A/N: Hey everyone, sorry about the long wait (Well, relatively long wait, compared to the rest of the chapter Ud's). But no excuses, here is the next part! Reviews are loved: Criticism (constructive or otherwise), or just normal comments! Thank you!

"Alright, so the doctor said that we can get him tested in a couple of days, and that it'll be free since we have genetic history." Haley clicked off the phone, setting it on the counter between her and her husband, and waited blankly for Nathan's response.

It had been a week. Seven days. 168 hours. A week since Haley and Nathan had realized the danger Jamie was in because of his possible heart condition. A week since Brooke and Lucas had gotten back together, a week since Brooke had had the explosive argument with Peyton, a week since Peyton had retreated into her work and refused to let herself be drawn out. Apparently, Brooke had even spent a half a day in front of Peyton's locked office door, alternating apologizing and demanding that Peyton get her scrawny ass out there so they could talk about it. Not surprisingly, Brooke had received no response from the blonde.

Haley had just gotten off the phone with the head of the specialist pediatrics ward at Tree Hill hospital. Nathan looked at her worn and weary face. "Hales, I know I wasn't great at biology in High School, but I thought that since neither of us have HCM, that means that Jamie can't get it."

Haley ran a hand through her hair. "Well, there are two things. One, Jamie shares at least some DNA with Lucas. As HCM is genetic, there's a possibility that Jamie could share the gene for the defect. And, just because you don't have it doesn't mean you are completely free. You could be just a carrier for the gene, not showing symptoms but still passing it on. The chances are slim, but we know that things in Tree Hill surprise us sometimes. Most of the time. We just don't know at this point, Nathan."

"Haley, I'm sure everything will be ok. There's no need to worry." Nathan made to put an arm around his wife, but Haley drew back with an indignant look.

"Uh, there's a damn good need to worry. Nathan, you don't know what it was like watching your best friend run around, never knowing when he could pass out or have a heart attack at 17. Can you imagine what that would be like if our son had the same defect?"

"I know, I know," Nathan said, distressed. He kept his voice low. "But I promise you, nothing will happen to Jamie." It was strange that Nathan was the one who originally had the dream, yet he was the one comforting his wife now. This time, when he reached out to pull Haley in, she fell into his arms, but she still had that worried look.

"You can't promise that."

"Yes, I can. I'm Nathan Scott." That elicited a slight laugh from Haley, and she grimaced with a smile. "But hey," Nathan continued pulling their bodies away so he could look at her, "It's your birthday, and we shouldn't be like this. We should be celebrating! So come on, I'll go wake up Jamie."

Haley cocked her head to one side, listening intently. "I don't think so…" she said just as Jamie came down the stairs.

"Happy birthday, Mama," Jamie said. He held out a card. "I made you this!" Haley took the hand-made birthday card and lifted Jamie up, giving her son a hug. "You're gonna have a great day," Jamie promised with a sincere look.

Haley set him down, saying, "Well, it's already great, but I don't want any surprises from you two, ok?"

For once, Nathan conceded. "Fine, Haley, you won't get any surprises out of us. Right, Jame?" Jamie nodded. Haley was about to comment on the strange surrender of her two boys when the doorbell rang.

"Uncle Lucas!" Jamie exclaimed as he turned and ran to the front door. Haley and Nathan followed.

"I-I wonder how he knew it was Luke and Brooke?" Haley mused. Nathan fingered his ring nervously, but Haley didn't notice.

"I don't know, Hales. Maybe he just saw the car?" Nathan guessed. Haley shrugged as Brooke and Lucas came in the door.

"Happy Birthday, tutor wife!" Brooke exclaimed as she came in. She nearly ran to Haley, almost bowling over Nathan as Brooke gave her friend a hug.

"Hey, Tigger," Haley laughed, "Thank you." Haley was really at a loss for words; she hadn't been expecting this. She turned to Nathan. "Nate, come on, I told you no surprises," she said as she accepted Lucas's hug. Nathan shrugged.

"I didn't arrange this," Nate said, with a pointed glance at Lucas when Haley wasn't looking. Lucas was confused for a moment, but luckily Brooke picked up on it.

"What, Hales, we're not allowed to come wish our friend a happy birthday without Nathan getting in trouble? We came over all on our own!" Brooke explained with mock pride, placing her hands on her hips and smiling haughtily. Everyone in the entryway laughed.

"Well, thanks for coming," announced Nathan, beckoning them into the house. "Haley here didn't want any surprises from me or Jamie, so my hands were kinda tied."

"Oooh, that sounds fun," Brooke said absent-mindedly as they made their way into the kitchen.

"Mouth! Get up and get yo' damn booty call outta the parking lot before we get evicted!" Fergie's irritated, sleepy voice woke Mouth up from the other room. "I'm pretty sure Skills wants a place to live when he gets off his boat ride!"

"Millicent?" It was his first thought, as well as the first confused word from his mouth when Mouth raised his head. He hadn't been expecting her this early… he glanced at the clock. 8:47. Milli had promised breakfast, but said there were a few things she had to get done first.

"Mouth!" It wasn't Fergie yelling this time. The call was muffled from outside, and Mouth jumped out of bed, hurrying to the window. Opening it, he was surprised to find who was yelling to him from the parking lot beneath his apartment.

"Rachel, what are you doing here?" He asked. If he had been confused a second ago, it as nothing compared to what he was now. Below him, Rachel was swaying on the spot, waving gleefully up to him, as if overjoyed she had found the right apartment. Even from three stories up, Mouth could see her glazed eyes, though he thought nothing of them.

"Oh, you know," Rachel laughed, looking around the parking lot. Then she paused. "Actually, I don't even know… Oh yeah! Can I come in?"

Mouth looked back over his shoulder before turning back to Rachel. "You do know that there's a doorbell, right? That you can just walk right in? That you don't need to wake my neighbors and my landlord on a Saturday morning?" Rachel giggled. "Ok, come on up," he sighed.

A few minutes later, after Rachel had successfully made it inside (really, she was successful: it had taken a few tries to get in), she was leaning against Mouth's bedroom wall while he brought her coffee. He got back in, handed her a cup, then sat down on the bed and expectantly waited for an explanation for her outlandish morning call. Rachel sat down as well, anxious.

She got straight to the point. "Ok, Mouth, you know that storm in senior year, the one where the power went out and we spent the night? And you said you didn't want to kiss me until I wanted to kiss you back?" She said this all very fast, as if worried that it wouldn't come out the way she planned.

Mouth nodded. "Yeah, I'll never forget. Why?"

Deciding that sitting was doing nothing for her nerves, Rachel got up and paced the room, intertwining her fingers. "I had a dream the other night," she announced, and quickly recounted the dream of the light and the crushing darkness. "I don't think it was a random dream, either. I guess my subconscious must be telling me something, because I've had the same sort of thing every night since." Her nervous laugh that finished her speech sorely lacked humor. "I think the light was you. Or symbolized you, in some way."

"Rachel, what—"

"And I woke up wanting to kiss you. So that day, that day, that day we talked about, is today."

Mouth chewed his tongue nervously, thoughtfully, at a loss for words. Finally he decided on, "Rachel, you may have woken up wanting to kiss me, but I don't wake up wanting the same thing anymore. I'm with Millicent now, and I'm not giving that up." For the first time, he noticed the glazed expression, the wobbly, unsteady way in which she paced. "Rachel, are you drunk?"

His question stopped Rachel in her tracks and she turned to face him like a guilty high school student, but her face changed quickly to one of indifference. "Yeah, so? Isssjustalittle…"

"Rachel! It's 9 a.m!"

Rachel rolled her eyes; he was obviously missing the point. "Mouth, I've been up all night."

"Well, I'm going to take you home," Mouth announced, his caring side taking over, "Take the alcohol—" But he was interrupted by Rachel sitting back down and putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Mouth, I've been up all night, can't I just sleep here?" She pushed him down onto the bed, silencing his protests with a hard kiss and laying on top of him. He tried to push her off, but there was a sound at the door.

"Marvin…" It was a small, mousy voice, already filling with dejection. Millicent dropped the breakfast that she had brought for Mouth, and the coffee went forgotten as it splashed across the carpet. In that instant, she had already taken in Rachel, and the fact that she was in bed with Millicent's shirtless boyfriend. All three were frozen in shock.

Just then, Junk appeared around the corner, ignorant of what was going on. "Hey, Mouth, uh, your girlfriend's here," he was saying, "So I'd venture to say that the booty call has got to go." He froze as well when he saw the scene unfold before him. "Aw, damn."

Millicent turned and stormed out. "No, Millicent, this isn't what it looks like, I was going to take her home!" Mouth jumped out of bed, ignoring a shocked Rachel. He ran out the door, still yelling her name. "Millicent!" he called, but the only answer was a slamming door. After Rachel had exchanged a worried glance with Junk, Mouth returned to the bedroom.

"The people in Tree Hill have the worst timing," Rachel dryly observed, raising one eyebrow.

"Get out. Call a cab, whatever, just leave." Mouth's voice was unfamiliar; low and threatening. Rachel didn't protest.

Back at the "Official Naley party palace", as Brooke had deemed the house for the day, Brooke and Nathan stood together in the kitchen, waiting for Haley to come downstairs and watching Jamie and Lucas play basketball outside. They had already decided to let Brooke get Haley out of the house so they could set up for her surprise party, partly because Nathan sucked at lying and partly because Brooke really wanted to.

"So, thanks for all this, Brooke," Nathan said presently. "Not only do you throw great parties, this is what everyone needs right now. Time off, basically." Brooke agreed: everyone seemed to be stressed lately. There was the thing with Peyton, the High school was nearing playoff time, Mouth was working his way up in his job, Brooke, Rachel and Millicent needed to come up with a few new designs, Haley was frantic in her preparations for the high school end-of-the-year tests. In fact, the only people who seemed to be not in total panic mode were Jamie and Chester.

"No problem. We all gotta stick together in our tough twenty-two year old lives. Just no bar fights at this one, promise?" Brooke laughed.

She turned her eyes to Lucas and Jamie. "He's really great with Jamie," Nathan said, as if reading her mind.

Brooke nodded. "Yeah, he's the caring sorta father figure. I guess he just knows what NOT to do. But really, he's just good that way." Nathan looked at her.

"So are you, Brooke, even if you don't know it full well yet. I know we made the right decision with you two as his godparents."

"Thanks, Nate. You know, back in high school, I would have never pegged you as the father type, but you and Haley are the best parents I know. How do you do it?"

Nathan shrugged. "Being a Dad scared the hell out of me at first. Every so often, the thought would run through my head. 'What if I don't hold them right?' 'What if he doesn't like me?' 'What if my daughter is like Brooke Davis?'" He made a face at her.

"Then we would have a serious problem," Brooke said, "Oh, and, by the way, shut up!" She pushed him playfully, and he laughed.

"I guess I just got used to it, eventually," Nathan finally continued, more seriously, "And now I would never give it back. Not even for the start shooting guard position on the best team in the NBA."

Brooke bit her lip. "Um, even after years of cheerleading at basketball games, I never really picked up much on the actual game, surprising, I know, so I'll just take your word for it." She smiled apologetically at him.

Nathan was about to retort when he heard steps down the stairs. After a quick glance in the direction of the sound, he looked back to Brooke. "Looks like you're up."

"Haley," Brooke greeted as Haley came around the corner. "Ok, I really hate to do this to you, but I need a favor: I'm not allowed to drive right now, and I need a few things picked up from Clothes over Bros. Since Milli isn't picking up her phone, Rachel's most likely passed out somewhere, Peyton is out of the question and Lucas is kinda busy—" Brooke gestured behind her t the two boys and put on another apologetic face "—Can you do it?"

Haley too a sip of water, nodding. "Sure, Brooke. I mean, it's the least I could do after you helped with Jamie. Whatcha need?" As the two girls walked together to the door, Brooke shot a thumbs up at Nathan from behind her back. He just laughed and stole Haley's water.

"So, Brooke, why can't you drive again?" Haley mused. Brooke froze. She hadn't come up with a story.

"U-uh, it's like… I'm taking this medicine, right?" Brooke opened the door and showed Haley through. "And it… it could trigger my… monotrihabilisglyceride," she quickly coughed out, "And it could make me fall asleep!"

As Haley turned on the porch to say goodbye, the look on her face was one of utter confusion. "Brooke, trimono— whatever you said isn't even a real disease."

"Yes it is. Bye!" And with that, Brooke slammed the door of The Official Naley Party Palace in Haley's face. After a sigh of relief, she walked into the kitchen, a spring in her step. She looked at Nathan, who was finishing Haley's water with a glint in his eye.

"And THAT," Brooke said officially, "Is how you think on your feet!"

Water shot out of Nathan's nose. He sank to the counter, laughing. "Monotrihabilisglyceride?"

"Oh, shut up."

The letter. That damn letter. Peyton had managed to push it out of her mind over the past week, but when she saw it laying in the passenger footwell of her car, Peyton's heart jumped into her throat, just like it had the last week when she read the first paragraph.

The page had an official looking stamp, a seal of some sort, as well as a professional typeset. Peyton took all of this in subconsciously, eagerly looking to the first line.

"Ms. Peyton Sawyer," it had said, "The North Carolina State Penitentiary has sent this notice to alert about one of the inmates, a Mr. Ian Banks. Mr. Banks was recently injured in a work-related accident, and because of the severity of his injuries, we have decided to move him to New Brunswick General Hospital. As his death is entirely possible, he has requested a meeting with you. This is not a formal summons, nor is your presence mandatory at Mr. Banks' arrival in New Brunswick County; this is simply an informative letter of his last request of your presence at New Brunswick County Airport for his arrival before he is admitted to the New Brunswick General Hospital."

The letter went on in more official mumbo jumbo to reiterate that Peyton didn't need to be there, but as it was basically Ian's last request, they recommended it. It also listed a time for his arrival at the airport, more subtle suggestion that she should be there.

There had been a lot of times lately when Peyton would sit back and think about how screwed up her life was. Exhibit A: She had almost gotten into a brawl last week with her best friend of over a decade, over a boy they had known for about five years. Exhibit B: Peyton had instantly made enemies with her ex-boyfriend's girlfriend of three years. Exhibit C: She was hopelessly in love with someone who didn't love her back (see ex-boyfriend). Exhibit D: She was going to a party tonight with all of these people. At least there'll be no drama, thought Peyton sarcastically to herself.

And, of course, as if that wasn't enough (Nothing in her life ever is), Peyton was actually torn about the decision to see her former nightmare-invoking, hair-smelling, picture-taking, half-brother impersonating freak of a stalker.

Peyton and Brooke had promised each other and Ian that they wouldn't see him again. Ever. It had been easy these past years; He was packed away in a maximum security prison, as well as shut away in their minds. But seeing this letter, it brought back memories, horrible flashes of not being able to sleep at night. She hadn't even been able to go into the basement since then.

However, the knowledge of him dying… it was something else entirely. She felt intimately linked to Ian, whether she wanted to or not, and being able to see him on his deathbed, to know he was going to die and she would never have to worry about him again— the thought was empowering, calming her nerves. Peyton steeled herself internally, raising her chin and putting the letter back in its envelope, showing the old independent, strong Peyton. That was who she would be from now on.

Of course, Peyton tried to ignore the irony that a letter about a past ghost that had caused her to be weak and fearful back then was strengthening her now.

Just exhibit E of her messed up life.

A/N: I also just wanted to apologize for the same old triangle thing, this time with Mouth, Millicent and Rachel. I know having it over and over again gets redundant, but this will open up some new ideas that I have, and I promise we wont get bogged down with too much drama in that department.

Reviews are loved, and, as always, thanks for reading!