Thank you all so much for your reviews! I'm so glad that you're liking the story so far! Big thanks for Kristen for beta-ing for me. She's the best! And Britt too!

Italics are flashback!

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Mom!!!" Haley screamed down the stairs as she stood at the top, her hair in rollers, a shirt clasped to the front of her chest, pyjama bottoms hanging low on her hips. "MOOOM!!!"

"Good God Haley, what?"

"Help me." Her brown eyes so wide, pleading and childlike Lydia James couldn't help but laugh at her youngest daughter.

"Anal retentive daughter of mine, I think at least one of your drawers is out of order." Lydia spoke up, walking into Haley's room to find clothes strewn across the bed, drawers hung open.

"You're not funny. Help me!"

"Haley James, in the six or so years you've been dating I have never seen you like this."

"I've never been on a date with Nathan Scott before!" Haley rolled her eyes at her mother like it was the most obvious thing in the world before stamping her foot on the ground. "Help Me!!"

"Okay, sit down." Lydia took Haley's arm and led her to the bed, pushing some clothes aside she coaxed her to sit on the edge. "This is ridiculous. You're a 22year old young woman Haley. Whoever this boy was in high school doesn't matter." Haley cut her a disbelieving look and started to get up again but Lydia put her hands on her shoulders holding her down. "He wouldn't have asked to take you out tonight if he didn't like you, and he wouldn't have come by the café every day for the past two weeks if he didn't like you. Would he?"

"I guess…" Haley reluctantly admitted, fixating on the bedspread.

"You know." Lydia affirmed picking up a simple dark green wrap dress that tied at the waist, and danced around her thighs. "Wear this."

"You don't think it's too plain?"

"I think it's beautiful, and it'll show off that little waist of yours. Now get dressed before he comes, and your daddy attacks him at the door. A little like yourself tonight, he has trouble remembering you're out of high school. You might want to clean up a little in case you want to bring him back; finish the night off with a bang."

"Oh My God!! Goodbye mother!" Haley threw a top at her mom's retreating figure, shaking her head at her boldness. Sitting down at her vanity she started applying her make up, before taking the rollers out of her hair and separating the curls until she was satisfied with the loose tendrils.

This is ridiculous. Her Mom was right. She's been on dates before, dates with great, attractive guys. So why couldn't she seem to hold her hand steady when she was applying her eyeliner? Or why was she swiping on yet another layer of antiperspirant just to be safe from the way her body was over heating?

She was in the process of securing the ankle strap of her shoe when she heard the doorbell ring, not thinking too much of it having told Nathan to call her when he was outside so he wouldn't have to struggle to the door on his crutches.

"HALEY! HE'S HERE!" Panicked she quickly applied another layer of lip gloss, checking herself in the mirror once last time before grabbing her purse and making for the door. A quick glance behind her at the messy room she shut the door praying it wouldn't distract her all night. God, her mother was right, she really was anal.

"Oh my little girl, on a date with the star of the basketball team! I'm so proud." Haley rolled her eyes and sent Nathan an apologetic smile before pushing him out of the door sending a quick shout to her parents.

"I am SO sorry! My mother tends to speak before she… well she doesn't really do much thinking."

"It's fine Haley. She seems fun."

"Fun, crazy, I guess they're interchangeable." She smiled as he opened the passenger door to his car and motioned for her to get in. She looked at him curiously trying to place what was different as he got into the drivers seat. "Oh! Your crutches!"

"The doctor said I could try without them for a while – and I figured what better time to do than on a date with the prettiest girl in Tree Hill? Everyone will be looking my way anyway."

"You may not have noticed, but everyone always looks your way Nathan."

"Not true. You're not one for taking compliments are you?"

"I 'm not exactly practised in the art." She agreed with a small self deprecating shrug.

"I find that hard to believe."

"Believe what you want I suppose." She gave an obviously nervous sounding giggle and wanted to kick herself.

"You look beautiful." He said turning to face her as they sat at the stop sign at the end of her street. Giving her a sincere smile.

"Thank you." She gave him a small smile before turning to look straight ahead again.

"There you go! That's how you do it. You're a fast learner."

"Well I'm very smart." She laughed, the tension disappearing.

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"Did you go away for school or…?" He asked as the waiter cleared their plates. They'd shared a mostly easy conversation over dinner, covering the usual topics without any awkward silences.

"No. I stayed home. Initially I wanted to go away, study music. But after my sisters dance degree only served to make her the most qualified stripper in the club, my parents weren't too keen on helping finance another liberal arts course. I got offered a couple of scholarships but none were enough to cover everything I needed so I stayed home, went to THCC, tried to get my teachers degree. I thought maybe I'd transfer after a couple of years, UNC, or Duke maybe. But my mom got sick and I ended up dropping out to take care of her."

"Woah, that must have been really hard."

"Not really. I mean, she needed me. She's taken care of me my whole life what kind of a person would I be if I wasn't there for her?"

"Is she? I mean..."

"She's fine now. Has been for about 18months, give or take. I keep saying I'm going back but," She paused shrugging, shaking her head at his silent offer of refilling her wine glass. "I don't know, I'm happy working in the café, it's like second nature to me now. For example I can see out of my corner my eye that the table behind me to our left hasn't been cleared, and I can't help it, I'm itching to go over and take them into the kitchen."

He laughed smiling. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been on a date where he was actually enjoying the conversation, and not trying to work out the easiest way to get his date out of her clothes.

"Do you think you ever will?"

"Go back?" She asked and he nodded. "I don't know, maybe, see where life takes me I guess. I used have this plan, and I quickly learned, the best way to get off track, is to give yourself a track to be on."

"What kind of plan?"

"A life plan. All the things I wanted to achieve and when they were supposed to be achieved by."

That sounds familiar he thought riley but just smiled across at her, hypnotised by the way her thin fingers played lightly with the rim of her glass. "And what exactly was in this life plan of yours, Haley James?"

"Hmm, go to a good four year school, get a good job, marry my senior prom date, buy a house with a white picket fence, have 2.4 children and a dog. Just normal stuff really."

"Well, I've got to say I'm glad you never married the boy you went to prom with. Or am I just a stopover until the dream boy comes back?"

"Well, dream boy lives in Chicago now. With his life partner." She grinned as he choked a little on his drink.

"Your senior prom date was gay?"

"Yep"

"Did you know this?"

"Oh yeah, did I leave that little tidbit out? Part of the life plan was for the husband to have a boyfriend." She giggled, covering her mouth when it came out a little louder than intended. "Oops."

"I don't think anyone noticed." He assured her before continuing. "Did he?"

"Uh huh. I've since found out the reason he asked me was because he had a thing for my older brother and he'd noticed we had near identical eyes. An insight I could of lived without knowing."

"Ouch."

"Yeah, didn't really do wonders for the old ego."

"I'm sure there were plenty of guys ready and waiting to pick up the pieces of your broken heart."

"Don't bank on it. I wasn't exactly in demand with the boys in my class."

"Well, then I'm guessing the GPA must of really dropped after I left because no way a pretty girl like you would have got over looked when I was there."

Haley suddenly became fixated with the table cloth, her cheeks flushing, a shy smile on her lips. He reached out across the table stroking at her jaw until she looked up at him. "You're so cute."

"Cute's what you call your little sister."

"Well, good job I don't have a little sister then." He winked at her. "Ready to get out of here?"

"Oh, uh, sure if you want."

"Maybe we could go for a walk or something?" Where did that come from? He wondered to himself but didn't feel the need to backtrack. A walk, since when did he take dates on walks?

"A walk sounds really nice." she agreed. "Oh, your leg!"

"It's fine. They said I should walk some on it every day anyway. We'll just drive the car somewhere."

"The beach?" Haley suggested.

"Wherever the lady wants."

"The beach then." They shared a smile as he signalled for their bill.

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"I really love it down here." Haley said as she slipped off her heels and dangled them from her hand. Giggling a little as Nathan lifted her up at the waist helping her from the steps onto the sand. "I told you not to give me anymore wine. I'm not exactly a big drinker."

"Why doesn't that surprise me?"

"What do you mean?" She eyed him curiously, wondering if she should be offended.

"I just meant you're different that most girls I've been out with."

"Good different or bad different?"

"Definitely good different."

"Oh good. I don't mind then." She felt herself shiver as he locked eyes with her. He had the most intense eyes.

"Are you cold?" He asked, starting to slip off his jacket.

"No." As soon as the word left her mouth she regretted it. The idea of being wrapped up in his jacket, discreetly inhaling his scent was really appealing. "So, do you like the beach?"

"Sure." He gave her a curious glance as she cursed under her breath at her question.

"That was kind of a lame question huh?"

"A little." He agreed "Do you come here often?"
"Okay, that was too so now I don't feel so stupid. Yes, Nathan, I do come here often." She have him a giddy smile laughing a little before turning back in the direction they were walking, her small feet almost bouncing along the sand and he noticed again how free she seemed. "Ever since I was a kid I've loved the beach. I think maybe it's because we didn't get away much. So our parents used to take us to the beach when they could. Pack a lunch and it was just a mini vacation day, all of us together."

"All of you? How many of you are there?"

"Six."

"Big family. Where are you?"

"The baby, and don't you dare Aww."

He held up his hands in mock defence. "Wouldn't dare."

"I feel like you've turned every question around to me. What about you, Nathan? What's there to know about you? I mean, I know you went from high school, to Duke, to the NBA."

"Yeah." His voice took on the same tone it had the day she'd listened in on his conversation with Karen. She bit at her lip nervously, hoping she hadn't said something she shouldn't have.

"You do that a lot."

"Do what?" Suddenly she felt really self conscious.

"Bite your lip."

"Oh." She released her lip, bringing her finger up to touch the tissue she'd been chewing at. "I hadn't really noticed."

"I had." His voice was low and gravely, sending tingles down her spine. "You do it so often, I've been wanting to know what the fascination is." Before she had a chance to think about what he was doing he stopped turning her toward him and taking her lower lip between his own, nibbling at it a little before swiping his tongue across; stroking it at her own when she let out a surprised gasp. He smirked at her drawing away. "I can see how that could be addictive."

She gave him a coy smile, her fingers playing at the ends of her hair before she made her way over to a flat rock and sat down; staring out at the waves crashing and falling in front of them as he sat down beside her. They were silent for a few minutes before Haley spoke again. "It's so beautiful don't you think?"

"Yeah I guess."

"It always surprises me how the most natural, simple things can be the most beautiful."

He watched her, her hair twisting around her shoulders in the wind, her cheeks flushed from the breeze, her eyes sparkling, and when she looked over at him, a bright smile crossing her features before gazing back out at the waves. He reached out and put his arm around her, her head instinctively lying on his shoulder. "Yeah. I'm starting to see that…"/i

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"We should try this!" Brooke tapped at the sheet of paper on the wall in front of her as she stood in the locker room drying her hair.

"Try what?" Haley asked glancing sideways as she gripped up her wet hair, curly tendrils hitting her face and neck.

"Strip-ercise"

"Uh yeah, I'll get right on that. Let me just tell Nathan I'm installing a pole in the bedroom first."

"I'm sure he'd have no complaints." The brunette girl laughed as she unplugged her hairdryer and stuffed it into her gym bag. "I've heard it's amazing for your legs."

"Are you trying to tell me I have fat legs, Davis?"

"Uh yes, of course I am Haley."

"Thought so." Haley nodded confirmation before giggling. "Ready?"

"Yep. Are you looking forward to tomorrow?"

"Oh yes, because Scott family functions are always such relaxing affairs."

"Why Deb keeps doing it is beyond me."

"Because we keep turning up?" Haley suggested as they walked out to the car park and stopped before walking off to their own cars.

"Shall I meet you at your house?"

"Um, no. Come to the store. I need to get groceries other than for your famous pasta salad. Plus, seriously, one of these days you're going to have to pay attention to what goes into it."

"Hmm, if you say so. I'll see you in a couple of minutes." Brooke grinned, her heels clicking across the car park. Haley marvelled at how perfect the other woman looked; no one would dream she'd just been sweating her ass off in the gym for the past two hours. As opposed to herself with her wet hair, sweatpants and sneakers.

"I'll go grab the pasta." Brooke said as they walked into the store.

"Because that's the only ingredient you remember?" Haley laughed as Brooke gave her a mysterious smile walking off.

Shaking her head, she began pushing the cart in the opposite direction, picking up various pieces as she went. As she finished putting away the few things she needed to pick up, she found herself being drawn to the small section of the store that housed some baby and children's clothes. These days she couldn't walk past baby things without her stomach fluttering. Unable to stop herself, she picked up a small pink ruffled dress, glancing over her shoulder as if she were doing something wrong.

"Are you pregnant?" Brooke asked, coming up behind Haley who dropped the little dress she'd been coveting to the ground as if it burned.

"God, Brooke! Must you creep up on me?"

"Sorry I'll make sure to announce myself in a busy grocery store in the future." The brunette rolled her eyes as she placed the pasta into the cart. "So are you?"

"No, Brooke, I'm not pregnant. But I'm thinking maybe we should try that new class. You're the second person to as me that question in as many days."

"You seemed pretty interested in those baby clothes." Brooke watched Haley curiously as she hurriedly picked up the dress and pushed it onto the rail, turning the cart and moving away.

"Iwas looking to see if there was anything for the nieces and nephews."

"Isn't your youngest niece like two? That dress was newborn."

"It just caught my eye is all."

"Uh huh."

"Drop it Brooke."

"Defensive. What is it? You think you're pregnant? You know you're married Haley, you and your husband both work good jobs it's not the end of the world. You're in a better position than I would be."

"No, Brooke, I'm not pregnant, I don't think I'm pregnant. Can we just leave it? And you and Lucas have been together longer than Nathan and I. It wouldn't be the end of the world for you either. Why the hell are we still talking about this?"

"We may have been together longer, but I've yet to see a ring like that pretty little diamond thing on your finger."

Haley sighed, twisting the aforementioned ring; this was becoming a familiar conversation with Brooke. But if it got them off the pregnancy subject, she wasn't going to complain.

"Sweetie, it'll happen. Have you talked to him?"

"I've brought it up, he just tells me to be patient. I moved my life half way across the country for him Haley. What more do I have to do for him to see I'm in this for the long haul?"

"At least he's not telling you it's never going to happen…" Haley gave a small shrug and a sympathetic smile.

"How did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Get Nathan to propose?"

"I told you before Brooke, I didn't do anything. I wasn't even expecting it."

"Can you talk to him?"

"Nathan?" Haley's face screwed up in conversation, how would that help any?

"Lucas."

"And say what? 'Oh Luke, I know Brooke's tried talking to you about this and you obviously don't want to, but as your sister in law I demand you to tell me when you're going to propose to my friend.'"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"I'll see what I can do."

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"Pass me the avocado," Haley waived her hand in front of Brooke's face, which was buried in a fashion magazine, trying to get her attention.

"It has avocado in it?"

"Yes." Haley laughed and Brooke shrugged.

"Oh."

"Hey." Nathan said to both girls as he walked in. Throwing his keys on the table, he kissed Haley's forehead. "Is this dinner?"

"No, we're having chicken; this is for Brooke for tomorrow." Haley tilted her head signalling toward the other woman.

"Brooke, you know you're going to have to learn how to make this thing?"

"That's what I tried to tell her but she doesn't seem that bothered." She gently hit away her husbands hand as he started picking at the array of things she'd chopped up in front of her.

"What if she wasn't here?" Nathan questioned Brooke; opening the oven, ignoring Haley's protest.

"Why's she not going to be here? We're family, she's stuck with me."

"Family huh? I don't see a ring on the finger Brooke. My brother propose and forget to tell me?"

Brooke scowled at Nathan, slamming the magazine shut. "I'm going to call Luke."

"That was mean." Haley pointed out as Nathan took the vacated stool shrugging. "I told you she's been bringing that up a lot lately."

"He'll ask her when he's ready. What's the big deal?"

"The big deal is they've been together nearly six years. She wants to get married. He knows this. What's holding him back?"

"Maybe he isn't sure she's…"

Haley kicked his shin under the table when she saw Brooke coming down the hall. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah everything's fine. I'll drain the pasta okay?"

"At least you're doing something." Nathan mumbled, his wife glaring at him. Brooke looking over confused.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well did you even ask Haley, or did you just presume she'd make it?" Nathan bit out watching Haley run check on their own dinner, before moving back to placing things in a bowl for Brooke.

"She always makes it."

"SHE'S right here. And Nathan I offered. Why don't you go watch TV or something until I'm done with this, then I'll finish up dinner okay?"

"He's cheerful." The brunette woman spoke up as Nathan walked out of the room.

"It always takes him a while to calm down when he gets home from work."

"If that's what working for Dan does I'm definitely glad Lucas works for himself."

"I think technically he works for his publisher."

"Whatever, that's really besides the point."

"Well, it's a point I don't want to get into with Nathan in the next room Brooke, so… changing the subject. Are you staying for dinner?"

"No, Lucas and I are going to go out."

"Well, in that case, you're good to go." Haley passed over the dish she'd just covered. "Wait for it to cool then just pop it in the fridge."

"Thanks hon, you're the best. What would I do without you?"

"Learn to cook?" Brooke raised an eye brow in a disbelieving motion, dropping a kiss on Haley's cheek as she picked up her things. "Okay, spend more money on take out."

"True. Okay I'm off then! Thank you again. Goodbye Grouchy!" Brooke called, getting a gruff reply from Nathan as she walked out of the door.

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Haley turned sideways in the mirror, placing her hand on her stomach watching her husband in the reflection as he flicked mindlessly through the channels. "Do you think I've gained weight?"

"What?" He answered only half paying attention, one eye on the television as he glanced back at her.

"Am I putting on weight?"

"Uh, no?"

"That sounded like a question."

"What?"

"That sounded like no with a question mark. Like no, I don't know."

"It was no, as in why are you asking me this?" Nathan turned back toward the television, trying to avoid the conversation.

"Two people have asked me if I'm pregnant in the past two days." She tried to laugh naturally, playing it off as an absurd notion as she watched for Nathan's reaction to the idea.

"Oh." His attention was fully focussed on her now, and she could see the question in his eyes. 'No', she wanted to tell him, 'no I'm not pregnant, but would it be such an issue if I was?' Unable to stop herself, she made a point of puffing out her stomach in the mirror, once again watching his reaction in the back of her reflection. "Are you?"

She took a deep shaky breath, trying to avoid the fear that tainted his question. Placing a shaky smile on her face, she turned around, hands on hips. Her playful tone giving him the only answer he needed. "So you do think I've gained weight."

"Well..." He stalked across the room to her, sweeping her up into arms and bouncing her up and down.

"What are you doing?" She giggled, her arms encircling his neck.

"Weighing you."

"You're crazy!"

"Nope, as light as our wedding night. But maybe I should do a closer inspection." He walked over to their bed dropping her down, slipping his hands up her bare legs and caressing her thighs. "No change here either." He said, proceeding to push down her shoulders and hold her hips. "Thin as ever here too." Unbuttoning her shirt slowly he pressed kisses to her stomach. "Still flat." He winked at her kissing his way up her body and pushing her fears to the back of her mind for the time being by pressing his lips to hers.