"Hey, hey, hey… I'm okay Mom. Really." Haley said to her mother with a little laugh. It has been a week since she had woken up from her comatose and her parents are still very much protective of her. They would not let her walk and stand without their assistance even though how much she protested. And when they have to leave the hospital, they always make sure that Karen or Lucas or one of the river court guys are there to watch over her. Right now, her mom is insisting for her to rest after accommodating some of her friends who visited from school earlier that day.

"Mom! I'm fine okay. Stop treating me like a baby!" Haley protested to her laughing mother while her father laughed on the couch, busy reading the newspaper that he was not able to read in the morning.

"I know your not honey. But Haley-bob! Let me take care of you…" Mrs. James replied with a teasing voice that she knew Haley could say no to, which actually happened much to her relief.

"Okay mom, whatever you say. But pleeaaassseee… when Lucas gets here, stop making a fuss cause he'll eventually join you and it makes me powerless to argue with all of you." Haley said in a fake exhausted voice. She knew her mother would agree with whatever she says, but placed a little drama in it just in case.

Before her mother could reply, a knock on the door interrupted their conversation. "Mom, I think that's him. No fussing okay? I don't want him to worry so much about me."

While her father opened the door, her mother promised her what she wanted but said never the less said that no matter how she shows Lucas that she's okay and all fine, she could not stop him from worrying everyday because she is his closest friend.

"I know that Mom… but still. I care for him too much to let him worry about me all the time. He has a life of his own and he has to live it, not live on mine." Haley replied, wiping the tears that threatens to fall from her eyes.

"Okay honey. Smile Haley-bob. He's here now." Her mother whispered as she her self was saddened, and tucked a loose hair in the back of her daughter's ear before plastering her face with a smile and faced her son's dearest friend.

"Hey Lucas" Mrs. James collected the boy from his husband who also embraced Lucas as he were his own son.

Lucas retuned the hug to both Haley's parents before going to her beside and kissing her cheek.

"How are you today Hales?" His expression change to worry, the expression Haley doesn't want him to wear. Putting on her most enthusiastic face, she smiled at him and said that she's at her tip-top shape and even asked her parents to back her up, which they readily did.

"That's great to hear! I'm so glad… Well Hales, I'm not alone. Nathan's outside." Lucas told her skeptically.

Ever since Haley woke up, she and Nathan haven't been able to talk and when he visited afterwards, it was always with some company… some boys from the basketball team, whom Haley got to know when she was dating Nathan and of course her two best girlfriends, Brooke and Peyton. Nathan has not been able to visit her alone and talked about what happened to them. She did not know whether it was just by chance or was it intentional that there hasn't been a moment that two of them get to talk and clarify some things. Haley knew that Nathan was at her bedside all the time when she was unconscious and she would be forever grateful for that. But the things that they have left before all this happened was still a blur and it still hurt her deep inside, though hard as shetry not to think about it.

Still not replying to Lucas' statement, her father spoke instead after overhearing what Lucas had just said.

"Oh Nathan's waiting outside, why don't I invite him in so you could all talk. Okay honey?" Mr. James asked her daughter.

He knew Nathan and Haley had some problems, ever since that fateful day that he and his wife talked to Nathan on their porch and when Haley entered the house crying. Though it has not been discussed openly, he knew there was still tension in the air and whenever the time comes that Nathan is on the hospital room with them, he knew that the boy was probably a little shy and apprehensive to approach and talk to them, which he understands. With a nod of approval from her daughter, he reached for the door and saw the timid and weary Nathan Scott leaning against the wall. He realized that this was not the same Nathan Scott known all over Tree Hill, with the bad-ass reputation and cocky attitude. The Nathan Scott standing before him is a changed man. A good and respectable man he has become.

Their eyes met for brief second and he could see the guilt and sorrow in the young boy's eyes. There was till doubt of interaction within him that he made the first move of extending his hand to the boy in front of him.

Nathan was a bit surprised by Mr. James' gesture. It was not a secret that he had hurt Haley and as a parent, he thought that Haley's father would hate him. But none the less, he was grateful and very much relieved by the motion made by Mr. James that he not only took his hand but also pulled him for a hug. He knew that his move surprised Haley's dad but he could not control his self from doing so. After they released one another, Mr. James smiled at him and said the words he would never forget.

"Take care of her Nathan. Make her happy. Hurt her one more time and it is me you'll be facing. Do you understand me son?" Mr. James said in a serious voice.

Never faltering once, Nathan gave her word to the father of the girl he loves the most. He knew this promise is the one he'll make sure he will not break. This promise was well received by Haley's father and he smiled at him genuinely. A voice from inside the room interrupted the two.

"Hey you two… Are you going to stand outside all night long? Come on inside, Haley's waiting for you." Mrs. James jokingly said.

Draping an arm around Nathan shoulders like his real father, Mr. James escorted the young man to her daughter's room. Inside, the saw Lucas animatedly telling a story on what happened to school earlier to Haley and her mom who were both laughing as Lucas' mimicked some people and their actions.

"Nathan!" Mrs. James exclaimed as he entered, greeting the boy who seemed so shy to approach. He embraced him as he did with Lucas, a sign that may seem that she welcomes him back to their life.

"C'mon Jimmy, lets go out for a while and have dinner and leave these guys to talk." Mrs. James said to her husband, knowing that the three teenagers would want to bond and share.

"Okay… We'll bring some food back Haley. For Lucas and Nathan too." Mr. James said patting the two boys before kissing her daughter goodbye.

"Don't tire her too much okay?" He reminded her daughter's company before proceeding with his wife towards the door, leaving the three of them alone.

Haley looked up at the two brothers by her side and could not help but remember all the trials they went through for the past few months. They were her rock which she drew her all her strength from. They are the reason that she longs to live for a longer time, to be able to share more experiences with them, tears and laughter. Lucas and Nathan are her two joys, whom she knew she would love forever until the day she dies. Thinking about this puts a lump in her throat before she was able to say.

"So here we are now." She said to her two knights with a genuine smile that seems to never fade whenever she was around them.

"Yeah… here we are." Lucas said, to which Nathan nodded.

Sad as the situation may be, no tears were shed as they did countless days before. But instead, the room was filled with hope, prayer and celebration for their lives ahead.

AN: I know it took me more than a month to update. Please don't kill me!  Just been so busy lately so I hope you guys do understand. Just tell me whether I should still continue or not. Know it sucks so reviews are always appreciated! Thanks for still reading this story!