Sorry it's been so long. I don't know if there's gonna be a pairing other than friendship on this yet, I've been thinking about it since I started, but I can't seem to find one that really flows with the story except Nathan, and I'm not going there.

Peyton breathed in the scent of the familiar cologne and clung to Nathan's body as he bear hugged her. Brooke's hand was clamped over her mouth to muffle a sob, even as her other hand continued to rub Peyton's back in time with Nathan's own gentle rubbing.

"Good to see you Sawyer…well, not like this per say, but just to see you." Nathan stuttered nervously, his trepidation apparent and Peyton's body shook against his, whether from laughter or tears, or both, he couldn't tell from where her head was tucked into his chest. "You too Nathan, although I only see your shirt, it's a nice color."

And Nathan savored the light break in tension before he coaxed her to look him in the eye, his breathing hitching as he took in her battered form, despite the fact that her face was the only thing his eyes could focus on. That bastard had really hit her, and hard, and Nathan wanted to show "Derek" just how it felt to fight someone as angry as he was, someone more his own size. No one had ever inflicted such physical pain on someone he loved before.

And the fact that it was Peyton, his buddy, made it hurt even more because Peyton wasn't out to hurt anyone. And somehow she always seemed to have the worst luck, and it always seemed to show itself in tense moments before fading away like a scar that will one day be completely gone. But this time, it lingered. And they could only stand shocked in the sting of the awakening slap to their faces and await the next attempt.

The truth was that no matter what anyone tried to tell Peyton, that she would never be alone because one of them would always be with her, she would inevitably have to be by herself at some point, and that fear would get worse everyday as they waited to be driven insane with worry.

The realization was enough to make Haley want to smash Peyton's computer and throw up all at the same time. Instead, she settled for following after Lucas and Karen, shooting a look of disdain at Peyton's room as she stepped into the hallway. It was just too much to stay in the room as it was, knowing that the one behind it was still free…and watching.

Brooke saw the grip Peyton had on Nathan's shirt and laid a hand to Nathan's shoulder and shot a broken, half-reassuring smile to Peyton as Peyton watched Brooke in the reflection of the sliding glass door of her shower, finally moving her face so her eyes could peek out over the material of Nathan's shirt.

Brooke left the two alone in the room, closing the door behind her quietly. She, unlike Haley, was not able to control her anger at seeing the messages on the screen she'd missed, and she quickly flipped off the screen. And as she walked around Peyton's computer desk to the plug she stopped, her gaze locked on the wall. And her hands went to the wallpaper and her hands started tearing, but as some of the paper fell to the floor she stopped as she saw what was beneath it. The familiar wall of Peyton's had been destroyed and was replaced by words scribbled like a madman in permanent marker and covering every inch, horrifically making the pictures almost seem better.

She pulled her hands away like they'd been burned and caught her breathe, trying to remember what she'd been doing before she'd seen what she hadn't, but that's how the whole night seemed to be. But as the plug caught her sight she remembered, and she reached down and pulled it out forcefully from the socket. And seeing the webcam's plug as well, she did the same, throwing the cord to lay glaringly on the floor…but somehow, it didn't seem like enough.

Brooke flung herself to the floor beside Peyton's bed, her hand immediately grasping for something underneath it. And with the little light coming in through the window she was able to vaguely make out certain things under Peyton's bed, but she could not find the item she had been looking for.

"The bat's outside." Peyton said as Brooke looked up questioningly shocked at Peyton's presence in the doorway, Peyton finally stepping back into the room with Nathan's hands on her waist behind her.

Peyton moved her gaze from Brooke, smiling slightly at the pumpkin as she walked to stand next to it. Feeling the concerned stares of Brooke and Nathan fixed upon her back, she continued, "It's in the backyard."

"You know I tried grabbing for it, ya know?" Nathan had brought it over one night and made her promise to keep it so she always had something to protect herself with and she'd shoved it under the bed agreeing as she and Brooke cooed Nathan's protectiveness, making him blush and playfully swat their playful hands away from him, but being completely serious in his sentiments..

Nathan had always told her that when he was there, he was the man of the house, even though he'd only been 13 at the time. But he also knew that she needed to know how to handle herself. With the way Peyton talked back as good as she got when she wanted to, plus, with the argument prone Brooke, and the attention from guys they were already starting to get, Nathan wanted to make sure they knew how to handle themselves in a fight situation, just in case.

If he didn't teach them, how were they going to learn, their fathers' weren't around and they had no brothers other than Nathan. To say that his lessons didn't go very well when they started would not do the girls' horrid fighting skills justice. But he'd managed to teach the girls how to defend themselves, and if need be to initiate a fight.

And that's why he'd decided to teach them how to use a bat, so he talked the girls into a "field trip" to the batting cages.

Nathan had talked with Vegas and got him to agree to go, Brooke had a major crush on him and so she talked Peyton into it despite the fact that neither girl particularly wanted to go on a date to the batting cages when they could go to the mall or something. But Nathan had assured them that they were gonna have a great time. And it actually ended up being extremely fun and entertaining for everyone, but Vegas, even Marcus had hung out a while watching in amusement.

While they found it amusing at how many times Peyton missed the ball…more times than they cared to count…Vegas had just been exasperated. And after a bit of time and getting the timing down for the speeding balls, Peyton had gotten the hang of it and was getting some good hits when she'd gotten tired and gotten out of the cage, handing the bat to Brooke.

Brooke had managed to do even worse than Peyton had, a "disgrace" is what Vegas mumbled from beside Peyton and Nathan as Brooke missed another ball for a total of at least 25. And as she got frustrated, Vegas was getting ready to straight up leave, instead, opting to get himself a drink with a mumbled growl.

"Look at this, I'm getting callouses on my hands already and I haven't even hit the damn thing yet!" Brooke exclaimed as she backed out of the batters box and huffed with a pout in Nathan and Peyton's direction, only making them look at her with fake concern, their amusement easily showing as Peyton buried in face in Nathan's chest as Brooke missed number 26.

Nathan advised her, calling out, "Brooke, when you think you should swing, swing a second after that." And Brooke had stopped mid-swing asking, "What?" in a confused tone, only to be shocked as the bat finally made contact with the ball.

"Oh my God! I hit it! I really hit it!" Brooke jumped excitedly with a hand pump and a twirl, only to have to duck out of the way as the next ball came flying her way. "Hey!" She yelled pointing the bat at the pitching machine accusingly, sending the already laughing Nathan and Peyton into hysterics.

And as Brooke started hitting a few balls here and there, Vegas came back. He'd not been expecting the majority of the date to have been Peyton and Brooke making fools out of themselves in the batting cages, but rather him and Nathan taking turns hitting as the girls watched. Apparently, he didn't think that Nathan would usher the girls into the cages with full intention of letting them hit the entire time.

And as they were still mildly entertained to hear Vegas getting so upset over nothing, it was also starting to piss them off with each remark that he made. While they were having fun and joking, Vegas was being mean and serious. And one more crack and Brooke wouldn't be hitting a baseball, but Vegas himself. And with her improved swing she might get him.

"And to think you're gonna have to stop her." Peyton said to Nathan as Brooke stood hands on her hips arguing with Vegas inside the cage. And while Peyton was amused, Nathan wasn't, "What, why don't you have to?" And she laughed as Brooke stepped into Vegas' "space," "Because I didn't bring Vegas and his 'space.'" And Nathan had groaned amusedly as he kissed Peyton and rushed over to the bickering children.

He got there just in time to grab Brooke by her hips before she managed to slap Vegas right upside the head. And as much as he was tempted to let her do it, he pulled her away and over to Peyton, who looped their arms together, before walking them both to the car. With a quick look to Nathan, Peyton jingled her keys with her free hand telling him that they were starting to walk home without him and he should catch up when he was done dealing with Vegas. Nathan had nodded, smiling as Peyton guided a fuming Brooke away…how Peyton had learned to use the arm loop as a way to keep Brooke back from fighting without actually having to physically restrain her, he'd never know, but it sure as hell kept the two of them out of a lot fights cause once Brooke was in it, Peyton was in it, and vice versa.

Hell, Peyton and Brooke had stepped into a fight Nathan had been having with a group of the guys from the team during his hazing freshmen year, and had taken on two guys, leaving Nathan with only two to deal with. And while he'd been so freaking angry at them for doing it, he'd been thankful at the same time. But once they'd managed to get away unharmed, they were to never get involved. The two had agreed half-heartedly, knowing they would do it again if they needed to, he'd done it for them…many times.

So he was as proud the first time they'd brawled in the hallway with Teresa and Tim in junior high as he was at the Midnight Madness fight. Of course, he didn't want them to use fighting as a weapon, but he also didn't want them completely taken off guard if they did happen to get in a fight. It was like the fight with Nikki, he'd gotten a play-by-play from some of the guys on the team about how it happened, and Peyton had ended victoriously in the physical fight, having inflicted more pain on Nikki than she had received…because she knew what to do.

And although Peyton wouldn't give the same detail description of the fight, she had shown up the next morning with a box of snicker doodles, his favorites, and a meek smile knowing he would want to know about what happened from her. He'd waved her in with a grin at her unscarred body from the fight. He'd heard it was quite violent, 'not the typical girl fight' as one of the guys had described it, but she looked like she hadn't gotten into a fight at all.

The place was still pretty trashed, but he and Haley had been too tired to deal with it by the time they'd awoken and removed all the passed out people from the apartment, sending them on their way. "So Sawyer, I heard you went Tyson on Nikki last night." He joked trying to sound serious but the amusement and pride in his eyes gave him away and she responded with mirthful eyes, "I'd say it was more along the lines of the Rock, 'laying the smackdown' myself, but that works."

His face broke out in a wide smile and he started to shake his head in laughter, "Yeah, I heard you finally tried the flying spear right over the table…nice." And she laughed, "It seemed like a tackling moment," she commented, only for him to add, "Like the 'wicked' right hook moment preceding it, I suppose?" And looking at his beaming eyes, she nodded, "Yes, like that." And she leaned in as she said, "Who knew she'd fight like a girl with a mouth on her like that," she said repeating what he'd told Brooke the first time he'd seen her attempt at fighting, causing them both to dissolve into laughter.

When they'd composed themselves, Peyton had pushed Nathan back into bed with his wife, no convincing needed, as she went around and cleaned the apartment. She wasn't gonna allow Nathan and Haley to deal with the wreckage of the fight. And by the time that Nathan and Haley had dragged themselves out of bed around two, the apartment was spotless and the table that had been broken had been replaced with a new table, set up exactly where the old had been. They had been shocked, to say the least, Haley turned to Nathan in question, only receiving a one word answer, "Peyton."

And seeing a card with her writing on it propped up on the counter, he picked it up, a smile creeping onto his face as he read the first line in his head, "You, lucky friend of mine, owe me a bowl of Lucky Charms to go with my many charms, see ya Monday morning Nate."

"What does it say?" Nathan propped his elbows up on the counter as he read aloud to Haley on the other side of the counter, "It was a bitchin party, Hales! Sorry about the wrestling catfight last night, hope I replaced everything, if not let me know…this means it's your chance to lie and add a few things you marrieds want." And Nathan tilted his head in playful thought.

"Oh she doesn't need to do that, replacing the stuff was more than enough," Haley said, only making Nathan laugh as he continued reading, "Don't protest Haley, Nathan talk her into something." And Haley laughed, as well as Nathan as he finished, "Next party I'll teach you how to play quarters Hales, Bevin's getting tired of losing to Brooke and I. Talk to you later."

And Nathan shook his head seriously before telling Haley, "Do not let Peyton and Brooke make you drink anything strong when you play with them." And Haley had looked with question at him, "Why?" "Because every time they use something strong, girls, and scarily guys, bawl themselves into hysteria because of how fast they're spinning from just how drunk they are, it's not pretty."

And Haley rolled her eyes and laughed as Nathan added, "Ask Skillz or Bevin." And just as Haley started to nod through her giggles, Nathan continued, "Better yet, ask Lucas." And Nathan watched as Haley fell off the chair trying to breathe through the side cramp, but not being able to stop laughing at the image of Lucas sobbing drunkenly after losing a drinking game to Brooke and Peyton.

And Nathan knew that they would eventually meet someone who could hold their alcohol better, just like they would run into people whose fighting skills were superior to theirs. That's why he had made sure that Peyton and Brooke both had a bat in their rooms just in case.

"I left the bat leaning against the house in the back, I'd been teaching Psycho how to play lemon ball like we used to when we were kids." Peyton explained staring out the window, as understanding crossed Nathan and Brooke's faces as to what she had been talking about.

The three of them, along with the other neighborhood kids, had used to play baseball with the lemons that had fallen from the trees in their neighbor's yard. The tennis balls they used to use when they were younger would go too far on even semi-hard swings, so they had somehow come to realize that lemons worked great…and they looked really cool when they split open on home run swings.

Peyton, at Rachel and Brooke's party, had taken a few shots after her confrontation with Brooke and had left with "Derek" a little bit later. And as the two walked home, she had seen the lemon trees in a few of her neighbor's yard and her drunken self couldn't help but want to play.

So she had run onto her next door neighbor's lawn and grabbed a few of the lemons laying beneath the tree on the grass, and stumbled off the lawn onto the cement. She'd dumped the lemons into "Derek's" hands as she opened the front door and raced up the stairs. And moments later, she came bounding back down, slipping on the last step but catching herself as she rounded the corner.

With "Derek" in tow, the two went into the backyard and proceeded to play lemon ball, Peyton teaching "Derek" the rules as they went along. It must have been three o'clock in the morning when the two had finally collapsed in a heap of laughing smiles on the grass as the small backyard light illuminated the area just enough to see.

And as the two had dragged themselves into the house, Peyton had forgotten the bat…which turned out to be a greater mistake than she had anticipated.

And as Peyton's gaze stayed fixed on the now quiet street, Brooke and Nathan's eyes locked with worry for their friend. Her unflinching resolve to stand looking through the window seemed undeterred by the presence of others in the room.

And as a chill ran up Peyton's spine, her body shook momentarily before the wind's cold air subsided. Nathan automatically started into Peyton's closet to get her another jacket, only to stop. Hidden in the mess of Peyton's closet, he hadn't noticed Peyton's sketches before, but he almost wished he hadn't caught sight of the remains of Peyton's deepest feelings.

He turned to Brooke from Peyton's closet with regretful eyes as he tried to salvage Peyton's art from where it laid crumbled, crinkled, and some pieces even torn to pieces. And as Brooke stepped up to where he was kneeling on the floor, she put a hand on his shoulder and saw the drawing he was attempting to save, it was the picture of the infamous heart. And next to it were the pieces of Jake's face. But the emotion that Brooke saw in Nathan's eyes was directed at the only untouched piece of art Peyton had left and Brooke's hand flew to her mouth as she gasped …"sometimes they come back.".