Announcement: Okay guys so I am a bit rusty at this whole FANFICTION thing. But I thought after a few years of missing in action…I would give it another whirl. I do not own any characters…at least so far …I do not take credit for anything in relation to the show. Though I will take all the credit for my wonderful storyline...lol! I hope you enjoy it. I very much appreciate feedback. So please…I want the good, the bad, and the ugly. BUT MOSTLY GOOD! ANYWAYS ENJOY!

Chapter One: And with every drink…comes another consequence

~Flashback~

Music cascaded through the rooms as more and more teenage bodies filled the beach house. It was a Friday night in Tree Hill North Carolina and like many other Friday nights in this small town, the Ravens basketball team had a lot to celebrate. They had succeeded in yet another win. Victory was once again theirs. The jocks, cheerleaders, the popular crowd, they were all basking in their glory. Beer, Vodka, music, dancing; this was a party much like others. It was a party worth remembering. Teens from Tree Hill high school filled the beach house. They came with expectations. This very night would be a night to remember.

Brooke Davis was one of those mentioned. She was popular, a part of the cheerleading team, and she was ready for yet another "wild" night in this here beach house. She walked through the crowded entryway, her hand clasped to that of her cousins as they pride their way into the house.

"Now if for any reason you feel the least bit uncomfortable…well just let me know okay?" She whispered in her raspy voice as they continued on into a very populated living area. Squeezing her cousins' hand in reassurance she cast the brunette a sideways grin. After all, this was her element. Brooke Davis was the queen of sophomore year. One day she would be the queen of seniors and also the talk of the entire school. She wore the Popular nametag to the T. She was part of the so-called "elite" group. Hell she was already promised the head cheerleader position in years to come. After all she was already promised head cheerleader position in years to come. She lived and breathed high school. This was her time to shine. Smiling vividly at each individual she passed Brooke tugged once more at her cousin.

"Haley…earth to Hales? Are you with me? Come on Hales embrace the experience. You are in Tree Hill for one weekend! Just one! I promise, you will have a great time. We will have a great time. Don't you trust me?"

"Do you even remember what happened the last time I put my trust in you at a party B? Do you?"

Stifling a giggle Brooke placed her free hand in a raised position. As if making a pledge under oath, or giving allegiance to the flag she spoke.

"I Brooke Penelope Davis solemnly swear to you Haley Katherine James, that no matter what the night foretells… I will not…I repeat…NOT…let you get drunk off of jello shots. I will NOT let you lock yourself in my parents' bathroom. And I will NOT let you chop off all of your gorgeous brown locks with my dads' hair clippers. You have my word." Not being able to contain the laughter building Brooke then proceeded to burst out in a fit of hysteria. "Even…though… that hairstyle you gave yourself…was…was priceless!"

Shaking her head Haley feigned offence before sighing dejectedly.

"Alright, alright…clearly you and I have very different takes on how that night went. You find laughter and joy in my humiliation and I, well I just feel humiliated."

"C'mon Hales that was two years ago. We were young, you were inexperienced, and alcohol was new to you. Like I said, you have one weekend in Tree Hill with me before you have to head back to Georgia. Please, please lets enjoy it and have fun?"

Groaning inwardly for giving way to Brooke's pleas Haley stepped forward.

"Okay fine! You win Brooke Davis, but if I leave this house with anything less than what I came in with…so help me god!"

~End Of FLASHBACK~

"Mommy, Mommy wakes up! Wakes up mommy! We are wasting the whole day away." Feeling tiny hands nudge repeatedly at her once peacefully slumbering form, Haley James cursed softly to herself. She should have never stayed up so late reading that god forsaken romance novel. She should have put it down early into the night, but no she just had to keep reading on. "Just one more chapter" she thought, and then another and soon more to follow. Now look where that had gotten her. She just wanted to rest longer. Just a few more hours? Maybe even a few more minutes? Was that really too much to ask? Peering out of her right eye she caught a glimpse of the very alert child residing on her bed. She knew in that very instant it was all over.

"Mommy! I know you can hear me, Look I see your eye right there." Haley reactively reached for the little girls finger before it met her eye. Stretching a bit she shook her head. Only now realizing there really was no point in fighting the inevitable. It was time for her to wake up.

"Alright Natalie, you win. Mommy is up for the day."

Hearing shrills of happiness from the little child before her Haley's heart began to swell. So she hadn't gotten the eight hours of sleep her body desperately craved. There was always tomorrow to sleep in right? After all looking into Natalie's big blue eyes and seeing that smile light up her face as she jumped from the bed, well this was what she lived for. The reason Haley woke up every morning.

Haley James was your average young woman. She was intelligent, beautiful, funny, and happy. She was also a bit unorganized, still trying to make her mark in the world, clumsy, and sometimes compulsive. Haley was basically everything a woman her age should be. But there was one thing that she had, one thing that made her life differ from the rest of her friends. Haley had a daughter. At the age of twenty-one Haley was a mother to five-year-old Natalie Brooklyn James. Natalie was a beautiful dark haired, blue-eyed gem. It was tough to be a single mom at the age of twenty-one. Even harder to go through some of her high school years pregnant, then taking care of an infant. It was truly a struggle but somehow Haley pulled through. She was a fighter and was still fighting every day. Financially and emotionally Haley fought each day to provide for her child. But she was making it work. They were making it work. They lived in a two-story house located in Barney Georgia. A very small and secluded town. They shared a house with a few of Haley's closest friends. This of course released a bit of the burden Haley carried each day. Still, Haley hoped and dreamed that one day Natalie could experience the best of things. That one day she could provide everything and anything her daughter needed, and that they wouldn't have to work so hard to have a normal life.

"Hello…mommy" Natalie waved a hand in front of her mothers face. "Whoa, where'd you go mommy? I've been asking you the same question over and over, aren't you listening?" Plopping down on the stool that rested along the granite counter top Natalie popped a few cheerios in her mouth before raising an eyebrow at Haley "You're not sick are you momma?" She reached over and brought her small hand to Haley's forehead.

"Nats I'm fine. I just haven't had my coffee yet. I'm still a little sleepy." Smiling at her daughter she reached for the coffee pot and began filling two mugs with the hot brown liquid.

"So baby girl, you pick…Uncle J, uncle Jake, or Clay today?" Haley questioned Natalie as she added cream and two sugars to each of the cups of coffee.

"Definitely not Clay mommy. I don't know why you keep trying."

"Natalie Brooklyn! Clay is a very nice man. I think if you got to know him…"

"Got to know who?"

"Uncle J!" Natalie screeched as she jumped into the arms of the man before them. Hugging him tightly she kissed both his cheeks repeatedly.

Julian Baker was one of Haley's closest and dearest friends. They met at the start of sophomore year. Six months prior to Haley getting pregnant. He was there for her through everything. The food cravings, the emotional rollercoaster's, the endless body aches, the two visits to the hospital with Braxton Hicks contractions. He experienced it all with Haley. That could be part of the reason Julian had such an intense love for Haley's' five year old daughter. He was practically the closest thing she had to a father figure, and Natalie was the closest thing Julian had to a daughter. The bond the three of them shared was unbreakable, unexplainable, and truly amazing.

Stepping on her tiptoes Haley greeted her friend with a kiss to the cheek. Then handed him a mug of coffee.

"Two sugars, extra cream."

"Ah, you two lovely ladies were expecting me," Julian boasted as he sat at the stool, Natalie now being placed on his lap.

"Of course silly, you live here. You miss us, right Julian?" Natalie stated popping another cheerio in her mouth and smiling at each of the "grown ups" present in the room.

"Of course I do kiddo." Ruffling the top of her head he continued, "So whom were we talking about before I walked in? Who do you need to get to know?"

Rolling her eyes Natalie scrunched her nose and looked up at Julian.

"Momma wants me to hang out with Clay. Isn't that so not believable? I don't want to know Clay more. He's not my friend anyways. He's mommies friend."

"Nats, I'm your moms friend too. And you love me right?" Julian asked extending his bottom lip in a pout.

"Oh yes, of course I do uncle J. I love you lots and lots. But you were here before me. So you're kind of like, I don't know you're my uncle Julian. But clay…" Shaking her head in objection she whispered, "He came after me…five whole years after me. He's nobody."

"Natalie! Clay is a very nice person. And yes he is my friend. But you still have to give him a chance." Haley stated as she grabbed her purse and other belongings from the counter top.

"Julian, I'm assuming you got her for the day?" Pausing while her friend gestured a nod she continued "Alright I will be back before you know it." Kissing her daughters forehead and then the top of Julian's head as well she whisked her keys from the hook in the kitchen. "Jake should be around here somewhere. There is a casserole in the oven if you can just put it in around…let's say four? I will be back just before its done. Love you both…be safe…mwuah!"

Natalie and Julian exchanged a glance as the door to the house slammed shut. Smiling brightly at one another Julian stated clearly. "Just so you know, I don't particularly care for this Clay guy to much either. Lets not tell your mom I said so though."

"Mums the word!"