Chapter 20-Someday

A/N: Hi everyone, thanks for the reviews for last chapter, you know how much I love them. Be warned this chapter is Naley-light, but I promise there is much Naley love in the next chapter. So please read and review!.

Brooke kissed Isabella on the top of her head, turned the baby monitor on, and walked out of the room.

She walked into the lounge room and sat down next to her childhood best friend.

At that moment, they were watching Project Runway and gorging themselves with junk food.

"So have you heard from Haley?" Peyton asked, trying to be nonchalant, but failing miserably.

"Not this week. But I'm not too worried" Brooke stated.

"Why aren't you?"

"Look, my theory is that they have either ignoring each other or too busy humping like bunnies to call"

"Ohh" Peyton replied, not sure how to take Brooke's theory. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to take the possible news of her husband, still on paper anyway, was with another woman. Was she supposed to be happy so she could find her own true love? Or jealous Nathan had moved on so fast? Never the less, she still felt awkward.

"Hey Cheery?" Lucas asked as he walked into the room, waving to Peyton.

"Hey hon"

"I'm just heading out with Skillz to play some ball"

"Okay, have fun. I love you" Brooke said as she reached up and kissed him on the lips

"I will, love you too"

Lucas walked out of the room, and Peyton could faintly hear the front door slam shut.

"God, Brooke, how do you do it?" she said enviously

"What?"

"You just had a baby, you have been married over 3 years, and Lucas is still completely in love with you"

Brooke thought about it for a moment before answering. "You know, I was so intimidated of you, Peyton, particularly after Lucas and I got back together senior year. I was waiting for it to all go south. But it never did" Brooke said smiling fondly at her wedding ring.

"Brooke, it's nothing I did, believe you me"

"What do you mean?" Brooke asked nervously.

"You mean that Lucas never told you?"

"Told me what?"

Peyton knocked on the red door, nervously waiting for an answer.

"Hey Peyton, what's up?" Lucas said as he answered the door

"Hi, can I come in?"

"Yeah of course, did you want to listen to the new Fall Out Boy?"

"Yeah, no...No" she replied

"Okay..." Lucas said confused

"Okay Luke, here's the thing.." Peyton said, as she started pacing the room.

"What, you know you can tell me anything" Lucas responded as he sat on the bed.

"So, here's the thing..." Peyton said as she stopped pacing and looked in Lucas' crystal blue eyes." I love you"

Lucas' eyes widened as soon as the words left her mouth.

"Oh Peyton I love..."

"Yeah?"

"Brooke. I love Brooke" he finished

". I think I'll just go" Peyton said, moving towards the door

"No, Peyton, its okay. Stay"

"No,no. I really need to go" she said as the tears fell down her cheeks. Peyton turned and ran out of his room, to her car and just drove.

"Oh, Peyton."

"You're not mad?" Peyton asked hesitantly

Brooke thought for a moment "I guess, a little. I probably would have if you told me you kissed him or if he said I love you back, but honey, it's all water under the bridge. I'm happy. Luke's happy. And we have a beautiful baby girl. We really couldn't be any happier, as sappy as it sounds."

"Oh, I thought you would be angry" Peyton said, almost disappointed

"You still seem unhappy" Brooke observed

"I guess..it's just..."
"What? Seriously Peyton it can't be that bad".

Peyton took a deep breath. This was something she hadn't told anyone, not even Brooke. It was too painful to recall more often than not. However, Peyton knew Brooke would never understand if she didn't disclose what happened back then. She closed her eyes before she muttered "That was the night I proposed to Jake"

"Oh Peyton" Brooke sighed, rubbing reassuring circles on Peyton's back."Well it all makes sense now" she concluded

"What does?" Peyton said miserably

"Well, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that you told Lucas you loved him, he rejected you then you ran to the one person you were most comfortable with, who you knew would always love you"

"Yeah, but Jake rejected me too"

Peyton is standing over Jenny's crib. She tucked Jenny in, pulling the blanket tighter around her. Peyton looks down at Jenny and smiles.

"Mama…" Jenny utters

Peyton looks down in surprise, but a smile slowly creeps across her features.

Jake is sitting on the porch playing his guitar and looks up as Peyton walks out of the house and sits beside him. She stared blankly out onto the road in front of them. Jake immediately noticed Peyton's change in demeanour and he stopped playing his guitar.

"What's wrong, Peyton?" Jake asked

Peyton turns to look at him slowly. She turns away from him again. Jake turns to look at Peyton as they silently sit on the porch .Peyton finally turns to look at Jake.

"Do you want to get married?" she asked

"Did you just say you wanted to get married?" Jake exclaimed

"Yeah… crazy right?"

"It's a little nuts, yeah."

"Okay, but maybe not. I mean it worked for Nathan and Haley. Look how happy they are.

I love you Jake. I do and you know I love Jenny. So maybe that's enough." She said hopefully

"I think only in fairytales that's enough, Peyton." Jake replied

"You know, someone told me once that there's nothing wrong with fairytales. Everybody lives happily ever after." Peyton retorted

"Okay, listen to me. You- you can't just fly into Savannah and then get in my head all over again and tell me you want to stay and then ask me to marry you." Jake proclaimed

"Why not?!"

"Because! …..I might just say yes." Jake pulled her into a kiss.

"I've been staying awake wrestling with the thought of…."Jake hesitated "You should go back to Tree Hill. You shouldn't stay here. You can't"

"Why? What happened?" she cried

"You talk in your sleep, Peyton." he replied

"Okay, so- so what? I- I don't understand. I mumble a few words in my sleep. Is it really that bad? Did I say I wanted to kill you or something?" she whimpered

"No, you said I love you." he exhaled

"Okay, well normally that's a good thing." she reasoned

"You said I love you Lucas. You told Lucas that you loved him?"

"Wha- Uh- It was the school shooting and I was bleeding and I thought I was gonna die- I didn't mean it like that! Jake, I love you." she cried

"I know you do." he said sadly

"Well then why are you making such a big deal about this?" she asked

"When you decided that you weren't gonna go back to Tree Hill do you remember what you told me?"

"Yeah."

"You said that your fathers not around, that Haley has Nathan and that Brooke has Lucas." Jake stated

"Okay, you know what? Haley and Brooke are my best friends and they spend a lot of time with their boyfriends. That's all I meant by that." she said defensively

"Mhmm, let me ask you a question: What if Brooke didn't have Lucas? Don't you see Peyton? You asked me to marry you after Jenny called you Momma. After you lost your Mom again. I mean your dad's not around-"

"Okay, you know what don't." she said, shaking her head.

"You're alone Peyton. I get it; it makes all the sense in the world that you would want a family." he explained

"I don't want a family, I want this family." she affirmed

"Do you?"

"Okay, you know what? Don't. You know, it seems like you're working really, really hard to push me away so if you're not into me just say so!"

"No that is not it! I love you, Peyton. Okay? But I don't want to believe there's another guy in your heart! But I think that there is!" he exclaimed

"I think that you're afraid!" she yelled

"Yeah! I am afraid! It hurt like hell the last time I lost you and I don't want to do that again." he yelled back

"Don't." she replied warily

"Look, marriages fall apart all the time because people, they get caught up with the romance. And they have to be honest with themselves. Well, I have to be twice as honest, once for me and once for I'm sorry. I don't want you to go. But your father to you to follow your heart and he's right. As much as it kills me to say it, I think you need to follow it home." he sighed, his heart aching in response.

" But what if you're wrong? What if I go back and my heart just aches for you like it has for months?" she cried

"Well then I'll still be here. If it was meant to be, we'll be together." he said

"Someday."

Brooke and Peyton continued to watch more movies as the night wore on. Brooke had called it the Hoes over Bro's Reunion Tour Part 2. With the dissolution of her marriage, and Nathan and Haley possible reconciliation, Peyton wasn't sure if Brooke would ever want to be friends again. Thankfully, Brooke had called her at the hotel and suggested she stay with her and Lucas, although Peyton was hesitant at first. After some persuading by both Brooke and Lucas, she was glad she had taken up their offer. At least she was repairing her friendship with Brooke. Today, they had decided on a man-free junk food and movie fest. However, all Peyton could think about was Jake, and how lucky all those little bitches were in the movies that ended up with their dream guy.

Brooke was busy making popcorn when the door bell rang.

"Hey Peyton could you grab that?" Brooke called from the kitchen

"Yeah sure"

Peyton walked slowly towards the door, and opened it. Standing in front of her was the one person she never expected to see.

"Jake?"

"Hi Peyton, do you want to go for a walk?" He replied, giving her a small smile.

"I don't know...let me see if Brooke will be okay..."

"I will be" said a voice behind her.

Peyton turned to see Brooke with a large bowl of popcorn, and the famous Scott smirk adorning her face. She walked towards her friend and stood just behind her.

"Go, I'll be fine. Luke will be home soon"

Peyton turned to Brooke slightly and whispered

"Did you call him, Brooke?!"

"You're welcome" she whispered back before stepping away

"Have fun kids, and be safe" Brooke laughed as she walked back into the house.

"So, shall we?" Jake asked uncomfortably

"Sure" she said grabbing her coat and closing the door behind her.

"So you are staying with Brooke?" He asked as they walked across the park reserve.

"Yeah, I really need to figure out what I want, plus it's nice to be friends with Brooke again"

"What do you mean?" He asked, watching her intently

"We hadn't really spoken much until the Hamptons. I guess the marriage hurt a lot more people then just Nathan and I" she replied sadly.

"Yes" He agreed.

"So Brooke called you?"

"Yes, she seemed to think you had something to say to me"

"Trust Brooke, always being the matchmaker." Peyton muttered

The pair sat at a picnic table across from a jungle gym. A couple of kids were playing; their giggles could be heard from where Peyton and Jake were sitting.

"So how's Jenny?"

"She is growing more each day, it's scaring me a little that she is nearly a teenager"

"God, Jenny as a teenager, I remember when she was a baby and the only thing that would make her go to sleep was house keys hanging from a mobile."

"Yeah me too" Jake said, giving Peyton a sideway glance.

"So how's....Nikki?" Peyton asked reluctantly

"Gone."

"What?"

"She left. Not long after Jenny turned 2. She knocked on my door, gave me Jenny and said she couldn't pretend to be a mother anymore, and said I could have full custody"

"Wow"

Silence enveloped the pair, both unsure what to say.

"So..."

"The thing is" They said simultaneously

"Go ahead" Jake said

"Do you remember what I said about being miserable, back when I came to Savannah?"

"Sure I do"

Jake leant against the column as he stared out onto the street. Peyton walked up from behind him and stated to speak.

"So, you've been quiet tonight."

"I'm worried about you." he said earnestly

Peyton laughs as Jake wraps an arm around her shoulders.

"Why?" Peyton asks

"What if I say you could stay? And somehow we convinced your father to let you do it. This life is hard, Peyton. You got all this fire inside of you, I just- I don't wanna be the guy that puts that out."

"You already did that the night you left Tree Hill."

Jake paused to contemplate Peyton's response.

"I spent a lot of time being miserable, Jake." Peyton explained "It's like misery's an old friend. And it tricks you sometimes into thinking that it's just always gonna be there. That you can't be happy. But you can. You can walk away from pain. And I think being in love's the best way to do it."

Jake turned to look at her as Peyton smiled.

"What do you feel when we're together?"

He brushes her fringe to the side of her face.

"Hope."

Peyton nodded."I do too. And we deserve that."

They kiss. Peyton leans her head on his shoulder as Jake wraps his arms around her and kisses her forehead.

"Jake, I'm sick of being miserable, okay? I was miserable in high school because you left, and Lucas didn't love me, my mother died. And then I spent 5 years in a marriage that was miserable from the beginning. I'm sick of it. I think the only time I haven't felt that way was when I was with you and Jenny"

"But how do I know that this is for real Peyton? How do you know you aren't going leave again?"

"I don't love Lucas anymore; I just loved the security that he brought" Peyton explained

"What about me Peyton, don't I have that?"

"No!"

"No?" he said wounded

"No, because I knew that Lucas would always come back if I asked. Because
I loved him but I wasn't in love with -you-you scare me, because I didn't know if you loved me all the time you were away. I remember what it was like last time you left, and I don't want to feel like that ever again."

"But where does that leave us now?" Jake asked

"Where do you want us to be?"

"Well Peyton I made my feelings clear in the Hamptons"

"So are we a we again?"

Jake sighed

"No yet, but maybe if we take it slow. Are you okay with that?"

"I'm okay with that" Peyton smiled, for the first time in what felt like years.

A/N:Ok everyone, I warned you about the lack of Naley…but the next chapter they will lay all the cards on the table so to speak, so I should have it up in the next week, I just want to make sure the chapter does the characters and my story justice…with that, please review!!!-Lydia.