Episode 17 Ch. 4 Family Dinner

Peyton and Lucas were standing behind the stove. They had cooked dinner together. Lucas was a way better cook than Peyton, but she wanted to help a little bit since her brother and his family were coming. Elizabeth and Lily were setting the table.

"Thanks for helping out guys," Peyton told them.

"No problem mom. It's not like we had anything better to do," Elizabeth told her mother.

"Actually I could have hung out with Jenny," Lily told them.

Lucas looked at her, "Jenny? I thought the two of you hated each other."

"Things change Lucas," Lily smiled as she finished with the table.

"Well I for one am glad that the two of you made up," Peyton told them.

"Me too," Lily walked to her room.

Lucas whispered to Peyton, "Where's Keith?"

"I tried calling him, but he didn't answer. I know I told him to be here, but he doesn't seem to listen to me anymore," Peyton said sadly. She felt like she was losing her son.

Lucas was worried about Keith, but he didn't want to push things with him.

Savannah and Charlie came running downstairs, "Mommy are they here yet?" Savannah screamed.

"They will be here…" before she could finish her sentence she heard a knock at the door.

"I'll get it," Savannah screamed and ran to the door. "Uncle Derek," she jumped into his arms.

"Savannah," he held onto her.

Peyton smiled, "Hi," she gave her brother a hug.

"Aunt Peyton," Mary Peyton screamed as she saw her favorite Aunt. She was a beautiful seven year old girl. She had curly hair much like Peyton's used to be, but her hair was very dark.

"MP you have gotten so big," Peyton noticed.

"I'm seven now Aunt Peyton," she said with her hands on her hips.

"Ah really…goodness you are getting so old," Peyton said in a cheerful voice.

"I'm not as old as my brother," she smiled at Aidan.

Peyton hugged Aidan, "How are you liking school?"

"It's pretty good. I love my job at the hospital."

"That's great."

"We are so proud of him," Caroline said of her son's accomplishments.

"Hey guys dinner is ready, and it smells amazing," Elizabeth told them.

"Great I'm starving," Derek told them.

Lily came out of her room, "Me too," she smiled.

Aidan looked at her and smiled. He thought she was absolutely beautiful. Lily smiled back at him. They had met once before, and she had thought he was cute then too.

"Then let's eat," Lucas said.

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Jacey has brought her bags to Breanne's house. "Are you sure you are okay with this Jace?"

"Yes, Breanne, I would do anything for you, and that little boy," she smiled.

"You are an amazing friend Jacey. I am so lucky to have you in my life."

Jacey sighs.

"Are you okay?"

"No," she finally admitted. "I have waited so long to be with Keith, and now it looks like life is getting in the way of our happiness."

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Jenny and Rob are sitting on his couch. They are cuddled up together. "This is so nice," Jenny admits. "I love being next to you."

"Likewise," Rob smiled. "I would love it if you went to college around here Jenny, but I know that your future is more important than my happiness. I know you are where you belong."

"I know that too, but I do miss you so much," she kissed him. "I miss that too."

"You promise you aren't going to find some hot college guy to take my place."

"I promise you that you are the only guy for me Rob. I'm gonna love you forever."

They kiss again. Jenny pulls away, "You know my dad seems really happy."

"Yeah I think he is going to make a full recovery."

"No I mean with Emily. He seems to really love her," Jenny was happy that her father finally found someone to love.

"Yeah I think they are really in love."

"Do you think she is as in love with him as he is with her?"

"You don't think the feeling is mutual?"

"No, I don't know she gave off a really weird vibe today at the café. She barely said two words."

"Probably because you are miss blabber mouth," Rob laughed and kissed her nose.

"Ha, ha, but seriously I think that she is still in love with Nathan." Jenny was a very smart girl. "I hope that's not true because my dad doesn't need someone that loves another man because trust me he's already been there done that and probably has the t-shirt."

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Emily was sitting on the couch when Jake came in with some tea, "I figured you might be thirsty."

"Thanks."

"So I wanted you to know something," Jake smiled.

"Okay," Emily said.

"I love you," he sat beside her.

She smiled, "Thanks for telling me that. I had no idea," she joked.

"I know I tell you all the time, but I want to tell you that for the rest of my life Emily."

She looked at him, and he got off the couch and bent down on one knee, "Emily Michaels will you marry me so I can tell you how much I love you every single day?" He smiled. He knew that he loved her with all of his heart.

The ring was absolutely beautiful, but she never thought that he would propose to her. It hadn't been that long since he had almost married Peyton.

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Brooke is sitting on the couch playing with Sophie. Isabella walks in and takes a seat next to her mom, "Hi," she told her.

"Hey sweetie," Brooke smiled. She looked at her for a minute and then focused her attention back on Sophie.

"I need to talk to you," Isabella told her. They really needed to talk about things.

"Okay," she was still looking at Sophie.

Isabella took a deep breath, "Mom I need you to look at me."

"Isabella I'm trying to play with Sophie."

"I'm sorry. I know that all of this is my fault, and that you blame me."

Brooke finally looked up at her daughter, "This is not your fault Isabella. You did not make my mother do what she did."

"But I brought her back into our lives. I know that's why you haven't been able to look at me in a week. It's okay that you blame me," Isabella continued to babble.

Brooke stopped her, "Honey," she put her hand on her shoulder. "I haven't been able to look at anything other than Sophie since the accident, and that has nothing to do with you." Brooke sighed, "I took my eye off of her for one minute and she vanished. This is not your fault because it is my fault."

"No it's not mom."

"It is my job to look after my kids, and I failed miserably. I promised myself that I would not take my eye off her ever again." Brooke had tears in her eyes.

"You didn't fail mom, and this isn't your fault. You are an amazing mother and hovering over Sophie isn't going to help matters."

"I know, but I don't lose her. I'm so scared of walking in her room and her not being there," Brooke was crying.

Isabella hugged her mom, "I know that it is hard mom, but you can't let what your mother did stop you from believing that you are the best mom on the planet."

Brooke smiled through the tears, "And you are an amazing sister and daughter. So please don't forget that."

Isabella smiled. She also had tears in her eyes, "Do you want to go get something to eat with me mom?"

Brooke hadn't been out of the house in a week. "Baby steps right?"

"We can get to go," Isabella told her. "Or we could take Sophie with us."

"I think I like that idea," Brooke told her.

"Me too," Isabella smiled. She was glad to know that her mom didn't blame her.

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Michelle and Andy are walking through the park holding hands. "I'm so glad that you closed the café early."

"Me too," Andy kissed her cheek.

"So Becky is going on tour," she told him.

He smiled, "That's great….That is great right?"

"Yeah I am so proud of my daughter. You know what I am so proud of all of my kids. Noah and Daniel are about to graduate high school, Spencer is getting his life back together, and Becky is living her dream. I am the proudest mother in the history of mothers," she smiled.

"You have an amazing family Michelle. I'm happy for all of you."

Michelle stops him, "I've been thinking about the future Andy, and I would love it if you would move in with me and my family."

Andy was a little shocked, "You want me to move in with you?"

"Yes, I would love it if I could wake up next to you every single day," she smiled. She loved him more than she ever thought possible.

"Um….I don't think that is such a good idea," he wasn't ready for that kind of commitment. "I'm gonna take you home."

"Andy," she stopped him.

"Let's just go."

She was angry, "You know what I'm pretty sure I can find my own way home."

"Let me take you."

"No thank you. I'm a big girl, and I can handle it," she walked off. She couldn't believe that he didn't want to move in with her.

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Becky is at home pacing back and forth. Daniel walks into the room, "What's up with you?"

"I'm um nervous," she told him.

"Um why?"

"Because I'm going on tour, and I don't know how to tell Jamie," she was so scared that he would ask her not to go, and she would have to break his heart and go anyway.

"Just tell him," Daniel made it sound easy.

"It's not that easy Daniel," she snapped at him. "Jamie and I are in love and I'm gonna be away for a couple of months, maybe a whole semester….that is way too long."

"Then don't go," he shrugged.

"Okay you are no help to me at all," she hissed at him.

"Becky if Jamie loves you then he will be happy for you, and he won't give you an ultimatum. I can tell that Jamie cares about. All you have to do is tell him."

"I'm scared."

"Don't be scared Becky. Just go tell him," he started to walk to the stairs. "Oh and Becky by the way I am so proud of you. Go get em lil sis."

She smiled. She hoped that it would be as easy as Daniel said.

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Back at the Leyton house the adults were sitting on the couches talking.

"Hey Caroline, Derek would you guys like something to drink? My wife here can only have water though," he laughed.

"Sure," Derek said. "Caroline would you like something honey?"

"No thanks I'm just going to drink water," Caroline said taking a sip of her water.

"Me too unfortunately. I love wine, but I love my little ones more," she patted her stomach.

They could hear the kids playing upstairs. Mary Peyton was the loudest of them all. "Is she being too loud?"

Lucas laughed, "No way that is quiet compared to our two."

"Sometimes we have to wear earplugs," Peyton admitted.

"Wow!" Derek said. He looked at Peyton, "How does it feel to be at home all the time with the kids?"

She smiled, "It's challenging, but I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. I love being at home, and Mia loves running the label."

Caroline is looking around, "Peyton I need to use your bathroom."

"Oh sure you can go to Lily's she's not in there."

"I'll be right back," she smiled and walked to Lily's room.

"How is she handling the move?" Lucas asked Derek.

"I think that it's new for her, but I think that all of my family has adjusted."

"That's good. We should have invited you guys over sooner. I am so sorry," Peyton told her brother.

"No it's okay I heard about Keith. Where is he?"

"We wish we knew," Lucas said.

"I tried calling, but he didn't answer," Peyton sighed. "He isn't really talking to us anymore."

"I could talk to him if you want me too," Derek suggested.

"That might not be a bad idea. I'm willing to try anything," Peyton said.

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Keith was still with his "brothers". He was very drunk. "I should probably get going,"

"Oh come on stay longer. We have a lot of things to talk about."

"Okay I guess a few more hours will be okay," he told them. He didn't care what his parents thought.

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