Haley James and Nathan Scott walked into Karen's café hand in hand for their lunch interview. They are as cute in person as they are in print. One of the first things Haley did after the introductions was correct me, it's Haley James Scott, so AP take note! We sat down and got right to business.

So you were married in high school, separated before graduation, had a baby soon after, and then reconciled before the divorce could be finalized. Is there anything missing or anything you want to clear up?

Nathan: No, for once the tabloid got it right.

Haley: Yeah it was very accurate for the type of publication it was.

So why the big secret? Nathan you're an NCAA star and NBA hopeful and Haley you're on your way to being the next Janis Joplin, Alanis Morissette, or Fiona Apple, how come we haven't heard about this before?

Nathan: Well I was an emotional wreck when things went sour. I buried myself in basketball and my commitment to Duke. They figured if things were really done then it would be better for my image as well as the teams image if it was just kept quiet.

Haley: I was angry and preoccupied with a new baby and the music thing just kind of happened. No one ever really asked about my past or my son's father so I never mentioned it.

But you weren't intentionally trying to hide anything?

Nathan: Are you kidding! If I thought it would help my situation with Haley and not make her even angrier at me I would have told the world I was married and had a son. I wasn't hiding anything things were bad and I didn't want them to get worse that was the last thing either of us needed.

Haley: I was really angry and I don't even think I knew that. If the world knew about my history first then my career would have been based on that and not my talent.

We're hashing up old wounds, sorry, but Haley why were you so angry?

Haley: The tabloid covered that.

Was that the whole accident that was meant for Nathan?

Haley: Yeah

Do you care to elaborate on that?

Nathan: Can we not. That was a very upsetting time for both of us and we've discussed it enough. We've finally moved on so why don't you.

You're a little defensive Nathan are you hi—?

Haley: Please, those memories hurt regardless of the fact that we're past it. We almost lost our son. How or why are irrelevant. Those memories will always hurt.

So your split… Haley left you Nathan? She blamed you for the accident? You didn't go quietly though did you?

Nathan: No, I didn't. I kept calling her but she wouldn't take my calls. At the time I couldn't blame her. I still can't I almost cost her our son.

Speaking of your son, you just recently reconciled so before that was there a custody dispute or something?

Haley: No, Nathan was…he quietly stepped aside and let me raise our son.

Nathan: I had hurt her enough and our little guy almost didn't make it into the world because of me so I didn't feel like it was my place to try to fight for custody or even visitations. Haley was great though she didn't want to see me but she wanted me to be a part of Keith's life so she let my brother bring him to visit me.

She didn't want to see you? You say that literally like she went out of her way to avoid you?

Haley: I didn't want to see him. I had friends help me avoid him if necessary. It was bad something I'm not proud of but I was so hurt and so angry.

I'll say. So then after almost two years of not talking or seeing each other how did you end up back together?

Nathan: I've never stopped loving her. I never could and never will, believe me I tried but she's it for me. All I needed was for Haley to forgive me, see me, and talk to me. After a while I gave up hope that she would but I never stopped loving her. I figured she was never coming back.

Ok that's all nice and sweet but it doesn't really answer my question. Haley, do you want to give it a shot? How did you end up back together?

Haley: Love is a complicated emotion. I was so angry at Nathan. So angry I was blind. Well, not literally blind but I sure didn't want to see him. Right after the accident when Nathan told me it was his fault I would look at him and see what I almost lost. Then when Keith was born it got worse because I could literally see my son. He wasn't just a life inside of me he was my world and I almost lost him. I couldn't look at Nathan without blaming him, without hurting, without seeing what he almost cost me and I was sure that would never change. I made it a point not to see him I even avoided being place I knew he'd be, which wasn't hard with touring.

I wanted a break this summer. I knew Nathan was going to Europe so I knew going back home would be safe. Fate had a different plan for this summer. Nathan broke his ankle and ended up home and before either of us knew the other was there we bumped into each other. I literally hadn't seen him in over a year and a half not in person anyway. When I saw him the anger was gone the blame was gone my son was fine and all the feelings for Nathan that I was sure would never go away were gone and the one feeling I buried and hoped would go away hadn't. I love him, never stopped never will. Anger is a complicated emotion too, powerful, it masks other emotions and if you let it, it takes control. The more you love someone the more you feel other emotions for that person as well that's why the anger was so strong. There's a thin line between love and hate. It's cliché but true sometimes love and hate can be intertwined. We had a lot of growing up to do, me especially. We realized we can't run from love even when it hurts.

Wow, that's really personal and deep. So things are good now?

Nathan: Yeah as long as we talk to each other always let each other in then we'll be ok. Love isn't just complicated it's strong and forgiving and it'll always pull people together but it's not always enough. Love is the most important thing in a relationship but without help working out the complications love can't hold a relationship together.

So what is next for Nathan and Haley Scott?

Nathan and Haley together: You'll see!

"Wow, that was quite an interview," Lucas said putting down People magazine on his coffee table, "you got really personal Hales."

"I know, I hate the world knowing that much about me but I…it was the truth," she said.

"Maybe they'll leave it alone now that they know," Nathan said.

"So how are you guys doing, I mean after the other day," Lucas asked.

"We're good," Nathan said. "I'm manning up."

"Good because you guys need to be together I'm not sure the world could survive another Nathan and Haley separation," Lucas said laughing. "So how's Keith doing?"

"He's better, well seems better but he's still a little blah," Haley said, "the doctor said it would take a couple days or more for him to be normal again."

There was a knock on the door and Lucas answered. "Hey Rach, I wasn't expecting you but you're just in time for lunch. You guys don't mind do you," he said turning to ask Nathan and Haley.

"No," Nathan said shaking his head as he turned to look at Haley.

She looked away uneasily, "I guess not," she said as she put a blanket over Keith who had fallen asleep on the couch.

"Maybe I should just come back later," Rachel said.

"No," Haley stood up, "come in, stay for lunch."

The four of them sat down for lunch and talked a little. It wasn't the most comfortable situation but it was a step forward for Rachel and Lucas and the acceptance of their friendship.

"You did good Hales," Nathan said as they climbed into the car.

"I tried," she sighed.