Chapter 20

Haley sighed contentedly coming out of her sleep as she trailed her hand absentmindedly up and down his chest from where she lay snug in her arms. She relished in the complete feeling of calmness that surrounded her.

Nathan shifted a little coming out of his sleep and she smiled at his groggy face and bed hair. 'Hey you.' Haley said softly as she leaned up leaving a quick peck on his lips.

'Hey..' Nathan said, his voice thick with sleep as he sent her that adorable crinkled smile. 'Last night was real huh?'

'It was very real.' Haley smiled as she leaned into kiss him again slipping her tongue into his mouth as they kissed each other softly for several minutes.

'Now I could get used to waking up to that.' Nathan teased her as she pulled away and snuggled back into his side.

'Hmm…' Haley sighed contentedly. 'Me too.' She felt Nathan pull her snugly into his arms as she rested her head against his chest.

Seconds later the knock came to the door…'Haley-bop..'

Nathan jumped practically throwing Haley off him to the other side of the bed.

'Seriously…' She mouthed back to him.

'Haley-bop…' Her dad said again grinning to himself behind the door. 'I'm just letting you know you left your pants in the living room sweetheart and your mom is going to be back in an hour.'

'Thank dad.' Haley said with an eye roll knowing full sure her dad was grinning on the other side. 'You didn't happen to pick them up did you?'

'No I thought I'd let Nathan do that seen as he's the one that took them off you.'

Nathan groaned then rubbing his hands over his face as Haley shook her head not even bothering to reply. 'Dammit Haley.' He mumbled only to hear her giggling to herself. 'You think this is funny.'

'Oh come on it's a little funny…' She said highly amused at Nathan's rattled appearance.

'It's a little disturbing that's what it is..'

'Oh come on, you're almost ten years too late…I'm pretty sure dad's not going to give you the talk.' She teased him as she scooted back over beside him.

'Funny.' Nathan deadpanned. 'I'm not leaving this room until he is gone, I actually won't be able to look him in the face.' He could feel Haley's head shaking against his chest then. 'And you're still laughing.'

'I don't think you would have been this afraid at 17…'

'I'm not afraid.' Nathan retorted.

'Right…' Haley drawled teasingly. 'Come on they practically think we've been doing it since we rocked up to Tay's wedding as a couple…hell mum thinks we did when we were teenagers.'

Nathan just rolled his eyes. 'All them nights I was sneaking in huh?' He said with a fond smile.

'Yea.' Haley smiled back from where her head was perched on his chest.

They lay in comfortable silence for the longest time until Haley spoke again. 'You remember that night on the balcony at the wedding reception…'

'Yea…' Nathan said as he continued stroking her arm softly.

'I told you I wanted a love that could take me away from all of this…the noise, the pressure, expectations….all of it..' Haley leaned up then propping herself up on her elbows so she could face him fully. 'This takes me away from it Nathan, you always have…I just never realised it.'

He swallowed hard at her words.

'Sometimes I think both of us were fighting it without ever knowing and I guess it just makes sense now….why I've always felt this sort of longing or like I've been missing something, it's been you….it's always been you.' Haley admitted softly swallowing hard, she watched as that adorable crooked smile of his adorned his face at her words as he leaned up, his hand came up to cup her cheek softly before he leaned in and kissed her so gently and soothingly, the kiss was so full of love and affection she felt it sparking every nerve ending in her body.

'I love you so much, I could never imagine my life without you in it…' Nathan whispered pulling away ever so slightly from her lips, their hot breath mingling together.

'Good because you're not going to.' She whispered back to him as they kissed softly once more.

Their kisses soon grew more heated as Haley straddled him. He groaned into her mouth feeling her rock her hips against him creating the most tortuous friction. 'Dammit Haley you're killing me.' Nathan groaned out then as his hands rubbed soft circles into her hips.

'What?' She said coyly.

'You know what..' He said grinning at that look on her face.

'No..I think you'll have to remind me.' She teased as she bent down leaving a series of kisses down his muscular chest, her hair tickling against his skin creating a tantalising sensation.

'Pants in the living room ring a bell…' Nathan barely got out feeling his body react to her touches. He smiled as he felt her chuckle against his skin before she leaned up. 'Fair enough.' Haley mused as she clambered off him

'Hey…' Nathan said holding onto her hips. 'It doesn't mean you have to leave.' He tugged her back against him, her back snuggled in against his chest as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

'Now whose being a tease?' Haley whispered with a smile on her face as Nathan kissed and sucked on her neck gently.

'You just taste so good…'He mumbled against her neck.

'Nathan…' Haley got out breathlessly as she sucked hard on her weak spot.

He pulled away reluctantly. 'I know, I know….damn we need to get back to New York.'

She giggled at that and he smiled. 'I missed that sound.' He said as he laid back down again pulling her against him.

'Maybe we should just wait until dad goes….'

'And then your mom comes back..'

'We can do it before then.'

Nathan chuckled. 'Seriously it's like we're teenagers..'

'Except if this happened when we were teenagers I think it would have been seriously awkward.' Haley mused.

'You would have made it awkward Haley I would have been fine.'

She scoffed at that leaning up on her elbow to face him. 'You're kidding right? You're the one that like ran away after we first kissed.'

'I did not run away.'

'Yes you did back to the hotel room like a baby.'

'Well that's because I thought you were going to slap me.' Nathan reasoned.

Haley shook her head at him. 'You were so awkward the next day..' She smiled now remembering how edgy he had been.

'No I was not; you were the one acting all strange..'

'Admit it you were worse than me.' Haley said defiantly.

'No I was fine; it didn't affect me. You're the one that couldn't even look at me.' Nathan said.

'Admit it or I take away the sex card..'

'Wh…you can't do that.' Nathan scoffed. They'd only just got together.

'Yes I can.' Haley said playfully biting her lip.

'Well fine.' Nathan said as he pulled away from her and climbed out of bed working hard to keep the smile from coming on his face at her petulant stare. 'What?' He said as if the last few seconds didn't happen.

'Well fine?' Haley retorted back with a huff then as she sat up pulling the sheet around herself.

Nathan couldn't hold back the chuckle then.

'Your mean.' She pouted.

'Well I was thinking we can't have sex today anyway; I mean some people don't even kiss on a first date..' Nathan said amused as he slipped on his boxers and jeans smirking at her.

'First date?' Haley said quirking her eyebrow, a little smirk playing on her face.

'Yep, first date.' Nathan said with a smile as he fixed his shirt. 'Now I've to try and get out the door before your dad harasses me. I'll pick you up at 6 Hales.' He said with a goofy grin not even giving her the chance to respond.

'Nathan…wait…' Haley called after him but he was already gone out the door. 'Dammit he knows I hate surprises.' She flopped back down on the bed then thinking about it all. What were they even going to be doing? As she thought about it she couldn't help but keep the big girly grin off her face, god did she feel like a teenager again falling in love for the first time with the boy that had her heart from the moment they met.

She couldn't believe it was even possible to feel this giddy and excited about a first date when she already knew him so well and yet at the same time, these feelings and the way he looked at her, the way her heart jumped at the sight of him….all of it was so new. Haley glanced to her dresser where the picture of Nathan giving her a piggyback stood tall and she couldn't help but feel her heart flutter even more.

XXXXX

'So you've taken me to your old stomping ground..' Haley said glancing around remembering fondly.

'This is part 1…' Nathan reminded her with that gorgeous grin of his as he took Haley's hand in his and led her over towards the bleachers.

'So I was thinking earlier we are kind of cheating the first date scenario seen as we kind of know almost everything there is to know about one another….' He teased glancing her way and Haley just smiled at him as she straddled the bleacher watching as he sat down facing out towards the court, he was still holding her hand in his rubbing it gently.

'I figured it might be nice to tell you some things that you never heard….well because I guess I never wanted to bring it up.'

Haley held his gaze with a curious smile. 'What do you mean?' She was pushing herself closer to him like an excited child. He couldn't help but chuckle.

'Well you know how you told me last night about that freak out you had when we were in the car that night…' Haley just nodded.

'Well I kind of had a freak out as well but I very quickly shut it down and figured it was just a moment of insanity…'

'When…' Haley said bursting with curiosity now.

'The night of the state championship….' Nathan said then as he squeezed her hand softly in his.

3…2…..1…And Ravens for the win!

The crowd erupted into cheers, feet pounded against the vinyl floors jumping up and down, hands slapped together, roars of disbelief as Lucas sunk the final shot of the game. The Ravens were state champions at last.

Coloured confetti fell all around them.

Nathan was suddenly surrounded by a realm of people clasping their hands around him, congratulating him and telling him how long they had waited for this moment.

He wormed his way through his fellow teammates and the crowd looking for that familiar pair of brown eyes. Glancing to the left he noticed Trevor spinning Haley around as she hugged him tightly and he felt an odd disheartening so juxtaposed against the absolute triumph of that very moment.

And yet the sting was so prominent he had to turn his gaze away from the two not truly understanding what was going on with him.

'Nathan….' Her voice had him spinning around almost instantly breaking out into a smile as she came running toward him and jumped into his arms, her legs automatically wrapping around his waist. Nathan stumbled back a little, surprised by her actions. Haley and him were always playful around each other but they never this close and it had every nerve ending in his body sparking with something so compelling he couldn't understand it.

'Hales….' Nathan chuckled as she squeezed him so tight before she leaned back.

He noticed the tears shining in her eyes and for some reason none of this was playful anymore. He swallowed hard at her words. 'We dreamed this Nathan. We dreamed it.' She smiled through her tears as she looked into his blue eyes.

She watched him, watching her both seemingly caught in a trance.

Her words made him nervous and yet he knew he wasn't nervous, but he felt nervous. There was a twisting feeling in his stomach that he couldn't pinpoint. He could see her watching him, she was getting confused. He hadn't said anything for a really long time.

Really long. But why did everything feel so different?

'Haley….'

Nathan dropped her to her feet as if he'd being burned.

Haley glanced at him questionably before turning at the sound of Trevor's voice. 'You ready?' She nodded quietly.

Trevor slapped Nathan on the shoulder. 'Great game man.'

'Yea you too.' He replied mustering up a smile.

'Will see you at the café.'

Haley just sent him a small smile rubbing her hand down his arm as she walked away alongside Trevor leaving Nathan standing there confusingly put out over the fact she was leaving with him.

'I don't think it's too serious you know.' His mother's words broke him from his trance as he turned around from where he watched the pair walk out of the gym.

'Huh…?' Nathan said as his mom approached him.

'Haley.' Karen said knowingly shaking her head softly at her son's obvious denial.

'Oh well it's not really any of my business.' Nathan mumbled as he slipped his hands into the pockets of his basketball shorts.

'Please you've been guarding any guy that come nears her like a watch dog since you were 9.' Karen teased him.

Nathan just rolled his eyes good naturedly as his mom brought him in for a hug.

'I'm so proud of you my boy.' Karen said with tears in her eyes as she held him tight. She pulled back then as she wiped her eyes. 'But sometimes you can be really silly.'

'Jee thanks mom..' Nathan teased her as they separated.

Karen just smiled at him through teary eyes as she grabbed onto his hands. 'You know I never hold back.' She began smiling more as Nathan chuckled at her words. 'But I've tried holding back and letting this run its course….'

'What are you talking about?'

'Haley…'

'Mom…' Nathan began interrupting her.

'No honey, please just let me say this and I won't mention it again..' Nathan gave her a knowing look. 'Well I'll try not to.' Karen said.

'I know you're best friends and maybe you're afraid, maybe you think you'll ruin it but I truly believe it could change your life more than anything, more than all of this here tonight ever could….'

'I don't really know what you expect me to do mom…' Nathan mumbled.

'Just don't let her go honey because you are afraid, you don't want to be looking back years down the line and wondering what if….we both know what that can do to a man.' Karen said knowingly as she kissed him on the cheek before walking away.

'Wow….' Haley said softly as she listened to Nathan's words. 'I mean….Karen used to tease us all the time but it never got serious…'

'You know that was the last conversation we had about you..' Nathan admitted softly. Two weeks after that he had lost her. He felt Haley squeeze his hand then and he looked over towards her with a small smile. 'Obviously I couldn't tell you at the time because it freaked me out….'

'You were acting really odd that night..' Haley nudged him softly then and Nathan just shook his head at her.

'You know you left the door unlocked people could have come up here…..' Haley chirped cheerfully as she came up to the rooftop noticing Nathan sitting on their usual makeshift cement bench. 'And once they saw my cool lights well our secret hangout spot would be on everyone's agenda…' Haley mused to herself as she came up beside Nathan nudging into his shoulder playfully as she sat up beside him. 'What's up buddy?'

'Just wanted some quiet that's all.' Nathan admitted.

'What? You're like the star of the show tonight you should be down there soaking this in and rubbing it in Dan's face.' Haley teased. Her musings barely got a smile out of him.

'Ok did he say something to you?' She wondered then if Nathan was actually upset. She watched as he tugged on his tie then rather forcefully before dropping his hands down. She smiled as she watched him sitting there dressed in usual game attire, a light blue dress shirt with a tie. Haley reached out to fix his rumpled shirt and Nathan jerked away from her completely.

'What?' Haley said almost laughing at how jerky he was being. 'Your shirts all crumpled…'

'I got it.' Nathan snapped and he winced at how that came out.

'Ok did I do something?' Haley wondered then as she pulled away from him and hopped off the cement bench.

Nathan's gaze met her eyes then and he could see she was visibly more upset or even worried than she was angry. He couldn't help but let his eyes roam her body then taking in the simple light blue sweatshirt she was wearing with ravens across her chest alongside her indigo jeans, her long blonde hair falling in its usually loose waves past her shoulders.

Haley watched his gaze suddenly and for some god unknown reason was feeling self-conscious. Why is he…she stopped her thoughts from even going there, there was no way he was actually checking her out…this is Nathan for peats sake, stop being ridiculous. Haley crossed her arms over her chest trying to diffuse some normality into the situation again. 'Nathan….' She tried to gather his attention again.

'Where's Trevor?' He asked her then.

Haley was pretty sure she was given him the most quizzical look ever now. What had that to do with anything? 'Uh last I seen of him he was playing stupid arm-wrestling wars with Mouth and Skills…' Haley tried to joke. 'Why?'

'I'm surprised you're up here that's all.'

His tone didn't go a miss by her and it bothered her some. 'What's that supposed to mean Nathan?'

'It's nothing.' Nathan quipped coolly.

She didn't like his tone and she sure as hell didn't deserve it. 'Ok spit it out….what did he or I do?'

'You didn't do anything; you just haven't been allowed to leave his side so I don't really feel like having to deal with his bitching and moaning when he finds you up here with me.'

Haley scoffed. 'God Nathan we've been through this he knows there's absolutely nothing between us…jeesh what is your problem? You're the one that told me to go for it.'

'Yea for a prom date Haley, I didn't tell you to hang off him…you're starting to act like Theresa…' He felt Haley shove him so harshly he almost stumbled off the bench.

'Don't you dare compare me to her.' Haley fumed at him 'You know I came up here to find my best friend, I wanted to tell him that I've something planned for us to celebrate tomorrow so if you find him maybe you could pass on the message.' She spat before she went to walk away from him then and he scrambled up after her latching onto her arm in time.

'Haley….wait.' Nathan said grimacing as he noticed the tears in her eyes. Shit. 'I'm sorry I didn't mean that…I swear I don't know where that came from.' He dropped her arm then eying her cautiously.

Haley expelled a soft sigh as she glanced up at him. She didn't want to fight with him. Tonight had been amazing. That moment they had shared earlier had been so special. What had changed in the space of two hours, was he really that bothered by Trevor?

'Did something happen? Did someone say something to you about Trevor…..he's going to ditch me by prom isn't he?' Haley rambled to herself now coming up with all kinds of crazy ideas in her head for why Nathan was acting like he hated the guy all of a sudden.

'No….no quite the opposite actually.' Nathan mumbled. 'I'm sorry Haley, I just miss hanging out with you that's all and I feel like everything's happening so fast at the moment and I just….I miss you.'

She smiled softly at that as she stepped into his embrace wrapping her arms around his torso as his read rested on top of hers. 'Nice save.' Haley mumbled against him as they held onto each other for a little longer than necessary.

'I think I was jealous…' Nathan said then shaking his head at his own stupidity. Haley just smiled. 'Can you actually believe he ditched me before prom in the end, all because I wouldn't sleep with him that night of the championship.' Haley said unamused.

'I could still waste that guy.' Nathan said and she just shook her head.

'I wonder if your mom is looking down on us now like finally…' Haley said laughing gently.

'Probably. I told her about us you know when I went to see her. I think that was the first time I ever actually talked to her like that….'

Haley shuffled closer to him on the bleachers then brining his hand up to her lips leaving a soft kiss there. 'I don't think I said this enough to you after it happened but I admire your strength so much and the person you've become especially with the way you lost her Nathan..'

'Where do you think I get it from?' Nathan said knowingly as he turned to face her then, his blue eyes gazing into her tear-stained beautiful brown ones as he slowly leant forward gently capturing her lips, a soft content sigh escaping him as Haley's tongue slowly entered his mouth teasing his so delicately. Their soft moans echoed through the vacant space as the slow, arduous kiss consumed them entirely. Breaking away with a gentle smile on both of their lips they pulled back both a little embarrassed and in awe of how it all felt between them now.

XXXXX

'Well part 2 has definitely made up for part 1..' Haley said teasingly as she dropped her knife and fork down on her plate, the two of them having finished up their lovely outdoor meal at the market street dock.

'You remember sophomore year we'd come down here and you make fun of all the couples being all lovely dovey?' Haley teased him as she kicked his shin playfully. She smiled at that playful gleam in his eye and that familiar boyish grin on his face.

'Oh yea and where are you going with this?' Nathan teased back.

'Just you used to pick on me all the time for cooing over them and look at you now…' Haley quipped as she leaned her chin to rest on her hands rather smugly.

Nathan chuckled at that, that husky laugh that sent shivers right through her. God, she was gone for. 'What can I say? You've always had me wrapped around your finger you know…'

Haley just smiled sweetly at him. 'Tonight has been really nice, thanks Nathan.' She said softly as she reached across lacing her fingers with his.

He smiled at her feeling the twist of feelings tighten in his tummy, his heart pounding and for the life of him he couldn't understand how he could possibly feel nervous around her even after all this time.

'I'm going to tell you something but you have to promise not make fun of me…'

Haley gave him a look then and Nathan just stared at her challengingly. 'Fine…ok I won't make fun of you I promise.'

He could see her biting her lip holding in the laugh and he shook his head continuing anyway. 'I was actually nervous for tonight…I still am…' He mumbled as he reluctantly caught her glance again. Haley was looking at him so lovingly in that moment he felt his heart pound even harder.

'Me too…' She said biting her lip softly as she placed a fallen strand of hair behind her ear.

Her hand was still holding onto his across the table and she watched as he brought it up to his lips leaving a gentle kiss there, a move so delicate and affectionate which had her heart racing. She was so in love with him, it suddenly all made sense; the longingness she felt through her college years, the confusion, the nostalgic ache for the past as though she had left something behind and she didn't know what it was. But she knew now.

'I don't want to go back tomorrow.' Haley admitted softly then.

'We're together now Haley going back to New York isn't going to change that.' Nathan said softly.

'No, I know that…it's just….it's been nice spending time here with you.'

He could see the hesitation pass over her features. 'Is everything ok?'

'Yea of course it is, don't mind me….I'm just being silly.' Haley tried to pass it off inwardly berating herself for even saying those words.

He wanted to press her further on this, there was something different about her. Something completely unrelated to them and their situation. And he couldn't for the life of him pinpoint what it was but anytime he brought up New York she seemed to grimace a little. It's like she didn't want to think about it or talk about it or anything. 'Hales is this about New York?' He pondered gently.

'No not at all. I'm happy there Nathan especially now that we're together. New York was never the problem it was me….'

'Ok you just don't seem to want to go back….' He said concerned.

'It's just nice here away from it all, I've kind of got that bittersweet feeling you get on like the second last day of your holiday and you know its soon time to go.'

Nathan smiled at her words. 'I know but it's going to be different when we go back Hales, we're together now.'

She smiled at his words but inwardly it did little to appease her concern over the revelations that lay ahead for them and their friends.

'As long as you're ok..'

'I am.' Haley said giving his hand a squeeze.

'Good because if something is bothering you no matter how silly you think it is you need to tell me ok.'

'I know.' She failed to look at him. She wanted so badly to tell him but she couldn't. She was just too scared.

'So I think I've an idea for part 3 of our date…' She quipped then just as the waiter finished tidying their table. She wasn't letting those silly thoughts ruin what had been the most wonderful first date with her best friend. She could bottle them up to tomorrow and just relish in all the excitedness and new feelings that tonight was awakening in them both.

'Oh yeah?' Nathan said arching his eyebrow at her smirking as he noticed that devious glint in her eye.

XXXXX

'Ok so this looks like way more fun in the movies…' Haley grumbled as she shifted herself once again on his lap trying to get into a comfortable position. Nathan just chuckled, his body shaking beneath.

'What's so funny now?' He hadn't stopped laughing the last few minutes. 'You're completely ruining the moment you know.' Haley goaded him as she gave up even trying to open the buttons on his shirt. She stared at him with that petulant look in her eyes he had become so familiar to.

'It's just….you're so awkward Haley..' He teased and he couldn't even try and bite back the smirk on his face.

'I'm awkward….' She scoffed. 'You should have seen what you look like trying to get into the back seat of this damn car.'

'I'm tall…'Nathan reasoned.

'Yea well you're not the one who has to sit on another person's lap in a cramped space..'

'We can do it that way if you want but it might be a little..'

'Oh shut up…' Haley hit him playfully then as he continued to chuckle.

'Stop making fun of me…' She pouted

'I'm not….'

His smirk told her otherwise. 'Whatever just because I wasn't the one having sex in the back seat of my car during high school doesn't mean I can't do it.'

'Trust me I know you can do it.' Nathan goaded her even further as his hands slipped up underneath her blouse rubbing against her skin.

'Oh you know what I mean…' Haley said trying to keep her cool but god the way he was touching her now, his hands felt so hot and rough against her balmy back. She grinded herself against him enjoying the low moan that action received.

'And I never had sex in the back seat of the car at least not until now…' Nathan mumbled hotly against the skin of her neck as he sucked and bit softly on her collarbone eliciting the most erotic cries from her.

Haley reluctantly pulled back then. 'What?'

'I haven't.' He said without a hint of teasing or joking present in his form now. 'Only you.' He smiled softly moaning as Haley's mouth met his in a ferocious kiss, her tongue so hot and wet against his, the fell of her body grinding into his coupled with her mouth on him was nearly enough to send him over the edge right then and there and he knew he wouldn't last long. Nathan shifted her up a little as he expertly pulled her mini skirt and panties down her legs groaning immediately as her hot, wet heat dampened his pants. He felt Haley's hands undoing his jeans then and he shifted to get them off only knocking into the seat belt buckle in the process.

He heard Haley giggling against his neck then at his obvious awkwardness and he couldn't stifle his own chuckle. 'Shut up.' He said knowing full well where her mind was going.

Haley just looking at him so innocently sexily, biting down her lip where her lipstick was slightly smudged from their heavy make out session. She was so sexy. He felt her tugging down his jeans then just enough so she could straddle him again, her wet heat sliding right across his length. 'Fuck…' Nathan groaned as he watched her trying so hard not to just plunge himself inside of her.

Finally the torturous yearning ceased as she lowered herself on top of him and nothing ever felt so perfect as the feeling of her surrounding him like that; every part of her.

'You're perfect…' Nathan whispered hotly against her, their sweaty foreheads touching as their bodies moved together in a slow, erotic rhythm, the steam of their love making mirrored in the fogged-up windows around them.

'Oh god Haley please…' Nathan groaned as he began to build up a faster rhythm up and down on his cock. He needed more; he was so close to that blissful edge wanting to hold on to this all-consuming pleasure for as long as possible. 'It feels so good doesn't it?' Haley whispered erotically in his ear enjoying the low growl that emitted from him and she began to increase her pace as Nathan's trust came equally hard and fast and in seconds she was done for, her whole body shuddered against his as their lovemaking completely consumed her. Her walls clenched so tightly around his length and she felt him right there with her, his head fell against her neck as he chanted her name so hotly in breathless whispers.

The pair stayed like that for several minutes before Haley pulled back running her hand through Nathan's damp bangs as she left a shaky kiss on his forehead. He glanced her way then through hooded eyes and she sent him a soft smile.

'That was….' He began still trying to catch his breath.

'Yea…' Haley said softly and no more words were need to be said. They smiled at each other like they had so many times before but it too carried with it the monumental air of change between them.

XXXXX

Haley continued to stir the pasta sauce as her phone started buzzing from the counter beside her. She instantly started smiling as she picked it up without even looking at it. 'Hello…' Haley said smoothly.

'OH…ew…ew…..gross you were totally waiting on a call from Nathan weren't you?' Brooke's whiny voice came down the other end of the line.

Haley rolled her eyes at her friend's over-dramatics. 'Since when were you grossed out by us?'

'Since you got back to New York and are going at it like a pair of horny teenagers you can't keep your hands off each other, it's disturbing me so you can imagine what it's doing to Lucas…'

Haley couldn't help but shake her head at her friend's silliness. They had only been back a week. While Brooke hadn't known Nathan and Haley since they were kids, Lucas had and he was still adjusting to their as he quoted ' constant playful foreplay.'

'Well I guess we did miss the teenager phase so we're just making up for lost time…'

Her words got a giggle out of Brooke then. 'So I'm just checking in so you guys know its 7pm on Saturday?'

Haley couldn't help but smile at Brooke's low-key demanding ways. 'Of course Brooke we wouldn't dare be late for your birthday drinks…'

'I'm going to let that one slide Haley James because you're all loved up and what not but I don't like your sarcasm missy…' Brooke joked on the line.

'you know I love you too Brooke…'

'Of course you do.'

Haley heard the front door close and glanced at the clock curiously noting it was just past 4. 'Listen I better go Nathan is here….' She began only to receive a teasing cat call on the phone.

'Remember to disinfect the kitchen table.' Brooke quipped and Haley hung up before she could even say anymore.

She was smiling softly to herself as she left the sauce on to simmer before walking over to the cupboards to pull out the sheets of spaghetti. She heard his footsteps coming in then. 'I'm cooking lasagne but I wasn't expecting you for two…' Haley turned then noticing the oddly worked up expression on Nathan's face.

'What is it?' She said dropping the lasagne sheets behind her.

'It's my job….Hales….I've been offered a job transfer to Calfornia...it's starting next week…' He seemed somewhere between astounded and amazed. As though he wanted it.

And it sent her into a spin. A whirl of panic.

'I'm pregnant…' She gasped out quietly watching as his face dropped.