"So explain to me how we come up to your house for a vacation…and somehow you get served dinner in bed…something seems just a little backwards if you ask me…" I watched Brooke saunter into my room with a tray holding a bowl of pasta and a piece of garlic bread.

"Well no one asked you…" I raised a brow as she handed me the tray. She had let the tray go, only to have to quickly grab it back when I almost dropped it. "Thanks…" she offered a small smile as she set the tray on my lap, placing the glass of water on the bedside table.

"How ya' feeling" She sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers gripping lightly around my leg.

"Much better, just a little sore still…" I had fallen asleep at around three, woke up at four to eat, and then I went right back to sleep for the next five hours. I've always slept a lot after a seizure…for that that doesn't even last ten minutes it sure drains the hell out of me. I ate some of the pasta and knew instantly that Karen was the one responsible for dinner…this had always been one of my favorite meals from her. I still don't know how she makes it, she always refused to tell me, but even if she did I doubt I'd be able to get it to taste the same. "I assumed Nate would be brining my food up" I looked at Brooke just in time to see her roll her eyes.

"Yeah, well I told Papa Peyton wanna be to stay downstairs…"

"And he listened to you…" I laughed and raised my brows in disbelief. Despite the fact that I had been sleeping all day, Nathan had barley left this room.

"No…he listened to Kristen. I told her and Sam that if Kristen asked her daddy to stay downstairs for dinner I would take them to the park in the morning." She smirked in satisfaction and once again I just laughed. "I did it 'cause I need to talk to you…" there was still a smile on her face, but her expression was more serious than before.

"Okay…what's up…" I continued eating as she took a breath, most likely trying to figure out what to say.

"You and Nate have to stop this glued at the hip thing…" I nearly choked on my food because that was the last thing I expected to hear, and partially because that's the last thing I want to hear.

"Excuse me…" she sighed, but didn't take nearly as long to think of what she wanted to say.

"You're both so damn scared to lose each other that you're holding on for dear life. The thing is…if you keep holding on so tightly, you are gunna lose each other…and that's only after you push Lucas and Haley away."

"I'm not pushing Luke away Brooke…in fact I'm finally letting him in…" I honestly have no clue where she's headed with this conversation, but I'm not liking any of it so far.

"Don't get me wrong…it's good that you and Luke finally talked, and I'm glad that Nathan is the one that made you do it, but that doesn't really change anything. You two aren't doing any of this on purpose, but you're still doing it."

"Doing what…" my voice came out harsher than I wanted, but she's talking in circles and this make no sense to me.

"You're both terrified to lose each other. You're scared that you're gunna lose your friendship with him, that because you and Broody are finally on track you and Nate are consequently gunna be derailed. And Nathan…he's scared to literally lose you…that he's gunna get that dreaded phone call one night, or that you're gunna just gunna up and disappear for ten years again…" she looked at me and waited, but I didn't respond, I wanted to protest but I understand what she's saying now, and I know she's right. "Peyt…I you keep clinging to each other this way, if you don't put your fears aside and talk to each other, you're gunna wind up with an empty friendship and then you'll hold even tighter…'

"We'll push Luke and Hales away…and then the two of us we'll break because we tried too hard to prevent it…" I hate when she's right about these kinds of things.

"Look…it's not that you're trying to prevent it…that makes it sound like something that's inevitably going to happen. You and Nate are not going to fall apart if you just talk to each other about this. You're both scared and neither one of you realizes that the other is feeling the exact same thing, and in one way or another scared that the same thing is gunna happen. I can tell you all I want that Nathan's scare, but you won't believe it until you hear it from him. You two just need to talk…he's been holding on more tightly than you, especially with the seizure…" She stopped and ran her free hand through her hair, the other hand still firmly holding onto my leg. "I don't know how to express this any better, I wish I did Peyt…but…"

"We need to talk…I get it…." I don't like it, but I do get it. I was torn from my thought when Haley popped her head into the room after knocking lightly on the door.

"The girls are asleep…Keith and Karen are watching a movie, and the rest of us are hitting the Jacuzzi…you guys in…" Her eyes were hopeful and I knew she wanted to make sure there was at least one night when all of us could be together…just have fun.

"The hot water will do me some good…" I smiled as Brooke took the tray from me and stood up.

"I'm so glad you said that, 'cause as much as I love you P. Sawyer, I didn't really wanna sit down here in this room while everyone else was up there having fun." I threw a pillow at her and she moved quickly out of the room, popping her head in again to stick her tongue out at me.

"I'm just glad I get to see my husband for more than hour" She cocked an eyebrow up before laughing. I smiled back at her before she went to go change. There was nothing even remotely angry about her words, but Brooke was right, eventually this was bound to bother her.

"What's on your mind…" I blinked hard and then looked back at the door to see Luke walking in, shutting the door behind him.

"Nothing…except how tired I am of being in this bed…" I smirked in his direction as he moved closer to me. He bent down and kissed me lightly, a smile lingering on his lips as he pulled away.

"So will you be joining us upstairs…" He moved towards the dresser his clothes are in as I slowly slip off the bed.

"Yes I am…" It takes me a little longer than usual to get to my drawer, I can feel each step I take in my legs, and I feels like instead of sleeping I just spent hours funning on a treadmill. I had to put my bathing suit in the bottom drawer, the one that's all the way by the floor and is gunna take me forever to get to.

"Need some help…" I looked behind me to see Lucas with a small smile on his face. I step back and watch as he bends down with ease to open the drawer.

"I can't wait to relax in that water…" a small sigh escapes my lips just as he stands back up with my black bikini.

"I remember this thing…" He holds the top up to eye level with a brow cocked up.

"Everybody loved this thing…and if I remember correctly Brooke told me I was never to wear this in you presence again…" He let out a small chuckle as his smile grew. I had worn that bikini in senior year to Brooke's pool party, she had rented the indoor swimming pool at one of the hotels that January and invited about 40 people. When I had walked over to the group the majority of the guys decided to stare. Luke had been one of them, and Brooke had pulled me aside at one point and told me never to put that particular bikini back on if I knew Lucas was going to be around…after all she couldn't have her boyfriend drooling over her best friend. She had walked away from me only to turn back around and tell me I looked damn hot with a playful wink.

"Well I'm not dating Brooke anymore, so it shouldn't really matter anymore…I doubt she even remembers saying that anyway." I snatched the bikini from him and walked into the bathroom, a devious smile on my face. It was a bit of a struggle getting my legs to bend enough to take my jeans off, but I eventually succeeded….have I mentioned I hate being this sore. It took me five minutes to change and in the end I still needed help.

"Luke…" I called to him with one hand holding the string around my neck and the other holding the ones on my back. "I can't tie it…" my back was facing him and I gladly lowered my hands as he ties two bows with ease.

"There…" I turned to face him and was pleased to see him bite his lip, his eyes roaming over me…I can't deny that it feels good to be wanted like this again, to see his eyes momentarily darken with lust.

"I've still got it…" I slipped past him and ignored the slight throbbing in my legs as I sauntered out of the room…I haven't been able to do that for years, and I'd forgotten how much fun it was to be seductive, forgot about the satisfaction I got from glancing back to see him play the game with me, his shocked face changing as his eyes narrowed and a mischievous smirk on his lips. It didn't take him long to come up behind me, his arms firmly around my waist. I grabbed two towels out of the closet before heading towards the stairs, but before I had I chance to start climbing them Luke had wrapped an arm under my knees and lifted me up.

"Now what kind of fiancé would I be if I made you walk up all theses stairs…" I could only smile he made his way up to the terrace.

"You know I love you right…" my voice was barley above a whisper, I wasn't trying to be seductive or anything, it just came out that why. He stopped on the stairs and just looked at me before leaning in a gently brushing his lips against mine. My arms instinctively wrapped around his neck, pulling my body closer to his, the two towels preventing me from getting as close as I wanted.

"Leave it to the newlyweds…" we broke apart and looked up the stairs to see Brooke with her arms crossed firmly over her chest. "Oh wait…you're not married yet..." she got ready to turn around but quickly turned back and looked me dead in the eye. "I believe I told you to never put that thing on when Broody was around…now you know why…" She gave an exasperated sigh before walking out of sight.

"I guess she remembers…" Luke mused before continuing up the stairs. "oh…and by the way…I love you too…" He smiled at me before setting me down on the terrace. I looked over to see the other four already in the jacuzzi. Lucas and I gladly joined them and over the next hour the six of us just relaxed, not talking about anything in particular, just having fun. It was Brooke who grew tired of the just aimlessly talking and did what always did in high school, started a game.

"Tutor Wife…Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, and….well you loved him in high school, Jude Law…" Brooke smiled deviously as Haley just looked on in confusion.

"I don't get it…" she looked around the group and Nathan kissed the side of her head with a laugh, even though she had gotten popular in high school, Haley still never really got into the party scene.

"The game is FMK, also know as fuck, marry, kill…" I started as she looked at me, still confused.

"The person you kill…well that's obvious…" Brooke continued as Haley turned to face her. "Then there's someone you screw…but that person you can never see again afterwards… the last person you marry, but you can never screw them."

"If you play by actual rule, the person you marry, you can never be intimate with them in anyway, sure you can hug, but no sex, foreplay, fondling, or kissing…nothing." Nathan looked at Brooke who nodded in agreement before focusing on Hales again.

"So FMK Hales…Jude, Christian and Johnny…"

"Oh god…well I'm marrying Jude…killing Christian and screwing Johnny…" we all laughed as she turned red and buried her face against Nathan's shoulder.

"Brooke…" I smirked at her as she turned toward me. "FMK…David Beckham, Collin Farrell, and Cooper" I watched her jaw drop slightly and couldn't help but laugh.

"You mean Hot Uncle Cooper…" I nodded and she throw her head back with a small whine. "P. Sawyer that is so not fair…how am I supposed to pick between them…they were like my top fantasy elevator people." I just raised a brow as everyone else laughed. "Okay, okay, okay…I guess I can kill…why can't I just screw them all…"

"No Brooke...you have to pick…" she scowled at me before sighing.

"I'd marry Beckham, but his legs just seem too…perfect to never touch. Oh this sucks…but I got it…I'm killing David Beckham, not because I don't love or I wouldn't screw him, 'cause I do and I would…but either way I'm killing him, I'm screwing the hell out Collin Farrell, and I'm marry Copper, because I know he's nice and even if I can't touch I get to look at all day." She smiled in satisfaction.

"That's slightly disturbing, not because it sounds slightly stalkerish, but because that's my uncle." She shrugged at Nathan who just shook his head in response.

"Okay Nate…FMK…Kate Beckinsale, Jen Aniston, and…Denise Richards…" Brooke raised a brow as Alex wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Easy…I'm killing Denise, fucking Kate and marrying Jen…" Nate smirked before turning toward Alex. "Alex…Adrianna Lima, Jessica Alba, and Alyssa Milano "

"Touch one…but killing Jessica, fucking Alyssa and marrying Adrianna 'cause it can't hurt to look at that everyday."

"I think guys are always gunna have it easier in this game…" Lucas said with a small laugh and Nate just nodded in agreement. "I mean, I don't think I've ever spent more than two seconds making a decision."

"Oh really…then I've got one for you…" We all turned to face Brooke and Nathan just laughed, not because he thought Brooke would fail, but because he and I both know Brooke's good at this game.

"Okay…give me you're best shot…" His cockiness is gunna get him in trouble, I already know it from the fire in Brooke's eyes.

"Fine…Brooke Davis, Haley Scott, and Peyton Sawyer. FMK Luke…" I felt him tense against me and everyone knew Brooke had once again proven her ability to make people squirm during this game.

"I'm not answering that…" Lucas shook his head and Brooke just scuffed.

"You have to…come on Luke…it's just a game. I mean, the marriage isn't the difficult part, so you already have one done."

"And that's why were gunna change it…." It was Haley who cut her off. "Let's see…me…" I felt him tense again, but this time it wasn't from shock, it was something different, it was like that frozen feeling someone gets when they're scared…and I know why it's happening. The ultimate challenge would have been if Haley kept me as a choice and added Amy, and although there's a part of me that wants to know the answer to that question, but it would be cruel to ask him that. " Brooke and Amber…"

"Wait, whose Amber…" Brooke asked the question I think we were all about to ask.

"She was my girlfriend from the middle of freshman year until the beginning of sophomore year. I cared about her a lot and we were really close, but she moved that summer before sophomore year."

"Yup…oh and he lost it to her…" Haley just smiled brightly as Lucas scowled at her.

"Fine…you guys got me…, I mean now I still know who I'm gunna marry, but once again I don't know about the other two…"

"Well who are you marrying"

"You Hales…" he answered her without a second thought. "I don't wanna kill you…and I don't wanna sleep with you…so if I marry you than I basically get to just stay friends with you…so that was easy." He paused and thought for almost a minute before answering. "And I guess….I'm sleeping with Brooke and killing Amber. Had you gone with the original choices…I'd marry Peyton…and I don't know what I'd do with you two…"

"Yes you do…you just don't wanna say who you'd kill" Alex looked at Luke to see if he was right and all Luke could do was sigh.

"Broody it's just a game…no offense taken, right Hales…"

"Nope…I just wanna know how you chose…" Haley shrugged. Brooke nodded in agreement before they both looked at Luke again.

"Okay…I'm killing you Brooke…because even though after sleeping with Haley I'll never be able to see her again, I know she'd be safe and alive…you're my best friend Hales, I can't kill you."

"I think you're killing me just because I made you choose between the three of us…and that's fair." She shrugged before turning towards me. "Best Friend…"

"Oh God…" I mumbled…I can just see the wheels turning in her head.

"Mouth, Jake, and Nathan…"

"You suck Davis…"

"It's not too hard…you'll probably marry Nate for the same reason Luke married Hales…right…"

"Actually…I'm marrying Mouth 'cause he's a sweetheart and I can't see myself being romantic with him so he's the easiest person to just be friends with. As far the other two, I'm Jake and screwing Nathan." I said the last part quickly and I can feel my cheeks already turning red.

"Wait before anyone says anything…Nathan…Peyton, Rachel and…me….FMK…" Brooke looked at him in anticipation and he cringed slightly before opening his mouth only to purse his lips together again.

"I'm not answering that Brooke…" He shook his head in defiance and my best friend just smirked in satisfaction.

"Come on Nate…it's just a game remember…"

"I'm killing Rachel, marrying Brooke and screwing Peyton." I looked down and Nate did the same, Alex just looked at us in confusion.

"Wait…I thought you two were like brother and sister…I mean, I can't even see the two of you dating…let alone sleeping together…"

"Oh…they did in high school…and…how can I put this…" Brooke bit the bottom of her lip as my cheeks got redder. "Do you remember the song "Fight For All The Wrong Reasons…I think it was Nickleback…" we all watched Alex nod. "Yeah…well our friend Tim said that was their theme song throughout the last few months of their relationship."

"How does that song go…I don't think I know it…" Haley had a small smile on her face, she had been laughing at both me and Nate.

"Um…oh yeah…you got off every time you go onto me…I got caught up in favorable slavery…I guess it wasn't really right, I guess it wasn't meant to be, it didn't matter what they said, 'cause we were good in bed, I guess I stuck around so I could watch us fight for all the wrong reasons…I think that was one of the only smart things Tim said throughout all of high school"

"If I remember correctly I think the phrase was...'forget about Karma Sutra books, just study Peyton and Nathan…" My jaw dropped as I hit Lucas in the chest.

"What the hell are you talking about…" I gaped at him and Haley just laughed.

"That's what everyone used to say about you and Nate…" Brooke chimed in, still smiling like a kid in a candy store. "I think it started at a party…after playing seven minutes in heaven…after you're seven minute were up, you two disappeared for over an hour."

"This conversation is done now…" Nathan held his hands up and , his shoulders slightly tense.

"So if I said me, Brooke and Peyton what would you say then" He looked down at Haley who only gave him a smirk.

"Hales…" She raised a brow…I think she's enjoying making her husband squirm. "Fine…I'm killing Brooke, I'm marrying you…and I'm screwing the hell out of Peyton for hours on end….game over…"

"Their relationship sucked in every department, except the bedroom…they had a lot of sex…apparently a lot of good and memorable sex." Brooke informed Alex not too quietly.

"Brooke…" she looked at me innocently and threw her hands up in surrender…so what if she's right…with the way Nate and I are now, talking about his is just a little bit awkward.

"Okay…but honestly…with the way you two rabbits were back then…did you ever think that a year later you'd be treating each other like siblings." I was about to yell at her for calling us rabbits but closed my mouth as soon as she finished the question. Nathan and I locked eyes and both us started laughing.

"Never in a million years" Nate choked out in between laughs. "Who would of thought that a year later when I saw you in that bikini at the hotel, that my first thought would be to walk over and wrap my towel around you." I buried my head in my hands with a laugh as Lucas pulled me closer to him.

"Okay I have to get up in the morning to take the girls to the park…that's gunna require some energy, so Brooke Davis is calling it a night." It was about ten minutes later that Brooke smiled and stood up. She got out of the jacuzzi and wrapped a towel around her body.

"It is getting late, why don't we all call it a night…" Haley looked at her hands and frowned at her pruning skin. "Yeah definitely time to get out…" We all agreed and climbed out, each grabbing a towel to dry off. I was glad to feel that the pain in my legs was gone; hot water has always made me feel better after a seizure.

"You guys go ahead downstairs…I just need to turn everything off and put the top back on..." I gave them a small smiling before walking toward the gym where all the controls are.

"I'll give you a hand…" I looked back to see Nathan walking back toward the hot tub, his towel wrapped around his waist. Everyone else walked downstairs and I could hear Brooke yell that she had dibs on the master bathroom.

"Thanks Nate…" I walked inside to turn everything off while he grabbed the Jacuzzi cover and slid it back on.

"That's all…" He walked over to me just as I turned the gym lights off and closed the door. I was ready to tell him yes, to walk downstairs and go to sleep…but Brooke's conversation kept popping into my head.

"Actually can we talk…" I nodded towards the table by the pool.

"Sure…" we made our way over and sat down. I don't know where to start, I don't even know exactly what I'm supposed to be saying to him. "Everything okay…" his hands grabs mind and he squeezes it gently.

"Yeah…it's just…I talked to Brooke this evening, while you were downstairs. She just said some things that make a lot of sense, including calling you a Papa Peyton wanna be…" I laughed lightly as he scuffed.

"That's so sweet of her…" he shook his head with a small smile.

"Yeah, but she's right…the name does fit you at times. And I guess the whole point of the conversation I had with her was that I let you act that way…"

"Act what way…" he looked at me in genuine confusion and I could only smile back at him.

"I guess…it's that I let you treat me like Kristen sometimes…I mean it doesn't bother me, but I think he point is that it's supposed to, or that eventually it's going to."

"I do not treat you like Kristen…" He frowned as his lips stayed parted a little.

"No, not all the time…but today you did…it's the way you would have been if Kristen had gotten sick and she was stuck in bed all day, you didn't leave my side until Brooke bribed you're daughter into eating dinner downstairs." He wanted to protest but instead he just sighed after a second because he knew I was right.

"I'm sorry…I swear I wasn't trying to treat you like a little girl"

"I know you weren't, and it didn't bother me that you did…but the truth is Nate…it's time you let this little girl grow up…you've gotta let go…and so do I"

"Why are you listening to Brooke…" He cocked a brow up as he looked at me.

"Because she's right…"

"So what…" I laughed and soon enough he joined in. "I guess this is part of me agreeing to give you away to Luke…" there's a distinct sadness in his voice and in his eyes.

"Maybe…but like you said before…you're not really giving me away, at least not completely." I was trying to sound hopeful, trying to convince myself that when we went downstairs things with Nathan I wouldn't be ruined.

"Yeah…" he doesn't sound too sure of himself, and he doesn't look it either. "I know Luke good for you, but…you're gunna be okay…right…'cause I'm scared that something bad's gunna happen and you're not gunna tell me…and I'll wind up…"

"Stop…" I cut him off and waited until we locked eyes again before continuing. "Nathan, you never failed me…okay…you've been there for me more than anyone else had."

"Not when it mattered the most…"

"I didn't tell you about Stan, so how were you supposed to know…" It was my turn to squeeze his hand, but he still wouldn't look at me.

"I just should've…" he glanced up at me quickly before turning his attention back on the floor.

"But Nate, that's crazy…"

"It doesn't matter…" his voice wasn't quiet anymore, he sounded more angry, but he wasn't angry with me, I knew how he sounded when he was angry with me…this time he was angry with himself. "I should've known something was wrong when you first came back…you were different and I just told myself that New York had changed you…but I was supposed to know Peyton…" there were tears leaking down his cheeks now, and his voice had changed again, he no longer sound angry, now he just sound hurt. "I was supposed to know and I was supposed to stop it…and I didn't…"

"Nate you've gotta stop feeling guilty about that…you don't have anything to feel guilty about. You can't save me from everything, you can only help with the things I let you help me with…and that relationship wasn't one of those things." I got up from my chair and moved in front of him, kneeling down and forcing him to look at me. "But you helped me after…you did everything you possibly could to me when I went back to Tree Hill, and you still are, and because of that I'm okay now. And now with me marrying your brother…"

"You don't need me anymore…" he cut me off and in that moment I wished I was still sitting in my chair, where I couldn't really see his face. I don't think I've ever seen anyone look so heartbroken…that devastated…and I know exactly how he feels, it's the same way I felt when he got mad at me in the club and the feeling I got when he inadvertently admitted that he was disappointed in me…it was this indescribable pain and this fear that our relationship was over, that things would never, that they could never be the same between us, that the emptiness Brooke was talking about earlier…like it had weaseled its way into our relationship and that was all that would be left to me and Nathan…feeble attempts to salvage something that wasn't there anymore…that never would be there again.

"You're not getting rid of me that easily…" I have my own tear streaking down my cheeks now and I smile when he looks up at me again. "I'm always gunna need you Nate…you're my big brother remember. We just don't need to hang on so tightly anymore because like I said…I'm okay now. I got through all of this because you helped me…"

"No…" he shook his head and I feared that Brooke had been wrong about this conversation helping us. "…you held yourself…" he reached up and wiped the tears from under my eyes, a small smile on his face again.

"I may have been up here by myself, but I got through it because of everyone in Tree Hill, mostly you. I'd still be sitting downstairs at the front door if it wasn't for you…" we both laughed lightly, recalling the call I made to him when I first returned home. He stopped up and pulled me up and into his arms, his hands wrapping tightly around my back.

"I love you Peyton Sawyer…please don't ever forget that…"

"I love you too Nathan…" he kissed the top of my head before pulling away. We started toward the stairs but right before we reached them I jumped on his back, my arms wrapping around his neck. "And so what if you're not my night in shining armor anymore…that just gives us more time to be friends…" I rest my chin comfortable against his shoulder as he starts walking down the stairs.

"The best of..." he looks back at me and smiles. "Even if Brooke's your best friend…you'll always be mine."

"And why can't I have more than one best friend…as far as I'm concerned you're both my best friend, just in different ways…" He set me down in front of my room and smiled down at me, a gesture I gladly returned. He wiped the last trace of tears off my face before heading to the bathroom. I opened my bedroom door and I can't say that I'm shocked to see my bed empty. I guess we all just expected Nathan to stay with me tonight, and that pretty much would have proved Brooke's point. I grabbed clothes and made my way into the shower, hoping everyone hadn't already run out the hot water.

Fifteen minutes later I slipped back out of my room and made my way down the hall. I turned around when I heard a door open and watched as Nate came out the bathroom clad in boxers and a t-shirt. "Luke in there…" I nodded with a small smile as he walked over to me. I opened the door and such enough there he was sleeping next to Hales. I walked in quietly and kneeled down in front of Luke. I pressed my lips against his and felt him smiled before pulling away and opening his eyes.

"I'm stealing you…" I whispered and he nodded before sliding his legs to the floor and sitting up. He must have just fallen asleep because he only looks slightly drowsy. He got to his feet and Haley stirred a little before sitting up herself. "My fiancé for you husband…it's an even exchange…" She smiled back at me as Nathan made his way over to the bed, sitting down in the spot Lucas had just occupied.

"Actually, according to you…I'm getting the better end of this deal…" Nate and I both cringed as Luke and Haley laughed quietly. I shook my head before grabbing Luke's hand and pulling him out of the room, closing the door behind me. I started down the hall, but Lucas pulled me back and lifted me into his arms. His lips hit mine gently and my arms soon found their place around his neck. He made his way into my…our room.

"Let's see if I can't change your mind" I smirked as I kissed him again.

"Go for it…" I whispered as I reached over and switched the lights off before placing my hands back around his neck. He raised his raised an eyebrow, that mischievous smirk back in place on his face as he kicks the bedroom door shut.