Responding to the Reviews…
toddntan: Peyton will leave Brooke and Lucas alone, don't worry (I'm not Mark, therefore not that evil). I can't say however that she won't get together with Jake (I always thought Jake made her a better person), but it surely will take some time. About the love triangle… Don't we have enough of those on the show? I mean, Peyton/Lucas/Brooke, then Lucas/Brooke/Felix..., then Chris/Haley/Nathan. And I don't see Jake falling for Brooke, sorry.
Brucas2006: Isn't it? I always liked the dynamics of Brooke's, Haley's and Lucas's friendship, it's something I can't get enough. Next we have the expecting daddy finding out about the baby… Oh, the possibilities! And yes, Haley is pregnant.
Author's Notes: I am so excited, happy and proud to say my little baby has had more than a thousand hits with only four chapters! You guys rock! Now, if only you left reviews, I'd kiss the virtual ground you walk on…
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine. The characters belong to Mark and CW; the plot belongs to Karen.
The Reuniting Song
By Julianna
Chapter Four: Snippets of Moments
By the time Haley, Brooke and Lucas left the kitchen, Karen and Deb only needed to take a look on the strawberry-blonde girl to know the results of her test. While the brunette older woman walked towards the girl she knew since childhood and took her in a tight, motherly embrace, the blonde looked shocked, even a little upset.
Deb's facial expression made Brooke narrow her eyes at her. Haley was not emotionally ready to hear anything but supportive words, especially from her mother-in-law. The brunette was about to step closer to the blonde, when she noticed a little blow-out wasn't exactly what Haley needed right now. So, she wrapped an arm around Lucas's neck and snuggled into his lap, her eyes never leaving Deb's blank face.
"What am I going to do?" Haley half-sobbed half-whispered as she clung forcefully to Karen. "I am not ready to have a child, Karen! And Nathan… Oh, my God, how am I going to tell Nathan?"
"Relax, Haley", Karen said calmly, leading Haley to a stool by the counter. "Take deep breaths and calm down", she instructed, looking up from the distressed girl to her son. "Luke, can you please get a glass of water for Haley?" She asked, her voice soft and her blue eyes reassuring. Lucas nodded and shook his leg slightly, for Brooke to get up so he could get up as well and do as his mother told him. Brooke jumped up, let go of Lucas and sat down on the stool he had just vacated.
He came back from the kitchen holding a tall glass half filled with water, and gave it to his mother, who in turn passed it to Haley. The latter was still deathly pale, and wrapped her slender fingers around the cool crystal, taking small sips from the clear liquid. "Calmer now?" Karen asked softly, stroking Haley's long golden hair. Haley nodded, breathing deeply. "Good. You'll be fine".
Haley nodded weakly in agreement, when apparently the news just sank in Deb. She leant heavily against the counter. "Oh, God", she whispered. "Dan will kill me".
Brooke's eyes glittered dangerously, and she opened her mouth to snap at Deb, but Lucas, knowing fully well his girlfriend, gently squeezed a naked patch of skin on her waist, for she was still sitting in the stool and he was standing behind her, an arm firmly wrapped around her slim body. Brooke squeaked at his squeeze and looked up. "Not now, Cheery", he whispered. She closed her mouth shut and nodded.
Karen ignored her partner, focusing fully in Haley instead. "That's what we're gonna do, Haley. Those things can't be trusted, so we'll take a blood test, okay? If the test comes back positive, then you tell Nathan. There's no need to worry him if it's only a scare".
Haley looked at Karen then nodded silently.
Jenny was still comfortingly snuggled against Peyton, her round baby cheek resting lightly against the blonde's small breast. Her breath was relaxed, even, and every now and then the baby girl would rub her eyes with her left hand, her right hand playing distractedly with Peyton's long golden locks. "Daddy, I think someone's ready for a nap", the blonde whispered, planting a kiss on Jenny's blond curls.
Jake smiled and held out his arms for her to pass Jenny to him, but Peyton only shook her head negatively. "If we move her, she'll get cranky and cry. Why don't I carry her inside, put her on my bed and then we can sit on my living room and then catch up?"
The dark-haired boy smiled and nodded in agreement. Peyton carefully got up, swaying slightly as she struggled not to disturb Jenny and at the same time carry her better. Instinctively, Jake put a supporting hand on the small of Peyton's back, leading her up the small set of stairs and into the Sawyers' house.
As soon as Jake's long, calloused digits brushed against Peyton's soft, creamy skin, both shuddered slightly at the jolt of electricity that ran up and down their bodies. It had been so long since Jake had touched Peyton for the last time, that both had forgotten the spark they had always felt between themselves. Since Peyton made no move out of his grasp, Jake kept his hand right where it was.
Peyton cautiously climbed the stairs that led up to her bedroom, Jake right behind her making sure that she didn't fall down the stairs in case she lost her balance. Every now and then his fingers caressed the naked skin on her back and Peyton shuddered, her blood starting to slowly burn in her veins at Jake's butterfly touches.
Finally (or unfortunately), they reached Peyton's ample suite, and she expertly maneuvered her steps between the organized mess strewn all around her floor. The blonde kindly put the sleeping baby girl on her mattress, her hand lovingly brushing some strands of Jenny's hands out of her face, as she leant down and kissed Jenny's temple. "Sweet dreams, princess", she whispered.
The small girl snuggled against Peyton's pillow and fell in a deeper slumber. Jake and Peyton watched her for a moment, making sure she was really asleep, and then Peyton walked towards the door, taking Jake's hand in hers and leading him down the stairs, into the living room. They however left Peyton's bedroom's door slightly open so they could hear in case Jenny started crying.
They were supposed to catch up. However, no catching up was done once they reached the Sawyers' cozy living room. Instead, Jake took Peyton in his arms and held her close to his body, his lips hungrily claiming hers.
Nathan was working his afternoon shift at Simon's Snacks, like he did every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, when he felt his cell phone vibrate rapidly against his thigh. Quickly looking around and making sure all the clients were attended and no one was in need of ordering, he discretely took the phone out of his pocket.
It was a text message from Lucas, and it told him to go to Karen's Café once he was done with his shift. Frowning slightly, Nathan quickly replied to his brother, telling him he was going to do as told, but also asking what was going on. He snapped his cell phone shut as soon as he noticed his co-worker Matt openly glaring at him. Bravely fighting back an urge to flip the annoying geek-looking guy off, Nathan hurried towards an unattended table, smiling as pleasantly as possible to two teenage girls. "Good afternoon. What can I get you?"
To Be Continued
Author's Notes: This is the end of The Reuniting Song's fourth chapter. And finally Nathan makes an appearance at last – a small one, but an appearance nonetheless, considering I was having a bad time trying to imagine how I was going to make him show up (that's why I took so long to update).
We also have snippets of Brooke/Lucas moments (I used to love those, when they were on the background of a scene, just snuggling and looking cute) and a Brooke/Haley friendship moment.
And we also had a Peyton-in-mommy-mode's moment and lots and lots of Peyton and Jake's sexual tension – and it was hard for me because I was watching that episode where Peyton hooks up with Pete Wentz (I forgot the name!).
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. And please – pretty please with shirtless Lucas on top – review!
