What is Normal

Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of the characters.

Breakfast at Tiffany's had just ended and Nathan looked down to find Haley asleep in his lap. He ran a hand through her hair. At that moment Nathan felt a sense of peace. Like life was going to be perfect from now on. And it would as long as he had Haley in his life. He knew that he could face anything as long as she was behind him for support. No one ever believed in him the way she did. He wasn't just Nathan Scott. He was so much more in her eyes. He took her in his arms a carried her into the bed. He laid her down and kissed her head before turning to leave the room. He decided he would clean the mess they had made from their popcorn fight earlier. It started from here trying to throw popcorn in her mouth and missing every time. Then he started to throw them in her mouth and things went from there. Nathan was about to start on the dishes when he heard a scream coming from Haley's room. He dropped all the dishes on the floor breaking everything to run to her.

"Haley? What's wrong baby?" She was sitting against the wall in the corner curled in a ball crying. "Baby what's wrong? What happened?"

"I want it to stop. I just want it to go away." She cried rocking back and forth.

"What Hales? What's the matter?"

"I can't get his face out of my head. His voice. It haunts my dreams. I just want him to go away." Nathan pulled her into him.

"Shhh. Baby. Your ok. I'm here. I wont let anything happen to you. Shhh. I love you."

"Why?"

"Why what Hales?"

"Why do you love me Nathan?"

"Because. You are the kindest person I ever met Haley James. You see into people hearts. You don't judge. You have such grace to you that it is almost like looking at an Angel. Your eyes say so much about who you are. I could look into them forever. And you are damn sexy Haley James." She leaned up and kissed him.

"You are a rare person Nathan."

"No. You are. I am lucky to have found you."

"No. I am the lucky one. I love you Nathan. No one has ever made me feel this way. I want to be with you as long as I can. I want to keep you."

"Haley…I am yours. I'm not going anywhere. Always and forever." He kissed her tenderly on the lips.

"You mean that?"

"What?"

"Always?"

"With all of my heart I do."

"Thank you. You have no idea how much better I feel. I feel safer here in your arms then I have ever felt in my life. How do you do that?"

"With love. Love is the safest place to be sometimes."

"You are quite the charmer you know that?"

"You haven't even seen my A game."

"Oh Lord help me if that's true." She said laughing.

"I'm gonna marry you someday Haley. Just wait and see. Now let's get you back to bed." He picks her up and lays her back down.

"Will you lay with me? Just til I fall asleep."

"Sure thing." He laid next to her and wrapped his arms around her lightly. It wasn't long before they both drifted off to sleep.

Brooke was up in her kitchen sitting at her counter looking over a few things for clothes over bros. With Nathan taking a few weeks of leave she was short a male model. So things just weren't looking right in her photos. She was getting really frustrated about not finding what she needed for the cover of her magazine B. Davis. Just as she was about to give up her door bell rang. Getting up she went to go answer it. "Who the hell would be here at this hour?" She said just before opening the door.

"Lucas. What are you doing here?"

"I missed you."

"We just went out on a date like 4 hours ago."

"I know. But you see pretty girl…you got me totally hooked. I can't seem to get enough."

"Well…lucky for you I feel the same way. Come here." She pulls him inside and captures his lips with hers. He quickly responds and wraps her in his arms while walking her backwards to the couch. They both fall backwards onto it but not once did they break contact. But when air became an issue they had to separate.

"Are you sure about this Brooke?"

"Lucas…I appreciate your concern for me but shut up and kiss me."

"Yes Mame." He starts kissing her again. She removes his shirt and that's when it hits her. She is in love with this man.

"Lucas."

"What? What's wrong?" He says almost out of breath.

"I love you. I know it's probably to soon but I do. I just thought you should know."

"Wow. Brooke I…"

"No…it's ok. You don't have to say it back. Especially if you don't mean it. I just wanted to say it. So you knew where I stood."

"I wouldn't say anything I didn't mean."

"I know. But…" He kisses her to stop her from talking.

"I love you too Brooke Davis. I think I have sense the say I saw you."

"You are incredibly sexy when you talk like that."

"Well remind me to say things like that more often."

"Make love to me Lucas. I want this. I want only you." He diesn't say anything to her. He just picks her up and carries her up stairs. Their night was just beginging.

Meanwhile over at Peyton's apartment she was brushing her teeth. She had spent most of the day vegging out on ice cream and watching sad sappy movies. With anyone who knew Peyton knew that that was not the kind of girl she was. She went to lock up the front door but her phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Peyton." Jake was on the other end. But he sounded so broken.

"Jake. How are you."

"Sense I saw you this after noon I have been a mess. I can't stop thinking about you."

"I'm so glad to hear you say that."

"I'm not saying that we should be together. But you came here and poured your heart out to me. I thought it was only fair you at least get to hear how I feel."

"Jake you don't have too. Really it's fine."

"No. I need to. I like you a lot Peyton. I knew when I saw you in the airport I knew I was in trouble. Because I felt an attraction to you even then. But how is this suppose to happen? I mean…I don't want to see Haley get hurt again."

"Jake I understand that. I do. But you are awfully concerned about a girl who broke your heart."

"She didn't break my heart Peyton. I knew something was happening from the day we got here. I was ready for it. But I still care about her. I always will. She was my first love. You never get over your first. But she didn't hurt me. That's why I can't do this to her. Not yet."

"Jake…no matter how long we wait. It will have the same reaction. I think we should just do it and then move on from it. She'll get over it. So will we. But at least we'll be happy together. At least we will have each other to turn too."

"I see what your saying. Can we just take it slow? See if we are even worth hurting someone else?"

"As long as we are trying. We can take it as slow as you want. I just want to be with you."

"Ok. Well…can I see you tomorrow?"

"I would really like that."

"Ok. I'll give you a call in the morning."

"Yeah. Talk to you later."

"Goodnight Peyton."

"Night." She hung up the phone with the kind of smile that she always saw the others around her wear but never got to experience it herself. So with that she went to bed.

The next morning Haley woke up before Nathan. Feeling a lot better today she decided she would make breakfast. So she slid from his grip and went out to the kitchen. But when she got there she saw a pile of broken dishes. He must have been in the middle of doing them when he heard her scream. She cleaned it up and went to his fridge to see what he had that she could make. She found that he actually had quite a few things to make. She went for an omelet with mushrooms, bacon and cheese with hash browns on the side. She poured them each a glass of orange juice and took it in to Nathan. She set the tray down and crawled on top of him to wake him up.

"Time to get up sleepy head. Breakfast is ready."

"Mmmm. I got my breakfast right here." He said pulling her closer.

"Not quite. I made you breakfast silly."

"What are you doing up and around?"

"I feel much better. Plus I wanted to do something nice for you." She blushed as she placed the food in front of him.

"I have to admit something Hales."

"What?"

"I love waking up like this. Having you here. Holding you every night. It is absolutely amazing."

"Me too. I have never felt safer then when I am in your arms. I could stay there forever."

"Will you?"

"What?"

"Move in with me Hales. Stay here even after your healed. Live with me."

"Nathan…I don't know what to say."

"Say yes."

"I would love to move in. Yes. Let's live together."

"You mean it? Come here." He pulls her face to his and kisses her with all the love that he had inside. He moved the tray out of the way and slowly pushed Haley down. He laid on the side of her with just his face above her. "God I love you Haley. You are every thing I never knew I wanted. But now that I have you…I can't picture my life without you."

"I love you too." She leaned up and kissed him again. But this time it was much more hungry. She felt like she needed him. But she had to stop. She couldn't do this until she was completely heeled. "Nathan…I want you so badly right now. Believe me. But we can't…"

"Your right it's to soon. I'm sorry."

"No. It's not that. I just need to heel a bit more that's all."

"Oh my God. Haley I am so sorry. I should have known. Are you ok? Did I hurt you?" He pulled back to look her over and make sure everything was ok.

"I'm fine. No you did hurt me. But thanks for caring." She gave him one more quick kiss. "Now…let's eat. I'm starving." She pushes him slightly and grabs her plate. She start to shovel her food into her mouth.

"Wow Hales. I have never seen a girl eat like that."

"What. I like breakfast. It's my favorite meal of the day. But working for Brooke I never get to enjoy it."

"You're cute."

"Ok. I'll stop."

"No don't. It's who you are. I wouldn't have it any other way."

"You are a smooth talker Nathan Scott."

"You bring out the best in me." He smiles at her and take a bite of his own food. "This is amazing Hales."

"Thank you. What you didn't think I could cook?"

"No not at all. I just wasn't expecting it to taste this good. My mom wasn't much of a cook. In fact she was terrible."

"So where did you learn how to cook?"

"My grandma. She was the best ever. She could make anything."

"You keep saying was. Are none of them around anymore?"

"Well my grandma is still around. I just don't get to talk to her much."

"I'm sorry. You don't have to tell me anything. I can sometimes be a little nosey."

"No it's ok. I'll tell you soon ok. I promise. I just want to enjoy this. Us. Is that ok?"

"Yeah. Of course. It's totally ok. I don't ever want to push you."

"Thanks. What about you Haley? What's your family like."

"Oh…you don't want to know."

"Now I do. Tell me something."

"Well…I have three brothers and three sisters. The oldest is Bryan. He is a big shot lawyer in Seattle. I'm the youngest with Taylor not much older then me. She is the wild child of the kids. Takes after my mom. My parents are a little…shall we say eccentric."

"Wow. Seven kids. How did they do it?"

"Very insanely. But to be honest I'm glad I had such a big family. I mean holidays were a total blast. We would all get together and have our little traditions."

"Sounds awesome. I always hated the holidays. I never really got to have a normal one."

"Well that is something I am going to have to remedy. Your with me now Nate. I will take care of you." She said looking in his eyes. He got very serious at this.

"I don't doubt it Hales."

"Good. Now…what are we doing today?"

Lucas woke up and felt the warm body next to him. That's when images from last night filled his mind. A smile involuntarily spread across his face. He looked down at a sleeping Brooke. She loved him. It all felt like he was in a dream. How could it be real. Brooke Davis told him she loved him. The women that people thought of as an ice queen was anything but. She had a good heart. She just shielded it from the world. Why Lucas didn't know but he was glad he managed to break through her walls and reach the real girl. The women that he was now madly in love with. He felt her stir next to him.

"Mmm. Morning boyfriend."

"Say it again."

"What? Boyfriend?"

"Feels good to hear it."

"Feels good to say it." She smiled at him.

"Did last night really happen? Or was it just the best dream ever?"

"It happened. And it was amazing."

"Yes it was. I wouldn't object to reliving it if you wanted too."

"Mmmm as good as that sounds I have to get to work. I have a photo shoot today. Though I don't know what I'm gonna do without Nathan. The balance in the photos will be all off. Unless…" An idea just hit her.

"Whaaaat. Brooke…no."

"Pleeeeeeese Luke. I really need your help. You can totally be a model." She said giving him her best pout.

"Brooke…I don't model."

"It will only be this once. You never know. You might like it. Please Luke. You would be totally saving my ass."

"Fine. But only this once." Brooke squalled and jumped up on him.

"Thank you so much. Now I think you deserve a quick recap from last night. A shower maybe?"

"Now your talking." She got up and ran into her bathroom with Lucas not far behind. Life seemed to finally be getting back to normal for everyone. None of them had ever been happier.

A/N: What do you think? Coming up soon we learn what Nathan is hiding when an unwelcome visitor shows up. Plus Haley finds out about Peyton and Jake. R&R.