Author's Note: Hey guys! Thanks for all the AMAZING feedback! Can you believe FOWB is almost at 200 reviews! I'm so psyched! I'll probably be working on TSS next. I've really been neglecting that story. It's getting kind of hard to write it even though I know what I want to happen but it's because TSS is coming to a close. Yep kiddies, I am hoping to get TSS done within five or six more chapters and I am predicting that FOWB will be ending around 50 chapters, maybe 45. So they'll both be done soon! I'm glad about that because I will be starting college in early August and won't have as much time to write. Anyways, I hope you like this chapter! 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 31 – Rest and Recuperation

"They want me to WHAT? For a whole WEEK!" Haley asked, her eyes wide as she sat up again and screamed in pain. "Hales, stop trying to sit up or it's just going to get worse. Please just stay lying down," he begged as he helped her lie back down. "Lucas, I can't be put on bed rest for a whole week! You know I can't sit still for more than ten minutes! But for a whole week? I'll go crazy," Haley ranted as she threw her hands up in the air. "I know honey, but you need to rest and recuperate. You need as little stress as possible right now. I know you hate staying in one place, but please do it for me? And for the baby," he asked as he gently laid his hand on her belly. Tears welled in Haley's eyes and she placed her hand beside his as she remembered when Lucas had told her that she had almost lost the baby. She would have never forgiven herself if that had happened. She squeezed her eyes shut as she whispered, "Okay."

Haley stayed a few more days in the hospital and finally she was released to go home with some heavy painkillers and orders not to sit up for another two days. Her head and shoulders could be propped slightly up by pillows though, but nothing below her chest because it would cause pain to her abdomen. So instead of the usual wheelchair escort out of the hospital, they wheeled her out on a gurney and placed her in the large, long back seat of Lucas' Ford Expedition SUV. "Are you okay," he asked concernedly throughout the long drive home, taking less traveled roads to go slower and avoid dips and bumps in the pavement. Once they arrived home, Lucas carefully carried her from the car to the bedroom and gently laid her down on the bed. He brushed the hair away from her face and stroked her cheek with an index finger, "Why don't you take a nap okay?" She nodded then lightly grabbed his chin and pulled his lips down to meet hers in a tender kiss, "I love you." "I love you too honey," Lucas responded when he pulled away. He gave her a soft smile as he stroked her hair then laid a gentle kiss on her forehead, "Get some rest." Haley closed her eyes and Lucas stood from the bed, turning off the light and quietly shut the door behind him as he left the room.

"Honey, wake up," Lucas said a few hours later as he rubbed her arm to rouse her from sleep even though he didn't want to. She looked so peaceful when she slept and now was no different. She was lying on her back, her head tilted to the right and a small smile on her face. His gaze drifted down and found her hands on her stomach. He smiled and carefully lowered himself onto the bed, placing one hand on her stomach and beginning to rub slowly. It still amazed him every time he put his hand there, feeling the roundness and firmness of her belly, feeling their child growing inside. After all, he hadn't been there for the first pregnancy and he hadn't been near her for almost three weeks before the accident; the two they were fighting and the week Haley had gone on her little road trip. He ran his hand lightly over the bump, not wanting to hurt her, for he knew that her stomach was still tender from the pain.

"Mmm…" Haley moaned softly as she slowly woke from her slumber. She opened her eyes and stared into Lucas' blue ones, a smile spreading across her lips. "Hey you," Lucas replied when he saw that she was awake, "How are you feeling?" "Bored already," she responded then her smile grew even wider, "but you being here is helping a lot." He chuckled then said, "come on, I brought you some food. Lift your head up so I can put another pillow under it." She obliged and he carefully fluffed a pillow and placed it behind her. He then moved the tray he had brought with him and set it on the nightstand beside the bed. "What did you make," she asked. "Hot dogs, macaroni, and tomatoes," he replied then gave her one of his lopsided smirks, "the doctor said you should only eat soft foods until you can sit up so you don't choke." She let out a short laugh as she rolled her eyes. "Macaroni and cheese is my favorite food," she replied with a light squeal, "and tomatoes, I like them too." "I know," he smiled. She watched as he cut the two hot dogs into small slices then dipped one in some ketchup and offered it to her. She opened her mouth then closed it once the fork slid in. She chewed slowly then said after she swallowed, "I hate that you have to treat me like a little kid and cut up my food and feed it to me." "It's only for another couple of days, sweetie," he responded as he grazed her cheek with his thumb and leaned down to place a soft kiss on her forehead.

After she had eaten, Haley patted the vacant spot on the bed beside her, "I'm bored again. Come here and keep me company. Entertain me. As they say, misery loves company." She grinned at him and he chuckled as he carefully climbed onto the bed side her. "Tell me something," she requested. "What," he inquired. "I don't know, just tell me something," she replied with a shrug. "I love you," he responded. "No, that's what I meant, and I love you too." "Uh, you're beautiful," he replied. "Do I detect a pause there mister? You sound uncertain," she laughed as she lightly slapped him in the chest, "but that's not what I meant either. Tell me something I don't know." Lucas wracked his brain for anything she might not know, but came up with nothing. "Um, I don't really know. You know just about everything there is about me," he answered. "Come on, I'm sure there's something I don't know," she coaxed. Lucas looked down to his hands and tears welled in his eyes a little as he thought back on it, "Well, um, I don't want to upset you…" "Uh oh, that doesn't sound good…" she replied as a frown formed on her face, "go on…" "I, um, that night…when you left…I-I thought you'd left me again…I thought you'd left and wouldn't be coming back and you were carrying our child… and I know it seems kind of stupid that I thought that then because I know you would never leave Katie and Derek but I just couldn't help…I couldn't help but think that I'd lost you again, especially when I just found you… but I thought I'd lost even more because you were taking our child with you…" He was quietly crying by now and she opened her arms, engulfing him in a hug. "Sh…" she tried to soothe him as she ran her hand through his blonde locks and kissed him all over his face, "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere… I can't really anyway because I'm on bed arrest." She chuckled lightly and finally he did too.

A few minutes passed and they settled down, lying back against the pillows, both of their arms wrapped around each other. "You know we need to tell the kids soon," he said after a couple minutes of silence. "I know, they've already noticed that I'm getting bigger," she replied as she placed her hand on her stomach. He placed his hand beside hers and rubbed gently then fingered the hem of her shirt. "Can I," he questioned hopefully. She nodded with a smile and he rolled up her shirt, exposing her round belly. He tenderly touched it, feeling the soft skin, seeing the extent of her roundness without clothing to cover it for the first time. "Wow…" he breathed out as his gaze stayed transfixed on her belly. "Amazing, isn't it," she asked with a soft grin. He only nodded, too choked up for words. He suddenly leaned down and laid a tender kiss on her stomach, "I love you baby." Haley's smile widened as she cupped his face in her hand and brought his mouth down to hers.

"You know, I was thinking…" he started half an hour later when they stopped their make out session to catch some air. "Really? Did it hurt," she joked as she grinned up at him. "If you hadn't just come out of the hospital and weren't on bed rest, I'd tickle you," he replied with a mock glare. "So what were you thinking about," she asked. "I think you should invite Heather to the wedding. You two have become really close. Which brings me to another point. We need to start planning this wedding. April and May are just around the corner, about two or three months away," he responded. "I know," she replied as she rubbed his shoulder, "but one step at a time, Luke. Let's just get through this week first and then we'll talk about it, okay?" "Alright," he said as he stroked the hair out of her face and kissed her cheek.