Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of its characters.
A/N: I apologize for the bit of delay on this chapter. I had finals all this week, but hopefully this chapter makes up for the wait. Love ya all!
….
"Surprise," he said as he stood before her, a grin on his face and his eyes shining brightly.
Before her mind could even register whether this was real or fantasy, she instinctively flew into his arms and wrapped her own tightly around his torso, as if to never let go.
But she did let go. She quickly pulled back to run her hands over his chest, his arms, his face, ensuring herself that she wasn't dreaming.
When she was sure she wasn't, she planted tiny kisses on every open area of skin she could find on him.
But that was short-lived as well when the questions came to her mind. She leaned back to look into those gorgeous baby blues of his. "How? I don't…how are you here?" she stammered.
"I got in with Brooke," he answered lightly even though he knew that wasn't what she was asking.
"But how…I mean, what…you were convicted…how can you be here?" she repeated. "Not that I don't want you to be, but how…Oh God," she said dreadfully, pulling away from him completely as the only possible solution to explain his freedom struck her. Or so she thought.
Nervously chewing at her thumb nail, she began to pace between Nathan and Brooke. "Ok," she muttered, more to herself than to them. "It's ok. No need to panic. We just need a plan. So let's think," she continued purposefully. "They'll probably have the main highway blocked. No, scratch that. They'll definitely have the main highway blocked, so that's out. Actually they'll probably block every exit out of Tree Hill so we'll need a different car. That should be easy enough. I mean your dad owns a dealership. But we'll need new license plates too cuz I'm sure ours are all in the registry. Oh, and fake ID's. We'll have to use those. You still have yours?" she asked Nathan.
"Uh…"
"It doesn't matter if you don't," Peyton cut off his reply. "Brooke and I can always stop by your house and get it. We'll take care of all the details while you hide out here, and then we'll come back for you and drive out of town. We'll go to New York or LA or something—somewhere no one will recognize us and we can just blend in. Just remember in public to call me Hilary and her Sophia."
"Umm, Peyton…" Brooke attempted to get a word in.
"But what if we get caught before we get there?" Peyton went on, chomping harder on her thumb nail. "Maybe we should fly out instead. Oh yeah, brilliant, Peyton," she chastised herself. "Cuz the security won't be even heavier at the freaking airport. Unless we got a private plane," she came up with next. "Yeah, we could get one of those somehow. I mean, you both are rich, right?" she added, not caring or even realizing how far-fetched her ideas were. "And we could get Chase to fly it!" she exclaimed.
"Chase?" Brooke nearly choked.
"Yeah, why not? He wants to be a pilot, doesn't he?"
Brooke had to chuckle. "One day," she replied. "But hon, he isn't one yet. He hasn't had any training."
"Well then it's time he does," Peyton threw back. "And instead of laughing at me, how 'bout you throw in an idea or two. You too," she told Nathan. "I love you both, but I can't plan this entire thing on my own. We need to be a team here."
She sighed in exasperation at the amused glance Nathan and Brooke shared.
"Nate," Brooke said. "You'd better tell her before she gets any crazy ideas," she said with amused sarcasm.
"What?" Peyton asked a smiling Nathan. "What's going on? What aren't you telling me?"
His grin grew wider. "You can hold off on the getaway plans," he told her, finding comedy in where her mind had taken her. "I didn't escape, Peyt," he informed her. "They let me go."
And with that the puzzlement returned. "But why? I don't get it. You were found guilty."
"By the jury," Nathan answered blithely.
"Yeah…isn't that who did the voting? Ok, can you start explaining cuz I'm really confused right now."
"The judge didn't agree," he said simply.
She shook her head, her confusion not cleared up in the least. So Nathan chuckled and tried as best he could to relay to her what had transpired in the courtroom after she'd been escorted out.
Flashback of what happened in court
"Your Honor," Mr. Kowalski interrupted mid-sentence. "I apologize for the interruption, but the chaos of the past few minutes, as I'm sure you'll understand, prevented me from doing this sooner. At this time I move to renew the motion of JNOV."
Nathan glanced at him in wonder. What the hell did that mean?
The judge nodded, seemingly pleased with the request, before looking back to Dan and back, once again, to the defense attorney, to the courtroom in general. "I've found this trial to be a lot of circumstantial evidence with not a lot to back it up, and certainly not much direct evidence," the judge spoke. "We've heard stories of bullying, indiscretions, manipulation, all of which draws animosity toward the defendant from the jury, yet none of which prove the defendant's guilt of rape in the first degree. I'm afraid, though an invaluable part of the justice system, that the jury in this case may have marred the lines of personal feeling and guilt. It's certainly their right as human beings to feel however they feel and to sympathize with the alleged victim, however, it's not how cases are decided in a court of law. Here, decisions must be rendered based on fact of law. That decision must be unanimous and it must be beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecution's case has relied almost solely on the testimony of an eye-witness whose reliability and truthfulness I've found to be questionable. This witness lied about when she discovered the defendant was engaged—a minor infraction, you might say, but I take perjury seriously. While no charges were brought against her for the untruth, it did serve to make me question the validity of every part of her statement. That, along with the contradicting stories of whether or not the defendant handed the alleged victim a drink, to the differing versions of exactly what happened at the party—some recall them flirting and then going outside, others say no, they went straight upstairs—all lead to reasonable doubt in my mind. The prosecution failed to quash these doubts, and while I may be in err, it was in the prosecution's hands to prove otherwise. They have not done so and I fail to see how the evidence given could have possibly convinced a jury of twelve. So despite the findings of thus jury, I cannot, in good conscience, send a potentially innocent man to prison. Therefore, I am exercising my authority as trial judge and granting the defense's motion for JNOV, "Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict", and entering a judgment of not guilty, according to Rule 29 (b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure." With that said he banged his gavel down with finality.
Nathan looked over at Mr. Kowalski, who was smiling smugly. "Wh-what is he saying?" he asked the older man. "What does it mean?" he amended. He knew what it sounded like but he didn't dare get his hopes up again.
"It means, young man," the judge replied rather than the lawyer. "That you're free to go."
His heart thumped as his gaze went from the judge back to his attorney. "Seriously?" he asked cautiously, to which the man beside him nodded.
End of Flashback
"Are you serious?" Peyton asked in bewilderment. "He overturned the conviction? Can he do that?"
"I'm here, aren't I?" Nathan pointed out. "But yeah, apparently a judge has the right to change a guilty verdict but not a not-guilty verdict. So either way, I was getting out."
"And the D.A. can't appeal that?" Peyton asked, fear in her tone.
"They can," Nathan answered. "But according to my lawyer, they're not."
Peyton threw herself at him. "So it's really over?"
"It's really over."
"And not only the jail part," Brooke piped up as the couple embraced. "But also the restrictions, the ankle bracelet, the protection order…everything."
"Are you kidding?" Peyton asked.
"Nope," Nathan replied. "Judge declared the protection order null and void with the acquittal so there's no need for the ankle bracelet anymore. I can go wherever I want at whatever time I want."
"Baby, that's awesome!" Peyton exclaimed. "See? Your lawyer wasn't such a moron after all."
"Yeah," he admitted. "He was good. I still have to do the community service and anger management for the assault on Lucas though," he told her. "It didn't affect that charge."
"That's ok," Peyton returned confidently. "At least they'll let you now."
He nodded agreeably. "As long as I'm out of that rat hole, I'll be fine."
"So," Peyton began, "Why didn't you guys tell me this before letting me ramble on and on about an escape plan?"
Nathan chuckled heartily. "I'm sorry, babe. You were just too cute. I couldn't."
"You suck, you know that?" Peyton said even as she laughed along. "You too," she said to Brooke. "You could have said something at the house or at some point while you were dragging me down here instead of laying a massive guilt trip on me."
"Ok, I would have," Brooke replied. "But somebody wouldn't let me."
Peyton turned her bright green eyes back to the boy in front of her. "You double-suck."
"I wanted to surprise you," he said simply.
"Surprise me, oh!" Peyton gasped. "You know, if I didn't love you and you didn't just get out of jail, I would so smack you right now," she said before pulling him in for another hug.
"Don't let that stop you," Brooke said. But as they continued to embrace, she watched them and smiled before throwing herself into them and wrapping an arm around each of them. "I'm so glad it all worked out," she beamed, practically vibrating with excitement. "Now how about we head to my house?"
"You go ahead, Brooke," Nathan said. "We'll meet you there in a bit."
"Then you'll be walking," Brooke told him with cocked eyebrows. "Cuz mine is the only car here and I'm not walking in these heels."
Nathan chuckled and pulled her closer into him. "I wouldn't have expected you to, Your Highness," he joked. "But we can walk. Right?" he asked Peyton to ensure she was ok with it.
She bobbed her head, so deliriously happy at the moment that she'd agree to just about anything he wanted.
"Kay," Brooke said, understanding the couple's want for a little one on one time after weeks of being denied it. "But don't do anything I wouldn't do," she warned teasingly.
"So that means do pretty much anything," Peyton joked back.
"Pretty much," Brooke agreed. "But seriously, Nate," she added, giving him another quick hug. "I'm glad you're out. I was worried."
"I know. Me too," he told her.
Pulling away from him, she gave Peyton a hug too. "Happy now, Goldilocks?"
Peyton nodded.
"Good."
"And listen, Brooke, I'm sorry I was such a selfish bitch before."
Brooke stepped back and waved the apology away. "When aren't you a selfish bitch, P. Sawyer?"
Peyton smiled sheepishly. "Guess I had that one coming," she took gracefully.
"You think?" Brooke scoffed. "Anyway, I'm off," she continued as she headed toward her vehicle. "Come by whenever you're ready and don't worry how late it is. You know where the key is. Oh, and since it's a special day, I'll even be nice this once and put earplugs in so you two can be as loud as you want."
"It's about time you do something for us," Nathan joked, laughing at the death glare Brooke shot him. But he knew that she knew he was kidding. He could never count the things Brooke had done for both him and Peyton, all the times she'd been there for both of them. "And I hope you have the expensive earplugs that actually work, cuz you're gonna need 'em," he added, earning him a sharp slap from his girlfriend.
"Ow, what happened to you love me and I just got out of jail?" he joked.
"That was for a smack. This was just a little love tap."
"Oh ok," he said. "Well next time, could you maybe not love me so hard?"
"Let's see if you're still saying that tonight," she returned provocatively.
Before Brooke was out of sight, Nathan's lips covered Peyton's again, both basking in the sudden freedom he'd been afforded.
"Maybe we should have gone with her," Nathan said breathlessly as things steamed up fast.
She smiled against his lips and pressed herself firmly against him.
With a sharp intake of breath, he spoke again. "Maybe we should head over there now."
"We could do that," she whispered sensually. "Or," she added, taking his hand and leading him to a heavily brushed area where a large, sole rock sat. "We could spare ourselves the twenty minute torture walk and just stay right here," she said suggestively, pushing him down on the rock and straddling him.
He swallowed hard, his south region pulsing with desire, his hands itching to touch her. "Yeah, I like your idea better," he croaked.
She only smiled before pressing her lips against his. "You sure you're feeling up to this?" she asked between kisses.
He grinned at the innocent question. "You're sitting on junior; you can't tell?" he teased.
"Not what I meant," she said, realizing how her words could be interpreted. "Mind out of the gutter, Mister," she ordered lightly. "Actually, no," she added, pressing down harder on him. "Leave it there."
…
"I can't believe they can do that," Lucas fumed as he paced the make-shift golf course atop his mother's café. "And not only that they can, but that they did," he continued. "Just like that, he's free to go. After twelve people pronounced him guilty. Twelve!" he emphasized. "In the interest of justice, my ass!" he went on. "If there was any justice at all, a rapist wouldn't have walked out a free man today! Especially…"
"After twelve people voted him guilty," Haley finished from her spot where she sat, knowing that's what he'd been going to say—what he'd been harping on ever since the judge had handed out his own verdict. She didn't need to hear it another time.
"Exactly!" Lucas agreed obliviously. "But I guess I should have known," he continued. "It's Nathan. What doesn't he get away with?"
"Luke, please calm down," Haley pleaded.
"I can't," he replied. "When I think of what he did to you and how he can just walk away from it…"
"Then don't think about it," she reasoned.
He stopped pacing to turn and face her head on. "Don't think about it?" he said with disbelief. "How can I not? How can you not? Aren't you upset?"
"Of course I am," she answered.
"Then how can you be so calm?"
She shook her head. "Because I'm mostly just numb right now. I'm just trying to take it all in, and listening to you rant and rave isn't going to help the situation."
He went over and sat down beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Hales. I'm just really pissed off right now."
"I can see that," she told him. "But like you said, we should have expected it. To be honest, I kind of did."
"Haley…"
"I never expected to win this, Luke," she admitted. "He has money and social status on his side. I don't. I'm just me. It's like a mouse trying to fight a lion. He's too strong. There was no way I was going to win."
"You did win, Hales. The jury…"
"Yes, twelve people, I get it," she said, rolling her eyes. "But in the end, he still won."
"You regret pushing it?"
She thought about it a moment before shaking her head. "Not really, no," she said. "Because the jury finding him guilty is a sort of victory, even though the judge overturned it. It's still more than I expected would happen. At least this way Nathan knows that he can't mess with me without getting some sort of fight on his hands, however useless. Maybe that'll be enough to discourage him from trying anything else."
"It better be cuz if he so much as looks at you, he's a dead man."
"Don't be crazy, Luke."
"I am dead serious."
"I know," she acknowledged. That's why she had to say something. "But I don't want you getting yourself in trouble, ok? That's actually the last thing I want."
He didn't reply, not wanting to make a promise he wasn't sure he could keep.
"I've been thinking," Haley started to say. "About going to Parkview next year," she informed him, speaking of the other secondary school in Tree Hill. "I'd do it now but the semester is halfway over and I don't want to let down the few people who still trust me to tutor them."
Lucas gazed at her, his blue eyes penetrating her brown ones. "You're too much, you know that? After all you've been through, you're still thinking of everyone else."
"Confession, I'm thinking of myself when I think of transferring schools."
He nodded. "You're running away."
She sighed, knowing that was exactly what she was doing. "Beats having to face Nathan and his friends for another year," she said. "I just think it'll be easier that way and I'll be able to concentrate on my studies better."
"Ok well, maybe I'll switch too. I think my mom would be ok with that if I explain…"
"No Luke," Haley cut him off. "You have basketball."
"So? I'll play for Parkview."
"Parkview doesn't have a varsity team."
"You really think I'm gonna stay on the Ravens anyway, with Nathan back?"
"Luke…"
"Hales. I'm not playing on a team with him. I can't."
"Well maybe he won't play," she said.
"Yeah right," Luke scoffed.
"No, I'm serious. His grades were already bad before, and he has to have fallen even more behind since he's been locked up. He might not be eligible."
"You might be right about that," he acknowledged. "But we both know Nathan's exempt from most of the rules the rest of us have to follow," he said distastefully. "Today only proved that even more," he added, feeling himself getting angry all over again. "You see his face when he left the courtroom? So freaking smug. He and Peyton must be just laughing it up right about now. I wonder if her little performance in court had anything to do with the judge's decision."
"I doubt it, Luke. I think his decision was based on what he said it was based on; Katie's lies. They pretty much killed the case."
"We don't know that she lied about what she saw."
"We don't know that she didn't either," Haley stressed. "That's what counts. And she did lie on the stand about the other thing so how's the judge gonna believe anything she says?"
"I hear you, Haley, but I don't know. How convenient for the defense that she's disappeared and can't defend herself?"
"Yeah," Haley mused. "I wonder what happened to her. It's been nearly a week and she still hasn't been found."
"I think we can guess what happened to her," Luke stated sourly. "You can bet Nathan had something to do with it."
Haley turned to gaze at him curiously. "From prison?"
"He's got friends. Hell, that family has pull all over this town. I don't know how they do it. They must be doing some damn good favors for some damn important people."
Haley couldn't suppress a small chuckle at that.
"It's nice to hear you laugh," he said earnestly. It had been too long since he'd heard that sweet sound.
Haley turned away, her face flushed, and for a while all was quiet.
"You know," Lucas began, breaking the silence. "I'm still here whenever you're ready to talk about us."
"There is no us," she returned simply.
"There can be," he countered. "When you're ready," he made sure to add.
She sighed deeply. "I never should have let it slip that I'm in love with you," she told him regretfully. "Because then you wouldn't feel obligated to love me back."
"I don't feel obligated," Luke denied. "As I told you a few weeks ago, I'm in love with you, Haley."
"Yeah," she replied doubtfully. "And a few months ago, you said the same thing to Peyton."
"I already explained that I was confused about my feelings for Peyton. I…, you know what? This isn't about her. Why even bring her up?"
"Oh, I don't know, maybe because you bring her up, in one way or another, in practically every conversation."
"That's not true."
"It is, Lucas. You still have feelings for her. Why do you think you're so mad at her?"
"Because she bailed on you as a friend when you needed her most," he replied.
"No. Because she broke up with you to go back to Nathan. It has nothing to do with me."
"You're wrong, Hales."
"Am I? I really don't think I am."
"Ok, yes, I do care about Peyton. You know that. But so what? It's not in the way I care about you. I love you and one day you're gonna believe that and stop using Peyton as an excuse not to be with me. In the meantime, I'm here for you—as your friend."
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she corrected him. "Best friend."
"Bff's," he joked, punching her lightly on the arm.
She leaned into him and sighed. Again there was a moment of silence. "So," she finally said. "Exactly what kind of favors do you think they're doing?"
"Kinds that get them their way every time, in every situation," he answered. "Draw your own conclusions," he added, making her chuckle softly again before falling into another comfortable silence.
…
"Great speech," Dan said as he entered the judge's private chambers. "Kept my son out of prison anyway," he added before dropping the large envelope on the judge's desk. "They're all there, including the film, as agreed upon," he said. "Now your wife need never discover your…indiscretions. It's been a pleasure doing business with you…Your Honor."
He headed out the way he'd come when the judge's words stopped him in his tracks.
"Everything I said in the courtroom was true," he told Dan. "I would have given that speech with or without your blackmail."
Turning around, Dan smirked at the other man. "Well then I suppose my efforts were all for naught. Consider the pictures a bonus then, since I'm feeling generous today," he said and then made his exit.
….
"Told ya we should have went to Brooke's," Nathan teased a blushing Peyton as they walked hand in hand back up toward the bridge after being told to do so by a security officer. "I don't know how I let you talk me into these things. You could have gotten me arrested again, you know."
She glared at him playfully. "I don't recall it taking much convincing," she threw back haughtily. "That was so embarrassing."
"Hey, it could have been worse."
"Yeah? How?"
"At least we were still dressed."
"At least," she returned, her tone dripping sarcasm. "Who knew they even patrolled this area?" she added. "Brooke and I come here all the time and I've never seen any cops or park ranger or…whatever the hell he was."
"They were probably there but hiding," Nathan guessed. "And didn't show themselves because you and Brooke weren't making out and about to obviously get it on."
She threw him a sidelong glance and smiled slyly. "Who says we weren't?" she asked him teasingly.
He turned his head to look at her. "You kill me," he said with a low groan. "But if you were, then that definitely explains why he wouldn't come out."
"Why? So he could watch?"
"Hell yeah," Nathan agreed. "It's what any sane guy would do," he explained with a chuckle.
"Sure if 'sane guy' and 'sick perv' are synonyms of each other," she replied dryly.
He chuckled again and released her hand to sling his arm over her shoulder. "Damn, I've missed you."
"Yeah?" she asked, snuggling closer to him and keeping in step with him. "Which part did you miss the most?"
"Guess."
"Easy—the sex."
"I knew you'd say that, but wrong. Guess again."
"I give up."
"Already? You think a lot of your fiancé, don't you?"
"I just know him, that's all."
"Apparently not as well as you think."
"Ok, quit stalling and tell me."
He sighed softly. "It's this," he said, pulling her in closer. "Being able to hold you like this, the smell of your hair…"
"Uh huh…"
"…the cute way you mumble my name in your sleep."
"You realize you just said three things."
"I know, but that's because I can't wrap it all up into one."
She smiled to herself. He could say the sweetest things sometimes. Maybe not with big, fancy words but sweet all the same. And she wouldn't want it any other way.
"Now you," he said, making her laugh. "What did you miss most about me?"
"Oh, definitely the sex," she answered him with humor.
"And did I mention your sarcasm?" he came back with. "I missed that too."
"Who's being sarcastic?"
"Kay, I know I'm like, practically a god in bed and all…"
"Glad to see your ego hasn't suffered any…"
"But," he went on as though she hadn't interrupted. "I'm even better than I thought if it's enough to make you skip town with me."
She turned to him seriously then. "I would, you know."
He nodded and their eyes locked.
"I'd do anything for you," she whispered.
"I know you would," he acknowledged. "Even though I don't deserve it."
"Stop saying that," she answered firmly. "Everybody's worthy of love."
"Well, I'm just glad I have yours. I know I haven't been the greatest boyfriend, or even a good one for that matter…"
"And I haven't been the best girlfriend so we're even," she replied, shushing him when he was about to deny her statement. "But we have the rest of our lives to make it up to each other."
He nodded again and she smiled coyly. "Starting with the horizontal hokey pokey in the privacy of our very own bedroom in the Davis mansion."
He inhaled sharply. She knew how to get to him. Even when he was trying to be serious and not focus so much on sex, she could get to him so easily. It wasn't something he could help or control, especially when she stood before him, looking as sexy as always, propositioning him. His girl was damn hot, that was for certain. And the way she looked at him now, as though she were mentally undressing him, made it impossible for him to think of anything else but sex. "Know any shortcuts?" he asked, his voice thick with longing.
"Thought you'd never ask," she replied smoothly.
…..
Meanwhile Damien was still on top of the world when he walked in his front door, especially glad to have the house empty and to himself so he could fully bask in his amazing triumph.
Practically skipping to the television set, he turned it on, wondering if Nathan's guilty verdict had made the headlines yet. "Enjoy your prison term, my friend," he spoke out loud. "Don't mind if I take back what's mine while you're gone."
"Shocking news in the courtroom today," he heard from the TV, "as local resident Nathan Scott was found guilty of rape from a jury…."
Here it is, Damien thought, his heartbeat accelerating at the mere thought of seeing the forlorn look on Nathan's face again. A smile on his own, he watched and listened attentively to the news host.
He wasn't smiling, however, as the host spoke of the turnaround that went on in the courtroom after he'd followed Peyton out.
His fists clenching tightly beside him, the vein in his forehead nearly popping out of his skin, he let out a frustrated roar, grabbing hold of the television, as though it were somehow responsible for it all, and sending it crashing to the floor in pieces. How he'd explain that one to his parents when they got home didn't even cross his mind. All he could see was his own fury—he was consumed by it. Stomping on the broken glass with his booted feet, he let out a string of furious curses, never more infuriated in his entire life.
….
Meanwhile Brooke watched the same program with a very different reaction. She nearly burst out of her skin with excitement as the judge's words played out on screen, dismissing the jury's decision.
"You happy?" Chase asked her as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
She nodded enthusiastically. "So happy," she replied though it was quite obvious.
"I'm glad," her boyfriend said. "And maybe now I can have you to myself for a while," he added. "Without any distractions."
"I'm sorry. I know I've been preoccupied lately…"
"No, don't apologize, Brooke. It's who you are, and like I said before, I love that big heart of yours and how you look after your friends…"
"But…" she said, sensing it coming.
"But nothing," he said. "I just want you to myself for a while. Anything wrong with that?"
"No," she assured him. "What do you have in mind?" she asked sexily as she put her hands on his hips.
"Something very, very bad," he replied.
"You know," she began, her tongue running over her lips. "For a clean teen, you sure like to get dirty."
"What can I say? You've corrupted me."
"I have a way of doing that," she responded. "It's all part of the Brooke Davis power."
"Well I'm happy to relinquish all control to you."
"Hmm, some of my favorite words," she told him. "But umm," she began leerily. "I kinda, sorta invited Nathan and Peyton over," she confessed.
He nodded, not surprised to hear that.
"Are you mad?" she asked upon seeing the disappointed look on his face.
"No, of course not," he answered. "They're your friends. I expect them to come around. And to be honest, I'd like the chance to get to know them. I feel like we haven't really made it past the introductions. You've mostly just been off seeing to one or the other, and I'm kind of feeling left out."
"Aww, well don't worry, boyfriend. Now that they're all good, things can get back to normal, and trust me, you'll have plenty of time to get to know them."
"Good. But until then," he began suggestively, "how much time do we have before they get here?"
She giggled but before she could respond, something else on the TV caught her attention.
"And more shocking news in Tree Hill this afternoon as missing local teen, Katie Sanders, was found behind a dumpster…."
Brooke's mouth dropped open and remained as such throughout the whole broadcasting. When it was over, she picked up her cell. "Oh my God, I wonder if Nate and Peyt have heard this. I have to call them."
"No you don't," Chase countered, gently pulling the phone out of her hands and reminding her that the couple would be there soon enough.
"I know but…"
"Until then, you're all mine," he said, sliding his hands down her hips.
"You're getting mighty aggressive there, mister," she remarked raspily. "It's definitely a turn on."
"Glad to hear it, and good to know I have your full attention. Now, how long did you say we had?"
"Hmm, well, they want their solo time too so I'd say at least a few hours."
No sooner had she said that did the couple in question burst through the door.
"Or less," Chase mumbled to himself as Brooke darted over to them instantly.
"Guys, you'll never guess what I just saw on the news!"
"Me?" Nathan asked, figuring as much.
"Well yeah, but you're old news now, superstar," she said before turning to Peyton. "They found her."
"Ahh, that's too bad," Peyton answered blithely. "She could have stayed gone as far as I'm concerned."
"No, but get this," Brooke continued. "She was in an alley way behind some giant dumpster, all beat up. Apparently some homeless guy found her. Did you know we had homeless people in Tree Hill? Because I didn't, and I don't like it either. Everyone should have a home to go to…"
"Brooke, focus," Peyton said, placing her hands on Brooke's arms. "She was all beat up, and…?"
"That's all they said. And that she was unconscious and was rushed to the hospital."
"So she's alive."
"Just barely. Somebody really did a number on her."
"So, what are we talking about here?" Nathan asked. "Who got beat up?"
"Katie."
A smile spread across his face. "Oh yeah? By which one of you?" he asked both Peyton and Brooke.
"Neither," Brooke answered. "I just assumed she'd skipped town or something. I didn't think anything had actually happened to her."
"Me neither," Peyton agreed.
"Wait, what?" Nathan questioned, confusion clouding his expression. "You thought she skipped town? Why?"
"Duh," Brooke returned. "Cuz she's been missing for the last week almost."
"You didn't know?" Peyton guessed, going by Nathan creased forehead.
He shook his head in reply.
"How can you not know? It's been all over the news," Brooke said. "What dark cave have you been living in?"
At Nathan's frown, Peyton shot Brooke a look. "Brooke, too soon," she chastised.
"Sorry. But you know what this means, don't you?" she added. "If he didn't even know about it, then…"
"The police didn't question him on it…" Peyton finished, seeing where Brooke's line of thought was headed.
"Right," Brooke agreed with a nod. "Which means…"
"They don't suspect he's involved."
"Exactly, which means they're not going to try to pin it on him."
"Thank goodness," Peyton replied with a sigh.
Nathan looked from one to the other as they came to their conclusion, and finally he shrugged carelessly. As long as he was in the clear, he didn't really care what happened to Katie. "Well," he said, plopping down on the couch, a tinge of amusement in his deep baritone. "I guess Karma came back and bit her in the ass, huh?"
"Big time," Peyton answered, sitting beside him. "Guess she made more enemies along the way."
"Yeah. So, were you questioned?" Nathan asked her.
"Yeah. Brooke, Rachel and I all were, but we never heard anything more after that. Until now."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't think anything of it. Still don't."
Brooke folded her hands together, wondering if her best friends could brush this off so easily had they actually seen Katie. It was a picture she'd certainly be hard put to forget. "She looked really bad, you guys."
The couple glanced at her in wonder.
"I think someone might have actually meant to kill her."
"Too bad they failed then," Nathan muttered dryly. "They'd have done the world a favor."
"Nate…"
"Brooke," Peyton cut off. "She tried to get Nathan sent to prison," she reminded the brunette. "She doesn't deserve anyone's pity, let alone ours."
"Right, I know," Brooke responded, unable to refute Peyton's comment. She shouldn't feel bad for the girl. She was a horrible person who'd lied and schemed to get her best friend imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. Peyton was right; she didn't deserve her pity. Shaking her head of its conflicting thoughts, she put a hand on her boyfriend's shoulder. "You two remember Chase?"
"Yeah, of course," Nathan said, extending his hand as far as it would go without having to get up from his spot on the couch. "How're you doing?" he asked once Chase had taken the steps to accept the gesture.
"Not bad. Yourself?"
"Never better."
"Congratulations on the verdict," Chase replied.
"Thanks," Nathan said as Chase moved over to Peyton to shake her hand as well before going back to stand beside Brooke.
"We should celebrate," Chase said, attempting to be friendly toward the two who meant so much to Brooke.
Brooke smiled at the effort and nodded her head. "Yeah, we should," she said agreeably. "I'll get the champagne."
"I'll get the glasses," Chase offered.
"We should get some food into this one first," she said of Nathan. "He's pretty much on an empty stomach and no sleep," she added. "You hungry?" she asked Nathan directly.
He nodded. "More tired though," he admitted, feeling the effects of weeks of poor sleeping habits all the more as he sat comfortably and relaxed.
"Kay well, why don't we get you something to eat and then you can go lie down?"
"What about the sex?" he asked in a low tone.
"You can make it up to me later," Peyton answered, hating the way he almost sounded guilty as he posed the question. If there was one thing she didn't want, it was him feeling as though he'd disappointed her because he was sleepy. "After you wake up," she told him.
They decided to order pizza and Brooke went ahead and poured champagne for them all from her parents fully stocked bar.
"To Nate's freedom," Brooke toasted and they all clinked their glasses together and took a sip.
Nathan held the glass in one hand, Peyton's hand in the other, and leaned back against the couch and smiled. "This is the best day ever," he said aloud. "I'll never doubt your belief in the power of music again," he said, squeezing Peyton's hand.
"Nice timing, Hotshot," Brooke piped up. "You could have said that before Blondie here decided to break all her records."
Nathan's eyes flew open and landed on Peyton. "What?"
Peyton shrugged as her cheeks burned a little. "It wasn't all of them," she countered sheepishly. "Only about half."
"Yeah, until I dragged her skinny ass away," Brooke said.
"You didn't…"
"Why'd you break them?" Nathan asked her.
"Does 'I'm an idiot' work?"
"Does for me," Brooke answered.
Nathan, however, continued to stare at her expectantly, waiting for a logical explanation.
She didn't have one to give him, but finally she sighed and explained how she'd felt music had let her down right when she'd needed it the most. "When I heard that song I was sure it meant the jury would acquit, but then they said guilty and…I guess I lost it."
"No guessing," Brooke threw out. "You definitely lost it."
To Brooke's chagrin, Nathan leaned his head back once more and smiled even bigger. "You really do love me more than anything," he said smugly.
The comment earned him a sharp slap—not from Peyton this time, but from Brooke.
"This is not time to be feeding your already enormous ego," she rattled. "Those records, her lifelong collection, are destroyed because of you!"
"How is it my fault?" he asked. "I didn't break them," he pointed out.
"No, but if you had let me tell her you were out of jail instead of insisting I bring her to you so you could surprise her, she wouldn't be missing as many!"
He was still smiling, which was enough in itself to send Brooke into a furious frenzy. She loved the guy but sometimes he could be so insensitive. "Nathan!" she yelled at him. "Do you really not have anything to say about this?"
"Yeah, I do," he replied, the grin never leaving his face. "It was stupid to break the records, but love makes us all do stupid things. You can't blame her, really."
"Nate…"
"Just be glad she's marrying into money cuz it's gonna take a fortune to replace them all."
Brooke smiled at that, satisfied now with his response, but Peyton's brow quirked. "I can't let you pay for that," she said in objection.
"Of course you can, P. Sawyer," Brooke countered. "It's his fault they're broken."
"No, it my fault. He shouldn't be expected to fork over his money to pay…"
"Hey," Nathan interrupted, his smile now gone. "It's our money. What's mine is yours. That's how I want it to always be. Ok?"
She couldn't deny the firmness in his request. She nodded, unable to do anything else. "And what's mine is yours," she told him. "Whenever I have anything to contribute, that is."
"It's not about material things, Peyt," he said. "It's about me and you as one, and you've already contributed more than your fair share."
Peyton smiled at him. "I think the champagne is getting to you," she said lightly.
"I mean it," he insisted as his eyelids began to slowly close.
She knew he meant it but he didn't tend to get so sentimental in front of an audience unless he was drinking, and though he was only on his first glass, the lack of sleep and food in the last month were causing him to feel its effects much faster than usual.
He was asleep by the time the pizza arrived. She didn't wake him; just put a few slices on a warming plate for him, knowing he wouldn't sleep more than a few hours on an empty stomach.
She spent a long while watching him sleep, ignoring the ribbing she got from Brooke because of it. She knew Brooke was just as relieved and happy as she was.
When Nathan awoke an hour later, Peyton was snuggled up against him, her golden curls splayed out across his lap, and there was no sign of Brooke or Chase. He was a little disoriented at first, but from how much light seeped in through the window, he knew it was still daylight. He still wanted to sleep though. His eyes burned and he was tired as hell, but his stomach refused to sit empty another minute.
He sat up slowly, careful not to move too abruptly as to disturb the sleeping beauty beside him.
He noted the pizza on the warming plate sitting on the coffee table. It was plugged in the wall next to it, and he had to smile. He must have fallen asleep and, knowing he didn't like cold pizza, she had set it out for him on the plate, knowing also that hunger would wake him soon enough.
His girl took good care of him, he thought. And she thought of everything.
He ran his fingers through her soft curls, pushing them out of her face so he could look at her. It was his turn to watch her now. And he did. Finally, he maneuvered her head slightly, just enough that he could eat without dropping crumbs on her. His eyes never left her, not until he'd finished off the last bite of food she'd left for him. After that, he pulled her tighter against him and closed his eyes once more, thinking again how this was, indeed, the best day ever.
And it could only go up from here, he thought, before drifting back into a peaceful slumber.
...
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this one, and for all those who celebrate, have a very Merry Christmas!