Author's Note: Hey guys! Sorry it's been a little bit since the last update. I had some writer's block so excuse me if the chapter is a little crappy. I've decided to end FOWB at 40 chapters and since this is Chapter 35, we don't have much longer to go. Anyways, not much else to say other than I'm trying to work on TSS but that is proving to be hard as well. 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 35 – Boredom and A Chat With the Girls

Lucas awoke to the retching sound of Haley throwing up in the bathroom early that Saturday morning. He rose from the bed and went to the bathroom, crouching down beside her, holding her hair and rubbing her back in soothing circles as she emptied the contents of her stomach. Once she was sure nothing else was coming up, she leaned back into Lucas' strong chest and rested her head in the crook of his neck. "Thanks," she whispered. He kissed her temple and stroked her hair, "Why don't you go back to bed and get some rest?" She shook her head slightly, "No, I'm already up. I won't be able to go back to sleep." Lucas helped her up off the floor and she went to the closet, grabbing some clothes then retreated back to the bathroom for a shower.

"Hey, I'm going to go take a walk, okay? I'll be back in a little bit," Haley said as she entered the living room, pulling on a light sweater, "Why don't you take the kids down to the rivercourt? They've been wanting to play basketball for days." "Alright, you be careful okay? Call me if you need anything," Lucas responded as he pushed some hair out of her face and kissed her forehead. "I will," she responded as she gently pecked him on the lips, "bye." "See you later," he replied as he gave her one last light squeeze around her waist then let her go.

Haley walked around town for about fifteen minutes before she decided to go to the café to get something to drink and talk with Kyla and Karen. She hadn't had the time to sit down and talk with them in a while, always busy with school or the kids. She entered the café and noticed that it was pretty much dead compared to other Saturday mornings; it was usually very busy on weekends. Karen was slowly wiping the countertops with a dishtowel as she stared off into space and Kyla was sitting on a stool, boredly flipping through an old outdated magazine. "Wow guys, don't look to happy or excited now. You might lose all your customers," Haley replied with a smile as she carefully slid onto a stool beside Kyla, "this place is dead." "Tell me about it," Kyla mumbled as she turned another page then dropped the magazine on the counter with a flop in exasperation, "I'm bored." "Why don't we all go sit down at one of the tables and chat for a little while," Karen suggested. "That's a great idea Karen," Kyla exclaimed as her eyes brightened. "Good, because my butt is starting to hurt from sitting on this stool," Haley grimaced as she slid to the ground and rubbed her back with her hand. "Aw, poor Hales. Is your back hurting again," Kyla asked in a sympathizing tone. "My back always hurts. I swear I've nearly gained as much weight as when I was pregnant with Katie and Derek and they were born small. Well, at least Derek was," Haley complained, "plus being short doesn't help either." "Don't worry Shorty, I'll rub your back for you," Kyla replied with a smile, rubbing her shoulder as she wrapped an arm around her.

Haley formed a disgruntled pout on her face and crossed her arms over chest in protest to the nickname but sat down sideways in a chair so Kyla could work on her back. "So what do you guys want to talk about," Haley asked. "I don't-" Karen started but Kyla cut her off. "Oh, I know! So Haley, how's yours and Lucas' sex life?" "Kyla!" Karen and Haley both exclaimed at the same time. "What? I'm not getting laid so I have to live vicariously through someone and Karen sure ain't getting any since she's single so you're the only person left," Kyla replied nonchalantly. "I know there's an underlying meaning to that remark Ky," Karen responded, "I know I'm getting on in my years." "You're not that old Karen. You're not even forty yet and you're still good looking, you could still snag yourself a hottie to settle down with," Kyla replied. "Thanks for the vote of confidence Ky but I'm too old to be hitting the dating scene again. I haven't been on a date since I was sixteen and that was before Lucas was born." "My god woman, you don't need a makeover, you need an exorcism! Bring that wild child side out of you, make you a teenager again," Kyla said with wide eyes. Haley laughed and so did Karen. "Nah, I don't think so. My dating days are over. I guess the next step is becoming an old spinster lady with tons of cats," Karen joked. "Karen, you hate cats," Haley laughed.

"Oh, then you should get a dog! They're nice, sensitive, loyal, caring. They're better than any man you could get," Kyla suggested with a bright smile as the idea popped in her head. "I beg to differ," Haley objected with a wide grin, "but I have the perfect man. Lucas is better than any dog." Kyla stuck her tongue out at her friend, "Well not every man is as perfect as Lucas. You're lucky you snagged him." "Snagged him? I knew they were destined to be together the day they met," Karen replied. "Karen, we met when we were two years old! How could you know when we were that young," Haley asked with a laugh. "I just knew," Karen smiled with a twinkle in her eye, "speaking of, how far have you guys gotten on planning the wedding? You told me you wanted to have it in April or May, that's only about a month or two from now." Haley lowered her head and mumbled, "We haven't really started planning anything…" Kyla's eyes widened in surprise, "What? Your wedding is almost a month or two away and you haven't done anything? Are you crazy? Have you two even set a date yet?" "No," Haley said quietly. "What? Oh my god! We're going to remedy this situation right now. Karen, I'll be back in a little bit. I'm going to run down to the store and buy a bunch of bridal magazines and go to the florist and grab a catalog. We have to start planning this wedding! I can't believe you haven't done anything yet," Kyla exclaimed as she stood from her seat and went to grab her purse from behind the counter.

Haley shrugged, "We thought of most of the important stuff when we were six years old. Plus with everything that's happened lately, with me being in the hospital and everything, we decided to put it off a little bit until I was feeling better. We've been really busy, especially me with final exams and everything, so we really haven't had time to sit down and talk about it." "You planned the important stuff when you were six years old," Karen questioned with a raised eyebrow and a knowing smile on her face. Haley rolled her eyes, "We were lying under our tree one day and Lucas asked if I thought we would get married someday. I said maybe and then he asked me what my dream wedding was like. I told him that I wanted it simple, with him in a traditional black tux and me in a simple white dress and we would get married under our tree. I don't think I'll look good in a simple white dress now though." Haley looked down at her stomach and ran a hand over it. "Aw Hales, we'll find you a simple, pretty dress that you'll look beautiful in, I promise," Kyla responded as she walked over and hugged her. "Thanks Ky," Haley replied. "Okay, now I'm gonna go to the store and the florist so I'll be back in a little bit. Have fun! Don't plan the wedding without me," Kyla called out as she exited the café.

Once Kyla had come back, the three of them had spent an hour or two trying to plan the wedding and looking at dresses but they had barely gotten anywhere. All of this was frustrating Haley because she was tired and she wanted Lucas' opinion on the flowers and place settings and all that stuff. They hadn't even picked out a place for the reception yet. They were now taking a little break while eating lunch and they talked casually about the wedding. "So of course you want Katie and Derek to be the flower girl and the ring bearer. Have you thought about bridesmaids and groomsmen," Kyla asked. Haley smiled as she rolled her eyes, " Yes Ky, you're going to be the maid of honor." Kyla shrieked in excitement and hugged her. When she pulled away, Haley asked, "Did you honestly think I wouldn't choose you?" "Well, I had my doubts…" Kyla pouted then grinned, signaling she was joking. "Ky, you're my best friend, besides Lucas anyway, of course I would choose you," Haley responded as she placed her hand on Kyla's arm, "I don't know what we're going to do about groomsmen though. Lucas doesn't really have any guy friends around here. I suppose he could call one of his basketball buddies from the team."

"Have a Lakers player at your wedding? That will cause a lot of publicity. Then your wedding won't be so simple anymore. Reporters and photographers will want to be there," Karen supplied. Haley scrunched her face, "Then maybe not. I'll have to talk to Lucas about it, see what he wants to do. I think I kind of want more than one bridesmaid, but I don't know who either." "What about Heather," Kyla asked. "You know, I thought about that but she's one of my students…We're close but I would feel a little awkward with her up there with me, you know? Besides, it would look kind of weird with her walking down the aisle with someone like seven or eight years older than her." "True," Karen replied. Haley waved her hand in dismissal, "Let's just worry about it later. We'll figure it out once I talk to Lucas. Listen, this has all been fun guys but I'm tired. I need to go home and take a nap." "Alright, you go home and get some rest sweetie," Karen responded as she rubbed her back then helped her up out of her chair. "See you guys later," Haley responded as she grabbed her purse and walked towards the doors of the café.

"Hey honey, how was the wedding planning with the girls," Lucas asked as he looked up from the book he was reading when he saw her enter. "Exhausting," Haley sighed as she lowered herself onto the couch and snuggled into his chest, "We need to set a date, you know." "Yeah, how about April 15th," he asked. "Wow, that was out of the blue," she mumbled sleepily, "but no, I'll be busy with exams and everything still. I don't want to be stressing out over grading exams and having the wedding too. Let's do it after school is out for the summer." "Okay, how about May 20th? School let's out about a week and half before that so we'll have a little time to relax and spend time with the kids before we have the wedding and go on our honeymoon." She turned to him with confusion in her eyes, "Honeymoon? We didn't discuss that. What about the kids?" "They're going to stay with my mom. The honeymoon is my surprise, and no, I'm not telling you where we're going," he responded with a smile when he saw she opened her mouth to speak.

She closed it and pouted as she crossed her arms, "You're no fun." "Oh, but our honeymoon will be," he smirked. "Lucas, we will not be able to have sex when I am seven, almost eight months pregnant, I'll be fatter than I already am now!" Tears welled in her eyes and she sniffled, "Maybe we shouldn't have the wedding right now. I won't look good in a wedding dress. I'm too fat." "Hales, honey, you're not fat. You're beautiful and gorgeous and I love you. You're going to look stunning in your gown, I promise," he hugged her as he kissed her cheek softly and stroked her hair. "Thank you," Haley sniffled as she buried her head in the crook of his neck. "Will you come lay down with me? I'm tired and I'm going to go take a nap." He nodded and helped her up from the couch and guided her to the bedroom. They laid down and Lucas wrapped his arms around her body, kissing her forehead lightly before whispering into her ear, "I love you." "Love you too," she mumbled with her eyes closed, drifting off fast asleep.