Nathan was playing along at the River Court. He had just left Claudia's parents house. He was getting nervous over state championships. He received a visit from Daunte and Bear.

"There's no reason you guys should be here anymore. We're done." Nathan said to them sternly as Daunte and Bear walked over to Nathan.

"Hear that, Bear? The kid says we're done. Maybe we should leave." Daunte said tauntingly as he looked at Bear.

"I made sure that we won by less than 10 points. That was the deal." Nathan said, he just wanted this all to be over with.

"Yeah. Well, I thought about it. I think I'm gonna extend our partnership." Daunte smirked and Nathan's stomach dropped.

"What are you talking about?" Nathan asked confused, he wanted to be done with them.

"State championship... a lot of people think we're gonna win tomorrow night." Daunte replied cryptically and Nathan nodded his head as he held the ball.

"Those people are right." Nathan replied truthfully.

"No, they're not." Daunte said and Nathan glared at them.

"I'm not gonna lose that game." Nathan replied seriously.

"Think about next year, Nate. You're gonna be a Duke Blue Devil, get to play on TV. Wonder what Duke would do if they found out that their star recruit shaved some points in a high school basketball game." Daunte taunted, Nathan was scared.

"Like anybody would believe you." Nathan replied trying to catch out Daunte.

"I got proof. Your last game was your worst game of the year. Eight turnovers? You missed three lay-ups in the fourth quarter. Even Bear thought that was a bit much. All it takes is a whisper, and your future's over. Would you risk your future and the future of your pretty little wife for a meaningless trophy?" Daunte asked tauntingly and Nathan did not answer. As everyone knows silence means Daunte was right. "Yeah. That's right. Think it over. I'm sure you'll do the right thing." Daunte added smirking, him and Bear left. Nathan watched them driving away torn. 

___

Claudia was at her lunch break, she was working at Karen's Cafe. She needed the extra money and she enjoyed working. Nathan walked in as Claudia was placing down people's food.

"Hey there is my handsome husband!" Claudia exclaimed as she walked over to him.

"You know, some people actually eat lunch during their lunch break." Nathan teased and Claudia smiled up at him.

"Well, good for them." Claudia nodded her head. "Unfortunately, we need money. I just figured I'd pick up a few extra shifts at the café. It might give us some extra breathing room. Check this out." Claudia grinned as she showed Nathan a one hundred dollar bill. 

"What is this?" Nathan asked smiling.

"Breathing room." Claudia laughed as she slipped in back into her apron. 

"You made all this today?" Nathan asked and Claudia nodded her head.

"Yeah, on one table. That's them leaving now." Claudia answered as she pointed over to Daunte and Bear. "Hey, guys! Please come again." Claudia grinned at them, Nathan was confused and angry at the same time. 

"Count on it." Daunte smirked before him and Bear left. Nathan looked at them angrily.

"Hey, uh, I'll see you back at school, okay?" Nathan asked getting agitated. He kissed Claudia before he walked out of Karen's Cafe.

"Okay. See ya." Claudia shouted at him before she walked out over to the counter.

___

Claudia and Nathan walked into the banquet hand in hand. Claudia was wearing a red and white elasticated jumpsuit and black heels. Her hair was straight and she had red lipstick on.

"You look amazing." Nathan smiled as he looked at the crowd. He was nervous, he was wearing a suit. Claudia couldn't take her eyes off of him. 

"Thank you." Claudia said back as they walked over to their table, they sat down. "Are you okay? Are you nervous?" Claudia asked and Nathan shook his head. Claudia knew Nathan and she held squeezed onto his hand comfortingly.

"I am now, I am with you."Nathan smiled back at her as they sat down with all of their friends. Peyton smiled over at them.

"Hey guys, this is my non-psycho brother Derek." Peyton said and Claudia shook Derek's hand across the table.

"Hey I am Claudia and this is Nathan." Claudia replied as she pointed to her husband.

"So you two are the married couple?" Derek asked and Claudia nodded her head.

"Marine?" Claudia asked pointing to his uniform.

"Yeah." Derek answered and Claudia nodded her head smiling.

"My sisters ex-boyfriend was in the army, he was an ass though. Luckily, Marine's are better." Claudia joked with him. Derek nodded his head.

"He was an ass. Stupid Will." Jack muttered and Claudia just laughed aloud.

"We sure are." Derek replied and Claudia smiled at him. "I take it you are not from here, judging by your accent." Derek continued and that was when Lucas piped in.

"She's our friend from across the pond." Lucas added and Derek looked at Jack who was sitting with Haley.

"Brother and sister?" Derek asked and Claudia nodded her head.

"Ding ding ding we have a winner." Peyton joked and Derek smiled over at her.

"We have been living in America for fourteen years now." Jack explained just as Josie walked over to the table. She looked at them all.

"Okay hide me. Some southern belle is trying to get me to join a parents club." Josie asked them all and Claudia laughed with everyone else.

"Hello Mama Stone." Skills smirked and Rachel leaned over to Brooke, she remembered the incident when Josie was rude to her at TRIC because Claudia was upset that she was trying to get with Nathan.

"That's Claudia's mom?" Rachel asked connecting the dots. Brooke nodded her head. Rachel crossed her arms and glared at Josie, who couldn't of cared. 

"Josie, that's Tim mom." Nathan stated and Lucas nodded his head.

"My mom put her in her place." Lucas added and Josie saw she was coming over. Josie gritted her teeth as she stood up straight.

"Okay, you guys all look amazing and I have to run now. If she asks Josie Stone is dead and the girl she spoke to was a Russian Spy, okay? Thanks!" Josie exclaimed before she ran away from. Everyone laughed. Tim's mom walked up to them smiling.

"Hiya kids. Anyone see Josie Stone? Claudia's she is your mom!" Tim's mom asked in her southern accent.

"Sorry my mum died." Claudia stated smiling and everyone held in their laughter.

"Yeah, the girl you just spoke was uh apart of, aw Brooke what was it again?" Haley joked as she looked over at Brooke. Brooke began to think for a moment.

"Sorry Mrs Smith I don't know, however, I think Mouth does." Brooke replied back smiling as everyone looked over at Mouth.

"She is a Russian Spy and her mission was now complete." Mouth explained and Tim's mom looked at them all confused.

"Okay, well that's nice." Tim's mom said awkwardly as she tried to figure out what was going on. "Bye Y'all." She said southernly before she walked off. The friends all laughed.

___

Lucas was on the stage, Claudia was sitting on her chair smiling. Nathan had his arm on Claudia's chair and she leaned onto him comfortingly.

"Good evening, everybody." Lucas started and everyone stopped clapping. "Tonight, I've been asked to present a very important award to a very important person. The most valuable player award honours not only the best player on the court, but also a true leader off the court. An MVP leads a team not only in points or rebounds, but also leads by example." Lucas explained as he held up the award. Claudia grinned proudly. "And we are very proud to follow in the footsteps of our leader and our most valuable player, Nathan Scott." Lucas finished smiling at his brother. Claudia cheered loudly as Nathan stood up and walked to get his award. Everyone was clapping their hands because they knew that Nathan truly deserved the award. 

"Woohoo Nathan!" Claudia cheered proudly, everyone looked at her. She gathered that maybe you weren't meant to do that, but did Claudia care? Hell no.

"You're our leader, Nate." Lucas said to him sternly as he gave Nathan the award. Lucas was talking about how Nathan was told to throw the state championships. Nathan was still torn about it and the one person he wanted to confined could never know- Claudia.

"I'm, uh, I'm not very good at speeches, so I just wanted to thank my teammates... guys... and, most of all, coach Whitey Durham for, uh, giving me a year that I'll always remember." Nathan stated awkwardly as he looked at the award. Claudia smiled up at him proudly. "Thanks, coach. I appreciate. Thanks." Nathan said before he walked off of the stage. Everyone cheered proudly at Nathan. Claudia could tell that there was something up with Nathan, he looked so awkward and nervous. That was not him.

___

Later that night Brooke walked up to Claudia who was stuffing her face at the buffet, she was a pregnant women who was craving. What did you expect?

"Hey, proud wifey." Brooke smirked in her raspy voice as Claudia placed her plate on the table.

"Did Nathan look nervous to you at all?" Claudia asked before she licked her fingers.

"Well, he looked like the star of the basketball team." Brooke replied and Claudia nodded her head.

"He was amazing out there." Claudia smiled to herself. Brooke had something to ask Claudia.

"Rachel told me she asked you for tutoring help, and you turned her down." Brooke stated and Claudia sighed.

"What was I meant to do? She was a bitch to me and tried to get my husband to sleep with her. Did she expect me to be nice to her?" Claudia asked annoyed.

"I know. I know. She has flaws..." Brooke sighed and Claudia raised her eyebrow, "big ones." Brooke added and Claudia smiled satisfied. "But, deep down, I promise you, she's a really good person." Brook finished, Claudia didn't trust Rachel but she did trust Brooke.

"Oh, my god, you and Lucas with your second chances. I cannot help her!" Claudia groaned, Lucas had said the same thing about helping Rachel.

"Okay. I'm not saying you have to tutor her. I'm just saying she's been really good to me lately." Brooke explained and Claudia was even more torn. "So think about it, okay?" Brooke asked and Claudia nodded her head. Brooke walked away back to the table. Claudia grabbed her plate and marched over. She glared at Rachel, who was at the same table, before she sat down.

"As most of you know, tomorrow night is coach Whitey Durham's final game. And to show our appreciation for his dedication and excellence, we present him tonight with a lifetime-achievement award. So, without further ado, I give you your coach, Whitey Durham." Principal Turner explained on stage. Everyone stood up and clapped their hands. Whitey stood up and walked onto the stage to give his speech. Whitey told them all to sit down and they did.

"You do realize we have one more game to play." Whitey joked and everyone laughed Let me tell you... this award means an awful lot to me." Whitey started off and Claudia could just tell she was going to cry. "I might have given a lifetime to this team... but the players... the players have given me so much more." Whitey admitted and Claudia held onto Nathan's hand smiling. Nathan began to rethink his choice about state. "You know, basketball was my first love. And, as most of you in here realize, you don't forget your first love. My only regret is that I can't share this wonderful moment with the other love of my life... my late wife, Camilla." Whitey explained on the brink of tears. A tear began to cascade down Claudia's cheek. "Camilla was the only person who ever fully understood me. Being with her made everything else seem less important. The moment I met her, I knew that I was looking at my future." Whitey continued and Claudia turned back to smile at Nathan who smiled back. "And I knew no person could ever come between us. I know Camilla would have liked this group of boys." Whitey continued and Nathan moved in his chair uncomfortably, he was now more torn over what to do. "I want to thank them. And I want to thank all of you for allowing me... to spend a lifetime with my first love. Thank you." Whitey cried and Claudia couldn't stop crying. He stood up and cheered for him and everyone joined in. 

Claudia walked past the crowd and over to Whitey.

"Coach, I want to thank you." Claudia stated as she wiped her tears away. "Most coaches would have never believed in us, hell most people didn't believe in Nathan and I. But you did." Claudia smiled weakly as a tear streamed down her face. "When I asked you for help with Nathan, you gave it to me." Claudia added and Whitey smiled at her. "You ruined my spotless record but you gave it too me." Claudia laughed and Whitey laughed too. "But I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am truly grateful." Claudia smiled. "I hope we can have the same love that you and Camila had for each other." Claudia admitted and Whitey shook his head.

"You have achieved a greater love, you helped Nathan be the fine man he is today. It's I who should be thanking you." Whitey said and Nathan nodded his head in agreement smiling to himself.

"Thank you Coach." Claudia smiled before she hugged Whitey. She walked back to the table and everyone continued to cheer Whitey.

___

The banquet was over and Claudia and Nathan were speaking. Nathan was holding Claudia's heels as she held his jacket around her shoulders.

"I'm so proud of you." Claudia smiled but Nathan wasn't.

"I wish people would stop saying that." He groaned back and Claudia looked at him confused.

"And you say I am bad at taking compliments." Claudia joked but Nathan gave her a weak smile. Claudia walked closer to him and hugged his waist. "What is going on with you? You've been so distant all day. Is it the game?" Claudia asked looking up at him.

"No. I'm fine. I'm just... I'm feeling a lot of pressure lately, I guess." Nathan replied, he had been feeling the pressure because he had a loan shark breathing down his neck.

"I'm sorry." Claudia stated sympathetically, she felt like it was her fault because of the baby and their money problems.

"Yeah, you know what? For the first time in a while, I think everything's gonna be okay." Nathan replied smiling down at his wife. Claudia let go of her waist and stood back.

"Good." She nodded, before she sighed. "So, uh, I got to ask your advice on something." Claudia said as she ran her fingers through her hair.

"All right." Nathan replied and Claudia groaned.

"Rachel asked me to tutor her." Claudia stated, she was confused over what to do.

"And..." Nathan replied, Claudia sighed. 

"I just wanted to know what you thought I should do." Claudia said, hoping her husband could give her his advice.

"Well what did you say to her?" Nathan asked and Claudia looked down at the ground.

"The same thing I told you. I am not the VD clinic." Claudia stated and Nathan laughed out loud as he shook his head.

"Well, I remember, not too long ago, I needed a tutor, and you set aside your feelings and agreed to help me." Nathan explained and Claudia pointed at him.

"Do not compare yourself to the bitch Rachel." Claudia stated sternly, however, if you think about it. Nathan and Rachel were a like, before Nathan met Claudia of course.

"Well, we all make mistakes... all of us." Nathan replied, he was thinking about Daunte. "Look, you do what you want to do. But I think you should know that, when I was freaking out about the whole pregnancy thing, Rachel was the one that got through to me." Nathan explained and Claudia pouted at him.

"Oh, god. I'm gonna have to tutor Rachel, aren't I?" Claudia asked rhetorically as she groaned out loud

"Yeah." Nathan replied as Claudia snaked her arms around shoulders.

"Why do bad things happen to good people?" Claudia groaned and Nathan chuckled. He leaned down and kissed her on the head.

"My girl is amazing." Nathan smiled down at her as Claudia hugged into him.

"Still never gets old." Claudia grinned as she looked up at Nathan.

___

Claudia walked up to Rachel, she was holding onto her baby bump proudly.

"Rachel?" Claudia asked and Rachel turned around to dace her.

"Claudia." Rachel stated in her high pitched voice confused. 

"Look, I will tutor you on three conditions." Claudia stated monotone and Rachel nodded her head. "The first one is that you have to work around my schedule. I'm working a ton of hours right now, and I really don't care if it disrupts your social life. The second is, if you miss one session, it's over. Got it?" Claudia asked and Rachel nodded her head.

"Got it. So, what's the third condition?" Rachel asked.

"No matter how nice I seem, you have to remember... that I can't stand you." Claudia stated harshly before she walked away, Rachel smirked to herself. Claudia knew she was going to regret this but she wouldn't want anyone to fail. Not even Rachel.

___

Nathan and Dan were chatting, Dan decided to help Nathan with Daunte and Bear.

"Dad, what I do?" Nathan asked concerned, Dan had a chat with Daunte and Bear and Dan was scared too. Dan was sitting on an arm chair drinking scotch as Nathan stood behind him.

"Lose the championship game." Dan answered before he drank his scotch and shivers went down Nathan's back. He couldn't lose the game but maybe it was his only choice.