I am in no way affiliated with One Tree Hill, The CW or Mark Schwahn. Nor do I own or claim any rights to these characters. I am merely playing with them before returning them to their rightful owner. No copy infringement intended. I also do not own Sheryl Crow or her song/lyrics for I Shall Believe, which has been used throughout this chapter.

This story takes place at the end of season 2. Haley has returned from the tour after only eight weeks, in time for her school finals and the end of junior year.


A Rather Large Bump In The Road
Chapter 1 – Return to the Past and What is Left There

Open the door

And show me your face tonight

I know it's true
No one heals me like you

And you hold the key
Never again

Would I turn away from you

I'm so heavy tonight
But your love is alright
And I do believe

As she paid the cab driver and bid him a kind thank you for his assistance, Haley James Scott - or Haley James, she didn't really know who she was anymore – tentatively climbed the stairs of the Scott residence. Raising her hand to grasp the brass knocker that was bolted to the dark mahogany door, she hesitated and quickly drew her hand away before turning and walking down the stairs. Realizing that her attempts at prolonging the inevitable were not going to help her later on, she turned on her heel, hand poised to knock again; and this time she would not let herself be deterred. This had to be done; she owed him that much.

Before her dainty hand could even grip the brass ornament, the door swung open and she found herself face to face with the man who occupied her dreams, her heart, and was the source of her apprehensions. She was greeted with the face of the man who may or may not still be her husband. The handsome, chiseled face that she knew so well, stared at her but there was something different about him. She knew every crevice, every small feature of his strikingly gorgeous face but there was something different; his eyes. They no longer held the sparkle they used to, when he would gaze at her in a warm and loving way, making her heart melt. Now there was no trace of that sparkle, not even the slightest hint. Instead, his eyes were filled with something she could not clearly decipher. It was either pain, hurt or disappointment; probably all three, considering her actions.

His eyes; she had always loved his eyes. They could convey his emotions to her in an unbelievable way. He may have been able to put on a façade for everyone else, that cocky smirk that was ever-present on his face, but she would always be able to know what he was really feeling. She loved the fact that even before they started dating, he let her in past all the bluster and bullshit he gave everyone else and let her see the real him. It was one of the many reasons she fell in love with him; because he allowed himself to be open and honest with her, and in turn, subject himself to being vulnerable and fall in love with her. He had not trusted many people in his life, she knew that and she could understand why; who would completely trust another human being when he had grown up with a father like Dan Scott – a man who did not know the meaning of the word trust, only the gain manipulation could bring. On the day she married him, the day she stood on that beautiful beach and committed herself to him for all of eternity, she promised she would always protect him and that he could always trust her.

Even before they were married, it was an unspoken agreement that he could always trust her and it had made him feel safe in that knowledge that she would always be there for him; he had told her so himself in the first few months after their wedding. It had made her smile, loving the fact that he loved her enough to share his deepest thoughts with her and know that she would not make fun of, or ridicule his expressive words like so many people; one in particular, had done before her.

It had hurt her, more than she ever thought imaginable, when he had given her an ultimatum. If you want to go, you should go but if you do, we're done. All she wanted was her husband's support while she attempted to be somebody in the music industry. She had no feelings for Chris, as Nathan had assumed. How could she when her entire heart was swelling with love for Nathan? She also knew that working with Chris had made Nathan jealous, whether he would admit it or not, but in all reality, he had nothing to be jealous of. He was the one that she wanted, she had told him so the night of her "bridal shower" and many times after that. That fact had never changed.

Now, it filled her with great shame to know that she had betrayed him, destroyed the trust between them, for her second dream. She realized now that that was what music was, is – her second dream because Nathan is and always had been her first. It just took her a small amount of time away from him to realize that; realize how much she loved him, needed him and wanted him. She could only hope that she would have the chance, that he would give her the chance, to show him how sorry she was for leaving and how she wanted to be with him, forever.

"Hi" she finally spoke, her voice sounding low and not as confident as she had hoped.

She stood just staring at him, watching as an array of conflicting emotions flickered through his eyes before his face became blank. She would give anything for his face to show some sort of emotion, even if it was raging anger because at least then it would appear as though he were aware of the fact that she was standing in front of him. At least then his eyes would not seem hollow and empty, making her feel physically sick that she was the one who had caused it.

After many moments of silence, that felt like hours for the pair of young lovers, he finally spoke.

"Haley, what are you doing here?" Nathan asked, clearly surprised but trying to cover his astonishment; not letting her see his response to the fact that she was standing on his doorstep.

"I want to come home, Nathan" she replied softly, her beautiful brown wide and glassy. He used to spend hours just staring into those very same eyes, staring at them with love, kindness, lust and hope, and now he could not even keep his eyes on hers for more than a few seconds.

"Yeah… this is a really bad time. You need to go" he told her, his eyes darting around so he would not have to look into her eyes that he was certain were brimming with unshed tears.

"Oh… okay…right, um, I'll just go then" Haley whispered, willing herself not to cry as she turned and walked down the stairs, away from him.

"Haley!" he shouted, causing her to stop and turn around to face him with a hopeful smile across her face.

"Yeah?" she asked, hopeful that he would ask her to stay, or ask her to talk – anything except ask her to go.

"Where are you going to stay because there is no more apartment and I put all your stuff in storage so…?" he informed her, letting his statement hang in the air. He did not even know if he cared where she went. His pride was overruling his heart at the present moment, so she could crawl back to Chris Keller for all he cared. It didn't stop his fists from clenching at the thought of that slime ball spending time with his wife, though. It didn't mean he didn't care at all he was just too hurt to care at the moment. Under normal, rationally-thinking situations, of course he cared if his wife was hanging around with a jackass like Chris Keller. What sane husband wouldn't?

"Oh…well um…I honestly don't know. I'll see if I can stay with– "

BANG!

He had slammed the door in her face before she could even finish her sentence. "Luke" she finished quietly. She finally let the tears fall as she walked away for the final time and began the long walk to Lucas' house.


Lucas Scott turned in his bed, burying himself deeper into the soft pillows. It was only nine o'clock at night and quite unusual to find Lucas in bed already but he wasn't tired. He was worried; worried about Haley who, despite his pleadings, had not returned and he was beginning to doubt that she would anytime soon. That and the fact that he had kissed Brooke and basically expressed his undying love to her earlier today, with no response from her, was enough to make Lucas go crazy with anticipation.

He knew that he had picked an impeccable time to tell her that he wanted to be with her, just as she was leaving for California to finish the remainder of her school year there. He could only hope that through emails, texts and phone calls, he and Brooke would be able to discuss what he had revealed to her today and begin a relationship. A great relationship, totally different from their last one because that was what Lucas wanted; and he wanted Brooke. Not Peyton, the girl who he had just spent two hours with sitting on the beach. He loved Peyton, he really did, but he was in love with Brooke and nothing was going to stop them from being together this time - Nothing. Even with a great mantra like that, Lucas still could not stop tossing and turning. His actions and attempts at falling asleep were disturbed by a soft knocking at the side door. Climbing out of bed, he swung the door open and what he was greeted with nearly gave him a heart attack.

"Brooke?"


As Haley walked through the dimly lit streets of Tree Hill, she pulled her red sweater out of the duffel bag she had resting from her right shoulder. Even though it was spring, summer about to begin in about a month or so, it seemed colder than she would have thought it would be for this time of the year. She laid the sweater over her shoulders, protecting herself from the cold. She continued walking, only about fifteen minutes into her twenty-five minute walking journey to Luke's house.

Fifteen minutes later, after reaching Luke's house about five or six minutes ago, she smiled when she saw Brooke knocking on Lucas' side door, before going inside. It was about time those two got together, she could see that they both wanted to be together and even though neither of her friends had been upfront and told her, or each other for that matter, it was very obvious. What she wouldn't give for her feelings to be reciprocated by the man she loves. Brooke and Lucas were lucky to have found each other, again, but she couldn't be jealous because it was mostly her fault that she did not have that. Correction, it was all her fault. Why would Nathan want to be with her, little plain ole Haley 'tutor-nerd' James when he can have anyone he wants?

Haley took a seat on the wooden bench outside Luke's door on the porch and waited for him and Brooke to finish talking. The time was 9:46.


"Brooke?" Lucas questioned, clearly surprised to see her back in Tree Hill, and on his doorstep. Wait, why was she here? Wasn't she supposed to be halfway to California by now? He opened the door and let her into his room.

"Brooke, is everything all right? Why aren't you on your plane? Did something happen? Are you okay? Are you al–" he was cut off by her lips, connecting to his in a passionate kiss.

Dazed from Brooke's kiss, Lucas couldn't really think of much except the way her soft lips felt against his, how good her tongue felt grazing against his lower lip. However, there was one question that was unaffected by her kisses, and it wasn't going to fade from his mind until it was answered.

"What was that for?"

"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you how I felt before I left, I just got scared, and let's face it; you did pick a pretty bad time to tell me that you want to be with me."

Lucas nodded in agreement. "I sense a 'but' coming on here…"

She nodded "But… I couldn't leave without saying that I want to be with you too. I took a later flight. It leaves at four in the morning so I was thinking I can stay there until then."

He smiled and moved his face closer to hers, once again claiming her lips which were now all his. He had his girl back, and Lucas Scott could not be happier.


About five or so hours later, at around three in the morning, Brooke and Lucas emerged from his room after calling a cab to take her to the airport. After brief goodbye, including Brooke telling Lucas that she is going to California to convince her parents to let her stay in Tree Hill, they had made their way to the porch outside his room. Claiming a few soft kisses from his love, Lucas bid her a final goodbye as she climbed into the cab. Turning around, he saw Haley curled up on the porch bench.

"Haley?" he smiled. This night was getting better and better; first Brooke kisses him and now Haley was here. However, his smile faded when he saw that she was shivering.

Running inside, he grabbed a blanket before rushing back outside to wrap his best friend in the soft cotton throw.

"Haley?" he whispered, trying to wake her up as his rubbed his hands up and down her arms, trying to warm her petite body and subside her shivering.


Blinking open her eyes, Haley wrapped the blanket closer to her before taking in her surroundings; Lucas hovering over her head, concern and worry evident in his pale blue eyes. She loved his pale blue eyes; they reminded her of Nathan's except that his were a more vibrant color. Thinking of Nathan made her want to cry, but she blinked back the tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes. This was Lucas, not her Nathan; but Nathan was no longer hers.

"Luke?" she questioned, her voice hoarse and scratchy from being subjected to the cold for so long; the sound of her voice surprised her as she was not expecting it to be so throaty. Therefore, she repeated his name, trying her hardest to remove the scratchiness from throat and speak clearly.

"Hey Hales, come inside okay? How long have you been sitting here?" he asked, helping her stand up before wrapping his arm around her shoulders and guiding her inside. She had not stopped shivering and he had no idea why; it wasn't that cold, it was only spring, nearly summer.

After escorting her inside and settling her under the covers on his bed, he sat beside her and waited for to begin talking.

"Since Brooke arrived. I saw her come in and I didn't want to interrupt because I figured you had a lot to talk about" she finally answered, her voice become harder to hear with each word.

"Jesus, Haley! That was almost six hours ago. You should have just come in. Look at you, you're freezing!" he scolded. Lucas was glad his best friend was home, hopefully for good, but judging by the way she still seemed cold, he could not help but be worried.

"I'll… b…be o…okay" she stuttered as sobs began to rack her petite body.

Lucas immediately took her in his arms, and she folded into his chest, her tears drenching his thin cotton shirt. He stroked her back, something he knew that calmed her after comforting her for so many years in her childhood. As he held her, he remembered all the other times they had sat like this; when they were young kids, only about five or six, and Taylor had ripped her doll's head off, or when her fifth grade crush had kissed someone else on the monkey bars and she had been devastated, or not too long ago when he had found her on the floor of the café, after the Scott's Annual Basketball Party. How that seemed only yesterday, when in reality, it was almost a year ago, almost. He could only think that so much had happened since then, good and bad, and as her breathing evened out, he knew she had fallen asleep.

Only then did he whisper "I'm glad you're back, buddy."

That not everything is gonna be the way

You think it ought to be

It seems like every time I try to make it right
It all comes down on me

Please say honestly

You won't give up on me

And I shall believe