Author's Note: Hey guys! Here's your chapter! Mostly complete mush and fluff but some other stuff too. I hope you guys like it! As always, please read and review!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. One Tree Hill and its characters are property of the WB.

Rating: K+ to T

Finding Our Way Back

Chapter 19 – Picnics and Basketball Games

"Lucas, what are you doing," Haley laughed as he grabbed her hand and pulled her up from her desk chair in their bedroom. "Saving you from that jail sentence I call grading papers," he smiled, "come on." "Katie! Derek! Let's go," he called out as he led her to the kitchen and grabbed a basket on the counter. "Coming Daddy," the two yelled in unison as they ran to meet their parents. "Where are you taking us," Haley asked as they walked outside and locked the apartment. "We're going to the park to have a picnic," Lucas grinned. Haley smiled back as she linked her arm through his and laid her cheek against his shoulder as they walked down the sidewalk, the kids running ahead with their basketball.

Lucas spread out the large blanket under their tree and Haley helped him set the food out. There were turkey sandwiches, potato salad, a bowl of mix fruit, and a bottle of red fruit punch for each of them. The kids were quick to eat their food and ran off to the playground, eager to go down the slides and swing across the monkey bars. Once Haley was finished, she laid down and stared up at the sky, watching the clouds and lost in her own thoughts. Lucas joined her a few minutes later and took one of her hands into his own, kissing the back of it softly. She turned her head towards him and smiled, leaning over and pressing her lips tenderly to his, "I love you." "Love you too," he murmured as he brushed a few stray strands of hair away from her face and kissed her cheek.

They laid like that for another twenty minutes before sitting up and adjusting their positions. Lucas leaned back against the tree and Haley sat between his legs, he wrapping his arms around her waist, as they talked and watched the kids play on the playground with some other children.

A few minutes later, a little boy about Derek and Katie's age came up to them. "Hey, are you that basketball player from the Lakers, um, Lucas Scott," the boy asked, wringing his hands in shyness. Lucas unwrapped his arms from Haley and stood, "Yeah." The boy's eyes grew wide when he took in Lucas' height compared to his small body, "Wow! You're TALL!" Lucas chuckled and bent down on one knee, "What's your name?" "J-" the boy began but he was interrupted by a teenage girl calling and running after him, "Joey! There you are!" Haley smiled as she stood as well, "Heather! This is your little brother?" Heather nodded and ruffled Joey's dark brown hair, "Yep, this is the little rugrat." "Hey!" Joey protested, pushing her hand away and smoothing his hair. Lucas, still down on one knee, took Joey's hand and shook it, "Nice to meet you Joey."

"Daddy," Derek screamed as he and Katie ran towards the small group, "I wanna go play basketball!" "Okay kiddos, let's go over to the rivercourt. Heather, why don't you and Joey come along too? Haley told me that Joey loves basketball and he can play with us. We can each take a kid," Lucas offered with a smile. "Really," Joey asked, his eyes growing large again as a wide smile spread across his face. "Sure," Lucas replied.

Haley and Lucas packed up all their belongings and they all headed over to the rivercourt. "Alright, let's pair up. Me and Derek, Haley and Katie, and Heather and Joey. Play to twelve," Lucas responded as he placed Derek on his shoulders. Heather laughed, "I can't play basketball worth my life." Haley shrugged and grinned, "Neither can I, but he still makes be do it." Haley took Katie's hand and led her onto the court, Heather and Joey following suit. They played for a little bit and of course Derek and Lucas won the game. Heather and Haley decided to take a little break while Lucas took turns with each of the kids, lifting them up so they could make baskets and teaching them some basic moves. Unfortunately, Haley was still battling her fight with Bronchitis and the flu and she had starting coughing after awhile from all the running around.

"Joey's going to want to follow Mr. Scott around like a dog from now on. He idolizes him. He thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread," Heather laughed as watched Joey continually get Lucas to lift him up for baskets. They were sitting on the bench of the old picnic table, leaning back on their elbows on the table top. Haley chuckled too, "He and Derek seem to get along pretty well too." "Yeah," Heather agreed. "Help! Haley, Heather! They're taking me down!" Lucas yelled as he ran from the three kids, who were chasing after him then tickling him until he fell onto the grass with a flop. Haley rolled her eyes, "Come on, let's go save him from the little monsters."

Later that afternoon, Derek and Katie were napping and Haley was in the kitchen eating some strawberries. Lucas came up from behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He kissed her the column of her neck before turning her slightly and covering her mouth with his. "Mmm, yummy," he responded with a grin after tasting the strawberry on her lips. Haley giggled then offered him a strawberry, which he ate from her fingers. She grabbed another strawberry and sunk her teeth into the top of it. Lucas grinned as he leaned in and bit into the other end, sealing their kiss. Haley chuckled against his mouth then pulled away, smiling up at him. He could see the love and desire burning in her eyes, that little twinkle in them.

Lucas smirked as he leaned down and picked her up, gently throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her to the bedroom. "Luke!" Haley shrieked. He carefully tossed her on the bed, beginning to tickle her. "Sh, Luke! We're going to wake up the kids," Haley giggled as she squirmed beneath his fingers. "They won't if you're quiet," he grinned as he smothered her lips with his. Haley giggled again as she pushed him away, turned, and started crawling towards the head of the bed, turning on the stereo with the remote. The soft, soothing tones of John Mayer filled the room. As Haley listened to the words, she smiled and pulled Lucas on top of her, pressing her lips passionately to his mouth, "Perfect."

We got the afternoon,
You got this room for two,
One thing I've left to do,
Discover me,
Discovering you.

One mile to every inch of,
Your skin like porcelain,
One pair of candy lips and,
Your bubblegum tongue.

Cause if you want love,
We'll make it,
Swim in a deep sea,
Of blankets,
Take all your big plans,
And break 'em,
This is bound to be a while.

Your body is a wonderland,
Your body is a wonder (I'll use my hands),
Your body is a wonderland.

Something 'bout the way the hair falls in your face,
I love the shape you take when crawling towards the pillowcase,
You tell me where to go and,
Though I might leave to find it,
I'll never let your head hit the bed,
Without my hand behind it.

You want love,
We'll make it,
Swim in a deep sea,
Of blankets,
Take all your big plans,
And break 'em,
This is bound to be a while.

Your body is a wonderland,
Your body is a wonder (I'll use my hands),
Your body is a wonderland.

Damn baby,
You frustrate me,
I know you're mine, all mine, all mine
But you look so good it hurts sometimes.

Your body is a wonderland,
Your body is a wonder (I'll use my hands),
Your body is a wonderland,
Your body is a wonderland

Two days later, Haley carried Derek on her hip as she led Katie by the hand to the bleacher stands. "Haley," a voice called. She looked up and her face brightened, "Ky!" She made her way up the few rows to where Kyla stood waiting. The two women embraced. "It's so great to see you! I'm sorry we haven't visited or talked in awhile, I've been so busy with school and being sick and everything else that I just haven't-" "It's okay Hales, I've been pretty busy too. This place is an inspiration mad house for writing," Kyla replied with a laugh. "So, what are you doing here," Haley asked after she and the kids settled down into their seats. "I thought I'd relive my high school days and actually show some school spirit. Plus, I came to see the hotties," she responded. "Eww! Ky, that's gross! They're like seven or eight years younger than you," Haley's face scrunched in disgust. "I'm not talking about them. I came to see the coach. Isn't that why you're here," she winked at her with a knowing smile.

"Keep your hands off my man; he's taken," she mock glared at her with a little growl then smiled at her. "I know, I know," she raised her hands in defense. "Heather," Haley called out when she spotted the girl. She waved and made her way up to them. "Hey Ms. James. Katie, Derek," she tickled the kids' tummies and they giggled. "Ky, this is one of my students, Heather Montgomery. Heather, this is my friend Kyla," Haley introduced. "Nice to meet you," Kyla offered out her hand. "You too," Heather replied as she shook her hand.

Down on the floor, the basketball team was doing warm up free throws as Lucas watched from the sidelines. Lucas looked up into the stands, finding Haley in the massive crowd. Their gazes met and both smiled. She mouthed, 'I love you' to him. His smile became even bigger at this. "Boys, continue your free throws. I'll be back in a minute," he called out. He then climbed up the bleachers to where Haley was. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her passionately. "I love you," he murmured against her lips. A few feet away, Kyla smiled, "That's so romantic. They're so in love…" Kyla responded as she stared at the two. "Yeah, it's great, isn't it? That whole best friends turned into lovers thing is a fairytale come true right there," Heather replied dreamily with a sigh. "Heather, I think you just wrote me my next book," Kyla smiled at her with twinkle in her eyes.