Claudia walked into her and Brooke's living room. Peyton had done it up while Claudia was sleeping. It was so different to when Claudia and Nathan lived there. She walked into the living room to see Brooke and Lucas sucking each other's faces off.

"Oh, waaay too early in the day for me to see this." Claudia laughed and then her friends stopped.

"Well what hour would you prefer to watch us?" Brooke asked as she got off of Lucas.

"How about never o'clock? Or maybe, ah, I don't know, quarter after stab-out-my-eyes. Either one's really good for me." Claudia replied jokingly as she got food out of the refrigerator. "By the way, that couch has not been stain guarded yet. You may wanna get a room instead." Claudia said as she shut the fridge and got the glass out of the cupboard.

"Well, if we get a room, then you're gonna be stuck on this stainy couch." Brooke replied and Claudia nodded her head.

"That's a good point." Claudia said to Brooke who walked off into the bathroom. Claudia looked at Lucas.

"Brooke asked me to help her out." Lucas said as he walked up to Claudia.

"And by Brooke you mean... your part-time girlfriend, Brooke?" Claudia asked jokingly.

"We're gonna set up for the end-of-summer thing." Lucas explained and Claudia nodded her head.

"Hmm, what's up with that anyway?" She asked and Lucas frowned.

"Well, you see, there's a season called summer, Claudia, and when that ends, another season called fall starts right up." Lucas explained jokingly. Claudia mocked glared him as she smiled.

"Oh, OK, rephrasing – what's up with the part-time girlfriend stuff?" Claudia replied back.

"I don't know yet. Right now, we're on Brooke's terms." Lucas explained.

"Hmm." Claudia replied judgingly.

"But I'll keep you posted." Lucas replied smikring.

"Oh, gee, thanks." Claudia exclaimed sarcastically before she took a drink from her cup.

"I also came to check on you. You know, I was worried about you. Nathan was in a pretty bad mood this morning – at the Rivercourt." Lucas stated and Claudia lowered the glass. "I thought that might have something to do with you." Lucas finished and Claudia was shocked. She did not know Nathan was home and she felt horrible.

"Nathan's home?" Claudia asked stunned.

"You... didn't know he was back?" Nathan asked sympathetically. Claudia set the glass down, clearly hurt.

"No but why did I think he was going to tell me?" Claudia asked rhetorically.

"I'm sorry, Claudia." Lucas replied and Claudia walked into the closet and got her bag out. "I thought you knew." Lucas extended and Claudia slung her crochet bag over her shoulder.

"I have to go work my shift at the children's home but before I do I have to go see my husband. Tell Brooke I will see her tonight." Claudia replied before she walked out of the apartment.

___

Claudia had went to go see Nathan but saw Dan instead, that was a bust. She walked into the school gym where Nathan was lifting weights.

"Hey." Claudia said awkwardly and Nathan sighed and set the bar on it's hooks. He sat up. "I saw your car. I... I didn't know you were home." Claudia stuttered.

"Yeah, I know." Nathan said monotone as he dabbed the sweat off his face with a towel.

"Did you get the letters I sent?" Claudia asked and Nathan sighed heavily.

"Yeah." He replied arrogantly. Claudia couldn't believe how he was acting with her.

"It's good to see you." Claudia smiled

"Look, Claudia, I can't do this, alright?" Nathan said annoyed.

"What? You can't do what? You can't talk to me?" Claudia asked walking closer to him. He doesn't answer or face her. "You didn't even tell me you were home, Nathan. What were you gonna do, pass me in the hallway at school and not say a word?" Claudia asked annoyed with her husband. "Sorry to say this because you obviously don't want to hear this but we are husband and wife. You could have least told me, Nate." Claudia whispered a little.

"I didn't even know of you'd be in school!" Nathan replied as he stood up.

"I told you, I'm back for good." Claudia stated truthfully and Nathan looked down. "Anyway, um,... I don't know if you heard but I'm staying in our apartment. Brooke rented it and asked me to be her roommate." Claudia stated laughing.

"You and Brooke, huh?" Nathan asked raising his eyebrows. Claudia was glad to see he had changed his facial expression to surprised.

"Yeah. I did not see that coming. Oh, by the way, if this basketball thing doesn't work out, you may have a future as a painter, but if you want it to stick I suggest you paint the full wall." Claudia said looking at him pointedly. Nathan realised what she's talking about and looked down sighing. Claudia smiled. "Nathan,... we have some decisions to make." Claudia stated seriously.

"Yeah,... yeah, we do." Nathan stated looking at his wife.

"Yeah." Claudia whispered as she played with her wedding ring. She went straight to her ring because she was getting really worried about their marriage.

"Well, I have work." Claudia said pointing to the door. "But I will hit the beach tonight. End-of-summer party." Claudia explained and Nathan smiled as he put his bottle aside.

"OK." Nathan whispered and Claudia walked to the doors and looked back. Nathan went bag to the weights and took them off the pole.

"You've changed." Claudia muttered sadly.

"Yeah." Nathan stated pulling the weights off. "I guess I have you to thank for that." Nathan finished self-righteously. Claudia sighed a little.

"I have something for you." Claudia stated as she opened up her bag and searched through it. Nathan turned to face her confused. "I went into this basketball shop when I was in Virginia and they had this Michael Jordon bobble head." Claudia laughed a little as she took it out of her bag. "I thought you would have liked it." Claudia finished as she placed it on the bench beside him and walked out. She wasn't wanting to know his reaction. Nathan picked up the bobble head, he smirked a little as he looked down at it. The present was just so Claudia.

___

"Hiya sweetie." Claudia said as she walked into the local community centre. All of the lesser-privileged kids from the care home.

"Hi Claudia, are you singing today?" Jessica asked, she was seven year old orphan.

"I don't think so. I think I will just be colouring in with you today?" Claudia said and Jessica held onto her hand.

"Well let's go then." She smiled as she pulled Claudia over to the table with the rest of the children.

___

(Outfit + Hair)

"Claudia you look great! If Nathan doesn't see that then he is a jerk!" Claudia exclaimed as her and Haley walked out of the apartment.

"I hope so." Claudia replied as they walked into the car.

___

Claudia and Haley walked up to Lucas who was watching Brooke naked with a bunch of life guards.

"Well, at least she won't drown naked." Haley frowned hitting Lucas's shoulder. Claudia walked away from the friends over to the fire. Tim approached her with a guitar.

"Hey, Tutor Girl. Do your song." Tim said holding the guitar out for her.

"Ah, no, thanks." Claudia replied as she continued to walk.

"Why not?" Tim groaned and Claudia shrugged.

"Because I don't want to." Claudia shrugged.

"Oh, come on, don't be stuck-up. Look, I'll sing the Chris Keller part- " Tim rambled as Nathan came up behind them.

"Tim, I really don't wanna sing-" Claudia began to explain but Tim cut in.

"Just do it! Please," Tim begged and Claudia shook her head.

"I don't know- oh!" Claudia exclaimed as Nathan grabbed the guitar and threw it onto the bonfire as he walked. The crowd cheers. Tim look at him like he was a puppy dog.

"Nathan's back!" Tim exclaimed as he rushed off after him. Claudia looked at him with a smile before she saw the burning guitar. Nathan made his feelings pretty clear.

"Thank you." Claudia shouted awkwardly before she walked the other direction. She didn't really think her husband was in any mood to talk to her.

___

"Hey, girly. I left you like a million messages. Where you been?" Claudia asked smiling at Peyton, who was standing a the DJ deck.

"Around." Peyton stated uncaringly. Claudia quickly understood that Peyton was not happy with her and she looked away.

"Drinking, huh? I should probably join you with the night I'm having. It's like... Tim wants me to play; Nathan won't even talk to me." Claudia groaned and Peyton glared at her.

"Well it's not like you don't deserve it!" Peyton shouted before she placed on the Chris and Claudia's song - 'Don't know how'. Claudia thought at her husband and friends she had lost. Nathan approached her and stood in front of Claudia.

"Hey?" Nathan said standing next to Claudia. Claudia looked over at her. "Can I talk to you?" Nathan asked and Claudia grinned nodding as they walked off onto the beach.

"Sure, tonight could get better." Claudia smiled cynically. Claudia didn't want to take things out on Nathan but she hated how she was blamed for everything. All she did was follow her dreams.

The song was still playing. "I wanted to say I'm sorry. I should have told you I was back in town." Nathan stated and Claudia smiled.

"It's OK. I should also apologise for calling you a porn freak when you answered your door. I was just really nervous and it came out. I was trying to be cool but I am still a nerd." Claudia rambled on and then she stopped laughing.

"Not really, I should of told you I was back." Nathan replied and Claudia tucked her hair behind her ears. "Look, I've been avoiding you because I'm still mad, Claudia about everything. And I don't see that changing anytime soon." Nathan explained but Claudia did not say anything- she was too upset. "You know the last two times I came to the beach? For our wedding, and to burn the Wedding Wall." Nathan finished and Claudia looked annoyed.

"So that's what happened to it." Claudia muttered to herself not looking at Nathan.

"Well, first I broke it in half with the keyboard I bought you. And then I burned it." Nathan explained and Claudia scoffed. She pissed off and upset, Nathan wasn't making it any better.

"My mum said I was going to be a heartbreaker, I didn't think I was going to be that bad." Claudia jokes cynically as she looked down at the sand. Nathan could tell she was hurting.

"I'm sorry." He stated because he realised that Claudia was upset.

"Nathan,... I need to ask you something and I really don't want you to take it the wrong way." Claudia said standing still. Nathan stood still and waited. "I need to know what you want from me, or from us. Where are we now?" Claudia asked and Nathan sighed.

"I don't know." He replied seriously

"What do you want us to be?" Claudia asked.

"I don't know, Claudia. I can't answer that right now." Nathan said and Claudia walked up to him.

"I can. I want us to be together." Claudia stated surely.

"Why?" Nathan asked and Claudia looked upset. "I mean, we're so far away from... who we used to be. Why even fight for it?" Nathan asked and Claudia looked at him certain.

"Because I love you, because we are husband and wife, because when I have not fought for something I love?" Claudia replied sighing a little. Nathan looked away sighing.

"Well, listen,... basketball season's coming up and I'm... I'm gonna concentrate on that. So,... you should do your thing, whatever it is; school, music. Something other than me." Nathan explained and Claudia looked hurt. "Because,... I really don't know when I'm gonna be ready for us again. Or even if... I'll be ready for us at all." Nathan shrugged and Claudia looked stunned, her mouth was gaping over.

"Oh, Nathan, don't say that, god!" Claudia exclaimed distraught.

"Claudia, I'm not saying it to be mean... OK? I don't... I don't like hurting you. I'm just trying to be honest." Nathan stated and Claudia did not even look at him. "I'm gonna head back. Alright?" Nathan stated uncomfortably before he walked off.

"Nathan!?" Claudia called and he stopped and turned back around. "I am not going anywhere or giving up on you." Claudia shouted and Nathan nodded his head.

"Okay and thanks for the gift." He stated before he walked away. Claudia sighed sadly as she looked up at the star speckled sky.

___

People were still partying and Claudia sat on the rocks. Lucas and Haley so how upset she was and walked up to Claudia. Lucas sat on her and Haley sat on her right.

"And then..." Lucas sighed as he leaned back, "there were three." Lucas said as they looked their upset friend. "Hey, it's not so bad. This is how we started last school year and look how good that turned out." Lucas continued and Claudia laughed humourlessly. Haley stood up and outstretched her arm.

"Let's take a walk." She said and Lucas and Claudia stood up. Claudia grabbed Haley's hand and they all hugged. Lucas looked over at Brooke dancing with the lifeguards.

"Give me a minute." Lucas said as he walked up to them. Claudia and Haley chatted until Lucas walked back up to them, the party was still raging.

"It's gonna be OK, Claudia. As a matter of fact, I... think it's the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Lucas explained swinging his arm around both of his friends shoulder.

"Again." Haley laughed and the rest of them joined in. It was like old times for a moment. It was like the days before Lucas joined the team and Claudia met Nathan.

"Let's be losers for another year. It's less drama." Claudia sighed and they all nodded their heads.