Hey guys! Here's the newest chapter! This was written by Amanda (Ali-Chan) with some small help from me and Mags as the beta. Please read and review. Next up is Davis!

Chapter 7

May 2012

"Shoot Lynn!" Komala's voice rings out over Lynn and Lucas' laughter as she dodges her uncles feeble attempts to grab her and sinks the shot.

Lynn is still giggling when she sticks her tongue out at her uncle, "I won! But you cheat Uncle Luke."

"What?" Lucas feigns ignorance, "I have no idea what you are talking about."

Lynn places both of her hands on her hips in a stance and with an expression that looks so much like her mother it takes his breath away, "there's no grabbing in basketball."

"Says who?"

"Says..." The five-year-old trails, "there just isn't! That's not how you play basketball."

"There is too."

"Says who?" And with her words her expression changes to one of deviance and gone is Haley, easily replaced by her father.

"Well, Lynnie," Lucas tweaks her ponytail, "that rule isn't in the handbook of basketball between niece and uncle."

"But..."

"Lynn!" Nathan interrupts the banter, he's standing in the front doorway holding the cordless phone out in front of him, "phone."

"Yay!" Lynn breaks out in a run toward her father, upon reaching him she grabs the phone and slips past Nathan into the house, Komala following closely behind.

"She beat you again?" Nathan puts distance between himself and his daughters chatter and walks outside toward his brother.

"I was going easy on her."

"Right."

"That Haley?" Lucas knows he's taking a chance asking that of his brother, he'd been staying with Nathan for two months and the only time Haley had come up was when Lynn brought her up.

"It's Wednesday night isn't it?" Nathan couldn't deny that Haley was a good mother, maybe she didn't know to make a marriage work but she did know how to keep in touch with her daughter while she was on tour. She called like clockwork every Wednesday night at six, she and Lynn would speak on the phone for ten minutes tops because even though Haley was trying to be a part of Lynn's life she was still only five. And like most other five-year-olds you were either a part of Lynn's daily life or you weren't and as hard as Haley tried she couldn't be a musician and a part of Lynn's daily life.

"How's she doing," Lucas makes a shot at the basketball hoop that is hung over the garage door, instead of the lowered one at the side of the driveway that they use when Lynn plays.

"I wouldn't know," Nathan shakes his head, he tries to play like it doesn't kill him that he and Haley just can't make things word and for the most part he plays it well.

"But you guys always talk before you give Lynn the phone." Lucas had always held onto the hope that the brief conversations Nathan always locked himself in his study for were movements toward reconciliation.

"Parent stuff, filling Haley in on how Lynn is doing in preschool and daily life."

"You guys don't ever talk about just the two of you?"

"Ever?"

"What do you want me to say Luke? We don't."

"So then what's going on with the two of you?" Lucas rebounds his ball and holds it under his arm, the conversation has moved from a casual on the court topic to more serious. "Neither one of you are willing to sign divorce papers. So, correct me if I'm wrong, that would lead people to believe that you guys are working through your problems. You can't just keep going like this, for three years you guys have been separated. Yeah, yeah, I know you were together for a couple of months before she left on tour again but Nate..."

"We're waiting for her tour to finish."

"Things aren't going to get less complicated then Nathan, the problems the two of you have are still going to be there. And there's a little girl in that house who's hoping for her mother to come home so that she can have the both of you living in the same house again."

"She," Nathan pales at this, "she said that?"

Lucas nods, "she's expecting Haley to come home, to this house, and for you to be a fammily again. You can't keep this up anymore Nathan, you have a little girl who is to young to understand that her parents may or may not be getting back together."

"I'd do anything for that little girl," Nathan swears, "I love her more then I have loved anyone."

"I know you do Nate, that's why you and Haley have to figure this out. You either have to commit yourselves to this marriage, for real this time, or cut your loses. But you can't keep that little girl waiting. Talk to Haley, for real."

"Daddy," Lynn appears in the still open doorway, "Mom wants to talk to you again."

Lucas and Nathan exchange glances before he jogs toward Lynn and Lynn again returns to her uncle's side, before whispering, "she's going to ask Daddy if we can go see her play in 'cago next weekend."

"That's great Lynn, but you know your dad may not be able to go..." Lucas knew that he had gotten through to his brother in the moments before but he wasn't sure that he'd gotten through enough for Nathan to pick up and go to Chicago.

"Then you can take me!" Lynn grinned, "Mama is sending tickets for all of us."

Lucas' mind immediately flashes to his dimpled pretty girl, "I don't think I can make it Lynn. I got some stuff to take care of."

"But..." Lynn' blue eyes cloud over with tears.

"Lynn, can I talk to you?" Nathan leans against the front doorframe his expression serious as he leans down to have a conversation that Lucas can't overhear. For a minute Lucas is afraid that Nathan is telling his daughter that they won't be going, but Lynn's shriek of joy immediately convinces him otherwise.

"Where's she off too?" Lucas questions when he approaches Nathan after Lynn has dashed back into the house and dragged Komala off with her.

"To pack, Haley is sending us all tickets to her concert in Chicago next weekend. I tried explaining to her that it's a week and a half away but she won't you know how she is, once she gets an idea in her head. So we're going."

"Good."

"She's sending you a ticket too, she'd like for you to be there."

"You know I can't go there, Brooke will be there..."

"So I refuse to see Haley and I get a speech, but you're just allowed to avoid Brooke until the end of time?"

"I'm not married to Brooke."

"That's true," Nathan nods, "but you love her, don't you?"

"Of course I do, but it's not that simple. I ruined her marriage to Jake."

"Because you loved her and because, as much as she wanted to, she didn't love Jake."

"She hates me for that, and you know what? I don't blame her. Brooke has always wanted was to have the life her parents never gave her, to get married and settle down and have kids. She nearly had that with Jake, and I ruined that."

"You should talk to her."

"Sorry little brother, but I wouldn't waste your breath. Because just like you, Brooke has kids to worry about and with our track record who knows how it would end? It's not fair to put those two little kids through that, they've been through enough."

There were a few things Peyton Sawyer knew about herself and her life. She knew that no matter where her life took her Tree Hill would always be her home. She knew that music was a piece of her soul she'd never be able to part with. And she knew that for better or worse there would always be a connection between her and Lucas Scott. But once again Brooke had Lucas, even when she didn't have him.

He'd showed up on her doorstep a month after Karen's funereal to say good-bye. To tell her that he had sold his childhood home and that he was going to California to spend sometime with Nathan and Lynn. He promised to call and keep in touch but there had been a look in his eyes that had told Peyton that he do any such thing. It hurt but it didn't surprise her anymore then the fact that she hadn't heard from Haley since Karen's funereal, leave it to Brooke to play the pity card so well that everyone saw her side.

Peyton was always the bad one. The horrible best friend who made all of the mistakes. Who said and did the wrong thing at the exact wrong time. And yet she still had Jake. Jake hadn't turned his back on her. He didn't judge her for the things she did wrong. No, if anything they were closer now. They talked on a regular basis and even if he would never be Lucas he was enough. For now.

And so that's how she had ended up in the city of Chicago. She was going to surprise Jake, to tell him that she was ready to try things with him again. They hadn't technically talked about it, taking that next step, again. But she has a good feeling about it. Jake was hers. He had always been hers and she found comfort in that. And even though he had Emma and Jack there would always be them. Yes, he could take care of her until she got Luke back.

All these thoughts had been running through her head for weeks had brought her to his apartment. It's what spurred her to ring the doorbell, the speech she'd practiced on the plane running through her head while she waited.

"Peyton," the door flew open revealing a frazzled looking Jake holding Emma. No, this wasn't the way it was supposed to happen; it was Brooke's weekend with the kids. She'd checked and double-checked that fact. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

"I came to surprise you for the weekend."

"Peyton," Jake shifts Emma as the little girl lets out a hacking cough.

"There's something I thought we should talk about, can I come in?"

"Peyton, this really isn't…"

"Please, Jake," Peyton could see all of her best laid plans washing down the drain before she could even put them into action.

Jake sighs inwardly before moving aside and letting Peyton pass through, "make yourself at home. I'll be right back."

Jake disappears down the hallway and Peyton attempts to calm her nerves by taking in Jake's apartment. On a brief first glance anyone could recognize the telltale signs of a bachelors apartment, with a couch and a TV taking up most of the living room and a Nerf hoop attached to one side of the wall. But a further inspection would reveal half of a baby doll sticking out from under the couch and a Thomas train engine sat on top of the TV and a hundred other little things there were sure indicators of children.

When Jake finally emerges from the back bedroom Peyton wraps her arms around him, "you look great Jake."

Jake returns the hug warmly but his expression turns serious when he pulls away, "Peyton, what's going on?"

"Let's sit," Peyton leads them to the couch but the instant she sits, as rehearsed in her head on the plane, she forgets her lead-in. "I want to try things with us again."

"Peyton," of all the explanations Jake had come up with for Peyton's unexpected visit that had not been one of them. They'd been talking lately but he hadn't gotten anything more then a friendly vibe between the two of them.

"Jake you and I," Peyton's speech comes back to her with a deep breath, "we've always been just that. You and me. And I miss you, and I know the long distance thing might be tough, but I'd be willing to…" A cry can be heard from the back bedroom and it cuts Peyton off, "I thought this was Brooke's weekend with the kids?"

Jake clears his throat, he'd been so careful to avoid this topic. He knew how hurt Peyton was by the Brooke induced shunning. "Haley's here, on tour so Brooke asked to switch weekends."

"Haley's here?"

"And Nathan and Lynn."

"Is Lucas here?"

"No."

Peyton pauses, they've gotten so far off their original topic but she can't get her head to stop thinking about all of what Jake has just said.

"Peyton…"

"Jake," Peyton grabs his hand tightly, "I meant what I said. I want to be with you."

"Peyton," Jake shakes his head sadly, "there's so much going on with my life right now. Brooke and I…"

"Brooke and I?" Peyton echoes hollowly, "there's a Brooke and you again?"

"There's always going to be a Brooke and me, we have Emma and Jack and that's not going anywhere. But, no, there's no romantic connection. But we're talking about switching around the custody arrangements a little bit. She's talking about going back to school and if she does I'll have the kids more."

"That's great!"

"Yeah, it is."

"You know I love those kids."

"I know Peyton, but it's more then that. I work full time and I go to school and if I have the kids more…"

"I can help you, we can make it work this time."

"Peyton, I can't do this right now. I want to, god I want to, but I have other obligations. And I can't play this game we'll end up playing"

"There's no game Jake."

"You're still not over Lucas and you're pissed off that everyone has sided with Brooke. You don't want me, not really."

"I do, I do want you."

"Maybe it's not a conscious decision Peyton, but deep down this is some ploy to make Lucas jealous or piss of Brooke. Or both, and I can't play that game."

Damn Jake, Peyton couldn't help but think. Damn him for knowing her so well. The crying starts up again and Jake can't help but give Peyton and apologetic look, "I have to get him before he wakes up Emma. I'm sorry."

"I understand, it's late for both of them to up."

"But more then just that, for all of this. If I led you on."

"You didn't," Peyton stands, "I'll go."

"Good-bye Peyton."

She watches him go, taking weeks worth of hope with him. Before she leaves the apartment she allows her eyes to roman the room one last time. On a table near the front door, and next to a pair of keys, Peyton spots a picture she's committed to memory. It was a picture of what had been the groups last days of normalcy, even if they hadn't known it then. It had been taken that summer they'd spent a week with Nathan and Haley. Mark had taken the picture capturing one of those perfect moments. Nathan had his arms wrapped around Haley, his hands resting on her flat stomach that had yet to give away her pregnancy. Lucas held Lynn as the little girl pressed a kissed against her uncle's cheek. Jake had Brooke had their arms wrapped loosely around one another, Brooke all dimples in her smile and Jake still obviously suffering his loss of Jenny in his. And then there was her, slightly off center but beaming nonetheless. Just happy to be with her friends for the first time in so long.

Finally Peyton has to drag her gaze away from the picture, afraid she'll smash it or cry, or both. And that's when she sees it, the backstage pass with Haley James and Chris Keller written on it in bold letters. She picks it up, turning it over and over in her hands to study it before slipping it into her back pocket and finally letting herself out.

Little did Jake know that she wasn't planning on giving up that easily. She was tired of being rejected. Tired of playing second best. She would get Jake and she would show him that she could make him happy. She could help him take care of the kids just like she had helped with Jenny. She would have a family again. She shook her head as she climbed into the car. No, she wasn't giving up that easily and Jake would soon be her's.

Haley sat, facing the mirror as she tried to prepare herself for the show. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breathe. No matter how many times she took the stage she was always a little shaky beforehand wondering what would happen. A knock on the door caused her eyes to shoot open. "Who is it?"

The door swung open. "Only your favorite person ever." Brooke grinned as she stepped inside, shutting the door behind her.

"Brooke!" Haley jumped up from her chair, hugging Brooke tightly. "Oh, I missed you SOOO much!"

With a smile Brooke pulled back. "Hey, you're the one that's been traveling the country on tour." She settled herself onto the couch. "So how has it been?

"It's been awesome. I've gotten to see so many different cities and meet so many great people. The fans are great." With a sigh, she sank down beside Brooke. "The only thing that has sucked is being away from Lynn. I miss her so much." She shrugged. "And I miss Nathan. We only talk when it's about Lynn."

"If you miss Nathan so much why aren't you getting back together?"

"It's not that simple, Brooke. He still hates me for leaving on tour but there's nothing that I could do. I had to go otherwise they would've sued. I blew it."

Brooke shook her head. "No you haven't. Until he files for divorce you still have a chance." She paused. "Why have neither of you filed for divorce?"

"I don't want a divorce. I've been waiting for him to file, but he never does."

"He probably doesn't want a divorce either." Brooke shook her head. "You need to talk to him while he's here. You need to figure out what the hell the two of you are doing. This has gone on too long."

Haley nodded. "I know. We need to figure it out, but I'm almost afraid to hear his answer." She paused. "And ever since Karen's funeral I've been feeling guilty. Seeing Dan again reminded me of the fact that I'm hiding something huge from Nathan. If he finds out that I know that Dan killed Keith, he would be devastated."

Brooke grabbed Haley's hand. "We agreed at the time that it was better that the boys didn't know. They were going through so much at the time, why put them throught the stress? And it's been so long now that there's really no point in telling anyone. All it would do is hurt them."

"I know." Haley glanced up, her eyes glazed over with tears. "But I feel so guilty. I hate keeping anything from him."

Brooke wrapped her arms around Haley. "I know that you do, but it's for their own good. If this comes out all it will do is hurt people."

Peyton's eyes widened as she processed what she had just heard. Dan had killed Keith? And Brooke and Haley had kept it from Nathan and Lucas? How could they do that? She slipped away from the door quietly, her mind running a 100 miles per minute. She needed some time to think about this and what it could mean for her. What she could do with this kind of information. She made her way to the audience so that she could enjoy the show while she considered her options.

"She loved the concert," Nathan nods down at Lynn who is asleep in his arm. "She stayed awake for the whole concert, but it's late for her."

"I understand," Haley nods shifting her weight uncomfortably; Brooke's words were still weighing heavily on her. "I'm sorry I couldn't come to the airport, our sound check ran over…"

"It's fine, Brooke picked us up, minivan and all."

"Good," Haley nods, when had this happened? When had they become the divorced couple with out divorcing? Maybe Brooke was right, maybe it was time to end things.

"We should talk," Nathan gently lifts Lynn onto the couch careful not to wake her.

"But Lynn…"

"Is out, she'll be out for awhile. This is the only chance we're going to have to talk alone, we're having lunch with Jake and Brooke and the kids tomorrow. And then Lynn and I fly out in the afternoon, she has school."

"Right," Haley nods, "so…"

"So this is it," Nathan's eyes lock on Haley's. "We need to make a decision tonight, we either need to be married or sign the divorce papers."

"I know," Haley's eyes fill with tears, "what are we going to do?"