Nathan was walking towards Claudia, who was sitting at a table outside as she wrote her speech. Everyone was staring at Nathan because of him being a point shaver. 

"Guess it was only a matter of time until the entire town found out I'm a cheater." Nathan sighed as he sat down in front of Claudia. A table was between them.

"Sorry. You know when I was at school and everybody was, like, laughing at me after the tour and whispering and making fun of me? I went to school one day, and I wasn't so interesting. It kind of blew over. This probably will, too." Claudia explained honestly and people were really mean to her. 

"I hope you're right." Nathan sighed. "How's your valedictory speech coming?" Nathan asked and Claudia shrugged.

"It's so close and I never wanted to do this. I am not the usual Valedictorian." Claudia said and then she thought of an idea. "I am thinking about giving it to Haley." Claudia admitted. Nathan looked at her with a furrowed brow.

"Really? Are you sure you want to do that?" Nathan asked and Claudia nodded her head honestly.

"You hear anything from Duke yet?" Claudia asked changing the subject.

"Not yet... I'm guessing they're too busy trying to find another shooting guard to fill my scholarship." Nathan explained upset and Claudia sighed.

"You don't know that." Claudia groaned.

"That's what I would do." Nathan replied.

"Maybe you should talk to Whitey. He's always been there for you. You know, maybe he can help." Claudia suggested as she held onto his hand.

___

Claudia was in the living room as she measured the perimeter of her baby bump. Nathan walked down the short steps into the living room.

"You know, I think I'm actually getting fatter by the minute." Claudia smiled as she took the tape away from her.

"I hope so." Nathan replied as he walked closer to her.

"You're just saying that to make me feel better." Claudia stated as she sat down on the couch. She couldn't stand for long.

"No, because the bigger you get, the taller our children's gonna be." Nathan laughed and Claudia looked up at him shocked.

"So it's all right if I look like a weeble wobble as long as our children can dunk a basketball?" Claudia asked laughing slightly.

"Have you finished your speech yet?" Nathan asked sitting down beside her. Claudia didn't know how to tell him. Turner wasn't letting her do the speech.

"I'm, uh, I'm not gonna be giving a speech." Claudia replied awkwardly.

"Claudia, come on. Look, everybody knows you're pregnant, okay? Pregnant people get bigger. It's natural." Nathan explained comfortingly and Claudia shook her head.

"It's actually principal Turner. He told me that I'm not allowed to give the speech on graduation." Claudia replied like it was nothing.

"What are you talking about? Why?" Nathan asked frantically.

"He just said the whole, uh, Rachel scandal test thing has just kind of made it not appropriate." Claudia lied awkwardly but Nathan knew that was not the truth.

"It's 'cause of me, isn't it?" Nathan asked sighing. Claudia sat up and turned tof ace him.

"Yeah. Look, it's really okay. It is. It's not a big deal, okay? It's just some stupid speech I probably wouldn't have even finished, anyway." Claudia replied honestly, she really didn't mind. Other people would have more appreciation. It was a waste giving it to Claudia. Nathan shook his head angrily.

"It's not a stupid speech. And they can't do this to you, Claudia." Nathan replied getting angry with the school.

"They can. And it's not... it doesn't matter. High school's almost over. You know, let them take the stupid speech. They can't take away everything else I've accomplished." Claudia explained. "Plus Haley deserves it more than me. She should have it." Claudia stated honestly. Nathan just sighed, he knew this was all his fault. However, Claudia was not fazed. She did not mind that she didn't get the speech.

___

"Any luck?" Claudia asked as she stood in Whitey's office. Nathan was sitting at the desk distressed.

"It's over, Claudia. Nobody wants anything to do with me." Nathan sighed upset.

"Don't say that." Claudia replied shaking her head as she walked over to Nathan.

"It's true. I ruined everything. And now you can't even give this speech that you worked so hard for, that you earned, because I screwed it up." Nathan explained and Claudia rested a hand on his cheek.

"I don't care about the speech, Nathan. I care about us. I love you." Claudia replied. "Do you love me?" Claudia asked smiling.

"Of course I love you." Nathan answered smiling a little. 

"Okay. That's all that matters, all right? We are gonna find a way to get through this together. I promise you." Claudia replied as she looked into her husbands eyes. He was scared and she could see that.

___

Claudia bumped into Lucas as she walked down the hallway. They began to walk together.

"Hey. Look who decided to come out of hiding." Claudia joked as she nudged Lucas' shoulder.

"Yeah." Lucas replied monotone. He was too busy thinking about Dan killing Keith. Abby, the witness, told him.

"Since when do you ditch school?" Claudia asked looking up at tall friend.

"Come on. Finals are over. Give me one good reason to be here this week." Lucas answered and Claudia took something out of her famous crochet bag.

"Actually, I have one. This is yours," Claudia grinned as she handed him her yearbook. "I picked it up this morning 'cause I wanted to be the very first one to sign it." Claudia explained as Lucas opened his yearbook. They continued to walk together.

"Thank you." Lucas said as he looked at his yearbook.

"You're welcome. I kind of got carried away and took up an entire page. But I figured that's my right as a best friend." Claudia explained. "I did the same with Haley." Claudia added.

"Yes. You are my best friend." Lucas replied.

"I can't believe high school is almost over. Do you remember the first day of freshman year?" Claudia asked getting all nostalgic. 

"Oh, yes. You asked me to pretend to be your boyfriend so the other guys wouldn't bother you." Lucas laughed.

"You were the best fake boyfriend ever." Claudia smiled as she linked onto Lucas' arm and hugged him.

"Seems like forever ago, huh? Did you ever think this was how senior year would end up?" Lucas asked.

"What? Me married, pregnant, living with a recovering junkie who is packing heat?" Claudia asked sarcastically. "I wouldn't have pictured it any other way." Claudia grinned. 

"What was that?" Lucas asked.

"Deb... she keeps a gun in the kitchen in a cookie jar. She asked me to go to the shooting range with her... while I'm pregnant." Claudia explained laughing. "She's out of her mind." Claudia exclaimed and Lucas had his 'I-Have-A-Plan' look. 

___

"Hey, coach. Got a minute?" Claudia asked as she walked up Whitey's lawn. He was standing on the porch on his rocking chair.

"Looks like I'm getting more visits at the house than I got in my office." Whitey joked as Claudia sat on the rocking chair beside him.

"Are you?" Claudia asked carrying on the new joke.

"I guess since I retired, I ought to start a new business and charge fees for my advice." Whitey explained and Claudia laughed a little.

"That's not a bad idea. What do you think you'll call it?" Claudia asked as she placed a hand on her baby bump protectively. Motherly instinct. 

"Oh, I don't know. I'll think of something." Whitey answered.

"Well, I don't know how much advice I need, but I could sure use your help." Claudia admitted and Whitey turned to face her. 

"What can I do for you?" Whitey asked. Claudia sighed.

"You can help Nathan. Everybody's turned their back on him. You're the only person that's never let him down." Claudia explained desperately.

"Claudia, I don't know what I could do for him at this point." Whitey admitted honestly. Claudia sighed.

"Well, I'm sure you could think of something. Coach, he's still that guy that helped you win all those games." Claudia explained and Whitey sighed. "He's got the heart of a champion. You've know that. You watched him grow. You know the kind of person that he is." Claudia continued desperately. "Can't you just help him be more that person, help him for all the times he's helped you?" Claudia asked.

"Let me think on it." Whitey answered monotone.

"He did what he did for me," Claudia stated as she looked straight ahead, "which was a stupid move and I think we all know he can be an ass." Claudia laughed as she turned to face Whitey who chuckled slightly. "But he is a thoughtful ass and now puts people before him. He has grown and it is because he listened to you and not his dad." Claudia explained honestly and Whitey shook his head.

"Some of it was down to you." Whitey replied and Claudia looked away sighing. 

___

"This will only take a minute." Mouth shouted as he stood on one of the tables outside and held up a yearbook. "This yearbook belongs to Jimmy Edwards. Now, everyone knows his name, but some of you actually knew Jimmy before that day. Maybe you sat with him at lunch. Maybe you went to grade school together. If you knew Jimmy even for a short time, then you probably have some good memories of him." Mouth explained and Claudia looked over at Haley who stood beside her. "And I hope you'll consider writing them down in this yearbook. Thanks." Mouth smiled before he got off from the table and saw Lucas. "Lucas, I know how you feel about Jimmy, but it's the right thing to do." Mouth admitted and Lucas nodded his head.

"I know it is. Got a pen?" Lucas asked and Mouth was in a state of shock. He was so happy that Lucas was doing this, despite everything that they thought happened.

"Yeah." Mouth smiled with glee as he handed it to Lucas.

"You're a great friend, Mouth. Jimmy would really appreciate this." Lucas said truthfully before he was the signed Jimmy's yearbook. Lucas was the first. Claudia and Haley walked up the table and moved through the crowd. 

"Hand it over." Haley smiled as her and Claudia stood behind him. Lucas passed the pen and they both signed their names on the year book.

___

"Hey. It's getting a little late. I'm kind of hungry. You hungry?" Claudia asked as she sat on the couch. Nathan walked into the living room with his hands behind his back.

"No." Nathan shrugged. 

"Let's go out. We never go out anymore. Let's go eat something really bad for us and pig out." Claudia replied.

"That sounds great, but you're gonna be a little busy tonight." Nathan replied and Claudia laughed.

"Doing what?" Claudia asked confused and Nathan handed her a piece of paper.

"What is this?" Claudia asked  as she took it from him.

"Graduation program." Nathan replied as he sat down beside her.

"Tree Hill high school graduation. Valedictory address... Haley James?" Claudia read out as she looked to face Nathan.

"I know you didn't want to do the Valedictory speech and you wanted Haley to do it, so I asked." Nathan explained.

"Are you for real? Oh, come here! Thank you! Oh, my god! I have to go phone Haley!" Claudia exclaimed as she stood up excitably. 

"You do that and  I'll grab us something to eat... something really bad for us." Nathan shouted as Claudia walked of. She turned around and walked up to him. She held his hand grinning.

"No, I'm going to have to collect a diploma in front of a thousand people. Plus, I'm pregnant. I need healthy food." Claudia grinned. "Healthy!" Claudia exclaimed before she kissed him. She walked into the kitchen and called Haley.

"Guess who is going to be Valedictorian?" Claudia asked smirking on the phone. All she could hear was Haley screaming with excitement on the other line. "You deserve this Hales." Claudia laughed. She was so excited for her best friend.