Three weeks later.
Haley stood alone on the river court, deep in thought. She needed time to be alone and think. She hadn't known she was pregnant but she still felt the loss of possibilities and the future. It hurt her. To think that her first child had died before it was even born was horrible. She was watching the river flow by in the peace and quiet. She could feel the wind blowing against the tears that had fallen down her face. She hadn't even realised she was crying. She brushed them away impatiently and turned to walk away. Her eyes met Lucas's.
"What are you doing here?" Lucas asked as he dropped the basketball on the court.
"Thinking," she said with a sad smile on her face.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Lucas said pulling her in for a hug.
"I'm just upset," she said into his chest.
"No one was hurt," Lucas said. Haley didn't reply but looked at the ground. "You know you could tell me what's wrong," he said.
"Yeah, I know," Haley said. "Before I was shot… I was pregnant." Haley couldn't bring herself to look at Luke's face. "I lost the baby."
"Oh Hales," he said in a sad voice. "I'm so sorry."
"No," she said as he pulled her in for a hug. "You do that and I'm going to fall apart. So please don't."
"Okay," Lucas said. "Does Nathan…?"
"Yes, he knows. He's the one the doctors told when they weren't sure I was going to wake up." Haley sighed and closed her eyes. "It just hurts."
"I know," he said. "I can't imagine what its like for you." There was a pause and Luke bent down to pick up the basketball. "Wanna practice? I'll even let you win." Haley laughed
"I'm rubbish on a day I am not recovering from surgery," she said. "Do you really think I'll beat you?"
"You might if I join in," Brooke said to the back of their heads. "Anyway, he'll have to let his two best girls win." Haley looked at her. Brooke's face was pale but she was feeling well enough to apply eyeliner so she couldn't be feeling that down or ill.
"Where's your mother?" Lucas asked.
"On a flight to California," Brooke said happily. "I won't have to see her for months and I've got to tell you that is simply a relief." Lucas smiled and threw her the basketball. Brooke caught it and aimed at the hoop. It bounced off into Haley's hands. She looked at Lucas once before throwing it. It swirled around the rim and slowly dropped in. She let a genuine smile flower on her face.
"You're right, that did make me feel better," she said. They continued over the rest of the afternoon, enjoying ignoring the more serious events that had coloured their lives over the past few weeks.
The End. A last review would make my day. Thanks everyone for reading my first OTH fanfiction!