A/N: Hey guys. Here's the next chapter. I had to break it up so you know what that means, right? Yep, still two more and the epilogue. Hope you enjoy it. As always, thank you all readers. Reviewers, you're the best. Love your feedback. Thank you for taking the time to share your opinions with me. It's good to know people still like this.

...

"Go Nathan!" Peyton cheered above the crowd beside Brooke and the other cheerleaders as Nathan sunk another basket.

Summer had come and gone, and senior year at Tree Hill High had begun six weeks ago. As Peyton cheered among her friends at the first basketball game of the season, she was glad she'd finally gotten the nerve to step inside the school where so much had happened. Truth was she didn't want to be home tutored again, at least not for the entire year. She wanted to be around her friends, and most of all, her boyfriend.

She still avoided the boiler room—wouldn't even walk past it and chose to go the long way around to classes where she would normally have to—but still, she felt she was doing okay.

She had to admit therapy was helping. She'd been going nearly four months now, and it was nothing like she'd thought it would be. The counselor didn't sit and judge her every word or, if she did, it didn't feel like it. It felt more like having a conversation with a friend who sometimes offered advice, sometimes just listened. It seemed to Peyton that the counselor truly cared about her as a person and didn't just see her as a paycheck.

She caught Nathan's eye and smiled when he winked at her. God, he was sexy. They still weren't having sex, except oral, but she felt like she would be ready very soon. She didn't tell him that though, just in case she wasn't quite there yet. She wanted to be sure this time before taking things further and discovering she wasn't as ready as she thought as she'd done twice before.

As promised, Nathan didn't push her, and he seemed content with the oral. Maybe he was. But she wasn't. She wanted him more and more each day, to the point where she could think of little else.

He made another basket and again she raised her pom-poms in cheer. He was on fire tonight, and that certainly didn't help her predicament.

He smirked at her now, and she knew that he knew exactly what she was thinking. But that was fine. There was no reason for him not to know how her body ached to join with his again. She rather enjoyed the ego boost it gave him, though it hardly needed boosting.

In the stands beside Ellie, Larry shook his head. "Arrogant little punk," he said, the same words he'd used countless times to describe the young, raven-haired Scott. He still used those very words—they rang so true—only these days they lacked the bitterness with which he used to say them. Over the last few months, much to Peyton's glee, Nathan had gradually stopped hiding his true self in front of her parents, to the point that he was openly cocky even in their presence. Larry, though he never thought it would happen, found the boy's superior confidence had grown on him, and he could even honestly say that he admired it.

Ellie chuckled beside him and agreed with his assessment. "That he is," she said, her gaze also on Nathan.

It was clear the boy loved and thrived on all the glory and attention of the spotlight, which was so very different from their daughter, but reminded them very much of Brooke. A few seats in front of them they could hear a group of girls giggling and commenting on how hot he was as they feigned fanning themselves. 'It should be illegal to be that hot,' one of them said.

He sunk another basket and shot another bemused smirk toward Peyton before resuming his position. 'She's so lucky,' another of the girls said dreamily.

"Damn show off is what he is," Larry told Ellie, also with a chuckle. "Why do we like this kid again?" he joked.

"Because he makes our daughter happy," Ellie answered, though she knew that wasn't the only reason.

"Oh yeah, that," Larry jested, but his eyes were serious as they landed on Peyton. A fixed smile on the young girl's face, she seemed to shine from the inside out. She looked truly happy. "I can't get over how beautiful she is," he said earnestly.

"Apparently neither can Nathan," Ellie laughed as she spotted his gaze again drift to Peyton. How on earth did he manage to play such a great game when he was so clearly distracted by his girlfriend?

It seemed Dan Scott also noticed the distraction for he promptly shouted at his son to get his head in the game. For all of Dan's progress, he was still strict when it came to basketball. That would likely never change.

Larry and Ellie couldn't help notice the forlorn expression on Nathan's face following his dad's public admonishment. Larry, surprising even himself, shouted out to Nathan that he was doing great.

It earned him a sharp glare from Dan, but Nathan didn't seem to hear him. They watched as the kid re-focused his attention to the game alone, with no more shooting glances to his girlfriend or playing to the crowd in general, putting his full concentration on the court.

And wow was it an astounding transformation to watch. The boy improved on a game they hadn't thought needed improving. But apparently Dan knew his son and what he was capable of. The other team didn't stand a chance when Nathan put his all into it, and a quick glance at Dan finally showed the man smiling proudly.

But then it happened. Nathan spotted number eleven from the other team making crude sexual gestures at Peyton, who was turned the other way, tying a loosened shoe lace.

Larry stiffened in his seat, fists clenching, wanting nothing more than to flatten this audacious son a bitch who disrespected his daughter so openly and shamelessly, obviously finding it funny, and even drawing a few cat-whistles from his teammates.

Ellie put a hand on Larry's arm, sensing his growing fury and halting any reaction he may have.

But no one stopped Nathan.

Before the cheerleaders had time to react, he was there, shoving the other guy hard, causing him to fall with a hard thud to the gymnasium floor.

The referee was quick to act, standing between Nathan and the fallen boy, and throwing them both out of the game, sending the entire crowd in an uproar. However, the referee would not be deterred and sent both boys to their individual benches, ignoring complaints from the audience and the glowering look he received from Nathan.

Peyton, unaware of what was happening until it was happening, shot her boyfriend a questioning look.

He didn't answer the unspoken question, but rather glared at the other kid, a silent but very clear threat in his hard, icy blues. To his satisfaction, the bastard, now standing, looked appropriately scared.

"Sorry, man," the guy said, shaking visibly. "It's just, she's hot, you know?" Wrong choice of words and he jumped back when Nathan took another threatening step toward him. Luckily the referee still stood between them so Nathan couldn't get to him, and pointed a finger to the bench in a silent command.

With one more black look to the referee, Nathan turned and nearly stomped his way to the bench, angrily plopping himself down on it and crossing his arms sulkily.

Larry felt his level of respect for Nathan rise so much more because he'd done what he'd had a mind to do, but, as an adult, couldn't. At least not without heavy charges of assaulting a minor being lain. It's not that Larry condoned violence, but the kid had it coming, and Larry definitely shared in the general consensus of the people who thought that Nathan should not have been kicked out of the game.

Dan just shook his head, more disappointed in Nathan than the ref. He knew better. Violence was not tolerated in basketball. He'd let himself be goaded into getting kicked out of the game by the other team, who, no doubt, were tickled pink to have Tree Hill's star player thrown out. Stupid kid had fallen for it. Well, at least they still had Lucas. The older Scott brother wouldn't lose his head the way Nathan did. That was one bright spot.

Even so, Dan couldn't help but think that the anger management classes they'd actually completed over the summer were a complete waste of time for his youngest son. Clearly he still let his temper get the best of him.

Another class he failed, Dan thought to himself. Nathan was going to hear about it from him.

It really was a good thing Lucas was on the team for, with his skills, the Ravens still claimed victory over their opponents. Nathan was glad for that. Maybe his dad would go easier on him because of it.

No such luck. As soon as the buzzer announced the end of the game, Dan was on the court laying into him for a good ten minutes before he finally stormed off in a huff.

Not so for Peyton. She was half smiling when she approached him. He couldn't help a guilty smile back.

"Have I ever told you how hot you are when you go all alpha male and possessive?" she teased lightly.

He rolled his eyes. She usually tended to ignore his spouts of violence if they were minor, or yell at him if they were so bad that he completely lost it on a guy. But she couldn't be mad about this. This wasn't some guy making eyes at her or even simply hitting on her. He'd openly and crudely disrespected her by making humping gestures behind her back.

"I wasn't being possessive," he denied. "That guy was..."

"I know," she cut him off. "The girls told me. Sorry you got kicked out of the game, but thank you for being such a protective boyfriend."

He glanced at her warily. "So, you're not mad?"

Shrugging her small shoulders, she said dismissively, "I was kinda hoping you'd punch him."

Tongue in cheek, he pulled her close. Of course she did. "I was going to but he fell after one push and then the ref was there."

"I saw that," she answered breezily. "You did push him pretty hard."

His turn to shrug. The guy deserved it. "I can still hit him if you want," he offered.

"Thanks, but I think he got the message."

Nathan nodded proudly. "He was practically crying," he boasted.

Peyton chuckled at the exaggeration. He did tell a tall tale, this gorgeous fiancé of hers. "So much for anger management, huh?" she couldn't resist rubbing in.

"Screw anger management," he replied. "No one messes with my girl."

She chuckled again, knowing the truth of that. Those who did dare mess with her paid the price, if not by her, then by Nathan. "You have community service now, right?" she asked, though she knew.

"Last two hours and I'm free," he said exuberantly.

"You're not gonna stay on with your mom?" Peyton questioned, since Deb had started volunteering her time at the centre for two reasons; one, to feel like she was doing some good, and two, to spend quality time with her son.

He shook his head. Despite his mom's and counselor Mitch's attempts to convince him to stay on, he just didn't want to. "It's good for my mom," he began, "but charity work's not really for me," he added. "Does that make me a bad person?"

"Of course not," Peyton answered. "If volunteering was for everyone, the whole world would be doing it and they'd run out of causes."

"Nice one," he said, impressed. "Mind if I use it on my mom next time she nags me about all the good I could be doing?"

"Go for it," Peyton permitted. "But what about those two boys, Tommy and Brandon?" she questioned, knowing Nathan had gotten somewhat attached to them. Probably because they idolized him, but still, he was fond of them. "You still gonna drop by and see them sometimes?"

"My mom said they're getting adopted," he informed her.

"Oh yeah? Together?"

"Yeah."

"That's awesome, Nate!" she exclaimed, recalling how during the summer he was upset that one couple was looking into adopting Tommy, but not his older brother. The adoption had fallen through for whatever reason, but before that had happened, Nathan had been troubled to think the two boys would be separated since they were so close and had gone through so much together.

"My mom said I'll like the couple," he told her. "They're supposed to be there today so I'll get to meet them."

Peyton laughed at the downplay of his wording. "You mean size them up," she said knowingly.

He laughed too. "Yeah," he admitted. "It's not like I have any say or anything, but I still want to check them out. Hopefully they're not creepy."

"If your mom likes them, I'm sure they're great."

"Hope so. So, what are you doing now?" he asked her.

"Brooke's," she answered. "Apparently she has something super important to show me."

"What is it?"

"She wouldn't say," Peyton answered with a shrug. "It's a surprise," she told him with a gleam in her eyes.

Nathan's eyes narrowed. "Why? It's not your birthday for almost three weeks."

"She said it's not a birthday present," Peyton revealed. "She was being all mysterious."

He laughed. "Of course she was. You're dying to know what it is, aren't you?"

"Edge of my seat dying," she admitted. "Wait. Do you know what it is? Cause if you do, you could just tell me. Promise I won't blow your cover."

He shook his head, humored by the fact she tried to fish information from him. She couldn't wait ten minutes to get to Brooke's house. "Sorry," he said. "First I hear of it," he added truthfully.

"Oh."

He chuckled at the sheer disappointment of her tone and gave her a light shove away from him. "Go," he said with a smirk. "Go find out what it is. You know you want to."

"I so do," she replied. "Kiss," she demanded first, which he happily obliged, before she sauntered away.

"Hey," he stopped her. "Text me when you know."

"I will."

"And find out if there's a surprise for me too."

"Will do," she laughed and then exited the gym.

It was only after he'd hit the showers that he started to wonder what her parents thought about him shoving that guy earlier. Shit, he'd forgotten they were in the stands today. He hoped they weren't mad about it. He didn't know that they were both ready to high-five him for it, and would have done so had Dan not been instantly on him following the game. They'd gone, not knowing how long Dan would be, figuring they'd mention it next time he came to the house.

Nathan shrugged the troublesome thoughts away. If they were mad, he'd have to deal with it, but there was no point stressing over it yet. He had to get to community service.

...

He had his own surprise waiting for him at the center. Deb was already there when he arrived—had left right after the game, knowing he had his own car at school—and she was smiling at him as soon as he walked in.

"They're here," she told him excitedly. She knew he was probably still miffed about being thrown out of the game, but this should cheer him up.

Nathan knew instinctively she referred to Tommy and Brandon's prospective adoptive parents. The couple, whoever they were, had already been pre-approved and were here now to meet the boys. If all went well, the kids could be moving with their new parents in as little as a few days. It would be a matter of filling in and signing all the necessary documents and that was it.

Nathan wasn't sure how he felt about it. Those kids deserved a good, stable home with good stable parents, and he hoped that's what they were getting. He worried that they weren't.

"Would you like to meet them?" counselor Mitch asked, knowing how fond he'd grown of the two younger boys.

Nathan shrugged his shoulders, unsure. Yeah sure he'd like to meet them, but he wasn't stupid. These people would put on a good show no matter what. But good first impressions didn't necessarily mean they'd be good parents. He knew that from his own parents who always appeared picture perfect in public. "I guess," he finally answered.

He was led to a room where the couple sat getting acquainted with the children, Deb squealing the whole way about how he was going to love them. But again, first impressions...

Deb wished she had a camera when Nathan spotted them. His brows rose in shock and his jaw nearly hit the floor.

"Hey, little nephew," he was greeted with that familiar, deep baritone. "Meet your new cousins."

"Potential new cousins," his wife corrected. It seemed to be going well, but she wasn't getting her hopes up. She wasn't about to take two emotionally traumatized boys home unless those two boys wanted to go.

Struggling to find his voice, Nathan stammered, "Coop? Jess? W-what...are you two...?"

"We are," Jess said, knowing what he was trying to spit out. "Well, as long as we're a good fit for them."

Nathan rubbed the back of his neck, confusion marking his features. They had three kids already, one still an infant. They wanted to take on two more?

Cooper recognized the puzzlement on his nephew's face. "Your mom told us about these two," he said. "And how they might be adopted separately. We couldn't let that happen."

Nathan's smile was instant and spontaneous, and the two men shared a quick, manly hug. He couldn't think of better parents than Cooper and Jess, his own parents included.

"Besides," Cooper said. "Like you said before, I'm outnumbered in that house. We need some more boys around."

"You'll still be outnumbered, sweetie," Jess teased.

Yes, he would be. With a wife and three daughters, the addition of two boys still wouldn't equal to the amount of girls in the house. "There are always more kids to adopt," he jested in return.

But Nathan realized he wasn't really kidding. He remembered then that Coop and Jess had always said they wanted a big family, but the problems with her last pregnancy made them leery to try for more the natural way.

"I've actually been thinking of adoption for a while," Jess revealed. "Ever since we first met Peyton and she mentioned it."

Nathan nodded in response. "She was adopted," he said.

"Yeah, she told me that."

Nathan turned his attention to the kids now. "So, how great is this?" he said enthusiastically. "You guys getting the coolest parents ever?"

When he received only strange looks in return, he had to consider that, to these two, Cooper and Jess were complete strangers. "Ok," he said to Brandon. "You know how you're always saying you want to be like me when you grow up, and Tommy here wants to be like you?"

"Yeah," Brandon responded cautiously.

"Well, this guy," Nathan went on, slipping an arm around Cooper, "is who I wanted to be like when I was a kid," he said truthfully. Cooper had seriously been his idol, and he still looked up to him quite a bit. "He's a Nascar driver," he added, as though that explained it all.

It did. Brandon's eyes lit up like the fourth of July. "Cool!" he exclaimed, followed by Tommy's repetition of the sentiment. The younger had no idea what that was, but if his brother thought it was cool, it must be.

"And," Nathan continued, now throwing an arm over Jess' shoulder. "This one used to be my babysitter, and she was so nice that I even wanted to marry her when I grew up."

That got a little less reaction than the race car thing, but whatever, he'd gotten the kids interested. And there begun a flood of questions and animated responses that filled the boys with excitement and fascinated awe.

Everyone in the room was happy and smiling.

...

"Is this really necessary?" Peyton asked with a giggle of the blindfold Brooke had insisted she wore before going inside her house.

"Yes," the brunette answered as she led the way up the stairs. "I told you I don't want you peeking."

"Couldn't you just trust me not to?" Peyton asked, making her way around easily. She knew Brooke's house like the back of her hand and had climbed her stairs so often, she didn't actually need to be led about, even with the blindfold.

"Umm, no. I love you P. Sawyer, but trusting you not to peek is not a risk I'm willing to take."

"You can't see it, but under this blindfold, I'm rolling my eyes," Peyton told her.

"Ever the sarcastic one," Brooke retorted. "Roll your eyes all you want, Blondie, but you'll change your attitude soon enough. I promise you'll love it. At least I hope you do."

"I'd better after this kinky move," Peyton replied. "I swear if you handcuff me next, I'm running."

"Uh huh, and how cute you'd look running around blindfolded and handcuffed," Brooke giggled. "Besides, then you'd miss the sheer greatness aka Brooke Davis."

Peyton chuckled out loud at the girl's high self-regard. "Could you and Nathan be any more alike?"

"Oh, he thinks I'm great too?" Brooke rasped in jest. "Remind me to thank him."

Before Peyton could respond, they came to a stop and Brooke ordered that the blonde close her eyes while she removed the bandana around her eyes. "Ok, open them," the brunette said a few seconds later.

And so she did. They were in Brooke's room—big surprise there. What was a surprise was the lacy wedding gown that hung from a hook before her. It was the most beautiful gown Peyton had ever seen and her breath hitched in her throat. She gaped at it for a long while, and it was several minutes before she could utter a single word.

She didn't notice how nervous her best friend looked until she looked at her and saw her wringing her hands, biting her lips.

"You like it?" Brooke asked, her voice shaky.

"It's gorgeous," Peyton said in awe. "But I don't understand. Are you and Chase...?"

"No," Brooke quickly responded. "I mean, maybe someday, but...?"

"So this is for me?" Peyton guessed, tears springing to her eyes.

Brooke nodded with a small smile on her lips. "My first Brooke Davis original. Are you sure it's ok?"

"Oh my God, Brooke!" Peyton shrieked. "It's better than ok. It's breathtaking. You are amazing, Brooke Davis."

Brooke squealed in delight. "I know," she returned vibrantly. "Ok, so normally measurements would have been taken first, but since I wanted to surprise you with it, I stole some of your clothes from your closet and guestimated at the rest."

"That's where all my missing clothes have gone."

"Yeah, sorry. You'll still have to try it on so that any alterations that have to be made can be done before the big day." Peyton would turn eighteen in just a few weeks, and they'd set the marriage date to the first Saturday after that, so time was of the essence. "What? What's wrong?" she panicked when she saw Peyton's expression had changed to a sorrowful one.

"It's just..." Peyton began. "You did all this and...how long did it take?"

"Hmm, not that long," Brooke lied.

Peyton called her on it.

"Fine. A while," Brooke amended. "But what's wrong? That is so not your happy face."

"I just feel bad that you put all this work into it and no one's really gonna see it," Peyton explained. "You remember we're basically eloping, right? Just a quick trip to Vegas and back."

Brooke shrugged her shoulders carelessly. "It's still a big deal, and you deserve to look like a beautiful bride on your wedding day, even if you guys are running off to do it."

More tears fell from Peyton's eyes. She couldn't help it. "Thank you, Brooke. This means so much. I love it."

Brooke shrugged again, not so carelessly this time. "I'm just glad to have at least some small part in my two best friends' wedding," she said a bit solemnly. "I always thought I'd be your maid of honor, you know?"

"Yeah. I did too," Peyton returned regretfully. She was supposed to be. "Hey, you can always come to Vegas. We're gonna need a couple witnesses anyway."

"That somehow doesn't hold the same appeal as maid of honor," Brooke stated. "But I'll be there. You can on it."

"Sorry it's not like we'd always planned," Peyton said.

"It's ok," Brooke assured her. "As long as it's what you both want."

Peyton simply nodded and turned her head to admire Brooke's remarkable design once more.

"So, is it?"

"What?"

"What you both want. Or is it what Nathan wants?"

"I want to marry him," Peyton said sternly.

"Yeah, but this soon?" Brooke questioned. "And without your friends and family around?"

"As nice as that would be," Peyton began reflectively, "most people don't approve so what can we do?"

"You could wait," Brooke stated suggestively. "I mean, most people don't get married in high school."

Peyton shook her head vehemently, her curls going to and fro. "No," she said. "Last time I mentioned waiting, Nathan practically blew a gasket."

"P..."

"Brooke, it's fine, ok? We're going to eventually get married anyway so what's the big deal if we do it sooner than later?"

Brooke took in the look of determination on the blonde's face and pressed her lips together to keep from saying more. Clearly Peyton would go ahead as planned whether she was ready or not, regardless of what Brooke said or of how she'd always imagined her wedding day to be like. It was for Nathan, Brooke knew. That meant there was no use trying to talk her out of it. So instead Brooke clapped her hands dramatically and insisted that Peyton try on the dress immediately.

She cried as soon as she saw Peyton in it. Surprisingly there were very few alterations to be made—just a little tuck here and there. It wouldn't take long at all. Guess she was better than she thought.

Peyton was revelling in the feel of the smooth material against her skin, but as soon as she noticed Brooke crying, she, of course, started up again. The girls hugged tightly as they'd done so many times before, both laughing at what emotional messes they were.

"Ok," Brooke said, pulling back and wiping her eyes. "It's probably a good thing you're not having an actual wedding if I'm like this now."

Peyton could only giggle and nod, her own happy tears continuing to flow. And they were happy tears. It didn't matter if she and Nathan were marrying much sooner than she would have chosen. She was marrying the boy she loved. How could she complain about that?

Her cell phone went off, signalling a new text. She pulled further away from Brooke, an instant smile gracing her lips when she looked at it.

"Must be Nathan," Brooke guessed correctly. No one else could make Peyton's entire face light up like that.

Peyton nodded absently as she read the message. She was thrilled for the good news about the boys. Wow, Coop and Jess. Who would have thought? She continued to read. "Cooper and Jess are in town," she said aloud as she texted her boyfriend back.

"Hot Uncle Cooper!" Brooke gasped, fanning herself dramatically. "He's still hot, right?" she asked. After all, it had been a while since she'd seen him. For all she knew he could be balding and have a giant beer belly by now.

Peyton put those thoughts away quick by responding, "As ever," not at all blind to the man's physique. "They want me to go over for dinner tonight."

"Oh, we are so there," Brooke said elatedly.

"We?"

"Hey, I missed it last time he was down. That is not happening this time."

Peyton chuckled and wiggled a finger in Brooke's face in mock disapproval, as though to lure her out of a pleasant day dream. "Chase Adams. Remember him? Your boyfriend?"

Brooke returned the gesture. "Nathan Scott. Remember him? Your fiance?"

"I'm not the one drooling and fantasizing. You did hear me say his wife's here too, right?"

Brooke shrugged an unconcerned shoulder. "Jess and I have a quiet understanding," she said of the woman who used to babysit Nathan, and occasionally her as well.

"Oh, this should be good," Peyton returned in mirth.

"Yeah. I use her husband as yummy eye candy, and...no, that's all."

"Ok," Peyton laughed. "Sounds like a good deal, for you."

"Hey, she married a hot guy. She should expect girls to fawn over him," Brooke excused.

"I'll be sure to tell her you said so."

"Go for it," Brooke said, unperturbed. "You'll have to get used to that too, you know?" she added.

"Girls drooling over Nathan?" Peyton asked incredulously. "Brooke, I think you know I got used to that a long time ago."

"Yeah, but he'll be your husband, not just your boyfriend."

"What's the difference?"

Brooke seemed to ponder that a moment and then shrugged. "Hmm, no difference, I guess," she said. "Anyway," she continued. "Let's get this dress pinned and off before, Heaven forbid, it gets dirty. I think I might actually cry if that happened."

"You would too," Peyton teased. Brooke stuck her tongue out at her. She did the same right back. In truth, she would probably cry too. "You know, I'm not sure I should be trusting you with a pin so near me while you're still hot over Nate's uncle."

"No fear, Goldilocks," Brooke returned smugly. "I can do both. It's called multi-tasking."

Peyton burst out into giggles, followed by Brooke doing the same.

"I love you B. Davis."

"You're just saying that cause I'm amazing and I made you a wedding dress," Brooke replied flippantly.

"Can you think of two better reasons?" Peyton quipped.

"None," Brooke replied agreeably before glancing up at her best friend. "I love you too P. Sawyer. And you're gonna make the most beautiful bride ever."

"Well, duh," Peyton replied in a very Brooke-like manner. "I'll be wearing a Brooke Davis original. How could I not look good?"