Sighing, Peyton took Lucas' hand as she walked toward the house. He gave her fingers a squeeze and led her up the porch steps. "I know you're worried about seeing Brooke, but it'll all be okay, Peyt, I promise," he said to her. She wasn't completely upset about seeing Brooke though. Yeah, she wasn't looking forward to it, but she wasn't looking forward to seeing Haley either. She just couldn't admit to that, so she stayed silent.
The couple entered the house, still holding hands. She was glad that she still had Lucas at least. He hadn't given up on her yet, though she fully expected him to. There still hadn't been a time for Peyton to tell him that she loved him. She knew he often said it in the moments when she was just on the cusp of sleep, and he thought she was already sleeping, but she couldn't bring herself to acknowledge it or say it yet. She didn't deserve his love, and she knew that.
As they entered the living room, she dropped Lucas's hand so he could put Jamie's present on the table that Haley had set up, and she could pit up Jamie as he ran to give her a hug. She felt a pang in her back and resisted the urge to put a hand to it. She could no longer deny the truth, but she was going to ignore it for as long as possible.
FLASHBACK
A couple of days after her breakdown at the headstone, Peyton was sitting drinking coffee in her kitchen when she heard the front door open. Lucas had just left the house, after staying the night last night-luckily she hadn't thrown up that morning. She wasn't alarmed, because she knew Ian Banks was locked up again and she'd hear if he wasn't. She figured it couldn't get any worse than it already was. There couldn't be anymore psychos obsessed with her, she hoped.
Just as she had suspected, it was no psycho stalker who entered her kitchen. "There you are, Peyton. I think we need to talk," Haley said as she took a seat across the island from her blonde friend. "Now, I've been thinking lately, about how you've been puking so much, and everything. I know you might be scared, but you've got to find out the truth," she started, her brown eyes meeting green across the table.
Instantly, Peyton's eyes filled with fear, anguish, and a mixture of other emotions, none of them really good, or the things Haley thought she should be feeling in this situation. Peyton shook her head and broke the eye contact. "Haley, this is my business, okay. It has nothing to do with you, so just stay out of it and I'll deal with it. I'm sure it's just the flu. It'll pass soon enough. Don't worry about me," her last statement was a last ditch attempt at pleading.
Shaking her head, Haley just couldn't live with that. "Lucas is my best friend, Peyton. If you're-" Peyton made a noise of protest that cut Haley off, and Haley changed her words with a roll of her eyes. "He deserves to know the truth, and so do you. We'll go together, and I'll stay with you. I'll support you either way, and I know Lucas will too. So what are you so scared of? Peyton, at least come to the doctor with me," she requested her tone leaving no doubt that this was no simple request, but a demand.
END FLASHBACK
Looking around, Peyton noticed that she and Lucas weren't the first ones to arrive. Nikki was there, with Jenny and Jake, and a few other parents of Jamie's friends were there, all sitting around the living room while the kids played. "Happy Birthday, Jimmy Jam," she said, giving him a kiss on the forehead and setting him down just as Jenny ran over to her.
Heaving her up, Peyton held Jenny close for a minute, just as Haley entered from the kitchen. She sent Peyton a disapproving look, which Peyton completely ignored as she started talking to Jenny. She only could hold the little girl's attention for so long before Jenny asked to be let down so she could go back to playing. Peyton reluctantly let the girl go, and decided she had to face all of the adults sometime. She was glad that Brooke wasn't here yet.
Walking over to the couch where Lucas had just sat down, Peyton sat next to him, leaning her head on his chest. Lucas wrapped one arm around her shoulders and was chatting to the dad of one of the children. She listened in, but she didn't say much, because she knew, one way or another, the truth was getting out today, and she didn't know yet if she was going to be a coward or not. She knew Lucas didn't deserve to hear it from someone else, but she wasn't sure if she was ready to admit it.
FLASHBACK
In the hospital room, Haley was sitting right next to Peyton, holding onto her hand, as she had promised she would be. They both knew, though, that part of the reason Haley stayed was to make sure Peyton went through with this. They both knew that Peyton wouldn't still be sitting on the table if Haley wasn't there to make her, but neither of them verbally acknowledged this. "Well, Miss Sawyer, I'll be back in a little while, and we'll know whether or not you're pregnant," the doctor said, before leaving the room.
Sighing, Peyton said nothing, wanting only to leave the room and never have to hear those words or deal with them again, but Haley's hand wrapped around hers was an anchor, holding her onto the table, and also comforting her. She didn't have Lucas here for her own stupid reasons, but at least she did have someone here. She knew Haley disapproved the fact that she didn't have Lucas here, but at least Haley was quiet about it, for a while at least.
Finally, Haley could not keep her opinion in any longer. "Look, Peyton, we both know the truth. You're throwing up, I'm sure you've missed your period for at least one month, if not more," she paused, looking over at the blonde, who would not meet her gaze. "Even if you're not, though, you have to tell him the truth. He deserves to know, even if we only thought you were," she paused, able to tell that this was not getting through to the blonde. Her words were making no impact whatsoever.
Still not letting go of Peyton's hand, though she felt like it, Haley continued talking, just to make sure her point was across. "He deserves to know, and I will tell him, at Jamie's party, if you haven't yet. Don't think I won't, just because it's my son's birthday. Lucas is my brother-in-law, and my best friend, and I won't let you hurt him like this by keeping this from him. If you don't tell him, I will," she repeated, still getting no reaction from the blonde.
Of course Peyton heard her, and she knew Haley wasn't bluffing, but she still wasn't sure whether or not she'd be able to do this. It might be easier to just let Haley do the telling, even if she knew that it would hurt Lucas more in the end. She didn't want to be pregnant, though. She needed Lucas to know, so he could tell her everything is going to be okay, but at the same time, she wasn't sure she was ready to say the words, even if she actually wasn't. Even thinking the words 'Well, Lucas, I thought I was pregnant,' just didn't sit right with her. It was too soon, too fast, just too much.
Heaving a sigh, Haley pulled out the last weapon she had in her arsenal. She knew that if this didn't get at least some reaction out of Peyton, then nothing would. "Peyton, even if you are, everyone will support you. Lucas will be ecstatic. I'm sure Nikki and Jake will be happy for you. Nathan and I will always be here for you 100%," she paused, finally releasing the last blow. "Having another baby does not mean you're replacing Annabeth," she said calmly.
Ripping her hand out of Haley's, Peyton got to her feet and turned to face the brunette, Haley standing as well, but with much slower movements. Peyton's temper flared in her green eyes, but it was nearly covered by the tears that welled. She had to work not to let them fall. "Don't you dare, Haley. You don't know what it's like, and you don't know what she would want. I don't either, and I was supposed to be her mom. I was supposed to protect her, and I couldn't save her, so don't pretend you know what she would want," she caught herself as there was a knock on the door.
Taking a deep breath, Peyton just stood there for a moment, and Haley faced her, waiting to follow her lead. She knew that the blonde needed to finish this conversation, but she also knew that Peyton was relieved that the doctor was back. Peyton sat back on the examine table, and Haley sat next to her, as Peyton called for the doctor to come in. "I have your results," the doctor said as she entered. Haley took Peyton's hand again, and the blonde let her.
END FLASHBACK
From the kitchen, Haley called for Peyton to come help her. Peyton winced, knowing that she couldn't say no without getting Lucas's suspicions up but she also didn't want to face Haley on her own. She smiled as she gestured for Nikki to follow her. It wasn't like Haley could refuse Nikki's help without appearing rude, and they couldn't talk about the appointment in front of Nikki, unless Haley planned on announcing it to the whole party, which Peyton just couldn't see her doing. Haley had never been cruel or spiteful.
When the two entered the kitchen, Haley looked up, her mouth open as if she were going to start talking, but she closed it when she saw Nikki. She quickly recovered. "I need some help cutting these vegetables. I didn't know they would be such a hit with the kids," she laughed, gesturing to the cutting board, and the celery and broccoli there. She was arranging a tray with baby carrots and some ranch dip that Peyton knew she had just mixed.
Both Nikki and Peyton grabbed knives and the three women worked in silence to replenish the snack table, which Haley got Nathan and Lucas to move outside as more and more people arrived. She tried to snag a moment alone with Peyton, but Peyton was good at hiding in a crowd when she wanted to. There was never one chance for Haley to talk to Peyton when there wasn't someone nearby. She was getting ready to just announce the news to everybody, but she knew neither blonde deserved that.
As the adults gathered on the back porch and the kids played outside, Haley continued going in and out, making sure her son was happy, and the party was running smoothly. She knew they were waiting for one more person, so they could start doing presents and cake, etc. She decided that for now, she would at least get all the kids out of the pool, and out of the bounce house, so they could eat, and that would pass some time before the brunette finally decided to grace everyone with her presence.
Just as Haley was about to give up on Brooke, and start with the presents anyway, the back door swung open, and Brooke, always known for making an entrance, sauntered onto the back porch. She was carrying her purse and a water bottle. She threw a dirty look in the direction of Peyton, who happened to be sitting at the end of Lucas's lounge chair, and then walked over to the birthday boy. She gave him a hug, and went to sit with Nikki and Jake, who were also sharing a chair, as Jamie started opening presents.
Everyone who knew Brooke could tell she was a little tipsy, and both Peyton and Haley were sure that it was not water in her bottle, but Peyton didn't care to approach her, and Haley didn't want to ruin her son's day. She did keep an eye on Brooke, though, with that water bottle, which she kept drinking from for the rest of the party. She knew things weren't going to end well, and she could only hope that Brooke would at least wait for everyone else to leave.
Finally everyone else cleared off, except Jake, Nikki, Lucas, Peyton and Brooke. Deb had taken James and Jenny for a sleepover at her house, and Karen was taking Lily over there for a while, so they three of them, who had formed quite a bond, could spend more time together. Nikki and Peyton were helping Haley out in the kitchen, while Jake, Nathan and Lucas were in the living room, watching a basketball game, and Brooke had run out of whatever had been in her water bottle, and was now hitting up Haley and Nathan's liquor cabinet.
When Brooke entered the kitchen, she was carrying cups and a bottle of vodka. "So, who wants to play a game of 'I Never,'" she asked the group, already pouring healthy amounts of alcohol into each cup, passing one to Nikki, one to Peyton and one to Haley, who immediately poured hers down the sink, and tried to protest. "No, Hales, I'll go first," she said, sending a sardonic smile in Peyton's direction, never taking her eyes off the blonde. "I Never slept with my ex-best friend's ex-fiancé," she stated.
Not allowing herself to show any emotion, even though she wanted to cry, or at the very least run away from Brooke's hateful stare, Peyton didn't move, and she never took her eyes off of Brooke's. Brooke's smile turned wicked, and she stared back as if no one else was in the room. "Well, go ahead, Peyton, take your drink," she prodded, but Peyton remained still, knowing nothing she could say or do would stop Brooke. Brooke pushed the drink closer to the blonde. "Drink up, Peyton," she demanded.
As Peyton's hand reached for the cup, Haley finally spoke up, not willing to let this go any further. "Brooke, stop this right now. You've had to much, and you need to leave my house," she looked to Nikki, because neither Brooke nor Peyton acknowledged her, both of them still locked in their silent death stares. "Can you take her home? I don't trust her driving like this," she said, because Brooke was still her friend, even if she did crappy things sometimes.
With her attention focused on Nikki, who nodded in affirmation to Haley's request, Haley didn't see Peyton pick up the shot until she poured it down her throat. She grabbed the cup out of her hand, but it was too late. "Peyton, what the hell do you think you're doing? How can you let her get to you that much? You know as well as I do that you're not supposed to be drinking. How could you do this?" she asked, her attention focused on the blonde, and not on the others in the room.
Scoffing, Brooke spoke up before Peyton could respond, not one to be forgotten in any situation, especially when she was drunk. "What are you, Haley, her mother? Who are you to tell her she can't have a drink?" she paused, thinking about it. "Unless there's a reason she can't drink," she laughed, but it was mocking and bitter. "Oh, that's great. You let yourself get knocked up by my ex. Geez, Peyton, just having my sloppy seconds isn't enough for you, you have to have his baby too, to make sure he stays with you?" she slurred.
This time she couldn't hide the hurt in her eyes. Nikki gasped in shock, because she could tell it was true, the answer was written all over Peyton's face. Haley wanted to reach out and comfort her friend, but she decided that first she needed to get Brooke out of there. "Enough Brooke. You need to go, now," the voice that spoke wasn't Haley's though, and all of the women looked to the entrance to the kitchen, to see who else had viewed the spectacle that Brooke had made.
All three men were standing there, all with very different expressions. Peyton couldn't care less about Brooke knowing anymore, and she knew that she had done the wrong thing, letting Lucas figure it out through someone else. She could see it written all over his face. She could also see that Jake was torn between what he wanted to feel, and what he should feel, and what he was actually feeling. Nathan was sympathetic, and she knew immediately he got what she was feeling. Instead of facing any one of them, though, Peyton turned and ran from the house.
A/N: This is a little short, but I felt this is where the ending should be, and I have a bit more in store for you. I hoped you liked that chapter, but since it is kind of late right now, I'm just going to post and hope you all review. Thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter, and thanks to those of you who are still reading.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.