The whole family including Carrie were in the kitchen. Grace was sitting on Nathan's knee as she wrote a song on the counter. Jamie was eating his breakfast.

"Daddy, can we play ball again? Now?" Jamie asked excitably as he held his little orange basketball up.

"No, not right now, sweetie. Maybe later." Claudia smiled as she leaned on the counter.

"I want to play every day. He shoots. He scores." Jamie smirked as he threw the basketball straight into his breakfast bowl. "Straight to the hole, playas." Jamie exclaimed and everyone laughed.

"Okay. I guess we got to stop leaving him with Skills." Claudia grinned as she took the bowl out of the cereal and wiped down the counter. 

"Come on, you two. There's a bath with your name on it." Carrie smiled as she took Jamie and Grace out of the kitchen. 

"So how are you doing?" Claudia asked sitting on the stool next to Nathan.

"I'm trying. There's good days and bad days, right?" Nathan asked and Claudia nodded her head. "It's a good thing we don't have to worry about money, but I got to figure out what I'm gonna do. Not all of us can have it together all the time." Nathan explained.

"Please, if you only knew." Claudia sighed.

"I thought you had those kids in line." Nathan replied.

"You remember Quentin? The one that walked out after I threatened to fail him?" Claudia asked and Nathan nodded his head. "Well... Next thing I know, he got cut from the basketball team and he stopped showing up at school." Claudia explained.

"That's not your fault." Nathan replied and Claudia just sighed.

"Yeah, but I'm a teacher. I'm supposed to be saving these kids, not running them off. I tried to talk with him, but he wouldn't listen to me." Claudia stated and then she got an idea. "Oh, maybe if he... had somebody he could relate to." Claudia grinned looking straight at Nathan. Nathan, obviously, caught on.

"Whatever you're thinking, stop it." Nathan replied and Claudia pouted at him. 

"Come on." Claudia pleaded.

"Claudia, I'm the last person that should be giving anybody a talk." Nathan laughed.

"You're, like, a basketball God or something to these guys. And you're not a teacher, which will really help. I think he might listen to you." Claudia explained.

"All right. I'll think about it." Nathan replied, not promising anything.

"Thank you. For what it's worth, I think it might give you another good day." Claudia added happily.

"Really?" Nathan asked and Claudia nodded her head.

"Yeah... So, are you bringing back the mullet, or what?" Claudia grinned jokingly. She missed Nathan's short hair. She hated men with long hair but love has nothing to do with looks, especially with Claudia. Nathan laughed before he ran his fingers through his hair. "How would you feel about cutting it off?" Claudia laughed before she walked away from him. 

___

Peyton and Claudia were sitting on the verge of the pool, talking, as Nathan exercised in the pool. Jamie and Grace were playing with Carrie.

"I just don't understand how someone who can write such soulful songs can be such a dick, you know?" Peyton explained before she took a bit out of the brownie. "These are awesome." Peyton smiled as she licked her lips.

"At least the band sounds good." Claudia replied as she watched her husband in the pool.

"Yeah, but something's not right, you know? I mean, they have magic, but... Anyway, I know you're super swamped, but if I can borrow you for like two hours..." Peyton asked and Nathan interrupted.

"Claudia, you should do it." He encouraged and Claudia just shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't know. I've got the housework and Jamie and Gracie." Claudia explained.

"Oh, yeah. It's too bad we don't have somebody to take care of that, like... I don't know... maybe a nanny?" Carrie joked but Claudia didn't look to convincing. "Just go." Carrie smiled and Claudia nodded her head.

"I can't promise that I won't get excited when I see a studio. It's been a while." Claudia grinned as she pointed at Peyton. Nathan looked over at her when he heard that. 

"You need to get changed though." Peyton stated looking down at Claudia's outfit. It was jeans, a white top and a blazer.

"What do you mean?" Claudia asked laughing.

"This isn't Claudia Scott, this is old women." Peyton replied and Claudia looked down at her outfit.

"It's not that bad." Claudia pouted, she got all concerned. Peyton stood up and gave Claudia a hand up.

"Let's go, come on." Peyton smirked before she slapped Claudia on the bum.

"You are Brooke Davis Roommate." Claudia laughed and Peyton got a 'whoa' moment.

"Roles have changed." She replied as they entered the house. 

___

"There's the Claudia we know and love." Peyton smirked as Claudia walked into the bedroom. Her hair was normal, no curling no nothing. She had minimal makeup on and she was wearing no shoes with her famous bellbottom jeans and Stevie Nicks top.

"Stevie Nicks?" Claudia asked laughing as she pulled on the top.

"Come on. It's perfect." Peyton exclaimed and Claudia looked in the mirror unsure. "When was the last time you wore it?" Peyton asked and Claudia turned to her head to face Peyton.

"Probably the last time I saw you before you left." Claudia shrugged and Peyton's smile dropped. Claudia would always wear that top and then she just stopped.

"Really?" Peyton asked and Claudia nodded her head.

"Yeah, motherhood changed me quite a bit." Claudia replied as she grabbed her denim jacket from the bed.

"Well we are going to find you." Peyton smiled as she swung her shoulder around Claudia and they walked out of the bedroom.

___

The band had just finished playing and Claudia walked into the studio to talk to them. 

"You guys sound amazing. The hook is really great." Claudia smiled at the band. "I think this might be a little repetitive, just... over and over, and if you try and alternate the verses with something just even as simple as..." Claudia added and the girl at the piano began to play something. "Yeah. Yeah, exactly." Claudia grinned.

"That's great but if it's all the same to you, I think we'll do it my way." Jason, the lead, said and Peyton walked in.

"Well, I'm really liking this." Peyton stated and Jason scoffed.

"Oh, you're talking now? Thought your lesbian girlfriend was calling the shots." Jason teased and Claudia was taken back by his rudeness, Peyton wasn't lying when she called him a dick.

"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to step on you creatively. I just have some experience..." Claudia began to explain but Jason cut in.

"Playing the church organ?" He asked and Claudia was offended. Peyton wasn't having that though.

"Actually, she's had a major record deal and a BRIT Award for her album, don't know if you have heard of it Twenty Three?" Peyton asked and then it all clicked in their brains. They all loved Claudia's music. It was like Claudia could see the lightbulbs flashing in their brains. "And a sold-out national tour, whereas you are the lead singer of a band that plays for free beer in dive bars. So yes, you could benefit from her." Peyton added and Jason just shrugged.

"Whatever. I'm taking a smoke break." Jason stated before he began to walk out of the studio.

"No, Jason. You have one hour left in the studio." Peyton groaned but Jason still left. Claudia shook her head annoyed as she watched him leave. 

___

Claudia and Peyton were standing in the booth together, that band had left and it was just them. Claudia couldn't stand Jason.

"I'm really sorry about Jason." Peyton apologised and Claudia shook her head.

"It's okay. I've worked with self-centered musicians before." Claudia explained. "Chris Keller ring a bell?" She asked jokingly.

"Only his own." Peyton replied and Claudia chuckled.

"You know, if you're open to it, I'd really like to work with them." Claudia offered and Peyton raised an eyebrow.

"Like produce the record? Aren't you kind of busy?" Peyton asked and Claudia shrugged her shoulders.

"Yeah, a few days ago I was. But then Carrie came around and I actually had time to think." Claudia started off. "You know what I realized? I'm 21 years old. Nathan and I got married and had Jamie so young, and it feels like we already lived our lives, but we're just starting out like everybody else is. And just because I'm a wife and a mother and a teacher and an ex-singer, it doesn't mean I can't achieve some self-transcendence by doing something else that I love." Claudia explained, she really wanted the job. 

"Well, guess what. Job's yours, so calm down, okay?" Peyton smiled and Claudia clasped her hands together happily.

"Thank you very much. I have missed it. You know?" Claudia replied as she looked into the booth, thinking of all the times when that was her.

"Have you told Nathan?" Peyton asked and Claudia shook her head.

"No, I wanted him to get better and I still sing for the kids." Claudia replied as she ran her fingers across the control panel.

"Do you want to sing right now? We have time." Peyton asked and that idea sounded perfect.

"Can I?" Claudia asked giddy and Peyton nodded her head. Claudia ran into the booth.

"Let it rip, Claudia Scott." Peyton smirked through the microphone as Claudia entered the booth. She stood next to the microphone and started to sing Aretha's Franklin- Respect. Once she was done all you could hear was Peyton clapping. Claudia just laughed. She wondered how something could feel so good? 

___

The band was already there waiting. Jason walked in, late. Claudia was furious.

"Jason, you can't keep doing this, man." Claudia groaned but that didn't faze Jason.

"Doing what?" Jason asked but really he couldn't care less.

"Showing up late. Studio time costs money, and it's by the hour." Claudia explained frustrated with him.

"So? It's not my money." Jason replied arrogantly and Claudia got more annoyed.

"Okay. You're not gonna become a rock star by having a few decent melodies. You actually have to have hard work and dedication." Claudia explained.

"Whatever." Jason replied and that sent Claudia over the edge.

"You can go." Claudia stated as she pointed to the door.

"I can go?" Jason asked confused, Claudia nodded her head.

"Yes. I'm dismissing you from the band. You are not needed any longer." Claudia explained as she folded her arms over.

"You're dismissing me from my own band?" Jason asked hurt and Claudia nodded her head.

"Yes, only it's not your band anymore. I just kicked you out." Claudia stated smirking.

"We'll see about that." Jason warned before he walked out. Claudia felt pretty good about herself.

___

Later that day, Claudia and Peyton were speaking in the booth. Peyton was annoyed that Claudia had cut Jason out of the band.

"You cannot kick him out of the band! He is the band!" Peyton exclaimed and Claudia nodded her head. "Claudia, Brooke put up a lot of money for this, okay? I quit my job. I asked you to produce the band, not break them up, and without Jason, I have no band!" Peyton added and Claudia tried bargaining.

"Just hear me out, because you said that there was something magical about their sound and you couldn't figure out what it was, right?" Claudia asked and Peyton nodded her head. "It's Mia." Claudia smiled and Peyton raised an eyebrow.

"Who?" She asked and Claudia pointed to Mia at the keyboard.

"Mia... she's the keyboard player. She's the magic, Peyton, and I'm telling you, her spark is getting squashed by this ass of a singer." Claudia explained and Peyton just thought to herself. "She reminds me of me." Claudia added. Claudia heard Mia play the piano earlier and sing as well. She loved the sound. It was great.

"I knew we shouldn't have signed with your crap label!" Jason shouted angrily from the recording studio. Claudia rolled her eyes.

"Peyton, I know how important this is to you. I promise you I am not wrong." Claudia stated sternly and Peyton pressed the button on the panel.

"Jason... you're fired." Peyton stated and Claudia smiled to herself.

"What the..." Jason shouted as Claudia and Peyton entered the recording studio. "Stupid, stupid label. Can't win. You know what? You can come with me or stay and suck." Jason shouted annoyed and the guys in the band followed. "Thanks, dog. That's what I thought." Jason said to each member. Mia stayed sitting. "Mia, let's go." Jason ordered and Claudia stepped forward, closer to Mia. 

"Mia, if you stay, you're gonna make a great record. I'll help you." Claudia expressed.

"Mia, now." Jason warned angrily.

"I think I'm gonna stay." Mia said mousy and Claudia grinned ecstatic.

"You're an idiot." Jason spat and Claudia glared at him.

"Don't call me an idiot! And stop playing the ballads. Those are mine." Mia warned and Jason shook his head.

"You know what? You just made a big mistake. All of you." Jason warned looking at all the girls. "Later, bitches." Jason smirked before he left with what was left of his band. Claudia turned to the girls. 

"Everything's gonna be okay. I promise." Claudia smiled encouragingly and she did believe that. Claudia knew that her and Peyton could get Mia somewhere.

___

Claudia was looking at some clothes as Nathan stood behind her on his crutches. They were at Brooke's Clothes over Bro's shop opening in Tree Hill. Claudia picked out a stunning dress.

"That is some dress." Nathan commented as Claudia held the dress up to her. She just sighed.

"I don't know. You don't think it's too sexy?" Claudia asked as she looked at the dress. "It's not something a respectable wife or mother would wear." Claudia added. 

"You should definitely get it." Nathan smirked and Claudia grinned as Brooke walked over to them.

"The dress is on me." Brooke smiled and Claudia shook her head.

"No. I can't let you do that." Claudia said sternly, however, she was grateful. But if Claudia has learned anything it is not to argue with Brooke Davis over clothes, you will always lose.

"I can do anything I want. It's my party. Think of it as a present for taking such good care of my godson. Sorry I don't have anything for you, Nate." Brooke explained and Nathan shrugged.

"That's a present for me, too." Nathan replied and Brooke walked away satisfied for herself. Claudia looked at the dress again.

"Is that THE Nathan Scott?" Haley teased as she walked over to them.

"I know right. Now I can finally walk down the street and not shout "I don't know this homeless man' considering he has cut his hair." Claudia grinned as she turned to face them, then she realised Lydia wasn't there so her grin fell.

"Haley, Jack. Why no Lydia?" Claudia asked frowning.

"She's at home with a friend." Jack explained as Haley looked at the dress in awe.

"Get the dress." Haley smiled and Claudia nodded her head.

"She got it." Nathan replied as he leaned on his crutches.

"Well done." Haley smirked impressed. "I am away to look around. Bye."  Haley smiled before her and Jack began to walk away. Claudia grabbed Jack's arm with her hand.

"Jack, I need your help. My piano skills aren't the best so I was wondering if you could come to the Studio with me to work with this girl." Claudia explained. "Her voice is incredible and you could really help her." Claudia added, begging. Jack smiled as he nodded his head.

"Of course, just tell me when." Jack replied before he walked away. Claudia turned back to face Nathan, she was extremely happy.

"Homeless, really?" Nathan asked and Claudia just shrugged. 

"You did look a tiny bit homeless." Claudia grinned before she kissed Nathan on the cheek playfully. They were finally getting back on track and Claudia couldn't be more happier.

___

Mia was playing the piano alone when Claudia and Jack walked in. Mia stopped playing.

"Sorry. Sounds great. You couldn't stay away either, huh?" Claudia asked smiling as her and Jack moved closer.

"Honestly, I think I'm gonna throw up. What if I'm not worth it?" Mia asked self-doubting herself. 

"You are. I really believe that, but you've got to believe it, too, you know?" Claudia replied encouragingly.

"Yeah." Mia nodded.

"Oh, don't worry. We'll face all of this... tomorrow." Claudia grinned and Mia laughed stiffly. Mia also couldn't stop looking at Jack. "This is my brother Jack and I brought him to help you, is that okay?" Claudia asked and Mia nodded her head.

"Yeah sure." Mia smiled and Jack sat down beside her on the piano bench.

"So, where's this song go after that?" Jack asked and Claudia stood back to give them some room.

"It goes back up to the D." Mia replied as she played the note on the piano. Jack thought for a moment before replying.

"What if you go to the "E"? It might give it a little diversity." Jack added as he began to play it with the 'E' sound. Mia liked the sound of it and so did Claudia.

"Yeah. Yeah. Let me try that." Mia smiled before she played it herself. Claudia gave Jack the thumbs up before they continued playing.

___

Claudia was playing the piano, she wasn't playing it as good as she used to but she was learning again. Nathan walked in with his crutches.

"Hey." Nathan smiled and Claudia stopped playing the piano.

"Hi." She replied as Nathan got closer to her. She was feeling a little bit wary and she did not know why. 

"When you get a chance, I'd love to see that dress on you." Nathan smirked as he leaned over Claudia and Claudia smiled wary up at him right before her children walked in. 

"Hey." Claudia smiled looking at her children.

"Night, mama." Jamie said as he walked over to his mom with his sister.

"Night Night mummy" Grace smiled, emphasising on the 'mummy' part. Claudia grinned happily, her kids called her the american version of 'mum'.

"Oh, going to bed already? I haven't seen you two all day." Claudia groaned as she hugged her children. "Oh, I miss you two." She exclaimed before she hugged her children good night. "Okay. Go upstairs. I'll be up in a minute, all right, kiddos?" Claudia smiled and her children walked away. Claudia looked up at Nathan. "I just want to talk with Carrie." She asked and Nathan nodded his head.

"Oh, okay. Sure." Nathan replied before he walked over to his children. "All right, buddies. You ready to go to bed? All right." Nathan grinned at his children before the three of them walked out. Carrie walked closer to Claudia.

"Is everything okay?" Carrie asked and Claudia nodded her head reassuringly.

"Actually, everything's great. I'm getting back into music, and Nathan's healing, Jamie and Grace have never been happier. And most importantly, I'm actually starting to feel like we're a family again." Claudia explained getting all happy and warm inside.

"I'm glad to hear that." Carrie smiled nodding her head.

"You had a lot to do with it. So if I haven't said it a hundred times already, I just... thank you." Claudia grinned gratefully, she wouldn't know what she would have done without Carrie.

___

Jamie and Gracie were sleeping in the their bedroom. Claudia walked in and sat down on Jamie's bed. She saw him hugging a drawing. At first all she could see was a little girl, a little boy and a older women. She smiled happily until she unfolded it. It read 'Me, Gracie May and Nanny Carrie.' Claudia was devastated, she couldn't stop looking at it. 

++++

I am loving writing this book right now. I was wondering if you guys could give me some feedback on the whole twins thing or on the book as a whole? How do you think it is going? I am so excited to write when Nathan and Claudia break up, is that bad? LOL! I just have so much ideas and I will probably have a flashback chapter in there as well. I should have more of my own chapters as well, so you guys can give me an idea on what you would like to read about from the four missing years or if you want another high school flashback chapter? 

Thank you all for your support, sorry I haven't been updating that quick, the chapter dialogue on it's own is like 2000 odd words so their is a lot of writing and I have so much work to do.

Mrs N O'Brien X