Thank you for the reviews on the last chapter, I know lots weren't expecting the pregnancy Naley are definitely in for a journey in this fic. Enjoy the next chapter. :)

Chapter 7

Ignorance is bliss would acutely describe the situation between Nathan and Haley currently. Just pretend the baby isn't there and maybe it won't grow and pop out.

Only Haley could only get away with pretend for so long as evidenced by the recurring bouts of nausea until about mid-afternoon

Another week had passed between them and barely anything was said aside from him asking for assistance with menials task just like the one she was currently doing.

'You're late…' Nathan reprimanded as Haley came through the doors juggling the holder of caffeine as far away from her nose as she could.

She rolled her eyes.

Jade gave Haley a rather sorry look and Haley just smiled at her softly. If only she knew the full story. Funny how the two girls had actually bonded over their dislike for him now. Jade had it in for Nathan since he didn't show up for drinks and blatantly ignored her all the next day instead of apologising.

Haley propped the coffees down onto Nathan's desk rather awkwardly one of them spilling down the side of the cardboard onto immaculate surface.

'Dammit Haley why do you always have to be so damn clumsy?' Nathan jumped up a from where the liquid spilled over grabbing a tissue and wiping his desk.

'If I'm so damn clumsy why do you ask me to do it?' Haley snapped tired of his daily iirrateness. Jade took it as her opportunity ti slip out of the room knowing the pair when they got into their little heated debates wouldn't even notice her disappearance. 'God you know most people say thanks or maybe even smile when they see their morning coffee.'

'Not when it's coming from you.'

'Well how about you get Jade to get you it next time?' Haley sniped.

'She's my secretary you're my assistant there is a difference.'

Haley scoffed at his lame-ass comeback. 'I'm not your assistant I'm working on a team you oversee.' She reminded him stepping back from the strong scent of Americano that had her stomach twisting.

'Yea assist-ing me.' He repeated slowly as if he were speaking to a child.

He frowned the as he noticed Haley stepping away, it seemed she was about to say something but she stopped herself putting her hand up to her mouth as her eyes skirted his office floor hazardously.

'Haley…' He prodded cautiously eyeing her weird behaviour.

It maybe the first time she ever heard worry in his voice but she wasn't such a fool as to astute that worry was for her, more like his pristine office floors. And supposedly she was the uptight one.

Haley belched covering her hand over her mouth panicky.

Quickly catching on Nathan's eyes went wide as he jumped up from his leather chair grabbing the tinned bin for her and within seconds she was on her knees throwing up into it.

'God..' Nathan groaned. Impeccable timing he shaked his watch on his left wrist noting the time Mr. Harris the advertising executive for the Radisson was going to bloody love this one.

He watched as she held her head over the bucket for several seconds. 'Haley…' He prodded.

She lifted her head and their eyes met, her own watery from the exertion. Nathan didn't know what to say, the sight of her bent over his tin bin was briskly waking him up from is cave of denial he'd being hiding it which in fact was this office.

Haley sat back onto the floor feeling the swoosh of light headedness consume her still.

He frowned as he watched her. 'Haley…' He prodded again.

Ignoring him Haley barely made the two steps over to his back-leather couch as she curled her body onto it, the cool leather felt soothing against her sweaty frame.

'What are you doing?'

'I don't feel well..' She mumbled.

'Haley I've a meeting in here in 15 minutes you need to..' Nathan said glancing between her and the sick bucket.

'I'm sick Nathan..' She interrupted him.

'You're not sick your pregnant..'

'Thanks to you.' She spat back with her eyes closed.

'Dammit Haley…' He grouched as he went over to the large bay window opening it. No better place for the meeting than an office that now smelt like vomit.

'I really don't feel….' She belched again and Nathan ran for the bin dropping it down by the couch just in time for her to spew into it again. Just lovely.

She held her head over the bin trying to catch her breath before another round of nausea hit her like a giant wave.

Nathan grimaced standing to his feet just as his mother and Lucas came through the door.

What was with people and not fucking knocking anymore?

'Oh gosh Haley…' Karen said looking on at the young girl's head in Nathan's bin as she threw up violently. He closed his eyes gritting his teeth could this get any worse.

'She's fine.' He gritted out before realising he was only sticking his foot even further into the quicksand with that retort.

Karen crossed her eyes at her son's careless response.

'She doesn't look fine.' Lucas said pointedly from behind and Nathan just stared him down just daring him to even try. Karen didn't miss the look between the two brothers.

'What's going on?' She said.

'Haley said the coffee was making her feel nauseous yesterday.' Lucas said talking towards Nathan now. 'And you still asked her to do the coffee run today.'

'People do coffee runs all the time Lucas it's not like I'm treating her any differently to anyone else that works here.'

'Funny how Haley is doing more of them this week..'

'What has coffee runs got to do with any of this?' Karen said.

'I'm so sorry…' Haley mumbled pathetically, god she just wanted these pristine office floors to open up and swallow her whole - this couldn't be anymore humiliating.

'You want to tell her or will I..' Lucas ground out properly pissed off now with Nathan's complete coldness considering how wretched Haley actually looked. He didn't even seem to care.

'Lucas please…' Haley trembled softly finally letting her head to give him a pleading look which had Karen's patience waned entirely.

'What is going on here…' She demanded from her sons then.

'Look I have an important meeting in 10 minutes from now so you two need to go I'll deal with Haley..' Nathan said trying to usher them out of the office.

'Deal with her she's not a dog Nathan but you keep treating her like one…'

'Oh shut up Lucas I told you to let me handle it.'

'Stop it both of you and tell me what the hell is going on.' Karen shouted giving way to a tense silence evading the entire room.

'I'm pregnant…' Haley choked out. Karen's eyes widened in realisation. she didn't even have to ask call it mother's instinct or what but she knew immediately when she glanced up at both her son's. Nathan.

'Lucas can you leave us a moment?' Her voice was deathly calm. They knew that voice. Still scared them as much at 25 as it had at 15 maybe even more.

'I should…' Haley began as she pulled herself into a sitting position on the couch.

'Relax Haley you don't look so good.' Karen said tepidly noticing the beads of sweat on her forehead.

'I'm ok…'

'How long have you two known…'

Haley was breathing in some air trying to rebalance herself the urge to bolt out of the office so very strong.

'Nathan.'

He knew that stern voice. She was angry. So very angry.

'Two weeks.' He sighed. He couldn't bare to look in her eyes.

Karen's jaw clenched. 'Look at me.'

It took him a minute but when he eventually did he felt like curling into himself. Oh hell was she furious but that wasn't what scared him. She was disappointed.

'How many coffee runs and errands has this girl being doing. What's that some kind of punishment for carrying your child?' Karen spewed at him.

Even Haley winced at her harsh tone.

'Mom..' Nathan began trying to tepidly soften her. It never worked. He didn't even know why he was trying.

'No. Don't mom me…' Karen said as she stepped forward. 'Gosh Nathan you've pulled some real ringers through the years but this' She said as she glanced towards the blonde girl on his couch. 'Treating Haley like this.'

'It's morning sickness mom I….' Nathan failingly cut in but she shot him down immediately.

'You're being deliberately cruel….you should be ashamed of your behaviour, I know I am and I know your father would be turning in his grave at this.'

The comment had him shrinking back in disbelief. His mother, hell the whole family had thrown some words his way about his behaviours in the past few years but they never went there.

Never mentioned his father, maybe indirectly but not like this.

Nathan didn't say anything, instead his gaze just fell downward a sure sign he felt awful with himself.

And so he should Karen thought.

Haley watched the whole thing feeling even worse than before, she'd caused all this. Why did she fell like everything was just completely spiralling beyond her control since Nathan came into her life? If that wasn't an omen for how things were going to play out over the next 9 months she didn't know what was.

'I can't believe your only concern was this meeting when Haley is in your office like this. Go and get her some water now.' Karen ordered.

Haley would have almost laughed at the way he bolted at his mother's words if her own situation wasn't so pitiable. So that was the way to him. Mummy's boy. Who would have thought? 'Miss Roe I'm so sorry..' Her throat was dry form heaving.

'Haley you don't have to apologise.' Karen said softly.

God this was awful. She'd belch again if she had anything inside of her.

'No…this is just, this kind of thing….it's not me, it wasn't supposed to happen….' She sighed at her reckless description and her wary emotions. Good job convincing Haley. Tell his own mother that it was just sex. 'I'm just so sorry I don't want to come between you.'

'You haven't come between us. It's going to be ok believe me I know a thing or two about unplanned pregnancies…' Karen tried to make the girl feel better as she sighed inwardly, she wasn't wholly surprised by it. Of course she hadn't expected the pregnancy but she noticed the way her son was around this girl.

Nathan had been reacting to Haley much too strongly to not feel a thing.

Haley sighed feeling her balmy forehead. 'I should go.'

'I think you should take the day off.'

'Karen that will only make me feel worse really, I already feel incompetent. I can't..'

'Haley you're not incompetent if anything you've surpassed your capabilities in such a short expanse of time here it wouldn't hurt to just take an evening off from all this. It's on the prescription ok.'

Nathan came back into the room with a bottle of water silently passing it over to Haley. Haley took it from him without a word leaving her lips. Karen gave him a hard look the entire time.

'I'm stepping in for your meeting with Mr. Harris and you're going to take Haley home.'

'Mom…' Nathan began.

'And so help me god Nathan if you don' treat her like the man I raised you to be.' Karen didn't leave any room for argument as she grabbed Nathan's car keys off his desk shoving them into his face. 'As your boss that's an order I don't want to see you in here for the rest of the day.'

XXXXX

The car ride was deathly silent. Not a word passed between either of them.

Haley felt like curling up into a ball of shame and screaming or crying she wasn't sure which. Not exactly how she planned on her boss finding out about this predicament, throwing up in her son's office just lovely.

She just wanted this whole day to be over and it was only 2pm.

And then there was the comment made about Nathan's father and the stifling tension between him and his mother. She had noticed how Nathan had visibly flinched. That comment had hurt him. Good. Haley didn't have it in her heart for kindness towards him now.

Nathan cut the engine and if possible the uncomfortableness just grew between them.

Haley went to open the car door after another minute's silence. Of course he wasn't going to walk her up and make sure she got in ok. No it just wasn't him.

And in this moment she didn't want it to be. She just wanted as far away from him as possible.

She didn't need him to do this.

And she didn't want him.

'We haven't discussed this baby.' The words left his lips reflective of some kind of laborious task.

'After everything that happened that's really all you have to say to me..' Haley said disgusted with him.

'What do you want me to say Haley?' He blew out then. 'That this is ok….that we will work it out because I can't say that. It's not like you haven't thought about other options…'

The look she cut him then had him turning away from her as he stared stoically out the front window. 'No the only thing I have thought about is why in the hell did this have to happen with YOU. I mean yea I'm not ready for a child and the timing sucks but I'm not going to take it out on a poor innocent child I'm just disgusted with myself that you're the father..' She spat at him.

If her words affected him he didn't show it.

It made all her emotion seem futile.

'Yea and as the father I have a right, a say in this..'

'What a right to an abortion?' Haley said fiercely at him. 'Is that what you want a say in Nathan?'

He didn't answer.

'You're a coward.' Haley shot out as she got out of the car not looking behind her once.

XXXXX

The house was eerily quiet as Nathan stepped inside, at least she had left the front door open. He hoped the hours' drive out here wasn't completely futile. After he left Haley he'd gone back to the office in his living room and despite the hours put in it was hopeless, his head was somewhere else entirely.

Nathan winced at his mother sitting at the table her hand wrapped around a cup of tea seemingly looking through some sort of photo album.

He felt like he as 15 again sneaking in after having gone out to the party regardless of her wishes. God he wished it was that. He wished he could go back to then.

Life was different then.

It was easier. He was happier.

She was flicking through the pages ignoring him.

'Hi mom.' He said softly then.

Nothing.

'Is Haley ok?' She asked him after several more agonising silent seconds.

'Yea.' He barely mumbled.

'Is she ok Nathan?' Karen asked again.

'I don't know.' His voice was weary with emotion.

Karen sighed. 'Sit down.' The slightest softening in her tone was apparent to him.

Nathan pulled out the wooden chair slowly lowering himself to the table, his eyes didn't meet hers.

'I knew you felt something for her.'

Nathan's eyes shot up to his mother then.

'You can argue me on that point it doesn't matter now because of it I thought nothing would happen there because you have a real running record of running from anything real or good in your life…'

'Mom…' Nathan prodded.

'But you can't run from this my boy, you can't.' She pressed. 'And if you do..well then maybe I have lost you..'

'Nathan frowned at her words.

'It's been 8 years honey, when are you going to stop letting all that hurt eat you up and destroy everything good in your life?'

Nathan didn't say anything.

'The counselling it really worked for me and Lucas we gave it time, I thought you were too young and maybe time would help but it's not its only getting worse…'

'I'm not having this conversation mom, I told you talking to a stranger won't help me.'

'How do you know? You only sat in that room with us for ten minutes Nathan?'

'What's that going to do mom? Is it going to bring dad back, or will it change what happened to Jake…am I suddenly going to be ok with it?'

'No of course not but you learn to cope with it.'

'I am coping.'

'no you're not.' Karen said with a degree of sadness and finality. 'The boy Dan and I raised wouldn't treat Haley the way you did today, you're so far away from yourself it's like you don't even…' Karen faltered then. He could see the tears shining in her eyes.

'You need to talk to someone honey about your father, about the accident whatever it is that's eating you…just think about it.'

Nathan nodded his head but gave little of himself to her. Karen shook her head softly as she looked at her son, he really was just a broken boy behind it all but broken or not his behaviour was inexcusable.

'Nathan I was 19 when I find out I was having Lucas, it was completely unplanned…I was scared, fearful my whole life just changed. So has Haley's so has yours but you're not teenagers now…'

'What are you saying?'

'I'm saying you need to be there for her however that is going to look like…'

'Nathan..' She prodded gently then when he didn't say anything.

He looked up at her then and she could have sworn he was fighting off the onset of tears. It made a piece of her heart break.

He just shook his head as if the conversation was too much, it was too much and he pulled out of his chair and left her.

XXXXX

'He went home.' Peyton said as she slid into the seat beside Haley in the cafeteria. 'He was taking Lily to school this morning when I rang him, I think he's staying in Hudson for the weekend.'

Oh course he was. Coward. Sure enough she had no problem with Nathan going home, actually the further away he was from here the better. But to not come into the office today because he couldn't plain handle it was just cowardly.

'And you're telling me because…' Haley tried knowing full well Peyton knew everything.

'Lucas told me he kind of decked it would help you having a female on your side plus he knew you wouldn't want to recount the tale.'

'You can say you hate me now..'

'What?' Peyton said frowning at her as she unscrewed the bottle on her water.

'Well correct me if I'm wrong but I do remember us bonding over the fact I wasn't like the rest of the girls that wanted to screw him…isn't that like the basis of our friendship?'

'Well now we can build on that foundation over the fact that I'm really glad it's you Nathan decided to knock up and not some whiny peroxide bimbo…' Peyton tried to joke. 'Too soon?'

'Just a little.' Haley said quietly.

'I kind of saw it coming Haley…'

'What? How could you possibly say you saw this…'

'Relax not like that…..I mean I thought you two might kiss or something you know at one of our wild office parities. There was this vibe going between you…'

'Thanks for the pre warning…' Haley tried to joke.

'Well I would have only being warning you about a kiss, not his dick.'

'You're as crude as Brooke you know.' Haley said shaking her head.

'How you holding up today?'

'Terrible Peyt….yesterday was just so humiliating, you hear how Karen found out?'

'Throwing up into the bucket and Karen walks in is the debrief I got.'

Haley had a pained look on her face. 'I've definitely made my mark here in what the space of 4 months….'

'Literally we have a heir to the family business…'

Haley winced.

'Sorry too soon for jokes I got ya.' Peyton said as she continued eating her lunch. 'But all jokes aside Haley you can bet I absolutely ate Nathan out of it on that phone call for his lousy behaviour.'

'I appreciate that but you don't have to do it, Nathan well…he's Nathan but he's also taken this in too and I just think if his entire family and friends are bitching at him he'll hate me more than he already does….maybe that makes me pathetic I don't know.'

'You're not pathetic and he doesn't hate you.'

'Trust me he does.'

'Nathan he' just….look he was never going to take this kind of news well, he's Nathan.' Peyton said pointedly. 'But if he's lashing out at you hard it's usually a reflection of something in himself that's bothering him…..trust me it's not you, it's never you Haley.' Peyton said kindly.

Haley just gave Peyton a small smile in appreciation.

She knew she had so much support, hell things could have been a lot worse but the one person who she would be going through this with was the furthest away from her, they were both coming to terms with this upheaval together and yet completely alone.

And she wondered if this separation was just the beginning.

XXXX

Nathan stood outside the door to her office floor bringing his hand to it before he pulled it back again and repeated the same action before berating himself. Jesus Christ he mumbled. She really was the only girl to ever knock his usual air of confidence kilter aside from his mother - he hated how she had that power over him. It's not like he willingly gave it to her, she just seemed to have it.

He sighed deciding to just step into the office .

'You're working late.' He offered lamely as he observed her dimly lit office, Haley was perched forward in her chair her blonde locks tumbled hazardously over one shoulder as she scribbled on some design pages he was sure were to do with their next seasonal campaign.

'What do you want Nathan?' Haley barely mumbled out as she continued to scribble, glasses perched on her nose she was sin pure concentration mode.

'We need to talk Haley….this whatever it is can't continue.'

She laughed not the least bit humorously as she continued to jot down on the page half engaged in this conversation more so focused on her work. 'After 2 weeks of radio silence that's all you can come with…we need to talk.'

'We do but I knew if I tried that earlier it would just end up in a pissing match like the last time.'

She shrugged not even meeting his gaze. 'I thought this was working for us, I mean things have never been easier in work and besides it's not like I don't have support with other things.'

'Other things being my child..'

'Oh so your acknowledging it now, you believe me.' She said tersely as she raised her eyes to meet his.

God with glasses she just looked sexier. So not the time. Nathan closed his eyes opening them again willing himself not to snap at her too soon.

'Look…I know.' He faltered then, could have sworn he could see a smirk playing on her lips. 'I know I lashed out ok I shouldn't have….this is just I didn't want to believe it Haley ok it just doesn't fit…I'm 25 I work insane hours in this company I live in a bachelor penthouse in the middle of the city…I don't really see a baby..'

'Oh as opposed to me whose fresh out of graduate college at 24, living in digs…' She interrupted him. 'Cause that's just what I have seen in the picture Nathan…a baby.' She scoffed sarcastically. 'Really fits into that plan of mine don't you think…'

'I should never have said that to you.' Nathan admitted. 'I didn't mean it. I'll support you I'm not going to…'

'I don't want it.' Haley fought stubbornly. 'I'm not just going to take your money besides, I work for your company it's the same thing.'

'It's completely different.' He argued back.

She rolled her eyes.

He blew out an irritated sigh.

This is how it always went between them.

'I want to be in its life.' He said quietly then. She wasn't sure she heard him right. 'As much as I'm not accepting of it I'm not just gonna turn away Haley I wish I could but I can't do that.'

'You wish you could? Wow your words are just really hitting the spot Nathan.'

'What more do you want me to say Haley?' He blew out. 'I've just told you I'll support you and I want to be there for the child and you're still acting like a snotty bitch.'

'That's cause its practically killing you to say it, I don't want you there Nathan out of guilt or whatever it is.'

'It's not because of guilt it's the right thing to do.'

'It's the only thing to do huh Nathan cause I won't have an abortion…'

'I never even mentioned an abortion Haley stop putting words in my mouth. But it's not like we even discussed our options you just decided for us…'

'Yea while you went home and stayed there for a full week after I told you..' She said almost raising her voice before she stopped herself and blew out a breath. 'What other option Nathan…give it up is that something you could do?'

'Peyton was adopted.' He reasoned.

'I'm not saying adoption isn't an amazing thing for some kids and families but I don't think I could do it Nathan..'

'If we did this baby could have a proper family Haley.'

She knew his words hadn't intended to hurt her but they had, she was still dealing with the fact this baby would be raised without the family unit she truly wanted for her own children.

'Oh you mean as opposed to the upbringing I had….we wouldn't want to wish that on anyone would we?' Haley sniped at him.

He bit his tongue not wanting to snap at her, gosh the girl was much more easily offended whatever tricks her hormones were playing on her. 'I didn't mean it like that Haley.' He said softly and for the first time in what felt like forever she caught a glimpse of the nice Nathan but she wasn't about to buy into that. That's what had got her here in the first place.

'Fine.' Haley clipped.

'Fine?.' He repeated as he looked at her questionably.

'you can leave now…' She motioned to the door.

'That's all you have to say to me'

'What do you want me to say Nathan? That I'm doing great, this is a breeze we will figure it out because right now I don't see how we will figure it out when I'm in the room with you for only 5 minutes and I feel like taring my hair out.'

'Trust me the feelings mutual.'

Yea, nice guy my ass. 'Well I'm glad we can agree on something.' She shot back.

He sighed once again running a hand through his ragged hair. This was pointless. All of it. Futile and exhausting.

And with his next question he risked boiling her blood even more but he had to know. 'Have you been for your first scan?'

She was surprised he even knew he'd probably asked Lucas, she held back the eye roll. 'I'm going Thursday with Brooke.'

'Didn't realise you two were so close.'

'We've been through a lot together. best friends you know….'

'I had a best friend once.'

'Had? What I'm guessing they didn't built up an immunity against your surly attitude or offensive remarks then?..' Haley said as she began to gather up her sheets realising even trying to continue to work after the conversation was futile.

'No he passed away actually.' Nathan said.

His words had the retort clamming in her throat, the sudden shift in the atmosphere not lost on either of them. Haley looked at him …the apology bubbling in her throat but before she could say it he had already turned on his heel and walked away. She didn't know how to feel she was angry he had turned the conversation around to pity him but she also felt sad.

Incredibly sad.

XXXXX

'You're miles away today.' Lucas commented as Haley sat staring at her chicken salad twiddling the fork in it. On Wednesday herself and Peyton often came over to Lucas' quarters for joint lunch, it had become their tradition.

'Nathan came over to my office last night and we fought.' She said.

'So the silence stage is over.' He commented.

Haley shrugged. 'He said he wants to help in some way we just haven't figured out how.'

Lucas nodded knowingly. 'I knew he would I just…I still think you two should go to the appointments together.'

'I just think it would be too uncomfortable for everyone involved. I feel more at ease with Brooke.'

'I know but it's just informative and it's a milestone really.'

'Yea in a couples life not in ours. Luke we can barely stay in the same room for 5 minutes without a fight how would that look at the doctors?'

He shrugged. 'I don't know but maybe it would force you to at least be civil I mean when this baby does come you'll get away with it for a while but if your both going to be in its life whatever that looks like Haley this level of agro will cause a lot more pain for all 3 of you in the end.'

Haley sighed twiddling her salad. She knew that story already. She had been a part of it.

'I'm sorry look at me you're upset and I'm making it worse..'

'You haven't said anything I haven't thought about. Your right we are going to have to try and we will I think just right now the whole situation is still a little too raw…' Haley sighed softly before softly admitting. 'Nathan said something last night and it was…..it was just strange.'

Lucas continued eating knowing Haley needed the space to continue.

'He told me his best friend died.'

Lucas popped the tin down on the counter his eyes almost bugging out. 'What?'

'He told me he lost his best friend.' She repeated.

He was sure he couldn't have heard her right but he had. This was, well in ways it was huge. The tug of a smile played on his lips and Haley frowned. 'Why are you smiling? I mean I don't like the guy but..'

'No…it's not that…it's just..'

'What?' Haley prodded he seemed to be looking at her intensely now and it was beginning to freak her out.

'He's never told anyone that. Ever. He just doesn't talk about it. It's like pandoras box.'

'He only told me cause I brought it up.' Haley said. Well she kind of had, not really…no she had, hadn't she?

'No I'm telling you Haley you bring that topic up he shuts it down…I just, I can't believe he said that to you, what did you ask him or something.'

'Not exactly.' Haley said. 'Look that's all he said, it was nothing else.' she tried to downplay it really not understanding why Lucas seemed so comforted by that fact. 'What happened?'

Lucas squinted as if he was trying to figure out what to say.

'I understand if you don't want to talk about it…' She cut in softly.

'No it's not that I just think maybe Nathan should be the one that tells you, something tells me he might.'

Haley was pretty sure they'd never have that conversation but she wasn't about to press Lucas on it any further.

'Jake was his name. He and Peyton were dating at the time, they were in love.' Lucas told her.

Haley felt her heart tighten.

'Jake and Nathan. He was our third little brother, everywhere Nathan went he did and vice versa. They were so different but they shaped each other you know. He lost him two years after our dad.'

Haley hadn't even been aware of the tears that built up in her eyes.

'I mean none of it excuses his behaviour or how he treats people so don't let it soften you toward him.'

'It won't.' Haley choked out.

'If anything my mom's tough love is the only thing that has kept him on his feet.' Lucas admitted. 'Look Nathan in work here as you know he is on the ball, he really is amazing at his job reminds me of dad that way same work ethic but outside of it he's a mess Haley there is no sugar coating that but I know Nathan and if he told you he'll support you and be there for the child he will its himself he doesn't care about. I'm sorry if I have said to much.'

'You haven't.' Haley said swiping at the stained tear tracks on her cheek.

'You'll both find a way to make it work you've got a great support system around you and take it from my mom that's everything.'

'Karen has been a godsend.'

'She went through it you know her and dad had broken apart at the time. I know it's completely different to your situation but..'

'It helps. I had nightmares that she'd fire me.'

'If it had been anyone else in the office she might just have.' Lucas teased just as Peyton came over towards them.

'Ok well good thing you're laughing cause a few seconds ago I was sure I seen you swiping tears girlie girl, is the little nugget playing the emotions game this week.' Peyton mused as she slid in next to Haley.

'Nathan mentioned Jake to her.' Lucas was like an excited child waiting to get that one out.

Peyton's eyes went as wide as his had, her mouth opening wide. 'What….'

'Yea.' Lucas reiterated to her silent question.

'Haley…' Peyton began

'Can you two please just stop inspecting this so heavily…he just said his friend passed away that was it.'

'He never..'

'Right he never talks about it I got that obviously he as a knack for doing things he never usually does with me you know like getting girls pregnant.' Haley said sarcastically as she closed he lid of her salad box and pulled back her chair. 'I need to get back to the office.'

Peyton grimaced. 'ouch….hormones eh?'

Lucas just chuckled.

'Wow Luke that's…'

'I know. I mean I know it's only small but even the fact he brought it up….'

'It would be good if he did open up to someone about it.' Peyton said softly.

'Yea.' Lucas said.

'You ever think they could…' Peyton prodded.

Lucas shrugged. 'I mean if she met him a few years ago maybe. I love my little brother and I want him to find that happiness but the way he's continuing on there will be too much water under that bridge for them to come back from. He's not even going to the appointment Thursday.'

'It's still early days Luke. Who knows what's going to happen.'

Lucas just shrugged. 'From what Haley said last night was the first conversation they've actually had in weeks.'

'And that came out. It's got to mean something right?' Peyton said as they shared a look.