A/N: Hiya guys. Here's the next chapter. Hope you like it. Thank you, as always to everyone reading and special thanks for those leaving a comment, again, good and bad. They all help me and I do take every one of them into consideration.

...

Nathan took his eyes off the NBA Live game to check the ID on his ringing cell phone. Peyton. He sighed and a slow frown appeared on his face. They never called each other at home. They barely spoke to each other in Tree Hill. They hadn't actually made that a rule, but it was kind of an unspoken one that they always stuck to. They both knew better than to interrupt each other's family time.

Why then, was she calling him now? He had a mind to ignore it. Instead, he paused the game and told Jamie he'd only be a second, going off to the other room to take it. "Hey," he said into the phone, his voice coming out more than a little annoyed. "I can't really talk right now."

"Hi," came back the reply. "Oh. I thought Haley went to Tric," she said.

She was crying, he could tell. He tried not to let it get to him. "She did. I'm with Jamie."

"Oh ok, I thought he'd be in bed by now."

He pulled a face, taking her comment as a direct jab at his parenting. "I let him stay up a bit. Is that a problem?"

"Nathan, I'm not Haley. Let him stay up all night if you want," she returned with a sniffle.

He sighed, already regretting his harsh tone. She was clearly already upset and he hated to make it worse. But she shouldn't be calling him here. She knew that. He heard her sniffle again and couldn't be mad. Her tears did tend to get to him these days. In high school he'd managed to brush them off, finding they came too often for his comfort and unmoved by them. But he'd been an immature jerk back then. She was still very emotional, but now when she cried, his first instinct was to reach out to her, not bolt in aggravation.

"I know," he said. "I'm sorry."

"It's ok," she told him softly. "I didn't mean to interrupt your time with him. I wouldn't have called if I'd known he was still up."

He nodded though she couldn't see it through the phone. "Judging by how you sound, I take it you told Lucas," he guessed.

"Yeah."

"And?"

"And, God Nathan, it was horrible. I've never seen him so angry."

He couldn't resist the urge to roll his eyes. Did she expect anything else? "You knew he would be," he replied reasonably.

"Yeah, I know," she agreed. "But he was yelling and cursing, and I've just never seen him like that. And then he just stormed out."

Again he nodded. "So, should I be expecting him to bust down my door any second then?"

"No," she said firmly. "That's why I'm calling, actually. I told him I had an affair but I didn't say anything about you."

His eyes narrowed. "Why?"

"I didn't see the point in hurting him more when you and I are done anyway."

Done? When had they decided that? He shook his head. They'd see once they went back to L.A. how done they were. Because hearing her voice reminded him of the answer to his earlier question. Why did he stray? Because she was Peyton, and he cared about her, and he wanted her, no matter how wrong that was.

"And, I don't know," she went on. "Maybe I'm just a coward because I didn't want to tell him that part. He was already looking at me like I was the town whore. Plus, I was thinking, if you also don't tell Haley about me...you haven't told her anything yet right?"

"No, she had to leave practically right away."

"Ok, good. So, obviously you have to tell her you had an affair, but if you also don't say it was with me, then maybe you and Luke would be ok, you know? Brothers still? You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

Following a deep sigh, he answered. "Sure, yeah, it would be nice," he admitted. "But Brooke will just tell them anyway, and if not, Lucas is bound to suspect."

"He won't," Peyton assured him. "You're probably right about Brooke, but Luke trusts you, Nate. He doesn't suspect anything."

He made another face. Those weren't easy words to hear. True, Haley had always had trouble trusting him, right from the start and even during the eight years he had been faithful. But Luke, he did trust him. Having that pointed out aloud was some harsh reality. "Yeah," he replied simply.

"OK, so listen, that's all I wanted to say so I'll let you get back to Jamie. Again, I'm sorry for intruding on your time with him."

"It's fine," Nathan told her. He is supposed to be in bed anyway." Haley would shoot him if she knew he'd let him stay up late on a school night. She'd already warned him against it and he'd agreed. But he shook his head at his thought process. For what he had to tell Haley, he was certain letting Jamie stay up a little longer wouldn't make her top list of offences.

"Good luck with Haley, Nate," she told him sincerely, knowing how hard it had been for her to tell Luke. It would probably be ten times harder for him to tell Haley. They'd been together nearly a decade, after all. And, she had to remind herself, he still loved her.

"Yeah, thanks," he said.

"Call me later to make arrangements to go the airport tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I will," he said. "Bye, Peyton."

"Bye, Nate," she told him into the phone. "I love you," she said softly after she'd hung up.

...

He'd barely just hung up when Brooke showed up at his door. He rolled his eyes and emitted a deep sigh. No doubt she was coming to make sure he was doing as he was told. "What do you want, Brooke?" he asked snidely once he'd swung the door open.

"I came to check on Haley," she replied in the same snide tone he'd used. "You know, to make sure she's ok after finding out her husband's a cheating scumbag."

He sighed impatiently, getting really tired of Brooke. "Haley's not here," he informed her. "She had to play at Tric tonight so..."

"So you haven't told her yet," Brooke guessed.

"I didn't have a chance to."

"Huh, how convenient," she snarled. "Seems to me it doesn't take long to say 'I've been screwing Peyton behind your back for three months'. Look at that, three seconds," she added, checking her imaginary watch.

He frowned now. "You expect me to drop that on her and then send her off driving a car? And in front of Jamie too?"

"No," Brooke conceded. "But you'd better tell her tonight. And I don't mean after you have sex with her either."

"You done?" Nathan questioned irritably. "Cause Jamie and I were playing a game and I'd like to get back to it."

"Fine. Too bad Jamie wasn't a top priority when you were in L.A."

"You don't know what you're talking about, Brooke. Jamie's been my top priority since he was born."

"Really? Were you thinking of him while you were screwing Peyton?"

"No," Nathan replied coldly. "Just like I'm not thinking of him while I'm screwing Haley. Because that would be creepy."

"Funny," she deadpanned. "Just make sure Haley knows..."

She didn't get to finish as Nathan shut the door in her face and went and rejoined his son.

...

"Where's Luke?" Brooke asked when she went to their house next and found Peyton on the couch with a box of tissues beside her.

Peyton shrugged her shoulders, dabbing at her eyes with the tissues. "I don't know," she said. "He took off."

"You told him then?"

"That I had an affair, yeah. Who with, no."

"Protecting your lover, how sweet," Brooke said distastefully.

"And Lucas," Peyton countered. "What good would it do to tell him now that me and Nathan are over? It would only hurt him more."

"You and Nathan are over?" Brooke questioned doubtfully. "Cause it didn't seem like it to me in your hotel room yesterday!"

"Well, we are now."

"Whatever you say," Brooke replied, clearly not believing a word of it. "Oh, and how gracious of you to consider your husband's feelings now. Where was that concern when you were spreading your legs for his brother?"

"I never wanted to hurt Lucas, Brooke."

"No, you just didn't care if you did," the brunette shot back before making her exit, leaving Peyton alone with her guilt once more.

...

"All right," Nathan said, pulling the covers over his son. "Now remember, no telling Mom I let you stay up an hour and a half past bedtime. Got it?"

Jamie smiled at his dad. "Got it, Dad. My lips are sealed, I promise."

"That's my boy. Goodnight, son. I love you."

"Love you too, Dad, and I'm glad you came home today. I like it when you're home."

Nathan smiled a little sadly. What was yet to happen tonight was going to affect his son greatly. Never had he felt the guilt of his actions quite so strongly. "Me too," he said simply before shutting off the light and closing the bedroom door.

He went back downstairs, turned on the TV and lay on the couch, awaiting Haley's return, dreading it at the same time.

He didn't plan to fall asleep, but that's what he did.

He stirred in his sleep a short while later, the pleasant feeling of soft lips trailing down his neck to his chest. He smiled, in that half-awake, half-asleep state. Peyton. He knew they weren't over.

But when he awoke fully he remembered he was on his couch in Tree Hill, and realized it wasn't Peyton caressing him so seductively, but his wife. He lifted his head from the cushion and called her name.

She looked up and smiled. "Hey," she returned. "You fell asleep on me."

"Sorry."

"Oh, don't be sorry," she returned, her voice like silk. "It's not every day a girl comes home to find her very own sex god sprawled out on her couch," she said, continuing with her ministrations.

He took in a sharp breath, already aroused. Hell, he was aroused before he'd even fully woken up. This woman had had ten years to discover how to best please him. He was surprised to find that his shirt was already completely unbuttoned, and he'd slept right through it. She was working on the button of his jeans now. "Jamie..." he began to protest.

"Sleeps like a log," she said between kisses.

His breathing quickly became shallow and he was now back to questioning his proven ability to step out on this alluring creature. When he was with her, she was all he needed. All he wanted. "Haley," he said on a grunt as she found her treasure and began to stroke it shamelessly. "We're supposed to talk," he croaked weakly.

"Later," she whispered sensually. "Right now I want to make love to my husband."

"But..." Oh God, she was taking her shirt off now. But no, he couldn't have sex with her before they talked. He couldn't.

Off came the bra next, and he struggled for his next breath. She knew him. She knew he liked to watch her breasts bounce as she rode him. But what she didn't know was what he had to say. If she did she wouldn't be so accommodating.

But that was the thing. She didn't know. And he was rock hard for her. When her small hands reached out for his much larger ones and brought them to her chest, asking him to make love to her, all rational thought vanished. The sultriness of her request, combined with the soft, perky flesh in his hands was his undoing.

A hoarse growl escaped his lips, and he sat upright, taking her mouth with his in a hard, almost savage, kiss, his hands already kneading the firm, smooth breasts within them. He almost expected her to nibble on his bottom lip.

No. That was Peyton who did that. This was Haley. He should know that by the fullness of his hands alone. Haley had more on top than Peyton did. He kissed his wife harder, forcing out, or attempting to, the images of his blonde lover. It wasn't time to think about her right now. And certainly it wasn't the time to mix the two girls up.

...

Brooke found him in a dive bar, well on his way to intoxication. It didn't surprise her. Though Nathan was the heavier drinker of the two brothers, it wasn't unusual for Lucas to drown his sorrows in a bottle when he got overly depressed.

She made her way toward him, her heart going out to him. He knew the truth. Now came the pain. She felt a pang of guilt for having forced the truth upon him, but she quickly brushed the feeling away. His broken heart was on Peyton and Nathan, not her, though he currently knew nothing of Nathan's part in it. He was already hurting. Knowing his own brother was involved, she knew, would devastate him.

She sat on the stool next to him and wrapped a comforting arm around him. "It's ok, Lucas," she said softly. "I'm here for you."

"She met someone else," he said, agony in his voice, and too wasted to stop the tears that fell.

"I know. And you can brood all you want for tonight. It's okay."

"She's been sleeping with him for three months," he slurred sadly. "I thought she loved me."

She didn't know how to respond to that so she just hugged him, telling him again that she was there. "Let's get you out of here, ok?" she suggested. He didn't need another drink.

He nodded and let her lead him out, leaning on her heavily for support. It wasn't an easy task, but she eventually managed to get him into her car. She didn't ask him where he wanted to go, just took him to her place.

It was when she helped him into the guest bedroom that he tried to kiss her. She should have expected it, really. He'd drunkenly pulled the same thing several years back when Peyton had 'turned down' his proposal. Brooke had pulled away from him then, and she did the same thing now.

"You need to stop doing that, Lucas Scott," she said firmly. "Because my heart can't take it," she added to herself.

Yes, this boy whom she'd loved since high school had to stop this habit of trying to hook up with her whenever things went sour with his 'true love'. Because even though he was her true love-the boy she'd have given up everything for in a heartbeat-she couldn't be that girl. That would be even more heart wrenching than the years she'd had to bury her feelings for him. Being that girl, the rebound girl, was simply not an option for her already fragile heart.

"I don't know where we went wrong," Lucas lamented. "What did I do, Brooke?"

Brooke sighed deeply at his ramblings over Peyton. Always Peyton. What was it about the blonde that captivated the Scott boys so? Lucas had cheated on her twice and Lindsey once for Peyton, and Nathan practically threw away a ten-year marriage for her. Despite her anger, Peyton was her best friend and she loved her dearly, but right now she hated her more. She had Luke's heart and had torn it to shreds.

And he didn't even know the worst part yet. How could Peyton do that to him? How could Nathan?

Brooke wanted to reason with him and tell him he wasn't to blame, but she knew reason would be lost on him right now. He was much too drunk to talk sense to, and he was just spilling his heart out. She hated that he blamed himself though, even a little bit, but that would be a conversation for when he was sober and clear-minded.

However, she had to answer him when he asked if he'd done something wrong. "No, Luke. You were a good husband to her."

"But she loves this other guy," he mumbled sadly. "You know she won't even tell me his name?"

"You don't say," Brooke mumbled in return.

"I thought she was happy with me," he went on.

"I know you did, hon. So did I." Lucas wasn't the only one her best friend had fooled.

"How am I supposed to breathe without her?" he asked pitifully.

"You'll find a way," Brooke replied. "You have to for Sawyer's sake."

He finally gave a small smile at the mention of his daughter, and he lay back, his eyes automatically closing.

He passed out instantly.

Brooke pulled the covers over him and went to her own room, finally shedding her own tears for all the secrets that had been revealed the past few days.

Well, at least Peyton had told Lucas. Brooke wondered if Nathan had told Haley yet. If so, then Haley was surely suffering as much, if not more, than Lucas. After all, Lucas and Peyton had been married two years-Haley and Nathan, nearly a decade. Haley was the strongest girl Brooke knew, but everybody had a breaking point. Shame on the two who dared push that sweet woman to hers.

Brooke vowed to check on her in the morning before work. She would let her own tears spill for now, in the privacy of her bedroom, but after that both Lucas and Haley would need her strength to lean on.

And she would gladly provide it.

...

He'd flipped them around so that he was on top now, plunging deep inside her, their eyes locked in the process. He bent his head to kiss her. "I love you so much," he muttered between breaths.

"I love you too," she returned, equally breathless.

Burying his face in her neck, he continued to pump rhythmically. "I wish you'd come to L.A. with me," he said in her ear, even as he gasped for air. "It's so lonely there without you."

It was as close to the truth as he could get for now.

"I know, baby. Shh, just..." Her thought process was lost as a wave of pleasure rippled through her body. All she could do was cling to her husband, her nails digging deep into his skin.

It wasn't long before his own body was convulsing above her, relaxing soon afterward.

His previously taut muscles gave way, and he rolled off his beautiful wife so that the weight of his now limp body wouldn't crush her small frame.

He kissed her again, short and sweet this time. "I love you," he repeated.

She smiled. And then giggled girlishly. "Ok, now we can talk," she said.

Shit.

"But let's take it upstairs, in case Jamie does wake up and gets an eyeful," she said next.

He nodded sullenly. They both dressed. Well, she dressed and he threw on his boxers, tossing the rest of his clothes in the laundry hamper on the way upstairs.

He was quiet all the way to their bedroom, and even for a long time after they got there. She waited patiently for a long while for him to begin speaking.

His gaze was intense as he just stared at her, wishing he was as good a man as she expected him to be. As good a man as she was a woman. But he wasn't, and the shame of it washed over him, drowning him, and he didn't have a thing to grab onto. Haley had always been his savior, but she couldn't save him from this. He couldn't expect her to. But without her help, he would just flail about.

It was his own fault. He knew that. But he was weak and yes, lonely, and had succumbed to the worst possible temptation. For three months he'd succumbed to it.

"I can't go to L.A.," Haley finally broke the silence, unable to stand it any longer. She guessed that was on his mind, considering he'd spoken of it during their lovemaking. "We can't uproot Jamie like that."

"I know," he returned softly. They'd talked about this before and had agreed they wouldn't even talk about a family move until he was given, at least, a five year contract somewhere, rather than the one and two year contracts he'd been getting so far. He would get there, they knew, but until then, it wasn't fair to Jamie to drag him from his home every year or two. It was too bad though, because he was sure he could walk a straight line if Haley were there beside him. He'd done it for eight years and had only run into problems once he was away from her.

"Well, then what is it?" she asked softly, concern etched in her tone.

He swallowed hard. She was asking. He had to tell her now.

He couldn't breathe.

Haley grabbed hold of his arm. "God, Nathan, you're shaking. What is the matter?" she pushed, more worried now.

He looked down at his hands. He was shaking. He hadn't even realized it. "Haley..." he began"

"What, baby? What?"

He should just blurt it out and get it over with, but he found he couldn't do it. It was like his throat suddenly closed up, paralyzing his vocal chords to the confession he needed to make. Why was this happening? He had to tell her. But those words wouldn't come out. If they did, he would have to see that disappointed look on her face, knowing he'd let her down. He'd seen that look several times throughout their marriage-yeah, he'd messed up a lot-but this time he knew it wouldn't eventually go away to be replaced with the love she usually looked at him with. The love she looked at him with now.

"Nathan, talk to me," she urged.

"I..." he tried again, to no avail. "I don't ever want to lose you, Haley."

"You won't."

He looked down. Yes, he would. "I want you to come to L.A.," he repeated.

"When you get a longer contract..."

"No, now Haley." It had to be now. "I hate us spending months apart like this."

"So do I, but..."

"You could home school Jamie..."

"He loves school and his friends. And what about my teaching position? You're asking me to give that up?"

He shook his head. It wasn't what he wanted. He was just grasping at straws, looking for a way out of telling her the truth. And again, he knew he could be good with her by his side.

"I know it's hard and it's lonely," she began softly. "It is for me too. But I think we should stick to the plan for now." They'd made that plan with level heads, before emotions could come in and cloud their judgements.

He nodded, knowing she was right. But when she learned the truth, that plan would be shattered anyway.

"Besides, you have the team there with you."

Yeah, the team that went to the parties that he now tried to avoid.

"And you have Clay."

Clay also loved the parties.

"And it must be a little less lonely with Peyton there now," Haley continued.

If she only knew how true that was. Yes, Peyton did make it a whole lot less lonely.

"Nathan?"

"Yeah, you're right," he finally said. "I just...I miss you, that's all."

That wasn't all. But it was all he could say. He couldn't do this. The words that needed to be said simply refused to come out. Brooke was going to have to tell her.

Because he couldn't.

...

Brooke was surprised to find Lucas already awake when she got up the next morning. He was, in fact, cooking breakfast for the two of them.

"What's this?" she asked pleasantly.

"My way of combining thank you and I'm sorry for last night," he replied sheepishly. "Hope you're hungry."

"Starved, but you didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to. I heard you, Brooke."

"Heard me?"

"When you said I have to figure out how to deal with this for Sawyer's sake. I heard you."

"Oh," was all Brooke came back with.

"And you were right," he said. "I want you to know I won't be like I was when Lindsey left me. I do have Sawyer to consider now, and I thank you for reminding me of that sooner rather than later."

Dismissing his gratitude with a wave of her hand, she replied. "Shut up. You're a great dad, Luke. You didn't need my reminder."

"I beg to differ," he countered. "And I have the pounding hangover to say I'm right."

"You were upset. It's allowed."

"Yeah, but from now on I handle it the way a good father should, by putting his daughter first. I know exactly what I have to do."

She gazed at him, noting the sadness and anger still in his eyes-of course it would be-but the underlying strength behind them too. He would be strong for his daughter's sake. She couldn't be prouder of him. Again, she wondered how Haley was doing. She'd find out when she stopped in before work. "What are you gonna do?" she asked Lucas.

...

Peyton loudly attacked her daughter with kisses, the little girl giggling senselessly at both the gesture and the sound effects. Now that the light of day had come and she wasn't fretful over a nightmare, she was excited to see her mother.

"Mommy missed you. You know that?" Peyton asked her animatedly.

Sawyer nodded vigorously, making Peyton laugh at the sheer cuteness of it. "Yeah? You know? Mommy get a hug then?"

The girl obliged, wrapping her tiny hands around her mother's neck, but just as quickly pulling away. "Where Daddy go?" she asked, putting up those same tiny hands in wonder.

"Good question," Peyton answered lightly, purposely keeping the worry out of her tone. "But if he doesn't get here soon, Mommy's gonna miss her flight," she added with the same exuberance. "That's right, yes she will," she continued, tickling her daughter now.

"I eat?" Sawyer asked between giggles.

Peyton stopped the movement of her fingers. "Yeah, you hungry?" she asked, to which Sawyer nodded. "Well ok then, let's get some grub in that belly," she said, picking her up and carrying her out to the kitchen.

...

He stood in the lineup at the county courthouse, never imagining that he'd ever wind up here. Yet here he was, patiently waiting for his turn. Or maybe not so patiently, but still, he waited.

When it finally came, he approached the counter that the stern looking, but well-groomed woman stood behind.

"Can I help you, sir?" she asked, the soothing tone of her voice contrasting sharply with her dour expression.

Lucas gave a nervous cough before answering. "Uh, yeah, yes ma'am. I want to file for divorce and full custody of my daughter," he said. "So, where do I start?"