The four of them ate dinner, talking and getting to know each other. Haley and Gabriella really seemed to be hitting it off, as if they had been friends in a prior life. It's how things had been between Lucas and Troy when they had met the other night. Even though the guys had had alcohol to loosen them up, they still bonded very easily. Lucas didn't know how things would go between him and Haley, but he knew he wasn't about ready to return to Tree Hill anytime soon. He hoped that if they could make a go of things, she would consider moving out there with him. There seemed just as good as anywhere else out of Tree Hill, and here they had their new friends.

When they were finished eating, Gabriella stood to clear the table. Troy reached out, grabbing her hand and smiling up at her.

"I'll take care of the dishes. Why don't you go relax?"

"Troy, you cooked. I can at least do the dishes."

"I'm good. Go ahead."

"I'll help, Troy," Lucas suggested, but quickly looked over at Haley. "You ok with that?" He didn't know why he felt like he needed to ask, but he felt as though he should.

She smiled over at him, nodding. "Of course. I'll just go have a pillow fight with my new best friend."

Both Troy and Lucas' eyes opened widely and the girls couldn't help but giggle. "I'm just kidding. Go on. You and I will talk when we go to bed."

Swallowing, Lucas' mind suddenly was off Haley and Gabriella in their panties and bras and was thinking only about Haley, naked, beneath him. Clearing his throat, he nodded, looking over at Troy.

"Dishes?"

Troy nodded and they started to clear the table as the girls took their drinks and walked into the living room. Troy put the plates he was carrying into the sink, turning to take the plates from Lucas.

"You ok?"

Lucas took a deep breath, letting it out heavily. "Man, did you call her?"

Troy shook his head. "No. It had to have been Bri. I had no idea she was coming. Are you ok she's here?"

"I've never been happier! I'm not looking forward to the ass kicking I'm going to get from Nathan, but having her here is perfect."

Troy shrugged. "With any luck, you can put off the ass kicking for a while."

Lucas laughed, shaking his head and leaning against the counter. "I'd kick his ass anyway if he even tried."

Troy laughed with him. "Damn straight."

Lucas shook his head, taking a deep breath. "I just can't believe she's here. It's like a dream come true. Fate really is on our sides, isn't she?"

Troy nodded, starting to wash the dishes. Lucas noticed Troy's mood change and turned more to him.

"Hey, what's up?"

Troy shook his head. "I think something's wrong with Gabriella."

Lucas shook his head in return. "What do you mean? I thought you two were great."

"No." Troy said matter of factly, opening the dishwasher. "She... I don't know, she seems distant."

"Wow, I couldn't tell. She's all over you!"

Troy almost laughed. "When we're alone, it's almost as though she's afraid to touch me."

"You don't think she knows about..?"

Troy turned to look at Lucas. "I haven't told her!"

"But you think she knows?"

Troy picked up the next plate to rinse it off. "I don't know how. Unless it's because I haven't been sleeping in there with her."

"You're feeling guilty," Lucas surmised.

Troy nodded, sighing heavily. "That's why I haven't been sleeping in there with her. I want to be in there with her, but it's not even just the guilt. I can't get her saying no out of my head."

Lucas turned, placing his hands on Troy's shoulders and massaging them lightly. Troy closed his eyes and continued to rinse off the clean plate.

"She loves you, Troy. You know she does. You told me that she didn't think you two were ready. Whether that's still the case or not, she still loves you. You need to let her words go. Just remember the part where she loves you."

Troy nodded, leaning back against Lucas' body. He was glad he had another perspective to look at this for him, to help him see and understand what was going on. Lucas continued to massage Troy's shoulders, helping him relax.

"You just finish washing these dishes and we'll go out there. I'm sure Haley won't mind if you want to play caveman and whisk Gabriella back to the bedroom."

Troy laughed, leaning back forward and turning to put the plate in the dishwasher, only to pick up the next one to rinse it off. "You probably wanna play cave man with Haley too."

Lucas groaned, thinking about throwing Haley over his shoulder and gripping her ass before tossing her on the bed and making love to her as well. "I know she's still married to my brother, but if we ... if anything happens, you don't mind if we..."

Troy laughed. "Are you serious? After..." Troy nodded his head backward in a gesture toward him and Lucas laughed as well.

"I guess your right." Lucas was getting turned on, so he decided to step away from Troy, leaning back against the counter. "I want my first time with Haley to be just the two of us."

Troy shrugged his shoulders. "That's fine. I can take Gabriella out tonight."

"That's not what I meant. I was thinking... Maybe I could see if Haley wouldn't mind you know..."

Troy turned off the water, putting the last plate in the sink. Looking up at Lucas, he shook his head.

"I was thinking maybe we could all... you know."

Troy's eyes widened. He hadn't even thought about that. He wondered how it would work. It wouldn't be any different than watching a porn. Well, it would be better, because it's a live show and the smell of sex, and the naked bodies right there in the room with you, close enough to touch, to taste...

"We'd have to tell them about us though," Troy said slowly.

Nodding, Lucas did agree with Troy. "I think it's best if we do. We wouldn't want them to find out, you know, by walking in on us."

"They almost did earlier!"

Lucas nodded his head more quickly. "I know, that's what I'm saying!" Taking a deep breath, he shifted. "Do you think we could... convince them to... touch each other?"

Troy could feel himself starting to grow hard. "Maybe eat each other out while we take them from behind?"

Groaning again, Lucas shifted more. "Fuck, that sounds good."

Troy let go of a heavy breath. "I'll go play cave man with Gabriella, you see how far you can get with Haley and I'll catch you out here later."

"Sounds like a plan."

Troy patted Lucas on the back and they headed back into the living room.

Gabriella sat her drink down on a coaster on the table beside the couch and offered for Haley to sit down. Haley sat, taking a deep breath and Gabriella sat beside her.

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

Haley looked over at Gabriella, smiling softly. "You're so sweet. I can see how Lucas can feel so at home here with you guys. You and Troy are amazing."

Gabriella placed her hand softly and Haley's back, rubbing it softly. "He's our friend now. When you're our friend, you do become family."

Haley smiled, but it fell dramatically. "I can't believe I'm doing this, Bri."

Gabriella wrapped her arms around her new friend, pulling her closer into her arms. "It's ok, Haley. It's ok. You can talk to me."

Haley smiled, really meaning it, even if the smile was a sad one. "I know. I do know that, and I'm so grateful for that."

Gabriella took Haley's drink and placed it down on the side table beside hers, putting her arm back around her, gently rubbing her arm. Haley completely relaxed against her and they laid back into the back of the couch.

"I love my husband, Bri, I really do, but..." she shook her head. "Lucas is... he's always been there for me. I've never had to doubt him. I've never had to question him. I love him, I know I do. I just never thought we'd be in this place."

Gabriella smiled, running her fingers through Haley's hair. "I understand, honey. I wish I could make things better for you."

"You already have," Haley said, looking up at her but not pulling out of her embrace. "You got me out here. I just have to take the next step. I've never cheated on my husband, not really, but is it horrible to say that I'm not feeling bad about being with Lucas tonight."

Gabriella bit her lip. It's not as though Taylor and Chad hadn't had sex here. And she and Troy have had sex all over the house, even here on this very couch where she was sitting with Haley. If she had issues with sex, even from other people, she realized she didn't have to. Sex was a beautiful thing, and if Haley wanted to make love to Lucas tonight, Gabriella wouldn't mind them doing it in hers and Troy's place.

Lucas and Troy walked in, they saw Haley snuggled into Gabriella's side with Gabriella's arms wrapped around her. She wasn't crying, but she was upset.

"Hales?"

They both looked up at the guys when they heard Lucas. Sitting up slowly, she sat forward. Gabriella placed her hand on her back.

"We'll leave you two alone, honey."

"Thank you," Haley whispered.

Gabriella stood, walking over and smiling at Lucas before wrapping her taking Troy's hand in hers. "Come on." She pulled Troy out of the room and back toward their bedroom.