A/N: I'm terribly sorry for the long wait, guys! It wasn't meant to take this long at ALL and I can promise you that the next chapter will be up within the next two weeks (secret: it's already written). Anyway, I know you've all been wanting to see some quality sober!Nathan/Haley time so….sorry. Next chapter, I promise!

Haley leaned back against the door of Nathan's bedroom, trying to reign in her emotions, and looked right back up into Peyton's accusing eyes. The hallway seemed to be closing in around her as she tried to find her footing in the conversation.

"Nothing's going on."

"Right," Peyton said, nodding. "You just got Nathan's bedroom confused with the bathroom? I'm totally buying that one."

"Peyton, you don't understand!" Haley protested, stepping towards her.

"I think I understand just fine. But you should know that he always does this. And you're stupider than I was if you think this is real."

Haley and Peyton stared at each other in a silent challenge for a few moments. Haley couldn't think of anything to say to break the silence.

Peyton turned on her heel and began to stalk off back down the hallway. "Where are you going?"

"To the car. I suppose you still want to go home?" she called behind her, not bothering to look back or slow down.

"Yeah." Haley followed Peyton out to the car, having to walk extra fast to keep up with her. She thought she was angry, but she wasn't entirely sure. All she knew was that Peyton had accomplished making her feel extremely used, if that's what she was trying to do.

Peyton headed to the driver's seat and Haley stopped in front of the car, staring her down. "Are you going to drive?" she asked.

Peyton opened the door and looked back up at her, her eyes flashing dangerously. "Yeah, I think I've lost my buzz." Haley sighed at the comment and took a seat in the passenger's side.

"Where ya been, Hales?" Lucas asked from where he was sprawled in the backseat, looking nothing less than over-the-moon to see her.

Haley didn't know if she was ready to handle another drunken Scott boy. At least this one won't try to maul me, she thought to herself.

And you probably wouldn't enjoy it as much either, said that stupid snarky voice in the back of her head.

"Just looking for you," she lied, giving him the first answer that came to her mind. He grinned back appreciatively as if that's the only thing in the world she would ever do.

Peyton quite obviously rolled her eyes as she started the car, pursing her lips at Haley's glaring lie. To say this ride was going to be awkward would have been the understatement of the century. Haley sighed and leaned her back against the headrest, closing her eyes. This night had quickly turned into a disaster. And she didn't know what to do about it.

Her moment of weakness with Nathan had changed everything. She knew that. And she could play it off like it didn't matter, but she would only be fooling herself. The sad part was she didn't even know if he would remember it in the morning.

Haley chanced a glance at Peyton, who was gripping the steering wheel so hard, her knuckles were white. Haley had a sneaking suspicious that Peyton was doing this to keep from hitting her, though she had yet to deduce exactly why she wanted to hit her, aside from the small possibility she was still in love with Nathan. Gag me, Haley thought.

Suddenly, Peyton reached out for her stereo and turned the music up to a deafening loudness. Lucas jumped up from where he had been sitting in the backseat, about to fall asleep. Despite the music (or perhaps because of it), no one made a sound all the way back to Lucas' house.

Peyton pulled up in the driveway of Lucas' house and waited for the two of them to get out. Haley got up, allowing Lucas to crawl out from the backseat, but then sat back down in the car.

"Lucas, can you go inside? I need to talk to Peyton for a minute."

Lucas looked extremely perplexed, but complied and walked towards his house anyway. Haley nodded appraisingly as he left, closed the door, and turned back around to look at Peyton. "Peyton, let me explain."

Peyton made a face like she was doubtful the explanation would change her opinion as she reached out to turn down her stereo. When the loud noise was finally out of Haley's ears, she thought she could finally think again properly.

Peyton's lip curled in a way Haley thought made her look as if she felt far superior to the shorter girl. "I didn't think you, of all people, would fall for his bullshit," she stated scathingly.

"I didn't fall for anything!" Haley said, feeling immediately defensive. She wasn't going to take verbal abuse sitting down.

"Sure. Do you even have the slightest idea how many girls he takes into his room?"

"Yes!" Haley said, throwing her hands up in defeat. "Yes, I do know, all right? But nothing happened. That's not why I was in there."

Peyton's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Is that why you started talking to me, Haley? So you could meet Nathan."

"What?" Haley asked, outraged. "No! If I wanted to do that, I would have done it in high school."

Peyton shook her head. "I really can't believe it."

"Why? Do you still have feelings for him or something? Because I don't see why this is upsetting you so much."

"This isn't about any lingering feelings I have toward Nathan! You're falling right into his hands, Haley. And I hate to see it because I thought at least you would be immune to his shit."

"There's nothing like that between Nathan and me," Haley stated, crossing her arms defiantly over her chest, staring out the window into Lucas' surrounding yard. She felt so confined in the small space of Peyton's car.

"Look, Haley, I'm not as stupid as I may seem. I've seen what's been going on with you two. Him going with you the night we were bowling. The way he kept glancing at you? But I brushed it off. I even trusted you enough to suggest you ride with him. And I don't mean I trusted you not to steal him from me. I mean, I trusted you wouldn't fall for his normal stuff. I thought you were too smart for that. Why do you think I broke up with him? It's clear he's set his sights on nailing you, I knew that after he got into that epic fight with Chad. But still, I came back to you because I thought to myself, 'Hey, this Haley James girl is cool. She's completely immune to all of Nathan's bullshit.' I respected you. But I must have been wrong. You're only going to regret this in the end, Haley, I promise you that much."

"Peyton, just because everyone hates Nathan, I'm not gonna treat him like some-"

"And you know what's really sad?" she questioned, interrupting her. "You and Lucas were really the ones who made me realize I could do better. You showed me there were other people besides Brooke and Nathan, and if I could just escape from this damn thing they had over me, I could be more independent. I didn't have to put up with Nathan's attitude. That's why I'm so confused as to what has gotten into you, Haley. And I am mad, but not for me."

"Peyton, it isn't like that with Nathan and me. He's not—we're not— we're not even friends. I just—he needed me."

Peyton nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure that's what he told you. This is what he does, Haley. And I'm really disappointed in you. I can't believe you would do that to Lucas."

Haley knew Peyton had a point to that one. She was being very sneaky, going around behind Lucas' back. She shifted guiltily, knowing she would be cluing Peyton into the fact that she had hit a sore spot.

"It would crush him, Haley. You know that better than I do. I know for a fact you didn't invite Lucas to that party at Rachel's. Was it because of Nathan?"

"Of course not!" Haley protested, though it sounded hollow even to her own ears.

"Did he kiss you?"

Haley looked out the window, not replying.

"I'm not sure you understand what you're getting yourself into, Haley."

Tears stung at Haley's eyes. Peyton didn't even have the slightest inkling of what Haley was getting herself into.

"Peyton," Haley said, digging for strength in herself and turning back to look at the blonde, "You really can't begin to comprehend what's going on here. I'm sorry if I upset you, but you're stepping into something over your head. I would love to be your friend, but I understand if that's too hard for you. Just know that what is going on between Nathan and me is nothing like what you think it is." Haley said all of this very calmly, confident even. But inside, she was not nearly as sure. She stepped out of the car with her head raised high though and watched Peyton drive off.

Haley stood silently in the driveway for a few moments, letting her eyes wander around, trying to unwind. She didn't have many allies here in this stupid,stupid world, and she had a feeling she had just lost one.

She shivered against the chill of the night, watching a cat sneak into the neighbors' bushes. The stars were out brighter than they had been in quite some time and she did not miss the irony that on a night this clear, everything seemed murkier than ever in her had.

It seemed surreal that less than an hour ago she had been ready to just lose herself in Nathan. And, she realized, that was the first time she had admitted that to herself. She wasn't sure how far she would have let it go; probably way too far. But the truth was Nathan was home. And all she wanted was home.

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Sleep was not Haley's friend that night. Her conscious would not even let her keep her eyes closed for more than a minute.

Tonight, the lines between the real world and whatever this place was seemed more blurred than ever. She was falling entirely too deep into everything here in Tree Hill. And that's what it had to be; it had to be this town that was making her past and this present collide so forcefully, without her consent. It was what was making it so much harder to resist Nathan.

She sighed and pinched herself. Hard. She closed her eyes tightly and opened them again, sitting up to look around, praying that it would end this nightmare. Nope, she was still on the couch of Luke's den. She flopped back down on her pillow, blowing out a frustrated breath.

She wondered what Nathan was doing right now.

Which one? asked that infuriating snarky voice.

She knew the answer. She wondered what both of them were doing…because the truth was there was only one Nathan, multiple sides to that one person for sure—but really just one.

Oh please stop waxing poetic inside of your own head.

She pouted. She couldn't help it if that's how she felt, no matter how corny it sounded.

A small part of her wondered if some sort of imposter Haley was running her real life. Teaching her classes. Playing with her son. Kissing her husband.

Well, no, not kissing him, the voice corrected. She's probably doing what you used to do. Lying in bed alone at night, crying, desperately wanting your husband back.

Haley sighed at the voice. It was right. But, she countered, wait till imposter Haley gets back and sees what a mess I've made of her life.

She flipped over on the couch, angry she had let herself go down that road. But now that she had let her mind run down the particular path, she could wander what the other Nathan was doing.

Getting more sleep than you, I'm sure.

"Would you shut up?" she asked herself, smothering her head into her pillow.

You would've had sex with him, wouldn't you have?

"No."

Just like Peyton said.

"No!"

'I can't believe you'd do that to Lucas.'

Haley rolled off the couch, hating herself. Right now, her mind was without a doubt the most terrible place to be.

She snuck through the darkened house, past where Lily's room should have been, and into Lucas' bedroom. She tiptoed through the room and over to Lucas' bed, silently sliding in under the covers. It was a very Brooke thing to do, she thought. But honestly, she was beyond caring how odd her behavior over the past month would seem to Lucas. Hopefully, he would understand soon.

She put her hand on his shoulder and shook him slightly. "Lucas! Wake up!"

He jumped and for a second, she thought he might hit her. But he quickly caught sight of her face in the moonlight streaming in through his window. And he could just as easily tell that she was very upset.

"Is there room for one more?" she asked, her big brown eyes full of sadness.

Lucas reached his arm out to pull her in next to him and she snuggled up on his shoulder. "Always for you, buddy."

"Are you still drunk?" she questioned, surveying him with mild interest.

"Eh," he said, squinting up his face. "It's definitely worn off significantly. I still wish I would've kicked Nathan's ass while I had enough alcohol to let loose."

"Luke," she said, having snuggled in further to him at the mention of Nathan's name. "I have to tell you something."

He pulled back a little, so he could look directly down into her face. And somehow, she knew he knew. He knew she was going to tell him what had been going on with her. Why she wasn't the same Haley he remembered. And she knew she should have told him long ago and not waited until she was this far in over her head.

"What is it, Hales?"

"That's just it, Lucas. I'm not Hales, at least not your Hales."

"Haley, you'll always be my Hales," he said, looking confused. "You couldn't do anything horrible enough to change that." He gave her a small, comforting smile and a half hug.

"First off," Haley said, not looking at him, but toying with his comforter instead, "I wouldn't be so sure about that. Second, that's not exactly what I mean. Oh, this is so hard to explain," she said, putting a stressed hand to her forehead.

Lucas' brow crinkled. "Take your time."

She let out an unsure giggle, thanking God she had the most understanding, patient best friend in the world. If only you could say the same about your husband.

"Ok," she said, looking straight at him, "what if I told you that I went to bed one night leading a totally different life, and then woke up here… more than likely because of something really stupid I said."

Lucas' look of pure confusion confirmed to her that he would have no idea what she was talking about.

Haley thought for a few moments, trying to place words into sentences she had yet to form.

"Luke, do you remember that day that I didn't go to school? You came back from classes and I had never left and I was really, really upset?"

A look of understanding passed over his face. He nodded. "Yeah, Hales, I remember."

"Well, I wasn't upset over not having a boy or whatever you thought it was. Lucas, this- this isn't my life. I'm not supposed to be here."

"So, what, you're not Haley?" he asked, looking truly perplexed. "And you didn't…like know me or something?" She could definitely see he was reaching for some understanding of what she was saying.

"No! Of course, I'm Haley. And yes, I know you and you're my best friend, Luke. But…" She bit her lip, trying to figure out the proper way to do this. "Ok," she said, almost starting over again, "I went to bed with a husband and a son in Tree Hill." Lucas' eyes widened in shock as he listened to her story. "And I woke up at an apartment in Chapel Hill with you. I mean, don't get me wrong, Luke, I love you, but that was not where I wanted to end up. And ever since, I've been trying to get back. Because that's my life. And this- this is somebody else's."

Haley finished and looked up to stare into his blue eyes, his eyes just a bit lighter than his baby brother's. She unconsciously snuggled closer, giving him time to take in everything she had said.

Suddenly, his voice filled the air. "Is that why you've been the way you have for the past month? The weird phone calls and the crying behind locked doors? Never being happy? Haley, has this been going on for that long?"

"You believe me?" she asked, not even bothering hiding the shock from her voice.

"Of course I do, Hales! I've never seen you the way you've been lately. And, Haley, you're just not the same girl. Something about you is so… different." He said the last word as a whisper, surveying the girl lying in his arms.

"Lucas, I'm so glad you know," she said. "You don't know how much of a burden is off my shoulders. I don't like to keep secrets from you."

Lucas sighed deeply. "I kind of understand that one actually, Hales."

Haley let a giggle escape her.

He laughed a little too and Haley felt a bit of the tension leaving the room. "So, what should I call you now, Missus-?"

Haley's eyes widened and her entire body clammed up; the tension returned tenfold. She had not been ready to go there yet.

"Hales?" he prodded.

"Scott," she whispered meekly.

"Huh?"

"Scott," she said, louder this time.

"What!?" She thought he was about to jump out of the bed.

"Lucas, it's not-"

"We're married?!"

If she hadn't been dreading telling him the truth, she would have laughed at the ridiculousness of it all. Of course, Lucas would never think of her marrying Nathan. To him, it would be much more likely that the two of them had wed then that she had tied down Nathan Scott.

"Luke, calm down," she said, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We are most definitely not married. Ehw, by the way."

"Then, who-" He looked at Haley, his eyes clearly saying 'there's only one person I can think of and you would not do that to me.' But she knew the look on her face would probably be just as clear to him as his was to her.

She watched, terrified, as the realization washed over him. She feared he would push her right out of his arms and send her on her way. His eyes met hers, looking for some sort of denial. He found none.

"Nathan?" He said the name like it was some disgusting curse word he had muttered. The sound of it sent uncomfortable tingles up and down her spine. Of course Nathan. Always Nathan.

"Lucas, it isn't like it is here. Nathan's—he's…well, he's my husband," she said, as if that would explain everything. "And what I said to him was stupid and selfish. And I sort of told Nathan—not my Nathan, the Nathan here—well, I sort of told him everything. About who I was and what's going on. But please don't hate me for doing it. I got him confused with--" She blew out a frustrated breath, knowing just how ridiculous she sounded—"With my Nathan. And I went to him and it was a huge mistake. You can understand that, right?"

Lucas didn't look at her. She could tell that he was not happy with this new development. She knew he wouldn't like that she had shared something so personal with Nathan. "That's why he's been calling you. That's why you've been talking about him. To him." He wasn't asking a question. He was making a statement.

"You have to understand, Lucas. I'm not interested in—well I'm not interested in this Nathan."

"You're not?"

She shook her head. "Really, Lucas. I just want to go home. And I'm sorry if that means leaving you behind, but I've left a lot more behind there. That life, it's just who I am. You understand that, don't you?"

"Of course I do, Hales. This is just so…" He searched for the right word, which Haley felt was appropriate. Lucas was always searching for the right word. "Well, it's completely bizarre. I'm sorry."

"No," she quickly countered. "Of course it is. You're right. If I was telling me this right now, I wouldn't believe it. Believe me. The fact that you aren't calling for Karen right now to have me institutionalized means so much to me. I kind of want to get myself institutionalized actually."

He chuckled at this and she felt as if the huge rainstorm over the room was dissipating. She took a deep breath, letting the reality of it all seep over her. This was the first time she'd talked in detail about what had happened to her. And even though it did make her feel considerably crazy, it was also a relief to finally have her thoughts about it all sitting out in the open. It felt freeing.

"What'd you say to him?"

"Hmm?"

"Nathan?" She could tell he did not enjoy saying it. "What did you say to him that made you wind up here? And how could you have possibly married him?" he demanded, accidentally letting accusation slip into his voice.

"Those are two completely different questions, so I'll answer the first one first. And hopefully that will answer the second one," she rationalized. "I told him I wished I'd never met him, but I didn't mean it, I really didn't, Lucas, you have to believe me. I know that now." Except Lucas is happier, Nathan's happier and Brooke and Peyton are happier. Don't forget that. The stupid voice in her head had returned. She couldn't focus on it at this moment though. She needed Luke to understand. "And he told me he was sure I'd be better off if I'd never met him and I went to bed." She just shrugged. A simple shrug, just like simply going to bed had changed her life. "And I woke up here."

"And what's the difference? Why aren't you and Nathan—whatever," he bit off, the resentment building back up in his voice.

"He won the one-on-one game at the Rivercourt." God, that was simple. It was one moment. One basket. But it changed everything.

This time he had to look at her. "What?"

"He wasn't supposed to win, Luke. You were. And we were supposed to fall in love. At least, I think we were." She was beginning to choke on her words. She hadn't even known she was crying until she felt the damp spot on Lucas' t-shirt. He stroked her hair when she didn't continue talking.

"A son?"

She looked up at him, showing him a teary smile. "James Lucas Scott."

"Haley…"

"I'm so sorry," she said, burying her head further into his shirt as the tears flowed heavier. "I just unloaded all of this on you and you have to comfort me. I cry all the time."

"It's understandable," he said, trying his best to comfort her. She let out a weak laugh again.

"What did he say?" Lucas' voice said after he had allowed her a few minutes to silently cry. "Nathan, I mean. When you told him?"

She sniffed, composing herself. "First he said I was a liar. And it was understandable. It does sound a bit far-fetched."

"Don't defend him, Haley. Whatever you say, I have high doubts he could ever redeem himself enough to deserve someone like you."

"He loves you, Lucas," Haley promised, sounding slightly desperate.

He overlooked the comment. "So, why'd he change his mind?"

"He started calling me and like quizzing me about his life. Of course, I wasn't going to play games with him," she said, easing Lucas' worries slightly. "That's why you saw all those calls on my phone. But besides that," she shrugged again, "I've talked to him a couple of times. I think he believes me. But that honestly doesn't matter to me anymore."

"Anything else?" Lucas prodded.

"Well…" She bit her lip, not sure if she should reveal the last thing that was on her mind. She had decided, coming into this, that she was going to come clean to Luke about everything. But she wondered now if that was really such a great idea. She had unloaded quite a bit of information on him already tonight. "Luke, I think he might be trying something with me."

"What?" Luke looked enraged, shooting up from him bed.

Haley grabbed his arm and pulled him back down. "Calm down. I'll be fine. I shot him down pretty firmly last night."

"Last night?"

"He cornered me at the party," she stated. Well, that was mostly true. He had cornered her in his sneakiest Nathan Scott ways. "And like I said, I pretty much took away his last shred of hope." After making out with him, she thought guiltily. "Besides, he was drunk. Actually, it might be better described as absolutely hammered. I don't think he'll remember it."

"What, you putting a stop to him 'trying something' or that he tried something at all? Because I can go clear things up for him if you want."

"Things will be better now," she told him as a whispered promise. "Now that you know, things will be better. It was hard when it was just me and him. But now it's better," she repeated. "Maybe now I can get some sleep."

"Promise me we'll talk more about this later," Lucas said, as she slipped out of his arms and to the other side of the bed.

"I promise," she said and she meant it. She snuggled into the pillow and finally found sleep…because she had finally found some solace.

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Haley woke with a jolt. She sat up in Lucas' bed and stared around the room. She immediately noticed that she was alone and glanced at the clock on his bedside table. It said 12:33. She couldn't believe Lucas had let her sleep in that late.

She could hear voices coming from further in the house and she rushed to get dressed. Her mind suddenly seemed clear on exactly what she needed to do and since clarity did not come to her often these days, she knew she needed to act fast. Pulling a Keith Scott Motors hoodie over her head, she left Lucas' room, heading almost immediately for the front door.

Lucas was sitting alone at the table in the kitchen. He looked at her curiously as she buzzed in, definitely on a mission. She stopped in front of him.

"Morning, sleepyhead."

"'Morning," she replied, looking distracted. She rolled her eyes. "Afternoon. I can't believe you let me sleep that late."

"I know you were tired," he replied.

"Yeah. Where's Karen?" she asked, looking around the kitchen.

"Just left to go to the café. But I'm meeting all the guys at the Rivercourt in like thirty minutes. You want to go?"

"Actually—uh, I have somewhere I need to go. But I shouldn't be too long. I'll meet you guys there."

She made her way quickly to the door but halted as she heard his voice behind her. "Where are you going?"

She had been so tantalizingly close to escaping. She turned, her hand already on the door handle, to look at him. "Nathan's."

"Hales--"

"Lucas, I just have to deal with something, ok? That's it."

He gave her what she considered to be a very judgmental once-over, but nodded. "Ok."