Claudia was sitting on her bed, she had been up all night worried about Nathan. He had not came home. She was still in her formal outfit, except her mascara was smudged down her face.

"Claudia." Lucas said from the other end of the phone.

"Hey!I'm sorry to bother you so early, um Nathan and I had a fight last night and he didn't come home and -" Claudia said dishevelled through obvious lack of sleep. Lucas cut in.

"I talked to him, he is okay." Lucas said through the phone as he sat on his bed.

Oh well, do you know where he is?" Claudia said as she walked into the kitchen. 

"No." Lucas said shaking his head.

"OK, well. The next time you talk to him, can you... ask him to come home please?" Claudia asked distraught as she sat on the counter, binge eating oreos.

"OK, I will. Alright, well look, don't worry yourself OK Claude? I'm sure he's fine. Alright?" Lucas laughed. "Just put down the oreos, you have a severe addiction." Lucas joked, it was amazing how he could tell she was eating the oreos.

"Ok. Bye." Claudia laughed as she shut her phone. However, Lucas had lied to Claudia. Nathan was actually sleeping on Lucas' floor on some duvets.

"Thanks for covering for me man." Nathan said as he began to sit up.

"You're welcome but it sucked!" Lucas groaned as he picked up his bag. "I don't wanna lie to Claudia." Lucas continued annoyed with himself.

"You just did." Nathan yawned. Lucas sat on his bed in front of Nathan, who was still on the floor.

"Why don't you go home? Work it out. It... didn't sound like Claudia was going to school anyway." Lucas suggested, because he knew that Claudia needed Nathan. Claudia was already pretty upset about Haley leaving and music helped her. "She's need someone to be with her right now especially with Haley gone." Lucas explained and Nathan groaned at the last bit.

"Yeah, why would they have the Formal on a Sunday?" Nathan asked as he rubbed his eyes.

"I dunno; to keep the students from partying, getting wasted." Lucas said before he pointed to Nathan. "Arguing with their wives." Lucas joked.

"Yeah, well it didn't work." Nathan muttered before he changed the subject. "How'd it go with Anna anyway?" Nathan asked.

"Well, lets just say we didn't exactly end the night together." Lucas answered evasively. 

"Who'd you end up with?" Nathan asked but before Lucas could answer there was a knock on the door. Brooke opened the door. She looked at them and then down at Nathan. Nathan scoffed, understanding what she meant. 

"Only in Tree Hill." Nathan stated and Lucas laughed.

"Ew, you two realise you're related right?" Brooke asked at the two half-brothers.

"Hi Brooke." Nathan said standing shirtless.

"Double ew if Tutor Wife is here." Brooke stated as she leant on the table.

"She's not. What's up?" Lucas asked smiling.

"Um... my car is now out of commission, thanks to my jealous, spiteful stain of a neighbour... and I was sort of thinking... that... you might wanna walk to school together." Brooke replied shrugging. Brooke smirked as she looked over at Nathan. "Unless of course, you're waiting for your 'Boytoy' here." She joked.

"Go ahead. I'll catch up with you guys later." Nathan replied waving them off.

___

(Nathan opens the door and enters, still in his Formal wear. He sighs and closes the door. Haley emerges from the bedroom and walks to him.)

Nathan opened the front door to the apartment and entered, still in his formal wear. He sighed and closed the door. Josie and Tom were sitting on the couch.

"Nathan, son. Hi." Tom smiled as him and his wife Josie got up and walked over to him.

"Hi." Nathan smiled weakly.

"Claudia, filled us in on everything and we know you both will work it out." Claudia explained smiling at her son and law. "Claudia, we are going." Josie shouted as she grabbed her coat before her and her husband walked out.

"Bye mum, dad." Claudia shouted as she walked out of the bathroom. She had changed into one of Nathan's jumpers and shorts. She saw Nathan and she crossed her arms over.

"Hi." Claudia stated. "Sorry. I was um... I was wrong last night and... I found your letter from the camp and I want you to go." Claudia continued, she was tired of fighting.

"It's not about the camp, Claudia." Nathan replied tired of fighting as well. "It's about trust." He said and they both looked at each other. Neither of them said a word for a long, brief moment." I want you to stop working with Chris." Nathan stated and internally Claudia was frozen, she couldn't move.

"He's incredibly talented, Nathan." Claudia stated hugging herself in his jumper.

"I want you to stop seeing him." Nathan said sterner. Claudia didn't say anything, she was getting sadder by the second before she finally answered. 

"I won't do that. What is this the 1950's?" She asked rhetorically. Nathan didn't respond and quietly walked out of the apartment. Claudia looked at the empty space that Nathan once occupy with a feeling of regret and anger.

___

Lucas was sat on his bed, reading a book. There was an urgent knock on the door. Claudia entered.

"Can I give you a piece of advice?" Claudia asked.

"Nice to see you too." Nathan joked.

"Next time you wanna lie about something, you might wanna make sure your mom is in on it. She told me about Nathan sleeping here last night." Claudia stated shutting the door behind her.

"Claudia," Lucas said as he held his hands up defensively, "Nathan just needed some time. If you were here, I'd have done the same thing." Lucas explained and Claudia opened up her mouth to argue. 

"Lucas Eugene Scott!" Karen screamed for another room, Claudia looked at the doorway. 

"That sounds bad." Lucas stated worried.

"Eugene?" Claudia asked amused. Lucas looked at Claudia with his mouth opened but he just sighed. An angry Karen walked into the room.

"Why would you lie to me!?" Karen exclaimed pissed off.

"Yeah, get in line." Claudia mumbled, Lucas looked at Claudia before he returned his attention to his mom.

"Mom, what are you talking about?" Lucas asked confused.

"Dan's heart condition." Karen said accusingly."Is it genetic?" Karen asked annoyed.

"Yes." Lucas sighed as he looked down.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Karen asked in a less raised voice, Claudia started to look worried. "What kind of doctor doesn't call me?!" Karen asked and Lucas sat up from the bed and placed the book down.

"Mom, I told him you were in Florence." Lucas admitted.

"Why?! When there's a fifty percent chance you have a genetic heart defect!" Karen shouted and Claudia looked at Lucas worried. 

"Nathan-" Claudia mumbled worried.

"No, he's... fine. He doesn't have it. He took the test." Lucas said intervening. Claudia had to go see him. She had to say sorry for how rude was. She didn't want to lose him.

"But you didn't?" Karen stated with a raised brow and hands on his hip.

"Who told you?" Lucas nodded.

"You are taking that test." Karen replied sternly.

"No! I'm not." Lucas shouted back.

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?! HOW CAN YOU BE SO RECKLESS AND CAVALIER ABOUT A POTENTIALLY FATAL CONDITION?" Karen shouted in complete shock. Claudia now knew this wasn't her place.

"I'm gonna go home." Claudia said softly as she waved. Lucas watched her leave.

___

Claudia sat at the kitchen counter, waiting for Nathan. She picked up the bracelet that he gave her on his first ever tutoring session. She smiled and put it on. The door opened and she turned to it. Nathan entered and closed the door behind him. Claudia ran up to him and hugged him tightly, she never wanted to let him go.

"What going on with you?" Nathan asked confused, he thought Claudia was annoyed at him.

"I heard about you heart test." Claudia whispered upset.

"I'm fine." Nathan said as he looked down at her as they pulled out of the hug.

"Are you sure?" Claudia asked and Nathan nodded his head. "I'm not gonna see Chris anymore." Claudia said as she shook her head. "I don't want it to come between us. I just-I don't want anything to come between us." She admitted as she hugged him again, Nathan hugged her tightly too and smiled. 

___

"Hey." Claudia said as she walked into the recording booth where Chris had just finished singing. He turned to face her and smiled.

"Hey." Chris replied.

"Sounds good." Claudia complimented.

"Thanks. It's getting there, you know." Chris nodded his head modestly.

"Uh, listen. I uh... I hope you know how much I appreciate everything that you've done for me." Claudia said smiling weakly as she sat down. Chris understood where this was going and nodded his head. "Um... But I-I don't... really think we should work together... anymore." Claudia finished upset.

"So it got to you?" Chris asked and Claudia looked at him confused. "Nathan." He spat.

"No, I just, I think it's for the best. You know?" She replied. Chris stood up.

"Well... it's just as well. You know those... labels from New York?" Chris asked and Claudia stood up nodding her head. "They offered me a... showcase. I think I'm gonna take it." Chris continued and Claudia was sincerely happy for him.

"Wow, that's great Chris." She said pleased for him, Chris at that moment in time just couldn't stop looking at her. He loved the way she spoke, they way she dressed and he liked her a lot.

"Yeah. I'm leaving tonight, so I won't be able to... play the show at TRIC anyway." Chris shrugged and Claudia looked sad. "So... I guess this is goodbye." Chris continued and Claudia smiled and nodded her head. She walked up to them and they hugged.

"Thanks." She muttered before Chris called on her.

"Wait, Claudia, come here." Chris said softly before he kissed her. Claudia did not do anything to stop him, instead she kissed him back. They separated and Claudia looked at him confused and overwhelmed. 

"What are you doing?" Claudia asked in a whispered voice.

"Claudia." Chris muttered but Claudia shook her head.

"Is that what this was all about; you just hitting on me?" Claudia asked hurt.

"Claudia, it's OK." Chris replied.

"No, it's not OK. I ca- I can't believe-" Claudia stuttered.

"I want you to take this." Chris said and Claudia continued to speak over him.

"You just did that." She muttered as Chris gave her a bus ticket. 

"Come with me to New York." Chris said and Claudia took the bus ticket and looked at it in shock.

"What!?" She exclaimed. "In case you missed something: I'm married!" Claudia said as she stopped looking at the ticket.

"So you made a mistake. Are you gonna let that keep you from the rest of your life, Claudia?" Claudia asked and Claudia shook her head.

"I did not make a mistake!" Claudia argued sternly.

"Claudia, you owe it to your music. You owe it to yourself. Your dreams are a bus ride away.  I know you want this Claudia." Chris explained looking at an upset Claudia. Claudia looked at him unconvincingly.

"No, you're wrong, I don't. I don't want it; I don't want any of it." Claudia replied as she gave him the ticket and walked to the exit.

"It was always there between us, Claudia." Chris said in a last attempt. It worked. Claudia stopped and turned to face him. "Whether you admit it or not." Chris stated and Claudia left- confused. 

___

Claudia was sitting at the piano as she began to play 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow?'. It was the first ever song she learned on the piano, she loved the lyrics to the song. Nathan in the hallway and listened to her play the song. However, this time she wasn't singing along.

"Hey, I have an idea." Nathan smiled as she walked over to her, Claudia quickly turned around and faced him.

"Shoot." She smiled weakly, all she could think about was Chris and the tour.  

"How about I make you dinner tonight?" Nathan suggested smiling. Claudia laughed.

"Seriously?" She stated and Nathan nodded his head. Claudia raised an eyebrow.

"Okay so I will order some weird vegetarian from your favourite place." Nathan admitted and Claudia laughed before she placed both hands on his face.

"I love you so much, Nathan Scott." She whispered before she kissed him and all she could think about was her kiss to Chris. "But, I have to do something real quick." She said getting up and putting on her coat. "I will be back for tea, I promise." Claudia smiled at Nathan before she left quickly.

___

Chris stood before the woman checking his tickets before people got onto the bus.He waited, hoping that Claudia would show. He was just about to hand his ticket over but stops when he sees someone walking towards him. He placed his bag down and smiled as Claudia appeared> She stood in front of him, smiling slightly.

"I knew you'd come." Chris stated nodding his head.

"I..." Claudia looked down and whispered. "I was sitting at home playing Carole King next to Nathan and I just ended up here." Claudia said as she looked up and wiped her tears away.

"Number 42 now departing for New York City; gate 5." The intercom said and Chris turned to the speaker then took out Claudia's ticket. Claudia looked down at it. 

"You ready?" Chris asked and Claudia looked at him without moving a muscle.