Chapter 6: The Truth Comes Out

Earlier That Night:

"Nathan, honey its time for dinner." Deb looked in on her son and sent a silent pray to anyone that was listening, 'please don't let him give up on her'.

He was thinking about her again. Haley, his wife, the one person he had loved more than anything, still did even if he wouldn't admit it. Love like that you can't just shut off and on any time you want. Love like that never goes away. He knew that but then why wasn't he trying to work it out? She was back, Chris was gone, what more did he want? What did he want from her?

That was the one question he couldn't answer because he honestly didn't know.

"Sweetie?" Deb moved into the room and it was then that she noticed tears seeping through Nathan's eyes; slowly making a puddle on the floor.

"Oh god Nathan, honey it's going to be ok." She lifted him out the chair, pulled him towards the bed and cradled him in her arms like she used to when he was baby. Nathan's tears turned into body wrenching sobs. It broke Deb's heart seeing her only child in so much pain. She wanting nothing more than to fix it but she wasn't sure she could. "Sweetie talk to me, please."

But it was all too much for him. He didn't want to think about anything. "Mom…just hold me." It wasn't manly and it wasn't pretty but he needed unconditional love. The kind of love only a mother can give.

"Sshhh…I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

"But they always do. You, Haley, Dad…I was never enough."

I was never good enough at basketball, I never made enough shots, and I wasn't fast enough. It didn't matter how hard I tried it was never enough for Dan. But it was okay because I knew that she would be there, to protect me, to hold me while I cried, to tell me that I was loved but then one day she wasn't there anymore. It was just me and Dan, I had no choice but to believe what he told me. By the time she came back it was too late, I had become my father. And then I meant Haley; we had this connection from the beginning. It was definitely nothing I had ever experienced before. It was amazing, she was amazing and then all of a sudden it was gone. She left me. I wasn't enough for her, just like I wasn't enough for my mom.

Turning him in her arms so they were face to face, she said firmly "Nathan Scott, you listen to me and you listen good I love you no matter what, you are the most important person in the world to me. I made a mistake but I want you to know that it wasn't because I didn't love you or because you weren't good enough. It was me Nathan, I was the one. I was the one who wasn't good enough not you, never you." She finally admitted it, her deepest fear.

"Mom, I needed you then", said a still emotional Nathan.

"I know and I'm so sorry. If I could go back and change it I would. I have would have done so many things differently. Starting with marrying your father."

"Did you ever love, Dad?" It was a question, Nathan often wondered.

"Honey there are many different types of love. At one point I loved Dan the way a wife is suppose to love her husband but he stopped loving himself a long time ago, Nathan. I don't…I don't even recognize him anymore. The only feelings I have for him now, is gratitude for giving me you."

Nathan embraced his mother letting the love of her wash over him for the first time since he could remember. "I love Haley. I don't think I ever stopped."

"Have you told her?" not the least bit surprised to hear what she already knew.

"It sounds stupid but I don't know how."

"Well it can't be that hard. Just go to her and tell her how you feel."

"Its not that simple, Mom. Things between us are so…I don't think it's going to work."

"Well you never know, sweetie unless you try."

"Yea…maybe you're right." Life was so complicated in the Scott household but somehow through all the pain and the angry, mother and son found peace for the first time in a long time.

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Lucas's Car:

Brooke was so content just being with Lucas that she didn't realize that neither one of them had said a word since leaving the house. "What are you thinking about?"

Lucas looked towards the blue eye beauty next to him and said with a cocky smile, "you of course."

Brooke returned the gesture with her famous 'Brooke Davis' smile, "Real funny. For real though."

"I don't know…"

Brooke knew him well enough to know when he was lying, "Tell me."

Taking his eye off the road for a one second, Lucas looked Brooke in the eyes, "I did. I was thinking about you. I always am."

"Oh." She couldn't help but smile. In fact since she got back from California she had done nothing but smile. Maybe this is what being in love felt like.

"Oh? All I get is a little old oh"

Brooke playfully hit Lucas on the arm, "Well what do you want me to say?"

"How about you think about me all the time too. That would be good."

"Well you don't want to me lie do you?" said Brooke while trying not to laugh. But she could hold it in for long. "Aww hon, I'm just playing. I couldn't stop thinking about you even if I wanted to."

Brooke reached over, took his hand in hers and brought it to her lips, "I love you Lucas Scott. I hope you know that."

"I love you too Brooke always and forever."

"So you think we'll be together forever, huh?"

"I don't know what the future holds for us Brooke but I hope more than anything that we will be together," said Lucas seriously and wholeheartedly.

"Me too." said Brooke just as seriously. Looking out the window she noticed that they had just turned onto Peyton's street. As they drove up Lucas started to turn into the drive way "No just pull over."

"But I wanted…"

"Peyton and I need some girl time. I'm sorry."

"It's ok I understand. How about I pick you up at 8:00 and take you to school?"

"Deal. I'll be ready at 8:15." Brooke leans over and gives Lucas a kiss on the check and proceeds to hop out of the car. "Night broody. Thanks for the ride."

"Brooke, wait! School starts at 8:15. Brooke!" but it was too late, she was too busy laughing to hear him.

Knowing Peyton never locked the door, Brooke let herself in but she wasn't prepared for what she saw. The house was a wreck, chairs were full of clothes and magazines, pillows and blankets were on the floor, and the kitchen sink was filled with dirty ice cream bowls. "Pey where are you?" she shouted.

One word was all she heard, "Upstairs."

Opening the door to Peyton's room she wasn't surprised to see Peyton lying on the bed drawing, as usually. "Hey. What happened downstairs?"

"Huh?"

"The mess?"

"Oh Haley lives here now and we kind of a had a girl's night." She regretted the words as soon as she said them. "Brooke I'm sorry…I"

"It's okay. Haley has been here all summer. It hurts but I understand."

Before Peyton could respond, the tears started fall. Brook rushed to her side. "Peyton tell me what's wrong."

"I can't you'll hate me."

Pulling her up to her level, Brooke look her in the eyes said, "Peyton you are my best friend I could never hate you. It's you and me, you know that."

"Brooke I'm so scared…I've screwed up so badly and I can't undo it. It's hopeless."

"Peyton nothing is ever hopeless. I mean look at Lucas and I who would have ever thought me and him would work out? But we did and I've never been happier."

"I'm pregnant."

"For a while there I didn't think it would work out between Lucas…WHAT? You're pregnant! How? I mean whose the father? What are you going to do?" said a very confused Brooke.

"Lucas" Peyton whispered.

"Lucas? Lets talk about him later. Tell me the father is Jake! How come I'm just finding out now that Jake is back?"

"Brooke, Lucas is the father," said Peyton a little louder.

"Noooo Jake is."

"Brooke I haven't seen Jake since he left in May."

Smirking Brooke said, "I don't understand Peyton."

Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath Peyton replied, "I slept with Lucas…and I'm pregnant."

"Wh…What?"

"Brooke we didn't mean for it…"

"…didn't mean?"

"Jake was gone, you just left…we were alone" said Peyton, looking anywhere but at her best friend.

"So you had sex with my boyfriend!"

"No it wasn't like that. Please you have to understand"

Getting off the bed and backing up towards the door, Brooke whispered "Understand? This cannot be happening again…please tell me you're joking!" Peyton moves towards Brooke "Don't you dare touch me. Stay away from me, Peyton"

"Brooke, please I'm so sorry! I didn't want any of this to happen." But she was talking to thin air.

Brooke raced down the stairs and out the door. She had to get to Lucas. She had to know if it was true.