In It To Win It

~ That its pangs and toils are not beyond our endurance. As long as we have faith in our own cause and an unconquerable will to win… (Winston Churchill)

Brooke walked through the room, giving a cursory glance at the runway that had been built from the stage before her eyes went to the placement of the screens.

"Can we move the last screen about a foot down please," she said to the workers and then watched as they complied. "Perfect guys, thank you."

"Bravo Brooke Davis," Liza walked up behind her, taking in the atmosphere. "Everything looks great."

"Thanks," she replied before looking at the woman who was now beside her. "Did all the necessary parties receive the press packets?"

"You do know who you are working with here right?" she arched her eyebrow. "That's all been taken care of as well as the ads; all the heavy hitters from New York to LA and Tokyo to Milan will be arriving in No-where's Ville North Carolina."

"Soon to be the next fashion capital of the world," Brooke laughed.

"Well at least for tomorrow night," Liza laughed as well. "I take it your team has taken care of everything else."

"Everything's running smoothly on my end," she nodded. "You just fill the seats and I guarantee you the fashion world isn't going o know what hit them."

"I was thinking a few publicity shots of your good friend Mad Ant Point Guard Nathan Scott wearing an exclusive piece from your men's line along with his pop star wife decked in Clothes Ova Bro's would be fantastic as well," she replied. "Lucas is wearing something from your collection tomorrow night isn't he?"

"Of course," she nodded, "A one of a kind piece."

"Great," she clapped her hands enthusiastically. "We can auction it off later to benefit your women's center, showing that men can help make a difference as well."

"That's a really good idea Liza," Brooke replied.

"Well, that's what you pay me my exorbitant pay check for." She smiled. "I have a good feeling about this Brooke; tomorrow night's going to be fantastic. We're going to kick ass."

"I think you may be right," she smiled brightly although the light didn't make it to her eyes.

"Hey," she noticed her friend's face falter slightly. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "I was just thinking about everything it took to get here." She turned to her friend. "I'm excited though," she smiled happily, the light reaching her eyes this time. "Really."

"Okay," Liza returned the smile. "Now, show me some of the mark ups."

Jake sat in the chair, watching as the nurse connected the neon looking yellow-green liquid to the pole before attaching it to the arm of the man right beside him. She squeezed the small plastic cylinder below the bag, filling it halfway before removing the plastic clip so the liquid could flow freely through the tube.

"You're all set," she smiled.

"Thanks," Jake nodded at her before glancing around the room at the four other people in the room with him.

There was an older gentleman hooked up to his own IV directly across from him with an older woman by his side. He watched as they did a crossword puzzle together, almost as if they were sitting in the park rather than a hospital. In the chair a few feet away to him to his right sat a young girl, maybe in her early twenties with a man about the same age, both looking extremely nervous.

"Is it your first time?" Jake asked when her eyes began to study them.

She gave a wiry smile. "Is it that obvious?"

"A little but everyone's been there," he replied. "I wish I could say it gets easier but…" he shrugged, leaving the rest of the sentence unfinished.

"Well you all look relaxed," she replied before glancing to the older couple. "So do they."

"I think you just learn how to deal with it better," Jake paused briefly. "The first time we came, the nurse said to focus on what makes you happy and I think it helps. That's probably what they're doing." He smiled as his eyes went to the older couple again before returning to the young woman beside him. "I'm Jake by the way and this is James." He motioned to the man in the chair beside him.

"Hi," James smiled warmly at the couple.

"Melanie," the brunette nodded. "And this is my husband Craig."

"Nice to meet you," Craig said, speaking for the first time.

"Nice to meet both of you," James replied.

"I think I'll think of our wedding then," she looked up into her husband's eyes as he held her hand before turning to James. "What's your happy thought?"

"My wife," he answered before reaching over to squeeze Jake's arm, "And my son."

"Go," Missy smiled widely as she hit the brooding blonde's arm, her eyes looking up softly into his as her voice went down an octave. "It's okay…go."

Chandler studied her for a moment before embracing her quickly and running over to the curly haired blonde. "It's you Peyton," he squinted at her as if he were searching for something. "It's you."

Amy hopped into his arms, their lips meeting as he twirled her around and confetti rained own on them. When their lips parted, she immediately fell into his embrace.

Lucas and Julian both watched from the sidelines as the camera panned around, getting a shot of Missy standing in the background alone, her eyes meeting Chandler's briefly before the wide shot of all the "students" on the court.

"Cut!" Lucas shouted. "And that is a wrap."

All the actors, along with the crew, and Lucas and Julian began to clap and cheer.

"I do believe we just made a movie," Julian grinned triumphantly. "Now Lucas Scott, aren't you glad you let me trick you into making this?"

He laughed. "I think I am Julian."

"I really liked what you did in the end here with the look between Brooke and Lucas while he's with Peyton," he paused briefly. "I think that way it appeals to a wider audience so if you fell in love with either character, there's hope for both of them."

"Well we know how it turns out," he shrugged.

Julian let out a thunderous laugh. "Yeah with you bouncing between the two of them for years…" he stopped mid-sentence as the brooding blonde looked at him piercingly. "Sorry," he held his hands up. "So, did that look really happen because it's not in the book?"

Lucas shrugged. "I guess you'll never know."

"See you at my place for the wrap up party," Julian queried before his eyes meet the brunette lead's eyes. "Missy is so interested."

"Maybe I'll stop by later," he said. "Right now though, I'm going to go be with the real thing."

"I'm glad you picked me up today," Jenny smiled up at the older blonde. "I had a lot of fun." She held up the two bags in her hands.

"I'm glad," Peyton smiled as well, shaking her own bags. "I had a really nice time too. I bet you're glad you had a half day today."

"Yeah," she nodded. "Especially since my best friend wasn't there today for recess. A judge gets to decide today if she can stay here in Tree Hill or if she has to go back to Pennsylvania."

"I think the judge will make the right decision and let here stay with Rachel and Owen," Peyton replied.

"Because they're her mom and dad," her voice was quiet.

"Yeah," Peyton peered at her before getting her keys out of her bag and opening the door, allowing the young girl to walk in first. "Is something else bothering you Jenny?"

She placed her bags on the table before sitting down on the couch, waiting until Peyton sat down next to her. "It's just, I worry about my mom sometimes too, coming back and saying she's better but she never is and then maybe a judge will let her take me away from Daddy."

"That's not going to happen Jenny," Peyton replied.

"You don't know that," she shook her head.

"I do know that," she said calmly, wrapping an arm around the young girl. "Your dad made sure of it and your mom, she does love you and she wants what's best for you and she knows that's your dad."

"I hope so," Jenny nodded. "Sometimes I think that maybe if I…" she shook her head. "Never mind…"

"It's okay if you don't want to say it but I want you to know you can say anything to me okay," her green eyes looked down at the young girl warmly. "I will always be here for you Jenny."

"Promise?" her blue eyes were wide.

"I promise," she nodded.

Jenny shrugged, as if trying to decide before she spoke again. "Okay, it's just I think that maybe if I had a new mom, then my old one couldn't come back and take me away." She looked up into Peyton's eyes. "Maybe I can pretend you're my real mom. You're like a real mom and you do all the mother/daughter things with me that my friends' moms do with them. I mean, if you don't mind."

"No Jenny I don't mind at all," she smiled. "Come here." She pulled her closer, wrapping her other arm around her.

"I love you," Jenny squeezed her tightly.

"I love you too Jenny," Peyton said. "Now, how about some ice cream and a girly movie?"

"That sounds great," Jenny grinned widely, "mom." She paused briefly. "This way if something happens to Daddy, you'll take care of me."

"I would Jenny but you don't have to worry about that okay," Peyton stood up to get the ice-cream.

"I hope so but he's been going to the doctor a lot with grandpa," she replied as she went to get the bowls. "They talk about it when they don't think I'm listening." She looked up at Peyton. "What do you think we should watch?"

"Anything you want sweetie," she stared off into the distance as she scooped the ice-cream, almost as if her body was on automatic mode before shaking her head, deciding to put on a strong front for Jenny as she put the carton back in the freezer. She'd question Jake about it when he got home. "So, what did you pick?" Peyton plopped down on the sofa next to Jenny and handed her a bowl.

"Uptown Girls," she smiled as she handed Peyton the remote and she pressed play. "I love this movie."

"So do I," Peyton replied as the young blonde snuggled closer to her as she tried to focus on the movie.

Haley watched from the stands on the edge of her seat, listening to all the cheers and jeers around her as she watched her husband and his team play the hardest she'd even seen them play before.

"Daddy's going to win Momma," Jamie smiled over at her. "I can feel it."

She nodded in agreement, feeling good about the game herself. "I hope so buddy."

"We're in it to win it," he cheered happily as the man beside him looked at the little boy approvingly before giving him a high five.

Haley smiled at the exchange before her eyes focused on the court again.

Nathan glided down the court effortlessly, running just beyond the arc barely inside the sideline. Faking the player out, he catches a pass and immediately jumps backwards and releases it just before he lands out of bounds, watching as the referee called it good, gaining them another three points from his position.

Ball in The Mad Ants hands once again, McCall drives straight towards the basket, weaving past the opposition with help from his team as he goes in for the sky hook for two more points before the last time out is called from the opposing team..

"Alright bring it in guys," Bobby said, standing in a circle with his players. "This is your moment, each and every one of you. It's been a great season; we've gone from the underdogs to the one's you need to beat. Take a look around you fellas; this is what it's all about. Everyone know where they're supposed to be?" He watched the nods all around. "Then let's bring it home. Win on three? One, two…"

"Win!" they all yelled in unison as they made their way back to court.

"You ready for this Scott?" Marshall smiled, the feeling of triumph already flowing through his veins.

"I was born ready McCall," Nathan answered as they bumped fist. "Let's do this."

Within seconds the game was back on, and Nathan glanced up into the stands briefly at his wife and son as he moved backwards on the court, his eyes immediately back on the game with only seventeen seconds left on the clock. He could feel the blood pumping through his veins; hear the echoes of every sound around him. Nathan felt more alive in that moment than he could every remembering feeling before on the basketball court. It was more than a rush. It was more than his comeback. It was the culmination of years of practice and often times torment from his father and the game he loved so much.

The rest of the world seemed to fall away, a hush lulling over him even as the auditorium was filled with the sounds of the fans as he made his move, rebounding the ball from the other team. It was now him, the rubber ball that bounced against the linoleum and the basket ahead. He was a man on a mission, ducking and weaving, faking and blocking as he drove down the middle. With only three seconds left on the clock he felt his body lift from the floor for the dunk, the crowd silenced by the graceful way he moved through the air like a soaring crane before slamming the ball into the basket, hearing the whoosh as his feet landed and the buzzer went off.

"And The Mad Ants Win against The Utah Flash 69-62," Nathan heard the announcer's voice somewhere in the distance. "The Mad Ants Win The Championship!"

Oriana sat in the living room of the house she'd immediately become to think of as her own, looking out of the window. "When is she going to be here?" She huffed to herself.

"Did you say something sweetheart?" Deb came to stand behind her. "I don't think that Rachel and Owen will be back for a while."

"That's not who I'm waiting for Mrs. Taylor," she turned back to look at the woman babysitting her.

"Mrs. Taylor," she repeated. "That's Skills' mom. You can call me Nanny Deb. It sounds better than Mrs. Taylor or grandma."

Oriana laughed. "It's kind of weird you're a grandma and you're going to be a mom."

"Tell me about it," Deb laughed as well, patting her rounded belly. "So, if you're not looking for your parents, who are you looking for?"

"Mrs. Garrison," she answered, "the social worker. I called her because everyone's talking about me today and I want to be there. I need to tell the judge what I want." She smiled happily as she saw the car pull up in the driveway and an older blonde get out. "She's here Nanny Deb, she's here."

Deb sighed as she heard the knock on the door, going to answer it. "Hello Mr. Garrison, I'm Deb. Come on in."

"It's nice to meet you," she shook her hand before looking at the small child who bounded over to her. I got your message Oriana. You sounded pretty upset and you said it was important."

"It is," she nodded.

"Why don't I give you two a minute alone," Deb smiled at the little girl. "I'll be in the kitchen." Deb walked away, watching the two of them go sit on the couch while she got a snack out of the fridge, her pregnancy cravings always in effect these days.

"Why don't you tell me what's going on?" the blonde woman said warmly.

"Well I know you know Aunt Casey and Uncle Jack want me to go home with them again," she stated, her iridescent blue eyes wide as she looked up at the social worker.

"Yes I know," she nodded. "I was at the courthouse today to testify and tell the judge my opinion."

"So you know the judge then?" she smiled. "And you told him that I want to stay here, that that's what's best for me?"

"I can't discuss any of that with you," Mrs. Garrison explained in a sympathetic tone.

"But why not?" frustration was written all over the young girl's face. "It's about me isn't it so I should have a say but I'm scared the judge doesn't know what I want and will let them take me away but I don't want to go." Her eyes began to water. "I want to stay with Rachel and Owen."

"We've put you through quite a lot with this, haven't we?" She placed her hand reassuringly over the child's. "And you have been very brave. Do you think you can be brave just a little bit longer?"

Her lip quivered as big teardrops ran from her eyes. "I can be brave, if you'll help me."

"Oriana," she sighed.

"Please," the dark auburn haired girl looked up at the woman in front of her imploringly. "They're talking about me and I haven't got to say anything and it's not fair. I like it here. I have a family now and I want to stay with them. Isn't it my life everyone's talking about so why can't I see the judge. Please."

"This isn't my call to make," she said softly, trying hard not to be affected by the pleas of the little girl in front of her.

"Then let me make it," Oriana replied, her ice blue orbs staring into the woman's olive green ones. "Please."

Owen and Rachel stood out in the hallway, waiting as the judge deliberated. There hadn't been much to go over since they'd both testified at the temporary custody hearing along with her aunt and uncle. All four had been on the stand again, Owen giving an account on how her found out he had and daughter and immediately working with Rachel to find her. Rachel had given her accounts on giving birth at fifteen and being coursed by her family to let her aunt watch over her daughter till she could get settled and could be more mature. Her aunt's lawyer had pounced on her then, bringing up her expulsions from numerous high schools and the drug problem she and Owen both shared. Then her aunt had lied, saying she'd given Rachel the opportunity to raise Oriana when she was eighteen but she hadn't been mature enough at the time.

"I can't stand this Owen," she seethed. "If that bitch thinks she can just take my daughter and get away with it she's pretty stupid. I don't care what we have to do Owen, we can't lose Ori."

"We won't," he rubbed her arms up and down. "Look, this is the same judge that gave us temporary custody okay? He knows Oriana is safe with us; that she belongs with us. We had Brooke Davis as a character witness…"

"In all her pregnant glory," Rachel interrupted, a small smile gracing her face even as her eyes watered.

"Ori's teacher here wrote that letter, Jake sent in a character affidavit, Deb Taylor showed up in her pregnant glory too." Owen looked into her eyes. "We're going to take our little girl home with us tonight. I know it Rach."

"What if you're wrong Morello?" her eyes looked up imploringly. "What if this judge makes the wrong decision?"

"If this judge is stupid enough to give our daughter to you aunt, which I don't think he is but if," he exhaled deeply. "If he makes the wrong decision, we'll appeal all the way to the fricken Supreme Court if we got to but Oriana will be with us, I promise." he held her shoulders as he looked into her eyes, "You can bet on that Gattina."

"Thanks for talking me down," she nodded, letting out a heavy breath. "I really needed that."

"Anytime," he said just as their lawyer approached.

"The judge is back with his decision," Craig said as he approached. "We're wanted inside."

The both nodded in silence, taking each other's hand as the walked inside the courtroom and watched the judge make his way to the bench before sitting down.

"I am prepared to give my ruling," Judge Wilkins paused briefly. "This has been a very difficult and complex case and I have weighed all the evidence and testimonies given here as well as from the preliminary hearing." He let out a deep breath. "Let me first say that I believe that all of you here have the child's best interest at heart. There is no doubt that at one time Mrs. Gattina and even Mr. Morello were not yet capable to give their child a stable life but that does not seem to be the case now. In fact, you both have proven to my satisfaction and this court's that you have done that in recent months. That being said, for most of the child in question's life, Mr. and Mrs. Connor provided her with a stable life as well and filed to adopt her uncontested a number of years ago and under the law, adoptive parents are afforded the same rights as natural parents. That being said, some serious questions about this adoption and the coercion of an underage girl signing away her parental rights unknowingly have been raised and I can take none of this lightly. This had been a very taxing judgment but after careful consideration. I have decided the custody of the child know as Oriana shall be awarded to…"

"Excuse me Your Honor," Mrs. Garrison stepped inside the courtroom. "I am sorry to interrupt you but there is a young lady here who would like to testify before you give your ruling and I think she has every right to be heard."

"Very well," he nodded, watching as the social worker turned back to the door and held it open.

"Hi," the young girl walked in the courtroom. "I'm Oriana and I have something to say."

"Mrs. Garrison, please direct Oriana to the witness stand," the judge commanded, watching as the little girl followed the social worker and sat down. "Hello Oriana."

"Hi," she smiled. "I promise I won't take too long. It's just everyone is talking about me."

The judge nodded. "Go ahead."

"I understand you have to do what the law tells you to do. We learned about the judicial system in school and if you say I have to go with Aunt Casey and Uncle Jack I will but if I can stay with Owen and Rachel, I want to and I want to tell you why." She paused briefly. "I have a real family now with my mom and dad. When I was with Aunt Casey and Uncle Jack, I knew they loved me but it wasn't like having a real mom and dad." She turned to them. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize," Judge Wilkins said.

"But now with Owen and Rachel, it's different. We do things together and when I go to school, I can finally talk about my parents like the kids in school." She turned back to the judge. "Do you know what it's like to finally have a mommy and daddy, a real mommy and daddy?" Her voice cracked as tears began to form in her eyes. "I never had that before and I like it here. I have lots of new aunts and uncles and Nanny Deb and friends and I know that Rachel and Owen really love me and I love them. So maybe if the law will let you, I can stay with them." She sighed. "That's all I have to say."

He smiled. "You've said quite a lot," he motioned to Mrs. Garrison. "Will you please wait with Oriana outside while I give my ruling?"

Casey whispered something to her lawyer as well as her husband as the little girl was lead outside. "Judge Wilkins," she stood up. "Before you make your ruling, may I speak?"

"Very well," he nodded.

She made her way to the front of the stand. "I know that my niece has questioned what my motives were for bringing this case but I have always had hers and Oriana's best interest at heart," she paused briefly. "Seeing that little girl torn up on the stand like that, it made me realize how much this is really hurting her and how much she wants to be with her biological parents so my husband and I, we'd like to dismiss our claim for custody."

"Mr. and Mrs. Connor, are you sure?" he asked, watching as they both nodded before Casey took her seat. "Then in light of that as well as the very powerful testimony of a little girl; care, custody, and control of the minor child known as Oriana are awarded to Owen Morello and Rachel Gattina and parental rights are restored. Case adjourned." He pounded his gavel before the bailiff called for them to rise and he left the bench.

"Casey," Rachel walked up to her aunt. "Thank you; I know what it must have felt like to give her up."

She nodded. "Only a real mother could."

Owen nodded at the couple before taking Rachel's hand and leading her out the courtroom where their little girl ran straight into his arms.

"Daddy!" she yelled as he scooped her up before handing her to Rachel. "Mommy, I get to stay?"

"Yeah, you're stuck with us," she smiled through blurry tears as Owen wrapped his arms around both of them.

"Let's go home," Owen smiled.

Brooke walked aimless down the path, her vision blocked by the hands held tightly over her eyes. "Lucas," she whined. "Can I look now? I am pregnant so it's already hard enough to see where I'm going and the ground feels really soft under my feet."

"We're almost there," he laughed as they continued walking a few more feet. "Alright Pretty Girl, you can open your eyes." He removed his hands, stepping beside her.

"What is this?" she smiled happily. "You set up a picnic," she turned back to look at him before taking in the blanket laid across the ground and the open picnic basket on the edge. "It's beautiful Luke."

"Well I thought since the filming for the movie is finally finished and since your fashion show was tomorrow, we'd celebrate." He took her hand, helping her to sit down before sitting beside her.

"You know, there's a possibility I won't be able to get up," she laughed.

"Then I can keep you here all night," he smiled before opening up the sparkling cider and pouring it in two glasses.

"Then we might just get arrested for lewd conduct or something because I definitely won't be able to run," she laughed.

"I think that's called committing an indecent act," Lucas replied.

She quirked an eyebrow. "You've done research on this then?" She leaned over to kiss his lips softly. "This is really romantic," she smiled, her dimples in full effect. "Did you ever think when I first showed up naked in the backseat of your car that we'd end up here?"

"Having kids?" he laughed. "I have to admit kids were the last thing on my mind but how they're made…"

"I'm being serious Luke," she hit him.

He held his arms up in the air. "I know." He paused briefly. "I think I knew in that moment that my life had changed, I just didn't realize it was you that would change it and how much."

"Me too," she nodded. "When I hopped into your backseat, I didn't think that you would end up being the love of my life. I thought we'd have fun."

"And we did," Lucas smiled as he remembered the days of their early relationship.

"We did," she agreed, "until you messed up. But you made up for it in the end." She exhaled deeply. "I guess we took some detours and sometimes went off on the wrong roads but we found our way back to the right one." She leaned back into him, feeling the comfort of his arms wrapping around her.

He placed a soft kiss in her hair. "We found our way back to each other."

She turned back to look at him, her hazel green orbs meeting his ocean of blue. "I love you," her raspy voice was soft.

"I love you," he replied before his lips meet hers. "I guess we'll be getting that citation after all." He mumbled against her lips.

Brooke's giggle echoed across the beach before their lips meet once again in a feverish kiss.

Peyton sat in her room, listening to Michael Jackson's "This Is It". She kept trying to put Jenny's words out of her mind but they kept coming back. She had felt a distance in her relationship with Jake for a while now but she thought it was because of her secret about the baby she'd lost with Julian and the possibility of her having a baby and carrying it to term being pretty much nonexistent. But even after she had confessed, she'd felt the chasm slowly growing and getting bigger with every day. Now she wondered if it had been her at all or was it Jake who was hiding a secret, something that could affect his life and the future she was planning with him.

"Hey," Jake said as he walked inside her bedroom. "I used the key you gave me." He held it up a bit awkwardly as it was the first time he'd used it since she gave it to him.

"Hey," she turned off the music. "How was your day?"

"It was good," he replied as he sat next to her. "I went into my dad's furniture shop for a while. Did you and Jenny have fun today?"

"Yeah," she smiled. "We went shopping, ate ice-cream, watched movies and we talked. She asked if she could call me mom."

He was a bit taken back by that but not completely surprised. "She loves you a lot Peyton." His eyes met hers. "What did you say?"

"I said it was okay," she answered, "as long as it's okay with you. I love Jenny as my own, I always have."

"I know that," Jake nodded.

"Mostly I think she asked though because she's worried that she'll lose the only parent she has and that Nicki will come back to take her away from everything else she knows," the blonde explained. "This thing with Oriana really has her worried." Her green eyes peered into his brown ones. "So does all your doctor visits." She studied his reaction, seeing the nervousness flash in his eyes.

"Doctor visits," he repeated. "Peyton…"

"Please don't lie to me Jake," she spoke calmly and self assured but firm. "I know I have kept things from you, things I was afraid to face myself let alone share with you but that's all over. Telling you, being able to lean on you and going to therapy have really helped me. I feel like a stronger person now Jake and I know you love me. You asked me to trust you before and I did. Now I'm asking you to trust me." Her eyes watered as she looked at his face, even though she'd already memorized every curve and line. "Are you sick? Are you dying?"

"No" he shook his head fervently. "No, I'm not sick." He paused, exhaling deeply. "It's my dad Peyton. He has cancer."

"Oh Jake," she sighed sympathetically. "I'm so sorry. How… how bad is it?"

"He needs a bone marrow transplant," he answered, letting out a breath as he slumped back against the headboard. "He's going through chemo right now but he only has a couple more sessions and then he'll have the operation."

"So then they've found a match," the optimism was evident in her voice as well as in her green eyes. "I wish you would have told me this before. I would have been there for you. You are my heart Jake; you can count on me always."

"I know Peyton," he sighed. "I just… you'd been going through so much. I just didn't want to lay this all on you yet, not when there was a chance we could find a different donor first."

"A different donor?" she looked at him quizzically. "I don't understand, why would…" Her eyes grew wide with realization. "Oh god, it's you isn't it? You're the donor?"

"Yes," he nodded calmly before letting out a weary breath. "And there's more Peyton."

The blonde nodded wordlessly.

"When I was a kid, I was diagnosed with leukemia. Everything went good, they caught it early and I was given a second chance at life because an anonymous person donated and saved my life." He paused briefly. "My dad was overseas at the time; it was when he was in the military so we never even knew he was a match."

"But you know now," Peyton took his hand. "And you want to do this because someone saved your life the same way and because he's your father."

Jake nodded. "I promised myself if I could ever help anyone the way someone helped me I would and he's my dad, you know." He paused briefly before turning to look at her. "When I came back to Tree Hill Peyton, I came back for two reasons; because my dad was sick and for you." He reached up to cup her face lovingly, his eyes revealing the torment of emotions running through him. "I love you," his voice sounded strangely broken.

"I love you," she said, her features showing the confusion that ran through her as she took in his appearance and voice. "What aren't you saying Jake?"

"Because of my history with this disease, it doesn't make me an ideal candidate," he explained. "I could relapse and…"

"Are you telling me this could kill you?" the tears began to run down her face almost immediately, his eyes answering her without words. "Jake…"

"I have to do this Peyton," he replied. "And I have to believe it'll be okay."

"It will; it's going to be fine. It has to be," she cuddled into him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist as she felt his arms wrap around her.

He looked down at her lovingly, his hand reaching up to wipe away her tears gently with the pad of his thumb. "I'll understand if you…"

"No," she placed her index finger over his lips to silence him. "We're going to fight this and we're going to win, together."

"Okay," he chocked back his own tears before he touched his lips to hers in a desperate kiss.

Nathan walked into the hotel room, finding Haley and Jamie waiting there for him. After the game, he'd been stopped by Bobby and was asked to meet him in his office. He was surprised to find a cardboard box of his stuff sitting on the desk.

"What's all that?" Haley motioned to the box in his arms.

"It's the stuff from my locker," he replied, sitting it on the counter. "I'm not a Fort Wayne Mad Ant anymore."

"Daddy, did they fire you?" Jamie's eyes looked up at him imploringly. "That's crazy. You just won a championship. Bobby's stupid!"

"Jamie Scott," Haley admonished before leaning in to whisper to her husband. "Although if he did let you go, he is stupid."

Nathan laughed. "Bobby isn't stupid and I wasn't fired exactly. I was traded."

"Traded?" she looked at him incredulously. "Who would trade their star player after the game you just played."

"So where are you going to play now Daddy?" Jamie looked up at him.

"New York," he answered before a wide grin spread across his face. "With the Knicks."

"Um, what?" her eyes grew wide. "Did you just say The Knicks? The New York Knicks?"

"I got called up," he let out an exasperated breath, the happiness evident in his book.

"You're in The NBA?" Jamie beamed.

"I'm in The NBA!" He yelled.

"You're in The NBA!" Haley yelled as she jumped up into his arms. "I knew you'd make it!"

"I knew you could do it Daddy!" Jamie jumped up on his leg as they all broke out into yells of happiness.

Winston Churchill wrote, "Sure I am this day we are masters of our fate, that the task which has been set before us is not above our strength; that its pangs and toils are not beyond our endurance. As long as we have faith in our own cause and an unconquerable will to win, victory will not be denied us."