Thank you to my reviewers: Nataliegirl1214, hybridwolf10, xSmile, lilmonkeygirl31, deli41321, NaLeYBaBiixo, JeniRose, Duckygirl, iftheyonlyknewthetruth, and CCScott23.

Nataliegirl1214: I love the perception / reality divide and how it can play in stories. So I'm glad you enjoyed the way I used it.

deli41321: The Sarah / Faith thing was deliberate, and at the end of the chapter she actually became just Faith. It's supposed to symbolise the transition from one life to another, and may (I'm not yet certain) show up later. And there is some interesting Nathan and Haley stuff coming over the next few chapters, even though they won't be in all of them, so keep tuned.

I was going to post this last night – but couldn't in the end because my computer is still playing up. So I'm doing it now. I hope you like the chapter – it's sort of a transition chapter, but it does have a bit of Brooke and Lucas and Jake and Peyton, for those who were missing our supporting characters.

Haley's expression was calm as she looked at Nathan, seated directly across from her in the living room of her suite at the Plaza. A green door behind them, framed by their chairs, was closed on the bedroom in which Faith was now sleeping.

Nathan fidgeted a little, uncertain as to what Haley was thinking.

"Look, Haley, we need to organise something, okay? We need to be prepared about this, and not mess the kid up too badly in the process."

"The kid, Nathan?" Haley's expression was disgruntled.

"Faith! You know what I mean." He rolled his eyes. "It's not like I was calling her 'it', Haley."

"No, I suppose not." Haley's expression softened. "Look, Nathan, I'm taking a big chance on letting you be around Faith, especially right now. My lawyer says I still have a pretty good case for sole custody, but you're right, she could use a father right now. I just need to know that you can be that father. That you want to be that father. So I'll let you have that chance. Don't let me down."

Again.

Nathan, shocked at Haley's speech, paused for a second.

"I won't let you down, Haley."

Haley smiled faintly at her husband.

"You had better not."

Brooke Davis was not used to silence, and there was far too much of it in her room. All she could do was sit, and think, and worry, and she was no good at that. It just made her obsessive. Like, what if the weirdo escaped from jail and made off with Faith again? Or, what if Haley and Nathan had crashed their car while they were on their way to pick Faith up?

Although, that last one wouldn't have happened, because Faith was already here, in the hotel, in Haley's suite. Brooke hadn't seen her yet, but Haley had called as soon as Faith had gone to her room.

Apparently she was tired, and had gone to sleep almost immediately on arrival. Brooke could understand that – she didn't understand why anyone got up before noon voluntarily, anyway.

So now, Brooke was waiting until Haley and Nathan decided it was time to introduce their child to their friends. Luke, of course, had met her already, but he was family.

So now Brooke regretted having refused to marry Broody when he'd asked four years ago. She would have had access to Faith already by now if she had.

A knock sounded on Brooke's door, and she leapt up from her bed, where she had been sitting cross-legged, staring at the wall.

Peering through the peephole, she rolled her eyes and opened the door.

"Hey, Broody."

"Hey, Cheery."

Strangely enough, Lucas was the one who looked cheery right now. But then again, he had actually been allowed to see Faith.

"So – is she back? What's she like? Is she pretty?"

Lucas laughed.

"Yeah – she's back, and she's pretty, but I don't really know what she's like yet. She's really quiet, and seems shy. Sort of like Haley was? And she looks like Haley, too, only she has Nathan's eyes."

"Ooh – a looker. Nathan's gonna be such the overprotective father when she hits her teens!" Brooke's nose wrinkled in thought. "Or maybe right now, actually. I mean, given the circumstances. God!" she exclaimed. "That kid's never going to be allowed out of the house!"

Lucas laughed again. "You're probably right."

"So, anyway, can I visit? I know Haley said to stay away while they picked her up this morning, but surely we can go up now?"

With a nod, Lucas reached for Brooke's hand. "That's why I'm here, Cheery. Nate called. Apparently we can go up now. Haley wants us to be there for our god-daughter when she wakes."

Brooke cheered.

Finally.

Peyton and Jake were exhausted, having just arrived, finally, in the city that never sleeps. Not that it would be at this moment, anyway, given the fact that it was 11.30 in the morning.

Having finally got a flight in the early hours of the morning, they were dragging a semi-comatose Jenny along with them in their headlong rush towards the Plaza Hotel.

Apparently, Haley and Nate had already picked up their daughter from the orphanage, she had gone for a nap, and right now, Peyton, Jake, and Jenny were all missing out on their first chance to actually see Faith since she had been recovered. Brooke and Lucas had rung them, a call they had received within moments of stepping off the plane, to tell them that when they arrived, they should go directly to Haley's suite.

They had, however, caught the breaking news from the airport: a story on Faith's retrieval showing a dazzlingly happy young girl with beautiful, talented and protective parents. A true story, and yet incomplete.

Because they hadn't actually seen Faith in person yet.

And they were long overdue.

Jenny started to stir between them in the back seat of the taxi.

"Are we there yet?"

Peyton looked at her stepdaughter, smiling. "Almost, honey. Are you looking forward to seeing Faith?"

Jenny looked confused.

"Will I get to meet her? I though she might be too scared to meet everyone."

Peyton frowned.

"Haley seemed to think it'd be fine, baby. Apparently she's a very friendly child."

Jenny didn't look convinced, and Peyton and Jake exchanged concerned glances.

In the darkened room, Faith lay curled on the bed, clutching Tigger. She was so excited, and so happy to be away from her father, and her mommy and daddy seemed so nice!

But she didn't know them, and she couldn't help but worry.

What was going to happen if she was bad, like she was before? What if they decided they didn't like her, or didn't want her any more? They were so pretty, and so nice – surely they could get any daughter they wanted?

And, after all, who would really want her?

Does anybody realise which important characters have been left off this story so far? Because some of them, at least, will be coming up soon.

Please review.