A/N: Hey guys! Sorry it's taken so long. But school has been kicking my butt! Plus, my daughter, who is 1 ½, is already getting into those terrible twos! So it's been stressful at my house! Anyways, here's a short chapter for yall. I planned on making it longer and adding Molly Erin's funeral in here but decided to split it up. So next chapter will be the funeral! Oh and big news!!!! I've planned out and have begun the research for my first novel! It's just in the planning stages right now. But if any of you are interested in what it's about, just ask in a PM or in your review! Also, thanks to Morgan, as always, for helping me through these chapters! Love ya girly!

Brooke lay in Nathan's arms, sobbing as Gina took Molly Erin away. She didn't realize there really was a pain like this. No one, not even Nathan, could understand the sorrow and guilt she felt. If only she had told someone when she first realized Molly Erin wasn't kicking. Maybe they could have saved her. After almost an hour of feeling the guilt over her daughter's death, pure exhaustion took over.

Nathan looked down to see Brooke asleep against his chest. Slowly and carefully, he laid her head on the pillow of the hospital bed, understanding she needed the rest. As quietly as he could, he slipped out of the room and down the hall to the full waiting room.

Walking up, he saw Dan, Karen, Lucas, and Haley in conversation. It was very odd and shocking to see his father acting the way he was. Before his thoughts could go any further, he was attacked by Peyton. She ran up and threw her arms around his neck, embracing him tightly.

"Peyt, can't breathe!" he gasped. Peyton blushed, releasing her hold on him. Tim chuckled at his girlfriend from behind her, catching everyone else's attention. Karen and Dan immediately stood and walked towards them as Lucas helped Haley up before joining.

"Are you okay? How's Brooke? Does she want to see me?" Peyton asked quickly.

"No, terrible, and probably not since she just fell asleep," Nathan answered all on one breath. Tim squeezed his shoulder in comfort.

"We're here if yall need anything Nate," Molly Erin's would-be godfather said.

"I know Tim. Thanks. Look, the hospital is keeping her overnight and I'm going to stay with her. She should be released by the time school is out. Can you pick us up then Peyt?" he explained, looking to Peyton for an answer.

"Actually, son, can we talk privately for a minute?" Dan asked before Peyton could answer.

"Sure," Nathan mumbled, following his father down the hall, away from the group.

"Nathan, I've been doing some thinking. Maybe you and Brooke should stay with me for a while. You both are going to need some time to grieve and you'll want some privacy for that. And you won't get that at Peyton's house," he suggested.

"I don't know Dad. It's not like we have the best relationship. And I'm not sure if Brooke would want to."

"Nathan, I understand. But I want you to know that I'm trying here. I want to be the father you need but I need you to let me do that. Besides, with your mom going back to work out of town, and then the divorce, I'm all alone in that big house. And I've been working crazy hours, so it will be just you and Brooke a lot of the time. You can have the privacy you need to start the grieving process," Dan explained. Nathan took a moment to think this idea over. He wasn't sure if his father's intentions were true, but he desperately wanted to believe they were. But regardless of whether Dan's intentions were honest or not, he agreed that they did need the privacy they wouldn't get at Peyton's. Sure, they could always go stay at his apartment. But he knew it would only bring Brooke bad memories of the nights they lie alone in bed wondering what Molly Erin would look like.

"I'll talk to Brooke about it and let you know. It depends on what she is more comfortable with. That's the most important part. And can you do me a favor? Brooke and I want to have a funeral for Molly Erin and," Nathan said before Dan cut him off.

"Molly Erin? It was a girl?" Dan asked as Nathan nodded his head. Nathan saw the tears well up in Dan's eyes before a few ran down his cheeks.

"That's a gorgeous name son. Now, what about the funeral? Do you need any help?" Dan asked.

"Yeah. The medical examiner is going to release the body in a few days. I was thinking the funeral could be Saturday. Can you and Karen try to get everything together for the most part? I don't want Brooke to have to worry about it. If you need anything from us, just call me and I will take care of it," Nathan said, hoping his father would agree.

"Nathan, I don't know. Are you sure you want Karen and I to do this?" he asked, skeptical about planning his granddaughter's funeral.

"Please Dad. Like I said, I don't want Brooke to worry about it. And I'm not sure if either one of us is strong enough to handle it. You said you wanted to be the father I needed. Well, here's your chance," he said, turning to head back towards Brooke's room, "Oh, and can you tell everyone else to just go home? Brooke doesn't want to see anyone right now."

As Nathan entered Brooke's hospital room, he saw her starting to wake up. He took a seat in the chair next to her bed and grabbed her hand, kissing her palm as she sat up.

"Nate? Where'd you go?" Brooke asked sleepily.

"I just went to talk to everyone for a minute. I'm sorry I left," he answered quietly. As much as this was hurting him, and it was, his main priority right now was Brooke. He could tell how much she blamed herself without her even telling him.

"Are they all here?" she asked with wide eyes, looking almost frightened at the idea of seeing their friends.

"Not anymore. I told them all to go home. I figured you wouldn't be up to visitors," he told her. Brooke sighed in relief.

"She's really gone isn't she?" she asked in a whisper, Nathan just nodding his head, "What do we do now?"

"Karen and my dad are going to take care of the funeral arrangements," he said, deciding to take her question literally, "And my dad thought maybe we would want to stay with him for a while. He said we could have the privacy there that we couldn't get at Peyton's house. What do you think?"

"Stay with your dad? I guess. All I know is I don't want to see anyone right now. Can you get my stuff from Peyton's?" Brooke questioned. Nathan nodded, understanding that she just needed some time alone.

"Oh, and I forgot to tell you. My dad is going to talk to Principal Turner about school. He'll probably get it to where we can take this week off and our absences won't matter. But we'll probably have to go back next week," Nathan explained, hoping his father could be persuasive enough to get the deal made.

The Next Day:

Dan had picked Nathan and Brooke up from the hospital when Brooke was released and took them back to his house. While Brooke went upstairs to take a shower and a nap, Nathan drove over to the apartment to get himself some clothes before going to Peyton's to get some things for Brooke. When he walked in the front door, he heard Peyton's music blaring from her room. Deciding to try to get this over with quickly, he ascended the stairs and headed for Brooke's room as quiet as he could. When he reached Brooke's room, he grabbed her cheerleading bag and a suitcase from her closet.

One good thing about dating your best friend is you know what they would want. He quickly found her three favorite pair of jeans. One she called her 'lazy jeans'; the type she wore around the house. The second pair she called her 'I'm too tired to dress up jeans'; the pair she wore to school when she woke up too late to get all dolled up. And the third pair she called her 'fancy jeans'; the jeans she wore when she did have the time to get dolled up. He then went into the closet to find tops for her. He grabbed a few tank tops and t-shirts before trying to decide what nicer tops she would want.

"What are you doing?" he heard Peyton ask from behind him. He quickly turned around, flinging the tank tops and t-shirts on the bed as he turned.

"Hey Peyt. Just trying to find some things for Brooke. We're going to be staying with my dad for a while," he said, grabbing a black halter top that he knew she loved, adding it to the pile on the bed.

"Why? Why can't she stay here like she has been?" Peyton asked, sounding almost offended.

"Look, it's nothing personal. We just need some privacy and alone time. It's just for a little while," he told her, grabbing the last of the shirts he thought she would want. He then looked to the floor of the closet, trying to figure out what shoes she would want.

"Fine. You want some help? I know you have no clue about shoes when it comes to Brooke!" Peyton joked, joining him at the closet. She helped him pick out some comfortable flats, tennis shoes, and heels before grabbing a few of Brooke's favorite pajamas out of the dresser. They stood at the bed, folding clothes, when Peyton broke the silence.

"Dan told us you were having a funeral," she said quietly, not wanting to upset Nathan any more than he already was.

"Yeah, it's probably going to be on Saturday. Karen and my dad are going to arrange it for us."

"That's what he said. In that case, she's going to need a dress!" she replied, walking back to the closet, "Here, this will work. She's always liked this dress."

Nathan turned around to see Peyton holding up a black dress with a tasteful ivory belt around the middle. She then leaned down and grabbed Brooke's favorite pair of black Manola heels to go with the dress.

"Thanks Peyt. I better get back. Brooke's probably waking from her nap about now. I'll see you later!" he said, quickly adding Brooke's makeup and flat-iron to the suitcase. He then hoisted the cheerleading bag onto his shoulder, along with her schoolbag and purse, grabbed the suitcase by the handle, and left before Peyton could say anything else.

Two Days Later:

Wednesday. May 21st. Two days since Molly Erin was born.

Nathan took a seat on the living room couch and sighed, realizing how slow the time was passing. The TV was tuned to a basketball game that Nathan, for once in his life, wasn't interested in. Dan walked into the room and noticed the sour look on his son's face.

"Nate you okay?" he asked cautiously, taking a seat in the recliner.

"Not really, "Nathan mumbled.

"Anything I can help with?" his father questioned.

"It's Brooke. She hardly eats, she won't talk to me. She can barely look at me. And God forbid if I try to touch her!" Nathan said, deciding to let his frustrations out.

"Nathan, I know this is hard for you. But you need to realize what this is doing to Brooke. She lost her baby; the child she carried inside her for months," Dan tried to explain. He was really trying to change his ways and be there for Nathan and Brooke in their time of need. God knows Deb cared more for her job then her son. And there's no telling where Brooke's parents even were at the moment. He knew they had their friends. But they really just needed the support of each other and family.

"I know she's hurting. And I know she feels guilty about Molly's death. I just wish she would let me in. I wasn't to help her through this and she won't let me. It's like she wants to suffer!" Nathan told Dan right before the doorbell rang.

"Hang on a minute, let me get that," Dan said, walking to the door. Opening the door, he saw Peyton standing there with red swollen eyes.

"I want to see Brooke," she whispered.

"Peyton, I'm not sure if that's a good idea right now. You can see her at the funeral on Saturday," Dan replied.

"No. I won't wail until Saturday Dan. I want to see her now," Peyton said, her voice rising with every word, catching Nathan's attention. He walked up to the door to hear his father say,

"Ms. Sawyer, it's not a good time. You can see her on Saturday!"

"What's going on?" Nathan asked, seeing an angry, crying Peyton glaring at his father.

"I want to see her Nathan," Peyton's voice trembled.

"Peyt," he sighed, "I don't think she's up for visitors right now."

"Nathan, please don't tell me no. She's my best friend Nate. She won't answer any of my calls or call or text me back. I need to be there for her. Please," Peyton begged, wiping at her tears.

"Peyton, look, you're one of my best friends. And I know you're Brooke's best friend. But we just went through the worst kind of tragedy and need some time to ourselves. You can see her on Saturday. I'm sorry," Nathan explained, closing the door on Peyton. He hated being rude but sometimes she just didn't get it.

"I'm gonna go check on Brooke," Nathan muttered, turning for the stairs.

"B? You awake?" he whispered, walking into his dark bedroom.

"Unfortunately. What time is it?" Brooke asked with absolutely no emotion in her voice.

"Almost five. Dad was going to grill some steaks for dinner. You hungry?"

"No," she answered automatically, curling onto her right side, her back turned to Nathan.

"Brooke, you need to eat! You're going to make yourself sick!" he exclaimed, going around the bed to sit in front of her.

"I'm not hungry. Just go away please," Brooke whispered, choking back a sob.

"Brooke, please stop shutting me out. I'm hurting just as much as you. I need you right now," Nathan cried, reaching for her hand.

Brooke sat up and leaned towards him so quickly it almost made him jump back. But he held his ground, bracing himself for what was coming next.

"You don't need me. And I don't want you to. My daughter is dead and it's all my fault. So excuse me if I want to be alone. Get out," Brooke growled, making Nathan's eyes go wide. Before he could reply, she lay back down and closed her eyes. Sighing in defeat, Nathan stood up and walked out of the room.

So? Like it? Hate it? Let me know!