Forever and A Day | one tree hill

twenty-eight.

"So is Peyton moving in?" Charlotte asks her daughter at breakfast as Peyton and Valentina walk into the kitchen.

"Very funny," Valentina says, but there's no bite to it. She grabs a box of cereal and a bowl, pouring herself a healthy portion before she sits down at the table.

Peyton hesitates for a moment, before she grabs her own bowl and sits down opposite Valentina. The two of them eat in a comfortable silence, the only sound the crunch of cereal and the clinking of spoons against porcelain. Charlotte watches them, a knowing smile on her face.

"What?" Valentina asks, noticing her mother's expression.

"Nothing," Charlotte says, taking a sip of her coffee.

Valentina frowns, "Gross mom."

"I was just thinking about how nice it is to have two beautiful girls at my breakfast table," Charlotte says with a shrug. "Makes an old woman feel young again."

"You're not old," Peyton says, and Charlotte beams at her.

"See? Peyton gets it," Charlotte says. "She's a keeper."

Valentina groans and buries her face in her hands. "Can we not?"

"I'm just saying," Charlotte says, "If you're going to have a sleepover, please inform me. And if you're going to have a sleepover," she winks at Peyton, "Please be discreet. I have delicate ears."

"Mom!" Valentina exclaims, her face flushing.

"I'm just trying to be a cool, modern mom," Charlotte says, holding her hands up in mock surrender. "Is that so wrong?"

"Yes," Valentina answers, "Yes it is."

Peyton is trying her best not to laugh, but a small giggle escapes her. Valentina shoots her a look, but it's a fond one.

"I'm just teasing," Charlotte says, her expression softening. "Please don't have sex under my roof and if you do can you wait until I'm not home and keep it limited to your room?"

"Okay, gross," Val says, "I don't want to talk about this. Especially not with Peyton around. She's a guest."

"Ella ya no es una invitada," Charlotte says in Spanish. "She eats our breakfast foods." (She's not a guest)

"Ella no habla espanol, mami," Valentina says, "Es grosero hacer eso si ella no es una invitada." (She's doesn't speak spanish, it's rude to do that if she's not a guest.)

"I forgot you can speak spanish," Peyton says, "That's hot."

"Me or my mom?" Val asks with a grin.

"Both," Peyton says, "The both of you talking to each other in spanish is a whole new kind of hot."

"Peyton, stop it you'll make me blush," Charlotte says, fanning her face.

"Okay, this is officially the weirdest breakfast I have ever had," Valentina says, but she's smiling. "I'm going to school."

She stands up and takes her bowl to the sink, rinsing it out before she puts it in the dishwasher. Peyton follows suit, and they grab their bags from the living room.

"Have a good day at school, girls," Charlotte says, her smile warm and genuine.

"You too, Mom," Valentina says, kissing her on the cheek. "And thanks for breakfast."

"It was my pleasure," Charlotte says, "Peyton, dear, you are welcome any time." Her eyes sparkle with amusement. "Any. Time."

Peyton blushes as Valentina all but pushes her out the door.