"Ugh I feel like a stranger in my own house!" Peyton complained as she walked into the Red Bedroom studio to start another day at work.

"Ahh the famous authors are still at it then?" Haley smiled sympathetically.

"Its non stop – I mean I get it, I do… I remember how bad Lucas can get when he's in the middle of writing his 'next great American novel' but I guess it's just harder when there are two of them. I feel like the 'other' woman in a very time consuming marriage." Peyton laughed.

"So how goes it with Maddi anyway? You still think she's up to something?" Haley asked concerned.

"Do you know, I really don't know anymore… sometimes it's really confusing because she's being all touchy feely with Lucas, and the next, it's like I imagined it all. Then other times it's like Luke is reciprocating and other times he seems completely blind to her advances. The only info I have is that Sawyer can't stand Maddi. Really hurts Luke coz it then means that Sawyer is spending next to no time with her father. Don't know why Sawyer doesn't like her though!"

"Well just ride it through Peyt. I'm sure there's nothing there. In the meantime – have a listen to this…. Can you believe that we *found* these boys only a few months ago!"

Peyton and Haley spend the rest of the afternoon listening to the CD of their most recent band and marvelling at the work they had done. Neither had really noticed the time slip by until Brooke waltzed in to the studio.

"Wow – look at you two workaholics. When asked to meet your friends in the bar after work, usually that means they leave the office right?"

"Is it really that time already?" Haley asked looking up at the clock. Quickly, she and Peyton began to gather their work up and join Brooke at Tric bar for a nightcap.

Peyton came home late that night to a quiet house. She went straight in to check on Sawyer and kiss her forehead, tucking her in that little bit more. Slowly she worked her way around the house, cleaning up here and there before finally heading to hers and Lucas' bedroom where she found him asleep with the manuscript folded open across his chest. Silently she grabbed the wad of paper and put it on the bedside table. It was moments like this where her worry went away. She knew how seriously Luke took his work and how dedicated to his projects he was once they started. She shouldn't let her imagination get the better of her. After all – she trusted Luke – right? Smiling to herself at this affirmation, she glanced again at the manuscript, before climbing into bed next to her husband. After all – he was hers 100% wasn't he.

Brooke was getting her house ready for the invasion that was Ben and Preston. It seemed to be getting to be a regular ritual for them to come over regularly for dinner and a movie or something as equally low key. Brooke the ex- party girl was settling…or so it felt to her. She loved the company of Ben, but Brooke couldn't help but wonder if this was how she planned for her life to turn out, or if this was the way she had expected it to go. Deep down, she could see that Ben was beginning to class what they had as a relationship. Which shouldn't totally surprise her seeing the amount of time they spent together, not to mention how most of her friends were viewing the relationship. But for her, while she loved the company of Ben, and he had been there throughout the whole pregnancy so far with her, she just didn't seem to be able to take that step further with him. In reality, she lived in constant fear of him wanting to take the relationship further, a step that she knew she didn't want to take. And yet, if anyone asked her why she wouldn't have been able to tell them. Her friends loved Ben, he was friendly, caring and understanding… and yet, for her, the relationship was totally platonic. As she continued to tidy up around the house, she couldn't help but hope that Ben never got it in his head to want to take this relationship further and otherwise ruin their great friendship.

Lucas was sitting at the kitchen bench eating his breakfast and waiting for Maddi to arrive. Sawyer was with him for the day, and she was up in her room keeping herself amused. Peyton had already left to work at the studio. Lucas couldn't help but feel a little despondent at the recent change of events. He was working hard on this novel with Maddi, while Peyton was working hard trying to finish this album before she stopped work for her maternity leave. Which meant that basically she and Lucas were like passing ships in the night, only seeing each other briefly before bed, if at all. Honestly, Lucas thought to himself, he couldn't wait for all of this to be over so that he could then enjoy the time with his wife again. Hearing the door open, Luke turned his head to see who was entering, expecting it to be Maddi.

"Oh so it is true! You are still alive!" Haley commented as she walked in to greet her best friend.

Luke smiled instantly. "Hey, it goes both ways you know! You can also stop by occasionally too."

"Oh don't I know it. But Peyton won't let me, something about you working hard on the great American novel and all that." Haley commented picking up a piece of bacon and winking at Luke as she placed it in her mouth.

"Oh c'mon we don't know that yet…."

"C'mon Luke – you only get to be this much of a hermit when you are working on something amazing, so we all have high hopes. Just don't forget about all of your friends when you are finished working on your art ok?"

"Like you would let me. By the way – what are you doing here instead of down at the studio? Peyton's been working like mad lately so I just assumed you were too?"

"Oh don't worry – it's mad at the moment, I just thought I'd drop by on my way to the studio. You know – make sure you're still alive and all"

Luke smiled at his best friend and realised there was something more she wanted to say. Silently he waited for her to continue.

"Luke – you know you're my best friend right? I've known you forever, so probably as good as if not better than anyone in our group?"

"Yeah…" Luke said tentatively. "Hales, what's going on?"

"Well that's exactly what I want to ask you Luke. What is going on between you and this Maddi girl? No, let me finish first. She drops in out of nowhere and now your time is totally consumed by her. Yes Luke, I know you guys are working and I get that, but you've got to admit that this would stress out even the most trusting wives."

"Did Peyton…"

"No Luke, Peyton didn't send me here. I came off my own back, because I get it ok. Brooke went through this with Julian and in a way I went through this with Nathan during his last contract year. So we've been reassuring Peyton that there is nothing going on. After all – we trust you and she trusts you. We're just not too sure about this Maddi girl. I mean how on earth did you meet her and how did she end up in tree hill?"

"To be honest, even I'm not sure Hales. But I promise you, this is strictly business ok. I wouldn't do that to Peyton. Ever. She's my wife and I love her more than anything."

"I know that you love her Luke. But I also know you. I know that you can get… misled sometimes. I mean c'mon – we had the Brooke saga, the Peyton saga and the Lyndsay saga. I just don't want you to mess up the best thing that's ever happened to you."

Luke smiled at his best friend. He could tell she was concerned, not just for him, but also for his wife who he knew she would stand up for and defend, even against him. He paused for a minute before responding to his friend.

"Hales, I love you for worrying. Really I do. But I promise you, I love Peyton, and nobody is going to get in the way of that ok. There is nothing going on between Maddi and myself. There may have been some flirting in the past, but that's all gone now. I promise."

"Ok well… can you just promise me one thing? Whatever there has been in the past? Kissing, flirting or anything like that... can you please fess up to Peyton. Because the not knowing is far worse than the knowing and moving forward. I'm not going to say anymore Luke, but promise me you won't stuff this up?"

"Hales, I promise you, there is nothing to worry about"

Haley smiled at him, hugged him and then headed towards the door. "Well in that case Luke, I better get going otherwise my boss might berate me for being late. Pregnant bosses are so moody these days"

Lucas chuckled as he closed the door behind Haley.

Sawyer having had enough of playing in her room, headed out and down to the kitchen, prepared to ask her dad for something to do. She could hear their voices in the kitchen area and so quietly headed to that area.

"Maddi – I think you've done it. It's done!"

"Really?"

"Yep – well there's a few editing things to fix up but we can do all of that via email or via post. But mostly, we're done! It's a great piece of work Maddi. Really… you should be proud!"

"Are you sure? I mean what about chapter 26. It still doesn't flow on as well as the others do. I'm not convinced on that one yet"

"It's just an editing issue Maddi. I promise, we can fix that up via email or another way. Trust me. It's good… really good."

"Thanks Luke, I mean, there is no way I could have done it without you"

"Sure you could have. It was all there, all inside, I just helped… unlock it all"

"So what's say you and I have a celebratory drink then?"

"No Maddi, I really can't"

"Can't… or shouldn't because your wife keeps you on a tight leash?"

"Can't because it's not the right thing to do"

"Wow – I never knew that you would be such a prude about these things Luke. You were so fun back in New York." Maddi said coming in closer.

"It's not that Maddi, it's just…"

"Just, you're worried about what your wife might say if she caught us having a few drinks?"

Momentarily Luke lost his train of thought. He couldn't deny that Maddi sure knew how to sidetrack someone's though.

"Well in that case Luke, if you won't come out for a drink with me, I'll have to find a way to thank you for all your help." And with that, Maddi edged in closer still.

"Maddi I think you should…." Before Luke could fully comprehend what was happening he felt Maddi's warm lips on his and for a few seconds, without thinking he was kissing her back.

"There – now you know how I really feel" Maddi said once they broke away. "And now I know, with a kiss like that, why your wife keeps you on such a short leash."

"Maddi, what on earth were you thinking?" Luke asked perplexed. "You should go. Here, take this" he said handing her the manuscript. "If you need to speak about the novel Maddi, email me, but otherwise we're done ok. We don't need to meet anymore."

Luke rushed Maddi out the door barely registering what had happened in the past few minutes. Around the corner, just behind the kitchen walls was a small three year old girl, watching in the distance. Sawyer didn't understand what exactly was going on, but one thing was for sure, she certainly didn't like her daddy kissing anyone other than her Mama.