A/N: Hi guys. Here's the next chapter. Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter. As always, all comments, good and bad, are appreciated.

...

He was awake long before she was. In fact, other than that short nap on the couch, he hadn't slept at all.

He was propped up on one elbow, leaning his head in his hand, watching her sleep, as he'd done countless times in ten years.

This time, he knew, would be his last chance to do so.

He swallowed the painful lump in his throat. He'd really messed up this time, and this angel, this beautiful, perfect angel, would not forgive him this one. He couldn't blame her. He wouldn't either.

He'd blown it. Fully and carelessly. He was an idiot.

And a coward. A coward for not being able to tell her himself what he'd done—for leaving it to Brooke to do instead.

He couldn't help it though. He knew he'd let Haley down, but he couldn't stand to see it in her eyes once she knew it too. He'd already seen it way too many times. He couldn't ever seem to measure up to the person she wanted him to be.

Because he wasn't good. Certainly not good enough for her. He never had been, no matter how hard she tried. No matter how hard he tried. She always had been, and always would be, out of his league. His flawed self could never equal to the staggering goodness that was Haley James Scott.

He closed his eyes and pressed his lips together. "I'm sorry, Haley," he said, barely above a whisper.

She stirred in her sleep and he smiled sadly. He really should be heading to the airport right now, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the woman beside him. The woman he was about to lose.

He was just going to have to reschedule his flight till tomorrow.

He should probably text Peyton and let her know.

When he did, he learned she'd be likely missing her flight as well since Lucas hadn't yet returned from wherever he'd gone last night. He told her he'd go ahead and reschedule hers for the same time as his the next day, and she agreed to that. Surprisingly, she even agreed to let him pay. But he knew that was only because she didn't have any money to pay it herself and she had to get back. Vaguely he wondered what she'd do about the meeting she had with her manager this afternoon.

But he quickly brushed the thought away when Haley's eyes fluttered open and she snuggled into him.

...

Brooke tapped lightly on the door before letting herself in, expecting to find Haley and Jamie bustling about with their morning routine. Instead she found Jamie sitting at the counter alone, munching away on a bowl of cereal.

"Hi, Aunt Brooke," Jamie greeted cheerily, as though Brooke entering their home were no biggie. Maybe because it wasn't. Jamie was certainly used to the brunette's presence by now.

"Hey, buddy," she replied in the same cheerful tone. "Where's your Mom?"

"Her and my dad are still in their room," he answered lightly, that also not a big deal. "They didn't come out yet."

That's when Brooke noticed two other bowls of cereal on the counter, minus the milk, and she had to smile at the sweetness of the boy before her. He'd not only made his own breakfast, but his parents' breakfast too.

Parents. Plural.

"Your dad's still here?" she questioned subtly. He should be on his way to the airport by now.

Jamie nodded in reply. "And guess what, Aunt Brooke?"

"What?"

"I beat him four games in a row in NBA Live yesterday."

"Wow, impressive," she said enthusiastically.

"Thanks. I told him I practiced and he said all my hard work paid off."

"Well, obviously," she returned in a 'duh' tone.

"Yeah, but he beat me lots more times so he said keep practicing. I hope he's still here when I get back from school so we can play some more."

"You like having your dad home, huh?"

"I love it," he answered. "He always plays with me."

"Your mom plays with you," Brooke felt the need to say.

"Yeah, but she stinks at video games and sports," Jamie returned, matter-of-factly. "And she doesn't let me play shooting games, but Daddy says it's ok as long as I don't shoot people for real and I don't tell Mama."

"Oh," was all Brooke said to that. More secrets.

"But Mom sings to me, and Dad really stinks at that," Jamie stated next. "And we play board games sometimes, and she helps me with my homework, and bakes cookies with me."

"Sounds like you got pretty lucky there, kiddo, having such a great mom."

Jamie nodded his head in agreement. "And dad," he added. "They both have their perks."

Brooke chuckled at the comment. Was this kid really only eight? "They do, huh? Listen, why don't you go get your mom so I can talk to her for a second?" Or rather, assess the damage caused by Nathan.

Jamie's eyes suddenly grew wide, and he shook his head vigorously. "They locked the door so that means I'm not allowed to go in there or bother them."

"Oh really?"

"Yep. Cause they're probably having sex."

Brooke nearly choked on her own saliva. "And what do you know about sex, little man?"

"Aunt Brooke, I'm not a little kid anymore. I know stuff. Sex is when big people naked kiss."

"Oh."

"My mom and dad said you have to be married and at least twenty-five, but I don't think that's true."

"Why not?"

"Because sex makes babies, and they were still in high school when they had me."

Unusually stumped for words, Brooke stared at the boy wonder who was way too smart for his own good.

Luckily Nathan came in at that point so she was spared from having to comment.

"Morning Dad," Jamie said.

"Morning buddy," Nathan returned, a little annoyed to find Brooke in his kitchen. Seriously, first thing in the morning? "Brooke."

"Nate," she returned the cold greeting. "Shouldn't you be boarding a plane soon?"

"Postponed it till tomorrow," he answered wryly.

"Sweet!" Jamie exclaimed. "So, you're gonna be here when I get home! You wanna play NBA Live again?"

Nathan glanced from Brooke back to his son. "We'll see, all right."

"Ok," Jamie easily accepted. "I made you and Mom breakfast. You just have to put in your own milk or else it'll get..."

"Soggy," came Haley's voice as she entered the kitchen. "Brooke, hey!" she greeted, much more pleasantly than her husband had.

So pleasantly, in fact, that Brooke instantly knew Nathan hadn't told her a thing. She fixed him with enough of a pointed stare that he noticed, but Haley didn't. He looked away immediately.

"What brings you by this morning?" Haley went on as she grabbed the milk and poured some in both hers and Nathan's bowls.

"Just dropped by to say hey before work," Brooke said.

Haley nodded pleasantly before turning to Nathan and asking that he grab spoons. "Well, hey right back," she said to Brooke. "Care to join us for breakfast?"

"Oh, no thanks. I had a big breakfast at home," Brooke replied. Courtesy of Lucas Scott.

"Jamie, if you're done, go get dressed, sweetie," Haley gently ordered her son. "Dad's gonna drive you to school today."

"Sweet," he said, running off.

"And then, you and I, mister," she said suggestively to her husband, "will have the whole day to ourselves."

Brooke cleared her throat, and Haley apologized. Brooke brushed it off. "Don't you have work though?"

"Oh, I had to call in," Haley answered, a serious expression crossing her features. "I've come down with something, you see," she added with a very obviously fake cough. "It's terribly bad and I think I'll have to stay home in bed all day, right honey?"

He stole another glance at Brooke. Anger and disapproval is what he saw. Just as he'd expected.

"Mom!" Jamie yelled from the top of the stairs. "I can't find my math book!"

"Where did you put it?" she hollered back.

"On my dresser, but it's not there!"

"Keep looking!"

"I've looked everywhere!"

Haley highly doubted that.

"I'll go help him," Nathan offered, rather anxious to get out of the kitchen right now.

"No, you eat," Haley told him, getting up herself. "You probably wouldn't even recognize a math book anyway," she teased before scurrying off.

"You still didn't tell her," Brooke huffed as soon as the other brunette was out of sight.

If looks could kill, she'd be dead on the spot. "You're the one who wants her to know so bad," he snapped. "I figured why not let you have the pleasure of telling her."

"You mean you were too much of a coward to do it yourself."

Yep, that's what he meant. Peyton thought she was a coward for not telling Lucas the whole truth, but he hadn't been able to tell Haley any of it.

"So you can do the deed, but you can't fess up to it," Brooke shot out with a sneer.

He sneered in return, but had no ready come-back for that particularly comment. He was too distraught over the thought of losing Haley to properly argue with Brooke anymore. It was pretty clear to him that Brooke would ensure Haley knew about his indiscretions, and there wasn't a damn thing he could say that would change that.

"Look," he began forlornly. "I'll be at Jamie's school and back within ten minutes, but it's plenty of time to say what you're gonna say to Haley." Grabbing his keys, he headed to the front door. "Tell Jamie I'll be in the car," he said, making his exit.

Brooke stared after him a while, almost feeling sorry for him. The guy did seem genuinely broken up. But then she remembered catching him on top of Peyton just two days before, and her sympathy vanished.

Haley and Jamie re-emerged seconds later, Jamie's book miraculously found.

"Nathan waiting in the car?" Haley asked Brooke.

"Yeah," the brunette replied.

"Ok, you heard that, little man," Haley addressed her son now. "Better get your butt out there before your dad starts honking."

The boy did hurry, rushing to get all his stuff together, and practically running out the door.

Haley chuckled when he accidently slammed the door shut, re-opened it to offer a quick apology, and then shut it again, more softly. "He gets so super excited when Nathan gets home," she commented in amusement. "Can't say I blame him," she added.

"You really miss him when he's gone, huh?" Brooke questioned, though she knew the answer.

Haley nodded dreamily. "Everything's better when he's home," she said. "Does that sound cheesy?"

"A little," Brooke answered honestly.

Haley simply shrugged carelessly. "Oh well," she said dismissively. "We have always been, and always will be, a really cheesy couple." She wasn't ashamed of that. "Anyway," she went on. "You never said what brought you over this morning."

Brooke gulped nervously. Moment of truth.

...

Like he'd said, it was only ten minutes before he was back, however, when he pulled into the driveway of his home, he spent several more minutes just sitting there, dreading to go inside and facing his wife.

Nothing would ever be the same now. He'd blown every chance of that, and Brooke was right there to make sure Haley knew about it.

He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. How had it all come to this? How had he managed to royally screw up his ten year marriage? He loved Haley. He did. So how did he become that guy who threw it all away for...what? A meaningless fling? No. He cared about Peyton. She wasn't meaningless. But damn it, he loved Haley. What the hell had he done?

Heaving a final sigh, he opened the car door, concluding that sitting out in the driveway wouldn't change the uproar that awaited him inside.

Tears. Fury. A slap in the face. He expected all three of those when he entered the front door.

Instead he got a warm greeting and an inviting smile. A hug even.

He hugged back, shooting Brooke a look of confusion over Haley's shoulder.

Brooke returned it with one of venom, and slipped off the stool. "And that's my cue to get going," she said, trying to keep the resentment out of her tone.

"Oh Brooke, you don't have to go," Haley said pulling back from her husband's arms to address her friend.

"I'm afraid I do, Tutor Mom," Brooke replied. "Not all of us can play sick, you know. Some of us have a business to run."

Haley rolled her eyes playfully but didn't argue the point. Truth be told she looked forward to the time alone with Nathan. It seemed a rare occasion these days, with him being gone so much and having to share his attention when he was home. She waited until Brooke was out the door before turning back into his arms and asking what he wanted to do that day, telling him suggestively that she had a few ideas if he was interested.

Of course he was interested, but he was also confused. Why hadn't Brooke told her? Had she changed her mind or did she just plan to hold it over his head a while longer? He had to know.

Disentangling himself from Haley, he told her to hold that thought. He'd forgotten something in his car. Forgotten what? Uh, his phone. Yeah, his phone.

He was out the door before she could utter a word in protest. "Brooke," he called out just as the brunette reached her car. He approached the vehicle until he stood directly in front of her. "You didn't say anything. Why?"

She shook her head and sent him a look of disdain. "I guess I'm as much a coward as you are," she snapped. "You must be glad about that."

"So what now?" he had to ask. "Cause I'm not telling her," he openly admitted. "I tried, and I couldn't."

"Well, I couldn't either. Consider this your lucky day."

"Meaning I won't get so lucky another day?" he questioned. "You just biding your time, or what?"

"Maybe."

"Brooke, I have to know. Are you gonna tell her or not?"

"Are you and Peyton really over like she said?" Brooke asked.

No. Maybe. Peyton did say they were. "Yeah," he answered aloud.

Brooke lifted her shoulders uncertainly, fighting an inner battle within herself. Tell her friend and crush her, or don't and let her be happy? "As long as that's true," she finally replied, pure ice in her tone, "then I'll keep your dirty little secret."

He released the breath he'd been holding, relief sweeping over him. "Thank you, Brooke," he said genuinely. "I mean it, thank you."

She threw him a scornful look for the first nice thing he'd said to her since she'd caught him with Peyton, the memory still burned in her brain. "I'm not doing it for you," she let him know.

He nodded, okay with that. Her reasons mattered much less than her decision.

"It better be true," she warned him. "Or else I'm signing like a bird."

He simply nodded again and turned back toward the house.

"Nathan," Brooke called out to him, causing him to face her once more. "Why did you do it?" she asked. "You and Haley seem so happy and in love, like the beloved Naley I thought you were. Is that all an act?"

"No," he denied. "You probably won't believe me, but I do love my wife."

"Then why risk your marriage just to mess around with Peyton?"

"We weren't just messing around," he replied, instantly defensive. "Me and Peyton care about each other. We always have."

"But you haven't always been sleeping together," Brooke countered. "How did that come about?"

He struggled to answer, knowing Brooke wouldn't understand anything he would tell her. Hell, he didn't even understand it. For years they'd been friends only, and then, all of a sudden, they were more, and he couldn't seem to stop thinking about her or stay away from her. He shrugged. "It just...one day, it happened, and then we just... kept it going." It was as honest as he was willing to get with Brooke.

So he was done denying it was a full-blown affair, rather than a one-time mistake as he'd said before. "That doesn't explain why," Brooke returned.

He shook his head and threw his hands up in the air. "I'm still trying to figure that out," he told her earnestly. Maybe once he did he could forget about wanting her so bad and get his marriage back on the right track, even though Haley had no clue he'd ventured from it.

He knew he had to do something. He had to do better. Brooke had just given him another chance with Haley, and he couldn't blow it again. Somehow he had to leave his lover behind, and banish all thoughts of her from his head, and focus on his marriage.

It wasn't what he wanted. Truthfully he wanted both women. But he couldn't have that, especially with Brooke likely watching him much more closely now. He was going to have to stay away from Peyton and that's all there was to it.

The next six weeks in L.A. would be hard, he knew. He'd quickly gotten used to their routine there and he would surely miss it. But he'd have to suck it up. It would all be easier once he was back in Tree Hill for the months that followed.

At least, that's what he told himself.

...

"Oh, you're still here," Lucas said resentfully when he got home near 10:00 a.m.

"Daddy!" Sawyer screamed from her toddler seat, no longer interested in her breakfast.

"Morning, my precious angel," he said to her, picking her up when she lifted her arms to him.

Peyton sighed at the obviously different tones he'd used on both girls. She supposed she should expect that. Still, it stung a bit. Plus, she'd just finally gotten Sawyer to sit still and eat. She told him so but he sneered in return.

"She eats better if you give her finger foods and let her walk around with it," he stated, setting the little girl down and going about cutting an apple for her, handing her a piece when he was done.

Peyton watched the exchange and rolled her eyes. "Leave her in her chair long enough and eventually she learns to eat at the table," she muttered. "Like everybody else," she added.

He shrugged. "This is how we've been doing it," he said, as though her way mattered not at all. "It works for us."

"Fine," Peyton conceded, more important things to discuss. "Luke, where have you been?"

He laughed a bitter, non-humorous laugh. "I'm sorry, I think your affair nullifies your right to ask me that," he said coldly.

She crossed her arms over her chest, matching his anger. "I had a plane to catch, Lucas."

"Then why aren't you on it?" he asked sardonically. "Why are you still here?"

"Was I supposed to leave our two year old here by herself?" Peyton returned, equally sarcastic.

He shrugged in response. "No. See, there's this thing called a phone. You pick it up and dial any number of people who would gladly come over and watch her," he retorted. "That's what all the parents are doing these days when they need to get stuff done. In fact, it's what I've had to do for three months straight since her mother was off in L.A. screwing some guy."

"Okay, can we not have this argument in front of Sawyer?" Peyton replied. "I was hoping we could discuss things rationally before I had to leave, but since I already missed my flight and I had to reschedule for tomorrow, I suppose we could do it now."

"What is there to discuss?" he asked.

"Well, obviously there will be a divorce," she began.

"No question about it," he said snidely.

"But we still have to talk about custody for Sawyer. I think joint custody would be fair for everyone..."

"Joint custody?" he repeated, aghast.

"Yeah. We'd both have equal time with her and equal rights to make decisions on her behalf."

"And how's that gonna work when you're only here every other weekend?"

"Well, obviously I'll have to take her to L.A. and we can share in the cost for that..."

"Yeah, that's not gonna happen."

"Fine, I'll pay for it."

"No, I mean she's not going to L.A. ever."

"Lucas..."

"No. What? You want to bring her there to meet lover boy? I don't think so. I'm her father."

"And I'm her mother," she countered, leaving out the fact that Sawyer had actually met lover boy plenty of times. And loved him.

"Well, you haven't been much of one for the past three months, have you?"

"That doesn't mean..."

"You asked where I was this morning," he said, apparently now content to tell her. He picked up the envelope he'd tossed on the table when he'd come in, and now tossed it to her.

Peyton pulled out the papers from it. Court documents. He'd already filed for divorce, she discovered in surprise. She turned the page, noting he'd already signed it too.

"Consider yourself served," he said icily.

There was a second document, which she glanced over next, her jaw dropping in shock at its content. "Sole custody?" she muttered to herself before looking up at him. "You're applying for sole custody?" she questioned in awe.

"If you agree to the terms, all you have to do is sign or do nothing."

"Agree?!" Peyton gasped, shaking her head. "I'll sign the divorce papers, but you can't seriously think I'd just give up my daughter."

"Then I guess we go to court."

"Luke, don't do this," Peyton pleaded. "I get you're mad at me, but I'm still Sawyer's mother. You can't take her away from me."

"Watch me," he said with much more confidence than he actually felt. Good thing he had his anger to fuel his responses.

"I have a right to my daughter, Lucas," she snapped. "No judge is going to deny a loving mother that right."

"Yeah, so loving you had to spread it out in L.A.," he returned snidely.

"Which makes me a horrible wife," she admitted, "but has absolutely no bearing on my ability to care for my child."

"Care for her?" Lucas scoffed. "For the past three months you've only even seen her every other weekend. How's that caring for her?"

Her jaw dropped at the comment. "My time in L.A. was always meant to be a temporary thing, until I got established as an artist and could come home and be a family. You know that. You're the one who encouraged me to go."

"For your career, not your lover."

"It was for my career, Luke. But I fell in love, ok? And I'm sorry that hurt you, but threatening to take Sawyer from me..."

"It's not a threat," he denied. "I'm doing what I feel is best for her."

"Bullshit!" Peyton exclaimed. "You're trying to punish me!"

"Bullshit!" Sawyer exclaimed in returned, a giggle escaping her lips.

"Great, Peyton," Lucas sneered. "You got her swearing now. One more thing in my favor so thanks for that."

Peyton closed her eyes in dismay. "Luke, don't do this. I love my daughter."

"Like you loved me?"

"That's not fair. It's not the same thing at all."

"Don't talk to me about fair," he shouted. "You did this, Peyton, not me. And no way in hell am I sharing custody with a woman who hasn't an ounce of family values. Even if that woman is her mother."

"Luke..."

"I'm going for no access too," he informed her. "So that you and your new married lover can't corrupt her in any way."

"You'll never win that," she whispered, wishing she was more sure of herself.

"We'll see," he returned, him too wishing for more certainty in that regard. He went over and picked up his daughter, bringing her with him to the front door and slipping her shoes on.

"Where you going?" Peyton asked.

"Out," he answered. "We'll be gone for the day. You can use that time to pack your stuff cause I want you gone by the time we get back," he said, leaving through the door.

Peyton followed after him, desperation leading her actions. "Luke, no," she cried. "Lucas! We have to talk about this. You can't take her away from me."

He didn't respond despite her pleas. He buckled Sawyer in her seat and then hopped in front behind the wheel, and drove off, Peyton's screams heard halfway down the block.

The car disappeared down the road, and Peyton felt herself crumbling in defeat. She dropped to the ground and buried her face in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks as her whole world shattered to pieces.

...

Sucking it up wasn't supposed to present a problem already, yet it was. By mid-day Peyton was already texting him, asking to meet. He ignored the first two, but by the third text, he subtly—without Haley noticing, that is—replied that he couldn't.

But she continued to text, telling him it was important. That she needed to talk to him.

A little guiltily, he shut his phone off, opting to spend this time with his wife. He could talk to Peyton anytime in the next six weeks.

It was a good day. Of course it was—they'd spent its entirety lying around, alternating between talking and making love. It was late afternoon—almost the time Jamie would be home—by the time they showered and dressed.

He got downstairs ahead of her, and turned his phone back on.

Three new texts from Peyton.

He sighed. She said they were done, yet she continued to contact him endlessly. Or try to contact him, rather.

He read over all her texts, most of them still asking him to meet, but it was her final one that truly caught his attention.

'I'm not going back to L.A.'

He felt his blood run cold. Not going back? But what about her career? What about him? His fingers automatically texted back. 'Where r u?'

'My dad's old house.'

'Ok, be there in 10.'

There went staying away from her.