Mary met her little sister two months after she was born. The first time she saw her, Maggie was buckled up in the back of Nathan's car. He and Haley had come to pick the little girl up, since Peyton had finally allowed to take her for the day. It was very confusing for Mary. Who was that baby? Were Nathan and Haley baby-sitting? Was the baby their child? No, it couldn't. Last time she had seen Haley she wasn't pregnant and it hadn't been that long, had it?
Nathan wanted to tell Mary that the baby was her sister, but he couldn't, not yet. Soon, he told Haley that night. Soon, they would be able to tell Mary that Maggie was her sister. And that he was her father.
12th of October 2008.
Haley was waiting for Nathan to come home. He had been in court all afternoon. The verdict was supposed to be today. She heard the door slam and soon enough, Nathan entered the kitchen. His face was unreadable.
"The judge said I was legally her father and that I should have custody." He said in a monotonous voice.
"Well, that's great." Haley replied. It was a good thing. Right? Why didn't he seemed happy? "Nathan?"
"Peyton appealed against the judgement." He added somberly.
"What?! How can she do that?" Haley was furious.
"There's a good thing though, we will have Mary every second week-end, starting next month, and there is nothing Peyton can do to stop that."
A few days after Mary's 7th birthday, Peyton told her there was something they needed to talk about.
"Sweetie," Peyton began, "Do you know what happens when a child is born? Who is there?"
"A mommy." Mary answered.
"Yes, and who else?"
"Uh, doctors." The little girl guessed.
"Yes, but who else, in a family? Peyton asked?
"Uh." Mary was confused.
"There is also a father." The blonde woman said. Peyton knew that there was risks that she would lose the trial, and since Mary was going to be with Nathan every second week-end she thought she had to tell her. "You remember Nathan?"
Mary nodded.
"Well..." Peyton hesitated. "He is your father."