DISCLAIMER: I do not own One Tree Hill, or any of the characters, except the made up ones.

AN: Happy Easter Everybody!

Quote of the Day:

Rachel: Hey Phoebe! I'm having dinner with my dad tomorrow night. Do you wanna come?
Phoebe: Sure, yeah! He's kinda sexy!
Rachel: Oh no, oh no! I'll be there too.
Phoebe: Okay, so we'll just come up with some kind of signal. If it's going well, you can take off. Rachel: No Phoebe, I just need you there for support. I haven't told him that I'm pregnant yet. Phoebe: Why not? Rachel: Because I know he's gonna flip out and I hate it when he gets angry. Phoebe: Um…Rachel this is all so "Papa Don't Preach." Rachel: He's a scary guy, I mean one time he caught me smoking he said if he ever saw me doing that again he would make me eat the entire pack.
Phoebe: Wow, well I will be there. Gosh, I'm not gonna let that man make you eat your baby.

Chapter 35

It's the End of the World…

"Baby, come on," Jake whined as he kneeled down in front of her. One of his hands currently on her stomach trying to feel the baby while the other on held her other hand. Everyone had just arrived at Karen's Café to celebrate the Ravens State Championship. The place was decorated so perfect with the blue, white, and black balloons. The banter that Peyton had worked on all night last night, that said congratulations was hanging right over the counters. The go big blue and Raven's posters were hung up in various places, along with blue ribbons. The place was just perfect. "I did what you told me and waited until after the game. Now it sucks that I wasn't at the appointment this morning so please tell me."

"Alright. Okay," Peyton said holding his hand tighter. She had been so miserable when she found out that her appointment to find out the baby's sex was at the same time that the boys would be driving to the game. She really wanted Jake there but she knew that this game was important for him. He had told her that he wanted to be there but she insisted that he go ahead and she would just tell him later. So after she picked up Brooke and Haley this morning they drove straight to the doctor's office. Both girls were holding her hand as the doctor shared the news with her. It's not everyday that you find out if you're going to have a baby boy or girl. After the doctor told her the news she and her two best friends were in tears. "It's a girl."

"Are you serious," Jake shouted as he soothed his hand over her baby bump.

"We're having a girl," Peyton said smiling as he brought his face down and kissed her stomach.

"This is the best day ever," Jake said bring his face to hers and kissing her softly. If you would have asked him a few years ago if he would be having a kid at only 18 he would have seriously laughed in your face. He wanted both of them to be finished with college before they even thought of having children. But standing in front of her right now and looking up into that beautiful face that he fell in love with so many years ago he couldn't picture it any other way. This is what was meant to happen. This was fate. He noticed a few tears had fallen from Peyton's eyes and he felt himself tearing up also.

Reaching in his khaki slacks pocket he pulled out the small ring that Larry had given him just two weeks ago. He had been terrified of asking the man to marry his baby girl but he knew that they were meant to be. Larry had his questions and wondered if Jake was only asking because Peyton was pregnant but Jake assured him that this is what he wanted no matter if she was expecting or not. He always dreamed of her being his wife and it was time to make it official. They belonged together forever and he wanted her to be his wife before their little girl was born.

"Jake –"

Peyton's head looked up as she heard a few people gasp as they noticed Jake on one knee holding out a ring.

Her focus soon went back to him and she felt a shiver run down her spine as she noticed the look he was giving her. Her eyes then went straight to the ring and she noticed that it wasn't just any ring. It was her mother's engagement ring. As a little girl she had always dreamed of having that same ring on her finger but she never in a million years thought that it would have been possible. But here she was 18, pregnant, and sitting in front of her first love as he asked her to be his wife.

"Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer will you marry me?" Jake asked holding up the ring as he held her hand firmly in his.

He heard Brooke squealing in the background and he wasn't surprised. The only people that knew what he was planning on doing after the game was his father and sister. They had both been so happy for him. Haley had even told him that getting Peyton's mother's ring was the sweetest thing ever. He felt his heart beating rapidly in his chest as he tried to block out Brooke's voice in the background. In that moment the only girls voice that he wanted to hear was Peyton's.

"This is the part where you say yes," Brooke shouted from behind them as Haley put a hand over her mouth to keep her from saying anything else.

This was such a private moment between Jake and Peyton that she felt like they shouldn't all be there but her brother had said that he wanted to do it in front of most of the people that they loved. With the exception of Peyton's father Larry, everyone else was there. Haley felt her father's hand gripping her's tighter as they watched Jake.

It was one of the best moments of her life and the only thing that kept running through her mind was an image of Jake and her tucking their daughter in for bed. "Yes," Peyton squealed out before slamming her lips on his in an earth shattering kiss. The cheers of their friends and family in the background only go louder when they stood up and faced them.

Haley was the first one to jump in her big brothers arms. "You did it." Twirling her around and placing her down he watched as she put her arms tightly around Peyton as they hugged. For a guy it was hard finding someone special to spend your life with but it was even harder to find someone that your family loved also. For Jake it was easy. Haley and Peyton had been close since they were little girls. Even better when his mother was alive she loved Peyton like a daughter. His father loved her also. She was the best thing to happen to him –falling in love with his bestfriend was the smartest thing he ever did.

"We're going to be sister-in-laws," Peyton said smiling at Haley.

"And we're all still gonna be best friends," Brooke said jumping in-between them and throwing her arms around their shoulders.

"Yeah we are," Haley said pulling them both in for another hug. While the girls were hugging and showing Karen the ring the guys stood a few feet away talking.

"Congrats man," Lucas said giving Jake a man hug. "I always knew since that day you pushed Peyton in Brooke's pool that you guys were going to get married."

"Why since then?" Jimmy asked laughing.

"Oh because that's the day that Nathan told me if you like a girl then you have to be mean to her," Jake said laughing as he put a hand on Nathan's shoulder. All the guys started laughing along with him.

"Hey in my defense my Uncle Cooper told me that," Nathan said holding up one hand. "And might I add that we were like what seven at the time."

"Wow James that's really young," Dan said smirking.

"Well Mr. Scott when you find the one it doesn't really matter what age you are," Jake said to the older man. Just then Dan looked out across the room and noticed that his beautiful wife was hugging Peyton.

"That's right," Dan said with a smile as he looked dreamily at his wife. He too remembered the day that he first noticed Karen Roe. It had been the third day of his sophomore year at Tree Hill High and he had just received his letterman jacket. He was walking down the hallway to his locker like he owned the place which he did. That's when he saw her and for the first time in his life everything went in slow motion. It was that day that he knew that he wanted Karen Roe to become Karen Scott.

"Now let's talk about how the Tree Hill Raven's are finally State Champs," Jimmy shouted as all the boys on the team started yelling and shouting.

"That's what I'm talking about," Skills shouted as he bumped fist with Lucas and the rest of the guys.

"The Raven's in the house," Tim yelled as all the guys started laughing.

Nathan sat at the counter of his mother's café looking up at the trophy that the guys had just won a few hours ago. It had been the best game of his life. After all the fans were gone and he took a shower and got dressed back in his light blue dress shirt and khaki slacks, Whitey had introduced him to Ryan the scout from Stanford. The guy had said that even though Nathan was an excellent player, Stanford already had a full team for next season but if he wanted then he could just transfer next year. It actually seemed to work out pretty well because Stanford was Haley's dream not his.

"You and Haley back together now? I saw the kiss," Lucas said smirking as he walked up to his brother.

"Maybe…I don't know," Nathan said honestly. Sure they had kissed a few hours ago but he hadn't talk to her since. The truth was that he was afraid that it was all too good to be true. He already had one dream come true today what kind of world would they be living in if he had another one come true in the same day. So he had been kind of avoiding her since all the guys arrived at the café. He was very happy that Jake had planned his proposal tonight. Haley had been so wrapped up with talking to the girls that it looked like she didn't even notice him. Normally that would be a bad thing but not tonight. That kiss might have just been a congratulations kiss and right now he didn't want to think that. He wanted to enjoy the thought that it was a real kiss for as long as possible.

"Well it's about time man, if I do say so myself," Jake added as he walked up to the two. He had been listening from a few feet away ignoring the way Vegas was talking about hooking up with Theresa tonight.

All the guys started laughing as Nathan glanced at Haley who was pulling a piece of confetti out of Brooke's hair.

"Well you played like a champ tonight," Jake said patting his shoulder.

"No I played like half a champ," Nathan said looking down. "If I wouldn't have made it to that game I would have never forgiven myself. So thank you guys for having my back."

"I told you little brother," Lucas said bumping fist with him. "We'll always have your back."

"That's right," Jake mocked as he bumped fist with him also. "And I know that this is a little early but I want you two to be my best men."

"I'd be honored," Nathan said as Jake gave him a man hug. They had all been boys since they could walk. It had been the three of them for so long. Sure they all had other friends but nothing compared to their bond. They would always have each other's backs no matter what. Even if they were wrong they knew that they could always count on someone being on their side. They knew that they would all be best friends for life.

"Yeah me too," Lucas said as Jake gave him a man hug.

"And also my little girl is going to need two strong godfathers to protect her," Jake said glancing at Peyton. "You boys up for the challenge?"

"You know it," Lucas said smiling.

"Of course man," Nathan said smiling.

"Now that we got that crap out of the way," Jake said taking a seat next to Nathan and grabbing a cup of punch. "Let's talk about this kid West."

"I hate that punk," Nathan said rolling his eyes and he felt his jaw tighten shut. He had noticed that way that Damien kept looking at Haley all night and all he wanted to do was pound him into the ground but he knew that he couldn't. Haley would only be disappointed in him if he let Damien push his buttons.

"I know. The way he was looking at Haley all game," Lucas said shaking his head. "It took everything in me not to beat his scrawny ass right then."

"You," Jake said balling up his fist. "All I have to say is that boy is so lucky that it was the championship game because otherwise I would have beaten his ass. The next time I see him, there won't be anything holding me back."

"I should have kicked his ass that summer at high flyers," Nathan mumbled. Then that would have taught him not to even look at my girl.

"Yeah well if he goes near my sister again I won't be responsible for my actions," Jake said picturing himself knocking the day lights out of Damien's ass. If that boy only knew who he was messing with. "He just better hope that I don't ever see him again."

"Who?" Brooke asked walking up to them.

"Um…that guy that's into Peyton," Jake rushed out.

"Yeah he's always looking at her," Lucas added.

"And taking the same classes as her," Nathan said playing along.

Brooke put both of her hands on her hips as she just smiled at the boys. She had known them long enough to know that they were all lying. She didn't know who they thought they were talking to but god were they idiots. She was Brooke Davis. They could try to pull a fast one on her but it wasn't happening.

"Look at you boys. It only took you all but 18 years to get your stories straight," Brooke said laughing. Usually one of them wouldn't know what to say that agreed with the other two but this time they all seemed at the top of their game. They were all growing up. "Luckily for you three I don't care at the moment. Broody can I talk to you in private." Brooke now turned her attention towards Lucas. He nodded his head and took her hand in his. "Boys I will certainly want to know about this conversation later." Brooke added before they started walking off.

Lucas opened the door that led upstairs to the rooftop of the café. It was a place that most of them spent there time growing up if they all weren't at the river court. It was the place that he had spent most of his time with Haley. Out of all of their friends they were up here the most. It was like their spot. This was also the first place that he realized that he had a crush on Brooke Davis. They were all playing mini golf one night when they were younger and she started laughing at something that Haley had said and he just realized that he was into her. His heart started pounding fast and that's when he became nervous little Lucas Scott in front of her.

Opening the door he let her pass before closing it. He watched as she walked up to the edge of the roof and she looked up into the sky.

"It's beautiful up here isn't it?" Brooke asked never taking her eyes off the blanket of stars.

His eyes never left her as he made his way towards her. "It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

"Me too," Brooke whispered. She had no idea that he was talking about her. She felt his hand around her waist as she leaned into his body. "I wanted to talk to you about um...about us."

"Okay," Lucas said calmly. She is so going to break up with you.

"It's just that today was like a dream come true," Brooke started off softly. "And being with you these last few months have been amazing. I love you, Luke. You know that but –"

"Are you breaking up with me," Lucas whispered as he closed his eyes.

"No," Brooke answered softly. "It's just that we'll be graduating in a few short months and you'll go off to Duke and I'll be –"

"Hey look at me," Lucas said forcing her to turn to him. That's when he noticed a few tears that had fallen from her eyes. Gently wiping them away he gave her a soft smile. "Brooke Davis you're going to change the world someday. Now I know I can't predict the future but how about we deal with it when the time comes. Let's just be teenagers for a little while longer."

"Okay Luke," Brooke said smiling. They could hide out for a few months longer but eventually they would have to talk about this because the fact of the matter was that he was going away to Duke and she wasn't.

"I want to show you something," Lucas said taking her hand and walking her over to the brick wall on the other side of the rooftop. "Every year since middle school Haley and I come up here before the first day of school and make predictions for the school year."

"Wait how come I don't know about this?" Brooke asked as he pulled out a brick and reached inside, coming out seconds later holding a small tin box.

"It's always been something that we shared," Lucas said softly opening the box and pulling out a small piece of paper. "The whole point is that I want to show you what I wrote before this school year started." Handing her the piece of paper he watched as she read it to him.

"This year I'll tell Brooke how I really feel about her," Brooke said softly reading the paper. She had always known that he had a crush on her but she never knew that he had been harboring feelings of love for her. There was always a part of her that wanted to start something up with him but there was always that other part that didn't want to ruin their friendship. Sure Jake and Peyton had worked out well but that didn't mean that she and Lucas were going to work out. There was always the chance that something would happen and they would end up hurting the other. Not only would it be weird and awkward for them but also their friends. They would have to worry about who was taking who's side and it would just get to complicated.

That night when she caved and slept with him she didn't think about all that. She just wanted to be with so bad and if she would have thought about it she wouldn't have let herself be with him. They were just so close she didn't want to ruin it. Then there was the whole stupid friends with benefits thing. It was her stupid idea and at the time it seemed like a good thing but that was far from the truth. She was hiding because she didn't want anything serious with him because she was afraid of losing him. But the more they were together the more she felt herself falling hard and fast for him. He just knew all the right things to say and do. When she said I love you to him it just was one of those things that just slipped out of her mouth. It was like she wanted to tell him but on the other hand she didn't. All that thinking because she knew that it would lead to this –them being in love and perfect and just months away from being torn apart by life. She reasoned with herself that she would enjoy him while she could and just deal with the heartbreak of not having him later.

"Brooke I don't know if we'll be together forever," Lucas said picking up her chin so that she could look at him. "But I do know that we have now. And right now I'm in love with you Brooke Davis."

She felt the paper fall from her hands as his lips captured hers in a searing kiss. And just like that all their problems about the future vanished into thin air as he stood there kissing her under the blanket of stars and in the same spot that he had first fallen in love with her.

"I'm telling you son their going to retire your jersey just like they did mine," Dan said holding his son's shoulder. "You'll see."

Nathan listened as his father and Mr. James continued to talk about him and how he would be always remembered for his basketball skills.

"Take it all in son," Jimmy said smiling at him. "Cause it's almost over."

He was right. That was the last high school basketball game that they would all ever play. Next year he would be playing college ball. It would be a totally different ball game. The players would be just as good as or better than him. The competition would be topnotch. They would all be grown men trying to make something of themselves with each passing game. Every time they would step out on the court it would be in hopes of being the best player out there for the NBA scouts. They would be playing each game hoping to make it to a professional team once the draft started.

"It was a great game," Dan said looking at the trophy next to them. "I'm so proud of you boys."

"Yeah I knew you guys could do it," Jimmy added.

Nathan froze up as he noticed Haley walking towards them. He felt his knees become weak as she got closer with each step and he prayed to god that they wouldn't go out on him. Placing one hand on the counter behind him he held himself up. He watched as she stood next to her father as he slung one of his arms around her shoulder pulling her into him. Haley smiled up at him as he kissed her forehead.

"Can I talk you for a sec," Haley said looking over at Nathan. He nodded his head and gave her a small smile.

"Well I'll see you tomorrow night baby girl," Jimmy said pulling her closer to him. "My shift starts in an hour so I'm going to tell your brother bye before I head to the hospital."

"Okay I love you," Haley said before walking out of his embrace and grabbing Nathan's hand and leading them away from their dads. They walked through a group of the guys on the team before reaching the back of the café where they could have some privacy. Haley pushed Nathan against the wall and jumped on her tip-toes as she pulled his head down and her lips crashed on his. His hands immediately went down to her waist pulling her closer into him as her tongue brushed against his bottom lip begging for entrance. He opened his mouth as their tongues began to battle for control. It felt like so long ago since they were like this.

He pulled away seconds later as he looked down smiling at her as both of them searched for air.

"What was that for?" Nathan asked smirking.

"Let's just say that it was a total turn on watching you beat Damien West," Haley said biting her bottom lip.

"Oh yeah," Nathan said crashing his lips back on hers as he turned them around so that she was against the wall.

"I love it when you take control," Haley said in-between kisses and she did. Nothing felt better than when he took control over her. It's like she lost all her senses and just got lost in him. Besides he would always be there bringing her down from her haze.

"You keep talking that way and I won't be able to control myself," Nathan whispered huskily in her ear before turning his attention to her neck. He kept trailing kisses up and down her neck as one of his hands went behind her and grabbed her ass pulling her more into him. "I want you."

Her eyes rolled back as she continued to lose herself in him. "You keep talking like that and I'll make you take me right here." She said seductively in his ear. He continued to tease her neck as he felt himself instantly harden at her words. She knew exactly what she was doing to him.

"Don't tempt me," Nathan whispered as he pushed himself further into her letting her feel just how much he wanted her. He didn't care that they were in his mother's café or that anyone could easily walk in on them. The only thing on his mind was that he hadn't been with her in weeks. He needed her in everyway. He needed to feel her.

"How about we take this to my room," Haley whimpered as sucked on the right spot on her neck. She didn't want to stop but she knew that they couldn't do it right here in his mothers café. She would just be mortified if anyone saw them. "It does hold a lot of history for us. It's the um…the first place we made love and um…where you told me that you loved me for the first time." She felt his hand run up her thigh under her cheer skirt and she knew if they didn't stop now then he wouldn't be able too.

"It is a special place," Nathan mumbled as he sucked on her earlobe. "Let's go." With that he pulled away and took her hand in his leading them back to the front of the café. All the guys from the team were gone and there were just a few people left. Nathan noticed Lucas and Brooke sitting on the red sofa on the other side of the café. Pulling Haley along, he led them straight towards their two friends. Looking back he noticed his mother and father laughing as they cleaned up.

"Well look who it is." Brooke said smirking as she noticed that they were holding hands. "Now where on earth have you two been for the last thirty minutes?" Raising an eyebrow she tried to hold in her laughter as Haley's cheeks started to blush. Unlike her Haley wasn't big on PDA.

"In the back," Nathan muttered.

"Yeah you were. Uh Nate…your shirts a little disheveled and it looks like someone was trying to take off your tie. I don't think momma Scott would like the idea of you two getting it on in her café," Brooke said with a chuckle.

"Tigger," Haley squealed as she playfully hit Brooke on the arm.

"Jeeze I was only kidding," Brooke said laughing. "Well not so much."

"You guys leaving?" Lucas asked ignoring Brooke's comment about his bestfriend and brother.

"Yeah," Nathan said smirking as he glanced at Haley. "I have a surprise for her in her room."

"I'll bet you do," Brooke said wiggling her eyebrows at the two.

"Get your mind out of the gutter Penelope," Nathan said laughing as tired to kick him for using her middle name. "It's a real present." Haley looked at Nathan surprised. She had no idea that he actually had something for her.

"Jake and goldilocks left?" Haley asked looking around.

"Yeah that wanted to have hot engaged sex," Brooke said laughing. "I'll tell ya it's a good thing she's already knocked up because she –"

"Baby I think that they want to leave," Lucas said interrupting her as he noticed Nathan eyeing him down to get her to stop. His brother always had a way of telling him something without actual words being said.

"Fine but don't forget to use protection," Brooke said reaching in her purse and throwing Nathan a condom. "Just in case."

"Brooke! Karen and Dan are right behind us," Haley whispered as she made sure that they hadn't seen them.

"Oh my bad," Brooke said catching the condom that Nathan threw back at her. "What's wrong?"

"It's too small," Nathan said smirking as Brooke started laughing.

"Oh my god! We are so leaving," Haley said pulling his hand leading them out of the café.

"What?" Nathan said chuckling as he noticed Haley's red cheeks. It always was a turn on for him. She really had no idea what she did to him. He didn't understand after everything that they had done that she could still easily be embarrassed but she could. Not so much with him anymore but anytime that their friends had said something sexual her cheeks would instantly turn red.

"Did you have to tell them that?" Haley asked putting her hand around his arm.

"Well it was too small," Nathan said smirking. "It looks like the little brother is really the big brother."

"Please stop," Haley said resting her head on his shoulder. She didn't want to think about Lucas like that. Now Nathan's ego was certainly going to rise to a whole new level. As if the boy didn't already have a big head. She lifted his arm and pulled the crackerjack bracelet off her hand and slid it on his wrist as she smiled at him. "Don't say I never gave you anything."

His heart was pounding in his chest and he felt his body becoming weak just being next to her. He looked down at her as they continued to walk. He was just so lucky to have her in his life. She really did mean everything to him and in that moment he felt the need to tell her.

"Thanks Hales," Nathan said softly. "For believing in me and helping get my dream back. I love you so much. There isn't anything that I wouldn't do for you. I'll always be there for you and I'll always protect you." He felt her hand squeeze his arm as she smiled up at him as the continued to walk across the street to his car.

"I love you, –"

As she said these words he noticed the bright lights heading their way and the angry boy that he knew very well glaring at him from inside the car. His whole body tensed up as he noticed the car about to hit them as the guy went faster. In that moment his whole life flashed before his eyes and he relived all his special moments with Haley. She was his whole world and the thought of something happening to her had his heart pounding in his chest even faster than before. "Haley look out!" With that he pushed her body out the way right before the car hit him sending his body flying over the car before slamming into the ground as the car didn't stop.

Every thing happened quickly as Haley stood up and turned around. That's when she noticed Nathan's body spread out on the ground. "Nathan!" Running as fast as she could over to him she fell to her knees right next to him not caring how much her body was hurting in that moment. Blood was everywhere and she couldn't control her sods. "Somebody help! Please!" She heard someone running towards them as she felt two arms pull her up and try to get her away from him but she tried to fight them off as she continued to scream Nathan's name.

"Haley don't look," Lucas shouted as he continued to pull her away from his brother's body. She continued trying to get out of his grasp as she heard Brooke shouting on the phone for an ambulance. Her eyes stayed glued to Nathan's lifeless body as he continued to stay still on the ground, more blood spilling from his body.

Nathan could hear the faint screams of Haley and the heavier his eyes got the lower her voice could be heard. He tired to get up but nothing was happening. He wanted to say something but his mouth wasn't moving. It was like his mind was the only thing that was working. He heard muffled voices and the cries of Haley become lower and lower until there was nothing but darkness.

AN: Okay so don't hate me. I've been planning this since the beginning and I just want to say that Nathan will not forget anything and he will be okay to play college ball. I just hated it on the show when Haley pushed him out the way. I get it. It's just that she was pregnant and I just thought that he should have been the one to save her and their son. Please review and let me know what you think.