Hi! Sorry it's taken me so long to update – I've had no internet connection for weeks!
I've just seen the episode where Jake comes back the day after the prom (it's only just been shown in the UK), but in my version he still took six years to return.
(And Haley didn't kiss Chris either – I hated that!)
Please review! I really want to know what you guys think!
Enjoy…
Peyton blinked. It took her a few seconds to work out that she was no longer in Georgia with Nick in the bed beside her; in fact she was in the spare bedroom in Lucas's house.
She got out of bed and went downstairs to the kitchen. Katie and Callie were at the table and Lucas was making waffles. He looked at Peyton and wolf whistled. Once again, she realised that she wasn't exactly appropriately dressed – this time it was a strappy camisole and tiny shorts.
"You wouldn't be trying to seduce me, would you?" Lucas joked as he took a waffle out of the machine and handed it to Katie.
"Oh God, no!" Peyton laughed. "I'll go and change." She returned a couple of minutes later wearing a khaki skirt and a black spaghetti top. Lucas and the girls were at the table eating.
"Mind if I join you?"
"Sure." Lucas pulled out a chair. "Samantha's at the gym. Apparently she's still working off Callie."
Peyton looked at the clock. It was only quarter past eight.
"She's an early bird." Lucas explained. "We were thinking maybe breakfast and then straight over to Haley and Nathan's, so we'll get there around nine?"
"Yeah, that's fine."
"Haley and Nathan's!" Katie exclaimed. "Daddy, you didn't tell me we were going to Haley and Nathan's!"
"'Aley! Nafun!" Callie chorused.
Peyton looked at Lucas.
"Their youngest, Laura." Was all he had to say.
"She's my best friend." Said Katie proudly.
Lucas explained that Samantha had to work – even though it was a Sunday – so they left a note on the kitchen table for her and set off for Haley and Nathan's.
As they drew up outside the house, it became clear to Peyton that it was very different to Lucas's. Not just the size – there were toys all over the garden, the inside of the car was covered in crumbs and stray crisps, and one of the windows had a baseball sized hole in it.
Lucas didn't even knock; he just opened the door, went in and called out "Hales! Carter threw a baseball through the window again!"
Haley, wearing a sweater, jeans and a baby bump, hurried to where Peyton and Lucas – with Callie in his arms - were standing in the hallway – Katie had already run off.
"Peyton! It's so good to see you!" Haley gave Peyton a hug and Lucas a peck on the cheek, then shouted up the stairs. "Kids!"
Thundering down the stairs came two older boys and a younger girl holding hands with Katie.
"Line." Haley said.
The kids formed a line and the oldest boy opened his mouth to speak.
"Is there like a rulebook for parents in this town or something?" Peyton whispered in Lucas's ear.
Lucas was going to whisper back but got cut off by the boy.
"My name is Carter Nathan Scott, and I'm 11. On behalf of my siblings, I'd like to welcome you back to Tree Hill."
"Oh, Haley totally didn't write that." Peyton whispered. Once again, Lucas's reply was cut off, this time by the younger boy.
"I'm Ryan James Scott, and I'm eight. Mom stays at home with us and Dad is the basketball coach at the high school."
"I'm Laura Jessica Scott – I'm four. I like ballet and singing. Mommy is teaching me to play keyboard. And I hate basketball."
"Ok, now you three –" Haley indicated Laura, Katie and Ryan "can go upstairs. Carter, I want to talk to you about that window."
"But Mom…" Carter moaned.
"No buts. Luke, you can take Peyton into the kitchen – Nathan's in there working out game stats. Oh, Brooke's bringing Tristan round later."
Peyton and Lucas wandered into the kitchen, where Nathan was pacing. He didn't look up.
"Oh by the way Hales, I don't think I told you how much I enjoyed last night." Peyton started to speak but he cut her off. "Thirteen years and three kids later and we've still got the heat!" he looked up to see Peyton and Lucas smiling at him, and blushed ever so slightly. "Peyton, Luke. Coffee?"