Walkaway Joe - The End

By Whitney

Chapter 1

How happy is the human soul on our chemical wedding

One step. Two steps. Three steps. She moved down the aisle like a ballerina floating in the air. Her raven hair swayed behind her, only hindered slightly by the lace of her vintage Italian veil. The back of her dress dipped seductively down her back revealing a creamy expanse of skin, perfectly tanned from hours in the sun, yet not a wrinkle or blemish in sight. Her path was adorned with white lily's along the pews, while pink rose petals lay scattered on the crimson walkway. It was like a picture straight out of a book of fairytales, she was a princess walking to her dashing prince.

He stood strong at the alter, his stance nervous and fidgety. While she was the picture of perfection, he was a rumpled mess, shifting his weight from foot to foot nervously as she got closer to him. Still while his body screamed out in terror, his eyes seemed almost peaceful as she came, a light-hearted smile was bursting out of them.

The choir sang clearly from the balcony as the organist followed along. The sound that was produced sounded almost heavenly to those in the large beautifully adorned church. The bride finally descended upon the altar turning to face her soon to be husband with a smile that stretched across her entire face. The priest began his blessings. Half of the wedding party was in tears by the time they were finally announced man and wife and the kiss took place.

The music started back up and the wedding party joviantly walked back down the aisle, all ready for the reception.

"It was a beautiful wedding..." the murmurs swirled around the huge reception hall as it filled up with family and friends. It was a large crowd, larger than you saw at most weddings, but it fit with the family throwing the event, they were rich and they liked to flaunt it.

Half of the hall was a ballroom, perfectly buffed wooden floors, not a scuff mark visible. Directly beside it was a stage where the band was set up, only the best for the bride. And on the other side laid the tables, tons of them, decorated with the finest French lace table cloths, and the table pieces were fish bowls, with tiny exotic fish in them. It was an elaborate set up that people ooed and awed about from the moment they stepped foot in the building.

"Why does she get to change and we don't?" Peyton complained from beside Haley as they waited while Brooke changed into a slinkier white dress in the brides chambers.

Brooke and Jake had tied the knot two years out of college. They'd lived together from the summer that Brooke impulsively hopped a plane to Florida to declare her like for him and the state, and things had gone...they'd been bumpy. But surprisingly enough, they'd stuck together. Brooke's parents had had many reservations about Jake, her wasn't rich like they wanted, and he didn't bow down at their feet like they expected. But Brooke decided Jake was even worth daddy's credit card, that was when Jake decided she was worth the long haul down the altar.

In the beginning they'd planned a small wedding, money didn't exactly grow on trees for them, much to Brooke's distaste, she'd had to get a job, while Jake continued to work as a youth councilor at the local middle-school. It was a mundane life, one that no one would have believed Brooke Davis would have settled for. But like she told Peyton on the phone when she announced her marriage, "somehow it fits".

Mommy and daddy Davis did eventually come around when they realized their precious daughter was going ahead with the nuptials. They couldn't allow such a small ceremony so they agreed to foot the bill and Brooke got the Barbie dream wedding she'd always wanted. And they even made it through pre-canna, which was insisted on my the very Catholic Davis clan. It was all for show of course, but Brooke was just happy for the money, and Jake was doped up on love.

So now here the three of them stood, Brooke getting out of the dress she personally designed for the other wedding dress she also designed, this one decidingly smaller and more accessible for dancing. Haley and Peyton stood to the side in their Brooke creations, burgundy off the shoulder dresses that looked perfect and felt terrible. Still as Brooke had coached them before-hand, they knew, "this was her wedding, and looking pretty was all that mattered...so suck it up." They'd been sucking it up since they were zipped into them, each breathe a new kind of pain.

"Because this is her day remember." Haley snickered while downing the rest of her champagne glass. Jake had set it up so a tray of alcohol was brought into them as soon as they arrived, and all three girls loved him most for it at the moment.

Haley loved weddings, or she had when she was little. Now it seemed with each one she attended, she liked them less. Not that they weren't stunning, they all were, from the white perfection of the dresses, to the unique reception parties, they were beautiful. Still they reminded her of one thing...she wasn't married, she wasn't anywhere near married. She was nearly twenty five years old, she'd lived with Nathan for the last seven years, and they hadn't even discussed it, hadn't even mentioned it.

It seemed she was doomed to always be the bridesmaid, never the bride. She'd mostly found peace with that, but it was events such as Brooke and Jake's wedding that nagged at her, bringing up the "marital bug" as Peyton had coined it.

"How could I forget with her screaming it in my ear every five minutes." Peyton returned grabbing for the champagne bottle to fill up another glass for herself. She moved to do the same for Haley, but the bottle just dripped a bit signally it was empty. "Sorry Hales." She giggled as Haley's face fell realizing their liquor supply was out.

Brooke snapped them out of it by traipsing over and ordering Haley to zip her up. Haley hated Brooke right now, she was just way too perfect and glowly. Her hair had this insanely good coconut smell emanating from it, and her body was this beautifully bronzed tan, that was impossible for Haley to get. Brooke had said it was the result of living in Miami, but Haley was still completely jealous. New York just didn't produce that color, it was like impossible.

"What happened to the champagne?" She questioned as she turned the bottle up in her glass and nothing came out. Haley and Peyton looked between each other and then back at Brooke and just shrugged. "You two have become lushes. New York city has way too many bars apparently."

"Do we go to bars?" Haley turned to Peyton, the words sounding funny rolling off her tongue. In truth she'd been to like one bar in her life and that was with Nathan and some of his team mates to celebrate. She'd got hit on by some old drunk guy and Nathan had got into a fight that was splashed all over the gossip pages the next day. The was the last time she ventured out to any place remotely considered bar material.

"I do," Peyton nodded, "but then I'm hopelessly single and a starving artist. You on the other hand are practically married and rich, so-"

"Not married," Haley bristled at the implication, "and you are not starving. I feed you all the time." It was true, Peyton practically lived at Nathan and Haley's, but Haley didn't mind, especially during basketball season. Nathan was always out of town, or training, and she liked the companionship. Nathan hadn't liked it too much in the beginning, he said it felt like Peyton was in their relationship, but he'd settled into as well. Peyton was like a kid, you fed her and read to her and she was happy as could be...most times.

"I know you do buddy and I love you for it." Peyton smiled affectionately in Haley's direction, linking arms with her and giving her a small half hug before pulling back and drinking up the rest of the liquid in her glass.

"Well since this is my-" Brooke began, but Haley and Peyton cut her off, by quickly sidling up to each side of her and gently hugging her, being sure not to wrinkle her dress.

"We love you most though." Haley grinned up at her kindly trying to placate her need for complete attention on "her day".

Peyton agreed, "Of course we do. You're our little Brooke."

Brooke looked between them oddly, finally shaking them off. "You two just had to drink the whole damn bottle, I'm going to kill my husband for sending it over." Suddenly Brooke's face got that same gooey smile she had up at the altar and both Haley and Peyton groaned backing away.

"My husband..." she repeated dreamily twirling her ring on her finger as she absently stared down at it.

"Yes we know," Haley began.

Peyton picked up, "the love of your life-"

"your dream come true-"

"your-" Peyton started again, but Brooke snapped out of her married trance and cut them off with a giddy sigh.

"Time to dance!"

"Dance?" Haley and Peyton repeated at the same time watching with wide-eyed horror as Brooke sauntered out of the room and down the hall to meet Jake so they could make their big entrance.

"These shoes are a bitch." Peyton complained as they trailed after her and Haley nodded in agreement.

"And this dress barely lets me breathe, let alone move."

"Do you think we could like sneak our shoes off?" Peyton asked in a conspirator tone. Both girls eyes shot straight ahead landing on the over-eager bride bounding down the hall like it was a race.

"We could try." Haley responded weakly.

"Right." Peyton nodded unconvinced.

"Where is she?" Jake questioned anxiously for the millionth time as he waited down by the dining hall with the rest of the guys. Luke and Tim had taken to playing "I Spy", Tim's idea, they were spying hot girls in the reception hall. While Nathan was busy talking to from what Jake could gleam was his agent on the phone about some kind of charity project he was working on later that month or maybe attending later that month? Jake wasn't sure, he was walking circle, making his voice go lower on some words, providing a very unclear picture of what he was saying. Still Jake was trying to focus on anything but the waiting, he'd been with Brooke as his wife for barely five minutes before she was rushed away to change.

He just wanted to see her again.

And then like magic, there she was. Walking towards him, well running towards him at break neck speed. Suddenly he realized she was going to knock him over if she didn't slow down so her steeled himself, trying to step back just a bit. It was no good though, she ran right into him, nearly leaping up his body when she got there. They didn't fall though like he expected, they stayed afoot, as he held onto her tiny body.

"Hi husband!" She chirped leaning back to place a hungry kiss on his lips before dropping down from him completely and straightening out her dress. It feel against her body in all the right places, making him crazy with lust at the sight of her.

"Hey." His voice came out scratchy with passion.

"See I know what you're thinking," she bit her lip letting out a seductive giggle, "but that has to wait until later lover. Right now we have a crowd of people to wow, and you know how much I like to wow."

"That I do." He smiled, leaning in for a quick kiss before entertwining their fingers and calling out to the guys that they were ready. Lucas and Tim came right over, while Nathan motioned that he would be a moment.

Haley rolled her eyes at the sight of Nathan on his cell, she thought she'd successfully hidden it from him, but it seemed he'd found it anyway. It seemed he lived on that thing, and it had become increasingly annoying to her. He could have at least put it away on their friends wedding day. She imagined it was Brian on the phone, his agent, his irritating, always around agent that she had come to dislike...a lot.

Peyton turned to see Haley rolling her eyes at the sight on Nathan once again on his cell phone. It seemed even the warm climate of Miami couldn't erase Nathan's attachment to that phone. He was never without it in New York, and it seemed that rule still applied while he was on vacation in Florida. Oh she knew he would pay for it later.

"Hey come on," she cajoled Haley beside her with a light teasing tone, "boys will be boys."

"I'm tempted to stomp on that damn thing with these spike heels, at least they would be useful then." She grumbled, letting Peyton pull her along behind Brooke and Jake. Haley eyed Nathan contemptuously for a minute, almost walking all the way past him before pulling away from Peyton and stomping back to stand before him. He was just acting rude.

"Nathan?" She called to him impatiently practically tapping her foot in front of him. It felt so wrong to act like his mother, but at the same time she wondered if Deb had forgot to teach him basic manners, and if she had, had Nathan been in some accident where he lost his mind?

He made some kind of hand movement signaling her wouldn't be much longer, that only served to annoy her more. Did he think she was his assistant? Annoyed she slit her eyes up at him with a harsh glare, that he didn't seem to notice.

"Come on Hales!" Brooke called back to her. And Haley twisted around between the two for a minute before giving up on Nathan and jogging after the group. She would speak to him later...she really was sounding like his mother.

"Something wrong?" Luke questioned waiting for Haley to come up beside him. Haley shook her head in the negative, she didn't want to let the whole world in on her annoyance with Nathan, not even his brother. Lately Luke and Nathan had gotten semi-close, they even hung out by themselves sometimes. Haley knew that Luke would just say to let him be, like he always did. And she didn't want to be pissed off at Luke as well.

"Everything is fine...promise." She added with a tight smile, before calling up to Peyton who was goofing off with Tim. She didn't need Luke bugging her about something he had already let her know many times he found no problem with. Peyton knew why she had a problem, therefore Peyton was somebody she wanted to stand by. Sometimes Lucas paid for the sins of his brother.

"Breathe in breathe out." Peyton coached with a small laugh, and Haley shot her a short nod, before beaming a completely false smile Tim's way.

"Trouble in paradise?" He queried with interest.

"Yeah," Haley agreed dryly, "I'm in a love triangle with Nathan and his cell phone. Quadrangle if you count his agent, a-"

"I get the picture." Tim laughed chuckling softly as he looked quickly behind him to see his friend jogging up, finally free of his cell phone. "Looks like the competition is gone." Tim shook his head in Nathan's direction and Haley rolled her eyes speeding up to get away from her boyfriends oncoming figure.

"Oh man," Tim laughed some more and Peyton joined him.

"Hey." Nathan landed beside them, his breath short from catching up. He watched with mild amusement as Haley tried to get ahead of him, she wasn't having much luck with the shoes Brooke had insisted she wear. He'd heard her complain for nearly two hours that morning about how uncomfortable they were, in the end he'd promised to massage her feet later that night if she would just shut up about it. He didn't imagine he'd be touching her at all for the next few hours if the cold shoulder he was receiving was any indication.

He knew she'd wanted him to leave New York behind while they visited for the wedding, but that was easier said than done. He had a million different commitment he had to deal with when he got back, not the least of which was the charity brunch he'd signed on for. It was a good cause, and he'd get to have actual interaction time with underprivileged kids, which was always fun to him. He'd found over the years he loved working with children in relation to basketball, it was almost thrilling to see them make a shot, just for the sheer happiness that appeared on their faces.

"So I guess I'm short a dancing partner." He commented with a short sigh, before a smile tugged at his lips. He loved weddings, especially those of his friends, their joy was infectious, almost freeing, and he hadn't seen a marriage more right between two people than Jake and Brooke. He would never admit it to them, but they were cute, in a sickenly sweet way. Thankfully they stopped just short of giving him a tooth ache.

"Looks like it," Peyton laughed giddily in his direction, "not that you ever really had a chance with these shoes. I swear to God, they are single-handedly breaking every bone in my feet."

"I didn't need that mental image, thanks Peyt." Tim rolled mock-annoyed in her direction. Nathan shook them off with a small laugh, dropping back to walk with Luke who was making up the end of the line all by himself.

"I thought you had a date to this thing, man," Nathan began taking note of his brother's sullen mood.

"I did, I mean I do, Robin's waiting out in the dining hall with my mom."

Nathan laughed lightly, "So you already introduced her to your mother, must be serious."

"I didn't really have a choice," Luke shrugged, "Brooke sent my mom and invite and Robin found mine- I mean we're not even sleeping together yet, but I could tell she wanted me to ask her-"

"To sleep with you?" Nathan questioned perplexed by the problem.

"No, to come here. She has her own room."

"Ouch." Nathan shook his head, "Well I'd say hook up with one of the bridesmaids, but one would lead to your death and the other would- well I know on good authority she would drive you crazy.-"

"Ya think?" Lucas laughed sarcastically at Nathan's analysis of Peyton. He knew her, even though they'd lost touch a little over the years, they were still friends. Still he had to admit part of his mood was from seeing her, there would always be a little part of him that wondered what if with Peyton Sawyer.

"Haley my friend," Brooke came up beside her just before they entered the dining hall, "try not to look so pissed off, it doesn't become you."

"I'll try." Haley smiled amused at Brooke's tone.

Finally they reached the end of the hall to be met by the maitre’ d who elegantly opened the door for them. Brooke and Jake entered first to a roar of claps by all those in attendance. They were all carefully led to the head table where they took their seats in accordance to their positions.

"We'd like to start with a dance between the bride and groom..." the band began and Jake swept Brooke onto the dance floor, while everyone watched in unadulterated awe.

Chapter 2

My love is as restless as the wind

Haley spun her fork around on her plate moving the last remnants of her salad with it. When she'd received the RSVP card, she'd checked off vegetarian, weddings always made her nauseous, and she knew that she'd be painted into that dress so she figured salad would be the safest choice. Not the tastiest choice though as she found out. She'd practically slobbered over Peyton's chicken when it came out, and she was tempted to break her silence with Nathan just to get a bite of his steak.

"Hey." She snapped out of her reverie when she felt someone's hot breath on her neck. When she turned around in her chair she found Nathan crouching behind her, a tiny smirk decorating his lips. She ignored him though, still annoyed by his earlier actions. "Haley, come on, I'm sorry. You know how important this charity thing is...Haley..."

Still she ignored him. She knew how important the charity gala was to him, and she loved that. She'd gone down with him once to the center, after hours when the press wasn't there to capture their every move. What she saw was perfection to her, the way Nathan was with those kids, how excited he got when they got excited. She hardly ever got into basketball, it had become one of the biggest hassles in her life. But she couldn't help but cheer and take interest every time a shot was made. Still that didn't give him the right to completely ignore common manners on their best friends wedding day. The charity gala was nearly a month away, giving him plenty of time to catch up when they got back.

"Go back to your seat Nathan." She ordered stubbornly, keeping her eyes directly ahead of her on the dance floor.

Nathan tried to stifle the laugh that was bubbling in his throat. She was so amusing to him when she got like this. She wasn't really angry mad, angry mad he wouldn't have liked or been amused by, but she was simply pissed off, and he knew that would wear off.

"What was I supposed to do, Brian called about the benefit-"

"How about not answer your damn phone," she bit back harshly still refusing to face him.

Nathan leaned in closer getting a soft whiff of the vanilla perfume he bought her last Christmas. It was called London and she'd tried it on one day when they were going shopping in Macys. He'd tried to pin her down on something she'd wanted all day, but she kept saying she was completely satisfied, finally a saleswoman had nearly strangled her by spraying her down and surprisingly she'd liked the scent, he'd liked it too.

"You know you smell really good," he whispered huskily into her ear, sending wisps of her hair across her cheek. He brought his hand up to her face, letting his fingers trace slowly across her soft skin. He loved the feel of her skin, it was so smooth and rich, he could barely contain himself when he was near her. "We could go back to our room, I could give you that foot rub-"

Haley tried to shake him off by rolling her shoulders back, but he was persistent with his touch and wouldn't let her break contact. She sighed annoyed and began fiddling with her salad again.

"I don't know why you can't just vacation like a normal person, you know? I have a job too, responsibilities, but I put them aside for Brooke on her day..."

"No more phone calls I promise," he assured leaning in to place a light kiss on her cheek, before pushing to his feet again and walking back over to his seat on the other side of Jake.

Peyton watched from a distance and approached her seat again once Nathan walked away. She'd seen them like this many times before and she didn't care to be in the middle again. She'd made the mistake one time before when they'd gotten into while out at dinner with her and a friend of hers Mike, to this day she didn't remember what they were fighting about, she just remembers telling Haley to save it till later, and Nathan blowing up at the both of them. Haley for being pissed off and slightly drunk, and Peyton for telling Haley to shut up. It was not a pleasant experience at all.

"Still making him pay?" Peyton questioned as she settled in.

"How much longer do you think we have to stay at this thing?" Haley wondered absently, as she continued to play with her food. She was sticky from the too tight dress, and her feet felt like they were on fire. All she wanted to do was go take a long bubble bath and go over some of the notes she brought with her from work.

"Knowing Brooke we better be here until the bitter end, you know help the clean up people."

Haley laughed shortly, "I need another drink. Thank God for the open bar."

"Want company?" Peyton offered hopeful her offer would be received.

"No, I don't want to subject you to more walking in those death traps." She made a small motion pointing to their identical shoes, before sliding out of her chair and carefully walking across the room to the bar set up.

Haley spotted Karen speaking to some 5oish woman with a hideous hat, and decided to make a pity rescue. She tapped Karen lightly on her shoulder to get her attention and they immediately fell into a grateful hug.

"Haley!" Karen greeted her happily.

"Hi." Haley returned feeling comfortable in the older woman’s arms. She always provided such a place of comfort for Haley, a remembrance of a different time, a different place that always lived in her heart.

"Aww Haley James," the big-hatted woman spoke to her, "I'm Brooke's aunt Gwen, you looked lovely up there today dear."

"Well thank you, but I think the bride definitely stole the show." Haley returned courteously.

"That she did," the woman agreed, "well it was nice meeting you Ms. Rowe, perhaps we will see one another again."

"Yes, very nice to meet you as well." Karen agreed, sending a small smile the woman’s way as she swarmed to the next available table and began with the hapless chit-chat once more.

"So you met aunt Gwen..." Haley laughed softly, "Brooke told me about her."

Karen smirked slightly, trying to hold in her obvious amusement at the woman, "well I'm not one to gossip."

"Oh me neither," Haley shook her head vigorously in agreement, until the both dissolved into quiet laughter.

"I thought she would never shut up." Karen admitted.

"Then I guess I'm the angel of mercy." Haley joked.

"A sight for sore eyes," Karen replied honestly. "Well aunt Gwen got one thing right, you certainly looked beautiful up there, almost put the bride to shame."

"Your kind." Haley blushed taking in the compliment.

"So how have you been Haley, from what I've heard from Lucas and seen on the news you and Nathan are doing quite well."

"We do okay...better than most." Haley admitted with a small life. "Nathan's doing great on the team, I have my job...everything’s perfect."

Karen watched as Haley's face fell at her last word, "Then why do you look so sad?"

Haley recovered quickly from her trance, shaking off the small feeling of melancholy that had taken her over. She wasn't sad, there were times when she felt almost wistful, but never sad, not in a long time. "Well I'm going to cry if I don't take these shoes off soon." She brushed it off with a small joke, and Karen thankfully seemed to since her need to move onto another subject. She was always good like that.

"If you'd like I could hide them for you-"

"Would you?" Haley's face lit up with mischievous glee.

"Slip em off Miss James," Karen spoke in a motherly tone. "Find me before you leave and I'll give them back-"

"Don't feel obligated," Haley joked, "the nearest trash can would do...or hey if you're into masochism, you can take them home and wear them yourself. Brooke swears they're designer chic at it's best."

"I expected nothing less from Brooke." Karen smiled warmly as Haley slid the offensive shoes under the table by her purse.

"My feet thank you." Haley smiled, sending another small hug Karen's way before making a bee line for the bar.

Once there she ran smack dab into Tim, who was flirting with a short blonde chic with terrible fashion taste. Haley deduced she must have been from Jake's side of the family because the Davis clan would have renounced her in the get up she was wearing.

"Timothy," Haley greeted him leaning in and placing a small kiss on his stubbled cheek before letting the bartender know what she wanted. Champagne of course. "So you look handsome in your tux."

"I always look dashing Hales, you know that." He smirked taking a sip from the dark amber liquid in his glass. The blonde beside him slipped him a napkin which obviously contained her number and then disappeared back into the crowd of wedding guests.

"Did you pick her up at a tavern?" Haley joked slightly as she let the cool alcohol fill her mouth waiting for his answer. Tim had moved to upstate New York a few months back to work for his fathers ad firm, when his own internet company had went bust. Still she and Nathan barely saw him anymore, even with his new locality being so close to their own.

"Close enough." He smirked, taking Haley in from head to...toe. He eyed her bare feet suspiciously before laughing it up and letting his eyes drift back to her face. "Nathan's a lucky guy."

She smiled lightly at the compliment, Tim would always pertain that horn dog charm he'd had in high school, "You think?" She goaded lightly, letting her eyes gleam flirtily back at him. She'd grown comfortable with the male attention, not as comfortable as Brooke or even Peyton, but comfortable enough to like it when it was just harmless flirting. If Nathan could be charismatic and charming with all the cities female reporters, she could be just as charming with the male population.

"When are you two going to come up and visit me, I just got this little house on the beach, amazing view, secluded, no little reporters bounding about...I hear you're having a slight problem with the intrusion lately."

Haley let out a low laugh at his words, Tim did love to gossip. "Well you know how it is, the more points he makes the more they want him-"

"You mean the more they want to know about him." Tim corrected with an easy grin.

"That to," she nodded teasingly, "but I'm used to it by now. Still a beach retreat sounds nice. You invite us and I promise I'll find a way."

"I'm inviting you." Tim announced happily, and then his eyes turned to the dance floor. "So could I wrangle a dance out of you?"

Haley eyed him suspiciously. She did need a dance partner and now that those craptastic shoes weren't holding her back, she was able to actually move comfortably, and Tim did look awfully skilled on the dance floor. He wasn't the bumbling idiot he'd once been.

"Prepare to be dazzled," she joked reaching out for his hand, but she was cut off by the sudden commanding presence of the bride.

"Haley I need you now." Brooke said authoritatively.

"It can't wait?" Haley asked suspicious of Brooke's behavior.

"No." She shook her head vigorously, and Haley said a quick apology to Tim before waving Peyton to come along with them as they headed to the bathroom. Once inside Brooke began to pace back and forth extremely nervous, putting Haley and Peyton on edge as well.

"Please tell me you didn't decide this was a complete mistake, Brooke, because I swear to God, I wore these damn shoes, you better stay married more than a day-"

"What," Brooke snapped, "no of course not, I love Jake. I love him and I'm glad I married him. I just didn't exactly tell him something I probably should have and now I'm really worried-"

"What didn't you tell him?" Haley questioned cautiously getting a sick feeling in her stomach. Brooke's earlier glow had turned sickly, and it was scaring her. She just prayed the next words out of her mouth weren't something about a drunken affair or something else equally as hideous.

Brooke's eyes turned downcast to her purse, where she dug around for a minute and then carefully pulled a small cardboard box out of it. The box read "EPT" in bold letters on the front. Peyton's eyes went wide in horror as did Haley's. Pregnant? Before anything else could be said the door swung open and Jake and Tim barreled in, stopping dead in their tracks when they spotted the box.

Jake's eyes went dim with fear right in front of the three girls, and it looked like Tim was about to topple over in shock. Haley turned to see Brooke's face drop out of the corner of her eye and impulsively grabbed the box from her. She could tell Brooke was no where near ready to deal with Jake being disappointed, and like she'd drilled into their heads all day this was her day. And Haley was her maid of honor, she wanted to step up and help her out, no matter how stupid the idea seemed.

"You can't tell Nathan!" She announced briskly taking control of the situation as Brooke and Peyton turned to her bewildered and Jake's face came back to it's usual rosy shade. "I haven't had the chance to tell him yet with all the commotion and I just couldn't keep it to myself so I had to tell Brooke and Peyton, you know how girls gossip,-" Haley continued to stumble across her words, trying to think of anything convincing to say.

"Haley?" Brooke stared at her unsure of what she was doing.

Thankfully Peyton understood and stepped up to the plate, "You know guys this is a really sensitive situation right now. The pregnancy wasn't planned or anything, so Haley just needs a little time to figure things out. Right Hales?"

"Uh-huh." Haley shook her head swallowing hard. "Just a little time."

"Wow." Tim finally spoke, staring down at Haley's still flat stomach. "How far along are you?"

Haley stared at him blankly surprised by the question. She hadn't thought that far ahead. Brooke settled a protective arm around her shoulder and spoke for her.

"She's about a month."

"Yep." Haley agreed again.

"Nathan's gonna be a daddy!" Tim announced triumphantly, and Haley's face paled. Everyone in the world had to have heard that. Panic struck her in the stomach what had she gotten herself into.

"Could you not scream, please!" She screeched at him, and Tim's face dropped in embarrassment.

"Sorry Hales, I'm just a little excited. So when are you guys getting married?"

Jake still remained quiet, which was becoming disconcerting to Brooke. She watched as he carefully removed himself from the room, while Peyton and Haley continued to deal with Tim's over eager behavior over the baby announcement. She followed him out into the deserted hall and leaned into his chest.

"You okay?" She asked in a small voice, still a little hurt over the abject terror she saw in his eyes when he saw the baby kit.

"Yeah," he nodded pressing a tiny kiss to the top of her head, "I just- for a minute I thought maybe you were the one who- it's stupid I guess."

"That would be terrible right?" She choked on her words as they settled between them. How could she tell him now that she knew exactly how he felt. It had been such a stupid slip up, she'd forgotten to take the pill just once like an idiot and now...and now her new marriage was hanging on that one decision.

He simply smiled down at her lacing their fingers to bring her back into the dining hall.

Tim finally emptied out of the bathroom promising to keep him mouth shut until Haley gave the go ahead. Neither Peyton or Haley was sure he could keep to that promise, he seemed way too excited over the looming baby news to keep it in check the way he swore he would.

Haley paced nervously on the pristine white tile of the bathroom. What had she gotten herself into? If Tim even told one person she was sure it would be all over the gossip page in New York the next day. News about Nathan Scott traveled fast, even all the way from Florida.

"Oh my God, Peyton." She began to hyperventilate, "I didn't just do that. Tell me that that was a dream, that people don't actually think I'm pregnant- Oh God." She whined again, hoisting herself up on the counter and letting her head drop dejectedly to her knees.

"It'll be okay, Brooke will figure out how to tell Jake and then we can set the record straight without Nathan even knowing, it'll be fine." Peyton placed a comforting hand on Haley's head smoothing down her hair. "Everything will be fine." She assured again.

Chapter 3

The cow jumped over the moon

Nathan looked around the crowded hall for Haley, but found nothing. He'd seen her earlier by the bar with Tim, but he'd been momentarily distracted by Brooke's senator uncle who was a huge fan of the Knicks. Nathan always had time for another fan, especially when they had nothing but praise for him.

Halfway across the room he spotted Lucas and Tim paling around. He ducked his head down hoping to avoid any more persistent encounters with wedding guests before getting to them. He knew Haley was mad, but he'd figured she'd come around by now, the fact that she hadn't was bothering him. He knew he'd been inconsiderate taking the call with Brian, especially right now when she was more than a little irritated at is agent. He didn't really blame her, Brian was an irritating little weasel, but he did his job better than anyone else and that was all that mattered to Nathan.

"Hey you guys seen Haley?" He asked rushed to find her.

"No." Luke shook his head still recovering from some joke Tim had told.

"Uh- I-uh..." Tim stuttered unsure getting Nathan's attention.

"What's wrong? Where is she?" Nathan was starting to get concerned. Had he misjudged her mood, was she angrier than he thought. He could usually read her like a book, it was one skill that helped with damage control immensely. But from the way Tim was stuttering about, he was starting to really get worried.

"Nothings wrong man," Tim recovered with a genuine smile, "she's fine, she's cool, she's perfect as always. She's just having a ladies congregation in the bathroom."

"Oh." Nathan nodded a feeling of relief flooding through him. He decided to take Tim at his word and turned to his brother once more. "So do I get to meet your date or...?"

"Yeah, sure, why not." Lucas laughed moving his head for Nathan to follow him. Tim stayed behind near the bar to fill up as they went. Lucas stopped at a table across the room where a petite red-headed girl was chatting up Karen Rowe. Nathan appraised her as they got closer, she was cute, bookish, probably shy. Just Luke's speed since his break up with Peyton, she was non-threatening. And it even seemed like his mother liked her.

"Hey." Luke slid into the seat next to the red-head and placed a loose arm over her shoulders to guide her to turn towards Nathan. Nathan stayed standing towering over them all, with a charming smile placed firmly on his lips. He'd gotten used to the fake plastic feel of it. "Robin I want you to meet my brother Nathan Scott, Nathan this is Robin Greene."

Robin placed out her hand to Nathan in a cordial gesture and he shook it lightly before sending a kind nod her way.

"Nice to meet you." He threw out, and she replied in turn.

She continued to stare up at him with rapt fascination, after a moment it seemed she finally found her voice again and began to speak. "Wow, so Nathan Scott. I have to admit I haven't missed a game of yours. You're amazing on the court."

Nathan faked a bashful grin in return, "See I knew I'd like her." He joked in Lucas's direction, and he could tell Luke was doing all he could not to roll his eyes. He'd seen this play out many times before, when Nathan was around all eyes were on him, and everyone had grown accustomed to that.

"How are you Nathan?" Karen spoke up from behind, and Nathan stepped to the side a bit to face her head on. Nathan liked Karen, he didn't know her all that well, but Lucas practically worshipped her, and he knew Haley loved her as well. That was enough for him, and even if it wasn't her deep brown eyes emanated a warmth he'd found in few people. It set him at ease, which was rare in his life.

"I'm living the high life, what about you? Lucas said you opened another cafe, I can't wait to see it when Haley and I visit later this year."

"Well you're always welcome." She stated warmly pulling herself to her feet. Nathan caught glimpse of some shiny discarded shoes at her feet and instantly recognized them as Haley's.

"I see my wayward girlfriends been by here."

Karen laughed heartily, "Oh yes, we caught up and she dumped her shoes on me."

"Sounds like Haley," he smiled warmly. He was used to thoughts of Haley bringing him peace, she was the place he went to when he was unhappy or mad, or just feeling bored. She could occupy his mind for hours.

Karen smiled at his obvious enamor catching on quickly to his thoughts. She had to admit she never thought Nathan and Haley would make it in the beginning, they just seemed to be so different. But she could see now it was maybe their differences that kept them together.

"Well I'm going to find the bride and give her my best wishes. Are we going to dinner tonight?" Karen directed her question at Lucas and Robin, and the redhead nodded eagerly, while Lucas blanched a bit.

"I thought we could get something early, I promised Brooke I'd go out with them before their honeymoon and as she reminds us at every turn-"

"This is "HER" day." Nathan filled in for his brother with a small laugh.

"Well why don't we just get breakfast in the morning before I fly back. It was so nice to meet you Robin," she dipped down giving her a small hug and placing a firmer one on Lucas before turning up to Nathan, and stepping in to hug him as well. "Alright I'm off in search of the bride, wish me luck."

"See you later Karen!" Robin called after her with enthusiasm before turning back to Lucas and Nathan who were already laughing about something else entirely. "Something funny?"

"Just Tim," Lucas shook his head sending her a small pat on the knee as a reassurance, "I'll introduce you to him later."

"Well I'm dying to meet all of your friends." She returned and it was clear she was anxious at the thought.

"Am I the first?" Nathan laughed, "They're an experience that’s for sure."

"Don't scare her," Lucas admonished lightly leaning his head down softly on Robin's shoulder. Nathan couldn't quite place them, earlier Lucas seemed less than pleased that she had accompanied him, but now he seemed happier than usual.

Suddenly Lucas caught sight of Haley and Tim by the bar, and they seemed to be fighting. He knew something was up between his brother and his friend, and he didn't want to add to the tension, so he discreetly made some excuse about Brooke's cousin Mary and left Nathan and Robin alone to investigate the situation.

"I didn't even know Brooke had a cousin Mary," Nathan shook it off with a smile, settling down into the seat in front of Robin. "So you live in the city?"

"Yeah, I work at First National..."

"Oh right the bank," Nathan nodded following along, "How did you and Luke meet?"

"I was out with some friends, at a local restaurant, the Blue Martini, maybe you've-"

"Oh yeah, I've heard of it." Nathan shook his head, and she continued.

"And there he was, we were both waiting for the pay phone and we just began to talk and well- I'm sure you know how it goes."

"Sure," Nathan laughed lightly. Truthfully it had been so long he hardly remembered. Now he spent most of his days trying to avoid female attention, which was hard with his popular status.

"What are you doing Haley?" Tim questioned snatching the glass of champagne from her hands.

"What?" She looked back at him stupidly grabbing for her glass.

"You can't just drink like that! I didn't even think about it earlier, but you know that you're- well you know and it's bad for," he lowered his voice, "it's bad for the baby."

"God Tim," she snapped on edge, all the alcohol she had consumed finally getting to her, "would you just shut up about the baby, please?"

"You have to stop!" He ordered hotly with true concern.

Lucas rushed up also worried about the escalating situation between his friends. Haley looked majorly pissed off, and surprisingly so did Tim. Which was odd because Tim was usually so calm about everything.

"What's going on here? What’s wrong?"

"Haley if you won't stop this I have to tell someone-"

"What Tim- No, just fine, okay I'm not drinking."

"What is going on?" Lucas asked more forcefully this time.

"Nothing!" Haley yelled exasperated.

"How can you say that," Tim roared, "YOU'RE PREGNANT!"

Suddenly the whole place went quiet and all eyes were on the three of them by the bar. It was obvious who Tim was speaking to, Lucas really had no chance of being the mother to be. Haley shook her head regretfully before running off back to the bathroom ignoring all the accusing gazes she was getting.

Nathan sat dumbly in his seat, shocked by Tim's outburst. Tim had been acting weird earlier, like the cat who ate the canary, but Tim was always a little odd so he didn't think anything about it. He definitely didn't think that it had anything to do with his girlfriend being pregnant, he assumed he would know before...Tim. He said a quick apology to Robin before rushing over to where Tim and Lucas stood. The crowds chatter began up again, this time the topic was clear, Haley James and Nathan Scott were expecting.

"What the hell did you just say?" Nathan's voice was low and commanding.

"She's what?!" Lucas squeaked possibly more freaked out than Nathan himself. The Scott brothers did not do good with surprises, not at all.

"She didn't want me to say anything, Jake and I found her in the bathroom with the test, I guess, she said she wanted to tell you herself Nathan. I wouldn't have said anything but she was like freaking out and drinking I that’s not good for the baby, so I-"

Nathan shook off his words in a panic heading off in the direction Haley ran, "I gotta find her...uh, thanks Tim."

Lucas watched Nathan for a minute before turning to look at Tim again, "She's WHAT?!"

Haley splashed cold water against her face trying to wake herself up. How could this be happening to her, it just wasn't possible. She and Nathan didn't even talk about marriage, more or less kids. She knew he liked kids, she'd seen that first hand, but she also knew how he reacted to having even Peyton taking away from their personal time. Nathan might take well to a few nieces and nephews, but not kids of his own. She could only imagine what he was thinking right now.

"Haley?" He called into her, walking all the way up to her at the sink and stopping short. He placed a heavy hand on her back and immediately began to rub circles on her skin. He knew how much she loved that. She grabbed for a towel quickly and roughly wiped at her face before turning around to face him.

"I'm too drunk to deal with this." She lied trying to side step him. But he reached out grabbing onto her arm and holding her still. He was gentle though, more so than he had to be, which made her more than sure he knew of her "condition".

"Haley you can't drink anymore, I know you must be under a lot of stress, but it's not good for the baby. Maybe we should go see a doctor right now, find out if the drinking like hurt it or something, I-"

"Nathan, no," she shook her head, trying to get his attention. But he was on a roll, she could tell his mind was going to a million different places. It was almost cute how protective he was getting.

"No, Haley, we have to. I know you were scared to tell me, but it's okay. We'll deal with this-"

"No, Nathan," she tried again pulling his hands into her own and holding them softly. "Listen to me for a second, just slow down, okay."

"Sorry," he took a breath embarrassed by his outburst, "I just- I want to make sure everything is okay with the baby and with you-"

She smiled sadly back at him, "There is no baby."

His face dropped at her words and it broke her heart. She didn't think he would react like this, with such excitement, they hadn't even talked about the possibility of kids, yet he seemed so gung ho with the whole idea.

"What?" He stared at her bewildered once more.

"I'm not pregnant," she repeated stepping closer to him and wrapping his arms around her as she snuggled into his chest. "I'm sorry sweetheart, I didn't expect this to get to you. I was just trying to help Brooke out-"

"Brooke?" He peered down at her confused.

"Yeah, she's pregnant. She was telling Peyton and I, when Jake and Tim saw the test. She didn't want Jake to know yet, so I kind of lied and said it was my test. I was just trying to buy her some time." Haley laced her arms behind his neck pulling her body up his slightly so she could reach his lips. She placed a soft tender kiss on them before laying her head back on his chest.

"Oh, so no baby." His voice sounded so let down. He'd never really thought about having kids. They were just things other people had, and he visited. But for a moment the idea of Haley having his baby sounded so...good. So right.

"No baby." She shook her head in the affirmative. "Hey," she looked back up at him with a small smile, "you seemed kind of excited, do you...want a baby?"

Nathan placed another plastic smile on his face, and peered down into his girlfriends prying eyes, "No, I-uh you know I just wanted to be there for you...if you were. But you're not so we don't have to worry."

"Nope," she agreed with a nod of her head, "we don't."

When Haley and Nathan walked back out into the dining hall Lucas and Tim practically attacked them with questions, while Peyton stayed at the table with Brooke and Jake who were getting ready to cut the cake.

"Haley why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?" Lucas questioned concerned, reaching out to touch her stomach. Haley jumped back from the contact. She suddenly realized how invasive it must feel to have people always rubbing your tummy when you were pregnant. It was still your body.

"I'm not pregnant Luke." Haley announced quickly before more questions could arise.

"But the test-" Tim began.

"I hadn't taken it yet," Haley lied sending a pleading glance Nathan's way to go with it. "And I did take it after you left and it was negative, it was just a false alarm."

"Oh," Tim nodded embarrassed, "sorry for acting like the alcohol police back there."

Haley laughed lightly, "You were being a good friend. Now, you owe me a dance remember?"

"Uh-yeah." Tim recovered looking to Nathan for approval. Haley shook her head amused by his action, it felt so familiar, Tim couldn't move without knowing Nathan agreed with his actions. She didn't wait for Nathan's stamp of okay, she briskly grabbed Tim's hand and pulled him out onto the dance floor. Sending Nathan a small smile as she went.

"So that had to scare the hell out of you." Lucas commented as they headed back towards the table where they had abandoned Robin earlier.

"Yeah." Nathan agreed.

Tim dipped Haley back on the floor careful not to drop her when he brought her back up. Haley had to admit he was a good dancer, still Nathan was the best partner she'd ever had. He was tall where Tim was short, and although Tim wasn't weak, she preferred the strong arms of her boyfriend. But then when given a choice in anything between her boyfriend or someone else, she always chose Nathan.

"So did you want to be?" Tim asked out of the blue and she snapped back to reality.

"Huh?"

"Did you want to be pregnant?"

Haley shook her head with a quick "no" before laying it softly on his shoulder while they continued to sway to the music. She didn't think about kids like she didn't think about marriage, she'd just made peace with the fact that she and Nathan weren't the type. They had busy lives and it would be unfair to bring a baby into that. And even if she did want kids, she knew that Nathan didn't, not as a full time thing.

Chapter 4

I won't go getting tired of you

Haley dragged her bare feet against the barely carpeted hall of the hotel. She didn't understand how such a rich and fancy place couldn't spring for more acceptable flooring, but then she imagined they didn't expect their guests to walk barefoot down the hall either. She had at least tried to find Karen earlier to sneak her shoes back on, but it seemed the older woman had already retired for the evening, leaving Haley to stick out the hot concrete on her walk to the car, and the questioning looks as she entered the hotel. She wasn't sure if they were ogling Nathan or making faces at her poor taste by wearing no shoes. Either way she plain didn't care, she was used to Nathan being the center of attention, and if it was her feet she knew they'd find something else to gossip about when the big-hatted aunt walked in. It was an entirely too large hat, even for Miami standards.

Suddenly she felt Nathan's big strong arms wrap around her stomach from behind, helping her make the rest of the trek to their room. Plain and simple she was beat, she'd been a brides maid before, when she was twelve and her older sister decided to marry the local gas pump attendant. She didn't like the dress and shoes then either. But Brooke's wedding was a special kind of labor in love. And she knew that the bride most definitely expected her to be back down in the lobby in two hours to go out with them for one last night of Miami nightlife before they headed to their honeymoon in Aruba.

"I'm so tired," Haley lulled her head back against Nathan's chest momentarily as her dragged her along with him. She could almost see their door finally and it was a welcome sight. "Do you think you could make up a Haley doll and convince Brooke it's me with you tonight when you go out."

"Not likely," Nathan laughed tightening his grip around her body as her legs went more and more limp. "Why don't you just tell her we can't make it. I can make you a bubble bath order room service, give you that foot massage you've been wanting-"

"Stop," Haley slapped her hand across his mouth cutting him off, "it's mean to torture a tired woman with things she has no hope of receiving. You've met Brooke, you know short of a serious medical crisis my ass better be down there and ready to party."

Nathan nodded knowing what she said was true. He did know Brooke, and she wasn't accustomed to not getting what she wanted. And although Haley put up a big fight most times, she always gave into her whims. Haley seemed to cater to everyone’s whims, and he knew the same was true in their relationship. It was easy to turn to her for help, she always seemed to have the right answer, and even if she didn't, just her mere presence could be calming. Still at times he could see it ran her ragged, and he felt guilty about his part in that.

"Hey," she looked up at him as the finally reached the door and he slid their card key in the lock. "Did you bring any of those caffeine pills with you?"

"I thought you hated those things." He returned walking fully into the room and throwing off his jacket on a nearby chair, while unbuttoning his shirt. He was used to wearing tuxes for all the benefits he had to attend, but they always felt so tight and constricting, in other words he hated them as much as Haley hated the shoes.

"I need something to get me downstairs, because I don't think sheer will power is going to do it." She returned backing up in front of him and motioning for him to unzip her. He gladly obliged letting his fingers trail down her naked back as the zipper dipped lower. He started to duck in to kiss her neck, but she'd already walked off towards her suitcase for something more comfortable to change into.

"I think I have a bottle in my shaving kit in the bathroom." He called to her as he finally shed the white over shirt he was wearing. Finally he felt free, happily he bounced back onto the bed, turning on the TV and shoving his hands behind his head while stretching out to check the latest sports news.

"Thanks!" She yelled out from the bathroom. He heard the first remnants of the shower begin, which were followed a few minutes later by a waft of steam. It carried a distinct coconutty smell, that always served to drive him crazy. Suddenly sports didn't seem so important anymore. Quickly he discarded his pants and cotton undershirt leaving him only his boxers as he entered the bathroom. He could see the silhouette of body from behind the curtain and he had to stifle a groan. Nobody could get to him like she did, and she didn't even have to try.

He approached the curtain slowly pulling it back to take in an eyeful of her body. He loved the way she looked, each curve fit perfectly, gliding into the next. Sometimes he just liked to stare at her. Her head jerked to the side swiftly when the curtain opened letting a cold gust of air hit her soaked body.

"Shut it," she pleaded her eyes closed as the shampoo bubbles slid down her face, "it's making me cold."

Nathan slipped off his remaining boxers and climbed into the shower with her, shutting the curtain as she had asked. Suddenly her body relaxed into the warm water again and he continued to watch her in awe. His hands reached out touching her own as they slid through her hair. After a moment she let her own arms fall limply against her body as he continued to massage in the shampoo to her hair.

His hands felt so strong and tender against her scalp, nearly putting her to sleep right there. She kept her eyes closed as she felt him guide her under the shower head to rinse out the soapy substance. She could feel his hovering behind her, his breath landed hot on her neck as he dipped down, pushing away her wet hair to leave a trail of kisses down her neck and along her shoulder. He was so gentle and caring, she almost forgot how tired she was as the need to be with him swept over her.

She turned around linking her arms around his neck urgently to pull him closer to her, as their bodies melded under the water. She leaned up eager to capture his lips with her own, instantly letting her tongue delve into his mouth tracing places she knew so well. She pulled him back with her in the water until her back hit the tiled wall behind them. His mouth dipped below her mouth trailing down her neck and landing at the valley of her breasts. His hands found her own twining their fingers together as the pressure built between them.

"Nathan..." she squeaked her voice weak from the day, and the things he was doing to her body.

"I want you so much." He whispered into her skin. Her legs began to give out beneath her and she felt him lift her body completely into his arms. Suddenly they weren't under the weren't anymore, they were in the cool air of the bathroom and she could feel herself shake. Before she could say anything he had her wrapped in towel as he threw on the complimentary robe. Her feet had still yet to hit the ground she realized which meant he was still carrying her.

The bed materialized under her and she realized he had finally laid her down. Her eyes strained in the dimly lit room to look up at him, but she could tell he was smiling.

"What?" She questioned groggily grabbing for his imposing form hovering beside her. "Nathan, I'm too tired to play hide and seek, c'mere." She begged latching onto a small patch of his robe and yanking as hard as she could to get him to join her on the bed.

"Go to sleep..." he urged his voice low and calming. She felt his fingers brush lightly against her face and she turned into his touch happily. Finally she felt the bed press down with an extra weight and she turned her body around, dropping a heavy arm over his chest in contentment as she drifted off to sleep.

Brooke tapped her heel impatiently against the marble floor of the hotel lobby as she waited for everyone else to arrive. She knew Jake was doing some last minute re-packing up in their room, but there was no excuse for everyone else. All she asked for was one day, one day devoted solely to her, Brooke.

Finally she caught sight of some bouncing blonde curls exiting the far right elevator and she nearly trampled over other guests to get to Peyton. Out of breath she landed in front of her with a scowl.

"You're late." She announced annoyed.

"Actually," Peyton turned her around so she was facing the lobby clock, "I'm five minutes early. So be grateful."

Brooke flicked her eyes away disregarding the entire beginning of their conversation to touch on a different matter...their plans.

"Okay so I figured we would go to KLX first, it's Jake's favorite spot and since he is the groom I figured he should get to pick-"

"Sounds good," Peyton nodded amiably, a painting on the wall catching her attention. To the untrained eye it looked like a simple portrait of a sunset, but to Peyton it was like hidden treasure. The texture was mesmerizing, and the blues and yellows the artist had used were so unusual, she couldn't help but admire their gusto.

"Peyton!" Brooke snapped her fingers in front of her friends face, and she turned around ready for the next order of the evening. She loved Brooke, she did, but she could be so damn demanding sometimes. Peyton thought Miami would be a chance to relax, try and get a tan and meet some hot guys. Wrong, Miami was Brooke's way of controlling them for a week. In some ways she thought she was more excited about Brooke's honeymoon than Brooke herself was, because it meant she had two final Brooke-less days in the wonderful place she called...Miami.

"Can you please pay attention to me for like one minute? Is it at all possible to keep that small attention span of yours focused? Hmm?" Brooke placed a challenging glossed over smile on her lips and bored her eyes across at Peyton.

"Yeah I think I just might be able to." Peyton snapped, trying not to blow up at her friend on her wedding day she was seriously contemplating slipping Brooke a stabilizer to calm her down. Peyton sighed in relief when she caught sight of Luke's tousled head getting off the elevator, her relief faded almost instantly when she saw a petite red-head bob along with him. God she looked perky.

Peyton knew Luke had brought his girlfriend, she just hadn't computed that with the fact that he would most likely take her out with them. It just didn't seem right, this was supposed to be a friends only thing, and Peyton did not foresee a friendship with the red-headed light up doll, no way in hell.

Brooke stepped ahead of Peyton to greet them, another "cheerful" smile on her face. Peyton couldn't tell what Brooke thought of Robin yet, but she knew she had to ask her later. Brooke could peg people within two minutes and she was hardly ever wrong.

"Robin, these are my good friends Brooke, the bride as you'll remember," he laughed at his own joke, and all three girls played up to his male pride by following along, "and Peyton."

"Oh hello." Robin struck out her hand to Brooke first, the widest smile Peyton had ever seen plastered on her cherry red lips. "Your wedding was just beautiful, you were gorgeous out there."

"Ahh, well thank you." Brooke accepted the props graciously, and Peyton had to hold her snicker down. If there was one thing Brooke Davis Jigawski knew, it was that she was beautiful and everything she did pertained the same title. It was just the law of the land.

"Hello." Peyton smiled tightly at her, trying not to look to stiff.

"You also looked so beautiful up there. If I had known all Luke's friends were this beautiful I would have been a little more intimidated."

Peyton smiled kindly at the compliment, but didn't say another word. Just leaned in to give Luke a quick half hug, before Brooke barreled into his arms squeezing the life out of him as Robin and Peyton stood to the side.

"Good to see you too Mrs. Jigawski." Luke chuckled at her abrasive behavior. It was clear Brooke was marking her territory, Robin may have been the flavor of the month, but Brooke was a life friend and everyone had to know that.

"Well you're not late, so I'm pleased to see you as well." Brooke returned her eyes steaming as she read the lobby clock once more. Tim, Haley and Nathan had one minute before they were late, and she was gearing up to ream them. Well maybe not Haley since she had done such a nice thing for her earlier...which brought her mind back to the major problem she had. How would she explain herself not drinking tonight, at the wedding she had made the excuse that she didn't want to get drunk, but what would she say at a bar, when you were supposed to do just that.

"Everything okay?" Lucas noticed her sudden change in demeanor, and stepped in protectively in front of her.

Peyton could see what was going through Brooke's head. The baby, what was she going to tell Jake about the baby. Peyton had tried to occupy her mind with other things since she found out, but she simply couldn't. Jake looked so freaked out in the bathroom when he saw the test, she just hoped and prayed he wouldn't break Brooke's heart, she deserved so much better than that.

"She's just pissed the rest of the New York contingent is late." Peyton explained saving Brooke from Luke's pestering concern. Luke could nag you until you spilled every little thing that was haunting your mind, because he was absolutely sure he could play white knight and save you. Peyton found it endearing most times, but Brooke didn't need the hassle right now.

"Exactly." Brooke huffed, trying to think of anything but her dilemma. Speak of the devil she thought glibly as her husband of a few hours stepped off another elevator, looking to die for as always. It was easy to see how she would have slipped up when he was the ultimate tempter.

"Hey." He ambled up happily throwing his arm around her waist and pulling her snug against him. He smelled of Old Spice and the expensive French cologne she got him for a pre-wedding gift, the mix was intoxicating to her.

"Hi." She purred lightly locking her arms around his middle in a similar fashion. She loved to be touching him, any kind of contact felt good, felt right to her.

"You two are just adorable." Robin squealed from beside Luke as she nestled into his arms as well. Peyton wanted to gag, Tim better get there soon, or she would be the only without a significant other, and that would be even more miserable than watching Luke whisper sweet nothings to Shirley Temple.

"Is she alive?" Tim asked Nathan concerned as the rushed down the hotel hallway trying to make it to the elevator and down to the lobby before Brooke blew a gasket. Tim has stopped by Nathan and Haley's room before going down only to find they were sound asleep, or at least that was the excuse Nathan used when he opened the door. Looking at Haley dragging along with them, he was beginning to believe him. The girl did need sleep.

"I'm not deaf." She spoke up before Nathan could answer. She knew if Tim was concerned she must have looked like hell. He'd woken her from a peaceful slumber just five minutes before, and she'd only had time to throw a casual skirt and tank top on. In fact she didn't even know if she matched, she looked down at her feet quickly to make sure she remembered shoes and she was pleased to see she had. The things she would do for Brooke Dav- Jigawski. God that sounded weird.

"Sorry." Tim tried to smile and make peace, but her eyes were too tired to move. Nathan was practically carrying her again, even though she knew he had to be tired as well. He just had better endurance.

"Are you sure you even want to do this?" Nathan peered down at her concerned at her slumped figure. They always joked about how demanding Brooke was, but he imagined even she would take pity on Haley at this moment, she was completely worn out.

"Yes," Haley nodded her head emphatically, "I took one of those pill thingies of yours and I'm sure the alcohol I plan to consume will help. Besides what am I going to do, miss the one night we all actually have to hang out? And I want to meet Luke's new girlfriend, I'd feel left out if I was the only who didn't get to meet her- and then I have to do damage control with Peyton meeting her, and there’s the Brooke thing-"

"Haley," Nathan cut her off, "slow down. Let them deal with their own problems tonight, okay. We'll go out, bring our own car, and when you want to come back and sleep we'll just leave, okay?"

She smiled at the protective nature of his voice. She knew she was spreading herself a bit too thin this trip, but things had to be done, and it usually fell at her feet. Who else was going to take care of it? Tim? She knew he would try if she asked, but Tim solutions weren't exactly the best options most times, in fact they seemed to cause more chaos. And she knew if she left there was no way Nathan would stick around if she left. And well...Luke was an option, but he seemed to freak out a lot, way too high strung. Which left her, like always.

"Okay." Haley agreed running her fingers through the short hairs on his neck in a soothing manner. Nathan was starting to get grumpy running on little sleep, which meant he was less than manageable, which meant more work for her.

Great.

"Are you sure you're not pregnant?" Tim turned back to her, the thought still plaguing his mind.

"What?" Haley's head snapped around to face him, and Nathan blanched, praying Tim didn't dig himself in deeper. "Do I look pregnant or something?"

"Well, yeah, I mean-" Tim began to explain, but stopped when Haley's eyes ignited with anger.

"I look fat to you?" She questioned him, a mixture of self-consciousness and anger. Nathan's eyes closed in regret, why couldn't Tim just shut his mouth, it would have been so easy.

"No! No!" Tim amended quickly, "I just mean you seem tired, not fat. You don't look fat, I would never say you looked fat. You're hot-" he looked to Nathan back tracking again, "I mean you're not hot-"

"I'm not?" Haley eyed him again not pleased with his words once more. She just wanted him to shut up, she was tired and she didn't feel like dealing with his little jokes or whatever.

"No, I mean- damnit I don't know!" Tim through up his arms helpless. "I'm sorry I said anything okay. You're beautiful, you're perfect, like always." He smiled helplessly back at her, and small smile finally found its way to her lips, as she sidestepped Nathan to give Tim a small hug before they reached the elevator.

"Sorry, I really am just tired." Haley apologized as she stepped on.

Nathan turned to Tim, his face blank of emotion, "So you think she's hot, huh?"

Tim's eyes went wide with horror and the stuttering began all over again.

Chapter 5

There is no place like Miami

"God could this place be anymore perfect?" Peyton wondered aloud as she stuck her head out of Nathan's rented convertible while they drove down the boulevard to Miami nightlife. She'd only been there for three days and already she was in love with this place.

"It smells like beach." Haley replied from the front seat, momentarily opening her eyes to take in their surroundings. After listening to Brooke bitch at them for ten minutes and meeting Luke's new girlfriend Robin, Peyton and Tim had piled into the car with she and Nathan to hit the first club on the menu. Haley had been spacing out when Brooke had mentioned the name.

"Poor Haley." Peyton leaned forward running a soothing hand through her hair. Over the last two years she and Peyton had grown close, sister close. She thought of Peyton as family, which fit since she practically lived at their apartment in the city.

"I thought these pills were supposed to work?" Haley turned to Nathan questioningly as he tried to keep up with Brooke's driving. He'd been cursing the newlyweds the entire way over for driving like maniacs. Haley knew the last thing Nathan needed was to be pulled over by a cop, just more for the tabloid fodder.

"Just relax, they'll kick in." He coaxed from beside her, and she leaned over the console to place a quick kiss on his cheek before settling back down. She knew Nathan was doing everything he could to make her more comfortable. She loved when he got like this, so attentive and caring, it felt nice to be the center of his attention every once in a while.

"God you're like an old married couple." Tim spoke up from the back with a small laugh, and Peyton agreed with one of her own.

"Right." Haley rolled her eyes, trying push aside his words. She didn't want to think about marriage, or the lack there of between them. Her mind took her all over the place, and she didn't have time to be the needy girlfriend. She had a demanding job, a social life she couldn't escape and a million other responsibilities, that occupied the time she had free now.

"How the hell did she get a license anyway?" He grumbled some more, while Brooke sped through another yellow light and he followed suit, hoping to God she didn't get them killed before he strangle her newly married neck.

"So Peyt what did you think of Robin?" Haley questioned, a little bit of energy seeping into her body. Maybe Nathan was right it just took a little time for the magic pills to give her magic energy.

"She was nice." Peyton replied vaguely. Peyton didn't think Nathan or Tim needed to hear just how irritating Peyton found the little red-head, she would save that for bathroom gossip with the girls later.

"She's hot." Tim piped in. Both Haley and Peyton rolled their eyes at his comment and Nathan remained silent. Haley turned to him with a prying gaze.

"What did you think?"

Nathan cursed Brooke once more, and hoped that Haley would give up the subject. He knew there was never a right answer to a question like that. Sure he found Robin attractive enough, she definitely wasn't ugly and she had a pretty nice personality from what he could tell. But he really hadn't put any thought in it past that, and he didn't plan to delve into how hot his brothers girlfriend was, with his own girlfriend. It was a pointless conversation.

"I don't know." Nathan shrugged it off, "Where the hell is this club?"

Peyton leaned forward to get farther into Nathan's face, while Haley continued to watch him as well. Both obviously were far from done with the subject of Robin.

"Come on Nate, we need an objective opinion and Tim can't see past the obvious." Peyton tried to urge some kind of reaction out of Nathan. She honestly did not see what the big deal was with the little waif. Sure her face was okay, her body okay, her personality way too perky. She just didn't seem to be in Luke's league, no where even in the vicinity.

"What?" He looked back briefly before returning his eyes to the road. "Yeah, she's attractive okay."

"You think?" Haley challenged eyeing him more intently than before. She didn't know why his simple comment made her jealous, she knew that Nathan had eyes. She just didn't think that Robin was anything to phone home about. But apparently Nathan had noticed something about her.

"I really haven't thought of her period." Nathan returned a little annoyed at the tone of Haley's voice. He knew that question would get him in trouble.

"How could you not man," Tim shook his head, "she has a fine ass."

"Ugh, she's like piece of cardboard Tim," Peyton retorted, "flat all the way around."

Haley giggled at Peyton's description of the little tart. She'd gone from nice girl in Haley's head to tart in the span of one sentence from Nathan. It was weird she usually didn't get that jealous, she usually just dealt with it like everything else, but Robin was a little too close for comfort right now.

"Jealousy is an ugly thing Peyton." Tim returned with a small leer in his friends direction. Peyton twisted her eyes on him shooting him the nastiest look he'd ever seen. Before he could say something to diffuse her glare, she smacked him lightly in the head and then turned back to look out the window completely ignoring him.

Haley leaned further over the console wrapping her arms around Nathan's forearm, and laying her head heavily upon it.

"So what did you exactly find attractive about Robin?"

Nathan kept his eyes on Brooke ahead of him, while he ran through a number of answers in his head. In the end he came up with one thing, he should have just pretended to lose his voice, or lied and said she was the ugliest creature he had ever seen in his life. He just didn't like the way Haley was looking at him right now, all suspicious.

"You don't really want an answer to that." He finally spoke, happy to see Brooke pull into a parking lot ahead of them.

"I think I do." Haley returned, her voice gooily sweet, irking him even further.

"She's just attractive, I don't know. Why don't you ask Luke, she's his girlfriend."

"Well you seem to really like her, so..." Haley prodded further her eyes continuing to bore into him. She didn't know what was so hard about answering a little question. He obviously found something pretty about the girl, she didn't, so she just wanted to know what she had missed. She'd seen pretty girls, her best friends were pretty girls, Robin just seemed ordinary.

"I barely know the girl, okay. We talked for like five minutes."

"Really, when?" Haley continued, never letting her smile drop. He could tell it was fake though, she'd mastered the plastic smile as well, at times she did it better than him. The photogs loved Haley, and they took every chance they could to get pictures of her when she was with him. But Haley hated the photogs and avoided them like the plague, she used back doors as much as she could to stay out of the public eye.

"Earlier when you disappeared to do that thing for Brooke." He returned vaguely as he felt Haley's grip tighten on his arm. He had suddenly taken on Tim's over-talking disease, he didn't know when to shut his mouth.

"So what did she have to say?" Haley continued her eyes squinting harder and harder in concentration, obviously trying to keep her tone light. He could see right past the facade though.

"She said she'd watched me play before-"

"Oh so she's a fan?"

"What she means," Peyton leaned in in a joking manner, over her previous annoyance with Tim, "is does she want you Nathan?"

"Thanks Peyt." Haley shot at her and then turned her gaze back on Nathan waiting for an answer as he parked the car. "So, honey, does she?"

"That’s a ridiculous question." Nathan waved it off, shutting the engine down and turning fully to face his girlfriend. He could see she was far from ready to let this go. "Come on Haley, even if she did, it's Luke's problem, not ours."

"So you got the vibe, man?" Tim popped in amused.

"Yeah Nathan," Peyton goaded in amusement, "did the fairy princess send you the vibe?"

Nathan rolled his eyes at all of them. But figured he might as well tell them the truth. Peyton was the most persistent person he'd met in his life, and Haley could always tell when he was lying.

"There might have been a little vibe, that I didn't return by the way," he was quick to point out, as Haley's face turned a more crimson color, and her smile turned stony. "She's just a fan, you know, she just-"

"Wants you." Haley finished for him in a petulant little kid tone. "God she comes here with Luke and hits on his brother. I knew she was looking at me funny earlier-"

"She definitely was." Peyton agreed with a shake of her curls.

"That’s absurd," Nathan sighed heavily focusing all his attentions back on his girlfriend and ignoring the oncoming calls of their friends from the next car over as they approached. "I don't care about that girl one way or the other, you know that. I want you, I love you-"

"Nathan," Haley cut him off placing a small kiss on his lips, "I was just playing with you. I'm not scared of some cardboard witch who idolizes you-"

"I wouldn't go that far." He laughed. Sure she'd seemed a bit flirty earlier, but nothing to warrant the way Haley and Peyton had come to despise this girl within only meeting her once. "Why don't you two just give her a chance."

"Ooh look Haley," Peyton joked barely able to contain her own glee at, "Nathan's the pixies big protector."

"Oh jesus why don't you just tell Luke you still want him and stop being a bitter bitch!" Nathan blew back at her before storming at out of the car and leaving the other three behind.

"Ouch." Tim looked shocked, as Peyton skulked angrily out the other side of the car. Haley shrugged unimpressed by the whole scene.

"They do this all the time."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh." Haley nodded her head, finally stepping out of the car to meet the rest of the group. Tim followed suit, still surprised by the harsh words that had passed between Peyton and Nathan. They had always been a bit volatile, but he'd never seen them mean like that, not since high school.

"Brooke you drive like a damn maniac!" Haley heard Nathan roar as she and Tim made it to the small gathering in the parking lot. "You could be a little more careful, jesus..."

"Well sorry Nathan, maybe if you learned how to dry, you would've been able to keep up."

"Oh yeah, I'm sure that’s it." He bit back.

"Everybody here?" Jake looked around checking to make sure everyone had made it before going inside. "This place is amazing, guys all the celebrities come here when they come down-"

"Oh great." Nathan shook her head a complete grump by this point. It was all he needed to be bombarded by the paparazzi, he thought he could have one low key week down in Florida but apparently Brooke and Jake hadn't received the memo, they hadn't even warned him.

"So the press hangs out here, Nathan," Brooke sighed, "can't you just smile real pretty and get over it."

"You could have warned us, Brooke," Haley spoke up trying to calm both her boyfriend and her friend down. She felt the same way Nathan did about the press, she hated how invasive they could be. They spun a different story about Nathan every week, and her name wasn't scarce in their "stories" either.

"Look, I'm sorry," Brooke lowered her voice, "I really didn't even think about it. We come here all the time, no hassle, I just didn't-"

"It's okay." Haley assured with a small smile, as she leaned into Brooke jokingly. She didn't want to stress her friend out anymore than she obviously was with her impending baby news. "It'll be fine."

"Look I don't want to deal with all of this okay, I'm just gonna go back to the hotel." Nathan announced still not in a forgiving mood. He also didn't want to get into it with Brooke again, knowing her condition.

"It can't be that bad." Robin broke in naively, and Peyton's eyes slit at her instantly.

"Well you really wouldn't know." Peyton's voice was as pleasant as could be, but her words were cutting and everyone could feel the tension bubble. Robin sent an apologetic smile out before recoiling into Luke's arms. Peyton had definitely cut her down to size.

"Come on bro," Lucas slapped an arm around his shoulders, "brave the press for me. I always wanted to be in the newspaper, maybe if I stand close enough I can get my face on the front page."

"Page six," Haley amended, "the gossip page. You don't get the first page unless you OD or attack someone."

"Can we go inside because I just saw this insanely curvy blonde go in there, and I need to speak with her." Tim leered at the clubs entrance. Everything was always a debate between all of them.

"Yeah, whatever." Nathan agreed walking ahead with Lucas, as Robin latched onto the other side of them. Peyton walked up beside Haley and Brooke and whispered into Haley's ear.

"Oh look she wants her moment in the spotlight."

"You're so bad." Haley laughed amused by Peyton's jealousy. She didn't exactly like Robin, there was something about her that just bugged her. But Peyton had a yin on for this girl, which was never good.

Before they reached the top of the walkway to get in, Nathan pulled away from his conversation with Lucas to find his girlfriend, if he was going to be in the spotlight, he wanted her there with him.

"Hey." He dropped back linking arms with her and pulling her closer into his body. He loved how small she was beside him, it put such a protective instinct inside him, a since of pride almost.

"I look sloppy." She complained knowing his intentions. She avoided photogs like they were the plague, and most times he let her. They hardly ever entered a benefit together. She knew in avoiding the press, she'd made herself seem more mysterious and interesting, but she'd realized this too late. Now every time she came within five feet of their cameras they relentlessly hounded her. Of course she'd found the simple solution avoid places they were.

"You look amazing, the camera loves you."

"That is so cheesy Nathan, never say that to me again." She demanded, and answered her with a soft kiss to the lips. Just then she felt the hot lights of the club hit her and she knew it was about to begin. At first the photogs seemed busy with someone else, begging some blonde to pose for the camera, probably heiress to an oil fortune or something, local royalty. And then it happened, one of the little rats spotted Nathan and the frenzy began.

"Mr. Scott can we get a photo of you and your friends?"

"Sure." Nathan flashed a charming smile, turning himself and Haley towards the camera's while Brooke shoved in next to them, always happy to be the center of attention.

"Can I get your friends names?" Another called out, and Brooke smiled dashingly his way, and began to spell out her name, then Jakes, then Peyton, then Luke, then Tim, and then she turned to Robin blankly.

"Robin Greene." The embarrassed girl supplied, and Brooke actually seemed to feel bad for her slip up.

"Can we get a picture of you and your girlfriend alone Mr. Scott?"

Nathan looked down at Haley to see if she was willing, and once again he found a plastic smile on her features. She nodded her go ahead, and the others were hurried aside for a solo shot of them as a couple.

"All right guys," Nathan turned back towards the entrance, "that’s enough."

They continued to snap as the bouncer opened the door letting the whole group into it's private retreat. Haley sighed in relief once inside, she hated the way being in the spot light made her feel. It was like she was there, even sought after, but she was Nathan's mysterious girlfriend, not Haley James.

"That was so cool." Robin breathed happily, and Brooke nodded in agreement.

"God I love the attention!" Brooke exclaimed exhilarated by the encounter.

"My eyes hurt." Peyton pouted. She didn't see what the big deal was, so they'd be in print tomorrow, it was such a hollow thing. She knew why Haley hated it so much.

"If only I'd followed the basketball dream." Luke joked as they were lead to their table.

"Try living with that all the time, not so exciting." Nathan explained, dropping a comforting kiss on Haley's head. He could feel the tension in her body, she'd gotten stiff the moment the cameras began snapping and it had yet to leave her body. He hated the way it effected her, but it just came with the territory.

"You okay?" He questioned lowly into her hair so only she could hear him. Everyone else seemed so happy by the attention, minus Peyton who was never really happy. He didn't want to infect their good mood, while he didn't revel in it, most times it didn't bother him too much.

"You worry too much." She smiled up at him, looping her arm around his neck to pull him down to kiss her. It was slow at first, not prodding or forceful, but Haley still felt her earlier need for him. She'd been too tired then, but now with the magic little pill...she wanted him even more. She tugged his lip playfully between her teeth causing a low chuckle to escape his lips. She laughed as well, she loved being in his arms.

Suddenly a light flashed hard in their faces and they turned shocked to see a short little man with a camera rushing away from them. Haley shook her head annoyed and followed after Peyton into the booth.

Chapters 6 - 9

1 :: 2 :: 3 :: 4 :: 5 :: 6 - 9 :: 10 - 14 :: 15 - 19 :: 20 - 25 :: 26 - 30 :: 31 - 37 :: 38 - 42 :: 43 - end