Love Will Prevail

Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these OTH characters, even though I'd like to. 

May, the following year…

Lucas sat next to his family and friends as he happily watched his brother and sister-in-law receive their diplomas. He laughed as Haley waited at the bottom of the stairs for Nathan. She jumped at him, and he swung her around, squealing.

"Yay mommy! Yay daddy!" Harrison hollered as he stood on his chair and clapped.

Lucas patted his nephew, "Shhh, buddy."

"But aren't you excited Uncle Luke?"

"Of course I am, but we don't want to be rude."

"Oh, okay," Harrison had lost interest in the ceremony, so he started playing with the baby on his uncle's lap.

Nathan and Haley kissed each other softly as they went in search of their family and friends. The search didn't take long.

"Daddy!" Harrison dropped Peyton's hand to charge his parents.

Nathan scooped him up, "Hey buddy."

Lucas reached them next, "Congratulations you two. We're all so proud of you."

Haley hugged him, "Thank you so much."

Lucas handed her the baby he was holding, "I think someone else wants to congratulate you."

Haley kissed the baby and Nathan wrapped his arms around her waist and did the same, "Are you proud of mommy and daddy too?"

Harrison copied his mom and dad by kissing his sister, "Baby Abby tried to clap. I helped."

"You're such a great big brother."

Karen hugged the family, "We'll see you tomorrow night, right?" they had a big party planned at Tric to congratulate the couple and welcome them and their family back to Tree Hill where they'd bought a house.

"Definitely. Jake, Peyton, and Lucas are staying with us tonight so they can help us move tomorrow."

"Let Karen and I take the kids back with us tonight," Keith offered.

"Keith…" Nathan started.

"No arguments. We've already got the car seats. We'll follow you back to the apartment for the necessities."

"Yeah," Karen added, "besides, moving will be easier if you don't have to chase after a 4-year-old."

"Karen, Keith, you're too much. Thank you."

Nathan looked at his son, "What do you think? Want to spend the night with Nana and Papa?"

"Yay! Baby Abby too?"

"Abby too."

Harrison squiggled loose, "Lets go Papa," he grabbed Keith's hand.

The adults all laughed, "See ya tomorrow buddy."

"Bye daddy."

Lucas sat with Nathan and Haley and Jake and Peyton at a high-top table at their favorite watering hole. "So, how does it feel?"

"Warm. Since I'm not breast feeding, I can drink again."

Peyton smiled, "You haven't been pregnant for two months now."

"So what's your point?" Haley took another drink.

The friends found themselves laughing, "Not what I was talking about Hales. Graduating, how's it feel?"

"God, it's liberating. It's like the first book of my life has been finished. Find out what happens next in the sequel."

Lucas turned to his brother, "And Nathan?"

"It's wonderful. Now I can focus on my family and beautiful wife," he kissed Haley, "And I can work on plans for a new family business while I wait for my lame older brother to finish school already."

"How is it," Peyton began, "that the two of you finished before the rest of us?"

Nathan and Haley looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders.

"No, she's right. You started college with a new baby in tow. Then the miscarriage," Jake paused, hoping he hadn't crossed the line, "And then another new baby during your last semester. You've conquered a lot."

Nathan looked at his friend, "You have a kid, and a wife too."

"Exactly. And I'm a good semester behind."

Haley smiled at Nathan, "We took summer classes. We worked our tails off, and most importantly, we supported each other."

"Cheers to that!" Lucas raised his glass and the others followed suit.

Nathan rolled over the next morning and smacked Haley in the head, "Sorry babe. God," he groaned, "what were we thinking last night? We have to move today."

Haley kissed him, her hangover felt as bad as he looked, "We'll take some aspirin, drink some coffee, and we'll be fine."

"If you say so."

"Hey, if it makes you feel any better, I'm guessing our three house guests don't feel any better."

"You're right. That does make me feel a tiny bit better."

"And we've packed basically everything. It just has to be loaded up."

"Another fine point," Nathan kissed her again.

They were interrupted by a knock at the door, "Hey love bugs," Peyton smiled at them, "we're all up, and coffee's made. Let's get going so we can go home."

"Sounds like a plan," Haley rolled out of bed. She walked into their kitchen to see Lucas and Jake sitting at the bar, heads on the countertop. She laughed, knowing that the three men were going to be the biggest babies. Even though she and Peyton had met them drink for drink.

Lucas looked up, "What's so funny?"

Haley didn't realize she'd laughed out loud, "Nothing really. Just thinking about how dumb we were last night."

Nathan walked in behind her, "Yeah, but it was our last night before we entered the real world."

Jake joined the conversation, "I don't know what dream you're emerging from, but man, you've been in the real world since you got married five years ago."

Nathan looked at Peyton, who was standing next to Jake, "You're husband is a total buzz kill. Did you know that?"

Peyton chuckled, "Sure did," she kissed Jake. Then she got serious, "What am I going to do without you here Haley? Now it's going to be two against one."

Haley hugged her, "Don't do this. NO crying. If they're ganging up on you, call me and I'll yell at Lucas and tell him to be nice."

Lucas smiled a devilish grin, "Yes mom." Everyone in the room laughed.

"Besides," Nathan started, "All three of you will be done in December. Then you can come home."

"But what if we don't find jobs in Tree Hill?"

"Come on Peyton. Our marketing department has your name written all over it if you want it. And Whitey's been waiting to retire so that Jake can have his job. And if Lucas doesn't have a job I'll have to talk to the guy that guaranteed him one," he smiled at that last comment.

"Nathan's right Pey. We'll be in Tree Hill by this time next year."

Nathan walked up behind Haley, wrapping his arms around her waist, "Ready to go?"

"In a minute. This is it Nate. This apartment has been our life for four years. We have so many memories here. I'm going to miss it."

"I'll miss it too, but we knew it was temporary. Our house will be forever. And we can make new memories there," he nibbled her neck.

"Mmmm," Haley moaned, "Let's get going so we can make those memories."

"You've got it ma'am."