There's a maze of card board boxes littering the floor.

Peyton can remember it looking like this once before.

She was here that day, four years ago. When Haley and Nathan Scott moved into this house. She was here, helping unpack their belongings.

It had been so exciting. It had been the beginning of a happy life. It was a family home, for a big family.

Only now, she's stood in their bedroom, surrounded by boxes for a different reason altogether.

Her fingers run over the blue silky material of a cocktail dress and then she's reluctantly dropping it into an open box. She finds herself trapped in memories of her friend. She finds herself longing for Haley James Scott.

She misses her sweet voice. She misses the constant shoulder that was always there to lean on. She misses that most of all.

She knows she's got Brooke, she knows she's not alone but Haley had a way with advice, Haley had a way of making everything alright; she was sunshine and optimism, she was hope and Peyton misses her friend's uplifting smile. She misses it all.

'Why're we doing this?' Jamie's voice is muffled from the back of the open cupboard.

She forces herself back into the now and smiles down at him.

She'd considered doing this while he wasn't around but his therapist had declared it would be good for him to be present.

'Why do you think we're doing it honey?' She crouches down and joins him in his hiding place.

He's silent for a long while. He's been pretty much silent for the last half hour, quietly inspecting as his Mother and Father's clothes are packed away.

'Cause they can't wear them no more' He finally decides. He's clutching a blue toy car. He likes this cupboard. He likes the shoe boxes. He likes making ramps with the lids to make his car roll down.

'That's right' Peyton takes his little hand. 'Don't you think it would be nice if we gave all of these clothes to people that need them? I think your Mumma and Daddy would've liked that'.

He looks up at her with worried eyes. 'I don't have to give them mumma's jersey?' He refers to the one piece of his mother's clothing that has been a great comfort over the months. In the beginning he'd been inseparable from it, Peyton had begun to think that perhaps he'd be going off to high school with it still draped over his shoulder. He's come a long way though and now mainly just has it in his bed as a treasured item that is hugged throughout the night.

'No, no' She soothes quickly. 'That's yours sweetie'

He relaxes and shuffles onto his knees, shooting his car down it's make shift road.

She's sitting amongst the remaining clothes that are hanging. There's not many left now.

She pulls out the one piece that makes her overwrought with emotion.

It's been kept in a transparent clothes bag and looks as beautiful and immaculate as the day it was worn.

'Did you know that you were inside your mumma's tummy when she wore this one Jimmyjam' She fingers the luxurious cream satin.

Jamie stops what he's doing to look up at the precious gown above them. 'I was?'

'Uhuh. You were right there with them when they got married. It's kinda cool huh?'

He nods idly.

'Would you like to keep this one?' She takes his little hand. 'We can put it away somewhere safe and one day, when you're lots, lots bigger and you marry yourself a pretty girl, she can wear it'

He screws up his nose because he's five and the prospect of marriage isn't something that ever crosses his mind.

'I'm never getting married' He informs her.

'No?'

'No way'

Peyton laughs. 'Why not?'

'Cause girls are bossy and girls like pink'

'Really? Cause I'm a girl Jamie Scott and I'll have you know I don't like pink one little bit and I don't think I'm that bossy'

He clambers onto her lap and grins. 'That's cause your a growed up' He tells her simply.

'Well one day you'll be a grown up honey, and maybe one day you'll want to get married'

He doesn't look so sure.

'And anyway even if you don't it's a nice thing to keep of your Mumma's don't you think?'

He shrugs and snuggles close, his head on her shoulder.

'You okay buddy?'

He nods.

She wonders if this is all wrong, if she should have done this alone.

'Do you want to go downstairs and make some lunch with me?'

He doesn't verbally answer but his arms and legs tighten around her and she takes that as a no.

'Okay, we can sit in here as long as you like'

He relaxes then.

So she sits there, holding him to her chest and stroking his back and they stay there for a long while and she thinks about Haley and Nathan and then most suddenly Jamie seems to snap out of his little daze and announces he's got things to do downstairs, very important things like lego and Peyton smiles and escorts him downstairs and hopes to god that even though his Mother and Father are no longer here, that they're enough. They being herself and Lucas and for the first time she's thinking of them as a they and not a her and him but it doesn't freak her out, it makes her more confident because looking after Jamie with someone is a hell of a lot easier than going it alone.

She's had a busy couple of days, trying to catch up with some work deadlines. Her work use to be her life but now it seems to have taken a backseat but she's not concerned.

It's late and she knows Karen is probably busy shutting up shop but she wants to ask the older woman about her baking expertise because Jamie's birthday is coming up she wants it to be perfect and she's the definition of hopeless when it comes to making cakes.

She can see the that the lights are still on as she approaches.

She assumes the front exit will be locked so she heads down the side ally and walks through the back entrance, pausing quietly on the other side of the swinging door that leads to front of house. She can see the brunette's figure through the circular window, hunched over, wiping down the tables and she smiles fondly.

She can remember doing that little job at nine years old and proudly smiling up at Karen when she thanked her for being her little star.

She's about to make her presence known, but the bells on the front entrance have rung out, signalling someone's arrival. The cafe's closed. She knows that. She's just driven by. She saw the closed sign hanging in the window, dissuading any more customers from venturing inside.

A deep voice is speaking and curiosity keeps her standing in her spot, hidden.

Karen's body has turned slightly and she has a view of the older woman's face, she's holding herself tall and defensive and Peyton is suddenly worried. Her hand delves into her pocket, seeking out her phone in the eventuality that she may need to call someone for help.

Her mind is buzzing.

She's gone from thinking that perhaps it was just a persistant customer, to a looter seizing their opportunity while Karen was alone and at her most vulnerable.

It's after hours and the voice is raised and angry and asking if they're alone.

She doesn't have a visual on the visitor but she hears Karen say that she's closed for the day and suggests they leave.

The voice doesn't leave though. The voice speaks again.

Peyton rolls onto her tippy toes, her hands grasping the door frame, careful not to put her weight on the swinging door.

She's straining her ears.

She knows something's not right.

She thinks perhaps she's eaves dropping on a conversation she shouldn't be hearing because she's just heard Lucas' name. Loud and clear. And suddenly she's even more alert.

She knows she should make her presence known then but she doesn't.

She knows but she can't seem to force her legs to move.

She can clearly see Karens face. She can see the anxiety in the woman's eyes and the shadow of a man looming nearby.

He speaks again, this time softer and this time Peyton hears the voice, or more precisely she establishes whom the voice belongs to and she's standing still for a whole different reason.

'What do you mean you don't know why?'

A hand is being wavered threateningly over the counter and Peyton's thankful that Karen has moved herself safely behind it. Safely away from him.

Karen doesn't seem as threatened as Peyton feels though; her eyes have narrowed, her features are hard and uncompromising.

'I mean I don't know why!' She growls. 'You need to leave'

'You don't get to do this Karen, you don't have a fucking say do you hear me? This is in the past. You don't get to bring it all up. You don't get to ruin my marriage, you don't get to ruin my career. You keep your god damn mouth shut'

Blood is rushing through her ears.

She's torn completely, half of her wants to run in there and tell him not to speak to her like that and half of her is desperate to stay put, to hear more, to try and grasp what their words mean.

He leans over the counter and she can suddenly fully see him through her peep whole and it sends her reeling back; she can't stand Dan Scott at the best of times but the rage in his eyes propels her feet back on their own accord.

The stacked pots and pans balanced on the work surface behind her are quick to clatter to the floor as she stumbles into them. The loud commotion pierces through the loud exchange of words in the adjoining room.

Peyton's eyes slam shut, grimacing.

A saucepan's lid gives an encore performance, spinning a few feet away on the tiled floor, lengthening the almighty noise until eventually it teeters, landing with a final clash.

She opens her eyes.

Karen is standing in the doorway and she can hear the bells jangling cheerily in Dan's wake.

He's gone.

'Peyton' Karen's smile is forced. 'What're you...?'

'Sorry I'm such a cluts' She hastily crouches down to gather the shiny cooking utensils.

'Leave that honey'

She doesn't though, she efficiently reorganises the disaster zone that she's created and then she's looking at Karen. 'Are you okay?' She asks warily.

'Oh yes, why wouldn't I be?'

'Well' Her hand points toward the door. 'I thought...-'

'Oh that. That was nothing honey- just Dan Scott being Dan Scott. What can I do for you anyway?' She changes the subject, her eyes expectant and Peyton doesn't dare to pry any further.

'Oh yeah, I'm sorry to drop by when you're closing up for the day and I didn't mean to scare you back here!'

'Nonsense. You didn't'

'You want some help out there?' She wants to help, she wants to understand what she just overheard.

Karen waves her arm and shakes her head. 'No, no. I'm about done. You just missed your Mum'

'I was after you anyhow'

'Oh really?' Karen combs her fingers through her hair, brushing it away from her flustered rosy cheeks. 'What can I do for you then?'

'Well' Peyton bites her lip. 'I was wondering if you could do me a favour'

'Anything'

Peyton smiles because if there's anyone in this town that can be guaranteed to aide you in anyway it was Karen Roe.

'It's Jamie's birthday next weekend'

'Oh really?' Karen smiles. 'You need a cake?' She assumes with a knowing glint in her eye.

Peyton laughs. 'Yes. You know me too well'

'I can't really ever forget the cookies you tried to poison your mother and me with, I don't want to inflict that upon anyone else, especially Jamie'

'I was seventeen' Peyton protests. 'But I'm probably just a useless!' She adds. 'He's really into star wars and space ships and stuff like that at the minute- I was thinking maybe something under that theme'

'I'm sure I can sort something out'

'Thank you Karen. I'm hopeless at the whole cake making thing. I'm sure Hales would've made some masterpiece'

Karen reaches for her hand. 'Honey, you're doing great and Haley and Nathan couldn't be more proud, I promise you that'

The blonde avoids the caring gaze on her. 'I hope so'

'I know so'

Her eyes have gone watery. She's been a bit emotional today having cleared out her friends bedroom and she's been doubting her abilities in being there for Jamie in the same way Haley was because she'll never be as good at this mothering thing as Haley had been.

She blinks and smiles thankfully at Karen because not that the older woman knows it but she's just made her feel a whole lot better.

'What're you doing Saturday? I'd like it if you came too? To Jamie's birthday' She invites.

'Oh I dunno honey. I don't think-'

'I'm sure Jamie would too'

'I'll, I'll see'

'Okay. Good' Peyton knows that's a good response, it's not a no after all. She knows Karen keeps herself to herself, she knows she likes to spend holidays alone but she does pop round to Anna and Larry's from time to time and Peyton thinks she'll enjoy a day out. 'I better get going, Lucas was teaching Jamie to make a sling shot when I left. The next door neighbours are going to have a broken window, I just know it' She rolls her eyes and smiles just the same.

'You seem like you're getting on with him, Lucas I mean' Karen states, walking the blonde to the exit. 'Your mother said you weren't so fond of him?'

'My mother likes to gossip apparently' Peyton leans on the nearest counter. 'To be honest we kind of started off on the wrong foot but, we, we're getting along now. He's so good with Jamie' She divulges.

'He is?'

'Yes. He's not had it easy-'

'What do you mean? How so?' The brunette cuts off.

Peyton swallows.

'Peyton?' Karen's eyes have changed. They're dark, serious, urgent, demanding.

She's suddenly making more than idle conversation.

She's being more than curious.

Peyton's brow furrows and she adjusts her bag on her shoulder. 'Erm, I...Karen I have to go' She whispers into the thick air. She needs to get out because she knows something's not right. She's confused and she's not about to divulge any of the things Lucas has confided in her.

'Yes. Yes of course' Karen nods briskly, her gently, kind stare back once more. 'Okay. I'll, I'll get that cake to you in the next few days sweetie'

'Thank you' Peton opens the door. 'You should go home. You work too hard' She awkwardly kisses the older woman's cheek and she hates it because there's never any tension between them and suddenly there is and she doesn't understand it one bit. But she doesn't dwell on it because then she's disappearing into the night but she still hears Karen's sad murmur behind her of 'Goodbye darling'

Peyton is on edge when she enters the house.

She doesn't know if to mention what she's just witnessed. She doesn't want to create an argument nor upset him and she doesn't even really understand what it was anyhow.

'Peyton! Peyton! Peyton!' Jamie's shrill, excited little voice snaps her out of her trance.

She takes a step away from the door, setting her bag and keys on the hallway table. 'Hey you' She looks at him through narrowed eyes.

He's wearing a toothy grin, jumping up and down wildly and he's wearing his pyjama's with a bed sheet draped round his neck acting as a cape and he's flailing a plastic light saber in the air.

'We're going to watch Star Wars in a minute! You're just in time' He spins around and Peyton cringes as he sprints away from her, anticipating him tripping on the billowing sheet and tumbling onto his front.

He doesn't fall though, he slides to a halt and disappears into the living room.

She shakes her head in bewilderment. While she's all for that beaming smile on the child's face, she's a little disconcerted by his eagerness because this is not Jamie, well not the Jamie since his mother and father's death. She ventures into the kitchen keen to know if Lucas is any wiser about the five year old's overly sunny disposition.

He looks up as she enters, he's on his knees, an explosion of popcorn around him.

'Hey' He smiles.

'Hey, what happened in here?'

He brushes the last bits of corn into the dustpan and disposes of its contents in the bin. 'Tornado Jamie' He rolls his eyes and reaches for a fresh batch of pop corn sitting out of reach on the side, he offers the bowl to her and she takes a handful to nibble on.

'He's kind of hyper huh?'

'Yeah...' He sheepishly looks at her. 'He found my coffee on the side, he may have had a few slurps'

'Lucas!' She blurts, coughing on her mouthful in her haste to speak.

'What? It's no big deal'

'No? Look at him' She peers through the adjoining archway, looking at the young child that is busy jumping up and down on the sofas. 'He looks high!'

'I know it's kinda funny though' He joins her in watching the boy in question.

'Yeah now maybe! Good luck at trying to get him into bed later though'

Lucas' face falls and he groans. 'Oh god, it's going to be a long night'

Peyton smiles. 'Note to self- don't let the five year old have your coffee perhaps?'

'Point taken' He mutters. 'Where've you been anyhow?'

'Oh, I was just sorting some work stuff out.'

'Oh?' He quirks his eyebrow. He's keen to know what it is she exactly does but all he's really established is there's this magazine and she draws but he's yet to see any of it. In fact she doesn't really like to talk about herself all that much. She's like him in that sense, but he feels like she manages to get him to divulge a lot more than he ever gets.

'Boring stuff' She deadpans.

She doesn't know why she's lying. She's not lying as such- she has been doing work, she's just not mentioning certain other details of her day. Like the pretty most significant part. The part where she just walked in on some weird altercation between his father and Karen Roe.

'Is everything okay?'

Her eyes jerk up and she forces a bright smile.

'Oh yeah, I'm fine. Sorry just tired.'

He doesn't look so sure. She's acting weird but he doesn't push it. 'Why don't you go sit down then and I'll bring you a drink'

She smiles because he's being sweet and it makes her insides flutter just a little. The thought of curling up on the sofa with a glass of wine and watching some girly film with him is more than appealing. But that's not the reality. She sighs. They're not alone and Jamie is no longer just jumping on the furniture; he's managed to pull one of the arm chairs over to make a cave and thrown all the cushions onto the floor and is instead using them for stepping stones. Peyton knows Haley wouldn't approve of her expensive decor being mistreated so. She looks back over her shoulder at Lucas and he winks and she knows that when he sent her in here just now it was just a ploy for her to deal with the loopy child before her.

She rolls her eyes.

Perhaps he wasn't so sweet after all.

But she doesn't care because then he smirks and it's a panty dropping smirk and she doesn't want sweet. She wants Lucas.

She turns quickly before she throws herself at him, her eyes focusing on the little boy in their care.

'Sweetie what're you doing?' Peyton tries to sound stern but she's amused because he's completely immersed in his little game.

'Playin Star Wars' He says as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.

Of course, she thinks.

'Well I thought you wanted to watch Star Wars'

'Uhuh' He scrambles out from his makeshift cave.

'Well why don't we tidy this up so-'

'No!' He whines. 'Pleaseee. I wanta lay on the floor, see I made a giant bed!'

'I can see'

'Please, we can have a sleepover! Can we?'

'Okay'

'You'll stay?'

'Oh, I dunno about that honey-'

'Please' He pouts and she relents instantly because he's Jamie and she's not very good at saying no to those blue eyes.

'Okay, okay, but you gotta calm down and come sit'

Jamie grins and attempts to do as he's told but then Lucas is in the room and he's on his feet again announcing to his uncle that Peyton is staying and they're going to have a sleepover and they're watching star wars.

Lucas nods with a smirk on his face because Jamie is being unusually talkative- in other words he won't shut up.

He hands Peyton her wine and sits down on the floor beside her before pressing play on the remote control. He hopes the film will get Jamie to sit still for longer than five seconds and perhaps calm down a bit.

It works.

Eventually.

Tiredness hits him hard. One minute he's prancing round the living room reenacting the scenes on the big television screen and the next he's slouched in between them on the floor of cushions, his head resting on Lucas and his eyes fluttering and struggling to stay open.

Peyton sneaks off at one point to go and find some bedding and slip into something a little more comfortable. She's not brought anything to sleep in so she helps herself to one of his t-shirts. It's becoming a frequent occurrence. Her in his clothes. He doesn't mind it one bit, he kind of likes it. Likes it a lot.

When she returns the credits are rolling and both Jamie and Lucas are asleep.

They look scarily like father and son. She's sure that anyone that doesn't know their situation would assume so too.

She smiles down at them.

Lucas isn't good at being affectionate, not physically but right now his arm is around Jamie and the little boy's head is resting on his chest and it melts her heart.

She turns the tv off and covers them delicately with a blanket and one of Lucas' eyes open.

'You alright?' He asks gruffly.

'Uhuh' She settles herself the other side of Jamie.

'This is fucking uncomfortable' He mutters. He briefly notes how he's become quickly accustomed to the comfortable bed he has day in day out. Not too long ago he wouldn't of cared about his current sleeping situation; the floor had been a common bed in his past but not anymore.

She smiles. 'It's one night. I'm sure we'll survive'

'Mm' He grunts. 'I'd be much more comfortable if you came over this side'

She shakes her head no and shuffles nearer, her arm moving round Jamie and settling on Lucas' hip. 'This is as close as I'm getting I'm afraid'

His hand covers hers.

'You know I could just take him up to his bed, he's out like a light and then-'

'He wanted to camp out, he'll be upset when he wakes up in the morning'

'Yeah' He concedes. She's right of course. 'It's just-'

'I know' With Jamie sandwiched between them she leans forward and kisses him tenderly. They've not seen each other alone for the last two days and she's surprised at how much she's missed this contact and she knows he has too because he's gripping her face and trying to pull her closer but they've got a child between them and he soon stirs in his sleep and Peyton jumps back and Lucas chuckles and then she's shushing him and her hand is trailing over Jamie's forehead.

The youngster rolls toward her, snuggling up in her inviting arms and he's soon settled once more.

'He's asleep' Lucas assures her.

Her head settles back on the pillow and she yawns. 'Jaime's going to be six next Saturday' She murmurs.

'It's his birthday?' Lucas is suddenly more awake, his wide eyes on Peyton's closed ones.

'Yes'

'I...I didn't know'

'I know, that's why I'm telling you' She looks up at him. 'I was thinking we could throw him a party- nothing big. Just you, me, my parents and Brooke-'

'Yeah. Sure. That's a good idea'

'Good' She cranes her head forward to peck his lips.

It's not passionate or sexual, just a simple press of lips to lips.

It's the kiss of a couple. A kiss that says I'm here. You're not alone. We're together.

Her eyes close pretty much after that and he looks at her and Jamie.

Things have never been more perfect in his life. He's never felt this kind of stability, this kind of happiness and it's unnerving.

But what's most unnerving is knowing that this won't last, because Lucas is realistic and Lucas knows things are bound to get fucked up sooner or later. This seemingly trouble free life he's living is just enveloping him with a false sense of security. He expects disasters because the reality of the situation is, guys like him don't get girls like Peyton Sawyer and a kid that gives him a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

He sighs, closing his eyes and trying to force himself to live in the now, because he didn't like waiting, and waiting he was, for the rug to be pulled from beneath his feet.

He hopes it happens sooner rather than later because he's fallen hard, fallen hard for this new life, is falling harder and harder every day.