Author's Note: Hey guys! Sorry for the wait! I was having a little trouble with how I wanted to write this chapter so it took me a little longer. Can you believe that FOWB and TSS are almost over? I think about 10 chapters or less for FOWB and about 5 or 6 for TSS! Anyways, on to the story! 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 26 – Returning Home

Lucas paced the living room floor of Haley's apartment back and forth. It seemed to be the only thing he did now. Haley had been gone a week and she hadn't returned any of his calls. He needed to talk to her. He was scared. Haley's long absence and her silence and the way she'd acted when he'd tried to touch her in the bathroom scared him. That wasn't a normal reaction after finding out you were pregnant, at least not in their situation. They were happy and engaged and now they had a baby on the way. This was wonderful news. So why had Haley been so upset?

Lucas picked up the phone and dialed Haley's cell, once again trying to get a hold of her. Still no answer. He left yet other desperate, pleading message before hanging up and returning the phone to its cradle. He sank heavily down onto the couch and buried his head in his hands, beginning to cry. He wished she would come home; he needed her to come home. He needed to wrap his arms around her and hold her body tight to his. He needed to kiss her, stroke her hair as he stared into her beautiful chocolate orbs. He needed to tell her he loved her and that everything would be alright.

"Daddy," Katie asked softly as she approached and placed her small hand on his thigh. Lucas looked up from his hands and wiped his eyes, "Yeah sweetie?" "Me and Derek are hungry. Can we go eat at the café," she inquired. Lucas gave her a small smile and ruffled her soft auburn locks, "Sure Katie Bear." "Daddy, why are you sad," Katie asked then squirmed a bit in her place, "I hear you cry at night when I can't sleep." "Do you miss Mommy," Derek asked from a few feet away, walking towards his father and sister. Tears welled in his eyes again at the mention of her and he fought not to let them go in front of his kids. "Very much," he whispered. "When's Mommy coming back," Katie inquired. Lucas shut his eyes tightly, causing a few tears to slip down his cheeks. He wished he could give them a more definite answer; he didn't want to lie to them. The truth was, he didn't know when she was coming back. "I don't know, sweetie," he said quietly as he opened his eyes and looked down at the sad faces of his children. "We miss her too Daddy," Derek replied as he went to hug his father and Katie followed suit. Lucas held his kids tightly in each arm, trying to find comfort in their small warm bodies, their familiar scent of baby lotion invading his nostrils.

He held them for a long time, all seeking consolation in one another. After a while, Lucas pulled away and grabbed their jackets, "Come on guys, let's go to the café and grab a bite to eat." He helped the kids put them on then pulled on his own and picked them up, locking the apartment on his way out. The familiar ring of the bell sounded as he entered and Karen raised her head from cleaning the counter. She saw her son set the kids down and take them each by the hand, leading them over to where she was. Looking into his sad eyes, bloodshot from crying, she knew that there wasn't any new news about Haley. His head hung low and his shoulders sagged, his whole body hunched over as if it was almost too much for him to hold his body up. She gave him a small, almost forced smile as she walked around the counter and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close for a tight hug. He looked like he needed one.

Tears began to well in his eyes once more as he felt himself begin to break down in his mother's strong embrace. "Not in front of the kids," he told himself as he steeled himself a little bit, trying to force back the emotions threatening to burst out of their entrapment. He sucked in a deep breath and reluctantly pulled away. He wiped the few tears that had formed in his eyes with his fingers then looked down to his children and crouched down to their level. "Hey guys, what do you two want for dinner," he asked them. "Grilled cheese please," Katie replied. "I want a BLT and fries like Mommy always gets," Derek responded. Lucas' throat choked up a bit again at the mention of her name. "Alright, drinks," he inquired. "Apple juice," the two answered in unison. He smiled slightly; it was amazing how they did that. Karen rubbed his shoulder and said softly, "I'll go get their food, you just sit with the kids. What do you want?"

He lifted his head and looked at her with those sad, pain-filled eyes again. He looked so lost, so heartbroken, and it broke hers even more that her baby boy was experiencing so much hurt. His best friend, his fiancé, his true love, was out there somewhere, carrying his child, and he had no idea where she was; he hadn't seen or talked to her in over a week and she knew it was killing him to be away from her, not be able to hold her, comfort her. She wished Haley would come home; not only for Lucas, but for Katie and Derek, and herself too. Lucas slowly shook his head at her question and took his children's hands, leading them to a nearby booth. She cast him a worried glance; he hadn't been eating much and he had lost a little weight, and what worried her more was he'd lost about five pounds in just a little over a week, the amount of time Haley had been gone.

They headed back home after they had eaten and Lucas watched as they played a game on the PlayStation, oblivious to everything that was really going on. All they knew was that their mother had gone on a little vacation. What they didn't know was the Lucas didn't know when she was coming back, if she was coming back… Lucas shuddered and steeled himself after that last thought. He wouldn't think like that; Haley would come back. Around 7:30, Derek and Katie stopped playing their game and asked Lucas to read them a book before they went to bed. Katie zonked out within the first five minutes and it took another twenty minutes before Derek got sleepy enough to go to bed. Lucas put the book away and gently stroked his son's hair, leaning down and kissing his forehead. "I love you Daddy," Derek mumbled sleepily as he snuggled deeper under the covers. "I love you too, D," He responded softly as he tucked the blankets tighter around him. He did the same to Katie before quietly turning out the light and closing the door, leaving it open just a crack. He retreated back to the bedroom and laid down, curling up with Haley's pillow in his arms, his head buried in it. It still had her scent and he breathed it in deeply, wishing, hoping, she would come home soon.

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Haley unlocked the door to her apartment and walked in, dropping her bag on the floor with a soft thud as she sighed and her shoulders sank. She was dog tired. She just wanted to curl up in her bed and go to sleep. All the crying and stress and everything else was really getting to her and she was ready to collapse from exhaustion.

Lucas, who was still awake, heard the noise rushed to the living room and saw Haley standing there before him. He blinked a few times, making sure she was really there and this wasn't some dream trying to trick him. "Oh my god, Hales! Thank god you're home! I was so worried…" He quickly waked over and hugged her tight to his body. Haley began to feel her emotions overcome her as she remembered the past week and feeling so alone and she started to cry. "I'm sorry…" she whispered as she buried her head into his chest. "Sh, as long as you're alright… Are you okay," he asked concernedly as he stroked her hair. Haley gave him a small smile as she pulled away from him and headed to the couch, needing to sit or lie down, her legs feeling almost too weak to hold her up any longer. "I'm better now," she responded as she slowly lowered herself onto the couch. Lucas noticed her wince in pain as she sat down on the couch. He started to smile as he walked over and crouched down beside her, but then a thought struck his mind and his eyes widened with fright.

"Haley, by better you mean…" he took a large gulp and he could hear the shakiness of his own voice as tears welled in his eyes, "Haley, you didn't get an abortion, did you?" Her jaw dropped open and her eyes widened too, only with shock, and she quickly lifted her hand and slapped him hard across the cheek. "How dare you!" Her eyes narrowed into slits and she was glaring at him so intensely and with such hatred that she could very well bring to life the saying of 'If looks could kill'. She pointed her index finger towards the front door as she responded angrily, "Get out! Get out now! Stay away from me! I don't want to see you!" "Haley, I-" Lucas began, but was cut off. Haley's stare intensified and he could swear he was burning at the flesh by her fiery eyes, "Leave, NOW! Before I kick your ass out!" Lucas opened his mouth again to protest but he saw her lips tighten into a thin line and he knew he should just go and let her cool off, but he really needed to talk to her, explain, sort things out. But he knew he wouldn't be able to do that tonight. He sighed dejectedly as his shoulders sank and he turned towards the door, giving her one last sad, tear-filled gaze before leaving the apartment. Haley stood there, watching him as he retreated from the apartment, breathing heavily and absolutely fuming, but then she started to cry, burying her head in her hands.

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At the sound of raised voices, Derek, who had always been a light sleeper, had woken up and stumbled in the hallway. He saw his parents fighting, something he had never witnessed them do, and hid in the hallway closet as he always did when he was scared. Tears marred his young face as he listened to the conversation and it ended when he heard the slam of the front door. He cautiously opened the door and peeked out, seeing his mother sobbing. He had always been in-tune with her emotions and he hated seeing her cry, so he ran to comfort and greet her at the same time, not having seen her for over a week, "Mommy!"

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Haley was upset and fuming from her fight with Lucas and she wrapped her arms tightly around herself as if to keep her from crumbling to the floor. She saw her son running towards her and knew that she didn't want him to be near her at that moment, for him to see her crying. He had always hated to see her cry, just like Lucas. The thought of him infuriated her more. How could he have thought that she'd get an abortion? How could he have asked her that question? Her anger mounted as she continued to think about Lucas, yet still she cried.

Derek finally reached his mother and before he attached himself to her legs, he said, "Mommy, I-" However, Haley cut him off, shouting at him, "Derek, go to your room! NOW!" The little boy stared up at her for a moment, stunned, as large tears welled in his blue eyes then he turned and ran from the room. Haley instantly regretted her harsh words towards her son; she hadn't meant to yell at him. Haley sank down onto the couch as fresh tears fell down her cheeks. Her life was such a mess right now; she'd just had a fight with Lucas, she couldn't seem to control her feelings or emotions, and she had horrible mood swings; she'd just screamed at her son for no reason, she'd been taking her frustration and anger out on him.

Haley took a few minutes to calm down before she walked to her son's room and quietly opened the door. She found Derek lying face down on his bed, emitting loud sobs and little whimpers into his pillow. It was a wonder how Katie could sleep through all that noise, but she had always been a heavy sleeper. She sat on his bed and slowly began to rub his back, talking to him softly, "I'm sorry I yelled at you baby. Mommy was just upset. You didn't do anything wrong, okay?" Derek finally turned to her , his tear-stained face red and blotchy and nodded then said in a trembling voice, "I just wanted to tell you that I missed you." She gathered him up in her arms and held him tightly as she kissed him on the cheek, "Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry. I missed you too, so much."

They remained like that for several minutes until Derek asked in a soft voice, "Mommy, why did you yell at Daddy and make him go away?" "Daddy said some mean things to Mommy so Mommy got angry. I'm sorry I took my anger out on you, I didn't mean to," she told him. He nodded and both were silent for several moments until Derek asked, "Mommy, what's a bortion?" An expression of shock and fright crossed her face then she replied, "You don't have to worry about that right now. I'll tell you when you're older. Hey D, let's just keep this between us, okay? Don't even tell Katie." "I won't," he replied. "Alright, it's past your bedtime and you have school tomorrow. Now get into bed and I'll tuck you in," she responded as she ruffled his messy blonde hair. Derek hugged her before getting under the covers, "I love you Mommy." "I love you too baby," Haley whispered as she kissed his cheek and pulled the sheets up to his shoulders. Once she left the kids' bedroom, Haley went to her own room and collapsed on the bed, beginning to sob at the events that had taken place that night. She curled up with Lucas' pillow, his musky scent still on it, and slowly cried herself to sleep.