"Mama! Daddy! Mama!" Jamie called out desperately. Claudia and Nathan walked into the room sluggish and tired.

"Hey, baby. What's the matter? You will wake up Gracie May." Claudia asked as she walked into the twins bedroom.

"Did you have a bad dream, buddy?" Nathan asked as he walked in behind Claudia. Claudia sat down on Jamie's bed and placed her arm around his shoulder.

"He tried to get me." Jamie whimpered and Claudia pouted at him. Grace was sleeping in her bed beside them.

"Who did?" Claudia asked looking down at Jamie as she hugged him.

"Grandpa Dan. He escaped." Jamie explained. 

"From heaven?" Claudia asked but Jamie shook his head. Claudia raised an eyebrow.

"Prison." Jamie replied and Claudia looked over at Nathan angry. Nathan had no idea that Jamie knew that. Skills had told Jamie.

___

"Hey Heidi, what's up?" Claudia asked as she sat down on her phone. Heidi was her best friend back in England. They have known each other since they were five and stayed in touch every since. The distance barrier never really stopped their friendship.

"How do you feel about doing a favour for your best friend?" Heidi asked smiling on the other end. She was is in her tiny apartment in England. She was a struggling actress who just got the offer to go to a eight week drama program in Tree Hill. 

"What is it?" Claudia asked grinning. Heidi had only been Tree Hill once and it was seven years ago. Claudia hadn't seen her since, only in pictures that they would send each other in letters.

"I got accepted into a drama program in North Carolina and I was wondering if I could live with you and your family?" Heidi asked and Claudia just stayed silent. "I mean this might sound weird me just inviting myself and I know you have tons going on right now but I thought I would ask." Heidi rambled and Claudia laughed from the other end. "What's so funny?" Heidi asked confused.

"I mean Heidi of course you can stay, you know until you get enough money to find a place of your own." Claudia smiled and all she could hear was Heidi screaming with joy from the other line. She actually had to move the phone away from her ear. 

The rest of the conversation was just them speaking about when Heidi was coming and how great this was going to be. Claudia got off the phone and couldn't wait to tell Nathan, she had always wanted Heidi to meet Nathan and her children. She knew Nathan was doing physical therapy so she ran downstairs to tell Nathan. She walked outside of the backyard doors to see Nathan in the pool playing with his children and a half naked Carrie.

"Get her, daddy!" Jamie giggled before he started to splash Grace.

"Yeah, get me, daddy." Carrie taunted and Claudia was shocked that she would say that. She felt so awkward standing there as she watched Nathan and Carrie play together. She felt so left out, it was like Carrie was taking her place as their mom and wife. She walked back into the kitchen so they would never know that she was standing there. She walked over to the cupboards and started to eat her emergency Oreo's. Haley walked into the kitchen.

"Put down the oreos. You have too much going for you." Haley joked as Claudia sat on the counter. "What's wrong?" Haley asked sincerely as she saw Claudia was really upset. Claudia took a bit of the oreo as she opened the curtain for Haley. Haley walked over and saw what Claudia had seen. 

"I wish that was me." Claudia admitted and a tear streamed down her face. "I am doing too much. Should I just stopped the music and spend more time with my kids?" Claudia asked and Haley hugged her.

"You are a mom and a wife. You are doing so many jobs and succeeding at all of them." Haley said honestly but Claudia jumped off the counter, opened up a drawer and took out a drawing.

"Am I?" Claudia asked as she showed the drawing that Jamie did of him, Grace and Nanny Carrie. Haley looked at it and didn't say a word. 

___

"Mama! Mama! Mama!" Jamie shouted frantically from his bedroom, Grace slept through the whole thing. But that wasn't surprisingly, Grace could have slept through an air raid and not be woken up. Claudia came running into the bedroom. 

"Jamie! Honey, I'm here! It's okay. Mama's here." Claudia whispered comfortingly as she sat on his bed. Jamie shook his head.

"No! I want my other mama!" Jamie exclaimed, obviously he meant Carrie. Claudia looked at him weird before she walked out of the twins bedroom and into her own. 

"Nathan, did you hear what Jamie just said to..." Claudia began to say but she walked into her bedroom to see Nathan and Carrie making out on the bed. "Ohh." Claudia said confused.

Then she woke up, she turned in her bed to see that Nathan's side was empty. She groaned unhappily. She was just glad that the nightmare was over. She hated it so much. She got up out of her bed and walked down the stairs, Carrie was in the kitchen.

"Good morning!" Carrie exclaimed happily, Claudia felt horrible after her dream.

"Not really." Claudia stated monotone.

"Can I fix you some breakfast?" Carrie asked as Claudia stood beside the coffee pot. Carrie poured her some coffee.

"No, thanks. Where's Jamie and Gracie?" Claudia asked as she drank from the cup.

"With Skills. And Nathan's at physical therapy. So you'll just have to deal with all this nice peace and quiet." Carrie smiled and Claudia nodded her head. "Thought I might go for a quick swim." Carrie added and Claudia felt really awkward at that moment in time.

"Carrie... I don't want to sound weird about this, but... could you not wear a bikini in the pool?" Claudia asked awkwardly as she sat the cup on the counter.

"Oh, my gosh. Of course. I'm so sorry." Carrie apologised, Claudia was happy that she was understanding about it.

"It just seems kind of inappropriate, you know, around Jamie and Gracie." Claudia half lied, she honestly just didn't want Carrie swimming half naked with her husband. It was a bit childish and she knew that. 

"You know, you're absolutely right. It was poor judgment on my part." Claudia replied and Claudia shook her head.

"That's okay. And, you know, everything else is great. You're really doing a wonderful job." Claudia smiled, she was glad it was all over and done with.

"Thanks, Claudia. I appreciate that. And I am so sorry. It won't happen again." Carrie replied grinning before she walked away.

___

Nathan was having difficulties getting dressed, he was getting so frustrated because he couldn't do it. It was too sore for him.

"Where the hell is my cane? Claudia! Hey, have you seen my..." Nathan shouted and Carrie walked into the room. "Oh...Where's... where's Claudia?" Nathan awkwardly.

"I think she ran out for some last-minute dinner stuff. I told her I'd do it, but she wanted to." Claudia explained and then she saw that Nathan was having troubles. "You okay?" She asked walking towards him.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm good." Nathan lied but Carrie could tell that he was having troubles.

"Okay. So, are we not supposed to wear pants tonight?" Carrie asked jokingly.

"Funny." Nathan replied sarcastically and Claudia grinned. "I think I overdid my rehab, and so I'm having a little trouble. This might not be the most appropriate job for you." Nathan explained awkwardly.

"Stop it. Nannies are like doctors. You let your doctor see you like this, don't you?" Carrie asked as she walked in front of him.

"That depends on where he takes me to dinner." Nathan joked as Carrie bent down so her face was directly facing his crotch as she dressed him. Carrie laughed.

"You know, Claudia asked me not to wear a bikini in the pool. She said it was inappropriate around Jamie and Grace." Carrie explained as she finished helping Nathan. "There you go. You good?" Claudia asked smiling up at him.

"Yeah. Listen, Carrie, I'm sure that Claudia didn't mean anything by it. I know she likes you." Nathan replied, sticking up for his wife.

"Yeah. It's just kind of ironic, you know?" Carrie asked but Nathan didn't understand. "I mean, if she's worried about someone getting turned on out at the pool, she probably shouldn't let you go shirtless." Carrie smirked before she stood up and walked out. Nathan didn't know what to do. Carrie had just obviously flirted with him, even though he is married.

___

Lindsay, Claudia, Nathan, Lucas and Carrie were all having dinner at Claudia and Nathan's house. Haley and Jack sadly couldn't come because they could not find a babysitter. 

"So, what's going on with your writing, Luke? How's it coming?" Claudia asked starting up a conversation, it felt strange to her. Almost grown up. 

"Good, actually. I'm kind of on a roll lately." Lucas smirked and Claudia was happy for him.

"You got to be loving that, Linds." Nathan smiled and Lindsay shrugged.

"Yeah, the editor side of me is. The girlfriend side misses her boyfriend." Lindsay explained and she looked over at Lucas with loving eyes. Claudia missed that because she hadn't looked at Nathan like that in ages and he hadn't done the same to her for a while.

"So, how's physical therapy, Nate?" Lucas asked and Claudia turned her attention to her husband.

"Pretty good, man. I'm sore a lot these days. I spend a lot of time in the pool." Lucas replied and Claudia was remembering what she saw earlier with Carrie and Nathan. 

"Yeah, he's been looking really good in there." Carrie added and Claudia looked down at her feet shocked, but then she got over it when she thought that Carrie did not mean it like that, little did Claudia know. "His rehab's going great." Carrie continued and Lucas looked at Nathan awkwardly. 

"Yeah. Where's your head, Claude?" Nathan asked turning the attention to Claudia.

"Quentin." Claudia sighed as she looked at everyone. "I gave him a second chance to kind of turn things around, and I'm not sure if he's gonna take it." Claudia explained.

"He will if he wants to play." Lucas replied.

"Well, sometimes you just don't know about people. I mean, I gave Peyton a second chance, and she didn't take it." Lindsay shrugged.

"I have to tell you, I felt so horrible about that, and I know Peyton did, too. Victoria has literally been driving Peyton crazy." Claudia admitted but Lindsay wasn't buying it. "I am not trying to make excuses but it is the truth." Claudia added.

"Thanks, but there's more to it than that. Peyton feels like she has some sort of jurisdiction over Lucas because of their history. I was really hoping it wouldn't be an issue, but clearly it is." Lindsay explained a little bit angry and one hundred percent jealous.

"Lindsey... Peyton's got a big heart." Lucas stated and Lindsay shook her head.

"Yeah, to go along with her big mouth. I know I went to an ivy league school, but if she keeps it up, she's gonna get her ass kicked." Lindsay replied harshly and Claudia looked at Nathan wide-eye with shock.

"Okay! Easy." Claudia laughed and Lindsay realised that maybe went a little too far.

"Sorry. I didn't mean that. I know she's a friend of yours. I just wanted her to like me." Lindsay explained and Claudia nodded her head.

"Yeah, it sounds like it." Carrie joked as Jamie walked down the stairs joining the grown ups. 

"What's so funny?" Jamie asked and Claudia laughed alongside everyone else.

"I'll tell you what's not funny...the fact that you're down here instead of upstairs sleeping like you're supposed to be." Claudia joked as she smiled at her son. 

"I'm not tired." Jamie pouted. 

"I'll get him." Carrie smiled but Claudia shook her head.

"No, I got it. Jamie, bed, now." Claudia stated as she pointed up the stairs. 

"Daddy, can you take me?" Jamie asked. 

"Jamie, you're gonna listen to your mother, okay? Now, go on upstairs. We'll be up in a couple seconds to tuck you in." Nathan said sternly and Jamie walked up the stairs. 

"He is so cute." Lindsey complimented.

"He uses it. Trust me. And now he's scared to death to go to bed because of Dan." Nathan explained and Claudia smiled.

"But can you blame him? I had nightmares about Dan till I was, what, 19?" Lucas asked and Claudia turned to face him with her eyebrow raised.

"You had nightmares till you were, oh wait you still do, about IT." Claudia joked and Lucas shook his head.

"I told you and Haley about that in secret." Lucas hissed and Nathan turned to Claudia.

"You didn't watch IT?" Nathan asked and Claudia shook her head.

"Hell no. That is scary." Claudia laughed and Lucas rolled his eyes.

"Should have got little bro to look after you." Lucas replied smirking and Claudia stood up.

"He couldn't protect me from clowns at a carnival we went too." Claudia smiled over at Nathan who started to laugh.

"I left her for two minutes and three clowns were trying to speak to her." Nathan said but Claudia finished before he could say anymore.

"And you stood there laughing- husband of the year, Nathan Scott." Claudia laughed alongside everyone else. "Think we should go talk to him?" Claudia asked Nathan as she pointed to the stairs.

"Yeah." Nathan replied as he stood up all by himself. Carrie began to tidy up the table.

"Hey, and you are not allowed to clean at all, okay?" Claudia asked Carrie who smiled over at her. "You just make Lucas do it." Claudia teased and Lucas rolled his eyes before he stood up. Claudia and Nathan walked up the stairs.

"You seem more happy then usual." Nathan commented and Claudia turned around so she was facing him.

"I am trying to be more cheerful, it is meant to help with stress and stuff." Claudia explained as they reached Jamie and Grace's room. Jamie was sitting on his bed hugging Nathan's walking stick.

"Buddy, I've been looking for that." Nathan whispered as he stood beside Claudia in the bedroom.

"It keeps me safe from grandpa." Jamie whispered and Claudia sat down on the bed beside him so she could hug him. Nathan sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Baby, listen, we try to protect you from things because we love you, and that's why we didn't tell you the truth about grandpa Dan. The truth is, he did some bad things, and he needed to go away." Claudia explained as she looked into Jamie's innocent blue eyes the whole time.

"Is he ever gonna come back?" Jamie asked and Claudia couldn't believe she was having this conversation with her four year old. She never thought she would ever have that conversation. 

"Maybe. Someday. But no matter what, you're always gonna be safe with us. Mommy and daddy are never gonna let anything happen to you, okay?" Nathan asked and Claudia nodded her head in agreement.

"Okay. But just in case, can you maybe check in the closet and under the bed?" Jamie asked in a baby voice as he pointed to the closet and under the bed. Claudia smiled in awe with his cuteness. 

"Yeah, I think so." Nathan smiled and Claudia watched Nathan as he checked everywhere. She hugged tighter onto Jamie so he would feel safe. 

___

Nathan and Claudia walked down the stairs and the door bell rang. 

"Oh, I'll get it!" Carrie squealed as she ran to the door. Claudia nodded her head as she sat back down at the table.

"Everything all right, guys?" Lucas asked and Claudia shook her head.

"Oh, poor thing. We all have stuff we're afraid of. You know I'm deathly afraid of clowns?" Claudia asked and Lucas laughed a little. "No, I swear to God. It's really sad." Claudia said as Quentin walked in with Carrie. Claudia stood up to see him. Quentin was there because Claudia and Lucas had offered to help him. They wanted him back in school so he could play basketball. Claudia told him that he would have to read 'Les Mis' 

"Hey, sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to say I've been thinking about it, and, I'll do whatever it takes to remain eligible." Quentin explained and Claudia walked over to him grinning with Lucas.

"I'm really glad to hear that." Claudia said honestly.

"All right, 6:00 a.m. practice, Q." Lucas instructed happy and Quentin nodded his head.

"Yes, sir. I guess I'll leave y'all to it. I got a book I got to start reading." Quentin smiled and Claudia nodded her head. 

"I'll see you out." Nathan said as he walked Quentin to the front door. 

"Way to go, coach." Claudia smirked as she slapped Lucas on his shoulder as she walked behind him, back to their seats.

"All right." Lucas smiled as he sat back down at the table. Claudia sat down as well.

"See this is the part in the movies where they play 'Don't Dream It's Over'." Carrie joked and Claudia got all nostalgic.

"Last time I sang that song, Nathan was at the door asking me to sing with Chris Keller." Claudia laughed and Nathan walked back into the dining room.

"You looked beautiful while you sang. However, it was awkward at the end when she collapsed out of that long note." Nathan joked and Claudia rolled her eyes.

"Can we rewind back to the part when you were complimenting me? I prefer that bit." Claudia smiled as she held onto Nathan's hand. Carrie glared over at them, however, nobody saw. 

___

Claudia was sitting on her bed reading the diary that she kept on tour with the Wreckers. She was trying to relive the memories. Nathan walked into the bedroom.

"Little man's out cold. You know Gracie May is sleeping." Nathan said and Claudia chuckled a little. "You need me to check for clowns?" Nathan asked and Claudia smirked.

"I kind of do." She replied as she placed the diary on the bedside table beside her.

"All right." Nathan said before he looked under the bed. "Good over there." Nathan commented and Claudia grinned. He walked around to the other side of the room. "All right. You're good." Nathan nodded his head but Claudia shook her head.

"I think you forgot the balcony." Claudia stated as she pointed to the balcony door.

"Okay." Nathan smiled before he walked out onto the balcony, he saw Carrie swimming the pool naked. He didn't go back inside with his wife, he stayed and stared at her. Carrie wasn't oblivious. She knew that Nathan was there.

"Thanks, husband. Nice to know there aren't any monsters in the house." Claudia shouted from her bed as Nathan watched Carrie get out of the pool. 

It was funny that the monster was actually outside of the house.