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

A/N: Hey all. Here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks as always to you readers and, most of all, you reviewers. You all rock.

There are a few short flashbacks from various previous chapters in the story, but most of them come from chapters 35 & 54. And now onto the chapter.

"Excuse me?" Katie asked, taken aback by the unexpected voice that came through the phone.

"You've been calling him all day," Peyton remarked snidely. "Is there something specific you want?"

"Yeah," Katie returned, matching Peyton's tone. "To talk to him. But I didn't realize he had a new answering service. A little possessive, are we?"

Peyton chuckled at the girl's attempted burn. "Girlfriend's right of passage," she replied evenly. "Goes along with wearing his shirts and driving his car."

"So, part ownership?" Katie sneered.

"More like mutual understanding."

"Look, is he even there?" Katie asked, not particularly wanting to speak to his girlfriend. "If he is, put him on."

"Oh, he's right beside me, but, in case you haven't gotten the hint, he's not interested in talking to you, or in you at all, for that matter."

"Funny," Katie taunted. "He wasn't saying that last night."

Peyton stiffened a moment. Last night? And here came the negative aspect of being with Nathan again. Always doubting, always unsure. Just like that, that feeling of insecurity came rushing back.

Truthfully, she'd known it would happen. As much as he claimed things would be different this time around, it's what he'd always said and she knew better than to believe it. She hadn't come back to this relationship blindly, believing that everything will have magically changed. She was fully aware, but had pushed it aside to be with him again, that infidelity would always be an issue with Nathan. He would never, could never, remain faithful to one girl, and that included herself.

But she hadn't expected it to come up yet. They'd only been back together two days. Surely he wouldn't have cheated the day after they'd reunited. Not yet.

It made her wonder what he'd done yesterday after she'd left him early to go home and pack for this trip. He said he'd just packed as well, played some Xbox, and then crashed.

She threw him a quick glance, wondering which story was true – his or Katie's. If he'd been with Katie last night, then it was no wonder the girl wasn't buying the idea that he wasn't interested.

But still, Peyton wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of knowing her words had gotten to her. "Listen, whatever he said before doesn't matter. You might have been a fun little distraction for a while, but he's back with me now, so you can quit calling him. He doesn't want you."

Katie laughed at the comment. "Well, being with you never stopped him from coming to me before, so I don't see it stopping him now."

"You know," Peyton began, disliking the girl even more, with the knowledge that she had, and still would, get with Nathan knowing he has a girlfriend. "That should probably tell you something about what he actually wanted out of you, which clearly was never a relationship. Not anything I'd go for, personally, but hey, I guess some girls are okay with being the side dish."

Katie's lips pursed together angrily because Peyton had managed to push her buttons. And unlike Peyton, it showed. "Yeah, we'll see who's the main dish before long, bitch," she growled before snapping her phone shut.

"Huh," Peyton said with a small, satisfied smirk. "Message delivered and, well, not so well received."

Nathan smiled at his girlfriend and leaned in toward her. "You're so hot when your claws are out," he muttered softly into her ear.

She smiled faintly. "Am I?"

He nodded. He doubted her warning would be very effective – he himself had been much harsher with Katie and she still didn't get it – but it was still sexy as hell when Peyton fought for him. He probably shouldn't be impressed by that but he was just the same. That was his girl.

He had to question why he'd been so stupid before. Why it had taken losing her for an extended amount of time before finally figuring out that she was all the woman he needed. He swore to himself that he wouldn't mess it up this time. Last time, well, every time, he'd played around with their relationship. Like it was a toy. ' I'm not gonna lose her. Peyton always forgives me.' But this time he knew what would happen if he screwed up again.

She wouldn't just take it. 'Nathan, it's over.' She would leave him. 'It's the same issues over and over and I can't deal with it anymore.' For more than just a few days. 'I want a boyfriend that I don't have to wonder where he is, what he's doing and who with whenever he's not by my side. I want to stop reading "why do men cheat" articles because they don't pertain to me. And I don't want to be the loser that counts the condoms in the box only to find out that there's much less, for what we've used, left.'

He could remember her words so clearly – the last time she'd broken up with him. He'd almost lost her for good, and though he'd been late in receiving it, it was the biggest wake up call she could have given him. 'It's time to let go, Nate.' This time he'd hold on to her, and not do anything to make her leave him. This time he'd make damn sure she never had to read another of those stupid articles again. He wouldn't give her any reasons to doubt him.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," Peyton responded, fighting her inner turmoil. If she was going to be back with Nathan, and she was, then she was going to have to learn to deal with these feelings of inadequacy. With the knowledge that there would always be other girls.

Then again, maybe if she worked harder to keep him satisfied this time…'If all you wanted to do was draw all night, then why am I even here?' If she didn't let her own interests take her attention from him, he wouldn't feel the need so much to go elsewhere. 'Maybe I went to other girls because a lot of the time you were in your own little world and barely even noticed I was around.'

If she didn't dismiss his thoughts so easily. 'I told you that was your mom in the picture, didn't I? But you didn't fucking believe me! But Haley, hell, if she said it, it must be worth checking out, right.' ' You never take anything I say seriously unless you hear it from someone else too.'

If she took the time to try to understand his points, to read between the lines and hear what he was actually saying…'Do you even want to be with me, Peyton? Because half the time it doesn't feel like you do.'

Maybe then, she could keep him to herself. 'Half the time it felt like you wished I'd just disappear.' If he didn't feel like he was always taking a backseat to her hobbies, maybe, just maybe, he could be all hers.

She didn't ask him about yesterday or whether what he'd stated he'd done was true. She just returned his kiss when his lips found hers, pushing everything else to the back of her mind to deal with on her own time. Right now was his time and her start to showing him that he came first above everything.

She opened her mouth when she felt his tongue run across her lower lip, and it slid inside in search of hers. His one hand came up to tangle itself in her curls, while her hands went to both sides of his face, pulling him closer, deeper. His other hand rested where her shirt had slightly lifted at her waist and he kissed her harder.

He drew her in closer because, even though she tried not to show it, he could sense it in her kiss. Something was wrong. He wanted to ask her but was afraid of what she'd say. So he just held her tighter and kissed her harder, not wanting to ever let go.

"Hey, hey, watch it you too," came Cooper's deep, teasing baritone, causing the teens to swiftly pull apart. "Too much of that leads to this," he continued, rubbing his wife's protruding belly.

Nathan chuckled while Peyton's cheeks turned a light pink. "Not if you know how to work a condom," Nathan said with amusement. "Which apparently you've forgotten."

"Ok, wise ass," Cooper returned. "They're not foolproof, you know," he added as he started picking up the blocks from the floor. "Don't we usually make the kids pick up their own toys?" he said more as a statement than a question.

"Yes," Jess replied teasingly. "But the big kids were still playing with them, until they found a new game to play."

"Well then the big kids ought to be tidying up," he joked. But he wasn't joking when he told his wife to sit down and relax when she bent to help. "You know what the doctor said," he told her sternly when she rolled her eyes.

"Fine," she gave up. "But you realize I do this and more all day when you're at the track."

"And that's why I've taken the next few weeks off," he told her.

"Why? What's going on?" Nathan asked as he and Peyton stood to help pick up the toys.

"She had some bleeding…the doctor was concerned…" Cooper began.

"Minorly concerned," Jessica corrected. "He said there probably wasn't any reason to worry."

"As long as you rest and take it easy," Cooper added.

"And I am," she argued. "I don't think picking up a few blocks constitutes hard labor."

"Hey, doctor's orders."

She knew that and she would never endanger her child, but it didn't sit right with her to sit back while her guests cleaned her house. And Cooper definitely exaggerated the things she shouldn't do, but she knew arguing with him was pointless. It was one battle he didn't back down from.

It wasn't long before the toys were in order and Cooper asked Nathan to step out to the garage for a bit.

Nathan nodded and followed his uncle as he stopped at the fridge and pulled out two beers, handing one to Nathan.

"Coop…" Jess chastised.

"It's just one beer," he replied, knowing her argument…that Nathan was underage. They never did agree on that.

"Well, if you're going to offer him one, then you might want to offer her one too."

"Oh, no, that's ok," Peyton piped up. She would have loved a beer but she didn't feel comfortable drinking one in front of the woman who clearly disapproved. "I'm fine."

"Sure?" Cooper asked.

"Yeah, it's cool."

"Ok," Cooper said with a nod, nudging Nathan toward the door that led to the garage.

Nathan quirked an eyebrow when he spotted the parked vehicle. "Seriously, a mini van? You?"

"Hey, don't laugh. I'm a family man now. It comes in handy."

But Nathan couldn't help it. He couldn't imagine his race car driver uncle driving such a domestic vehicle. "I'm not laughing at you. Wait, scratch that, I'm totally laughing at you. I mean, a mini van?"

"Watch it," Cooper warned good-naturedly. "I can still beat your ass, you know. Although, looks like someone already beat me to the punch," he added, finally mentioning his nephew's battered appearance.

"I was wondering when you'd bring that up," Nathan replied knowingly. "I got in a fight with Lucas," he said.

"Lucas, or your dad?"

"Lucas," Nathan answered.

Cooper nodded. "Because of the alleged rape on his best friend?"

"You heard about that?"

"Your dad talked to your mom, so she called me to get me to talk to you, which is why I called your dad and suggested you come down here. With Jess's condition, I didn't want to leave her."

"Yeah, I understand."

"That's some mess you're in, Nate."

"I didn't do it."

"Then why she's saying you did?"

"Because she's a bitch. Lucas is trying to get to me and she's helping him. But I'm innocent, which is why they can't prove anything, which is why I'm here right now instead of in a jail cell."

"Well, I hope it works out," Cooper said earnestly. "Listen, Nate," he went on after a few moments. "Your mom's worried about you."

Nathan simply shrugged in response.

"You realize she was allowed visitors as of last week, right?"

Nathan turned his gaze away. "Yeah," he acknowledged.

"She was kind of disappointed that you didn't show."

"Is that why she wanted you to talk to me?" the younger guy asked. "To convince me to visit her in the nut house?"

"Hey, don't talk shit about her," Cooper warned him. "She just wants to see you, Nate."

"Yeah, well, I don't want to see her. So don't waste your breath, all right."

Cooper just raised his arms in surrender, indicating he wouldn't push the issue, turning the conversation to cars, sports, and finally, their girls. "You know, last I heard, you two were split up again, but obviously she took your ass back again."

Nathan nodded. "Yeah, we broke up for a couple months last time, just got back together two days ago."

"You ever gonna learn, kid?"

"Yeah, I have this time. For real."

"Good to hear. I still say she's too good for you though," he joked, laughing when Nathan agreed with him. "But I guess I can't really talk, can I? What our women put up with, huh? A couple of knuckleheads like us who don't know a good thing until it practically slaps us in the face. I gotta tell ya, Nate, it took me a while to learn that lesson. Hope it doesn't take you as long."

"Nah," Nathan joked. "Nobody can be as slow as you."

"I'd kick your ass for that if it wasn't true."

"Bring it on, old man. What are you, pushing thirty now?"

"Not too old to take you down, little nephew."

Nathan chuckled at the mock threat. "So, you hoping for a boy this time or what? You're kinda outnumbered."

"Yep," Cooper acknowledged. "And even more so once this little one comes since it's another girl."

"Oh yeah? That sucks."

But Cooper shook his head. "No, man, it doesn't suck. As long as the baby's healthy, I'm happy."

"Yeah, but, wouldn't it be nice to have a son?"

"Sure it would. But it'll be nice to have another daughter too."

"Well, you two don't waste any time so maybe the next one will be a boy."

"Nope, we're done after this one."

"Yeah, after this one we're not having anymore," Jess told Peyton.

"Oh, three's enough, huh?"

"Actually, we both wanted a big family, but with the complications with this one, we just decided that this would be the last. I know Cooper would love a boy but he tells me it's not worth me risking my health over it."

"Oh, definitely not. And you could always adopt. That's what my parents did."

"Yeah, we may. We're not really sure yet," Jess replied. "How about you and Nate? I know you've had some problems. You doing ok now?"

"Yeah," Peyton responded. "For now," was all she said, unwilling to say too much to the girl she'd just met that day.

––––––––––

"You ok?" Nathan asked her that night when they lay in bed.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Peyton answered.

"I don't know. You seemed like something was wrong earlier." He said he wouldn't ask but not knowing was driving him crazy. "Did Katie say something that upset you?"

"Listen don't worry about it. Everything's fine."

"No, it's not. Peyton, come on, I want to know."

Peyton met his eyes and sighed, deciding she may as well go ahead and tell him. Holding back had never really been her style. "She said you were with her last night."

"And, let me guess, you believe her."

"I don't want to."

"Then don't. Peyt, it's not true, ok."

She turned her head, letting him know that she wasn't that easily convinced.

He sighed in anger. But he wasn't mad at Peyton. He was mad at Katie for her vindictive, trouble-making ways. And he was mad at himself for never giving his girlfriend a single reason to ever trust him so that even someone like Katie could make her doubt him. He knew that was on him. But most of all, he was afraid that this doubt would cause her to leave again.

"Peyton, I swear. I know you don't believe me…"

"I didn't say that."

"So you do?"

"I don't know, Nathan. That's the problem. That's always been the problem, the fact that I can never be sure. I knew this was coming but I didn't expect it so soon."

"Are you saying you want to break up again?" he asked with bated breath.

"No, I'm saying I want to be able to trust you but I can't."

Her comment hit him so much harder than he'd ever have expected it to. "So what does that mean for us?"

"I guess it means we take it one day at a time."

He nodded, happy with that answer. As long as she stayed with him, he could deal with everything else. It didn't mean he liked it, but he definitely understood it. He was just going to have to earn her trust back. Prove to her that he meant what he said this time. One way or another, he would prove that. "I don't want anyone but you, Peyton," he told her earnestly. "And I'm not gonna hurt you again. You'll see."

She smiled up at him, her heart holding on to that bit of hope that this time really would be different.

When he lowered his head to press his lips to hers, she lost all train of thought. She was consumed in his kiss and the way his hands began roaming her body.

That night, they took their time, re-exploring every inch of each other's bodies. It was nearly morning before she snuggled up against him, his arm wrapped around her, their energy spent.

And they slept. For the first time in months, they slept in each other's arms.