'Knock, knock' Peyton hums as she lets herself into Lily's room with an expertise that comes with being a parent to a thirteen year old. 'Can I come in babe?'

Lily is sat curled on her bed. She sits up a little straighter and nods nervously.

'Your room has changed since I was last in it' Peyton notes. 'No more unicorns'

Lily laughs. 'There's not been any of those in a while'

'No, I expect not' She kinda wants to cry at that. It emphasises the time past. The time lost. Her eyes scan a poster of Haley James on the wall. 'Hales and not me? That hurts Lil'

Lily's cheeks become hot. 'There was one of you but I took it with me to college to put on my dorm wall' She confesses hurriedly.

'I was teasing honey'

'I know but I do have yours on my wall at college'

Peyton eyes her, entertained because her own daughter's don't share Lily's enthusiasm over her career. 'Yeah? the Ravens poster?' She assumes.

'No. Hoes over Bros'

Peyton smiles because her choice of album is fitting considering it was the first album Peyton made after splitting with Lucas. It holds a lot anger and resentment, much like the eighteen year old before her clearly has. 'You know Brooke Davis?'

'Your best friend? The owner of Clothes over Bros?'

'That's right. Hoes over Bros is something we always said in school so thats where the title came from. A little tit bit of inside secrets for you there'

Lily relishes in Peyton's divulging. 'That's pretty cool'

'She thinks so and also thinks it means it's her album' Peyton laughs. 'So if you ever want to get on her good side you now how to talk her up... Wow' Peyton stops her surveying of the teens room and admires the slightly scuffed up guitar in the corner.

'That was Dad's'

'Oh I know. I've not seen this bad boy in too long' Peyton trails her hand over the familiar instrument. 'Do you play it?'

'Kinda. Not really. Not like you'

'Honey I can't freaking play a guitar to save my life' Peyton snorts. 'I always left that to your brother...Do you remember your Dad playing?'

'Mm. He use to play me to sleep'

'I bet he did' Peyton smiles. 'Lily Scott do you know what I woulda given to have that live performance every night' Peyton shakes her head and sits down on the bed, guitar in toe. 'Your Dad could really play'

'Mum always says he coulda been great but he wasn't interested in any of that'

'He was great. I count my lucky stars that I was someone that got to witness his talent. So should you. He didn't share it with many people so it made it all the more special..I know you were little but I guarantee you woulda had the most special performances, all his best songs were written about you and your Mum and Luke'

Lily's jitters at being around the famous Peyton Wolf abate a little, her irritation instead taking hold at the mention of her brother again.

Peyton ignores her disgruntled expression. 'Here. Play me something?' She extends the instrument to the teen.

'Oh no' Lily frantically shakes her head. Her nerves swiftly returning. 'I really can't. I'm not interested in any of that anyway'

'Music?'

'Oh no, I- that-I love you- music, I mean your-all-not all-I love music just not-I don't want to be like Luke' she rambles nonsensically.

Peyton nods slowly, overlooking the eighteen year old's flustered babbling. 'Honey you're Lily Scott. Music is in your bones. I'm not saying you need to have a career in it. But you playing your Dad's guitar can only be a beautiful thing'

'You've not heard me play it' Lily snickers with a small smile. 'I'm not good like Dad or Luke, I'm just' She shrugs her shoulders.

'Do you like doing it? Does it make you feel good?'

'When I'm upset or pissed off I like doing it. It makes me feel better'

Peyton smiles. 'Well. Today seems like the perfect day then doesn't it?' She extends her weapon out to the sheepish girl again.

Lily's brown eyes flicker down to the guitar and then back to her audience. She sucks her bottom lip into her mouth as she gingerly takes the instrument.

Peyton hates the look that encompasses the teens face then. 'Lil can I be honest with you right now?' She murmurs as she watches the young girl before her flounder. Lily nods. 'You're making me jittery girly' Lily's brow furrows. She's making Peyton Wolf jittery?! 'I use to play hide and go seek with you when you were this high' Peyton wavers her hand before her. 'I've sung you to sleep on a handful of occasions too not that you probably remember mind'

'I remember' Lily murmurs.

'Yeah?' Peyton smiles. 'Well why on earth are you looking at me like I'm some other species right now?'

'You're...you're Peyton Wolf' Lily shrugs timidly.

Peyton widens her eyes. 'Uhuh. Always have been. And you're Lily Scott'

'No, you're Peyton Wolf.'

'And what's so special about that? I'm still the same person that tucked you into this bed when you were five'

'You're like...famous now'

'And I was then, you were just a kid and didn't know it. The fame thing, you know that's all a load of bullshit right? I reckon we're kinda similar' Lily shakes her head in disagreement. 'Uhuh, I use to like playing my Daddy's guitar an all you know?'

'You did?'

'Uhuh. Only difference is your Daddy wouldn't have screamed bloody murder at you for touching his guitar'

'You don't get on with Mick?' Lily wonders. 'Sorry' She adds after a beat. 'That's none of my business' She shakes her head.

'You can ask me questions Lil'

'I'm sure you get weirdos asking you personal questions all the time'

'You're not a weirdo. You're family as far as I'm concerned' Peyton shifts further back onto the bed.

'Family' Lily echoes, a little startled by the blonde's analysis.

'I know we've seen each other less and less over the years but that, that's just because it, it's hard for me, being here sometimes and I'm sorry for that. I usually try and catch your Mum at the cafe... You and her mean a great deal to me Lily' Peyton hums.

'We do?'

'Of course honey'

'You and Luke aren't together'

'No but that doesn't mean our past disappears. Nor all the moments I shared with your Mum and you. She was there for me so much when my own Mum wasn't and so was your Dad' She admits. 'I want you to know I'm still here for you... Here, where's your phone? Do you have my number?'

'Er...no' Lily blinks before fumbling with the guitar and shifting it onto the bed as she grabs her phone from the small bedside table.

'I want you to have it' Peyton takes the phone and keys in her details. 'You can call me, text me, anytime, ok?'

'...Ok'

'And to answer your question about Mick, we get on fine now' She hands the phone back Lily. 'We didn't use to at all. He wasn't really much of a Dad to me growing up. It took me a long time to forgive him for that, I'm still working on it to be honest' She divulges.

'He...drank...like Luke right?'

'That's right' Peyton nods. 'It's hard when someone you love does that to themselves'

'It's not just to themselves though is it?'

'No. No you're right there. It's not'

'How did you do it?'

'What?'

'Go out with Luke, after everything you'd been through with your Dad, I just, I thought you'd...I've never touched alcohol. I'm never going too. I swear that to myself everyday because of everything Luke's drinking has done' Peyton's face morphs into one of sadness; she envies this eighteen year old's naivety. She doesn't think there was ever a time when she'd been this innocent or sheltered from the world. 'I can't imagine ever dating someone that has that kind of problem either...'

'You can't help who you fall in love with Lil. Me and Luke met as kids. As we got older his drinking got more and more out of hand. It happened gradually. You'd think I'd have caught on that it was actually a problem sooner than I did...not that it would have changed anything. I couldn't control that anymore than I could control my feelings for him...you can go out into this world trying to control everything but believe me, the sooner you realise that's impossible the better' Lily bites her lip. 'I mean hell I still try to control everything but the more I try it's like the more powerless I feel' Lily smiles at that. 'What's so funny?'

'Just...you're kinda like the post powerful girl I know'

'Sure I have power. Don't get me wrong. I'm in a position where I can give my kids a life that a lotta people can't. I have a job I love. A job that provides me with opportunities where I can help others too...but it's also kinda isolating at times...meeting new people can suck. You don't know if they like you or this persona they've been shown through the media and...' She trails off. 'Why're we talking about this?'

'Cause you're a lot cooler than me?'

'Well I'm not. I can tell you that right now. I'm a big cliche Lily Scott. I've done every single damn thing that anyone would've predicted of Mick Wolf's daughter'

'I don't think so. You've not wound up in rehab' As soon as it passes her rose bud lips her hand darts up to cover her mouth, her eyes frantic as she shakes her head. 'Sorry I-'

'You heard about Jenny then?' Peyton assumes, batting away the teenager's concern over her words. 'Don't worry. You're right, I guess that is one predictable thing I haven't done. And it makes me real happy to hear you'll be following suit if you're planning on abstaining from alcohol'

'You think I'm stupid and uptight'

Peyton's brow shoots up. 'No. Not at all. Although I don't think you should set rules for yourself and I definitely don't think any rules should be based upon Lucas's past actions. You're not the same people'

'It runs in families'

'Sometimes'

'How'd you know you weren't gonna get addicted?'

'I didn't. I just didn't care, or wasn't smart enough to consider that like you are. I guess I do have addictive tendencies in some ways. I'm addicted to music' She grins.

Lily smiles. 'Being addicted to music doesn't really hurt people'

'Oh, I dunno. Sometimes it does. My kids have been hurt by me touring before. And my husband reads into every word I write'

'I guess that is hard. You have to be open to the world knowing your feelings'

'Mm. Although quite often the world reads things that aren't there or misses the meaning completely'

'Do you put them right?'

'Oh no, of course not. It's always a plus when someone doesn't get it! I like people to find their own meaning, everyone has a different story so it's nice that people can find their own links, you know?'

'Yeah' Lily nods. 'I think I do that but not linking to me...I always think every song you write is about you and Luke'

Peyton quickly becomes uncomfortable but does well to disguise it with a smile. 'Sometimes it has been. Sometimes not. We've got a lot of history- sometimes that makes for a good song'

'Why did you and Luke break up? Was it because of the drinking? Because of what he did to Dad?'

Peyton takes a deep breath. 'It wasn't one thing...' Lie. 'Things just became too difficult for us...' She licks her lips. 'Your Daddy told me to end it'

'He did?' Lily's surprised by this.

'He begged me too several times. He told me he thought it'd give Luke something to get sober for. Keith knew our relationship wasn't healthy at that point. He was right. I just didn't listen until it was too late...' Her nostrils flare.

'You never got back together though, you married Jake'

'Yeah...I don't think it was me that got him sober honey. I think it's loosing Keith that did that' The girl beside her isn't so much a little girl anymore. She's coming out the other side of her teens and that knowledge fuels Peyton's sudden apology. 'I'm so sorry Lil. I've never said sorry to you. I've said it a million times to your Mumma but you've never seemed old enough to have this chat...'

'I don't think you need to be sorry. Dad wasn't your fault'

'No, not directly. But I did play a part in it'

Lily says nothing. Waits with baited breath.

'I don't think you know this. Perhaps you'll feel differently about me when you do' Peyton trails her hand through her hair. 'I called your Dad that night. Me and Luke had had a huge row and he'd been drinking and decided he was going to go out. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't physically stop him from driving but your Dad was always a whole lot better at talking to Luke when he was like that so I called him. And of course he came... so you see? I was the only reason he was there...he stopped me getting in that car with Luke. He saved me that night' She nods. Blinks away the unwelcome tears that have gathered in her eyes because she won't cry. Can't.

Lily's brow furrows. She licks her lips. This information about her father's last moments are details she'd not known. '...Is that why you paid for my school fees?'

'What?' Peyton inspects anger and resentment not the calm face of the teen that faces her.

'I'm not stupid. Mum couldn't pay those fees on what she makes at the cafe and Dad definitely didn't leave us much financially speaking and Luke's income has always been sporadic' She babbles. '..that leaves...'

'Me' Peyton supplies with a heavy exhale, uncertain on what she should say. What Karen would want her to say.

'When I started school it was a public school but I was only there a while and then...'

'The kids knew everything that had happened with your dad and about Luke and were giving you hard time. Your Mum swapped you to another school but you were still hating it and crying everyday, do you remember that?'

'I remember'

'I know your brother isn't your favourite person babe, but when it comes to you and Karen he'll go to the ends of this earth' She confides. 'He really loves you. It was him that came to me about the trouble you were having'

'He asked you to pay for private school?' Lily's surprise is evident in her wide brown eyes.

'Well not asked me to but he told me what was going on and asked if he could borrow some money for a bit'

'And you just gave it to him?'

Peyton laughs. 'Hell no. Giving a recovering alcoholic a large some of money didn't seem like a great call' Peyton shakes her head, her amusement quickly dwindling as she thinks about that day and the civil conversation that had quickly turned heated in regards to other things. 'I sorted it out with your Mum'

'I don't know what to say'

'You don't have to say anything'

'I just, I don't like the idea of being a burden or you feeling like you had to... because of everything you just said and cause you'd been in a relationship with Luke. I don't hold you responsible for what happened. It's still on Luke. You don't owe me anything-'

'Lily. I wanted to. I could, so I did. Whether Keith had been here or not I still would've done that for you. For your parents. For Luke' She claims.

'...You're my trust fund for college too aren't you?' Peyton chews on the inside of her cheek. 'I get a mysterious letter on my first week of college with account details in my name and it's not signed from anyone...'

'Your Mum has already made a fuss about paying me back for your school Lil and I don't want a penny from her. I didn't want her kicking off about me giving you that too. It's for college. Nothing else. If I see you going off the rails spending that elsewhere I'll be intervening'

'I can work like the average student you know'

'Oh I know, it's more for your Mum. I want her to ease up. You know she's going to try and help you with college costs and I don't want her stressing...Honey don't look so upset about it'

'I just, I don't get why'

'Because I want to and can. I don't want any thank you's and I don't want you feeling bad about it either'

'I'm pretty sure Luke doesn't know about the trust fund does he?'

'It's none of his business what I choose to do with my money. But like I said, when it comes to you I don't think he'd care. You're really important to him Lil. He'd want you to have the best' Lily is silent. 'I know today is hard babe but I know you love Luke'

'He's my brother. Of course I love him I just kinda hate him sometimes too...especially today'

Peyton nods. 'I get that. I do too sometimes' She smiles sadly. 'But love is stronger than hate. It really is...your Dad loved Luke so much. His death wasn't in vain because Lucas stopped drinking. I thank Keith every day for saving him, because I really think he did and I know he saved me too. Neither of us would be here if it weren't for your dad Lil. I would've died that night in that accident and Luke would've drank himself to death...Your Dad would be over the moon that he's come here today. He'd want the three of you to be together to celebrate his life cause you three were his world Lil. Don't ruin what's left of his world. Hold onto it. Treasure it. Live it'

Lily smiles wearily. 'That sounds like a song'

'Yeah?' Peyton laughs. 'Well sing it to me already Lily Scott' She thrusts the guitar back into the teenager's arms.

'Fine. But only if you sing too'