A/N: So are you guys liking the story… It's kind of taken on different twists, and I like it. I've decided to include all the characters, and focus on how they've changed and how Tree Hill plays a part in their lives even as adults. Thanks for the reviews – I really appreciate them. Enjoy.

Chapter 9 – Peyton to the Rescue

Brooke was in her pajamas, and Peyton was pretty sure she hadn't showered in a week. Dishes were strewn about, and the TV was blaring some re-run. "Brooke." Peyton said standing in the doorway.

"Peyton?" Brooke managed to pick her head up. "What are you doing here?" Peyton could tell she had been crying.

"Ollie called me. He's really worried about you. What's going on?" Peyton stared down at her friend who had already shove her head back into her pillow.

"Peyton, just leave me alone. Please." Brooke said, her voice muffled a little.

"Okay, well you're lucky you have three scared boys downstairs. That is the only thing getting you out of this," she turned to leave, "for now at least." She said quietly as she headed downstairs.

"Hey guys." She looked around the room at the mess. "So how long has she been like this?"

"I don't know. A couple of weeks." Ollie told her quietly.

"Why didn't you call me sooner?"

"We figured she'd snap out of it."

"How have you guys been eating?"

"Mostly carry-outs," Ollie informed her, "she gave us her credit card to use."

"Okay, well, have you guys been going to school?"

"Yep, I made sure." Ollie was a pretty mature 13 year old, and Peyton was really proud to be his Godmother. She smiled at him.

"Okay, well first things first. Let's get this place cleaned up." She headed towards the kitchen which was an even bigger mess than the rest of the house. She took out two large garbage bags and handed them to Alex and Sean. "You guys go around and pick up all the garbage you see, Kay?" She instructed. The two boys set to work, while she told Ollie to pick up all the dirty dishes. She set about picking up the kitchen. When the boys returned she had Ollie and Sean take the garbage out to the curb, and then had them pick up all their toys etc. and put them in their own rooms. The house was beginning to look like a house again. The kitchen was just about clean all she had to do was mop the floor, and finish one more load of dishes.

"I'll vacuum Peyton." Sean volunteered after the toys had been picked up.



"Thanks sweetie. Ollie why don't you and Alex go upstairs and collect all the laundry you can find? Then we'll go to the grocery store."

The place was clean for the most part, and it had only taken about an hour. They were back from the grocery store and the three boys were helping Peyton put things where they went. "Do you guys have any homework?" She asked. She could tell by their looks that Ollie and Sean did. "Why don't you guys get started on that, and I'll get dinner started." The boys didn't argue. They were actually grateful that they had someone to look after them. "Alex," she looked at the youngest, "is your room clean?"

"Sort of." He replied with a mischievous smile.

"Why don't you go start cleaning it, and I'll be up to help in a bit."

"Awe, Peyton do I have to?"

"Yep." He walked up the stairs. She started dinner, and headed downstairs to start the two tons of laundry the boys had brought. They were probably out of clean underwear. That's probably why they called her. Peyton laughed at the thought. She went back upstairs, checked dinner, and then headed upstairs to check on Alex.

He was sitting in the middle of the floor amidst clothes and toys. "Whatcha doing?" She asked walking in his room.

"Peyton, is my mom going to leave?" He asked tears in his eyes.

"Of course not, baby. Why would you think that?" She sat down next to him and held him on her lap.

"Because Daddy left, and now mommy is so sad, and I don't want to be all alone."

"Look at me, buddy." She held his small face in her hands. "Your mom loves you very much, and she's a little sad right now, but she's going to get better. I promise, and until she does I'm going to be here." She reassured the little boy.

"Thanks." He said, and kissed her on the cheek.

"Now, let's get this room cleaned up!" She helped him for a bit, and then headed downstairs to finish dinner. After dinner the boys seemed a lot happier than when she first arrived. Peyton brought a plate up to Brooke who still didn't want to talk. She just left it on the nightstand. The boys watched TV while she continued to tackle the laundry.

"Okay, Alex let's get you upstairs and into a bath." Peyton instructed as she carried a basket of laundry up the stairs.

"Do I have to? I just want to watch the show then I will."

"Nope, come on. It's getting late." He reluctantly headed upstairs. "Boys can you" she placed the laundry basket down, "fold and separate this laundry, please?"



They nodded, and began their job as she followed Alex up the stairs. She started a bubble bath for him, while she cleaned the bathroom. "So" she was scrubbing out the sink, but stopped to turn towards Alex, "I hear it's almost your birthday."

"Yep, and then I'll be 5!" He said excitedly.

"Gosh, you're getting so old." She told him.

"I know." She smiled at him, as she bent down to wash his hair.

She finished his bath, put him in his pajamas, read him a story, and tucked him in. He was pretty tired from all the cleaning, and he seemed to fall into a stress less slumber. She headed back downstairs. The laundry was folded neatly into piles. "Kay guys you need to take your laundry up and put it away. I'll take Alex's."

After that was done Peyton put the last load of laundry into the washing machine. When she walked back into the living room Sean and Ollie were watching TV again. "You guys finished your homework, right?" The both nodded, not looking away from the TV. "Okay, well half more hour and then you two need to get showers and get ready for bed." They nodded again, and Peyton headed upstairs to make sure the guest room wasn't completely destroyed. She checked in on Brooke who was sleeping again, but had finished the plate. Peyton shook her head; Brooke was always so confident, so self-reliant. It broke her heart to see her friend in this condition.