Author's Note: Hey guys! Here's your chapter for today! Sorry it seems a little rushed. A certain someone wanted to read the new chapter before they went to bed so I tried to finish it up quickly. I hope you 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 20 – Sealing the Deal and The Holidays

November passed by in almost a blur and it was already Thanksgiving. Everyone had been invited over to Karen's house for dinner to celebrate the holiday. Everyone being Lucas, Haley, and the kids, Kyla, Deb, Whitey, and Keith. Keith had moved back to Tree Hill two years prior to take over the dealership after Dan's death. No one had really been sad about his passing, of course because he'd ruined so many lives. Deb had divorced him shortly after Lucas had left for Charleston and she'd gotten the house, practically everything except for the beach house and the dealership, but yet she still managed to control that because it was her money that had financed and funded the company all those years. Nobody wanted Whitey to be all alone on a holiday and he was almost family anyway, as was Kyla, who didn't really know anybody else in Tree Hill besides the small group.

"Hey guys," Karen greeted Haley, Lucas, and the kids when she heard the doorbell. She hugged both Haley and Lucas then kissed them on their cheeks. "Hey Karen, thanks for having us over. I didn't really feel up to cooking a whole big dinner," Haley replied. "Nonsense, you're always welcome over here, you know that," Karen responded. "I know you probably already have a bunch of desserts, but I brought one," Haley smiled as she lifted up a cake container. Karen's eyes brightened, "Is that your famous strawberry shortcake?" Haley nodded and the older woman squealed in delight as she took it from her. "Is there anything I can do to help," Haley asked. "Sure, you can come help me with the food. Lucas, go set the table," Karen said. "Yes ma'am," he replied then took Katie and Derek's hands as he led them to the dining room, "come on kids, let's go set the table." "Don't break my good china," Karen called out from the kitchen.

Soon the others arrived and dinner was served. Lucas did the honors of cutting the bird and Karen led the prayer. They passed around the various dishes and started to eat. When the ravenous consummation of food finally began to dwindle, they began to talk about things going on in their lives. Things including how the café was doing, the dealership, Kyla's writing, Whitey's retirement, the kids, and eventually the conversation turned to Lucas and Haley. All had been ecstatic when they'd found out Haley and Lucas had finally gotten together after all those years apart. Kyla, never one to beat around the bush, asked bluntly one moment during a pause in conversation, "So guys, when are you two going to do this right, seal the deal and get hitched?" At that moment, Haley had just taken a sip of her iced tea and she now spit it out, beginning to cough, "K-Ky!" Lucas dropped his forkful of mashed potatoes, clattering onto his plate, in shock. Lucas patted her back but she still continued to cough harshly, the Bronchitis kicking in. Haley felt the nausea and dizziness settling in. She sometimes felt dizzy and sick to her stomach after coughing so hard that sometimes her insides hurt.

She stood from her chair and quickly sprinted to the bathroom. "I'll go see if she's alright," Lucas responded as he too got up from the table. He lightly knocked on the bathroom door, "Hales?" He crouched down beside her and held her hair as she coughed into the toilet, sometimes actually throwing up, but mostly coughing only resulted. After about ten more minutes, she finally raised her head and sat up, leaning back into his strong chest. He gently wiped her mouth with a wet rag. He felt her forehead and he could tell that her temperature was slightly elevated. "I don't feel so good…" Haley replied weakly.

"Sh, baby, you're running a little bit of a fever. I'm going to go get the kids and I'm going to take you home okay? I'll be right back, I'm gonna go say goodbye to everyone." He started to get up but she put her hand on his arm, "No Luke, we should spend time with our family. I'll just lay on the couch for awhile. I'll be okay in a little bit," she responded as she shakily tried to stand. Her legs almost collapsed beneath her and Lucas gently picked her up in his arms. He carried her to the couch in the living room, his old bedroom long since converted to a playroom for the kids when she watched them. He carefully laid her down and brushed the hair out of her face, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Be right back," he whispered.

Everyone looked at him concernedly when he reentered the dining room. "How is she," Karen asked. "She's not feeling well but she still wants to stay so I put her on the couch. Mom, where is the Tylenol?" "Kitchen, second cabinet on the left," she responded. "Thanks," he replied. Lucas returned to the living room with the Tylenol and a glass of water, "Here, take these." She placed one of the pills in her mouth and he lifted the glass to her lips, letting her drink some before doing the same again with the second pill. He set the glass of water on the coffee table and left, returning a few moments later with a damp washcloth, which he laid on her forehead. Lucas sat on the edge of the couch, rubbing her back in slow circles. Haley entwined her fingers with his and kissed his knuckles, pressing his hand against her cheek. He leaned down and softly brushed his lips over hers, tenderly kissing her.

Fifteen minutes later, Kyla walked in the living room to see Haley. Lucas looked up and smiled, lightly squeezing Haley's hand then placing it back on the couch as he stood and moved to the kitchen so Kyla could sit with her. "Hales, I am so sorry…" Kyla began, tears welling in her eyes, "I made you sick and to top it all off, I ruined your Thanksgiving too." "It's okay Ky," Haley responded hoarsely as she placed her hand on top of Kyla's. Kyla leaned down and gently wrapped her arms around her friend.

November changed into December and soon Christmas was in full swing. The town had been attacked with about a foot of snow and many kids were out with their friends and families, sledding or tobogganing down the small slopes of the hills. Lucas had strung lights around the outside of the apartment as well as the inside and both he and Haley had decorated the tree and put up various Christmas fanfare and memorabilia.

It was now Christmas morning and both Lucas and Haley were sleeping peacefully in their bed when Katie and Derek raced in, climbing onto the bed and bouncing on it excitedly. "Mommy, Daddy! Wake up! It's Christmas! We gotta open presents," Derek screamed. "Yeah Mommy, Daddy, wake up! I wanna open presents," Katie yelled. Both Haley and Lucas groaned as they woke to movement and high pitched screaming in close proximity. Haley looked at the clock and groaned again as she buried her head under the covers, "Guys, it's six am. Go back to sleep for another two hours then we'll have breakfast and open presents." "No Mommy, we wanna do it now," Derek whined. "We might as well get up. We're not going to get anywhere with them," Lucas mumbled into her shoulder.

"Fine," Haley sighed as she pushed back the covers and stood from the bed, putting on a pair of slippers and her bathrobe. "What do you guys want for breakfast," she asked her kids. "Pancakes," Derek shouted excitedly. "Waffles," Katie replied in the same tone. Lucas was still lying in bed as she walked out of the bedroom to the kitchen. "Lucas, get your butt out of bed and cook us some breakfast," she called out as she plopped down on the couch and covered herself with a blanket, closing her eyes. "Why do I have to cook," he asked when he appeared a few minutes later in a long sleeved shirt and flannel pajama pants, scratching his head. "Because I'm too tired and you cook better than me," she replied with her eyes still closed. Lucas laughed, "This coming from the woman who never fails to remind me of the one time I burned your macaroni and cheese." "It isn't that hard to make Lucas. All you have to do is bring the water to a boil, pour in the macaroni, let it cook for seven to ten minutes, drain it, put it in a bowl then add the cheese and a bit of milk. How can you make something so simple, so hard?" "Are you sure I won't burn the pancakes? Maybe you should make them. You know, just to make sure I don't burn the apartment down," he grinned. "Not a chance. I'm the sick one here, you have to take care of me," she replied in a childish voice. "I'll take care of you later tonight," he whispered against her lips as he leaned over her, a smirk on his face.

After breakfast and the ceremonial opening of presents, to which both Katie and Derek received a brand spanking new tricycle, a boat load of stuffed animals and toys, and some clothes as well, they all headed over to Karen's house for more presents then they returned home. While Derek and Katie napped, Haley and Lucas cozied up on the couch in front of the fire. He patted her leg, "Listen, later this afternoon my mom is coming to pick up the kids and they're going back to her house for the night; she wants to spend some more time with them. Since we won't have the kids tonight, how about we go out and have dinner, just the two of us? We haven't done that in a long time," he asked as he rubbed her shoulder. "That sounds great. Where do you want to go," Haley smiled. "Why don't you let me take care of the place and you worry about the dress," he grinned. "Aww, I have to wear a dress?" "Yes, it's a requirement to going out with me tonight," he replied. "What time are we going," she asked. Lucas looked at his watch, "Um, in about three hours, 5:00." "Ooh, I better start getting ready now," Haley jumped off the couch but Lucas grabbed her arm and pulled her back onto him, "Kiss first." She leaned down and softly pressed her lips to his, cupping his face in her hands. "Alright, now I really have to get ready," Haley said as she quickly pulled away. Lucas groaned, "You're killing me here, Hales." "Save it for later baby," she winked as she looked back at him then rushed to her bedroom to find the perfect dress.

Lucas escorted her into the restaurant and waited for the hostess to come back to the desk. "You look beautiful," he murmured in her ear. She was wearing a dark green v-neck halter dress that flowed down to her ankles with a pair of dangly emerald earrings and her hair down in soft, luscious curls. Lucas was dressed in a black pant suit with a maroon dress shirt. "Thank you," Haley blushed. The hostess appeared and Lucas said, "Lucas Scott, reservations for two." The woman nodded and led them back to a secluded section of the restaurant. A candle and a vase of small baby roses sat as centerpiece like many of the other tables. Lucas pulled a chair out for her and pushed it back in after she had sat down. He took a seat adjacent to her and began looking at his menu. "What are you going to get," he asked a few minutes later. "Um, I think I'm going to order the fettuccini alfredo with the shrimp. You," she inquired. "The Chicken Primavera looks good. I think I'll try that," he mused. She nodded her approval. Lucas called the waitress over and put in their orders.

As they ate, they shared small talk about the kids and various things like school and the café. They had just been give their dessert, Haley a piece of chocolate mousse cake and Lucas some apple pie, when he took her hand in his and kissed it, "I love you Haley." "I love you too, Luke," she smiled up at him then took another bite of her cake, "Mmm, this is so good. You should try this." "Hales, look at me," he said softly. "What," she looked at him concernedly. He entwined their fingers and stood from his chair, slowly getting down on one knee. He took her other hand into his free one. Tears began to roll down Haley's cheeks at the realization of what was happening. "Haley, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You have been my best friend for nearly twenty years even despite losing each other for five. I have loved you for so long and so much… it kills me to be one minute, one second without you. I think about you all the time; every minute of every day. I cannot think or imagine a day without you. I don't ever want to live my life without you. Haley James, love of my life, mother of my children, will you accept this ring as a token of my love and devotion to you, forever and always, by becoming my wife?"

Haley was almost full out sobbing by now, but she was crying silently. She stared at the beautiful ring. It was a beautiful three-stone diamond ring on a platinum band. She looked back up to his sparkling blue eyes and smiled, slowly nodding. "Yes," she whispered. He gave her a hundred watt smile as he took the ring from the box and placed it on her finger. He then leaned in and captured her lips in a passionate kiss.