Episode 9 Chapter 1 Love Winter and Death

"Formal can change your life." Ellie's voice can be heard.

Riley has his suit on. Jason walks in. "Alright bro…how do I look?"

"Like a guy who has no date because he is screwing an old lady." Riley laughed.

"I have a date."

"You can't bring Rebecca."

"I'm not bringing Rebecca…I met someone else." Jason smiled.

Flashback

Jason was sitting in the café pretending to study.

"I used to do that all the time."

Jason looked up and saw a tall red head with curly hair staring at him.

"You used to do what? Study…"

"You aren't studying," she laughed. "You are trying to look like you are studying."

"How did you figure out that I wasn't actually studying?"

"Your book is turned upside down."

"Damn…you are good."

"Or you are just really bad." She sat down on the other side of the table. "I'm Rita by the way."

"I'm Jason." He smiled.

She was absolutely gorgeous.

"You've been hanging out with this girl?" Riley asked.

"Yep," Jason shook his head. "And she is smoking hot, and she's not too much older than me."

"That's a good sign."

"Yeah and she's going to the dance with me."

"What about the cougar?"

"She's still going to be my cougar…I mean that woman really knows how to have hot passionate sex."

"I think you are playing with fire."

"They are never going to find out about one another. It's no sweat."

"Yeah….right…"

…..

Ellie walks out of McKenzie's closet wearing a bright blue cocktail dress.

"Wow…Riley is going to flip out when he sees you."

"Yeah I sure hope so. I want tonight to be perfect." She walks over to her purse. "That's why I'm going to loosen up." She has a flask.

"What are you doing with that?"

"I'm going to drink it." Ellie smiled. "I feel like sometimes I'm too good. I want Riley and I to have a good time."

"I don't know if that is such a good idea." McKenzie was a little skeptical.

"Do you want some?"

"No that's okay…I think you should rethink drinking too…I mean it's not like you to get drunk."

"I'm not going to get completely drunk besides I want to have a good time…I want to shake things up..."

"Just be careful Ellie…"

"No worries McKenzie…I'm not going to get drunk…I promise."

…

"Whoa," Nathan said as Hunter walked downstairs in his suit. "You look nice."

"Thanks dad….Are you sure you guys are okay with keeping Ally for me tonight?"

"Yeah of course…Brooke took her and Sophie out to pick up dinner…You need to have this last night with Jessica."

"I know. I can't believe she's going out on tour tomorrow."

"She'll be back before you know it."

"I hope so….I'm going to miss her like crazy."

…..

Jessica is standing in the studio. She is wearing a shiny black dress.

"Wow," Peyton smiled. "You are one hot mama."

"Thanks…are you sure? I just want Hunter to think I'm beautiful."

"I think he will think you are the most beautiful girl he has ever seen."

Jessica smiled, "This night has to be perfect. It's the last night I will be in town for a while."

"Do you still want to go on tour Jess? You seem like you would rather stay here."

"It's my career. I have to do this for my career…I'll miss Hunter like crazy, but I have to do this for me…"

"Hunter is a good guy Jessica. He will wait for you."

Jessica smiled. She had a feeling he really would wait for her.

….

McKenzie walked downstairs.

"You are so grown up." Larry smiled.

"Dad, what are you doing here? I thought you were going over to Peyton's."

"I am. I just wanted to see my little girl first…You're not a little girl anymore."

"Nope…and you are being very mushy. That is usually mom's department."

"Yeah well you're mother is not here, but she will be by the time you get home."

"I hope she had fun traveling without us."

"She better have because I'm never going to let her do that again….I miss her way too much."

"Yeah me too," McKenzie smiled. "I'm glad mom fell in love with you and made you my dad. You are an amazing dad." She gave him a hug.

"I love you McKenzie…"

"I love you too."

…

Noah is sitting on the couch holding Emma. Her hair is curlier than ever. "I can't believe that she will be two years old soon."

Elizabeth walked in and sat next to the two of them. "I know. She's growing up so fast."

"You know everything is going to change." Noah looked at Emma.

"Noah I am…"

"No don't…don't apologize. You have been apologizing for the past three weeks. You don't have to do that anymore."

"I feel like all of this is my fault."

Noah shook his head, "We are in this together Elizabeth."

They heard a knock at the door. "There he is." Elizabeth stood up and walked to the door. She opened it and knew that it was going to be Daniel. "Hi," she sighed.

"Hi," Daniel walked in. "I hope I'm not too early. I was kind of excited."

Noah stood up. "Emma you are going to have so much fun tonight." Noah handed Emma over to Daniel.

"I'll take care of her I promise."

Elizabeth handed him Emma's overnight bag. "Bye sweetheart….He is going to bring you back in the morning okay my princess." Elizabeth sighed.

"I don't have to take her if you don't want me too Elizabeth."

"No," she shook her head. "I kept her from you for far too long. She's your daughter too."

"Are you sure you have everything she is going to need?" Noah asked.

"Yeah Andy helped me get everything together…crib…blankets…I even got a bunch of toys."

"Oh here," Noah handed him a stuffed rabbit. "This is her favorite. She can't sleep without it.'

"Thanks," Daniel sighed. "Well we better get going." He held onto Emma and walked out of the apartment.

Elizabeth and Noah both looked at each other.

"It's just one night Elizabeth." Noah reminded her.

"Yeah I know." Elizabeth held back her tears. Everything really was changing. And she didn't like it very much at all.

…

Alright so there is the beginning of this episode. I hope you guys liked it.

Thanks again for all the reviews. You guys are so amazing. Each and every review makes me so excited. I'm really glad that all of you stayed with me through this. It means so much to me. So thanks again and again for taking the time to review.

So let me know what you thought and I will try to post chapter 2 tomorrow.