Author's Note: Hey guys! Third update in one day! I'm on a roll! We haven't had a day like this one in a while! I guess it's all this inspiration I got because this story is finally almost over. Well, it's also because I had most of this chapter already written. It's longer than the usual chapter so you'll be happy about that. THREE more chapters left! Yes, I'm beginning a countdown! The next chapter will be a continuation of this chapter, starting up where we left off at the end of this chapter. Anyways, 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 37 – At First Sight
"Hales, can you get the kids ready? I've got to start grilling the food," Lucas called out as he grabbed a platter off of the kitchen counter. "Yeah," she shouted from somewhere in the apartment. "You going to be okay getting them ready by yourself? I don't want you to strain or hurt yourself," Lucas asked concernedly. "I'll be fine, I've dressed them by myself before," Haley rolled her eyes. "Alright, I'll be outside if you need me," he responded as he walked out the back door to the barbeque grill. They had decided to go easy with the food since there were going to be so many people there and they had opted for the traditional picnic food of hamburgers and hotdogs, potato and macaroni salad, various kinds of chips, baked beans, and other different side dishes including macaroni and cheese for Haley and the kids.
In the kids' room, Haley dressed Katie and Derek as she talked to them about what would happen that day. "Okay guys, you two be good and nice today. We have some of Mommy and Daddy's old friends coming over and they're going to bring their kids with them. You guys can play inside or outside but don't run around the house and let me know if you go outside so I can keep an eye on you, okay?" They nodded and replied in unison, "Okay Mommy." Haley smiled as she kissed Derek's forehead then Katie's cheek and set them down on the floor. "You two go play," she said and called out as they started to run off, "try not to get dirty!" Haley sank down onto a nearby armchair for a few minutes to rest then looked at her watch. Everyone would be here soon. So she slowly rose from the chair and went to go set the table with food and condiments for the hamburgers and hotdogs. They had pulled two large picnic tables together, because of their many guests, and placed a checkered tablecloth over it, making sure to pin it down with clamps. Lucas came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, "It's almost time. Are you ready?" She knew there was more than one meaning to that question. She sucked in a deep breath and nodded. He kissed her tenderly on the mouth and hugged her before saying he needed to return to the grill so the food wouldn't burn.
Haley was setting out plates and silverware on the picnic table outside in back of the apartment when a car pulled into a parking spot, unheard by her. A young man and woman around the same age exited the car and while the man opened the door to the backseat, the woman raced across the grass towards the unsuspecting Haley until she screamed out, "Haley!" At her name, she turned and Peyton slowed down considerably so as not to hurt her when she engulfed her in a large, tight hug. Tears welled in the blonde's eyes as she rambled in her emotional state, "Oh my god, Haley! We tried so hard to find you…we-we didn't know where you went… we thought something had happened to you…" Haley's eyes moistened too as she comforted her friend by stroking her hair and rubbing her back, "Sh, it's alright. I'm here now. I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was leaving…" "Where did you go," Peyton asked in a shaky voice, "and why did you leave Tree Hill, why did you leave us?" Haley acquired a confused expression on her face, "Luke didn't tell you?" Peyton shook her head as Lucas came up behind Haley and placed his hand on her lower back, "I figured it was your place to tell them. That and I didn't want to explain it every time I called someone. Too much work."
Haley hit him lightly in the chest and he feigned hurt, "Ow!" She replied, "You're such a big baby. Now go get that lazy ass over to the barbecue before you burn the food!" He smirked back, "Oh you know you love this ass!" "Yeah, your ass is one of a kind; it's a lazy ass, a smartass, a jackass… I could go on, but I don't want to hurt your feelings," she smiled back, responding in a joking manner. He placed both hands over his heart, "Ouch. I guess me and my ass will have to go elsewhere since we're apparently not wanted here." He turned around with his nose stuck up in the air and swayed his hips a little as he sauntered away, knowing she was looking. Both Haley and Peyton laughed hysterically at his actions for a few minutes until they finally calmed down. Peyton's serious look returned to her face as she asked, "Haley, why did you leave? And where did you go?"
They were once again interrupted by another screaming person, "Tutor Girl!" "Brooke," Haley smiled as she called out to the brunette. "Oh my god, you're pregnant!" Brooke shrieked in excitement. They embraced as she too became teary as Peyton had. "Where have you been the last five years? Peyton, Jake, and I searched everywhere for you. We checked phone books and campuses, we even asked your parents. Why did you leave," Brooke inquired as her bottom lip trembled. She wiped the other girl's tears away with her thumbs and gave her a small smile, "I was just getting to that." Brooke nodded as both she and Peyton waited expectantly for her to explain.
"When I left Tree Hill, I went to New York and I've been there ever since up until about a year ago when I moved back here," Haley responded. "What were you doing in New York," Brooke asked. "Seen any good movies lately," Haley inquired, but both of the other girls thought she was trying to avoid that topic. "Hales, don't try and change the subject. What were you doing in New York," Peyton said concernedly. "Well, I went to college there and then I became an actress. That's why I asked if you guys had seen any movies because I've been in some pretty popular movies, a few were box office hits. Where have you guys been? Living in a dark hole?" "Yeah, we have ever since our best friend left us without any goodbye and never contacted us. We were so worried about you. But you still haven't told us why you left Tree Hill in the first place," Peyton responded. Haley fidgeted with her hands as she looked down to the ground then back up to her two friends, "I left because I was pregnant."
Both had shocked expressions on their faces and Brooke's eyes bulged in surprise, and maybe a little in fear, Haley noted. "Was it Nathan's," Brooke asked quietly. Haley shook her head no and looked back to Lucas at the barbeque and smiled. In that instant, Lucas looked up too, and smiled as well when his gaze met hers. "Lucas," Peyton inquired, seeing at the exchange between the two. "Yeah," Haley responded in a distracted and dreamy tone then turned to them and said seriously, "I know what you guys are thinking and nothing happened between us while either of you were together. We um, you know, the night before he left for Charleston and I never saw him after that until almost a year ago when he moved back here too, about a month after I did." "You never told him," Peyton asked incredulously. Haley shook her head, "I knew he wanted to go to college and play pro basketball. I didn't want to take away his dreams; he'd worked too hard for them to just be washed away because I was pregnant."
"Hello ladies," Jake greeted with a six-year-old Jenny beside him, then hugged Haley, "Haley, it's good to have you home and safe again. We were worried something had happened to you, we searched everywhere." She smiled at the two girls beside her then turned back to Jake, "Yeah, so I'm told. Thank you guys for caring so much to try and find me." She hugged all three of them then Jake asked, "Haley, could you show me where I can put Jenny down for a nap? She's pretty tired from the drive." Haley replied, "Sure! Jenny can sleep in Katie's room. You guys come with me and I'll let you meet the kids." "Kids? As in more than one," Brooke asked incredulously. Haley nodded and smiled, "I had twins. I thought I was only having one, Katie, but when I was in labor, out came Derek too." "Wait, kids," Jake asked, confused, because he hadn't been in the previous conversation so he didn't know. Now realizing what Lucas had meant by telling everyone separately being too much work, she rolled her eyes and responded, "Peyton can tell you. Come on, I'll show you to the kids' room so you can get Jenny settled."
The other three followed her into the apartment and she led them to the living room where she sat on the couch and called for her kids to come, "Katie! Derek! Come in the living room please." The two entered and ran over to Haley, both shouting happily, "Mommy!" They climbed up on the couch next to her and wrapped their small arms around her neck. Haley kissed each of them and hugged them back. "Kids, I would like you to meet some of Mommy's friends. This is Brooke, Peyton, Jake, and Jake's daughter, Jenny. She's about your age," Haley introduced them, pointing to each person as she named them. Katie went to each person and stuck out her hand, saying, "Hi, my name is Katie. Nice to meet you." Derek, however, stayed by his mother. He had always been a shy child, they typical 'Mama's boy', much like Lucas had been. He did warm up to people once he got to know them though. Jake crouched down on his knees in front of Derek and offered his hand, "Hi, my name is Jake. What's yours?" "Derek," the little boy replied quietly. "Hi Derek," Jake greeted. "Hi," he answered, taking Jake's hand. "Do you like to play basketball," the man asked. Derek's face and demeanor changed to bright and excited at these words, "Yeah! Daddy and I play all the time!" "Jenny plays basketball too," Jake replied. Derek's face scrunched up, "Girls don't know how to play basketball, they suck." "Hey, I can play basketball," Katie protested loudly. "Derek Lucas Scott, we do not say 'suck' in this house," Haley said sternly. He hung his head, ashamed, and said quietly, "I'm sorry Mommy."
Haley stroked his head once, "It's okay D, just don't let it happen again, okay?" He nodded and hugged her and she returned the same gesture. "Katie, Derek, why don't you two go play outside for awhile? Jake is going to put Jenny down for a nap in your room for a little bit and after she wakes up, you guys can play alright?" "Okay Mommy," the pair replied in unison then went outside to play. "How do they do that," Brooke asked with amazement. "It's a twin thing, I guess," Haley replied with a shrug, "Jake, come with me and I'll show you where you can put Jenny." Haley struggled to get up but finally Peyton helped her from the couch and she led them to Katie and Derek's room and pointed to Katie's bed, indicating that he could let Jenny sleep there. While Jake tucked Jenny into bed, the girls went back outside to chat while waiting for the others to arrive.
"So where are you two living now? Any relationships? Peyton, I know you're still with Jake so what about you Brooke," Haley asked as they all got comfortable on chairs and Haley laid back on a chaise lounge. "Jake and I are living in Charleston. We got married three years ago, our freshman year of college," Peyton responded, raising her left hand to show her wedding ring. It was a simple gold band with a small yet generous diamond on it. "Oh my god," Haley exclaimed as she grabbed Peyton's outstretched hand, tears forming in her eyes as she looked up at her, "I-I'm sorry I missed your wedding. I bet it was beautiful; I bet you looked beautiful in your wedding dress." "Nah, we didn't really have a wedding. We just went down to City Hall one day after we got our marriage license and got married. Brooke nearly killed me when she found out," Peyton smiled at Brooke, who stuck her tongue out at her friend. "I can't believe you got married and didn't even invite me, your best friend. How rude," Brooke responded as she formed a pout and crossed her arms in indignation. Peyton and Haley laughed at the look on her face and Peyton replied, "It was spur of the moment Brooke, and you were across the country in California." "So you live in California," Haley asked, turning to Brooke. "Yep, been there ever since I graduated Tree Hill High and I went to UCLA, studied fashion, of course, and now I run my own little store out there," Brooke responded with a proud smile.
"That's great Brooke, you sound like you've done really well for yourself," Haley replied. "I have, haven't I," Brooke perked up, her smile widening. Peyton coughed while muttering under her breath, "Show off." "Oh I wouldn't be talking, Miss-I-Own-My-Own-Art-Gallery. You're doing pretty well for yourself too Blondie," Brooke responded. "Hey, at least I'm modest about it," Peyton protested, "I don't go flaunting it about like you do." "Hey," Brooke exclaimed, "I'm modest." "Oh please," Peyton flipped her hand, "You? You're anything but modest Brooke. Remember the clothes you used to wear in high school? Definitely not modest." "Hey, how did this change from what we're doing with our lives to the way I dressed in high school? Are you calling me a slut?" "Yep," Peyton grinned jokingly. "Bitch," Brooke replied good naturedly. "Hey, stop with the foul language! We've got baby ears around," Haley shouted to interrupt their bickering, placing a hand on her stomach, "I don't want my child's first word to be a bad word." "Sorry," the both replied.
"So how far along are you," Peyton asked. "I'm about five months, probably about twenty-one weeks," Haley answered, rubbing the round bump. "You look good, Hales. Pregnancy suits you. You were always the motherly type; I always imagined you with tons of kids," Peyton smiled. "Tons of kids? Please don't mention that to Lucas," Haley replied with a groan. "Peyton's right though, pregnancy does suit you. You look so…at home…being pregnant; glowing," Brooke responded as she gazed at her friend, a soft smile on her face. Haley stared down at her large stomach and replied in a soft emotional voice, tears welling behind her eyes, "I look like a blimp." Lucas, who was nearby, walked over and leaned down, wrapping his arms around her shoulders from behind. "No you don't," he murmurs quietly then kisses her neck, "You look beautiful."
No one but her notices Nathan approaching the group because of the way everybody else's chairs were turned. Tears started to well in her eyes even more as she remembered the last time she'd seen him and the words he'd said to her. "We're over. Don't even try to talk to me; I don't want to see you ever again." Brooke responded in a cooing tone, "Aww, how sweet. Now who would have thought Tutor Girl would get pregnant in high school? I know I sure didn't. I always thought I'd be the one." Nathan finally reached the group and heard the last of what Brooke had said. Haley moved from Lucas' hold as he was still kissing her neck and got up from the chaise lounge, moving into the apartment as quickly as she could before anyone could see her crying. Nathan looked after her for a moment before turning his gaze back to the group, a smirk on his face, "You and the whole rest of the school, Brooke." She gets an appalled expression on her face and hits him hard in the chest with the back of her hand, "That's it mister! You're sleeping on the hardwood floor tonight. No bed for you. No couch either. And don't you even think for a minute you're getting laid tonight…" She stopped when she saw the shocked expressions of all her friends' faces, realizing that she had let slip her secret. "Oops," she mumbled under her breath.