Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of its characters.
A/N: Hey guys. Here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks again to everyone who keeps reading and special thanks to the reviewers. It's a pretty long one so hopefully it makes up for the somewhat sporadic updates lately. Just one more week of school and then the updates will be more regular again. Ok, I'll stop rambling now. LOL.
Peyton awoke the next morning and sleepily reached her arm across the bed, not surprised in the least to find a cold, empty sheet beside her. Nathan always had been an earlier riser than her, and though often times he'd either wake her or lounge around in her bed until she woke on her own, it wasn't unusual either that he just get up and start his day. And no doubt, since Cooper and his family were downstairs, he'd want to do that today.
She could hear the low buzz of conversation down there and figured she was probably the last one still in bed. She should have told Nathan to wake her up.
She sat up, dragging her long legs over the edge of the bed, and reached for her discarded clothing. She wanted a shower. Needed a shower. She definitely smelled like sex, she thought, smiling to herself as she thought of last night – or rather this morning. The boy certainly had stamina. But she'd already known that.
She shook her head from her thoughts and dressed in the clothing she'd worn the previous day, and went to the bedroom door.
As soon as she opened it, the delicious aroma of breakfast wafted to her nostrils. It made her stomach grumble.
At that moment Cooper rounded the corner from the stairway, startling her. He laughed. "Sorry," he said.
She simply shrugged.
"Sleep well?" he asked.
"Like a baby."
"Good," he said pleasantly. "You're just on time for pancakes. Hot off the grill."
"Hmm, my mouth's watering already," she said truthfully. "But, could I possibly grab a quick shower first?"
"Oh sure, absolutely," he told her. "Towels are in the cabinet."
"Thanks."
"Before you do that though, I wanted to talk to you about something."
"Oh, ok. Something wrong?" she asked, her mind going into instant panic. "We didn't keep you awake last night, did we?" she tried to joke to take away from her anxiety.
"No, well, yes, well into the morning actually," he stated, amused as her cheeks turned a deep crimson red.
"Oh God, I'm so sorry."
"As long as you don't wake up the kids, it's not a problem," he said. "And it's actually not what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Ok, what is it?"
"It's Deb."
Peyton met his eyes squarely. "What about her?"
"Well, she's been allowed visitors for the last week now, and Nate hasn't gone up at all yet. He tells me he doesn't want to see her so I thought maybe you could talk to him, convince him to go."
"Ok, you know what?" Peyton began, already shaking her head. "I'm probably the last person to do that so…"
"Don't assume it's not your place to say something," Cooper interrupted. "As his girlfriend, you're allowed to tell him what you think."
"No disrespect intended, but you're assuming I think he's wrong to not want to see her when actually, I totally get it."
"That's his mom," Cooper argued.
"Listen, I know she's your sister so I don't want to say anything offensive…"
"No, go ahead. We're speaking openly here," he assured her.
"Ok, well, it's just, Deb's never really been a mother to Nate. His whole life, she's pretty much left him for Dan to raise. And just when she finally decides she's back for good, and tells Nathan the same thing, she tries to kill herself instead. Right at home, knowing Nathan could walk in at any moment and find her on the floor, which he did! You have no idea what that did to him, but I do, so no, don't ask me to talk him into going to see her because I'm more of a mind to talk him out of it. She's hurt him enough. I'm sorry."
"No, don't apologize," Cooper told her. "You obviously love him a lot to feel that strongly about it."
"I do, but I'd feel the same way even if I didn't. She's the parent. It's up to her to make it up to him. He doesn't owe her anything."
"Yeah, you're right, you're right," he acknowledged. "The thing is he doesn't give her the chance to make it up. From what she's told me, he made a lot of brutal comments that night…"
"Nothing she didn't have coming," Peyton said defensively. "But listen, if it helps at all, he does regret how harsh he was with her. Personally I don't think he should feel bad about laying it on her, but he does. He kinda blames himself for her attempt, and honestly, even if he won't admit it, I think that's the main reason he refuses to go see her." She paused a moment and shrugged. "He's afraid of saying the wrong thing again because he's still pissed at her."
Cooper nodded in acknowledgement. "Makes sense. I guess there's nothing more to do but wait and see how it turns out."
"Yeah," Peyton agreed. "I'll tell you one thing, if she wants any kind of relationship with him, she's gonna have to work for it and not throw in the towel just because he was mean to her. She has to know that he has every right to be mad at her."
Cooper smiled at his nephew's girlfriend in admiration. "Does that knucklehead even know how lucky he is to have you?"
"Well, I hope he does by now," she replied with feigned haughtiness.
"No, seriously," Cooper stressed. "You're good for him. I hope he doesn't blow it this time."
"Thank you," she replied, flattered and a little embarrassed.
"So, why don't you go ahead and hit the shower and we'll wait on breakfast for ya…oh, unless you're anything like my wife who likes to soak for hours?"
"When there's pancakes waiting for me downstairs?" Peyton exclaimed, already shaking her head. "Ten minutes, tops."
He chuckled and checked his watch, pretending to set a timer. "I'll believe it when I see it," he joked before she stepped into the bathroom and closed the door, an amused grin on her face.
__________
Peyton chuckled when she made it down and found Nathan sprawled out on the couch with Jordyn and Chelsea sitting atop him. When she noticed what the girls were doing, she bit her lip in half amusement, half pity. They had a box of band-aids out and were applying them to the wounds on his face. Jordyn, the eldest, seemed to know to be gentle, but Chelsea was a little more awkward and had trouble getting them to stick so, not knowing any better, she practically slapped them on while Nathan tried his best not to wince in pain.
"They're taking care of him," Jess told her with humor.
"I see that. A couple mother hens."
"Yep, minus a single ounce of gentleness," Jess replied as Chelsea smacked a particularly stubborn corner in frustration when it kept lifting on her.
Peyton closed her eyes a moment but her smile didn't falter.
"Ok girls," Cooper called out. "Quit torturing your cousin and come eat."
The two quickly shuffled to their feet and ran to the table.
Peyton made her way to the couch as Nathan sat up. "You ok?" she asked softly, barely containing her mirth, yet genuinely wondering.
"Why wouldn't I be?" he asked tightly. "Oh, you mean cuz she hits harder than Lucas?"
"Stop," she said, slapping him playfully in the stomach.
"I'm serious. She's like the female version of Bambam."
"Aww, poor baby," she returned, leaning in to place a quick kiss on his lips.
"You know, you don't seem all that sympathetic."
"Oh, but I am," she replied. "I'm so sorry that an eighteen month old girl practically made you cry. It's very manly," she teased.
"Oh, funny," he said. "Let's see if you're still laughing when they take the hair brush out." He smiled playfully. "And you wanna see manly? Check out the scratches down my back. I'm pretty sure you drew blood last night."
She rolled her eyes at him. "Shall we get the girls to patch those up for ya? Oh, and speaking of last night," she added, stealing a glance at the others before continuing. "They heard us," she whispered.
Nathan chuckled.
She lifted a brow. "How is that funny? Nathan, we kept them awake…"
"Come on, we did not," he said in disbelief.
"Cooper told me himself."
"He's just bugging you, Peyt. And even if it's true, if it bothered them, they'd rag on me for it, not you."
"It bothers me."
"Why?"
"Because it's embarrassing. They're your family."
"Peyt, they gave us one room to share. Obviously they know we're having sex."
"Yeah, but doesn't mean we have to broadcast…"
"Come on, you two," Cooper shouted out. "You can make out later, it's time to eat."
They stood, but just before they joined the others, Peyton whispered to Nathan. "We're not doing it again for the rest of the time we're here."
He grinned mischievously. "We'll see about that."
-- -- -- -- --
"Best pancakes I've ever tasted," Peyton stated enthusiastically. "I wish I could cook like this."
"Coop made them," Jessica said.
"Oh, well, then, I wish Nathan could cook like this," Peyton revised humorously.
"You can," Cooper stated. "It's easy. I'll give you the recipe."
"I wish I could eat these every day," Jordyn said, copying Peyton's enthusiasm.
"Me too," Peyton returned.
"My daddy is the bestest cook!"
"I agree," Jessica said. "He should do it more often, huh?"
"Yes, it's sooo yummy!"
"Yummy!" baby Chelsea mocked, putting a cut up piece in her mouth.
"You're awfully quiet, Nate," Cooper mentioned.
Nathan just shrugged so Peyton piped up. "No time for talking when there's pancakes to wolf down."
"Well after last night, he needs to replenish his energy supply," Jessica joked. "You know, I think we should have given them the far room instead," she added to Cooper.
"We still can," Cooper replied.
"So, we should totally go to the beach today," Peyton suggested in an attempt to change the subject.
"Yeah!" Jordyn shouted excitedly. "Mommy, can we?"
"We can't today, honey," Jess began. "Mommy and Daddy have things to do."
"We can take them," Peyton offered. And then, as an afterthought, turned to Nathan. "Right?"
Nathan readily agreed.
Cooper and Jess exchanged glances. "I don't know," Jess said. "They don't know how to swim and…"
"So, we'll teach them," Nathan said.
"You'd have to really watch them, as in, not take them out of your sight."
"I think it's a good idea," Cooper said. "The girls will get time to spend with them and we can get some much needed alone time."
"That doesn't seem to be an issue," Nathan remarked, glancing at Jess' protruding belly.
"Think again," Jess taunted as she rubbed her stomach. "This took all of 30 seconds while passing each other in the hall."
"Hey now," Cooper objected.
Jessica laughed and agreed to let the girls go with Nathan and Peyton. That alone time was too tempting to pass up.
––––––––––
Nathan balanced the four drinks he'd bought at the concession stand and made his way back down the sandy beach where he'd left Peyton and the kids. They'd been there about an hour and he found it funny that the girls were more interested in playing in the sand than going in the water. He and Peyton had both gone in separately while the other watched the girls so it wasn't exactly turning into their typical day at the beach. But whatever, he didn't mind so much. He and Peyton would have plenty more chances to swim together now that they were back together. It was the one thing besides sex that they truly had in common. They both loved the water.
He frowned as he approached them to find some guy sitting next to Peyton – and way too close for his liking. However, he smirked as he got within hearing distance and heard Peyton muttering a threat to the guy if he didn't remove himself from her personal space.
"I second that," Nathan said, his own tone threatening as well.
"Ah, this must be the boyfriend," the other said as he stood to his feet. "Sorry, dude. Your girlfriend's hot. Can't blame a guy for trying, can ya?"
Nathan simply glared at him until he put his hands up in mock surrender and walked away.
Peyton smiled up at him. "Not that you're not cute when you're jealous, but I totally had that."
"I know," he admitted as he sat down. "Just reinforcing what you told him. And aren't you proud of me for not hitting him?"
"Oh yeah, of course," she said with a chuckle.
They called the girls over from their sand castle and they ran over, got their drinks, and went right back.
Nathan and Peyton chuckled and joked about how they could probably leave for a few hours and come back and they'd probably still be building that castle.
"Well," Peyton said, standing up. "I'm gonna go for a dip."
"Kay."
He watched lustfully as her bikini-clad body swayed toward the shore. That guy had one thing right. His girl was damn hot! Of course, he hadn't needed to be told that.
"What the hell you looking at?" he asked a group of guys who clearly thought the same. The guys just laughed at him and pointed out that nearly every male on the beach was watching her. He looked around, noting that they were right.
Peyton chuckled when she returned and he grumbled about all the eyes that were on her. "Is your jealousy getting worse? Because you used to be able to let looks go easily enough."
"Well, they're not just looking, Peyton. They're like, staring and practically drooling. I think some of them are."
Again she laughed. "You mean like those girls are doing to you?" she asked gesturing toward a group of females who were clearly appreciating her boyfriend's fine form. "Or those ones?" she added, gesturing to yet another group of girls. She shrugged. "Who cares, Nate? They only get to look, but I get to have you, and you get to have me. If anything, we should feel sorry for them."
He smiled finally. "You're getting cocky."
"Well, you know, between you and Brooke, how could I not?"
"Speaking of Brooke, d'you tell her about us yet?"
"No, I haven't talked to her since she left to meet her parents."
"Me neither. She's gonna be surprised when she gets back."
"Hopefully she's not offended that we did it without her help," Peyton joked.
Nathan chuckled because, knowing Brooke, she might be. "She'll get over it if she is."
"Yeah," Peyton agreed.
Nathan pulled her in closer and pressed his lips to hers. Instantly she reciprocated and he wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss. When they finally came up for air, he smirked in satisfaction. "That ought to show all these losers that you're mine."
"Ahh, back to the old territorial thing," she teased. "Well, I think the girls need to know who you belong to too," she said before kissing him again.
His arms remained around her waist while hers travelled to the nape of his neck as they continued to explore each others' mouths. It was several minutes before they heard Jordyn and Chelsea crying, but when they did, they both jumped up and rushed over.
"That boy pushed us down and broke our castle," Jordyn said when Peyton asked what had happened.
They looked over to the boy who was clearly several years older than these two little girls.
"Hey, kid," Nathan said. "Beat it. And by the way, you don't hit girls."
The kid didn't move and Nathan and Peyton were appalled when his mother stood up for him rather than force him out of the girls' spot, or even rebuke him for his behavior in general. She stated that her son had been playing quietly in that same area for hours when the girls had come and disturbed him.
"No, you have it backwards," Peyton snapped. "They have been playing here for hours," she added, Nathan agreeing with her.
"Now how could either of you possibly know that when you were too busy practically having sex, right out in the open, to check on what your kids were up to?"
This only enraged the couple further. The woman had no idea what she'd set herself up for, but she was about to find out. It was never good to be on the bad side of either Nathan or Peyton, but to be on both of their bad sides was that much worse. They laid into her so hard that she was nearly in tears by the time they were finished. When she left, the young, attractive couple cheered loudly and high-fived each other.
"We rock," Peyton said.
"We kicked serious ass," Nathan responded.
"Language," Peyton warned.
He scoffed at her warning. "After everything that just came out of your mouth."
"I know, I know," she laughed. "But hey, the girls got their spot back and that's the most important thing."
"Yeah, nobody's gonna mess with them now," Nathan boasted.
"And since that's not a concern, wanna practically have sex some more?"
"Absolutely."
"So," Lucas said to Haley as she stepped out of her house onto her front porch. "Were you planning on avoiding me forever or just until you stop freaking out over the fact that we kissed?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. I haven't avoided you."
"Come on, Hales, you have. You haven't answered my calls or replied to any of my messages for two days."
"I meant to. I've just been busy."
"Doing?" he asked doubtfully.
"You know…stuff."
"Right. So it's not at all about you freaking out that we kissed at the café?"
"No. Oh no. Why should that freak me out? I mean, just because we've been best friends forever and have never once taken it there?"
"I know it's scary…"
"No, you know what? It's not. Because I know why it happened. I was feeling weak and you were there…"
"Hales?" he questioned objectively. "You're saying I took advantage?"
"No. No, I'm not saying that. But I know you, Luke, and you like to play hero, and I've definitely been kind of needy lately…"
"It wasn't about that."
"No? Well then you were rebounding off of Peyton. I mean, yeah, it makes total sense. She'd just dumped you three days before…"
"That's not it either," he denied.
"Well, then what, Luke? Why would you, all of a sudden, have this urge to kiss me?"
"I-I-I…" he stuttered, uncharacteristically at a loss for words.
"Yeah, I-I-I…just what I figured. And you know what, Luke? It's fine, ok? We'll just chalk the whole thing up to a moment of weakness and leave it at that."
"Why did you kiss me back?" he asked.
"What?"
"Well, since you think you know all of my reasons, why don't you tell me yours?"
"I just told you…"
"I don't buy that, Hales. You're not the girl who loses herself in a guy because you're feeling down. That's not who you are," he said. "It was more than that."
"It can't be," she said sternly.
"Why not?"
"Because, first of all, I was just raped, ok? I can't be kissing my best friend three days later. And, second of all, you're in love with Peyton."
"Yeah, about that. I'm thinking now that maybe my mom was right. Maybe it was just a crush after all."
"Great, Luke. Good to know you've got such a firm grip on your own feelings," she said sarcastically. "And that you know exactly what and who you want."
"You still haven't answered my question," he stressed. "Why did you kiss me back?"
"Does it even matter?" Haley asked. "It's not like we're going to pursue it any further."
"Why are you avoiding the question? Just answer it."
"Luke, let it go already. We're best friends. We've always been only that and…"
"Then why did you kiss me?" he persisted.
"Lucas!" she exclaimed, getting agitated.
"Haley, I'm not gonna drop it until you tell me why."
"Because I'm in love with you!" she screamed in exasperation, closing her eyes once the words had spilled out of her mouth. She'd held these feelings in so long and it was both a disaster and a relief that they were finally out. When she opened her eyes, he was staring at her in shock. She took a nervous breath and spoke softly. "Yeah, that's right," she said. "I've loved you my whole life, or so it seems," she confessed in a near whisper.
"Haley…"
"No, don't feel obligated to respond, ok. That's not why I told you."
"I didn't know."
"Well, now you do," she said, stating the obvious.
"Why haven't you ever said anything?"
She sighed. "Because I knew it wasn't mutual. It's always been Peyton for you," she told him, just before opening the front door and slipping inside, leaving him standing outside her house in bewilderment, wondering why he'd never seen it before.
"Did you girls have fun at the beach?" Jess asked when they returned.
"Yes!" Jordyn replied, but then her face fell as she gave a dramatic account of the boy who'd knocked down their castle.
"Aww, that wasn't very nice. Did Nathan and Peyton tell him to stop?"
"Umm," Jordyn replied, tapping her finger on her chin as she tried to recall. "First they didn't see cuz they were doing sex…"
Both Cooper and Jess's heads shot toward Nathan and Peyton, who were shaking theirs in denial.
"But then they came," Jordyn continued. "and they kicked ass."
"Ok, why don't you two go in the playroom and Mommy will there in a minute, ok?"
They ran off toward the playroom as asked.
"Explain," Cooper said to Nathan sternly.
"We weren't having sex," Nathan replied defensively.
"Then tell me how my 3 year old even knows that word," Jess demanded, forcing them to tell her what had actually happened. "That's great, you guys," she said once they'd told her. "So you weren't having sex, you were just making out. I specifically said to keep an eye on them."
"We did," Nathan argued.
"Doesn't seem so to me."
"They were just playing in the sand a few feet away from us," Peyton piped up.
"And yet they managed to get harassed without you two noticing. Good thing it was just a little boy or that they didn't take off anywhere. Or anything else since you were too wrapped up in each other to pay attention." With that she stormed out of the room to the playroom.
Nathan sighed once she was gone, but that wasn't the end of the scolding.
"And in case you want to blame her reaction on pregnancy hormones," Cooper brought forth, "let me just say I agree with everything she said. It really is lucky that nothing serious happened. Now, Nate, I know you haven't been around kids too much, and judging by this situation," he went on, now turning to Peyton, "I'm guessing you haven't either."
Peyton simply shook her head in reply.
"So I'm not going to make too much of a big deal out of this," Cooper continued. "But honestly, common sense should have told you that when you take kids out, especially ones so young and to a public place, that you really have to watch them. You never know what could happen." He paused a moment before going on. "It's great that you two are so into each other and all, but when you're responsible for children, your focus should be on them. It's called restraint, guys. Use it," he said before following his wife's steps out of the room.
Peyton and Nathan looked at each other, both wearing identical shameful expressions.
"We suck," Peyton said.
"Yeah," Nathan agreed, sharing that sentiment, both of them feeling the complete opposite of the triumph they'd felt earlier.
He stood to his feet, pulling her up with him. "Let's go apologize," he said when she gazed at him questionably.
"Maybe we should let them cool off first?"
"No, we should do it now," he said firmly.
She nodded, figuring he knew them better, and followed his lead to the playroom.
––––––––––
They lay in bed that night, forgiven by their hosts, tangled in each others' arms, mouths searching–Nathan's hands wandering.
"Nate," she resisted with difficulty.
He pressed his need against her as his lips hovered over hers. "We'll be quiet," he told her breathlessly. "I want you," he added before taking her lips once more.
She almost gave in right there but with every groan, however muffled, and every creak of the mattress, she became more and more leery and her body tensed, refusing to relax.
He sighed and moved onto his back beside her. "Guess we'll just sleep then."
"Are you mad?" she asked him.
"No. I just don't see what you're so worried about. Like they said earlier, they could move us to another room if they really wanted to."
"Well, I'm sorry if I find it embarrassing for your aunt and uncle to hear us go at it all night. And I'm sorry that that pisses you off. It's just how I feel."
"Peyt, I'm not pissed off," he insisted.
"Really? Cuz you sound like someone who's very much so."
"No, I'm just…I'm disappointed, ok? Just give me a few minutes to…"
"Soften up?" she supplied.
"Yeah," he admitted.
"I hear a cold shower works wonders."
He sighed. "Babe, I'm sorry, ok? I just want you, that's all. But I'm not mad."
"Nathan, it's not that I don't want to. It's just…"
"I know, and it's fine. Just…"
"Give you a minute."
"Yeah."
"Ok."
There were several minutes of silence before they heard it – the groaning and bed squeaking – coming from the other room. They could only laugh. Nathan could almost picture what Cooper's amused statement would be. 'Payback's a bitch, isn't it?'
"Well," Peyton said as she leaned in toward her boyfriend. "I suppose if they're busy getting busy, then they wouldn't hear if we did the same."
He smiled. "I was hoping you'd say that," he told her, not only because he did want her, but also so he wouldn't have to hear the sounds from the other room.
–––––
"You know," Nathan said as they lay together, their energy spent. "It's gonna suck leaving here at the end of the week."
"Yeah," Peyton agreed. "Especially with the whole rape accusation," she said dully.
"I'm not worried about that," he replied with a shrug. "I'm innocent," he added.
Peyton didn't respond because even though she believed in his innocence, she also knew it wouldn't stop people from talking. It was something Nathan wasn't considering and something she certainly wasn't going to bring up.
"I just like being here with you," he went on.
"Me too," she said. "Just a few more days. But hey, we're still going to be together, just in a different place."
"Not like this," he pointed out. "I mean, you can still come to my house, but I doubt your dad's gonna let me go to yours, what, with me not being Lucas and all."
"Actually, he told me when he first came back that he wouldn't stop you from coming over. You just couldn't stay the night."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Of course, that was before he knew we were broken up."
"And before Lucas?"
"Yeah."
"He likes Lucas," Nathan surprised her by mentioning.
"How do you know that?" she asked. Yes, Lucas had made a great impression on her father but Nathan had no way of knowing that.
"I saw him goofing around with him at the dance," Nathan told her. "I'm pretty sure he'd rather you stay with Lucas than with me."
"It doesn't matter," she said. "I want to be with you and that's all that counts."
He nodded, but she could sense that her father's animosity toward him bothered him, even though he'd once openly admitted that he understood it.
"So back to school next week," she said to change the subject.
"Yeah, that's the worst part. We should get two weeks off between semesters."
"At least."
"And we could have stayed here over the weekend too if I could have got out of Community Service."
"But you couldn't," she said with a shrug. "It sucks but we'll deal. So listen," she began tentatively. "I was talking to Cooper this morning. He mentioned he talked to you about your mom?"
"Yeah. He wants me to go see her."
"I know. He asked me to try to convince you."
"Why doesn't that surprise me?"
"Don't be mad at him. She's his sister, you know?"
"I know. I'm not mad at him."
"I'm not gonna try to convince you like he asked. I think that's something you have to decide on your own."
"Thanks."
"I've been thinking about it though," she confessed. "And you two might actually have more to talk about now that you have something in common."
"Me and my mom?" he scoffed. "What's that?"
"Helping kids. I know you're probably overwhelmed and don't really know how to handle being a kind of role model to these two….what is it, Brandon and Tommy?" He nodded so she continued. "And I definitely can't help you there, but your mom's been helping kids for so long. She might understand more and maybe she could give you some advice on how to proceed with that, and…"
"So, this is you not trying to convince me to talk to her?"
"No, really, I'm not," she insisted. "I don't think I need to tell you how much I resent what she did. But I just thought I'd throw it out there. What you do with it is up to you. Either way, it's cool, and whatever you decide, just know, I have your back."
He smiled at her. Yes, she always did have his back. Even when they'd been apart. "I love you."
"You'd better," she said. "Cuz I'm not sticking around for nothing."
"I thought it was for the great sex," he joked.
"Well, considering I don't have anyone to compare you to, how do I even know for sure that it's so great?" she teased back.
"Funny," he deadpanned. "So you and Lucas never…?"
"No! We only dated a week. You should know I'm not that easy."
He nodded, recalling those frustrating five months at the beginning of their relationship. "I remember."
"Besides, I was too stuck on you for some reason."
"Let's keep it that way."
"You couldn't change it if you tried," she said earnestly. "So, do you think Cooper and Jess really forgive us?"
"Yeah. Why would they say it if they didn't?"
"I don't know. We really messed up and I still feel bad. I feel like we should make it up to them somehow."
"They're cool, Peyt."
"They are. I can see why you like coming up here."
"You know she's the first girl I ever crushed on? That's before she met Coop. I was like, eight," he said with a chuckle.
"Yeah, I heard that."
"Brooke?" he guessed.
"Yep. I'm just glad I didn't come along until years later because I would have hated to compete with her."
"You don't have to compete with anyone," he told her, leaning on his elbow to look down at her. "Nobody compares to you."
"Why, Nathan Scott, are you trying to sweet-talk me into your bed?"
"Been there, done that," he said cockily. "I forgot, you already gave it up so I can cut the charm now."
Her jaw dropped in feigned offense and she punched his arm.
"Ow!" he exclaimed. "What is it with people hitting me?"
"Oh, I don't know," she played. "Maybe something about you being a jerk rubs people the wrong way."
"I think Coop and Jess can vouch that I rub you the right way."
"Oh my God, shut up!" she said, shaking her head, yet unable to keep the smile off her face. "Anyway," she stressed. "I was thinking maybe tomorrow morning you could wake me up…"
"Uh huh? I'm liking this so far."
"And we could do some cooking…"
"Really liking it."
"As in 'pancakes that I just got the recipe for today' cooking."
Just as she'd expect, he laughed at her.
"I know what you're thinking," she said before he could speak. "That you and I are terrible cooks."
He nodded in response.
"But this recipe seems so easy. It's probably impossible to screw up."
"You forget who we're talking about here," he pointed out. "Remember that time I set your oven on fire?"
"Ok, I'll work the stove and you can do the mixing."
"Oh, the hardest part," he scoffed.
"How is it hard?" she questioned. "You throw in some ingredients and mix them all up. Ok, you big baby, I'll do the stove and help you mix."
Smiling, he couldn't resist teasing her some more. "Remember when you burned water?"
She threw him a look of disagreement. "I didn't burn it. It evaporated because you distracted me."
"See, going back to the great sex…"
"Nathan, please. Everyone loved the pancakes this morning and said they could eat them again, and it would sort of help make up for today, and I really want to do something nice for them before we go."
"Well then, you might not want to force your cooking on them," he began, but stopped when he noticed she was getting upset with him. "Ok, ok," he conceded. "We'll cook them breakfast, but don't blame me if it doesn't turn out."
"Thank you, baby," she said, kissing him.
"And we're turning off the fire alarm first," he said.
"Probably a good idea," she agreed.
––––––––––
"These look delicious, guys," Jess said as she and Cooper both made plates for each of the girls.
"Yeah," Cooper agreed. "They look even better than mine. I'd like to know how you managed that with my recipe."
"Isn't it Grandma's recipe?" Nathan challenged.
"Shut up," Cooper ordered. "I amended it."
"Shut up," Chelsea repeated.
Cooper sighed. "I forgot we had a couple parrots in the house," he said. After 3 years, he should be used to it, but he had yet to watch his tongue. "Don't listen to Daddy, ok," he said as he set her plate in front of her. "Daddy's bad."
With the kids served, Cooper and Jess went on to make their own plates.
"You two gonna join us or just watch?" Cooper asked Nathan and Peyton, who stood on opposite sides of the kitchen.
"We're waiting," Peyton replied.
"Oh, I see. Make us be the guinea pigs before you dig in."
"Exactly," Peyton responded with a smile.
"I'm sure they're wonderful," Jess assured them.
But before they'd even finished making their plates, the girls started complaining about the food. Both Cooper and Jess attempted to get them to eat but the harder they tried, the more the kids raised a fuss.
"It's yucky," Jordyn whined.
"It's not yucky," Jess said sternly. "I'm sorry," she said to Peyton and Nathan. "They're never like this. I can usually get them to eat anything. I have no idea what's gotten into them."
"I do," Cooper, who'd just taken his first bite, piped up. "No offense, but you guys seriously messed up my recipe. What'd you do?"
Nathan and Peyton exchanged glances.
"I don't know," Peyton said in alarm. "We followed it exactly."
"You couldn't have," Cooper denied, taking his children's plates. "Sorry girls. You don't have to eat this."
"I don't understand," Peyton said gloomily. "What's wrong with it?"
"Well, for one thing," Cooper replied. "Someone went crazy on the salt."
"Oh, Nathan did the salt," Peyton was quick to say.
Nathan shot her a look before turning back to his uncle and stating that he'd only put in a half teaspoon like the recipe called for.
"Nope," Cooper denied. "There's a lot more than that in here. And did we run out of sugar? Or did you just forget to add any?"
"Peyton did the sugar," Nathan accused as she had done to him.
"I put 2 cups in just like it said," she defended.
"Are you sure you guys didn't get the two mixed up?"
With that Jess began to laugh hysterically. "Well, we do deep them in identical containers," she said between breaths.
Cooper started to laugh as well, as Nathan and Peyton shared horrified, but enlightened expressions. And then Nathan burst into laughter, Peyton following suit soon after.
"Well," Cooper said. "looks like we're going out for breakfast. Thanks anyway, guys. And, for all your troubles, we'll treat."
They decided on the restaurant and since he and Peyton were covered in flour due to their playful banter during the breakfast making process, Nathan told them to go on ahead and they'd meet them there after they were cleaned up.
Once the family of four had gone, Peyton covered her face as her cheeks reddened prettily. "I can't believe we did that," she said in amusement. "God, we suck. Leave it to us to screw up a foolproof recipe. I mean, come on, who can't tell the difference between salt and sugar?"
Nathan approached her as she kept rambling. She was too cute and he couldn't keep the smile from his face. And in that very moment, something from deep within him occurred. His heart swelled for the gorgeous, embarrassed girl in front of him, and it began to beat erratically in his chest.
"I mean, ok, yeah, they look the same," Peyton continued. "But they smell different."
She looked up as Nathan reached her and put his hands on her waist. She expected to find him still laughing, but, to her surprise, he was staring at her with an intensity she'd never seen in him before. "What?" she asked self-consciously.
"Peyt…"
She waited for him to say more, but he continued to gaze at her. "Nate, what?" she asked, almost impatiently.
He took her hands in his and rendered her speechless with his next statement.
"Let's get married."
A/N: Hey guys. I know a lot of you are waiting on the whole rape issue stuff, and Damien and Katie, and all that. And it'll come. Just wanted to give Nathan and Peyton a little happy, quiet, couple-time to secure their relationship a little bit. Plus the ones who wanted a little bit of fluff deserved to get that before all the drama starts up again. LOL. Hope you enjoyed it.