Peyton woke up suddenly, she didn't know what it was but something was amiss in her house. She looked across her bed and saw Lucas asleep. She was glad he'd finally been able to rest, he'd been restless and shifting throughout the night. She considered it funny that everyone in their group shared beds with one another. She thought that perhaps they all had Mommy and Daddy issues.

There was a very distinct sound from the kitchen and this time Lucas sat up in bed, groggy but awake, "what was that?"

"I don't know but it's not normal," Peyton replied.

Luke rose, "stay here and don't come down until you hear me call."

"Luke-"

He cut off her complaint with a slash of his hand through the air, letting her know to maintain the quietness of the rest of the house, "ya hear?"

She nodded because she knew that he only had a stronger Southern accent when he was scared.

Luke quietly crept down the stairs and wished that he'd taken the time to pull on some sweats. He was almost to the kitchen door when he felt a presence behind him. He turned and saw Peyton standing behind him.

"Didn't I tell you to stay upstairs," he mouthed, his voice barely audible.

She shrugged, "I wasn't letting you get into any danger! Besides I told Jake I'd take care of you."

"You're worse than Brooke," he muttered and continued, but he kept her behind him. If there was a burglar he damn sure wouldn't get to Peyton without a fight.

He grabbed a baseball bat that Peyton pointed out and together they jumped into the kitchen at the same moment the light turned on. Both of them screamed!

Finally Lucas and Peyton focused just in time for Lucas to get slapped across the face. He focused as Peyton asked in a confused voice, "Karen?"

"Lucas Eugene Scott," Karen's voice was a harsh whisper, "how could you?"

"Mom," he rubbed his sore cheek, "it's nothing. Peyton and I aren't together I was just staying at her place tonight."

Karen's body shook with agitation, "Haley's pregnant."

"Aw shit," Peyton muttered, she swept her hand out, "why don't you two step into the living room. I'm going back upstairs to bed."

"Thank you Peyton," Karen nodded and followed Lucas into the living room.

He sat and rubbed his arm, it ached and he thought to himself that he'd have to cut down on the weights during the coming week. Karen's eyes filled with tears, "how could you be so stupid? How could you be so careless? Was I talking to the wall the last couple of years?"

"Mom, it was an accident."

"No, spilling your glass of water on the floor is an accident. This is just plain foolishness! And what's worse is that I learned about this from your hysterical wife on the phone. You were supposed to do right by her."

Lucas harshly brought his hand down his face, "what about her Mom? Was I the only person there? She certainly wasn't complaining!"

"Watch it," Karen warned.

Luke took a deep breath, "it was a mistake, a big, big mistake. But we could solve it and never be so careless again. If she would just come to her senses!"

"Luke," Karen took his hand, "when a woman is pregnant there is a connection, once the woman accepts it. It seems like Haley has accepted it. The question is what are you going to do about it?"

"I don't know Mom," he lowered his head until it was cradled in her lap.

XOXOXOXO

Nathan looked over Brooke's sleeping form and found Haley asleep beside Brooke. Brooke was snoring lightly into his chest, her arm clutched tightly to him as if she was afraid he would leave her in her sleep. Haley was sleeping curled up to Brooke, as if she was trying to protect herself from whatever may come. For a moment Nathan's heart was light as he looked at her. His friend was a going to be a mother and he knew she'd be damned good at it. But then his heart settled again as he thought of his brother's upset. He didn't condone running from one's problems but he knew that he couldn't hate him for something that was rightfully the scariest thing that had ever happened to him. Then his heart fell straight down as he thought of Brooke. They would never have the moment Luke and Haley had; they would never know the joy of expecting their child.

Brooke snorted in her sleep and turned until she and Haley were head to head. Haley shifted and finally opened her eyes. She stared straight at Nathan. Neither of them spoke for a long time. Finally Haley nodded, "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," Nathan told her.

"No, but it still hurts."

Nathan nodded, because she was telling the truth, he feared it would always hurt.

XOXOXOXO

Brooke watched Haley wearily as she applied her mascara. Brooke always thought that one should look presentable when visiting the gynecologist. Haley put on the make up because she didn't think she'd be able to handle an overexcited Brooke right before making the biggest decision of her life with or without her husband.

"…so Rachel's coming back from her spontaneous vacay in two days," Brooke chattered lightly.

Haley barely heard anything she was saying and ended up blurting, "I didn't get married to go through this kind of stuff alone."

Brooke closed her mouth abruptly, waited a moment then opened her mouth just to close it again. Finally she nodded, "you're right. I thought Luke would come around long before today."

"How could he abandon me," Haley's voice trembled, "how could he leave me? He was never supposed to do this!"

"Be weak," Brooke asked quietly.

Haley's eyes filled with tears, "no. I don't know. He was just so strong through all of the Dan stuff, and before that with the group. I never thought something so amazing would make him run. He didn't even run from me after I told him I'd been raped! Why would the thought of our child possibly make him run?"

"That's a question for him Hales, I can't even guess at the answer. I know for certain that if I were able to get pregnant Nathan would," Brooke paused and took a breath, "he'd be so happy."

"It's different for you, Brooke," Haley cupped her friend's cheek, "you will find a way to be a mother to someone someday. And when you do, you'll be far better at it then anyone I've ever met."

"You're the one in emotional upheaval," Brooke reminded her gently.

"And you're still my sister, in the good and bad. I don't think that we were clear enough to you that we needed you back, not because you take care of us, but because we just love you. I know you hurt, but Brooke," Haley smiled, "you fail to understand that you are the exception, never, ever the rule. You're unique and beautiful and you are deserving of love and laughter and motherhood."

Brooke's chest felt as if it was being cracked open and one more piece of her shattered soul seemed to heal. She pulled Haley into her arms, "I love you Haley James-Scott and we will get you through this."

"And I love you Brooke Davis, and we will get you through this," Haley promised.

XOXOXOXO

Lucas stood across the street from Dr. Benfield's Office of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He watched Brooke and Haley walk toward the doors and wanted to cross, wanted to pull her into his arms and tell him that he would be who she needed him to be. Unfortunately, he wasn't sure he could be. His mother told him to be at the appointment. Peyton told him not to do anything until he was sure he wouldn't fuck it all up. Jake told him that he was creating wounds he might not have the capability of healing. Nate just shook his head, obviously unknowing how to take the situation. And Brooke just sent a simple text message: love ya buddy, I know you'll do the right thing.

"What the fuck is the right thing," Luke muttered out loud. The homeless man standing beside him by the bus stop looked at him strangely.

"Are you going to go in or just stalk the place for the next few hours," the voice was familiar.

Luke turned and smiled, "Rachel. I thought Brooke said you and Mouth wouldn't be back until Monday."

Rachel smirked, "that was until I got the interesting baby mama drama details."

"Yeah," Luke looked toward the office again and rubbed his arm. He thought that his stress level was getting way out of control his fingers were starting to feel numb.

"I can't believe you're being so stupid! Let me guess, the entire group, minus J-Scott, is being super supportive and telling you that you'll do the right thing?"

"Who the hell is J-Scott?"

"Haley James-Scott equals J-Scott, duh! Anyway, they're telling that they'll be there no matter what. What they're not telling you is that Haley won't be. If you fuck this up, this monstrously important thing, then you will lose her. Period."

It was funny how Rachel's frank observation clarified everything instanteously for Lucas. Unfortunately before he could make the decision to take those steps into the office the sharpest pain he had ever felt pierced his chest and crippled him. Vaguely, he heard Rachel coming down beside him, her hands on his head but the pain was too great. He accepted the blessed blackness, and passed out.

XOXOXOXO

"How could he have just not shown up," Haley asked Brooke quietly.

Brooke shrugged and held Haley's hand tightly within hers as they sat on the patient's stretcher, "I don't know, Hales. All I know is that something must be keeping him from being here, being with you."

Haley's eyes filled with tears, "I don't think so, Brooke."

"Oh, Haley," Brooke gave her a long hug.

The doctor walked in and sat in front of Haley very quietly, "I have some bad news Haley. Would you like Brooke to stay?"

Haley's breath clogged in her throat. Everything in her body buzzed in anticipation of what the doctor would say. She couldn't handle this!

"Just say it, say it fast," Brooke begged. Haley was grateful that Brooke knew her so well.

"The fetus is unviable. You're ten weeks along and there is no heartbeat. We don't know why this happens but I do know that it wasn't anything that you did. And in the future, maybe when you're older, you should have absolutely no problems becoming pregnant."

Haley's body went numb and she didn't feel the tears that washed down her cheeks in silence. Brooke squeezed her hand, "what now?"

"I'll submit an order for an immediate D&C. You'll have to go to the hospital immediately. I am so sorry Haley."

AN- I know that was short but it had to be done before we get to the meat of the drama!