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

A/N: Hey everybody. So glad you all enjoyed the last chapter and hopefully you'll like this one just as much. Thanks to all the readers and of course the reviewers. You're all awesome!

"I'm sorry I treated you so bad, Peyton," Nathan said as he lay sprawled over the couch, his head resting in her lap as her fingers soothingly ran across his forehead and temples.

She didn't respond. He'd reached that remorseful point in his drunken stupor where he apologized for everything he'd done wrong, or felt he'd done wrong, in their relationship.

"I never should have ate that last brownie on you," he continued.

She leaned her head against the couch and sighed softly. Literally, everything. That brownie he spoke of was a tray of six that he'd bought at the local bakery six months ago and brought to her house, and though true he'd eaten the last one, it had only been his second of the six while she'd had the rest. However, she'd been in one of her sour moods when she'd gone looking for it and discovered it gone and she'd ripped into Nathan, causing a senseless, petty argument to erupt. She'd overreacted, to say the least, and she'd love to just forget the whole incident altogether, but he often brought it up when he was drinking to say how sorry he was, like he'd been the one in the wrong. She'd given up telling him that it was her fault, that she'd made a big deal out of nothing because he'd always counter that by saying he'd bought them for her and how, unlike her, he didn't even really like them.

"It's ok, Nathan," she spoke softly. "Don't even worry about that."

"It's not ok," he insisted. "That was just one more time I was a jerk to you. I was always a jerk to you."

"Not always," she contradicted.

"We used to be good together, right?"

"Yeah, sometimes," she agreed.

"But I blew it. I drove you away. Just like…"

"Why don't you try to get some sleep, ok?"

"I can't," he replied. "I'm sorry I cheated on you, Peyt."

"Don't even think about that right now."

"I cheated way more times than you found out about," he admitted.

"I figured," she acknowledged. She'd never assumed that she'd learned of each and every time.

"I wish I could go back and change it."

"Yeah? What would you do different?"

"Everything, but especially there would be no other girls. Because then you wouldn't have left me."

Her lips curved into a small smile. "I'm still here."

"But you're not my girlfriend," he elaborated. "I thought I could do whatever I wanted and you would always stay with me. Stupid, huh?"

"Not really," she denied. "I gave you plenty of reasons to think that way. I let it slide too long. I enabled you," she said more to herself than to him.

"I thought it would be ok, you know? That you would take me back like you always did before when you dumped me. I thought it would be just the same."

"I know."

"I thought it didn't matter because I would never lose you."

"Ok, ok," Peyton cut in. "You need to stop. What's done is done, right?"

"I wish it wasn't," he said. "I wish, for once, I could be a good guy…"

"You can, Nate. I've seen you be."

"Not usually. I keep on screwing up, with you, with my dad, my mom…"

"Your mom's gonna be fine."

"But she tried to kill herself because of me."

It hit her that he felt worse about possibly causing the attempted suicide than the actual attempt itself. And that just killed her. "Stop. You are not to blame for that, ok? You didn't know she would do that."

"She just wanted to come home and be a family but I had to be a dick to her."

"You had every right to be mad at her."

"But even when she started crying, I didn't let up. I just kept on…"

"It doesn't matter," she cut off sharply and then, in a softer tone, "People are responsible for their own actions. You didn't force her to take those pills."

"I made her want to take them. My dad's right, if I wasn't such a prick…"

"He said that to you?" she asked, horrified.

Nathan nodded slightly as the words replayed themselves in his head. "And that if I wasn't so mouthy all the time…"

"Hey," she said, having heard enough. "Baby, look at me," she went on as she placed a hand to his cheek. "Your dad's wrong. So please don't be buying that crap."

His brows creased as though he was confused but he didn't say anything.

"What is it?" Peyton asked.

"Why did you call me that?"

"What?"

"Baby. You called me Baby just like you used to."

For a moment she stared speechless as she realized that she had, indeed, called him that. "Uh, it…it slipped, I guess. Old habits die hard."

"It felt just like old times for a second. I liked it."

"Listen, why you try to get some sleep, ok?"

"I can't."

"Well, of course you can't with your eyes open, you goof," she tried to joke. "But I'll bet if you close them…"

"I'll see my mom laying on the floor," he cut in. "That's what happens when I close my eyes."

"Ok," Peyton said, putting on a brave front. "Then you're just gonna have to concentrate on something better. I know, think about that time you scored 47 points against the Tigers."

"I missed a three-pointer and a free throw and my dad was pissed because I should have had 51 points."

She sighed deeply. Naturally that's what stuck out to him. He'd played an awesome game, but Dan had just had to tear him down for the few shots he'd missed.

"And then," Nathan continued. "You and me got in a big fight and you didn't talk to me for three days."

"Ok, obviously that was a bad example."

"But then we made up and everything was good again. Until I went and screwed it up like always."

"Stop, ok," she snapped. "Not everything with us was your fault. I made mistakes too so stop trying to bear the brunt of it all." She hated to have to use such a sharp tone after what he'd just been through but he needed to know that he wasn't to blame for everything that had gone wrong. It was useless though since his mind wasn't clear enough to really absorb what she was telling him.

"I like your mom," he said after a few minutes of silence. "She was really nice to me."

She'd thought he'd been falling asleep – his eyelids were definitely drooping – but apparently he was fighting it with all he had. "Yeah, she's awesome."

"I knew it was her from that picture, remember?"

"Of course," she acknowledged. "And I should have listened to you."

"I like your dad too, even if he hates me. I get why he does."

"He doesn't know you," Peyton felt the need to say.

"You shouldn't argue with him, Peyt," Nathan advised her. "You never know what could happen."

She bit her lip to control her emotions, knowing he was thinking of his mother. "I'll keep that in mind."

He smiled, happy that she was willing to heed his advice.

"What happened with your dad, Nate?" she asked him. "Did he do this to you?" she probed further, her fingers gliding over the bruises on his face.

Flashback

"Are you proud of yourself, huh? She finally decides to come home for good, but you just had to tear into her, didn't you?" The fist connected a second time. "Well, congratulations, son. You won. You managed to break her down. Does it feel good?" he continued as his fist came down a third and fourth time.

The accusations and the beating continued until Nathan scrambled to his feet and ran out the door, barely feeling the effects of the physical blows, but his father's harsh words ringing painfully in his ears.

End of Flashback

Peyton wished she could take back the question the instant his body started trembling again, but she managed to console him with a placating hand on his chest and murmuring a few soothing words.

"He was just mad," Nathan explained after a while.

Peyton sighed, hating how Nathan always excused his father's violent behavior. Sure, it didn't happen all the time, but when it did, Nathan would be angry for a short while but then dismiss it in the end, always claiming the same thing – he was just mad. She remembered the first time Nathan had confided in her about his father's actions, he'd said the same thing. He was just mad. She was tired of hearing that.

"That's a really crappy excuse, Nathan. And this is really bad this time."

"I deserved it."

"No you didn't. When are you gonna stop defending him?"

"He's my dad, Peyton."

"That doesn't give him the right to hit you. Ever."

"He doesn't mean to. He just…"

"Gets mad," she finished dryly.

"It's only once in a while," he defended.

"And that makes it ok?"

"No," he acknowledged. "But I know what it's like to get so pissed off that you just lose it. He doesn't mean to be a bully. He just…is. He can't help it. But he loves me though. He's always there for me. Not like my mom who promises she's staying for good and then in the same night tries to kill herself. At least my dad keeps his word."

Peyton swallowed the lump in her throat. Of course, when comparing the two parents, Dan Scott would come out on top. At least in Nathan's eyes.

"She didn't even leave a note," Nathan continued.

She ran her fingers softly through his dark hair, wishing she could somehow ease his pain and yet knowing she couldn't. "Try not to think about it, ok." It was ridiculous and lame advice and she knew it – obviously he was going to think about it – but she was at a loss for what to say.

She found the remote for the TV and turned it on, flicking to the sports channel to help keep his mind off his problems.

He stared absently at the picture but it was the soft caresses of her fingers across his forehead and her reassurance that she was there that finally lulled him to sleep.

She stayed very still for several minutes, afraid any movement would waken him. Finally, she slipped out from beneath him, placing a pillow beneath his head, and went up to her room. The tears she'd been barely holding in spilled out before she was even halfway up the staircase.

When she entered her room, she was surprised to find that Haley was still awake. The brunette took one look at her blonde friend and rushed to her side, throwing her arms around her in a comforting hug. Once Peyton's sobs had subsided, Haley guided her to the edge of the bed but kept her arm circled around her.

"You want to talk about it?" Haley asked.

"I've been holding this in for hours," Peyton admitted with a sniffle. "I didn't want to fall apart in front of him."

"Why?"

Peyton took a deep breath before answering. "Because he needed me to be strong for him. The last thing he needed was some sniveling fool that he had to comfort."

"I'm sure he would have understood."

"It's usually the other way around, you know. I'm usually the emotional wreck and he's the strong one." She shook her head. "I've never seen him like this. Not in the whole time I've known him. He couldn't even close his eyes because…" Another sob broke her sentence. "Because he could see it all happening again when he did."

"He's asleep now?" Haley asked.

Peyton nodded. "Well, passed out more like."

She suddenly stood from the bed and began pacing the room. "I am so pissed at his parents right now for doing this to him!" she raged. "What kind of mother puts that kind of guilt on her own son? She had to know he'd feel responsible. And what kind of father makes him feel even worse instead of trying to make him feel better?" She let out a frustrated groan as Haley sat quietly, letting her rant. "Those two shouldn't even be allowed to be parents," Peyton continued. "They should have had the good sense to put him up for adoption like mine did because they're certainly not fit. Then Nathan could have had a better life in a loving home instead of this bully for a father and an absentee mother. Like they haven't made his life enough of a living hell without this."

Haley wasn't sure how to respond, but she did feel like she was learning something new about Nathan. Clearly Lucas was right to suspect abuse in the Scott household. She also saw a bit more through Peyton's eyes as well. Like when Peyton would snap at her that she didn't know Nathan whenever she made a negative remark about him, maybe she wasn't being defensive just for the sake of it. Maybe there really was a whole other side to Nathan that only a select few were privy to – the ones he chose to show his true self to. Maybe Mouth was right when he'd said the cold exterior was just a front to block people out, but once you break through it, you find a decent person, capable of feeling like anybody else.

"Listen," Haley began. "About what I said earlier…about Nathan being here for a booty call…I obviously spoke out of turn and I'm really sorry. He's clearly not here for that."

Peyton nodded, giving Haley a small, appreciative smile. "Thank you. So, I guess we're out some Bon Jovi tickets, huh?" she asked in a lighter tone, referring to the tickets they'd been bidding on before Nathan's visit.

Haley chuckled. "Yeah, but who cares, right? It's just a concert."

"Says the girl who claimed she'd cry if she didn't get them."

"You did too," Haley joked. "And Ellie. But seriously, compared to what Nathan's going through, concert tickets pale on the importance scale. I can't even imagine what he must be feeling. And his poor mother, gosh, to want to take her own life…"

"Don't take pity on her," Peyton demanded. "Everything she's going through has been her own doing and Nathan had every right to be pissed at her."

"I'm not saying he didn't, but still she must have been feeling so lost and desperate…"

"I have to call Brooke," Peyton cut off, refusing to feel an ounce of pity for the woman who'd created such emotional havoc for Nathan.

"Now?" Haley asked. "It's just past 5:00 a.m."

"She won't care," Peyton said. "They're best friends, she'll want to know."

––––––––––

"Oh my God! Are you serious?" Brooke exclaimed once Peyton had revealed the news.

"I wish I wasn't."

"Ok, I'm on my way over."

"No, you don't have to, Brooke. He actually just passed out so he'll probably be out for a while. But I just thought you should know because he's really gonna need you."

"Yeah, of course. I'll be there for him."

"I know you will."

"Should I call anyone else?" Brooke asked.

"No, I think we should let him decide who he wants to tell," Peyton answered, knowing he would have told Brooke anyway. "He'll probably want to keep it as quiet as possible."

"Yeah, you're right," Brooke agreed. "How's he holding up?"

"Not so good. Brooke? Have you ever seen him cry?"

"Umm, not often. Once when we were like, seven, and he wiped out on his bike and cracked his head open. Ugh, you should have seen all the blood," she stressed. "Uh, a few times when we were younger and he'd get into it with his dad or he was upset about his mom being gone. But this is all when we were little kids. He's definitely perfected the tough guy act since then."

"Well, he wasn't so tough tonight. It broke my heart to see him like that. I mean, he tried to hold back, but he couldn't. I've never seen him so shaken up. He's really taking it hard and I don't know what to do to help him."

"You're already doing it, Peyton, just by being there."

"Ok, but what if he thinks I'm leading him on again?"

"He won't."

"But what if he does?"

"Peyton, he won't," Brooke repeated.

"He did before," Peyton pointed out. "Like Rachel said, I've been kinda playing hot and cold lately."

"P. Sawyer, this is not the same thing as stringing him along. Rachel would know that and so will Nathan."

"Are you sure? Because I don't want him thinking that I'm only helping him to keep him hanging on."

"And he won't," Brooke repeated a third time. "Trust me. Do you really think he would have gone to you if he still thought you were playing games and didn't actually care about him?"

"No, I guess not."

"No, he wouldn't have," Brooke said firmly. "Now keep your skinny ass out of bed cuz I'm on my way over."

"Brooke, it's ok. Like I said, he's asleep right now."

"But you're awake and I won't be able to sleep anyway. We can deal with this together."

"Actually, I was going to go sit with him for a while in case he wakes up."

"Perfect. We'll both sit with him."

"Thanks, B. Davis. You're the best," Peyton said, truly grateful.

"Don't mention it. You two are my best friends. I'll do whatever I can."

"Well then, get off the phone and get here already."

"Alright, see ya in ten."

Peyton hung up the phone and glanced over at Haley. "Listen, you don't mind if I…"

"Go sit with Nathan and wait for Brooke?" Haley joked, repeating what she'd just heard Peyton saying. "Of course not."

"Ok, I just don't want you to think I invited you here and then I'm completely abandoning you…"

"Peyton, you worry too much," Haley said. "I don't feel that way at all. Go."

"Thanks, Haley. You're the best."

"Hmm, not much of a compliment when you just said the same thing to another girl," Haley teased.

Peyton giggled at the comment. "What can I say? I'd make a lousy two-timer. I'd totally give myself away."

"That you would," Haley agreed.

"Anyway, feel free to use anything you want…computer, CDs, sketch book."

"Umm yeah, cuz my artistic abilities could really match up to yours."

"It doesn't matter. I can always burn it later," Peyton said as she grabbed a pillow for herself and one for Brooke. She laughed when Haley sprawled out on the bed and made a remark about having it all to herself.

Nathan was still asleep when she got downstairs and Brooke arrived a few minutes later. The two girls sat on the love seat beside the couch, watching Nathan as he slept. He looked so peaceful deep in slumber.

"Hard to believe he's been through so much tonight when you see him like this," Peyton commented.

"Yeah," Brooke agreed. "Uh oh, I think you spoke too soon," the brunette added when Nathan started stirring restlessly and mumbling incoherently in his sleep. Before long he was tossing frantically and both girls stood up.

"He's having a nightmare," Brooke stated needlessly.

"We should wake him up," Peyton suggested.

"Wait, aren't you like, not supposed to wake up someone during a nightmare?"

"Isn't that sleepwalking?"

"I don't know."

"Me either. So, what do we do?" Peyton asked.

"I don't know."

"You're not helping."

"Well, I don't see you coming up with anything either."

"We should sit with him at least," Peyton said, going over and sitting on the edge of the couch beside Nathan. "Keep him calm."

"Yeah, good idea."

She'd barely uttered the words when Nathan's arms starting flailing and his backhand smashed into Peyton's cheek, sending her tumbling to the floor in agony.

Brooke screamed and Larry and Ellie came rushing in from the kitchen, and Nathan bolted up instantly.

"What happened?" the three of them asked in unison as Peyton sat holding her cheek.

Peyton jumped up quickly and went over to Nathan. He stared at her blankly, almost uncomprehendingly, not yet fully awake. He clearly had no idea what he'd just done.

"It's ok," Peyton said. "I just, I uh, I tripped over the uh, what do you call it, the…"

"Shoe lace!" Brooke provided.

Peyton cocked an eyebrow at her friend, before returning her gaze to Nathan. Hiding her bare feet beneath the sofa, she went along with Brooke. "Yeah, my shoe lace. Can never tie them too tight, right?"

It didn't occur to him to question the statement – at least not at that point. "Are you ok?" he asked, his voice thick with sleep.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine. How about you? You were dreaming."

His eyes narrowed in confusion. "I don't remember." He put his hand up to touch the bruise that was already forming on her cheek. "Want me to get some ice?" he offered.

"No," she said, pushing him back down to a laying position. "You lie there and relax. You've been through enough tonight so don't worry about me."

"What if I want to?"

"Then I guess that would be too damn bad, wouldn't it?"

Nathan sighed dejectedly. "You always look out for me but you never let me take care of you."

"That's not true. I remember not so long ago you took care of me when I was sick with a cold."

"Wow, once," he scoffed. "And you only let me cuz you were too weak to fight me."

He was almost pouting and it was so cute that Peyton nearly laughed. But she didn't because he was clearly serious. "Again I have to disagree. You've gotten me through some really dark times, Nate. Some days I don't know how I would have survived without you."

"Then why did you leave me?" he asked. "Why won't you forgive me?"

Peyton closed her eyes, a rush of emotion sweeping over her. Brooke came over and put an understanding hand on her shoulder. "Go get that looked after," she said about the bruise. "I got him."

Peyton nodded and followed her parents into the kitchen, her internal pain hurting much worse than the external.