A/N: I do not own One Tree Hill, and I am so sorry it took so long for me to update.
Peyton was sitting on the end of the bed trying to stop the queasy feeling that arose in her stomach every morning. She wasn't sure how long the morning sickness was going to last but she was definitely ready for it to end. Eventually the motion in her body became too much and she perched herself in the bathroom the same way she had every other morning for the last month. She was brushing her teeth when she heard the front door open and her best friend's voice fill the air.
"P. SAWYER, GET YOUR SCRAWNY ASS DOWN HERE AND WELCOME YOUR BEST FRIEND HOME TO TREE HILL."
Peyton wiped her mouth happy to hear Brooke's voice. It had been weeks now since they had seen each other. She was supposed to arrive last night, but weather had deemed otherwise. She rushed down the stairs careful not to trip, but quickly enough to envelope the brunette in a hug before she could get out another sentence. The embrace was welcomed by both women and much needed.
"You know, it has been a long time since I have been called P. Sawyer. I like it."
"Well, I don't think Lucas deserves having you using his last name after everything that's happened." They parted and Brooke looked over her the women she considered a sister. "I am glad to see you are filling out. You must be eating healthy? Or at least enough for two?" She stated with a questioning glance. Knowing Peyton was stressed and this meant she might not be holding herself up so well.
"Yes Brooke, I am eating enough. Karen has been making sure of that. I swear she gives me enough food for a football team."
"Well, good, you need it." She said while grabbing her bags and following Peyton up the stairs to the guest room. "Thanks again for letting me stay here."
"Brooke, this is practically your house too. I mean, we both grew up here."
"I know, I just don't feel very useful right now. I sold the store in New York, and I honestly don't know what I am going to do. I know I wasn't making anything with it but at least I wasn't going in debt. Although with that Gucci store moving in next door, it was only a matter of time before they put me under. Nobody knows who 'Hoes over Bros' is." Tears were flowing through her eyes. Peyton knew that it was now time for her to be strong for the woman who had done the same for her.
"Brooke, it will be okay. I promise. Right now, I am making enough to pay the bills and save some. The house is already paid for, so you have nothing to worry about. Your designs are great, and we are going to get your brand recognized. It might take time, but we will get there, okay?"
"Thanks, Peyton, for everything."
"I love you Brooke, you have been my sister for as long as I can remember. We'll get through everything together. What do you say we go and let Nathan and Haley know you are back in town? They have been asking about you, and you need to see the boy Jamie has grown into."
"Sounds good, but you are going to change and put some makeup on. You look like crap." She said half-jokingly through dried tears and a smile.
"It's this damn morning sickness. Hope you are ready to live with all my symptoms of pregnancy, including hormones."
"Like you said we'll get through this together."
"Yeah, we'll see if you're still saying that next week." The blonde smirked before heading to the bathroom to get herself presentable.
Nathan was watching Jamie play in the pool when the gate to the backyard swung open. "Lucas…" He said acknowledging his younger brother's presence. The first night of Lucas's return to Tree Hill, he had come to see Nathan and Haley after Peyton had left his house earlier in the day. Haley's reaction to her once best friend was something he hadn't thought about and definitely didn't expect.
"What are you doing here? I thought you would have sense enough to stay away from me fully understanding that I know what you did." She said coldly and turned her back to him to finish preparing a meal for her family.
"Haley, I never meant to hurt and I know I screwed up" He sat down at the table and grabbed his hair with his hands. "She walked into mom's this morning, and she couldn't even stand to be in the same room. I wish I could go back and undo it, but I can't. I can't live without her either; I don't know what to do."
"You wouldn't be in this mess if you could keep it in your pants. You know how much she loved you, has loved you since as long as I've known her. And I thought you loved her since, what, we were five. And you never meant to hurt her, well news flash YOU DID. How could you? When you pursued Peyton when you were with Brooke in high school, I could forgive you because it was Peyton and I knew where your head stood with her. But who the hell was this woman, I hope she was worth it. Because you have no one to blame but yourself that your wife has left you and you've lost your best friend. Now please get out of my house, you can see Jamie on Sunday, but only because he loves you, not because I feel badly for you." She was so angry that her friend could do something to his wife of almost a decade.
Nathan had watched the whole thing and knew his wife was angry because Peyton was family and didn't deserve what Lucas did to her. Nathan himself had always felt protective of Peyton, even after they stopped dating. And that is why he was surprised to see Lucas come anywhere near his home now. But soon the thought filled his head that it was Sunday.
"Haley said I could see Jamie today. I can leave if you think that's best." He looked broken, but Nathan thought it was nothing compared to the mess he had left Peyton in.
"Jamie has been excited all week, you can stay." He didn't want Lucas around, but knew his son loved his Uncle greatly and for that he could make an exception.
"J. Luke, what going on?" He perked up when the small boy focused on him.
"Uncle Luke, can you just call me Jamie?" He said with a defeated look on his face.
Lucas looked at Nathan wondering what was going on, but all Nathan could do was shrug.
"Why not, little man? I thought you liked it when I called you that?"
"I did, but you made Aunt Peyton sad, so until she forgives you, I just want to be called Jamie." He pulled himself out of the pull, grabbed his towel, and went into the house.
"What are you guys telling him?" Lucas faced Nathan accusingly.
"Ha, nice, you screw up and when my son picks up on it, you go and blame somebody else for his feelings toward you. I suppose it is Peyton's fault you cheated too?" Nathan's anger rose with each word. He slowly approached the blonde man, and gritted his teeth. "Just let her get over you, and be happy. I think she deserves that. I know you definitely don't deserve her."
"Nathan, wait." He protested when Nathan began retreating to his house. "Why won't anybody listen to me? I messed up I know, but I didn't just wake up one day and say 'hey, I think I'll destroy my wife's heart today?'"
Nathan wished that Lucas would've have just let him walk into the house when he felt his fist reach Lucas's nose. He just scoffed when Luke fell backwards into the pool. "I can't believe you really expect sympathy from us, man? That is weak."
So I kind of feel like the plot is going nowhere. So I have plans for making it more interesting, hopefully. What will Brooke do now that she doesn't have a job, and what happened to Owen? (I know I only mentioned him once, but I will clarify their story.) How will Peyton deal with Lucas's constant presence everywhere she goes. And what will happen when an old friend of the gang returns to Tree Hill?