Hey, look at me, another chapter less then a month after the last. I rock. On a side note I just saw the biggest mountain of toilet paper in a grocery store that I have ever seen in my life. I had two thoughts, one if I pulled a package out from the bottom would it trigger a massive TP avalanche and what would my obituary then read, and two how many trees does it take to keep our bottoms clean? Just thoughts, people, just thoughts. Here we go…

Haley was haphazardly folding her clothes into her bag when Brooke tentatively came to stand in the doorway.

"Haley, what are you doing?" Brooke asked in disbelief. "You don't have to leave. Your flight isn't until tomorrow."

Haley snapped her suitcase closed without sparing Brooke a glance. "I'm catching the next fight out. My cab should be here in a moment."

Haley made to walk through the doorway, but Brooke made no attempt to get out of the way. "Please, Haley, don't go. Let's just talk about this."

A cold laugh rippled out of Haley's throat. "Believe me, I'm going to talk about this. I have a feeling it will factor into many of my conversations when I get home."

With that Haley nudges past Brooke and heads down the stairs, her friend close on her heels.

"So that's it, you're just going to tell him? You're not even going to talk to Peyton about it. Hear her side?" A desperate edge has entered Brooke's voice.

"As I see it Peyton has had plenty of time to talk about this with Luke. Her time has run out and now I'm the one that's going to have to break the news—"

"There are things you don't know—"

Haley stops as she crosses the foyer slipping her carryon over her shoulder. "You know, Brooke, there are times I don't understand you're friendship with Peyton. You two have betrayed each other, kept secrets… Luke and I have been best friends just as long as the two of you… And I can't imagine keeping anything from him… Especially something as big as this." Her eyes lock with Brooke's. "Please, don't ask me too."

Brooke breaks eye contact, looking down at the ground as she realizes that Haley knew her next tactic would be to throw herself down at her feet and beg her not to let the cat out of the bag. A honk sounds on the street signaling the arrival of Haley's cab. Brooke is suddenly desperate for a whole other reason as she looks up and sees her friend turning towards the door.

"Haley…"

Haley turns back her hand on the knob and looks at Brooke expectantly.

"Hales, please don't stay mad at me."

Haley lets out an exasperated sigh and drops her bag, flipping her hands towards herself. "Come here!"

Brooke rushes forward and the girls share a tight hug, before Haley pulls away tweaking a lock of Brooke's hair.

"Of course I won't stay mad at you." Haley reassures her. "You know I love you more than my luggage."

Both girls smile and Brooke walks her down to her taxi, trying only once or twice more to convince her to at least stay until her regular flight tomorrow. Haley sticks to her guns and after one last hug is headed back to Tree Hill. Brooke watches the car until it is out of sight before walking back into the house. She crosses to the patio and sits down on a lounger watching the waves crash against the beach. Finally shaking herself out of her thoughts she slips her hand into her pocket, pulling out her cell phone. She presses speed dial and waits.

"Hi. Haley knows about you and Jake—"

She pauses listening to the frantic rant on the other end of the line, cutting Peyton off, as she grows hysterical. "Yes, she knows about you and Jake, and yes, she is going to tell Lucas, but she doesn't know the rest… I think it's time you went home."

Late that evening Nathan and Lucas are planted in front of the TV locked in on Xbox. Every now and then Lucas glances over at his nephew who had crawled from the blanket on the floor by the TV, over to the front door and now sat in front of it, eyes wide and staring. It was starting to freak Lucas out. Nathan had no such problem as he focused on creaming his brother at the game.

"Umm… Nate?"

"Yeah? OH!" Nathan exclaimed as he rapidly pressed the buttons sending his score higher.

Lucas cringed, and tried some make up tactical maneuvers of his own, with limited success as he tried to broach the subject sensitively. "Your kid is acting weird. He's staring at a door."

Without pausing the game Nathan glanced over at Lucas with one eyebrow raised. "Maybe he takes after his uncle. Aren't you the one Brooke calls 'Broody'?"

Lucas looks back at the game. "So?"

"Brooding is just another way of saying staring at something. Hell, I keep you around, so it's no excuse to get rid of my kid." Nathan says with a crooked grin.

Lucas can't help but chuckle and then it grows into a full laugh as he takes out one of Nathan's men. "Fair enough, but come on, Nate, look at him."

Nathan glances back at his boy who hasn't left that spot by the door in the past half hour, the only change is which hand he has shoved in his mouth. Nathan shrugs again to his brother, and he thinks for a moment pressing the control pads before speaking.

"Haley and I read this book about how parents shouldn't over-stimulate their kids—Oh! Did you that! … He's not sticking his finger in a socket, or drinking bleach…He's entertaining himself… So, yeah, sure I admit it's kinda weird, but he's a bit of a weird kid so what are you gonna do?"

For a moment Lucas casts his brother an incredulous look, but then shrugs seeing that it does make some sort of sense. They refocus on the game until a short time later Raine starts lifting his arms up and making little yelping noises. Before either one of the brothers can formulate a response they hear the jingle of keys, then stare in openmouthed astonishment as Haley walks through the front door. Lucas glances at Nathan. "Seriously, he's freaking me out."

Haley's eyes have locked on her son and she drops to her knees and gathers him tightly into her arms. His head tucks into her shoulder and his hand latches onto a fist full of her hair, as if he'd lost her once and was not about to let it happen again. He makes small contented cooing noises as she speaks to him. "There's my big boy. I missed you so much. I love my big strong boy soooo much!"

"I remember when she used to talk to me that way." Nathan muses.

"Ewwww." Lucas groans.

Haley laughs as she stands up and walks towards her husband who happily meets her halfway. Pulling her into his arms he kisses her with a passion that surprises them both and grosses Lucas out.

"Watch it. You're gonna squish my nephew."

Nathan ignores Luke, and focuses on her. "Not that I'm not glad you're home, but what are you doing here? I thought your flight wasn't due until tomorrow?"

Haley's smile faltered for a moment and that was all Nathan needed to see, to know something was up. "Are you okay?"

Haley's smile locks into place. "I'm fine. I just missed you guys too much. I decided to catch an earlier flight home."

Nathan smiles and winks at her. She squeezes his arm and then looks down and Raine. "How about a bath and bed for you?"

"Do you need a hand?" Nathan asks.

"Nah, and besides I think we need some Mama and baby time. My chest is killing me."

Lucas looks confused for a moment. "What does that have to do with—" Then it clicks in and he cringes. "Never mind."

"They're boobs Lucas. That's what they're for."

Lucas groans again and his head rolls back on the couch. Nathan laughs as he sits back down beside his brother, picking up the game controller.

"Don't look at me. I think they have a few other fun uses myself."

"Excuse me, I have to rip my ears off."

Haley's laughter tinkles down the hall as she walks towards the nursery. They have far too much fun in the torturing of her best friend. As she lay Raine down on the change table a frown marred her brow, at the thought of what she had to tell him and at trying to figure out how to tell him. A soft coo brought her attention back to the baby in front of her and she was smiling again. She tickled her fingers up his belly and joined him in his giggles. She blew a few wet kisses across his belly before cuddling him too her again. "Let's go, baby."

An hour later she was gently shutting the door to his bedroom, her hand resting on the door as she listened, waiting for his cry. When she heard nothing she turned with a smile and was surprised to see Nathan standing at the end of the hall, staring at her. Waiting for her. Her mouth went dry as she watched him slowly pull his shirt over his head. She started backing up towards their bedroom and he followed her like a panther stalks its prey. As her back touched the cool wood of their door, her hand fumbled for the knob, twisting it open just as he rushed her lifting her into his arms. Her gasp echoing down the hall just before the door clicked closed.

Yet another hour later Nathan rolled to her side, pulling her into his arms. She cuddled into his chest as he pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. "Now, that we've settled a few pressing matters, are you gonna tell me the real reason you came home early?"

She peeked up at him before looking down and watching her hand trace circles across his abdomen. "Yes, but hold onto your socks, because this is a doozie."

TahDah! Enjoy! And please feel free to spend some time thinking about toilet paper…