Authors Note: Not a lot of reviews for last chapter but I understand that I was away awhile so will probably have lost readers. Thank you to arubagirl0926 & Chandler for your reviews and anyone who has added this story to their subscriptions. If you are reading, please just drop me a review to let me know :)
This chapter was supposed to be a long one but I decided to split it into two so if you want the next chapter, review because it's ready!

May 2025:

Brooke walked to the back door of their new house and opened it to look out at her husband chasing Freddie round the yard. She giggled at the way Freddie's legs sometimes got ahead of him so that he almost tripped but Julian was always there to catch him and twirl him round, their laughing radiating through the yard. She always knew that he'd be a good dad one day and it pained her that they couldn't have been doing this for years.

"Boys! Breakfast," she called out and watched as they ran up to the house. She gave Freddie's curls a gentle ruffle as he walked past her before turning to Julian and kissing him on the lips. He smiled, slightly taken aback but appreciative all the same.

They followed Freddie into the dining room where they know ate their meals. One of the things that Brooke hated about her childhood was that she lived in such grand house that just needed a family to use it. And that's what she was going do with their house. They were going to be a family, using every room, filling them with memories.

The day had only just started but since Avery had been admitted to hospital, Chase and Alex's days had started the same. They would wake up, in the same bed, which was a new development, one that they both savored every night and every morning. Then they'd hurry to get themselves and Caleb ready before leaving to drive to the hospital. They had both managed to find people to cover them at work for a few hours.

This morning however, had started slightly differently. Alex stirred from her sleeping state at the feel of Chase's lips on her shoulder, placing feathery kisses on her skin. Things had certainly been getting better for the two of them and kissing was becoming more frequent but neither had taken the step of going further in the bedroom despite both of them craving it more than anything.

She bit her lip, trying to hide the grin that was spreading on to her face. Chase must have sensed her being awake because his hands creeped across her pyjama clad stomach, pulling her closer into him, the kisses becoming more frequent.

Rolling onto her side, she turned to face him, his eyes shining playfully, so much so that she couldnt hold in her smile.

"Good morning," she smirked.

"Really? I havent noticed. I was too busy staring at my sexy girlfriend," he replied, raising his eyebrows.

She laughed into her pillow. "Ewwww both cheesy and creepy," she said in between giggles.

"Then you're not gonna want me to continue what I was doing then are you?" he questioned as he continued kissing her neck, slowly moving down to her chest.

"Hmm," she sighed in pleasure, loving the feel of his lips on her body again. It had been too long.

Haley left the bathroom, that connected to hers and Nathan's bedroom, fully clothed and ready for a day at Tree Hill High. With the last of finals lasting another week, she had offered to help out in the tutor centre with any student that wanted extra studying time , as well as normal classes.

Nathan was just only getting out of bed when Haley walked over to her chest of drawers to find a hair pin. Typical for the both of them for Haley to be the quick and efficient one whilst Nathan lazed around till the last possible moment.

"Were you sick this morning?" he asked, stretching his stiff back. Haley had been throwing up recently, which they quickly put down to pregnancy but when the test came back negative, they were left confused.

"No not today. I feel nauseous though," she grumbled because she hated feeling sick but she was also too stubborn to ever go to the doctor.

"I think it's time you went to the doctor's angel," he sweetly told her as he made their bed.

"I have an appointment for tomorrow," she reassured him, knowing Nathan, he would continue to worry until she got the all clear.

"Good," he nodded and walked into their closet to get today's outfit. "Did Peyton tell you about the party that she and Luke are having?" he called from inside the closet.

"Yeah. Next week right?"

Nathan re-emerged with a pair of track pants and black t-shirt with Coach Scott sewn on the front. "Yeah. I know we have to get Sawyer a present but do we have to get Luke and Peyton one?"

"Well it is their anniversary Nathan," Haley reminded him.

"Exactly. It's not their wedding day anymore."

Haley laughed, shaking her head and joining him in front of their bed, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I'll find something for them if you get Sawyer's?"

"What the hell am I supposed to get a seventeen year old girl?" he grumbled.

"Well what did you used to get Peyton?"

"Birthday sex."

"Of course you did," she winced. "Well stick to a vinyl record or an art book."

"Okay okay. I'll find something. Leave it with me," he agreed and kissed her forehead before looking at his watch. "Argh I'm gonna be late again."

He rushed into bathroom to get ready whilst Haley made her way downstairs to get breakfast.

After some much needed morning loving, as Chase called it, the loved up couple made it to the hospital an hour later than usual, Caleb in tow, who hadn't stopped talking since they had woken him up.

There was no denying that they felt guilty for not being with Avery as soon as she woke up but were reassured when they stood outside her door and heard laughing. They entered the room and saw Avery and Quinley playing snakes and ladders.

"I told you I'd win," Avery boasted. "How can you lose a child's game four times Q?"

"Whatever, I let you win," he lied.

At the sound of the door opening, they turned to see Avery's doting family stood in the doorway.

"Morning kids," Chase said as he made himself comfy in one of the chair's. Caleb took his usual seat on the edge of Avery's bed.

"You're later today," Avery pointed out.

"We...errrm," Alex hesitated.

"Caleb woke up late," Chase tried to cover up but the shared smirks didnt go unnoticed by Quinley and Avery.

"Why don't you go get some drinks so I can say goodbye to Q," she suggested. "I'll watch Cale."

"Sure. We'll be back. See you soon Q."

Chase and Alex left the hospital room quickly. Quinley soon burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Avery asked as she pulled Caleb closer to her on the bed.

"Did you not just see that?" he pointed to where her parents were stood mere minutes ago.

Avery shrugged her shoulders and creased her brow. "I don't understand what you mean."

"The reason why your parents were late today," he gave her a clue but she still showed confusion. "They were totally having s-e-x this morning," he spelled it out so that Caleb didnt pick up on it.

"No they were not!" she gasped in shock.

"Did you not see their faces when you said that they were late?"

"Ewwww they're my parents. They don't do that," she scoffed. But she thought about what Quinley had said and if he was right then what did that mean for her parents? She felt an emotional weight shift slightly within her. Things were finally coming together.

"Did you see last night's episode of Shelter?" Ella questioned, turning to Lanny as they walked through the quad to their algebra class. He had been quiet for most of the morning.

"No I missed it," he managed to mumble.

"Okay what's going on with you?" she nudged his arm, causing him to jump. He was more zoned out than she originally thought.

"Girl troubles," he honestly replied without even taking a second to think about it. They had a very honest relationship, if anyone was one to hide their feelings, it was Ella but only occasionally.

She didn't really want to talk to him about his relationship with her cousin but knew that if he was in the same situation, he'd be there for her no matter what, so she was going to do the same for him.

"What's happened?"

"She's avoiding me," he exhaled. "She says she has to study."

"If you can't find time to catch up now then what's it going to be like when she's on tour?" Ella put to him, voicing the words that he too had been thinking. He smiled at her affectionately, his eyes lighting up as he thought that this was the reason why she was his best friend. She mirrored his smile and her day was made. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"At least it means I can spend some time with my best friend," he told her and she was happy enough with the response.

Brooke loved the month of May. It was when the the warm air started to hit their little town and April showers were infrequent. She was even more happy now that they had signed Freddie up at the stable. It meant that on clear days like today, she was able to spend the whole day with the little boy out in the open field. She wasn't much of a rider herself so she appreciated that they could share the learning experience together and hopefully bring them closer. As much as he had warmed to Brooke greatly, Freddie still turned to Julian for most things.

Today she had managed to get cover at the store so whilst Julian spent the rest of the week on set, she got to spend it with Freddie and today they were at the stable. She was acting like a proud mother, taking pictures of him in his little brown riding boots and his black helmet.

"You're looking good buddy. I'm gonna send these to Julian. He's gonna love you," she gushed.

"So are you guys ready to go?" Scarlett appeared holding the reigns to Henry and a larger white horse called Polly. Brooke and Freddie followed Scarlett out onto the sand track which was for beginners. "You first then Brooke."

Brooke took a deep breath and followed Scarlett's instructions to mount Polly from the left, using her mane to lift herself up. Once she was settled on the saddle with her feet placed correctly in the stirrups, she waited for Scarlett to get Freddie ready.

"So Freddie, remember what we did last time?"

Freddie nodded and could see the enthusiasm on his face. He already had such a big love for Henry and Brooke was more than certain that they were going to buy him for Freddie.

"Okay so if I place you on Henry and you put your feet in the stirrups. Do you remember what they are? Point to them for me," she told him sweetly.

Freddie pointed to the iron stirrups that hung from the saddle , causing Brooke to almost squeal with pride. She was definitely an excitable mom.

"Good boy," Scarlett said to him. Picking him up, she then placed Freddie upon the brown leather saddle. He eagerly grabbed the reigns, his smile almost reaching his ears.

As Scarlett altered the stirrups to fit Freddie's little legs, he let one of his small hands fall away from the reigns and pat Henry's neck, just like Scarlett showed him. Once both Freddie and Brooke were on their horses, Scarlett attached a lunge line between them, with Henry and Freddie in front.

"Are you ready? We're just going to have a gentle walk around the trail," Scarlett informed them.

"I'm ready. Are you ready Freds?" Brooke called to him and heard him shout, 'Weady'.

To say Annie was shocked by her best friend's current health condition, would be an understatement. One thing that she and Avery had always done was talk about everything. They were not ones to keep things to themselves.

She was currently sitting in Avery's hospital room, reading a ridiculous story from a trashy magazine about a girl who was claiming that her life was ruined after she sent a text message to the wrong person.

"Have you ever heard anything so stupid and superficial in your entire life?" she scoffed at the words written.

Avery giggled; typical Annie, she thought. "Why are you reading it? You hate my magazines," she reminded her.

"I know but you love them and that's what friends do," Annie grinned, her goofy squint perfectly in place.

"So what's going on in school? I feel like I'm missing out on everything stuck in here."

"Everyone is just focused on finishing for summer. Do you think you'll be out of here by then?" Annie asked, knowing that summer for the two of them was often spent at the beach so that Annie could play volleyball with the boys whilst Avery flirted with them.

"I don't know," she admitted disheartened. "The doctor said that if I make progress then I can go home and just go to counseling and check ups."

"And are you making progress?" Annie asked, placing the magazine on the side table and leant back in the chair.

"Not enough. Not until I start eating all of my meals on my own and talk to my therapist."

"What's stopping you? The Avery I know can't stop talking," she smirked. "It's actually quite annoying."

"Shut up Ann!" though she knew her friend was joking. "I guess it's just different when you're talking to a stranger. Can we talk about something else?"

"If you promise to get better?" she asked, holding out her pinky.

"I promise," she grabbed hold of Annie's pinky with her own. "Now can you braid my hair pleeeeeaaaase?" she dragged it out adding a pout for extra effect. But Annie was already climbing up onto the bed.

After just finishing their last scene of the day, Sawyer and Jonny were walking to their assigned dressing rooms. Sawyer had spent most of the day thinking about Jonny's allergy to peanuts and why he had bought Reese's. It had been at least two weeks since it happened but it continued to plague her mind. She had been in her own bubble since that day, turning to music and art for help but when both didn't bring her answers, she decided that maybe she should just ask him about it.

"Hey Princess," he called to her when she got to her dressing room door. She looked in his direction. "Want to go get a drink or something? We can plan tomorrow's scene," he suggested, talking about the pivotal shooting scene. Sawyer had planned to talk to her parents about it like she had done many times in the past but sharing her knowledge of the event with Jonny could only do more good than harm, so she nodded.

"Sure. We can get a coffee or something. I just need to get my stuff," she entered her dressing room and thought that now would be a good time to question him about the candy.

Authors Note: So who would you like to see more of? Review for the next chapter guys :) xo