"You're pregnant!" Haley exclaimed laughing excitably as she sat with Lucas and Claudia up on the roof of Clothes and Bros. Claudia wanted to tell them somewhere special.

"Claude, that is amazing!" Lucas grinned as she hugged his best friend, Haley joined in too.

"Found out a couple of days ago." Claudia smiled at her friends as she touched her stomach, no bump had appeared yet. They pulled themselves out of the hug and Claudia could see just how excited Haley was for her. Claudia could tell Lucas was less excited but Claudia understood why, Lucas might be losing Peyton because she wants to have this baby. 

"I am buying ice cream, come on." Haley grinned as she held Claudia's hand, Lucas followed behind them. 

___

"Knock, knock. Brought you this month's issue of B. Davis magazine." Claudia sang as she walked into Lucas and Peyton's bedroom from the back door. It had been a while since they did that.

"Our ceiling fan does 147 rotations a minute." Peyton explained and Claudia looked at her weird.

"Well, that answers my question about how mama's doing." She laughed as she placed the magazine beside Peyton. "How's baby?" Claudia asked as she sat down on the bed beside Peyton.

"Baby is kicking baby-Growing ass. The doctor says we're doing good." Peyton exclaimed and Claudia high-fived her. 

"Good. That's what Aunt Claudie likes to hear. Good job in there, kiddo." Claudia grinned at peyton's big baby bump.

"So, I got an interesting call from the label this morning." Peyton stated and Claudia raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, let me guess - They want Mia's album like last week, which, by the way, is gonna be fantastic, Which is unbiased, even though I am the producer." Claudia rambled on and Peyton shook her head.

"Okay. Call wasn't about Mia. They want to buy one of your songs. I guess they have an artist that heard it and fell in love with it and blah, blah, blah." Peyton explained and Claudia was in shock. They wanted her music, her music wasn't anything special.

"I never thought about selling my songs." Claudia sighed a little as she laid down on the bed beside Peyton.

"Okay, well, from the way they were raving about you, You might want to start thinking about it." Peyton smirked as she looked over at Claudia, she was looking up at the ceiling fan trying to figure out what to do.

___

"Did you know that Chase lost his virginity to Brooke?" Mia asked Claudia as she walked into Red Bedroom Records. Claudia just laughed but Mia didn't look that pleased.

"Yes but I challenge you to find a boy that did not lose his virginity to Brooke Davis." Claudia smirked jokingly.

"But she's Brooke Davis." Mia groaned and Claudia walked around the table over to Mia.

"And you're Mia Catalano." Claudia smiled at Mia encouragingly.

"But she's Brooke Davis." Mia replied pouting.

"And you're Mia Catalano, and I'm getting off this train." Claudia explained laughing.

"I just feel stupid - Like, everyone knew but me." Mia sighed and Claudia nodded her head.

"Nathan lost his virginity to my best friend, I mean she was basically my older sister, well she's actually Haley's older sister." Claudia explained frantically, using hand gestures and everything. She could tell how confused Mia was.

"Wow, you win." Mia whispered and Claudia nodded before she burst out laughing.

"Look, I know the way Chase look at you. He probably didn't tell you because he's not thinking about anybody but you. Now, chop-chop. Let's make a record." Claudia grinned as she pointed to the recording studio, Mia laughed before she walked in.

___

"Yeah, no, that's really great. I think that adjustment helps a lot." Claudia explained as she helped Mia with her song, Claudia loved being in the studio, it was like her second home.

"Sounded good to me. Sorry to interrupt." THE NICK LACHEY said and Claudia turned to face him in shock.  "The recording light wasn't on, so I thought I'd just come in." He explained and Mia was speechless.

"You're Nick Lachey." Mia stated.

"And you're Mia Catalano. See? I told you. So, what's a guy got to do to get your song on his album?" Nick asked grinning and Claudia just stood up.

"Um, wow. When the label said they had an artist Who was interested in recording one of my songs, I really -" Claudia began to say before Nick interrupted her.

"Didn't picture me." Nick cut in and Claudia nodded her head.

"Yeah, at all." She laughed a little.

"Nick Lachey." Mia whispered in shock.

"You really love using first and last names." Nick joked laughing.

"It's a tree hill thing. Sorry Nick Lachey." Mia replied and Claudia pointed to the door.

"Okay, just go." Claudia laughed and Mia stood up.

"Bye." Mia smiled before she walked out. Claudia turned to face Nick. She didn't think that Nick had her style of voice or liked her music. She was very much soul and he was very much not.

"So, what are the magic words? 'Cause I really want you to say yes. Your song is great, and trust me - I've listened to a lot of new songs for this album." Nick explained and Claudia looked at him a little sad.

"Yeah, I'm - I'm sorry. It's just that "all in my head" Wasn't supposed to be one of them. Just screwed up." Claudia explained honestly.

"I'm glad they did." Nick smiled.

"I really am flattered that you came all the way out here, But there are no magic words. The answer is just no." Claudia explained brutal and bluntly, she felt that was the best way to do it.

"What if I told you I had a really rough flight? Standby. Middle seat. Coach." Nick explained in a pleading manner and Claudia just shook her head.

"I'm sorry. I'm just not interested in selling my music." Claudia stated and then she grabbed a piece of paper. "Oh, but would you sign this for my daughter and son? They're big fans. There names are Gracie and Jamie." Claudia explained grinning as she passed him the piece of paper and pen.

___

"Hey, you're home. You missed Jamie on his way to the dance. He was so cute in his little suit! Looked like a little Lucas." Claudia smiled as she rambled on. She was walking up to her husband, he looked excited. "What's going on?" Claudia asked him laughing a little as she started to pick up the kids toys around the living room.

"I got an offer to play... in Europe." Nathan stated and Claudia turned to face him. "And I don't know, Claude, maybe we should...consider it. It's good money. It's a two-Year contract." Nathan explained as Claudia dumped the toys into the box. She knew that wasn't what Nathan wanted.

"But you want to play in the NBA." Claudia replied. 

"I know, but so does every other person on my team and every other player in the "b" league." Nathan explained and Claudia just nodded her head.

"Okay, um... All right, let's say that you take this two-Year contract and then the NBA comes calling." Claudia suggested.

"What if I don't take it and then they never call?" Nathan asked and Claudia still had hope that they would come. "I mean, I've been working on this... comeback for a long time now, and maybe this is my chance And I'm just too focused on the fantasy of the NBA to notice. It's not a fantasy." Nathan explained. 

"That's your dream. There's nothing wrong with pursuing it." Claudia explained because that is what Nathan always said to Claudia.

"To what end?" Nathan asked her in a bit of a sighing tone.

"I don't know. But whatever you decide, You have a pregnant wife, a daughter and a son who love you, And we're behind you one hundred per cent." Claudia explained grinning, but she was going to make sure he got into the NBA, if it killed her.

"Thanks." Nathan smiled and then they hugged as they stood in the living room together.

___

"Okay, wait. Just hear me out." Nick pleaded as he walked into Red Bedroom Records. Claudia was sitting on the chair next to the booth. She turned around to face him.

"You're just in time." Claudia stated and Nick looked at her confused.

"For what?" He asked her.

"I have the instrumental track for "all in my head" cued up. Go sing." Claudia instructed smiling a little.

"Now?" Nick asked her confused.

"Hey, Joe Perry said, "let the music do the talking"." Claudia quoted grinning.

"An Aerosmith reference. I knew I liked you." Nick smirked before he walked into the booth. Claudia smiling to herself a little before she played the track. Claudia changed the song for him, she turned it from soul to pop rock. She wanted it to fit his music.

She watched him perform her song and she was loving it.

https://youtu.be/7tqE76soCuc

Once it was done she walked into the booth and leaned on the door.

"It was good." She smiled at him.

"It was great. The song, I mean." Nick grinned at her and Claudia just laughed.

"I know." Claudia whispered as she walked towards him. She sighed before she spoke again. "Okay, I'll let you record it. One condition. I want to produce." Claudia smirked and Nick nodded his head. Claudia was grinning on the inside, she was just so happy.

___

"What if I just gave away my last chance?" Nathan asked Claudia as they lay in bed together, Claudia turned to face her and shook her head.

"Your chance is coming, baby. I really believe that." She grinned at him before she kissed him. Claudia knew Nathan was doing the right thing waiting for the NBA, it was his dream and she wanted him to achieve it.

+++

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I have just sorted out the entire book so I won't be finished it tomorrow because I have an exam tomorrow and then a exam on thursday-  AND THEN I AM FINALLY DONE AND BACK TO MY NORMAL SCHEDULE!!!!!- so I will only upload one chapter tomorrow at a push, sorry :(

I love you all so much and thank you guys, keep voting and commenting,

Mrs N O'Brien xx