Disclaimer: I don't own one tree hill.

Authors notes: To answer a question, yes I have experienced this type of situation. I watched my mother suffer for most of my life and I have lost countless friends and family along the years which is why I am a true believer in living your life to the fullest. I always say whats on my mind, leaving no doubt for anyone what my intentions, motivations and feelings are. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews.

Rating: T

Chapter eight:

They were going to have more children. That's the thought that kept running through Nathans head. He'd wanted a little girl, just like her. With her beautiful brown eyes and innocence, it's all the he wanted, all that he dreamed about at night. He wasn't going to get that dream now. Haley wasn't going to get that dream now.

He stayed awake her first night home, just thinking about all the signs he missed and how he should have fought her harder on getting into a doctor soon. He couldn't help but feeling like he failed her, that he failed their son. Because his reluctance, his son would have to grow up without a mother. He would have to raise his son without his wife.

She was only 22, how could her life almost be over? It didn't make any sense to him. When he felt the sobs threatening to over take his body, he left their bedroom. He found himself in the back yard, sitting by the pool and he cried. He cried for what felt like forever but was honestly maybe an hour or so.

Brooke and Peyton walked into their house soon after leaving Nathan and Haley. Neither one had really stopped crying since Haley confirmed their worst fear, neither one truly wanting to believe that their friend wasn't going to be with them much longer.

Rachel had been sitting up in the living room, looking through their old year books when they walked in the house. One look on her friends faces and she immediately became concerned.

" What's wrong? " She asked, taken in the miserable expression on both womens faces.

" Haley is really sick. " Brooke choked out, while tears began pouring down Peytons face once more.

" How sick is really sick? " Rachel prodded, feeling her stomach dropping at an alarming rate of speed.

" She doesn't have long to live. " Peyton told her, sniffling back the tears.

Rachel felt like she was going to be sick, that wasn't what she was expecting to hear. One of the things she was looking forward to doing was fixing past mistakes and mending her broken relationship with Haley, she'd always liked the girl was just jealous of her.

" 3 to 4 months. " Brooke added, speaking in a hushed tone, as if saying it aloud made it more real.

Both Brooke and Peyton took a seat on either side of Rachel and began flipping through year books as well.

" It's hard to believe we didn't even know her until the middle of junior year. " Peyton laughed sadly.

" I was such a bitch to her. " Brooke commented, hating her former self.

" At least you didn't try to sleep with her husband. " Rachel said, causing both girls to look at her.

" Umm, hello. Don't you remember that party where the Brathan sex tape got viewed by what seemed like the entire senior class? " Brooke questioned.

" Oh yeah but they weren't married when the tape was made. " Rachel commented.

" Yeah but he was still my boyfriend. " Peyton reminded her, causing Brooke to snort in disagreement.

" You were broken up. "

" Keep telling yourself that B. Davis. " Peyton laughed as Brooke rolled her eyes.

" Well, you fell in love with Lucas while he was still my boyfriend. " Brooke teased and Peyton looked away. " Speaking of which, have you spoken with him since this whole thing went down? "

" Everything just started the past few days, haven't really had the chance. "

" don't you think that maybe you should. " Rachel cut in, but held her hands up in surrender as Peyton cut her eyes at her. " I'm just saying. "

" I can't believe I'm actually going to say this, but the hoes right! " Brooke declared, laughing as Rachel slapped her outer thigh. " I was agreeing with you, no need to get all violent. "

" I should, shouldn't I? " Peyton questioned, mainly to herself.

" Yep. " Rachel and Brooke agreed in unison.

" Go see him tonight. " Brooke suggested, smiling as Peyton got up from her seat.

" Yeah, okay. " Peyton agreed before leaving silently.

Lucas Scott sat on the porch outside his house, his mind still reeling from the thought of losing his best friend. He'd called Skillz, telling him what was going on. Skillz cried like a baby for at least thirty minutes, Haley meant a lot to him. He'd called his mom and now he was waiting for her to call him back.

" Hey. " He heard her soft voice say but couldn't bring himself to look up.

" It's kind of late to be out, don't ya think? " He questioned, feeling her presence as she sat down next to him.

He'd never admit it but it felt good that she came to him. It felt good to know that her gravitational pull still brought her in his direction.

" I thought since you're always saving me that maybe just this once I could save you. " Peyton said, watching him carefully.

He kept control of his expressions, not allowing her to read into what he was feeling.

" What if I don't want to be saved? " He questioned but before she could answer. " What if I don't want to be saved by you? "

" Do you want to have this out Lucas, once and for all? Is that what you want? " She questioned, tired of fighting his growing hostility.

" You know what, let's go ahead and make this day from hell complete. Why didn't you want to marry me Peyton? " He was already so broken, what harm could asking what he really wanted to now do.

" I wanted to marry you Luke, I just wasn't sure if it was the right time. " She admitted and he faced her for the first time since she arrived. " Nathan and Haley have this timeless love, you know? I love you and I think deep down I have since we first met but I was scared, I am scared. Everybody I have ever loved has left me. "

She hoped he was listening. Really listening. Because it was time to stop hiding behind everything and lay it all out for him.

" You chose Brooke over me. I was your second choice. " She said, and he shook his head.

" I never... " He began to defend himself but she cut him off.

" You may not have realized it but you did. It's not like I gave you any real hope between us though and for a long time, I held onto that feeling, the feeling of being someones second choice. Nathan and I dated for nearly two years, do you know how many times he told me he loved me? None. He married Haley after just a few months of dating. "

" I'm not Nathan and I told you I loved you all the time. " He told her, wondering what Nathan had to do with any of this. " And then there was Jake and Jenny. I loved Jake and that little girl so much but he didn't want to be my second pick, and he let me go so I could be with you. "

He'd never known that aspect of things, all he knew is that things didn't work out between the two.

" I love you Peyton, I really do but I don't think we can ever be together again. I don't think we can ever really be friends again. " He told her.

" I know I hurt you and I am truly sorry for that but right now isn't about us. It's about Haley. I want too be there for you Luke and any time you need to talk, I will be there to listen. For everything you've ever done for me in the past, let me repay you by being there for you. "

" I'll think about it. " He promised and before he knew it, she was gone and he was left alone once more.

Lucas Scott had never felt more unsure of himself in all his life. How was he going to survive the loss of his best friend, he'd barely made it through the loss of his uncle. Haley had been his saving grace, standing beside him when he needed someone and then when she gave birth to Jamie and given him the important job of being Jamie's godfather. A job he had taken very seriously. She had made it possible for him and Nathan to be brothers and included him in her small family.

Fighting back the tears that threatened to spill out once more, he closed his eyes letting visions and memories wash over him.

" I can't believe we're in high school already. " 14 year old Haley James gushed as she looked around the busy hallways in excitement.

Lucas hated to admit it, he was excited too. He'd been a little afraid that things would change between him and Haley, this was the age where boys and girls started dating but they both promised they would be friends for ever and that made him feel better.

" Can I stop holding your hand now? " He teased, holding up the interlocked fingers.

" No, I don't want any of the other boys to ask me out. Taylor made me dress like a hoe. " Haley said, using her free hand to motion down to her outfit.

She was right, Taylor had her dressed in a skirt that Lucas thought was way too short and a shirt that showed a lot more of Haley than he wanted himself, or any guy to see of his best friend.

" I can't believe your parents let you out of the house that way. " He mumbled.

" My mother encouraged it. " Haley replied, rolling her eyes.

Just two years later she would be married to his worst enemy and brother. Now she was the mother of his nephew and still the staple that held their group of friends together. He was surprised at how Brooke and her became the best of friends.

" No, I refuse to hang out with that girl. " Haley said, shaking her head violently.

" Hales, she's my girlfriend. I want you two to get along. " Lucas said, pleadingly.

" So, does that mean you'll hang out with Nathan? " She shot back.

" That is entirely... " He trailed off as she began to smirk.

" The same thing? " She finished for him.

" It's different okay, the guy's an ass. " Lucas yelled,frustrated.

" And Brooke's a bitch. " She pointed out.

" At least she's trying. " Lucas said before adding. " thats more than I can say about Nathan. "

" Maybe not in an obvious way but he is trying Luke. " She defended her boyfriend.

" Hales, will you please have dinner with me and Brooke, it would mean a lot too me. " He tried once more and was surprised when she relented.

Brooke laid in her bed, thinking about that night. It wasn't the changing point Lucas thought it would be, but she definitely started liking Haley a little more than night. She'd been intimidated by the bond the best friends shared but also noticed the effort Haley put into being nice to her.

For the most part, Haley avoided being seen with Brooke at school but that was mainly Brookes fault. She made Haley feel as if she wasn't good enough to be seen with the popular crowd but the truth was, she was too good. It wasn't until Haley had left for the tour that she realized what a valuable friend that Haley was.

" I don't see why you dislike her so much? " Peyton questioned her normally bubbly best friend.

" I don't see why you don't? " Brooke shot back. " I mean she is going after your boyfriend. "

" Nathan is not my boyfriend, he's free to date whoever he wants. " Peyton reminded her, earning an eye roll from the brunette. " Haley's really cool, we can talk about music and things that I can't with you. "

" P.Sawyer, you can talk to me about anything. " Brooke told her, wrapping an arm around her blonde friends shoulders.

" Okay. " Peyton said, hesitantly. " There's this new band... "

" Okay, go talk music with Haley, traitor. " Brooke grumbled, causing Peyton to laugh.

" Mark my words B. Davis, one day you and Haley James will be like sisters. " Peyton teased as Brooke scrunched up her face in disgust.

Peyton felt her mouth tug into a smile. She was sure she should feel jealous of Haley but she didn't. Haley fell right into place with her and Brooke, quickly becoming closer to Brooke as Peyton moved further away. It was some how all meant to be this way. The only thing Peyton really questioned now was, who would survive and what would be left of them?