Story Title: Everything To Lose

Summary: Peyton and Haley shared a kiss, one that both of them really didn't know what it meant, and the next day, Haley seemed to have left to go on tour with Chris Keller and The Wreckers. There was no kiss with Chris, and Nathan didn't know a thing. Haley left a note on the bed side table telling him she didn't want to be the reason he gave up his dreams and to go to camp. She'd be back. She promised him, but, would she be back with her heart? Or, was it with a different person in Tree Hill? A certain curly blonde perhaps?

It's hard to find your way back, let alone to a place that seems to make or break you. Tree Hill is just a place in the world, but what goes on in this town, is another story. The hardest thing about love, is finding your way back.Story Focus: Peyton/Haley

Rated: R -- Just to be safe

Author's Note: This story may contain some slash, it's going to be based around the AU couple, Peyton and Haley from One Tree Hill. If any kind of lesbian articles disturb you, I wouldn't suggest reading this, it won't be too slashy, but this story is about friendship, and finding your way back to learn to love again.

Chapter 1: But Where Is Home Really?

As a familiar blonde to anyone who had been reading the local newspapers, magazines, and any kind of tabloids and watching MTV recently, she felt self-conscious. Okay, so it may be the middle of winter, and dark, but who knew what lurked out in the dark? Haley James-Scott was not one to want to find out, so she walked fast out of the cab, holding onto her bags and heading up to the apartment she used to call home.

Nathan was her husband, her heart was with Nathan. It had to be. Home was where the heart was… right? But, the truth was, Haley had no idea who had her heart. Peyton, the curly blonde that was one of the first to step outside her little clique and make friends with her, kissed her. The girl kissed her, and Haley hadn't pulled away. She hadn't done anything, but kiss her back.

Taking a deep breath, and swallowing the large lump forming in her throat, she reached her arm out and wrapped on the door in front of her, waiting for someone to come and answer the door. Mainly Nathan. He was still living there… hopefully. The last time she had spoken to him was when she told him she was doing the last show, of course he didn't seem to believe her, and he was so certain about her relationship with Chris being more than just working together that he seemed to want her to stay on tour. Maybe it would've been for the best.

Staying on the tour would mean that she wouldn't have to deal with the Peyton situation, and not to mention her marriage. But, if there was anything she had learnt in the past years, you can't run away from your problems. They follow you, they shadow you, and soon enough they eat away whatever is left of yourself.

"Haley." that familiar voice disrupted her thoughts as a gust of wind blew past her. Haley was pretty sure that it would soon snow in Tree Hill, and she couldn't wait for it. The girl loved snow. What could she say? She loved winter, the perfection of the scenery. The white blankets of snow engulfing what seemed like the whole world. Ah, it was perfection. At least in her mind.

"Hey…" she said softly as she kept her arms crossed across her chest, almost as if she were hugging herself.

"What are you doing here?" Nathan asked hoarsely, his voice seemed to drag on as if he had nothing else to say. Of course, it was what the girl had expected, but she would have appreciated some kind of 'welcome home'. Oh, what the hell was she talking about? Leaving town with leaving just a note, yeah Haley, you're definitely going to get a 'welcome home' from your husband you left.

"I'm home, Nathan." Haley stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world. After all, wasn't it? She was standing on the doorstep of their apartment with her bags hanging off her shoulder and one duffel bag hanging from her hand.

Nathan stood there, mouth drooping open with just a sigh falling from his lips. There really was no good way to welcome home a wife that ran away to go on tour, was there?

"I tried to call and tell you, but you weren't answering your phone." Haley decided to speak up, the silence making her want to tear out all her hair.

"I turned it off at about the fourth call." he said being brutally honest. He was hurt, and he wasn't about to keep the door open for very much longer if their conversation kept going like this. It was cold, and Nathan had to get up early for basketball practice. Whitey didn't seem to understand the concept of the holidays. Nor the idea of letting up on anybody.

"Oh." What else was there to say? Her own husband just told her he was ignoring her calls, she had no idea how her friends were going to react to her being home. Would Lucas slam the door in her face… well, that wasn't really Lucas' style, more Peyton's. Haley frowned at the thought of not being able to go a few moments without thinking about the girl.

"Listen Haley, when I say this, I'm not trying to hurt you. But, you left. And, I just… I can't act like everything's okay when it's not. You can stay here for the night, but I'm moving back into my mom's house tomorrow, so…"

"No, that's okay." the blonde said, not even trying to hide the hurtful tone of her voice. "I'll just… I can probably crash at Luke's or something. I'm pretty sure Karen won't mind, even if he does." she started, mumbling the last part.

"Okay." Nathan nodded as Haley sighed to herself and turned around to leave before being stopped one last time by Nathan. "Hales. Despite everything, it's good to have you home." he said simply.

Knocking on a white door to a large house, she tapped her foot impatiently and waited for the familiar girl to answer the door. Hoping that she didn't get the same reaction she had just received, or even worse; the door slammed in her face, the blonde ran her fingers through her hair just as the door opened and a straight haired blonde girl stood shocked. Well, that was the nice way of saying it.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Miss Haley James." the blonde spat out as she leaned up against her door.

"Peyton…" she started.

"No, Miss James, you may be a star on the road, but here, at my house you don't get to walk all over people. Especially not me. The only way I'll even think about listening to what you have to say is if you can promise me that you're the old Haley James-Scott that played Tric, rather then the Haley James girl that ran away to go on tour." she interrupted Haley, not even letting her get out a full sentence.

"Peyton, I promise, it's me. It's always been me." Haley tried to reason with her, but she knew the look on that blonde's face. It usually meant that if you take a step closer I'll beat your ass to the ground.

"You see, that statement, right there, that makes me worry. If it's always been you, then you're not the girl I thought you were." Peyton said honestly with a disappointed look on her face as she shook her head and scoffed a little.

The blonde nodded, accepting it. Maybe she did deserve that, maybe she didn't, but what Haley knew for sure, was that right now, really wasn't the time to disagree. "You know what, I think I'll just go…"

Peyton sighed as she watched Haley head down the front steps to her house. She was doing what Brooke told her she usually did, pushing people away because they always leave. But, Haley had come back… right? "You're back? I mean, for good?" Haley gave a nod, yes. Curving her lips to one side, she put on a thinking expression as she sighed and stepped back, opening the door up wider.

"Come on in."