Nathan sat knelt on his knees before Brooke. His pulse racing through his veins. Just hoping and praying that she would say yes. But how could she say anything-else. He had looked into her eyes and seen the sparkle. He had laid next to her and rested his hand upon her stomach and felt the baby move. How could she say anything but yes with what they shared.
A tear firmed in her beautiful eyes. "Nathan,…" She swallowed the lump in her throat that cut of her airway. "I-I."
There was a knock at the door. She and Nathan looked up to see Lucas as he entered with his overnight bag on his shoulder. He dropped the bag on the floor as he stopped in his tracks. He knew that he had walked in on something life changing and he was happy that he had. "Brooke,…"
Nathan closed his hand on the ring. He knew Brooke wouldn't answer him now. He stood up and turned his back to Lucas.
"Luke, I thought you weren't coming until this Friday." She said as she walked over and pulled him in for a hug.
Lucas spent the whole flight out praying that Nathan and Brooke would be at each others throats by now. And that Brooke would realize that she need him instead of Nathan. "Yeah, well I couldn't wait to see my girl."
Nathan glanced over at Lucas as if he could run through him. He bit his knuckles trying to hold back the tears from falling. He walked over to the window and looked down at the rental car to find a familiar face standing there in the dark, with just the refection of the outside spot light shining around her. "Haley,…" He smiled.
"Haley?" Brooke asked confused.
"Yeah, I hope you don't mind… I brought her with me." Lucas said.
Brooke was a little hurt and disappointed. Part of her was scared that him seeing Haley again would bring back all of his feelings for her. "No. I don't mind. It's okay." She smiled tightly as she died inside.
Nathan ran passed Brooke and Lucas and down the stairs. He slammed the screen in porch door as he ran over to her, grabbing her and pulling her in for a tight hug. "Haley,…"
She smiled as her head rested against his chest. She had almost forgotten how great it felt to be that close to him. The smell of his skin. That sweet smell that made her melt. "Oh, Nathan."
He pulled back and kept her at arms length. "Girl, I've missed you. What are you doing standing out here alone in the dark?"
"Waiting on an official invite." She said as she smiled up at him.
"It's great seeing you, girl. God only knows how much I've wanted to see that smiling face. And that silly poncho." He said as he pulled her back in for another hug, only this time he kissed her hair. "Thanks for coming."
"I'd do anything for you, Nathan Scott. Anything at all."
That night aunt Nelly decided that it would be best if she assigned everyone a room. With a house this full she wouldn't be able to keep an eye on everyone. She told Brooke that she could keep her own room. She needed her rest with the baby and all. She told Haley that she could share a room with her. And that Nathan could share his room with Lucas. This news didn't settle well with either of the guys, but they knew not to cross aunt Nelly.
Haley placed her pillow on the floor by the bed as aunt Nelly arose from her prayers. Haley pulled up the sheet and fluffed her pillows before leaning back onto the floor. Aunt Nelly got into the bed and turned on her side to face Haley.
"You know I've heard a lot about you, Haley James." Aunt Nelly said.
"I'm guessing that none of which was good." Haley replied. She could only imagine what Brooke had said about her.
"You'd be surprised at how much Brooke hurts about what happened. Brooke is a good girl that did something that she can't undo. And in doing this she hurt a lot of people. A lot of people she never wanted to hurt. She want admit it but I've heard her cry everyday. And I know it's because she feels bad that she hurt you, Haley. And Lucas." She rolled over on her back and looked up at the ceiling. "That girl down the hall is an angel to me. She like my daughter. She has a big heart. And it's full of different emotions right now."
Haley was at a lost for words. She didn't really know Brooke, but what she saw at school was a spoiled brat, that would do anything for attention. "I know she didn't mean to hurt me. I don't blame her anymore. I don't hold a grudge anymore. I'm just here for Luke."
Aunt Nelly turned off the light and rolled over pulling down her extra pillows till it looked and felt like someone was lying next to her. She had been doing that since Ted died. It was her way of feeling that he was still there. It made her feel safe and secure. Haley rolled over and placed her arm beneath her pillow as a tear ran down her cheeks.
Nathan lay-ed on his back looking at the ceiling. Lucas lay-ed on the pallet in the floor also looking up at the ceiling. They hadn't spoken a word, but the room was filled with hostility. The way they felt about each was undeniable. The hatred, the anguish, the resentment.
"Why are you really here, Lucas?" Nathan asked not blinking once.
"Because I love her." He said point blank. "Because I know that she is better off with me than you."
Nathan could feel his blood begin to boil. "What the hell are you talking about?" He said as he sat up half way on the bed to see Lucas.
Lucas rolled over and looked at him. "I know that you and Brooke got drunk and quote made a baby unquote. But the truth remains, Nathan. I am the guy for Brooke Davis."
Nathan laughed. "Your full of shit. That's exactly what you are." He said. "Brooke and I are meant to be together. If it was you then that baby she's carrying would be yours."
Lucas smiled. "Yeah. I see how you would see that… Now tell me why when you saw Haley standing outside you flew by Brooke and me like Clark Kent." Lucas waited for a response but when Nathan said nothing Lucas stood up and walked over sitting on the edge of the bed. "I'll tell you why. It's because deep down inside you. You wish Brooke was Haley. Because your in love with Haley."
"You don't know what your talking about." Nathan said as he stood up and walked over to the door. "You really are crazy. Dad should have made Karen go through with the abortion." He slammed the door on his way out of the room.
Lucas threw the pillow against the door. How dare he even mention his mothers name.
--
The next morning Haley sat out in the rockers beneath the oak tree petting Jake. Nathan walked out and took a seat next to her.
"Hey,…" She smiled as Jake licked her hand. "Ewe that was like gross." She laughed.
Nathan grinned but it quickly turned to a serious face. "Can I tell you something?"
She wiped her hands on her pants. "I'd like to think that we are friends. So yeah. Of course."
"I asked Brooke to marry me last night."
Haley looked at him a little hurt but not surprised. "Uhh…what did she say?"
"Lucas busted in." He laughed. "She didn't have time to reply."
"I'm sorry." She said.
Nathan looked over at her. Her hair shimmering in the morning sunlight. "I love her, Haley. I guess I've always know it, I was just scared because I knew she was the one."
Haley smiled.
"Haley, I want you to know that what you and I shared it was great. I loved you in a way I could never love anyone-else. And I know that if in another life at another time that I could have loved you the way that I love Brooke. And I don't want you to hate me."
"Oh, Nathan, I don't hate you." She stroked his cheek. "You're a good guy. And I'm glad I got to know you. But like you I found my true love. The only thing is he doesn't know it yet."
Nathan looked at her confused. "What? Who?"
Haley took a deep breath. "Why do you think I really came out here?" She asked. Nathan shrugged. She licked her lips. "Because I wanted to be there on the plane ride home when she breaks his heart. Because Nathan, she will break his heart for you."
Nathan was in complete shock. "Your in love with Lucas?"
She nodded yes. "Yeah. As crazy as it sounds. But I know that right now he's confused and he believes that Brooke is his destiny. And I'm okay with that, because I know he is worth the wait."
"I wish you luck with that." He laughed. "But seriously I hope that you get what you deserve someday soon. I hope that he'll love you the way you deserve to be love." He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
Brooke watched from the window above. Her heart breaking at what she thought she had seen with her own eyes. She snatched up her purse and headed towards the stairs. She decided to go to town and get away for a little while. She couldn't take the pain that she felt inside. And running away just made more since to her at the moment.