Hey everyone! So, chapter 20! I am so sorry it took me so long to get this up; I had it written but then I had exams and it all got a little tiring. Thanks to brucas622 though, who gave me the extra little push I needed. And I promise, the whole Lucas/Brooke/Samantha situation will be resolved, but all in good time.

So it's still Christmas day, and what are the other families doing? I've realised we haven't checked up on the kids in a while so here's a little age reminder:

Brucas: Tristan Scott-Davis is 13. Naley: Carter Scott is 12, Ryan Scott is 8, Laura 'Lollie' Scott is 4, and Keira Scott is about seven months old. Jamie Davis is also seven months old and Katie and Callie Scott are 5 and 2. Jenny Jagielski is now 15.

Also, because I forgot about him, let's say that Tristan was at Lucas's at the time of Brooke's 'incident'. He is still staying with him, Samantha and the girls.

And I hope you don't mind, LilAngel413, but I used your Nicki from 'Project Baby: 9 months' in this chapter. I hope it's ok!

So, Peyton is at Brooke's, but what is everyone else up to? We'll find out, shall we?

"Mommy, mommy, stop sleeping! It's Christmas!" Haley opened her eyes wearily to find Laura clambering on the bed and Ryan trying to wake Nathan with a plastic mallet. She slowly sat up, trying to ignore the splitting headache she had, a result of Christmas Eve's 'THJH Teachers' Bash', which she had attended with Nathan.

"Happy Christmas sweetie." Haley sighed. "Now, are you going to be a good girl and get up?"

"But I wants to open my presents!"

"You can open your presents as soon as you get dressed, Lollie. There's a box just over there in the corner. You can wear that if you like." Haley smiled and Laura gave her a puzzled look, but went over to investigate the box anyway. She lifted up the lid, gasped and held up a pink leotard and tutu.

"Oh Mommy, it's so prettyful!" she exclaimed. "Like a ba- balli…"

"A ballerina?" Haley offered, to which Laura nodded enthusiastically. "Come here, let me help you put it on.

As Haley pulled back the covers and tried to hold down the nausea, Ryan piped up with, "Don't I get a present?"

Nathan groaned melodramatically and sat up in bed. "Go wake your brother, and have a little look in the toy cupboard."

Ryan ran out of the room shouting for Carter to wake up, and Haley leaned across to kiss Nathan. "Merry Christmas, Haley-bop." He picked up his dressing gown and wrapped it round him. "How's the-" he glanced at Laura. "H, A, N, G, O-"

"I'm not silly you know." Laura jumped up on to the bed. "You and mommy both have a poorly head and an icky tummy."

"You do?" Haley tilted her head and pulled her hair into a ponytail.

"Yeah, Carter told me. It's because you had too much of that thing... I can't renember, but it sounds like six."

Just as Haley and Nathan were trying to work out how to tell Laura that their eldest son evidently didn't know much about hangovers, they heard the child in question shout from the other room.

"Ryan, look! Remote control cars!"

Nathan laughed and called back.

"They're all powered up, so just flick the switch on the bottom and have a play. Downstairs, mind."

"Thanks Dad!" the boys chorused, at which Haley cleared her throat loudly. "Thanks too, Mom!" they ran past the door and down the stairs to play with their new toys. Laura followed them.

"So, honey," Haley snuggled up closer to Nathan, "have I got a present?"

"Well, we'll have to see about that…" Haley gasped in delight as Nathan slipped his hand under the cover.

oooOOOooo

"How's my new baby girl on her first Christmas, then?" Samantha shook her head and smiled as Lucas caressed her distended belly.

"You do realise that a) it might not be a girl, and b) it's not actually her, or his first Christmas yet, right?" Samantha leant down to kiss Lucas. They giggled and Lucas looked towards the door.

"You know, I think the kids are still asleep…" he said suggestively.

"Correction." Tristan snapped as he walked past. Lucas shot an apologetic look at his wife and got out of bed to follow him.

"Hey Buddy. You having a good Christmas so far?" Tristan turned to face Lucas, a scowl on his face.

"Well, let's see, my mom just tried to kill herself, and I'm stuck here with you and Samantha the sap. 'I think the kids are still asleep'? Come on! How do you think I am?"

"Tristan, don't say things like that."

"Why, because they're true?" Tristan turned away from Lucas and retreated to his room, slamming the door behind him.

oooOOOooo

As the doorbell rang, Jake peeled himself away from the crappy holiday TV he and Jenny were watching to see who it was.

"Hey, Jake," the pretty brunette said.

"Nicki, I told you, I don't want you anywhere near me or my daughter. Jake started to close the door, but Nicki held it open.

"Our daughter, Jake. And I notice that you didn't include your skanky ho of a girlfriend in that list. Now why is that?" Nicki sighed. "Look, I just want to talk to Jenny on Christmas. Where's the harm in that?"

Jake paused, unable to find the strength to protest. He opened the door wider and let Nicki in.

"Jenny?" she called.

"I'm in the living room." Jenny replied.

Nicki followed the voice until she found Jenny sitting on the sofa, channel hopping. She turned her head and looked up, her face dropping when she saw who it was.

"Pumpkin, just hear me out? It'll only take a few minutes."

Jenny considered this, before nodding warily. "Ok, but I'm fifteen, so don'tcall me pumpkin."

Nicki was silent for a moment before beginning.

"Honey, I was only eighteen when I got pregnant, and Jake – your dad – was only fifteen, so no one expected us to keep you. But we did, and we both loved you very, very much. We took you out for walks, played with you in the park. Do you remember that, Jake?" Jake just looked at Nicki, his face portraying neither a 'yes' or 'no' answer. Nicki continued. "Anyway, when you were about four months old, I went back to college, and looking after you as well was tough." At this, Jake's face turned to a look of 'yeah, right'. "So I started to have to spend more and more time at school to catch up on homework I was missing, and eventually your dad kicked me out, because apparently I was a bad mother. Nicki looked at Jake, who just laughed.

"Don't believe any of it, Jenny, it's all lies. She never went to college, and I-"

"Dad, hold up. You lied to me for the whole of my life, and you-" she looked at Nicki, "weren't here to tell me the truth. So I really don't know who to believe." Jenny shrugged.

"Jake, can you pass me my purse?" Nicki asked. Jake passed it, reluctantly. "I have some pictures of us all when you were a baby. I thought you might like to see them." As she pulled out the photos, a slip of paper floated to the floor. Seeming not to notice it, she proceeded to talk to Jenny.

Jake picked up the piece of paper and turned it over. It was a cheque, with the amount of $3000 made out to Nicole Turner. Puzzled as to who would give Nicki so much money, he looked across at the name of the account holder. It was signed 'C Harrison'.

"Nicki," Jake asked, as he held up the cheque. "Why the hell did you get three thousand dollars from Carla Harrison?"

So, that was it – I hope it was worth the wait! I promise ten times over to have the new chapter up sooner that this one was. I'm thinking of tying up some if the loose ends in this story, so if there's anything you think has been left unresolved, tell me and I'll try and sort it out for you. But until next time, ciao!