Ghosts of The Past, Hope For The Future, And Realities of The Present.

~And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new.

A strange lull washed over the small group as the two women stared at each other, practically looking through the man who was once a fiancé to both of them, as their eyes glared. Even though the halt in conversation had only been a few seconds, to the man standing in between them it felt like an uncomfortable hour.

Lucas cleared his throat suddenly, rubbing the back of his neck before turning to look at his editor and former love. "Thank you Lindsay."

"Yeah," Julian stepped closer, offering the other man his hand to shake. "Congratulations Lucas."

"What are you doing here?" Peyton stared at their clasped hands.

"Wishing the couple well," Lindsay turned towards the blonde woman, her movements slightly jerky. "Isn't that what someone usually does at an engagement party?" She raised her eyebrows in annoyance.

Peyton looked taken back by Lindsay's voice, her green eyes slowly looking up to meet the brown orbs that stared at her. "What?"

"You asked what I was doing here," Lindsay looked at her curiously. "Are you okay?"

"I wasn't talking to you," she bite back, turning to her brunette ex. "This is a private party."

"Peyton, it's a public club," Julian said with a smirk.

"And besides, I invited him to come along with me," Lindsay jumped in. "I didn't think it would be a problem since he and Luke are working together."

"Stay out of this Lindsay," she held her hand up before turning her eyes back to Julian. "You should leave…"

"Peyton," he reached out to touch her arm but she stepped back from his grasp.

"Maybe it would be best if you just went Julian," Lucas replied.

Lindsay looked between the three of them. "What am I missing here?"

"It's none of your business," Peyton turned back to her. "Who invited you here anyways?"

"I did," Brooke was suddenly behind the small crowd. "What's going on?" She looked around the group. "Julian, what are you doing here?"

"She invited him," Peyton pointed before looking to her best friend. "I can't… I can't deal with this, especially after…I have to get out of here." She hurried away from the group towards the exit.

The pregnant brunette shot Julian an angry squint.

"Congratulations," he looked between the couple," to both of you, really." He sighed quietly before walking away to find a seat at the bar, wondering what possessed him to get drawn back into Peyton Sawyer's drama.

"Go," Lucas gave Brooke a soft kiss before she took off in the same direction as Peyton, leaving him and Lindsay to stand in awkward silence.

"O-Kay," she looked up at the ever brooding blonde. "What the hell just happened here?"

"Julian is Peyton's ex from LA," he shook his head. "Bad break up…" he left the rest to her imagination.

"You've got to be kidding me?" she turned to Lucas, a snarky laugh erupting out of her mouth. "I need a drink."

The rest of the table sat silently, having watched the exchange from their table but unable to hear everything due to the music that blazed throughout the club. No one was sure where Peyton and Brooke had taken off to and Lucas just seemed to be brooding in the same spot, making the whole impromptu engagement party a bit awkward. After about fifteen minutes Karen walked over to her son to say goodnight before she and Andy left, Deb and Skills following soon after leaving Nathan, Haley, Rachel, and Owen.

"Well now that the show seems to be over," the red head looked around. "I think I'm going to go get some air."

"I'll go with you." Owen said as he stood up, throwing a quick nod at Lucas as they walked by. "This little town sure does hold a lot of drama," he shook his head with a laugh after they stepped out into the cool night air. "And here I thought I was getting away from that when I left the city."

"You should have gone to high school here," the red head laughed as well. "School shooting, wedding parties almost drowning, the mayor who happened to be Lucas and Nathan's dad killing his own brother, stalkers pretending to be your brother…" she let the sentence trail off. "Still of all the places I've lived, its felt the most like home."

"That's because you Rach are twisted," he raised a brow at her.

"Oh admit it, you love it here." She laughed before her face turned serious. "Still, it's the place I made some of my biggest mistakes too."

"Regrets?" he questioned, uncrossing his arms as he leaned against the railing.

"Yeah, some…" she let the sentence trail off, choosing not to elaborate as she stared up into the night sky. "It really is beautiful out here tonight." She glanced over at him before her eyes returned to the twinkling lights surrounded by the blue-black expanse. "I think we should get a telescope for Oriana if we…"

"Not if Rach," he interrupted, hearing the fear in her voice. "When; she's our daughter and she belongs with us." He took her hand in his; the feel of their fingers intertwining like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Us," she repeated softly before she turned to look at the man beside her, chestnut brown orbs tentatively reaching his chocolate hue. "What does that mean exactly?" It came out almost snarky but there was a slight vulnerability in her voice that betrayed her real reason for asking.

"That there's a bond between us," he shrugged a bit uncomfortably, his brows furrowing. "We're Ori's parents; you and me…" he wasn't quite sure what to say.

"Okay," she nodded, her face only showing its disappointment for a fraction of a second before her composedfaçade fell back into place. She hoped he hadn't notice. "Well we should get back inside." She turned to walk away but his grip on her hand suddenly tightened.

"Rachel," Owen was surprised at how desperate the sound of her name fell from his lips.

"Its fine Morello," she shook her head with a smile. "I just wanted to be clear and you're right, we should be focusing on being Oriana's parents; our only focus." She paused briefly as she patted his face gently with her free hand before sliding the other out of his grasp. "I'll see you back inside," she said before stepping back and walking inside.

Owen watched her form disappear into the night club before the door closed shut, leaning back against the wall as he exhaled deeply, feeling like he'd just added another moment to his list of regrets.

"Julian!" Jake bellowed from the doorway before racing down the stairs towards the parking area where the man he'd just called for had just stopped mid-stride. "Julian Baker!"

Julian turned around slowly, squinting curiously at the obviously angry man who made his way in front of him. "Last time I checked that was me; who wants to know?"

"Jake Jagelski," he stood rigidly.

"The indie music dude," Julian laughed. "What can I do for you?"

"You can stay the hell away from Peyton," he replied calmly although you could hear the hint of anger in his voice.

"Hey man, I'm just here to make a movie," he held his hands up innocently. "Maybe, if your stuff is any good we might let you in on the soundtrack." He laughed at the sour look on the other man's face, "O-kay, maybe not."

"You think this is funny," his voice rose as his face took on a scowl.

"Kind of," Julian nodded, "yeah." He shrugged. "Look I get that you are insecure or whatever but think of it this way, if Peyton doesn't fall back in love with me while I'm here then you know it's meant to be with the two of you."

"You son of a…"Jake grabbed the other man up by the sides of his collar, jerking him forward.

"Wow," Julian smirked. "I didn't know you indie guys were so tough. Go ahead and hit me but it's not going to make you feel any better." He shrugged in the other man's grasp, seemingly unaffected. "It's not really me you're mad at Jake; she didn't just run out of here and leave me behind, did she? She left you too."

Jake released him hard, watching as Julian stumbled slightly to regain his footing. "You're not worth it." He shook his head before turning in the direction of his car, hating to admit it but knowing Julian was right.

"So that was interesting," Haley said as Nathan pulled into the driveway of their home.

"It was," he nodded before they both exited the car, going around to the back door to unhook Jamie out of the backseat and hoisting the young boy on his shoulder. "I still remember our engagement party at Tric."

"After we were married?" She quirked an eyebrow before fishing inside her purse for her keys. "I think that's called a reception Nate."

Nathan laughed quietly; ever aware of his slumbering son. "You knew what I meant."

"Can I help it if I love to tease my husband," she smiled as they brought Jamie to his room, tucking him in. "Goodnight baby," she kissed him on the cheek before waiting at the door for her husband.

"Night buddy," Nathan pulled the covers up snuggly around his son before meeting his wife in the doorway and making their way back to their bedroom. "What I meant was these things always seem to get crashed like when you told off my mom," he pulled her closer to him. "I still think that was pretty hot."

"Really," she looked up at him slyly before getting up on her tip toes to kiss him. "I just may have to attack some random strangers then," she laughed before she gave him a shy shrug, "maybe on tour?" Her eyes looked up into his, gauging for his reaction.

"Tour huh?" Nathan said as he took her hands in his.

"I was talking to Peyton earlier at the studio and she suggested I go on tour this summer since the albums doing so well," she was still a bit apprehensive of his reaction. "And even before then, doing some album signing; maybe in Atlanta in a couple of weeks. Nathan, I need to know that this is really okay with you."

"Haley," he sighed.

"It's just I know you want me to be happy and for us to both pursue our dreams but with you on the road so much, I'll understand if you have second thoughts," she replied.

"I am so proud of you Hales," his warm eyes looked into hers. "For going back into the studio, for your album doing so well; this is your time Haley. So yes, you going on tour is really okay with me, no second thoughts. Home is where you and Jamie are, so wherever that is, that's where I'll go, okay?"

"Okay," she nodded. "No fear, no regrets right… just us."

"Team Scott," he smiled down at her. "Always and forever."

"Always and forever," she returned the smile before his lips meet hers in a soft kiss.

Peyton sat inside the recording studio, listening to her latest artist lay down the vocal tracks to a new song. She was glad to be as busy as she was today, seeing as the last two days had been nothing but a mope fest for her. She was unsure why this thing with Julian had shaken her up so much and why she was letting it sabotage her relationship with Jake.

"That was great Adrienne," she said after pressing the intercom button before seeing a man standing in the doorway out of her peripheral. "Great," she muttered under her breath before pressing the button once again. "Why don't you take a little break and we'll take it from the bridge when you get back." She watched the blonde nod before leaving. "What do you want Julian?" She didn't bother turning around.

"I came to check on you," he replied before walking up behind her chair, taking in his surroundings. "This is really amazing here Peyton, really I'm impressed."

"Thanks," she said as she finally looked at him, watching his every movement as he sat down in the chair next to her. "Better than working for the soulless drones at the major labels," he surmised.

"Yeah," she nodded, her soft waves bouncing ever so slightly.

"I didn't remember," it was almost as if he was speaking to the air. "I know it seemed as if I didn't care but I did; I just wasn't ready then. I would be now… if I hadn't messed things up so badly."

She breathed in deeply, closing her eyes momentarily to steady herself from the unsettling effect his words had on her. "Why are you here Julian?" She turned towards him, her green orbs staring into his brown ones imploringly.

"I'm here to make a movie Peyton," he watched the incredulous look pass over her face. "I'm serious. You were right; it is a good book."

"And this," she motioned between the two of them, "hurting me, is that like an extra bonus because I read Lucas' book too much or listened to Jake's music more than I should have; because I longed for the past when I should've been looking at our future." Her eyes stung with unshed tears. "Well guess what Julian, I did look to our future and you didn't want it and then it died, our baby, our future…"

"I didn't come to upset you. I gotta go," Julian stood up quickly, making his way to the door. "See you around."

"Are you kidding me here?" she was out of her seat before she knew it herself, yanking him back by the arm. "I say all that and you say, I gotta go; see you around? Really Julian," she stepped back, throwing her arms in the air. "Forget it, go ahead!" She looked away from him, the next words coming out of her mouth in a mutter, "People always leave."

"You know what Peyton," Julian whipped back around to face her, "what the hell do you want from me? You make it clear you don't want me here and when I leave, I've done something wrong," his voice rose. "Yes, that's what I have to say: I gotta go, see you around, nice seeing you. Three words to prevent me from saying the three words I want to say to you, is that what you want me to tell you? That I came here partly to make a movie but partly for you and I see that for a time, you weren't the saddest girl in the world anymore but then here I am and now you're sad again so yeah, that's what I have to say. I need to let you off the hook."

"Julian…" she began but was cut off by his words.

"I'm trying to do the right thing here Peyton," he replied before shaking his head to stop her from saying anything more. "I gotta go," he turned swiftly, hastily exited without giving her another look.

Peyton watched his back disappear and the door swing shut behind him before sinking back into her chair, a shocked expression suddenly washing over her features.

The sunlight poured through the widow, washing over their bodies as they lay in each other's arms. Brooke snuggled closer to Lucas, enjoying the feel of his hand running through her dark locks as she traced circles on his chest idly with her index finger. She looked up at him, her eyes conveying her love for him before his lips meet hers in an ardent kiss.

"Mmm," she sighed as she laid her head back against his chest. "I could lie like this forever."

"I think you'd get bored," Lucas kissed the top of her head.

"With you?" she raised a brow mischievously. "I don't think so."

He let out a groan at his phone's vibrations on the nightstand before reaching over to pick it up, his eyes scanning the text message. "It's Julian; I'm supposed to meet him at Tric this morning."

"But you don't have to go…" Brooke leaned up to place a soft kiss on his lips, "right now…" her lips met his again, "do you?"

"You're killing me Pretty Girl," he rubbed his nose against hers affectionately in an Eskimo kiss before pecking her softly on the lips. "I guess we can put the casting off…" he leaned up to kiss her again but she was suddenly sitting up.

"Casting," her raspy voice was giddy. "Ooo, I can't wait to see who's going to play me. She better be hot but not too hot," her eyes looked at him pointedly.

"Believe me, no one else will compare to the real thing," he smiled as he ran his hand up and down her arms, sitting up as well.

"Even though I'm huge," she grunted with a pout.

"You're not huge," Lucas let his hand glide over her body to caress her protruding stomach. "You're pregnant and beautiful and very, very sexy."

"If you keep talking like that you'll be late," she pushed him away from her. "Go, go take a shower. Liza's flying in and meeting me at the store for the men's launch anyways."

"You could always join me in the shower," Lucas said from the bathroom doorway.

"Then we'd both be late," she laughed teasingly as she tossed a pillow in his direction. "Try a cold one there Broody," Brooke winked before he shut the door behind him.

Skills walked down the stairs, arms full of various items as he made his way to the couch and sat next to his wife who was sorting through her own items.

"I'm glad you made it back," the blonde laughed as her eyes scanned the items within his arms. "I have my list."

"You do know we have weeks before we have to do this," he took in her pointed look before speaking again, "I have my list too."

"Good," she nodded. "Okay, so first item for the hospital bag; socks."

"I got 'em," Skills smiled as he held up a pair of nylon thigh highs.

"Seriously," she peered at him amusedly, pursing her lips. "Those are not socks." She shook her head before grabbing a pair of thick pink socks. "These, are socks."

He nodded, taking them from her to look over them. "These are pretty hot."

Deb fell into a deep laugh, holding her stomach as she felt a kick. "Even our daughter thought that was funny. Antwon, no one thinks slipper socks are sexy."

"They are if that's all you're wearing," he said seductively before leaning over to kiss her lips softly. "You should see the book I bought for you're reading pleasure."

"I can imagine," she smiled fully before it faltered slightly.

"What is it?" he noticed the slight change in her expression immediately.

"I just…" she sighed deeply. "You make me so happy; it was never like this with Dan, even when we were expecting Nathan. I've just, I've never been this happy."

"Baby, that's not a bad thing," he said softly.

"I know," she gave him a half smile. "I just want to be able to make you as happy as you've made me and sometimes I wonder…" she shook her head, "if you deserve more, someone younger. You were talking about lots of kids last night and I'm not sure I'm capable of that, physically or…"

"Hey," he reached up to touch her cheek. "That doesn't matter; Deb, I love you and I've never been happier either. My wife is amazing: she's fine, she's funny, she's smart, and she's damn sexy. You have given me everything I could ever want, more than that. You and me and our family, that's all that matters."

She nodded in agreement. "So no regrets… no wishing for normalcy?"

"Nah, normal was always pretty boring to me." He laughed before returning to their original subject. "Now for books, I have the guide to getting it on." He held it up proudly.

Deb turned to pick up the book behind her on the couch, holding up an identical copy of the book in her husband's hand. "Looks like we do belong together; somehow I don't think we're going to need these." She laughed as they both tossed the books aside and their lips meet in a fiery kiss.

Peyton sat on the bench outside The Cotton Exchange, watching the stoplights change color. She hadn't been here since after Mick's death but somehow today as she walked back from Clothes Ova Bro's she found herself taking the small detour to the crash site where her whole world changed.

She often wondered where she'd be, how different she'd be if her mom hadn't died. She knew it had affected her more than she could explain and although she knew that sometimes bad things just happened in life, somehow she had never brought herself to accept it. She wondered as she watched the light click from red to green if that was the reason she didn't get over other things that happened in the past, because she had yet to accept that her mother was supposed to die. She felt haunted by it and now she felt haunted over her miscarriage. At first Julian's presence had only made it worse but after his sudden revelation she realized that he was hurting too. She'd also realized something else in that moment; that whatever unresolved feelings she had left for him were not about him at all but the loss of her child and what happened afterwards.

"Peyton," his familiar voice called out to her.

"You always seem to know when I need you," she turned around, her green eyes meeting his brown ones filled with warmth. "How do you do that?"

Jake shrugged. "I don't know," it was as honest of an answer as he could give. "It's a gift," he said lightly, hoping to ease some of the heaviness that seemed to surround them.

"I'm sorry for the way I left last night," she shook her head. "I wasn't prepared for him to be there."

He nodded in understanding even though he wasn't sure he did. "I need you to be honest with me Peyton. Can you do that?"

She looked at him quizzically for a moment before nodding herself. "I'll try."

"Is there any part of you that is still in love with Julian?" he asked. "Think about it, before you answer."

"I don't need to think about it," she shook her head. "I'm not in love with Julian."

"Are you sure?" he questioned, unable to believe she was even being honest with herself.

"Yes, Jake I am sure." Peyton sighed deeply. "I love you and I know that sometimes I don't let you all the way in but I'm trying."

"Are you?" he asked, the disbelief resounding through his voice.

"Yes," she nodded, her green eyes glistening over.

"Then I need you to tell me what's going on," Jake stepped closer to her. "Look, I know you're scared but you don't have to be afraid to tell me anything and I know you think people always leave but I'm right here so stop pushing me away just so you can prove yourself right. Peyton," he took her hand and placed it on his chest over his heart. "I am right here."

Her eyes watered as she stared at where he hand covered his heart. "I have been pushing you away, but this isn't about feelings for Julian." She shook her head adamantly. "I don't know why I keep doing this because I know that we belong together," her eyes looked up into his lovingly. "I've always know but it scares me sometimes."

"Why?" he put his hand over hers.

"I don't know, sometimes it feels like it's too big, too right so I think I sabotage it. I'm afraid that if I let myself feel it all the way, that it'll end so I keep myself outside of it," she sighed as tears spilled over. "I'm a mess Jake."

"I know," he nodded as the pads of his thumbs wiped away her tears. "And I know what it's like to be an outsider but I don't want to be one anymore, not with us. Peyton, I want to be the center of your world because you are the center of mine so if you don't still have feelings for Julian, then tell me what it is… I won't leave, I promise."

She nodded, feeling the rhythmic thump of his heartbeat just below her fingertips. "It's not about Julian, not really…" her eyes slowly met his. "It's about the baby we lost and the fact that I can't have children."

An anonymous person once wrote, "What you need to know about the past is that no matter what has happened, it has all worked together to bring you to this very moment. And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new. Right now."