Author's Note: Yes, guys, for those still wondering, this is the B/L story I promised. But this is another long one so it might be a while...

Peyton quietly stood in the line of the local Starbucks. She needed caffeine in the worst way. The day had not been going well and it was still before noon. For starters, she hadn't been able to sleep well the night before. Then she had somehow managed to burn breakfast, complete with initiating the smoke detector and all. As if the wretched smell hadn't been enough, she had happened to hear what she thought was Nathan and Haley getting it on in the shower. To top it off, she still wasn't in touch with her father and Lucas was nowhere to be found, holding up the close on the sale of the beach house. All in all her Tree Hill R&R was turning into a major stress fest.

"Welcome to Starbucks, would you like to try an Orange Crème Frappuccino?"

"Why not?" Peyton grumbled, digging in her wallet for the money.

She paid for her drink and sat in the corner with her back towards the entrance. To her surprise, the Frappuccino was not half bad, it had actually turned out to be pretty good. Perhaps her luck was changing, she thought as she reached in her bag and pulled out her cell. She pressed the option to automatically dial Lucas' cell. It rang twice.

"Hey, this is Lucas Scott. You've reached my voicemail, obviously I can't get to the phone right now. Please leave your name, number and a detailed message and I will be sure to return your call. Thanks."

Beeeeppp!

Peyton sighed into the phone, annoyed.

"Hey Luke, it's me, Peyton…again. Look, I don't know what's going on but I really need to talk to you. It's important so I'd appreciate it if you returned this call along with the ten others."

She hung up with a scowl. So much for luck.

"See? That's precisely why I never got married."

Peyton looked up after hearing the familiar voice to see an equally familiar face.

"Jake Jagielski," she smiled.

"Peyton Sawyer," he grinned as she stood and they hugged.

"Have a seat," she invited him as he accepted, drinking his Espresso.

"It's been a long time."

"Christmas wasn't that long ago."

"Maybe not," he shrugged. "Hell, I'm so busy with work it just feels that way."

"How is working going?"

"Pretty good. Business is picking up."

"And how's Jenny?"

Joy spread across Jake's face every time the real love of his life, his ten year old daughter, Jenny's name was mentioned.

"She's great. Jen is doing real well in school. She made Honor Roll the entire year and she's involved in Girl Scouts and soccer."

"That's really wonderful, Jake."

"Yeah. And to top it off, she started ballet a few months ago. She really loves it and she's good too. I swear I'm not just saying that because I'm her dad. Anyway, she has this big recital coming up and she invited Nathan and Haley to come. When Haley told her you and Lucas would be in town by then, she got super excited. You know, Jenny, she's a real ham. She can't wait to show off in front of everybody."

"And I can't wait to see her."

Peyton had been in Jenny Jagielski's life since she was a baby. Friends first, eventually Jake and Peyton had gone on to date. With her father out of town more often than not, her boyfriend and his infant daughter had even moved into the Sawyer home for a time. The relationship had been short lived due to the drama of Jake's former girlfriend and Jenny's mother, Nikki. After months of kidnappings, custody battles and bitter arguments, eventually Jake had left for Savannah, Georgia to share joint custody. Once he turned 18, he had been allowed to return to North Carolina and he and Jenny had lived together in Tree Hill ever since. The child saw her mother on holidays and a few weeks in the summer while her father struggled to build a life for them both.

And what a life it had turned out to be. He worked full time to put himself through a two year IT program at the local community college. After graduation, Jake had found a job with an up and coming computer company but in the past year had finally realized his dream and opened up his own shop not too far from Karen's Café that sold and repaired PCs and laptops. Over the years he had remained in touch with Lucas and Peyton and he and Jenny had seen them often. He had only dated here and there but nothing had been able to erase Peyton and Jenny's bond. She had always been like a mother to the little girl.

"She'll be so excited. Like I said, Hales told us you were coming to town and possibly staying for a while."

"Yeah."

"That's great. I kind of overheard you on the phone with Luke. Is he not here yet?"

Peyton frowned.

"Actually no and I don't know where the hell he is but I sure wish he would hurry up and get his ass to Tree Hill."

"Yikes. Didn't mean to bring up a sore subject."

"It's okay," she shrugged. "We've been trying to keep it amicable but a few bitter arguments are bound to happen here and there in any divorce, I guess."

"Any what?" Jake spit out his Espresso after choking on it.

"I take it Haley didn't tell you that part."

Only a few people actually knew about the impending end of the Sawyer Scott marriage. Apparently Karen, Keith, Haley and Nathan had been tight lipped about it.

"No. No way. Peyt, are you serious? A divorce? Really? You and Lucas?"

"Yeah."

"What happened, if I can ask?"

"Nothing big or sudden. We're just heading in different directions wanting different things. Besides the fact that he is MIA and holding up the close of the sale of the beach house and for that I'm gonna put my foot in his ass, we really still are the best of friends. The marriage wasn't a mistake or anything and we treated each other good. We were happy for a long time but now it's over."

"Wow. I, I'm just stunned. You two were always so great together."

"It's okay. I think it's safe to say Lucas and I will always be in each other's lives. We're fine with that."

"I'm gonna have to tell Jenny."

"Do you want me to tell her?"

He shook his head.

"I can handle it but what do I say when she asks about the recital? I mean, will you and Luke both be there?"

"I told you Jake we're not fighting. I wouldn't miss it for the world and I'm sure Lucas wouldn't either."

"This is pretty intense. And I thought it would be intense when you two saw Brooke Davis again after all these years."

"It won't be tense for me. A little weird, yeah, but not tense, at least I hope not."

"She's Jenny's dance teacher."

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised. This is a small community and Haley already told me she moved back and opened up a school."

"Yeah."

"How is that working out?"

"Good. Jenny loves Brooke and Brooke loves Jen. And Brooke is a great teacher. She really did well for herself with the dancing career and everything. She's here with her boyfriend, Cameron. He's a cool guy, one of those outdoor countrymen type, the last kind of guy you'd expect to see Brooke with but they're great for each other. She seems really happy."

"That's nice."

"So um, how is everything else going for you? How is work?"

"It's work. I love it. I'm taking a break now though. I kind of came down here to get away from it all but so much for that."

"What's wrong?"

"Well, my dad dropped a big one. He's dating again."

"Cute little lady with dark hair?"

"You know about her?"

"I've seen them out together in town."

Peyton nodded.

"Did you know she and her teenage daughter are now living in my house with my dad?"

Jake's eyes grew wide.

"That again I didn't know. Damn, I'm just all out of the loop."

"Join the club on that one. It was a surprise. I surprised him by flying in a few days early and he surprised me with a whole other family. Go figure."

"How is that living situation going?"

"It's going without me. I'm crashing the pre newlywed party and staying with Nathan and Haley."

"I'm sorry, Peyton. It looks like you got a lot on you at once."

"It's okay. I'll manage. I always do."

"You should have come to me before. I have an extra room and Jen would have loved for you to stay. So would I."

"I'm fine. Besides, it's bad enough imposing on one set of friends. Hopefully I'll get stuff figured out. And sorry I didn't call before to let you know I was in town. I'm like a horrible friend and I swear I was gonna get around to it. But with my dad and the lawyers' last minute stuff selling the house…I just got busy and tied up."

"It's understandable. I just hope you're feeling better."

"I'll be okay."

He looked at her and smiled.

"I know that. You always were."

"What do you mean?"

"You've had a lot dumped on you practically your whole life, Peyt. Life wasn't fair to you a lot of times with a lot of things. So many people in your position probably would have crumbled or given up a long time ago. But not you. You're a great person and probably one of the strongest people I know. You bounce back from everything. You'll get through this, Peyton. You always do."

"Thanks," she smiled.

"You'll work it out with your dad, Lucas will call you back and you two will get all your business straight and hopefully you'll get to reconnect with Brooke and that'll be a good thing."

Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if all those predictions came true?

"I hope so."

"So what are you doing for the rest of the day?'

Peyton shrugged.

"Nothing much. Just checking on my Maid of Honor duties for the wedding but other than that. Actually, I was thinking about going to that old record store downtown. We used to have a lot of fun there besides, even in New York City you can't get that kind of underground selection."

"That place isn't too far from my shop. If you aren't too busy you could stop by later."

It was on the tip of her tongue to decline but Peyton suddenly stopped herself. Why not? She wasn't doing anything but getting more depressed and aggravated by the minute. It would be a good thing to keep busy.

"Okay. I could stop by and see Karen and Keith as well. I've been putting that one off too. I know, I suck all the way around."

"I don't know about that," Jake chuckled. "Anyway, I have to get back to work. But I'll keep a lookout for you."

"Definitely."

"Jen gets out of her Scout's meeting at four. If you're up to it, it'd be a great surprise if she got to see you today."

Just the thought of that beaming smile and those beautiful eyes of little Jenny made everything else Peyton was going through, seem trivial.

"I'd love to see her."

"Great. Then I'll see you this afternoon," Jake gave her another hug. "It was really good seeing you again."

He was one of her oldest and dearest friends.

"Right back at you."

"Take care of yourself, Peyton," he looked right in her eyes.

She nodded and watched him leave. At least she had plans for the rest of the day. Spending time with Jake and Jenny was always fun. And it was always enough to bring her out of any mood…well, almost enough. She glanced down at her phone. Where the hell was Lucas?