AN: Whoa. I know 1year+ is a long time to think of succeeding chapters for this story. Phew! I was actually thinking of leaving this fanfic, but I must finish this.! I'm really sorry to have kept the readers waiting. Thank you so much for the reviews. They really encouraged me to continue this story.

Chapter 18:

Haley and Peyton had never felt more free to converse and be happy. Perhaps it was each woman's victorious love scenarios but only under a simple situation. They didn't want to spoil the happiness by bringing back the complications of what's real. That King Peter would highly disapprove of everything given that the Peyton-Nathan marriage has been planned for a long time and Lucas Oliverus is of a shady background. No, they didn't contemplate on those matters. Instead, they lost track of time drowning in laughter, little stories that they'd never found time to share. Haley fell into slumber beside Peyton.

THE NEXT MORNING

King Peter knocked graciously on his daughter's door. "Peyton? This is your father. Time to wake up, for we have matters to discuss."

Peyton jumped upon hearing his father's voice. "I'll be down in a while father."

Haley worked on opening her eyes and getting the words out, "Peyton?"... "I REALLY slept on your...bed?" She scratched her eyes to see Peyton going back and forth getting ready.

"Yes actually." Peyton said laughing a little as she stressed over what she was supposed to do. "Oh.." She stopped to catch her breath and think for a while. "What 'matters' are we discussing now?"

Haley displayed a very worried and sorry look on her bare but beautiful face. "Probably the 'matter' we've been trying to avoid all night?"

Peyton looked at her hands that played nervously with each other. "We had to wake up to reality some time." Giving her best attempt to smile and erase the look of worry on her face, she stood straight with chin up. "Well...I'm off to meet my father. I'll see you soon Haley?". Haley smiled and nodded at Peyton.

As Peyton was walking out the door, she stopped and told Haley one last thing. "It's probably best for Nathan to know all of this rather soon, don't you think?"

Like snapping out of a daze, Haley jumped out of bed. "Yes. That's right." Then in a hurry, fixing her hair, putting her shoes back on and pressing out the wrinkles on her dress, she was saying quickly, "I have to talk to him now. Will you come with me, or are you already too late in meeting your father?"

"I would love to come with you and make the conversation with Nathan easier and clearer, but I fear my father would get mad if I'm a minute later. I promise I'll come find you two as soon as we're finished talking." Peyton said as she rushed out to the hallway, down the stairs and to the dining area, surprised to see her mother Queen Daphne, King Peter and Nathan.

"Ah. Lovely of you to have joined us so quickly" Peter said, standing up to meet Peyton and her on the forehead with a smile. "Come, sit." He led Peyton the the seat beside Nathan, which was across his. Peyton sat across Daphne who had a worried countenance now.

As a matter of fact, Peyton, Nathan and Daphne all had the same aura. Only King Peter was quite delighted, but he didn't notice the mood of everyone else on the table.

Daphne cleared her throat before she could meekly say, "Well. I think it's rather obvious that we've come to discuss your..." She paused and cleared her throat once again.

King Peter, out of excitement finished the sentence for his wife. "You marriage." He said with a smile. "We must set a date already for this wonderful day that you, my lovely daughter are betrothed to the most eligible man in all of Armedes. I pray it will be soon," he laughed as he said that last sentence.

The rest of the people around that table shared awkward smiles and fake laughs. Queen Daphne, almost to the rescue suggested, "Now love," as she put her hand gently on Peter's shoulder. "Let's not rush these two. They might still be uncomfortable with the idea of marrying each other."

"Nonsense." Peter said with a chuckle. "If the lad is strong and handsome; the lady beautiful and pure...I think eager would be more suiting than uncomfortable." Yet again, he laughed.

Not being able to take it anymore, Peyton just blurted out, "What if there's another strong and handsome lad, father? Would he also be worthy?"

King Peter's mood changed from happy to a generic but scarily kind of seriousness. Slowly and in a well-enunciated way, he said, "What?"

With looks that could kill, King Peter couldn't get anyone to look at him eye-to-eye.

Still looking down, Peyton wished she had bitten her tongue before she had spoken. "Just...a question of curiosity." She let out a very nervous laugh. "You never know," she somewhat joked.

A little more relieved but still suspicious, King Peter calmed down a little before he answered. "Actually I know. I know no one is as worthy as Sir Nathan Donne here."

Nathan smiled uneasily. "Please sir. You flatter me too much."

"Well-deserved flattery is what I give you. Just as with your father Jacques. Good men you two are." He said smiling.

Then, the first eye contact between Nathan and Peyton. Not a smile, but all worry. Nathan wasn't sure why Peyton was worked up as much as she was, but she could only feel sorry for her. To give comfort to his friend and himself as well, he holds her hand and squeezes it tight. Peyton doesn't reject, for they both know, this gesture is without malice. Of course, they kept the handhold away from King Peter's eyes 'cause he would see it otherwise. They sat there frozen and worried. Much to talk about, and so little time. Not to mention, so little power on the hands of these 4 lovers to follow their hearts' desires.

MEANWHILE

When Haley didn't find Nathan in his room, she went to check on Peyton. She saw the 4 "conversing" and heard the whole thing. She stood there nervous of being caught, but really more on what they may not be able to prevent after that discussion -- Nathan and Peyton's marriage.

AN: Sorry it's all in pieces. Gaaah! Okay. This is my promise. I promise to finish this fic before June 24! I will do MY BEST to keep this promise. If I can't...well...I'll set a new deadline. Grrr.. Another consequence. If I don't meet my deadline, I promise to grant 1 one-shot request for One Tree Hill. [Leyton, Pathan, Jeyton, Julian+Peyton pairings only..or any crossover of a guy with Peyton]. Since it's one-shot, I KNOW i'll finish that in a week. :) BUT that's only if I don't meet my deadline. Let's hope I do. I really want to finish this story already.