Lucas was literally shaking. His entire sweat soaked body had trembled during the entire ride. With his unshaven face and questionable demeanor, he wasn't exactly the type of passenger other travelers wanted to sit next to. In his haste to get out of Philadelphia and leaving his disappointed girlfriend behind, he was in no shape to make the short drive to New York so instead he boarded the train for the 100 mile journey.

It was early afternoon when he arrived. A taxi took him from Penn Station to the Chelsea neighborhood where her loft was. Lucas Scott was a man on a mission. A man determined to find out the truth. Deep in his heart and in the pit of his gut, he felt that the baby Haley was rumored to be carrying did indeed belong to his younger brother. Part of him wanted that to be true. But what if it was? He closed his eyes and shuddered, just thinking of the drama and heartache that would ensue.

He thought back over his own life and past. Could history really repeat itself? Would Nathan truly find himself in an all too similar and familiar position, one that Dan had been in some 24 years prior? And if so, what would he do?

Lucas stood in front of the building debating. Should he call Haley from his cell phone and let her know he was there? What if she didn't want to see him? What if Chris was there? No, he had come too far and risked too much to be turned away. So much depended on the next few minutes. He would have to get in the building without Haley being alerted of his presence. Lucas knew it wouldn't be an easy feat but he was willing to resort to cash bribes or even his own star power to get in that door.

But none of that would be necessary. A commotion outside with some photographers distracted the doorman's attention. Lucas saw his chance and he went for it. He slipped inside unnoticed and took the elevator to Haley's floor. Finally he arrived, heart pounding, a lump in his throat as he knocked. The door opened and he took a few nervous steps forward, words tumbling out, not even bothering to be asked inside.

"Hales, we need to talk! I…"

"Look what we have here. The Scott brother I haven't slept with…and not by lack of trying, either."

"Taylor…"

"What's up, cutie? I would invite you in but you already took that upon yourself so have a seat."

Lucas walked in, still stunned.

"Look, Taylor, I…"

"Can I get you something to drink? Milk, water, tea, juice, beer? Looks like you could use something."

"No. Look…um, is…is Hales here?"

"You just missed her, cowboy. Sorry."

"Where is she?"

Taylor shrugged and laughed.

"Am I my sister's keeper?"

"Taylor!"

"Okay, okay. Look, I seriously don't know, okay? I have no idea where she went or what time she'll be back. Was she expecting you?"

"No", he answered, as deflated as a popped balloon.

"Well, is there something I can help you with? I take it this isn't a social visit or you showing up to offer us season tickets to the 76ers games."

"This is serious, Taylor."

"I'm sure it is", she said quietly. "It's about the baby, isn't it?"

"Yeah…how did you know?"

"Hell, everyone knows. It's in the papers and the magazines and all over the TV and radio. The phone has been ringing off the hook, e-mails are coming non stop, faxes are coming in non stop and Haley's probably gonna have to change her cell phone number. I don't know how those freaks get our numbers."

"Yeah, the paparazzi is outside now."

"They've been camped out for days now. Better hope they didn't see you or your picture will be next on the front page."

"They didn't see me."

"Good. I don't know how your wife or fiancée or girlfriend or whatever you have these days, if you even have someone at all, would take that. You know, seeing a headline that Lucas Scott fathered Haley James' baby."

"Actually, I have a girlfriend and even though Brooke isn't real happy with me right now, I know she understands."

"Brooke Davis, huh?" Taylor smirked. "You two still trying to get it together."

"We have."

He closed his eyes, praying it was still "together" after he had run out on her and bailed on Miami.

"Interesting…"

"Look, Taylor, I don't have time for the games, okay? Just be real with me."

"What do you want to know? Why are you here?"

"I need to see Haley."

"Why?"

He took a deep breath.

"Is it true? Is she really pregnant?"

"Oh it's true. Little sis went and got herself knocked up."

"Is she going to keep it?"

"So she says."

"And she's okay?"

"Fit as a fiddle."

"What about the emotional stuff? Is she holding up?"

"She's good", Taylor grabbed a beer. "Haley is happy. She's rock star happy. She is three months knocked up single rock star happy. But hell, it could be worse, right?"

Lucas looked Taylor deep in her eyes.

"There's one thing I need to know, Taylor. You have to tell me. Is it…is it Chris' baby?"

"Whose else would it be?" she retorted, not missing a beat.

Lucas was taken aback. It was not the answer he was expecting.

"It…you mean, I…"

He didn't know how to respond. Was Taylor just messing with his head? Was there a chance it was Chris' baby? Had Haley lied to him about not ever being intimate with Chris? Was Taylor even aware of what had really happened those days in the Dominican between Haley and Nathan?

"What's the matter, sexy?" she teased as she rubbed CAT. "Cat got your tongue?"

Lucas shifted uncomfortably.

"No. I…look…"

"Ah, I get it. What you're trying to say is that it really could be your brother's baby?"

"I…"

"Because while the world was looking for them, our younger siblings were passing the hours away doing the nasty in a little mud hut. Is that what you meant to say?"

"Not in those words but…"

"Sorry. Being politically correct just isn't my forte."

"I get that', he rolled his eyes. "Anyway, whose baby is it?"

"Does it matter?"

"Taylor, just how many beers have you had? Of course it matters!"

"What if it Nathan's?"

"Then Nathan needs to know!"

"Why?"

"Why? So he can step up. Take care of it. Do the right thing."

"Be there for my sister?"

"Well…yeah."

"Okay, in all this where exactly will Nathan's other pregnant wife fit in?"

"I don't know. It's complicated, alright?"

"Damn right it is."

"Nathan will be okay. He'll be there for his kids. Both of them."

Taylor laughed out loud.

"Just like Papa Dan, Nathan was a rolling stone, huh?"

"You don't know all the facts."

"And neither do you, Lucas. Why is this so important to you? Why are you here and not Nathan? He sent you to do his snooping for him?"

"No. Taylor, he doesn't even know I'm here. I haven't talked to him. I don't even know if he knows yet about Haley."

"He's going to find out soon. Let's say it is his baby. And let's just say he pulls a Dan. Then what? Where does that leave my sister and her kid?"

"He won't."

"What if he does?"

Lucas sighed.

"Then I'll be there. For her and the kid. Just like you will be. Just like…just like Keith was there for me."

Taylor bit her lip. It wasn't good enough.

"Well, uh, lucky for you, it won't come to that."

"What are you talking about, Taylor?"

"Tell your brother the gods were smiling on him this time but next time he might want to invest in a rubber."

"You mean…"

"Chris."

Lucas was dumbfounded. The timing, his talks with Haley, his gut feelings. None of it made sense.

"No. Taylor, you're wrong. It can't be. Haley said…"

"What? She never slept with the guy?"

"That's what she told me."

"Sometimes we say things that aren't true to protect the interests of those we love the most", she said softly.

Lucas was too disoriented to catch the irony of it. If he'd taken the time to study her face and what she was saying, he might would have figured it all out at that moment.

"Are…are you sure?"

"I'm positive."

Lucas nodded.

"I still need to see her."

"Why?"

"Because I do. Because I care. Because I want to help her. Because…"

"Let it go, Luke. Look, you're a nice guy and I know you love my sister but what you're trying to do is going to cause more harm than good. It'll just make shit worse for everybody. Let go, man. Go back to Philly and your team and your prissy little girlfriend and live your life. Be happy. And let Nathan do the same with his wife and his child."

"Taylor…"

"I know how you feel, alright? Those two have been through so much. In my opinion, they never should have broken up in the first place. But they did. And they're not kids anymore, Lucas. So much time has passed and so much has happened and now there is a wife and children involved. It's not right. If you really love Haley, if you really love Nathan, then you'll just stop. Stop right now. I beg you, don't open up this can of worms because once you do, there's no going back. And a lot of innocent people are going to get hurt."

Lucas looked at the floor. So Haley's baby really wasn't Nathan's. Neither he or his brother had a blood claim to it. It was time to let Chris and Haley just be. It was time to move on. Brooke had been right. Taylor was right.

"Okay", he finally sighed. "Sorry to bother you. Guess I'll get going."

Taylor nodded as she stood to let him out.

"Nice seeing you again, Luke. And uh, just remember. Next time you're in town, give me a call if you want to party."

He shook his head as she grinned evilly. He left, letting the door close behind him. Lucas felt like the wind literally had been knocked out of him. It was over. The final chapter had been written in the Naley saga. There was nothing more Lucas could do. Nothing more but pray there was still a breath of life left in the Brucas story.

Cold hands in his pockets, he waited at the curb for a cab that pulled over right away to take him back to the train station. As he opened the door, head down he climbed inside, not bothering to look back. If he had, just for a split second, he might have noticed the tiny figure with the baseball cap pulled low and the growing belly slip past the hordes of human vultures waiting outside for her with their relentless cameras.

Haley brushed past the masses, head down, refusing to answer questions or pose for photos. Extra security and the doorman ushered her in and to the elevator. She breathed a tired sigh of relief as she made it to her floor and turned her key in the lock of her front door.

As usual, there was Taylor spread out on the couch, beer in one hand, remote in the other with an equally lazy CAT purring next to her as they enjoyed daytime television.

"Little sis, you're just in time for the People's Court. Come watch Judge Milian with me. She is so brash and mean and straight to the point…God, I just love her."

"I'll pass", Haley half smiled as she sifted through the mail. "Besides, the usual gossip hounds trying to get a statement or a pic, anything interesting happen while I was gone? Anybody call or come by?"

"Were you expecting anyone?" Taylor asked.

"I thought Jessica might drop by but I guess not."

Taylor took another sip of beer and shrugged, looking right at her little sister.

"Nope. No one called or came by that I know of. It was actually pretty quiet while you were gone."

Haley nodded.

"Okay. Well, I'm gonna go lie down for a bit.

Taylor just smiled as she watched Haley disappear into the master bedroom. It was a funny thing. After all the years, after everything that had happened, she had turned out to be her sister's keeper after all.