Haley sat spread out on the floor with her many photo albums. In typical Haley James fashion, each book was in order by date and the pictures were neatly labeled. Nearby sat Brooke and Lucas, up for their normal, daily visit. The trio had been apart for years and even when they had reentered each other's lives, it had taken a short while for the period of sudden awkwardness to subside. Once it had, they were the same three old friends from Tree Hill again. Haley thoroughly enjoyed their frequent time together and was thrilled to share the last eight years of her life with them in photographs.

"This is me on the overseas USO tour entertaining the troops in Korea…"

"Oh God!" Brooke frowned. "Look at Wayne Newton's hair. It should have its own zip code."

Haley laughed.

"I know but he's a real sweetheart. Oh and that is me with the Dixie Chicks at Lillith Fair and that was one was at the President's Inaugural Ball…"

"Hales, is that you with your arm around 50 Cent?" Lucas grinned in disbelief.

"He's a cool guy. Real sweet and down to earth, not like you'd expect. I got to hang out with him for this Spring Break deal for MTV a few summers ago."

"And on the next page, you're playing guitar with Ozzy Osbourne. Unreal…"

"It's cool", Haley shrugged, reaching for another scrapbook. "I've been all over the world. See, that's the beautiful thing about music. It's made up of so many genres. Rap, country, rock, alternative, classical, pop, R&B…that variety is what makes the melting pot so special and if we're one genre short, then we're all lesser for it, you know? It may sound corny but I'm proud of it. I've performed with and hung out with and met everyone from Garth Brooks to Ricky Martin to Charlotte Church to Outkast."

"I'm proud of you, too, Hales", Lucas acknowledged. "You've led an extraordinary life and career. I'm glad you got to have that experience."

"Yeah…" she smiled sadly. "Me too."

"I guess it's pretty cool", Brooke added. "The money and the fame and all the perks like getting the best tables at the best restaurants and getting ahead to the VIP section in long lines at clubs and of course all the free and fabulous clothes and shoes, I mean hello!"

"It's fun, Tigger but it does have its setbacks. I think even Luke would agree with me on that one."

"Like?"

"I don't know. Like zero privacy. Like going down the block to get coffee with sweats on and no make up and then the next day seeing your godawful photo on the front cover of every major magazine. Like not being able to enjoy a single dinner without having 20 fans coming up to bug you for an autograph."

"Oh yeah…that."

"It's not all bad, Brooke. You're right, the perks are pretty great. The money is too. I get to do what I love. I meet other celebrities and I do adore my fans. But it's also a lot of hard work. The knife cuts both ways and it ain't all hunky dory all of the time."

"I get you but still it's a pretty great life. When I saw you sitting between Gwyneth Paltrow and Donatella Versace at her Italian fashion show last year, I almost died. I mean, way to go, Tutor Girl. I would have been in Heaven. Nothing could top that. Well, except of you got to meet Jennifer Lopez but that'll probably never happen so…"

"Jennifer Lopez?"

"Yeah. J. Lo. Jenny from the Block. The hottest, most talented, most fabulous queen diva to like ever live. She is so my idol."

Haley shrugged again.

"She's nice, much more than I expected. A little high maintenance but not the bitch the tabloids try to make her out to be. Jen gets kind of a bad rap."

Brooke's mouth dropped open as all the color drained from her face.

"Babe, you okay?" Lucas asked.

"No…No…oh my God! I'm having a seizure! No, worse! I'm hyperventilating! Broody, get me one of those little baggy things to breathe into. No! On second thought, I need a cool rag and a glass of iced water!"

"Brooke…" Haley laughed.

"Tutor Mom, how could you? You mean to tell me all this time, you have a close and personal relationship with the icon I worship and you don't tell me?"

"I wouldn't say it's a close and personal relationship…"

"But you know her?"

"You could say that. I've ran into her backstage at awards show. And she invited my publicist and me to her runway show. And…"

"Stop! Please! My heart can't take much more! You're trying to make me jealous. No, you're trying to kill me…"

"Brooke, calm down. Geez. It's not a big deal. I had no idea it meant that much to you. I'll tell you what, next time she comes back to town, I'll give her a call and maybe you guys could meet."

Brooke began jumping up and down.

"You'd do that for me? Oh Haley, I love you", she squealed as she picked up Lillian. "You hear that, kid? You have the most amazing mother like ever!"

"Brooke, be careful moving her around like that. She just ate and she'll…"

Too late. Lillian's milk came up all over her auntie's.

"…Puke all over you."

Brooke made a face as she handed the child back to her mother.

"Iiiieeeewww! Okay, I am totally skeeved right now. Baby puke is gross but for J. Lo…what the hell? I'm willing to let a little vomit slide", Brooke shrugged as she pulled her tank top over her head and tossed it in the wash.

Haley and Lucas laughed as she cleaned and changed Lillian.

"What's so funny?" Taylor grinned as she made her way into the kitchen area.

Everyone else's, particularly Brooke's, smile began to fade. Taylor was wearing skimpy shorts that left little to the imagination and a white tank top, minus a bra, that was practically see through.

"Tay…"

"What is it now, Hay?"

Haley rolled her eyes.

"We have company."

"So? It's just Lucas and Blair."

"Brooke", Brooke corrected with a scowl.

"Whatever", Taylor gave her a fake smile.

"So go put some clothes on, please", Haley insisted. "I know it's hot but damn."

"She's in her bra", Taylor pointed at Brooke.

"Yeah but Lillian threw up on her shirt. It's in the wash now."

"Nice work, Jamma", Taylor laughed at her niece. "But what's the big deal? I'm just lounging around the house on a hot, summer day. Didn't know I had to be dressed for the occasion. Sorry if I offended anyone."

"Well you did", Brooke smirked. "You might want to pick up the latest edition of Cosmo. There is a difference between sexy and skanky this year."

Taylor just smiled as she squeezed by them. Slowly and deliberately she bent over to pick up one of the baby's rattles from the floor. Lucas blushed and turned away at the incredible back view Taylor seemed to be intentionally giving him.

"I don't think your boyfriend seems to mind…do you, Luke?"

Lucas was at a loss for words.

"Taylor, bedroom, now!" Haley angrily instructed. "We have to talk."

The younger sister ushered the older woman behind closed doors that muffled raised voices. Lucas just put his head in his hands and laughed.

"And just what is so funny?" Brooke demanded.

"Taylor. She's such a…I don't know, she's just Taylor, I guess."

Brooke punched him in the arm.

"Shut up."

"Ouch! What was that for?"

"That was for her looking at you like she wants you on her plate and this…" she clocked him again, "is for you sitting here grinning like you're a damned Happy Meal."

"Brooke, come on. You know I'm not into her. She's not into me either, she was just messing with your head. That's just how she is. Besides, I think she has something going on with Keller."

"Chris? Puh-leaze, Broody, although they do deserve each other. Personally, I still think he has a thing for Haley. It could be mutual, you never know…"

"We on that again? Haley says it isn't so. Let's just drop it and believe her."

"I know but they have this little vibe going on. If he weren't so repulsive, it'd actually be kind of cute. And look at all her picture books? Who's smiling in practically every photo."

"Brooke…"

"I'm just saying. You never know. I just don't want poor Nathan to get his hopes up."

"Nathan is here for Lillian", Lucas reminded his girlfriend.

"I know, I know. I got the memo, Broody. I'm just saying, never say never. Know what I mean?"

And as if on cue, a key turned in the lock and Chris Keller, guitar in hand, let himself in.

"Speak of the devil", Lucas shook his head.

"What's up, Lucas? What's up, sexy? Nice to see you again today, Brooke."

"Again?" she frowned.

"Yeah because you were sure in my dreams this morning", he winked with a cocky smile.

Lucas just rolled his eyes.

"What a lame ass douche bag", he muttered loudly.

"Where are Haley and Jamma?"

"Haley and Lillian are in the back with Taylor."

"Cool", Chris shrugged, opening the fridge. "Haley remembered my Tofu this time. Rock on."

Lucas and Brooke exchanged glances as Haley rejoined them.

"Chris, get out of my refrigerator", she kicked him in his butt.

"You got me Tofu but where's the cottage cheese?"

"At the store, not get!"

He grinned and playfully kissed her cheek and the baby's as well.

"Nice to feel the love. Anyway, I see you're busy with your guests. I'll be in your room working on a new song."

Haley sighed.

"Sorry about my ingrate sister and her lack of manners earlier. I gave her the usual threat of behave or pay rent so that she should keep her nice for a few days at least", she half joked.

Lucas and Brooke smiled nervously.

"It's cool", they said together.

"You guys okay?" Haley asked.

They looked at Haley's bedroom and then at each other. Lucas shot Brooke a stern look to keep whatever comments she had to herself.

"Fine", he smiled. "Everything's just fine."