry for wasting your time." He said, and looked away uneasily.

Peyton drew a blank. She was speechless. Zero words were forming on her lips. He missed her? He had missed her this whole time?

"I guess," He continued, "I just... I had to see you, is what I'm trying to say. Because, Peyton, I think I'm still in love with you. In fact, I know I'm still in love with you." He sighed. He couldn't believe that he was saying this. He had a speech, a very well prepared speech but that was just thrown in the garbage. He just wanted to say what was on his mind. "I've been in love with you this whole time!"

"Jake-"

"And you know what?" Ok so Peyton was trying to say something, but Jake was on a roll here. He couldn't stop now, he had three years of thoughts to cover. "I think you've been in love with me this whole time, too. I know it. I knew it on the cruise when we first met, and I knew it when we left the cruise. I even... I even knew it the night we broke up, because if I've learned anything in my whole life, it's that when you have love in your life, you've got to hold onto it for dear life."

"Jake-"

"And so, I guess I'm here today, because I've wasted three years of my life ignoring that theory. And I don't want to waste anymore time."

"Jake-"

"Please don't say you have a boyfriend. Because if you do, I'll have to kiss his $$. Well, okay, not really 'cause I'm really not a violent person- but that's not the point. The point is that you belong with me." He said, pouring his heart and soul into that speech. He felt as if his life was on the line, which it may very well have been. He'd never wanted anything more in his whole life than just to have Peyton acknowledge him right then.

"Jake," She said, her heart racing at all the beautiful things he had just said. Is it possible to fall more in love with someone you were already deeply and madly in love with? Because if it is, than she just did. "Just... stop talking."

She reached up to touch one hand to his cheek, she had missed this. She smiled when his breath got caught in his throat at her touch. Their lips finally met, in a passionate, long-overdue, earth-shattering kiss.

And finally, everything was as it should be. Jake was with Peyton. Peyton was with Jake. And that's how it was going to stay.

I ain't wasting no more time

---

AN: So I know that was really, really long, but once I got started it was hard to finish! haha, I really hope you enjoyed reading this story, guys. You should know that your support for this fic was amazing, and I loved all the reviews. It made me so happy to read them all and know that some people are enjoying my writing! Much Love from me to you! and don't forget to submit one last review! Thank you guys so much!

Song Credit: Someday, by The Strokes

Oh! And please look out for my two upcoming fics! One Naley one called Inevitable and one Jeyton one called Simply Because. They'll probably be posted next week!