Brooke and Claudia were in the girls locker room, Claudia was smiling uncontrollably.

"OK, I know you're new at this, but the cheeriness stops when we lose." Brooke sighed and Claudia was still smiling.

"Hey, I'm sorry we lost but Nathan's gonna need 'consoling'." Claudia replied and Brooke gaped at her.

"And you're the consolation prize?" Brooke asked and Claudia turned her head partially while she smirked. "Oh, I like the way you think, roommate." Brooke laughed as she nudged, Claudia laughed as she turned around fully.

"Good, because, um,... I've got dibs on the bedroom tonight." Claudia said nervously and Brooke was surprised.

"Are you issuing a pre-emptive scrunchie?" Brooke asked impressed and Claudia's smile revealed all. "Anything for love." Brooke stated and Claudia grinned.

"Thank you, you're the best. See you guys later." Claudia exclaimed pleased before she walked out of the locker room.

___

Claudia walked up to Dan and Nathan nervously. She couldn't stand Dan, who could? Dan smirked at her.

"Claudia, wow, look at you; you're absolutely 'glowing'." Dan said tauntingly and Claudia rolled her eyes. Nathan gave his dad a warning look.

"Well 'glowing' is a lot better then hooker," Claudia smiled sickly and Dan smirked at her before he walked off. Claudia looked up at Nathan. "Hi." She laughed awkwardly.

"Hey." Nathan smiled and Claudia looked down at the ground.

"I'm sorry you lost. You looked really hot, though." Claudia smirked looking up at him and Nathan laughed.

"Yeah, thanks." He replied and Claudia stood up straight.

"So I was thinking about making dinner but I can't eat it all by myself." Claudia started to say smiling up at Nathan. "So you should join me, and maybe I can cook breakfast as well?" Claudia asked smiling as she laughed. Nathan shifted uncomfortably and looked at his father who is talking to a couple. Dan looked back at him.

"I'd love to." Nathan replied and Claudia grinned. They walked off together with their arms round each other.

___

Claudia was making her favourite mac and cheese- 'food of the gods'

"OK, just try a little bit of that." Claudia smiled as she held out the large spoon with mac and cheese on it for Nathan. He tried it.

"Too much mac, not enough cheese." Nathan replied and Claudia dumped the spoon back into the bowl. Nathan pulled a photo album towards him.

"So, uh, what were you and Dan talking about after the game?" Claudia asked, trying to start up a conversation. Nathan was being quiet.

"Oh, um,... just the, the usual – Dan trying to control my life." Nathan replied avoiding eye contact. He looked at picture of Jake and Peyton holding Jenny and then a picture of Jenny on her own, dressed in pink with a pink wand.

"Look how cute she is." Claudia smiled fondly as she grated more cheese. Nathan looked at her worried, all he could think about was what Dan said to him about Claudia having a baby with him just so they would stay together. Claudia accidentally grated her finger.

"Ow! Oh!" She moaned in pain as she turned away.

"You OK? Let me see." Nathan asked worried as he stood up and walked to her. She held her hand out to him. "Oh, yeah, you just grazed it. Let me get you a band aid." Nathan said and Claudia smiled up at him.

"Kiss first." She smiled and he kissed her before he walked into the bathroom. She turned away and sucked the blood from her thumb.

In the bathroom, Nathan was looking for bandaids. He found a pill tub and frowned at it. Brooke walked in and spotted him.

"What're you doing?" Brooke asked as she smiled suspiciously.

"Oh, I was just looking for band aids." Nathan smiled as he placed the pills back, he was happy to know that Claudia was on birth control.

"Well, buddy, you found my birth control patches." Brooke smirked and then Nathan realised that maybe Claudia wasn't on them. "Those... fix a whole other problem. Next cabinet." She stated before she left the bathroom. Nathan opened up the next cabinet and found the bandaids but no more birth control. He reached up and kept on rummaging.

"OK, the bedroom is all yours! I'll be sleeping on the couch all night; praying I don't hear the boring married sex!" Brooke exclaimed as she walked into the kitchen. She pulled out a letter and read it. Claudia turned away from her with a grin. "Oh my god!" Brooke exclaimed and Claudia turned back to her sharply. "Congratulations, your designs have been selected to appear at this years Rouge Vogue showcase!" Brooke exclaimed as she read that off of the letter.

"Cool, what's Rouge Vogue?" Claudia asked impressed.

"It's like a competition for emerging fashion designers in New York! 'Your designs will be modelled for all the major labels.'" Brooke said before she continued reading it out loud.

"Brooke, that's so awesome! I didn't even know you applied." Claudia replied shocked.

"I didn't. That's why this is so bizarre!" Brooke laughed shocked.

"Wait a second." Claudia smirked, she realised something. "Remember last year; Lucas submitted Peyton's artwork to THUD magazine?" Claudia asked and Brooke smiled.

"Oh, you're right. This has Lucas written all over it. He is so sweet!" Brooke gushed as she read the letter again.

"Unless, of course, he's being a total jerk and quoting my letters to me which I am getting back, by the way! I'm gonna Google this." Brooke said as she held the letter up. (holds the letter up)

"OK, but not in the bedroom-" Claudia began to shout but then she stopped and sighed when Brooke ignored her and shut the bedroom door. "Still bleeding, here." Claudia shouted just as Nathan walked off with the band aid. He stripped off the plastic backing. "What took you so long?" Claudia asked confused.

"I, uh, I couldn't find it." Nathan stuttered as he walked towards her, she held her finger out. "Claudia, um, the other night when we were together, um, I mean, we're good with birth control, right?" Nathan asked as he placed the band aid on her finger. "You're still on it?" Nathan asked and Claudia sighed a little.

"Yes obviously, but the night when we did it, I was not on it." Claudia replied and Nathan looked away. "I'm sorry, I know it was stupid, I just, um,..." Claudia said slowly as she ran her fingers through her hair.

"Yeah, I g-I gotta go." Nathan sighed as she turned and walked away.

"What?! What-why-what is this?" Claudia asked confused as he walked up to him.

"I can't believe my dad was right." Nathan groaned to himself and Claudia stood still.

"You talked to Dan about this?!" Claudia exclaimed as Nathan opened the front door. "Nathan! Nathan, please don't walk out! You do it all the time!" Claudia shouted after him, he turned around to face her annoyed.

"That's because it keeps me from saying things you don't wanna hear!" He shouted before he slammed the door shut in her face. Claudia sighed as she shook her head.

___

Brooke walked up to Claudia and called dibs on the bedroom tonight and Claudia looked at sad, because of Nathan.

"Whats up?" Brooke asked as they sat down on the bench together.

"OK,... when Nathan and I slept together, we kind of,... weren't protected." Claudia explained awkwardly and realisation dawned on brooke.

"No wonder he was snooping through the bathroom! Claudia, you're usually little miss responsible. I am all for the sex part, but I kinda wanna slap you for the lack of protection part." Brooke replied.

"Brooke, I know about birth control, OK? My mum sat me down a long time ago and asked me what I was more afraid of getting: herpes or pregnant." Claudia groaned.

"And what'd you say?" Brooke asked confused.

"Mum I am seven years old, I have not kissed a boy." Claudia laughed.

"Your mom was progressive." Brooke replied impressed, Claudia looked away and Brooke leaned forward. "You're not... pregnant, right?" Brooke asked and Claudia shook her head.

"No, and I'm on the pill now." Claudia said truthfully and Brooke nodded her head.

___

"Nathan is outside, in the living room." Brooke said as Claudia sat on her bed. Claudia was shocked.

"What why?" She asked as she stood up, Brooke began to shove her out of the room. Lucas patted her on the shoulder before she walked into the bedroom, Brooke closed the bedroom door.

"Did you think about it? Having a baby to stay together?" Nathan asked Claudia, Claudia glared at him. She sighed and shook her head.

"Nathan, I am seventeen. I am still in high school. I know I love you and all but having a baby to stay together would make me psychotic!" Claudia explained as she walked into the kitchen. "I am a lot of things but not a psycho." Claudia added, laughing a little.

"You knew you weren't protected that night." Nathan replied and Claudia glared at him.

"Well, first of all, it takes two; guy without a condom." She said pointing at him. "Second, the only thing that I was thinking about that night was being with my husband." Claudia continued. "Also I am pissed off that you would think that." Claudia frankly.

"Then why'd you go off birth control?" Nathan asked and Claudia dropped the box of oreos on the counter.

"Because I was on tour and you weren't with me, and contrary to what you were thinking, I wasn't sleeping with Chris Keller!" Claudia exclaimed annoyed before she bit into an oreo.

"I never said that!" Nathan shouted and Claudia rolled her eyes. "You still should've told me, Claudia." Nathan stated and maybe he was right, maybe Claudia should of told him sooner.

"What that when you have sex there's a risk of pregnancy?!" Claudia exclaimed. "Do you need a tutor for sex ed as well?" She asked rhetorically. "I thought you aced that class, with your own experience and all." Claudia stated harshly.

"Maybe you failed that class then." Nathan replied and Claudia was fuming.

"You should have told me that having sex turns you into an ass!" Claudia shouted as she walked closer to him, into the kitchen.

"Claudia, what if something would've happened,... huh? That would've changed our lives forever!" Nathan replied.

"You mean like, marriage?!" Claudia shouted back, she hated fighting with Nathan but she sure as hell was not going to take the blame for this.

"I know we're married. I'm talking about basketball, my career." Nathan said in a low tone and Claudia looked at him wide-eyed.

"So what am I the desperate wife who is in love with the husband who has all the dreams and goals? Are you serious?" Claudia shouted back, Nathan placed a hand to his head and look down. "I'm not that desperate, Nathan." Claudia stated sternly. "If you were so worried then why didn't you not stop us, you can't not blame me for this. It's your responsibility too." Claudia stated smartly.

"You're right; it is my responsibility." Nathan replied and Claudia stood up straight, she was confused. "Let me see the pills." He ordered and Claudia sighed.

"Is this a joke? I can not believe you still don't believe me!" Claudia groaned as she walked through her bag and rummaged through it She pulled out the pills. "Here!" She exclaimed as she held them up before she slammed them into his chest. "Take em! I sure as hell don't need them." She stated tearfully as she walked to the door.

"Claudia!" Nathan called as she opened the door, she turned back to him.

"Your future as a basketball player is totally secure; you're future as my husband, not so much!" Claudia shouted. "By the way, when you leave try not to trip over your ego." Claudia hissed angrily before she slammed the door angrily. Nathan looked at the door regretfully.

___

Claudia was looking at Peyton's door that read 'Bands We Have' and underneath the names written were 'Strays Don't Sleep', 'Nada Surf' and 'Jimmy Eat World'.

"Peyton, you got these bands to play on the CD? That's incredible!" Claudia exclaimed impressed.

"Yeah, well, we still have a few slots to fill." Peyton smiled as she joined Claudia at the door. "In fact, we're expecting an answer from one musician a day." Peyton smirked and Claudia grinned at her.

"Who's that?" Claudia asked intrigued.

"Our favourite english musician, Claudia Scott." Peyton grinned and Claudia looked at her stunned. "Whaddaya say?" Peyton asked and Claudia grinned.

"I say hell yes!" Claudia laughed, she was so excited.

"Alright." Peyton smiled before she wrote Claudia's name on the door.

___

Claudia was sitting at a table doing homework when Nathan walked around her and sat down. Claudia continued to look at her homework.

"Hey." Nathan said, Claudia looked at him. "I'm sorry, Claudia. We lost two games and my dad was making me crazy." Nathan explained and Claudia turned fully towards him.

"You know, I am... really sick of hearing you say that." Claudia groaned. "Here's an idea – if you don't wanna be like Dan, don't." Claudia suggested before she took a deep breath. "Are you only with me to stick it too your dad, because right now that is how it feels?" She asked nervously as she looked down at the ground.

"Claudia, I am not with you to stick it to my dad." Nathan replied truthfully and Claudia stayed emotionless as she looked at him.

"I don't know what hurts worse, Nathan – that you think I was trying to trick you into having a baby with me or that having one with me is, like, your worst nightmare." Claudia explained.

"It's not like that... alright?" Nathan sighed and Claudia smiled a little. "I'm just not ready for-" Nathan began to say before Claudia smiled at him.

"Of course not, neither am I!" Claudia exclaimed laughing a little. "I would like to think that if something happened you wouldn't freak out and you would be happy for me." Claudia stated truthfully and Nathan held her hand.

"Of course I would be happy." He smiled and Claudia kissed him. That was all she wanted to hear. When the time was right they would have children, Claudia wanted loads of kids.