Wow, so I know it's been like sooo long since I updated this and my other story, but as it is these days, life is busy. I miss the days of highschool when I actually had spare times on the weekends to write. But now, it seems the homework and studying never ends!!! But I just couldn't take all my school crap anymore last night and decided to take a break from it. And lucky for you, I actually had a chance to write out the first part of the next chapter. I think you guys will like this chapter because it's got some Naley and some hinting at Brucas (which I promise is going to grow into more brucas as the story progresses). Anyway, please, please let me know what you think of this. I worked hard at it and love hearing what u all think. So please remember to ud, and I promise to update again just as soon as I can. Thanks!!

Chapter Seven: I Just Wanna Be Close to You (part 1)

Everyone celebrated Nathan's homecoming in combination with Jamie's birthday all afternoon, until the kids fell asleep during a movie in the living room. The adults gathered to admire the scene.

"I think they partied a little hardier than we did," Nathan remarked with a smile as he stood with his arm around Haley's shoulders in the doorway of the family room.

"Looks like it," Lucas agreed, also with a smile as he stood in between Brooke and Peyton.

"They look so sweet and innocent," Haley observed, looking particularly at her little boy, asleep on the couch with his favorite red cape (well, his only red cape).

"I know," Peyton said as she stroked the soft, blond, curly head of her daughter, fast asleep on the big chair next to Avary.

"They're so quiet," Brooke remarked, smiling at the site of her little girl so peaceful in sleep next to her best friend, their heads touching. "It's nice to have the quiet for awhile. It kind of makes it hard to disturb it by waking them."

The others chuckled quietly.

"We should probably get going though," Lucas said, touching Peyton's shoulder as he walked around the chair where his little girl slept. "It's getting late."

"Yeah," Peyton agreed. She looked over and smiled at Nathan and Haley. "Plus, you two lovebirds probably have a lot of, um….stuff to….catch up on."

Nathan and Haley smiled as they glanced at one another.

"Hey," Brooke spoke to Peyton as Lucas carefully lifted Ellie from the chair without waking her or his goddaughter. "I'm going to go move my car so you can get out."

"Okay, I'll get Ava's stuff together for you."

"Thanks."

Brooke turned and passed Haley as Nathan lifted James from the couch.

"Hey, Dad…"James said groggily, lifting his head and looking all around. "What are you doing?"

"I'm taking you up to bed, buddy. Go back to sleep."

"Oh…okay." James lay his head back on his father's shoulder.

"I'll take him up," Nathan said to Haley. "You make sure everyone gets out okay?"

"Of course," Haley answered with a smile before kissing her husband.

"Goodnight guys," Nathan said quietly to his brother and Peyton before heading for the stairs in the next room.

"Night," Lucas said back to his brother, shifting Ellie higher up over his chest.

"Here, let me take her," Peyton suggested, reaching out to take Ellie from Lucas. "I'll go get her in her car seat. You get her shoes and jacket and stuff and meet me out there."

"Okay," Lucas agreed.

Peyton said goodbye to Haley as walked out, while Lucas searched for his daughter's jacket and shoes. He looked over and spotted them underneath the computer desk, strangely. It was interesting and funny sometimes, the places children left things.

"Aha," he said to Haley when he spotted his daughter's white sandals and denim jacket, laying there next to Ava's things.

"Find it?" Haley asked, walking up to him.

"Yeah," Lucas replied as he bent down to pick the things up. He grabbed Ava's things for Brooke too while he was down there. As he came back up, he smiled again at his goddaughter sleeping so peacefully…she looked just like Brooke.

"Okay," Brooke returned to the room with a sigh. "Now for my little munchkin."

"Here, I found her shoes and jacket," Lucas said smiling as he set them on the stool in front of the chair.

"Oh, thanks," Brooke said, bending down to pick up her daughter. "Ugh…you're getting kind of heavy for mommy, Peanut."

Lucas watched as Brooke kissed her daughter's cheek, and then ran a finger over her pink cheeks.

"She's too cute," Haley remarked, smiling as she handed Brooke Ava's things.

Brooke chuckled, "Yeah…and doesn't she know it?"

Haley laughed and Brooke looked around in search of something.

"Damn," she said. "Now what did I do with my keys?"

"Oh, I think I saw you leave them on the kitchen counter when you came back in. I'll get them for you."

"Right, thanks Haley."

One of Ava's sandals fell from Brooke's grasp as Lucas stepped closer. She sighed in frustration.

"Ugh, it's just not my day today…or my night."

Lucas smiled and kneeled down to get it.

"Thanks." Brooke took back the shoe.

"Well, you probably wouldn't be losing everything if you had someone here to help you with her."

Brooke stared at Lucas a moment, knowing he was referring to Chase's absence. As she was about to respond to his comment, Lucas interrupted, holding out his arms.

"Here," he said. "Why don't you let me take her out for you and get her in her car seat, and you just get her things?"

"Oh, that's okay, I can get her," Brooke returned, suddenly uncomfortable. She sighed again as now the jacket fell from her grasp.

"Come on," Lucas said as he picked up the shoe again and handed it to her. "You said yourself she was getting heavy, and on top of all her stuff…You shouldn't have to carry everything by yourself."

"Lucas, I can take care of my daughter by myself," Brooke said sternly. "I don't need anyone's help."

Lucas smiled, recognizing, but still unthreatened by Brooke's tone. "I know you don't need help, but I would still like to help you. I noticed you've had a bit of a rough day today, and as your friend, I would like to do something to help make it just a little better. Plus, I'm Ava's godfather. I'm supposed to do stuff like this every now and then. It's in the handbook, I'm sure."

Brooke smiled at his joke. And before she could even respond, Lucas had taken Avary from her without waking her.

"Thanks," she muttered quietly as Haley returned to the living room.

"Anytime," Lucas spoke softly. He passed Haley and said, "Night, Hales. Great party."

"Thanks," Haley returned. "Goodnight, Luke."

Both she and Brooke looked away from him and at each other.

"Found your keys," Haley said, holding the keys out on the red lanyard.

Brooke smiled. "Thanks. I guess I'll head out then."

"Okay," Haley said as she hugged her friend. "Thanks for coming. Tell Chase I said hi, okay?"

Brooke nodded and headed for the door, but Haley stopped her again.

"Hey Brooke?"

Brooke turned around. "Yeah?"

Haley moved closer to her again.

"If you ever want to talk about…anything…about Chase, Ava, or anything, you know you can always come to me?"

Brooke smiled and nodded. "I know. Thanks."

Haley nodded, too, and waved her friend goodbye. After watching everyone pull out safely from the driveway, Haley closed and locked the front door. Then, she made her way upstairs, stopped in to kiss her son and tuck him in, and then preceded to the master bedroom where her husband was waiting. She smiled when she found every candle in the bedroom lit.

"What are you up to, mister?" she asked, moving closer to him in his boxers and tank top. She found it incredibly amazing and romantic that he had managed to put their son to bed, light all these candles and change so quickly, all the while she was downstairs watching their friends off.

"I missed you," Nathan said as Haley moved closer and closer to him.

"I missed you too," Haley said, wrapping her arms around his neck, and he, wrapping his arms around her waist.

Their lips collided into a kiss that lasted quite a few minutes.

"I love you," Nathan said when their lips parted (briefly).

"I love you, too."

Haley kissed him again. He caressed her cheeks as they both moved toward the bed.

"You know, we've got a lot of catching up to do…a lot of talking," Haley reminded her husband, although remaining still, close to him and in the moment presenting itself.

"I know." Nathan kissed her neck, her cheeks, her nose, and then her lips again. "But tonight…all I wanna do is get close to you."

Haley nodded as he kissed her ear lobe.

"Me too," she said softly, beginning to lose her breath. "I want to be close to you."

And they stopped talking then as they reached the bed, ready for the beginning of a magical, romantic night that both of them had been dreaming of for two long months….

So there is the opening of the next chapter. Actually, it is probably half the chapter right there. (It's a short chapter). Next to follow will be a Peyton and Lucas scene, and a Brooke and Chase scene as we finish off the night. Then I gotta plan what's next after that. (I know what I want to do, but now I gotta put it all together somehow). Anyway, please review and I will update just as soon as time permits. Thanks to everyone still reading!!!