Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of its characters.

A/N: Thank you again to everybody who is still reading this and special thanks to all of you who take time to leave a review. Your feedback is greatly appreciated, good or bad. Love you guys.

I stole some scenes from the show as I'm sure you'll all notice. LOL.

"Didn't pride go out the window the first hundred times you've begged her back?" Dan asked jokingly once he'd managed to get Nathan to tell him what was bothering him. "That's what this is about, isn't it? Your pride?" Clearly his son was suffering from nothing but a bruised ego over Tim's remark. "Ok, ok," he eased up when Nathan glared at him. "I wouldn't worry too much about what he says. He's not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. But the simple fact that even he notices though, tells me that I was right all along. It's time to step back and let her come to you, son."

"But I'm the one who screwed up," Nathan argued logically.

"And you've apologized, as you should have. Now the ball's in her court," Dan said. "See, right now she's holding all the cards. She's giving you the runaround, knowing you're gonna keep chasing after her. It's a win-win for her. Until you take away some of that power."

"I don't know, Dad. I don't think that's really what she's doing. And shouldn't I be like, fighting for her? Proving I love her?"

"Yeah sure, and if this were the movies, everything would work out. But, son, this is real life. Trust me, you don't want to be in a relationship if you're the only one putting in any kind of effort."

"We still talking about Peyton, or Mom?" Nathan asked, because, well, it just didn't sound like Peyton. Sure, she had her moods, but he was always the one royally messing up, not her.

"Listen, I'm just trying to give you the benefit of my experience. As long as Peyton thinks you're just waiting around for the day she decides to take you back, she's gonna keep stringing you along."

Nathan frowned at his dad. "I thought you liked Peyton and you said before that I was in the wrong."

"You were," Dan said flatly. "Son, you screwed around on her and took advantage of her love to get away with it. Nobody deserves to be treated like that. And sure, I like Peyton and I understand why she kicked you to the curb. Any smart girl would have."

Nathan sighed and bowed his head but didn't comment.

"But this whole hot and cold business is nonsense," Dan continued. "It's either over or it's not. And it's up to you to make sure she knows that so that you can get back to focusing your energy on what's really important, which is your basketball career instead of on a girl who could very well play this game forever."

"She's not playing games, Dad," Nathan said defensively. "She's not like that."

"Maybe not consciously, I don't know," Dan replied. "But she is nonetheless. Trust me on that."

Nathan sat there reflectively until a knock on his bedroom door was heard and Deb poked her head in. "Sweetie, your tutor's here," she said.

He simply nodded, stood up and brushed past both his parents down the stairs.

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"How long are you gonna avoid me?" Nathan asked the next morning from across the table during Political Science class. Despite his father's words, he couldn't stand when Peyton ignored him. The hell with his pride. He needed Peyton in his life and not having her was killing him.

"How does forever sound?" Peyton replied in the same hushed tone he'd used.

"Peyt, I made a mistake. And we're right back to square one because of it?"

She rolled her eyes at him. "A mistake?" she challenged. "As in one?"

"Just one that has to do with right now," he countered. "Peyton, come on," he said when she didn't reply. "Why can't we just talk? Is that too much to ask?"

After what she'd just heard in the girls' room, she'd rather slap him than talk to him. "You know what?" she responded dryly. "Why don't you go talk to Ashley? I'm sure she won't ignore you."

"Why the hell would I want to talk to Ashley?"

"Oh, right, you wouldn't. You'd much rather make out with her."

"You're buying into rumors?" he asked since he'd heard them too. "Peyton, you know how fucked up they are."

"Yeah, but I also know you."

He shook his head. "I didn't make out with her."

"Of course you didn't."

"Look, she was flirting with me. I didn't do anything."

"Right. I believe you," she replied, clearly not.

"Peyton…"

"Nathan, listen, it doesn't matter, alright. We're not together so you can do whatever the hell you want."

"Then why are you pissed off?"

She glared at him before answering. "Because you're not man enough to admit it. I know honesty is a foreign concept to you, but you might want to try it some time."

"I'm telling the truth," he insisted, hating that she didn't believe him.

"Fine. Either way, it's no skin off my back."

"And yet you brought it up," he said.

Before she could reply, the teacher knocked on their table by way of commanding they get back to their work.

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Peyton was waiting for him at the dock and jumped in his arms before he'd even barely had the chance to step off the boat. "I'm so glad you're home," she said, hugging him tightly.

"It's nice to be home," Larry Sawyer replied, returning his daughter's embrace.

"Two weeks, right?" she asked to make sure it still held true.

"That's something I actually wanted to talk to you about," he revealed.

Her heart sank at his words. She could just imagine the next ones. He would only be staying a few days and then heading out again. She pulled back from him and fought back the tears that instantly stung her eyes. Or at least she tried to. "But, Daddy, you said…you promised!"

"Hey, hey, none of those," he spoke kindly as his thumb gently brushed away a fallen tear. "It's good news. Or at least I hope it is."

"What is it?" she asked with renewed hope.

"Let's get home first."

"Ok," she agreed. "I'll drive so we actually get there this year."

–––––

"Daddy, don't joke with me," Peyton said anxiously, her eyes shining brightly after hearing his news. 'I can only stay a week this time and then I've got one more three- week gig and after that I'm only taking locals so we can be a family again.' She felt like she must be dreaming. She'd longed for those words forever and didn't want to think he was just teasing.

"It's no joke, honey," he assured her.

"But you love your job," she reminded him, not because she wanted him to go, but because she wanted him to be happy.

He sighed at her comment. His little girl was looking out for him. It should be the other way around. "I've thought this over thoroughly," he said. "And this situation hasn't been fair to you. Peyton, I love what I do, but not nearly as much as I love you. You've been alone enough. No more."

The smile that broke out on her face was so genuine and beautiful and the last bit of confirmation he'd needed to assure himself he was doing the right thing.

She threw her arms around him excitedly. "I love you, Daddy."

Ok, so maybe that was the last bit of confirmation he'd needed. "Now the money won't be as good so we may have to forego a few luxuries around here."

"Yeah, absolutely," she said with real enthusiasm. "Money doesn't buy happiness, right?"

"Let's see if you're still saying that after eating lentils for a month straight," he joked.

"Totally worth it," she claimed though she made a face.

"Well, I'm glad you think so but fortunately for us, that was a joke. It's not that much of a pay cut."

"So I won't have to bully the freshmen for their lunch money then?" she came back with.

He chuckled and ruffled her hair playfully. But he soon grew serious again. "Another thing that's going to change is your boyfriend coming around for sleepovers," he said sternly, remembering the scene he'd walked in on the last time he'd been on leave. "I'll allow him at the house, but when you go to bed, he goes home. No more staying the night."

Peyton smiled sadly. "Well, you don't have to worry about that," she responded. "We broke up."

He wanted to ask for how long – those two had had the same on-again, off-again relationship since the very beginning – but he didn't. "Well, I can't say I'm too upset about that," he said instead.

"Yeah, somehow I didn't think you would be," she replied softly.

"Ah, sweetie, come here," he said, putting one arm around her shoulder and pulling her into his side. "I just think you deserve so much more than what he's given you. That boy isn't worthy to be with my little princess."

"Dad, you don't really know him," she felt the need to say.

He didn't reply because they've had this conversation before and Peyton would always defend Nathan. But as far as Larry was concerned, his daughter had shed way too many tears over the kid already. And he hoped Peyton finally realized that.

"There's something else I want to talk to you about," Peyton said to steer the conversation away from Nathan and her father's low opinion of him. She'd planned on bringing it up anyway so now was as good a time as any.

"I'm listening," he told her.

"I want to meet my birth mother," she blurted out, surprising herself because she'd meant to broach the subject carefully. But since it was already out there, she pulled the picture out of her purse and showed it to him. "This is her, isn't it?"

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"Nathan, I told you she has trust issues with you," Brooke said as he lay on her couch after driving Mouth home following their latest tutor session.

"I know, but since when does she buy into gossip? She's being a real bitch."

Brooke had to agree. She'd totally flipped out at cheer practice when Brooke had told her to loosen up. But she knew why too. "Yeah. She's got a lot going on right now."

"Like what?"

"Her birth mother," Brooke said. "Her dad comes home today – actually he's probably there now – and she's scared to ask him about her."

Nathan nodded in silent acknowledgement.

"Speaking of her dad," Brooke went on, "don't you think it's weird that he and your mom came back at almost the exact same time?"

"My mom was back yesterday."

"Yeah, but they could just be, you know, trying to be discreet."

He rolled his eyes at her assumptions. "I doubt it. He was scheduled to return today and she came back because Whitey called her and it would have looked bad if she didn't come."

"Hmm, still seems awfully fishy to me."

"Quit trying to create drama, Brooke. My mom may be a cheap whore, but Peyton's dad is a good guy."

She quirked an eyebrow at him, but not because of his comment about his mother. She was used to those. "You realize he hates you, right?"

"Yeah. So?"

"So, you're sticking up for him?"

"What? He hates me so I have to hate him back?"

"That's generally the way it works."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever. I don't have a problem with him. I'd probably hate me too if I was him."

"Well, if you were him and you hated you, then technically you'd be hating yourself."

He chuckled at the twisted logic. Leave it to Brooke to come up with it. "So, anyway, you never did tell me about this Chase dude."

"There's nothing to tell," she responded. "We had one date."

"There's always a second date."

"Yeah, cuz the first one turned out so well."

"Unforeseen circumstances."

"Wow, two big words strung together," she teased. "I'm impressed.

"Stop trying to dodge the subject," he said knowingly.

"Why are you so interested?"

"Because he's cool. I like him."

"You think he's cool?"

"Yeah. What's wrong with that?"

"He's a clean teen."

"So I know he wouldn't write crap about you on the bathroom walls."

"Ok," she said, shaking her head in amazement. "Did somebody put something in the water? I swear someone must have because you and Rachel are the last people to ever let others in and give them a chance, but she's been singing tutor girl's praises all week and now you're saying a guy who's willingly chosen celibacy until marriage is cool?"

"Look, all I know is when you collapsed from that allergy, he got a hold of all of us and then even though we were there, he stayed at the hospital the whole time. He could have bailed, but he didn't. So yeah, that makes him alright in my books. Better than all those other jerk offs who are only looking for one thing."

She pushed his feet off the couch and plopped down beside him. "I know, I know. He's a great guy and I do like him…"

"But?"

"I don't deserve him."

"Come on, Brooke. Don't say shit like that."

"Why not? It's true. I mean, he started off as a bet between me and Rachel," she admitted.

He shook his head and chuckled. "You and your fucking bets," he joked. "But so what? Just because it started that way, doesn't mean it has to end that way."

"True, but I doubt he'll be exactly thrilled to know how we began."

"So don't tell him."

"That's your advice? Lie to him? Brilliant, considering how well that worked out for you with Peyton."

"Think what you want, Brooke, but seriously, some things are better left unsaid. You should ask him to Ryan's party Friday night."

"I'll think about it," she replied unsurely. "Are you going?"

"I don't know. The cops crashed his last party. That's all I need is to get caught drinking."

"So don't drink"

"What fun is that?"

"Just a suggestion."

"Would you do it?" he asked even though he already knew she wouldn't.

"No, but I'm also not out on bail. Make you a deal. If you go to the party, I'll ask Chase to go."

"So I can be a third wheel? No thanks."

"It's a party, Nate. There's no such thing as a third wheel. "

"Alright, fine, whatever."

"Just don't even think about hanging around for the after party," she said suggestively.

"After party? He's a clean teen. What are you gonna do? Come back here and play board games all night?"

"Ok, one comment like that in front of him and you are so dead," she warned, shaking her fist at him.

He grabbed hold of her much smaller hand. "Yeah, cuz this huge fist is a real threat."

"Have you met my foot?"

"Come to think of it, I have."

"So, you'll refrain from the wise cracks then?"

"Absolutely."

"That's what I thought."

"You think Peyton'll go?" he wondered out loud.

"No," Brooke replied. "She wants to spend the time with her dad."

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Thursday morning, Peyton stood in front of her mirror applying under eye makeup to cover up the dark circles caused from a sleepless night.

After her dad had gotten over the initial shock, he'd gone ahead and admitted that the woman in the picture was, indeed, her birth mother, that her name was Elizabeth Harpe, which is where Peyton's middle name Elizabeth had come from. He'd revealed that Ellie – her shortened name – had come around requesting a chance to get to know her daughter and how he and Anna had decided together that it would be best to start slowly by having Ellie occasionally accompany them on family outings, but from a distance. They'd planned to eventually introduce her into Peyton's life without revealing her true identity until Peyton was old enough to understand. Since Ellie hadn't any intentions of trying to replace Anna in the full mother role, it had been a fairly easy decision – one they were all in agreement with.

Until Anna had died and changed everything. Larry hadn't wanted to add to Peyton's trauma and pain and in his own grief, he'd sent Ellie away. She'd gone without question but not without heartbreak, because she understood and agreed that the little girl didn't need any more confusion in her young life.

So last night had been an emotional night for both father and daughter. Words were spoken, truths were told and many tears were shed and by the time they went to their own bedrooms, they were both drained.

And still sleep had escaped her as she pondered everything all night long. Her dad had told her he would get in touch with Ellie if that were what she wanted and she'd told him it was. The fact that her parents had always meant for them to meet erased any trace of guilt that lingered within her for wanting to meet the woman. She'd worried how her father would take it. She was scared that he'd somehow be offended or think she was betraying Anna. But he hadn't reacted in any of the ways she'd imagined. He'd simply left the decision to her and even went so far as to say that he thought it was a great idea and that she should get to know her birth mother. That alone was a tremendous relief to her.

Her makeup finally to her satisfaction, she looked around for her ipod, but couldn't find it so she made her way downstairs to the kitchen. "Hey, Dad, do you know where my…?" She halted mid-sentence and stride when she spotted Lucas standing there. "What are you doing here?" she asked, looking strangely at the item he held in his hands.

"Oh, he's trying to rake me to death," Larry piped up, obviously finding humor in the situation.

"What?" Peyton asked with a giggle.

Lucas, clearly embarrassed, stammered. "IIII thought you were…nothing crucial," he said when Peyton stared at him with amusement. "I'm gonna go put this back."

When he left to do just that, Peyton and Larry shared a look as well as a laugh.

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Friday evening, Larry treated Peyton to dinner at Karen's Café. They were eating and bantering casually over the party he'd somehow found out about when Lucas entered and went over to talk to Haley. When Haley exited through the back, Lucas turned to face the crowd and that's when Larry spotted him. He immediately called out to him and waved him over to their table.

Oh no, she thought. She'd already heard how impressed he was with Luke for trying to protect her, even if it was with a rake and how he seemed like a really nice kid. A kid he'd approve of her dating, he'd said. And even after revealing that he was Nathan's half brother, he was not swayed, but rather point blankly told her that he liked Lucas better. When she'd argued that he couldn't possibly make that assessment from one short meeting, he'd told her that he very well could and that Nathan's arrogance alone was reason enough to prefer Lucas. And then he'd mentioned that he just had a gut feeling that the blond brother would treat her better. She'd tried to defend Nathan, she really had, but her dad had been adamant in his opinion. It didn't surprise her. He'd never liked Nathan.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm taking care of my little girl," Larry answered with a glint in his eyes.

Just what she was afraid of. "You are such a trouble maker," she said, trying to stop him. "Come on. Don't. Stop."

"Hey, sit down, rake boy," Larry said once Lucas was standing before them.

"Hey," Lucas returned the greeting as he put out his hand to shake Larry's before sitting down. "I'm never gonna live that one down," he uttered, still embarrassed a day later.

"Probably not," Mr. Sawyer stated with a smile.

"It's ok, he can be way worse," Peyton told Lucas.

"What have you got there?" Larry questioned, taking the book Lucas held to examine it. "You're reading Faulkner in school now?"

"No, I just love his stuff," Luke admitted, unknowingly impressing the man further.

Larry shot his daughter a look indicating his increased admiration and she simply rolled her eyes subtly.

"So Lucas," Larry spoke again. "I hear one of your classmates is having a party tonight. Were you going to be heading out there later?"

"Ah, yeah, no, I wasn't going to. Not my crowd. Why?"

"Well, I think you should. And you should take my daughter with you."

"Dad!"

"What?" he asked innocently.

"I want to spend time with you."

"Ahh, you don't want to sit around the house with your old man. You're young. Go have fun." He turned to Lucas. "What do you say?"

"Uh," Lucas began. What could he say? "Yeah, sure, uh, I could take her if she wanted."

"Good, then it's settled. No drinking though," he warned. "And no drugs."

"Yeah, those aren't really my thing," Luke told him.

Larry nodded his approval.

Peyton sat with mouth agape as her dad made her plans for the rest of the evening. "Do I have a say in this?"

"Yeah, of course you do, honey," Larry proclaimed. "About as much say as he had," he added, indicating Lucas with his thumb.

She just shook her head and laughed. What else could she do? This was her dad and she simply couldn't be mad at him no matter how hard she tried.

"Besides, you have a big day tomorrow," Larry said. "Take this night to relax."

And she just had to smile because he was ensuring she didn't sit around all night worrying about tomorrow, which she'd learned would be the day she would meet Ellie.

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The party was in full swing by the time they got there and she noticed Nathan's spiteful gaze on her and Lucas the minute they walked in the door. It was about a half hour after they'd arrived that everyone began circling around, seemingly all interested in the same magazine. It didn't take long for Peyton to realize what had captured their attention. Her comic strip. Countless negative remarks were made.

One particular comment had Nathan going back in time to their very first make up.

"What guy keeps his hat on during sex?"

Flashback

Her fingers dug into his shoulder blades, pressing him deeper into the soft cushions of the velvet chair as she lowered herself onto him.

He threw his head back and groaned deep in his throat before his hands came to her hips, squeezing tightly as her body began its up and down rhythm, lifting her to aid in the process as his hips thrust upward to meet her halfway.

Their breathing soon became ragged and more so as they neared the edge.

Neither was undressed. In their haste to join bodies, not a shred of clothing had been removed, but rather maneuvered to reach the desired pleasure in the least amount of time – a zipper was undone, a skirt hiked up and delicate panties haphazardly shoved aside. There was little foreplay to this union. Just a boy and a girl aching for each other and that sweet release.

When it came, she wrapped her arms securely around his neck and kissed him deeply before finally relaxing against him.

"We should break up more often," he said as his fingers tangled in her mass of curls.

She smiled contently. "We so should," she agreed. "How does every couple weeks sound? Good?"

"Perfect as long as the make up sessions are always like this."

She pulled back to look at him, a teasing expression on her face. "Minus an item or two of clothing," she whispered provocatively while her fingers made quick work of the buttons on his shirt. "Starting with this," she continued as she slid the material over his broad shoulders. "And maybe this," she added with a quirked eyebrow as she pulled the cap off his head. "Not very gentlemanly to wear a hat during sex."

Tongue in cheek, he sent her that famous smirk that always made her knees buckle. "You weren't complaining a minute ago."

"Who says I'm complaining now?" she quipped just before putting it atop her own head and leaning in for another long, sensual kiss.

End of Flashback

He knew it was Peyton's drawing. Like it wasn't bad enough that she was already back on good terms with Lucas after submitting her art, but she'd actually decided to go ahead and do the comic strip? Well, at least there was one good thing about it. She'd obviously been thinking of him as she drew her segment.

With that in mind, his eyes darted over all the pictures, narrowing in on the one he knew was of them together in a happy moment.

But his heart dropped when he caught the words that accompanied the illustration.

'Have meaningless sex with faceless jocks.'

His gaze lifted and locked with hers.

Peyton swallowed painfully at the look he gave her. The hurt that flashed in his eyes was near unbearable, but before she could utter a single word, he had turned and was heading out the door.

A/N: Just wanted to let you guys know that I have family flying in late tonight and staying for a few weeks so I won't be able to update in that time or reply to reviews right away. Also anyone whose stories I'm reading who post during that time frame, I won't be able to get to, but just know, I haven't lost interest and I will catch up.

Thanks ahead of time to everyone who reads and reviews. Hopefully I'll have about a million and one reviews when I'm able to get back on again. Haha. Just kidding. A million minus the one will do. LOL.