Lost in the Past

Chapter 24

A/N - I don't know if you guys like this story anymore...I hope you do. I didn't really get too many reviews on the last chapter so maybe you just didn't see it. Anyhow, here's more of Lost in the Past and I hope you all review to keep me writing. Here ya go:

The drive to Jake's seemed never ending for each of the occupants in the car. Lucas was positioned in the driver's seat while a million thoughts spun through his head. He was lucky that he was even staying on the road.

"Lucas!" Peyton screamed as she grabbed the wheel and put the car back onto the road.

'Or maybe I'm not' he told himself as the car straightened out.

"What's up with you?" Peyton asked the blonde in the driver's seat.

"Uh, nothing I just...I'm just thinking," he stammered to her.

"Um, hon how bout you think when we get off the road. I actually wanna see the kids grow up," she told him with a smirk.

He also flashed his signature Scott smirk her way and then laughed a little. She scrunched her eyebrows together as he caught sight of her face.

"What?" she asked after he proceeded to laugh at her.

"You look hot when you give that little smirk," he replied with a huge grin. She playfully pushed him towards the door and each gave a light-hearted laugh.

"Ya know, I missed this," she said in an almost sad voice.

"Pushing me into the car door?" he asked, while looking out the window with a smile on his face.

"No! I missed us, having a good time like we used to. Before Haley left," she said scooting a little closer to him.

He moved his hand over towards hers as she intertwined their fingers. The rough skin on his thumb, rubbing against the back of her hand sent small shivers up and down her spine. The rest of the car ride remained pretty silent until they pulled up in Jake's driveway.

Lucas pushed the door open immediately and almost took off at a run towards the front door. Peyton couldn't help but smile at his excitement to be back with the kids. 'Maybe he's not who I thought he was. He's just someone who loves me and his kids. He's human, we all make mistakes' she told herself.

She ran and caught up with him while he knocked on the door. He grabbed her hand again and gave her a quick kiss before they found Brooke at the door with bags under her eyes and her hair tousled in a rubber band on top of her head.

"What happened to you?!" Peyton asked loudly.

"4 kids happened," she grumbled towards her two friends.

Each of them had to hold back a laugh while Brooke turned her back and told them to follow her to the living room.

"Think it was our kids?" Peyton whispered in Luke's ear.

"Probably," he said smiling and stealing another kiss from her. She was willilng to accept as he deepened it. They were fine until Brooke turned around.

"Guys, I don't think they kids would appreciate seeing their parents making out in my house," she said smiling at their red faces when they broke apart.

"Soooo, when did this happen?!" she asked, giggling at Peyton's embarrassed nature.

"Last night..." Peyton replied still pushing herself further into his embrace.

"While we were 'talking'," Lucas finished, while giving air quotes and pulling Peyton even closer than she was before. He was rubbing his hand along the small of her back while she laughed and continued walking to where the kids were.

"You two are like a bunch of high schoolers," Brooke said laughing at how close they seemed now. In fact they were even closer than they were in high school.

"You're just sayin that cause you didn't get any last night, Brooke," Lucas said with a huge smile on his face. Brooke quickly turned around and whacked him in the chest.

"Yea, well that's only because the Scott brothers two little nightmares appeared at my door when I was about to," she told them, sauntering back to where Jake and the 4 kids were sitting. Lucas and Peyton couldn't hold the laughter in and each broke into a fit of laughter against the door frame.

"Poor Brooke," Peyton said through her laughter.

"Poor Jake...I could just see his face," Lucas said as he regained his composure. He pulled Peyton in for another kiss before they walked through the door and saw their two kids staring at them.


Another couple was in the car at the same time. Nathan and Haley were sitting in the car, stealing kisses at red lights and talking animatedly through the whole ride back to Tree Hill.

"You excited?" Nathan asked while smiling and keeping his eyes partly on the road, but partly on her.

"Very! I can't wait to see everyone again. God, I missed them so much," she practically yelled.

"I know they'll be happy to see you. Especially Lucas," Nathan said after grabbing one more kiss.

They pulled into Jake's driveway and Luke's car was still there. Haley was getting more excited by the second. She nearly jumped from the car while it was still moving and jumped into Nathan's arms when he got out.

"I'm don't really know about this, but I think Luke and Peyton are doing better too," Nathan said as he set Haley on the ground.

"Really?! Now, I'm even more excited," she said jumping up and down.

They ran to the door together and Nathan very silently opened it and walked in. He looked around and heard Jake, Brooke, Luke, Peyton, Jenny, Nate, Will, and Liz all in the living room towards the front of the house.

"Hales, you stay here and I'll say 'I got to see her again' and they you come around and surprise everyone. Ok?" he asked while a smile stayed on his face. It hadn't gone away since he got in the car. She nodded her head for a yes and he walked into the group's view.

"Nate, where is she?" Lucas asked, bombarding him from the moment he saw him. Everyone else was looking on as to where Haley had gotten to.

"I couldn't get her, but at least I got to see her again," he said loud enough so she knew.

A minute later everyone saw the petite brunette step into view and Nathan swung her around again. Lucas' face lit up and he ran over and grabbed her from his brother.

"Lucas!" Haley screamed as he held her like she was never coming back.

"God, I've missed you so much, Hales," he said as he squeezed her tighter.

"I need to breathe," she struggled to say.

"Sorry," he said sheepishly. "Nate, you two planned this," he said walking over to his brother. Nathan nodded and Luke just patted him on the back as he walked back to Haley.

She was in the middle of hugging Jake while Peyton and Brooke were upstairs without even knowing Haley was back.

"It's good to see you," Jake said as he pulled out of the hug.

"I see you found someone," Haley said winking at him. He laughed and each thought back to the day she left.

FLASHBACK

Everyone went to the airport with her and said their good byes. They started with Jake and Jenny.

"Haley, I cannot believe you're leaving," Jake said. "I want you to come back as soon as you're done and we'll all be here waiting. I mean who knows maybe I'll even find someone by the time you get back and there'll be another wedding."

She smiled and hugged him tightly then Jenny.

END FLASHBACK

"Yea, and she's great," Jake told her after a moment of silence.

Nathan looked to his son and saw his confused face. He walked over to the 4 year old and kneeled down in front of him.

"You know who that is, Will?" he asked looking over to Haley.

"Is it mommy?" he asked quietly.

"That's her, buddy," Nathan said as he lifted the little boy from the floor. "Hales, I think someone else would like to see you," Nathan said as he nodded towards the little boy in his arms.

"Mommy?" he asked, very unsure of himself.

"Yea, it's me," she told him as she felt the tears stinging behind her eyes. He immediately jumped into her arms as she held him tightly. "You've gotten so big," she whispered.

"I love you," he told her.

"I love you too, baby," she said as she put him down and looked at how much he'd grown in two years. She then looked ahead of her little boy and saw Nate sitting on the floor with Jenny. She made eye contact with him and he immediately hugged her.

"Aunt Haley!" he said as she squeezed him and the tears finally fell.

"Hey Nate! I haven't seen you since you were 3," she said as took in the size of him. It had been so long. She reacquainted herself with Jenny and she finally met Liz and took Will back into her arms.

"Where're Peyton and Brooke?" she asked still looking for them.

"They're coming down now," Jake said quietly so they could surprise them.


Peyton and Brooke walked down the stairs to find Haley standing in front of them smiling with Will in her arms. They all stood in utter shock and Peyton could feel the tears coming as she watched them roll down Haley's face. Brooke also felt the need to cry when she saw everyone elses reactions. Haley immediately set Will onto the floor as Peyton took another step closer to one of her closest friends. Back when Haley left she and Brooke still weren't really talking.

FLASHBACK

Luke, Peyton, and little Nathan were up next. Luke was first.

"Haley, I want you to have fun out there. I also want you to be careful and come back to us as soon as you're done. I hope you'll visit us and if you don't, it's only four years. Get back here as soon as you can," he said with tears. He pulled her into the tightest hug she'd gotten so far.

Peyton walked up all teary eyed. "Haley, god, I will miss you. You've been like another best friend to me. You were there through it all. Everything with me and Luke. I can't say how much you'll be missed here. I hope you get back as soon as possible though and we will keep in touch while you're out there. Good luck," Peyton said hugging her as they both cried.

She pulled away and looked at her sort of nephew. She picked him up and looked at him. "Nate, you know I'll be back as soon as I can right? So, you remember me and I'll write you letters and tapes. That'll help you read and write ok?" He nodded and she hugged him and gave him a bunch of kisses.

END FLASHBACK

Peyton gathered Haley in her arms and it was just one big tear fest for 5 minutes. Peyton grabbed Brooke and pulled her in too.

"When did you get back?" Peyton asked, wiping her eyes.

"Just today. Nathan came and got me," she said as she revealed a bruise across her face.

"Oh, god. Haley, what happened?" Peyton asked becoming worried.

"He hit me," she replied.

OK, I DEFINITELY LOVE THIS CHAPTER. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED AND REVIEW FOR ME. THANKS!!

NEXT - Peyton's reaction to the hitting / Leyton's gotta tell the kids still (I know I said this chapter but it's definitely the next one) / Naley talks to Jake and Brooke to fill them in / Surprises and possible drama (not sure yet)...

You review for me and I'll be updating!! WE'VE HIT THE BIG 200 REVIEWS!! THANKS SOO MUCH!!