Author's Note: Chapter seven is here and angsty with a dash of humor/fluff. I figured I somewhat needed to give you guys some chill time since all I've been giving you is drama and angst lately. Of course, I do enjoy writing that, but sometimes we all just need a fell good moment. Unfortunately, this fluff and feel good isn't going to last much longer since next chapter is the telling of everything(dun dun dun!).

Now, my updates aren't going to happen for a little be 'cause I'm offically co-writing my first story and I'm super excited about it and I need to get my butt in gear about reading over & adding to the first chapter. You all need to check it out because it's just going to be awesome, I can already tell.

Anyway, enough of my promotional rant and I just want to thank you all for the amazing reviews! This story has probably been one of my favorites to write.

Enjoy!


Summary: Nathan and Haley were once madly in love and then reality set it. Now they are nothing more than friends who's faces always grace the tabloids. Then Nathan gets engaged and Haley has been invited to the week vacation the loving couple is throwing for friends and family. How is Haley ever going to survive and is it just her wishful thinking or is Nathan actually looking at her with those old eyes again?


Happy
Chapter Seven; Embrace The Past

"Are you awake?" A wide awake brunette rolled over in the sheets to face the blonde who lay next to her, his eyes still closed as she looked at him, her hand coming to a resting place on his bare chest.

"I am now." Lucas said in the darkness as he slowly opened his eyes and turned his head so that he was facing the girl who lay there awaiting his answer. "Can't get enough of me, huh?"

Brooke rolled her eyes slightly and scooted closer toward Lucas so that she could rest her head on his shoulder, "Not exactly what I woke you up for."

"Well, if there is one thing that will bruise a guy's ego I think you just hit it square on the head." Lucas laughed, wrapping his arm around the petite girl that now lay flesh against his side. "What is it, babe?"

"Are we awful people?" Brooke asked, throwing a leg over his as they lay in bed underneath all the sheets and blankets that graced his bed.

"Um, not exactly sure where you're going with this, but if I had to take a wild guess I'd say probably not." Lucas couldn't see her face, just the top of her head, but it was obvious she was stirring about something.

"No, seriously." Brooke said, turning her body so she was laying completely on her side with her head propped up on her bent arm. "I mean we both know about Haley and Nathan and we're doing nothing about it."

Lucas rolled over as well so that he was facing Brooke now, laying in almost the exact position she was, "Brooke, I-"

"Nathan is getting married in-" Brooke rolled over to look the clock that read near two in the morning. "Tomorrow. Nathan is getting married tomorrow to another woman that is not Haley and we're both just letting whatever it between them happen."

Lucas let out a rough sigh and turned his head downward for a second before looking back up at her with a confused expression, "Do you feel bad about it?"

"Honestly?" Brooke looked directly into Lucas' eyes as they lay in the darkness. "Not at all. In fact, before Haley and I actually came here I think I joked with her that she should try to steal him back. Of course, I really didn't know that was her plan."

"You really think Hales would plan something like this?" Lucas asked, already know both he and Brooke's answer.

"You're right." Brooke said in a quiet voice. "I know she wouldn't, but this week had been awful on her and I have a feeling if Nathan actually walks down that aisle it's just going to be the icing on her sorrowful cake."

"Maybe he won't." Lucas reached out and tucked a piece of hair behind Brooke's ear and smiled at the girl who was obviously worried about her best friend. "I've never seen Nathan as happy as the days when he was with Haley. Now that she's back in the picture I really think he's beginning to see that for himself."

"I know, but could it be worse timing?" Brooke asked, taking Lucas' hand in hers and kissing it softly.

"Sometimes love doesn't always work with timing, I guess." Lucas shrugged, smiling at the feeling of Brooke's lips on his skin. "But if it's meant to be it will work out in the end. It's just a matter if they're willing to fight it out, because it's not going to be easy. In fact, I'm sure it's going to be insanely hard, but only time will tell."

Brooke smiled sweetly toward Lucas. Her heart swelled every time she even looked at him and the fact that she had waited so long to actually forgive him and admit she missed him was enough to make her sick, but she didn't think about that any longer because here she was in his arms once again. The one place she was sure she belonged.

"I was thinking about it the other day." Lucas continued without waiting for Brooke to speak or ask another question. "Before we all arrived here actually. The night of the Boy Toy Auction."

"Don't remind me." Brooke groaned. "That was the night I had a complete breakdown in front of Mouth in a limo."

"He told me." Lucas smirked at the sight of Brooke hiding her face, but he just leaned over and kissed the top of it with a slightly laugh. "Anyway, that was the night Haley showed me that tattoo of Nathan's number. I thought she was crazy. I mean completely out of her mind crazy-"

"This from the guy who got a tattoo with me on our somewhat first date." Brooke smirked.

"Exactly and at the time we weren't even together, but the way Haley presented herself with such confidence in telling me that no matter what happened with her and Nathan she would always look at that tattoo and remember how she felt about him then." Lucas smiled. "That was the moment I knew they weren't just some high school type romance. They were the epic type you only read about in fairytales. That love that only comes around about once in a millennium. The type you look at and just know that tomorrow is bound to be brighter."

Brooke felt her stomach flutter at how Lucas had a way with words. He was always the type to sum things up so beautiful and for that she was always surprised that he never became a writer. Of course, she figured it was probably because the money in professional basketball was way up there compared to an author.

"So if you're asking if we're horrible people then I say no." Lucas smiled. "Because we're letting epic love happen. The only reason I'd say we're horrible people is if we stood in the way of it. Morals set aside, they were born for each other."

"Love made in the stars." Brooke quoted an old book she remembered having to read in an English class back in high school. Lucas just nodded and wrapped an arm around her waist pulling her close to him as he kissed her lips as a signal that they were done talking for the night. A signal Brooke quickly agreed with.


"Favorite sports team?" Nathan asked, leaning up against the wall of Brooke and Haley's house as he sat on the wooden deck with his legs out in front of him.

Haley laughed slightly, "The New York Knicks, of course."

"Good answer." Nathan smiled, looking at Haley who sat beside him, but facing the wall he was leaning against. Her legs were tucked under her so that she was sitting Indian style. They had probably been out there for at least two hours.

"Okay, my turn." Haley thought. They had been asking each other questions for awhile, but so far they had steered away from any sort of question that might bring up old emotions. Right now they were just enjoying each other's company, unsure of what the morning would actually bring. "Favorite color?"

"Blue." Nathan nodded. "You knew that."

"Still?" Haley asked, "I just figured it was because the Ravens' colors were blue, black, and white."

"It was."

"But then what was it?" Haley played with the bottom hem of her pants as she awaited his answer.

Nathan eyed her for a second before smirking, "Did you change the color of your tattoo?"

Haley looked at Nathan with confused eyes for a second and then shook her head, "No."

"There's your answer."

Haley could feel a slightly blush creeping up in her cheeks, something she was thankful that the darkness could over up with ease. She looked down in her lap as silence fell over the two.

"How did it feel the first time you won a Grammy?" Nathan finally asked after searching his brain for a light hearted question to ask the girl across from him.

Haley shrugged, "I don't know. Surreal. It wasn't something I ever expected when I went off to California. I just figured I'd study business and end up helping Brooke with her clothing line, but then there I was standing up there on that huge stage in front of musical geniuses trying to think of something witty or meaningful."

"There are no words to describe how honored and moved I am by this award. I want to thank everyone who had anything to do with this album." Nathan recited. "From the producers to my inspiration, you probably don't even know who you are."

Haley's eyes went wide as she listened to Nathan repeat her speech word for word in front of her. "You watched?"

"Of course I did." Nathan nodded, "We were flying from New York to California actually, for a game against The Lakers, I watched it the whole way there. The moment I heard you were nominated I knew there was no way I'd miss it. You looked drop dead gorgeous, but I think I would have preferred you without Orlando Bloom hanging all over you."

"Well thank you." She laughed.

"Who was it?" Nathan asked suddenly.

"Who was who?" Haley wasn't sure what he meant by his last question as he sat there looking at her through the darkness.

"Your inspiration?" Nathan repeated. "Who was it? Or what?"

For the longest time Haley didn't say a word, she just simply looked back down into her lap and then as if she had been building up the courage she looked back at him and smiled slightly, "You. You were my inspiration."

Nathan could feel his pulse quicken at her words as he sat there looking at the beautiful girl through the darkness. He wasn't sure what to say or even if he could say anything. He was flattered, definitely flattered.

"For all of them?" Were his first words, after his voice had actually decided to start working once again.

"Every last one of them." Haley confirmed. "Even the ones that weren't so nice."

"Ouch." Nathan mumbled, remembering some of her songs on the radio and one in particular about doing better off without a particular person in her life and how vocal she had been about saying she didn't need him anymore.

"Yeah, well that was during the time you were dating a Playmate or something and of course I was pretty jealous." Haley admitted. "So one of my producers told me to write about how I was feeling and a couple songs came out of it."

Nathan laughed, remembering that certain point in his life. He had a lot of dates back then, none of the actually long term, but he couldn't believe Haley had been jealous. He watched her for a moment as she played with a few pieces of her hair before brushing them out of her vision with ease.

"Okay, so I guess technically it's my turn." Haley smiled, erasing the silence between them. "Favorite part about being famous?"

Nathan let out a long breath, he really had to think about that one since he wasn't exactly into the celebrity treatment or the way cameras always seemed to be around whenever he didn't want them there. "Besides the paycheck?"

"Obviously." Haley smirked.

"I figured you'd say that." Nathan laughed at her. "Alright, I have one. Being able to rub it into my dad's face. I know it sounds harsh, but I have to say it's been one of the best perks I've had in a long time."

"Things with Dan are still pretty bad, huh?" Haley asked, a slight frown falling on her face.

"I guess, I mean I try to stay away from him as much as possible. I only come around for my mom and we speak, but it's usually forced." Nathan shrugged. He had once hated the fact that he had a bad relationship with his father, but now he was passed it. It had taken a lot of time, but he was grateful he finally was.

"I'm sorry." Haley frowned. "I guess I just figured with you getting a full ride to Duke and becoming an NBA star that he would start to come around."

"Are you kidding?" Nathan shook his head. "That was the last thing Dan wanted. To see his son go all the way when he didn't even make through college ball."

Haley wasn't sure what to say so instead she just stayed quiet. There was no point in breaking open old wounds with Nathan about his father. She remembered how hard it was back in high school and she didn't want to see him go through that again. Her eyes drifted out toward the ocean as her mind ran through a million things that she could say, but the one thing that came out of her mouth was probably the last thing she really wanted to say.

"Where's Janis?"

Nathan's eyes fell on hers and Haley frowned slightly and they could both fell the air around them go tense. They had been enjoying a good evening of just talking with each other and asking questions, but with the mention of Janis both of their faces fell.

"Um, she said she wanted to spend the night with her friends tonight." Nathan finally said after a moment. "Something about having one last night with them before the big day."

"But you're not getting married until Saturday. That's two nights away, counting this one." Haley tried to make the conversation flow, but she was failing miserably. Then with the mention of the wedding Haley thought she would suffocate with the tension that now flew around them.

Nathan just nodded, not wanting to talk about the whole situation, but knowing they had to. He had cheated on his fiancée and now he wanted to know if it was all for nothing or something she wanted to fight for.

"What are we doing here?" Haley asked, as if to read his mind. She slowly stood up and leaned up against the railing of her deck. "We're the worst people in the world, you do realize that don't you?"

Nathan ran his hands over his face as he stood up as well, but he didn't bother to say anything, just crossed his arms over his chest and stood there looking at Haley.

"I wanted to pretend like everything was alright and sitting there with you was probably the best time I've had since - okay well since a couple nights ago, but that's beside the point." Haley continued, not noticing the slight smirk that fell across Nathan's face. "We just can't be doing this, Nathan. As much as I want to it's just too late. You're getting married in two days. Well, I suppose technically tomorrow."

Nathan frowned, taking a few steps forward so that he was standing in front of Haley completely. "I already told you. I thought it was worth the fight, it's not going to be easy and I know everyone will be furious, but I'd rather face fire with you by my side then go through a placid life without you."

Haley let out a sigh that could easily turn into a sob at any moment. God, how she just wanted to run into his arms and have him promise he'd always be there to catch her fall, but life didn't work out that way.

"I'm a homewreaker." Haley mumbled, looking down at the ground.

Nathan reached out and grabbed her chin, gently pulling it up so that she had to look at him, "There wasn't a home to wreak. I can promise you that Haley. My heart hasn't belonged to another girl since you came into my life back in high school. What Janis and I have is nothing more than a lie, I wish I had some fancy words to wow you with here, but I don't. That's Lucas' area of expertise. All I can say is that I love you and always have. To me, this - us, is worth fighting for."

Haley closed her eyes as she felt the tears stinging at the bottom of her eyes and her chin quiver slightly, "What about Janis? She loves you. She is an innocent girl that doesn't deserve to be treated like this by the man she loves. I remember what Brooke went through with what happened between Lucas and Peyton, I don't ever want to be the reason another person feels that way; even if we're not exactly friends."

"So that's it?" Nathan asked, taking a step back from Haley. "You said not hours ago that you were willing to fight for this, what we have, and now you're not sure? Haley, don't you get it? What we've done, someone is bound to get hurt."

"Not if she never finds out." Haley fought back the tears still.

"I'm not just talking about her." Nathan was nearly yelling. "I'll be hurt, you'll be hurt. If I want down the aisle with another girl you'll be the one left in the cold and I'll be the one left to believe that there is always something - someone more out there."

"We deserve that, Nathan." Haley shook her head. "For what we've done. We made a mistake and now we have to pay for it."

"Because of one mistake we don't ever get a chance at happiness?" Nathan's voice was bitter and harsh as he looked at the girl on front of him. "That's a copout, Haley, and you and I both know. It's all because you're scared; scared of the fact that you might hurt someone else, scared that you might be looked down upon, or just scared that someone might call you a 'homewreaker'."

"Don't stand there and tell me you don't feel the exact same way." Haley hissed. "Because you're just as scared as I am. You know this isn't going to be easy. This mess that we created is not going to be easy."

"You may be right." Nathan nodded, his voice going dangerously low. "But there is a difference between you and me; I'm willing to face that fear because I remember what we used to have. What we still do have. I'm willing to take those risks because I know for a fact that what we are together is worth fighting anything for."

Finally a lone tear fell from Haley's cheek as she stood there on the deck and looked up at the man she had always loved. Loved since the day on the dock so many years ago. He was right and she knew it, they were worth more than anything on this world. If he was by her side she didn't care if the rest of the world looked down upon her, but the fact still remained they'd be hurting an innocent girl.

"What about Janis?" Haley whimpered, brushing away the tears that fell freely now.

"We'll tell her and whatever happens we'll be there together. She has a right to know that my heart belongs to another woman." Nathan said, softly reaching up and taking Haley's cheek in his hand and rubbing away a salty tear. "In a way I think she's always known."

"I don't believe that." Haley shook her head. "She wouldn't have invited me to the wedding if she had known you still were in love with me."

"She didn't invite you." Nathan smiled slightly. "I did. I sent the invitation without her knowing, that was why she greeted you so coldly in the hotel lobby. She knows all about you, in fact, the way I used to gush-"

"That doesn't make it right, Nathan. What we did." Haley shook her head. "What we're doing."

"I know, but I just refuse to settle for second best when I have the one standing right in front of me." Nathan leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips that only lasted a mere second, but had enough power to make Haley go weak in the knees.

"So we'll tell her." Haley said, her voice still shaking as she looked up into Nathan's big blue eyes.

"No." Nathan shook his head. "I'll do it alone. It will be better that way."

Haley couldn't hold it in another second, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a smoldering kiss that lasted much longer than their pervious one. They didn't pull away until they were both in need of air. Nathan rested his forehead against hers and smiled slightly, "Are you sure?"

The butterflies that filled Haley's stomach were not something to be taken lightly, but neither was their task at hand. Pain and anger was going to explode at the break of sunlight, but looking into his eyes Haley knew she'd walk through fire to see those eyes look at her like that everyday. It was all worth it. He was worth it.

"Tomorrow." Haley smiled again.