Ding-dong.

"Nathan, Haley, hi," Deb greeted the couple. "Come on in." She ushered the two into her house. It was time for one of the Scott's famous family dinners. It was going to be a long night. But luckily Lucas was going to be there. Haley sat down next to him and Nathan next to her. Nathan's grandparents were there, and surprisingly so were Whitey and Karen. 'And so the fun begins.' Haley thought.

"Whitey, do you think you guys will have a shot at the championship this year," Royal asked.

"Please, no talk of sports," Mae said. "Karen, how are things at the café?"

"Things are great, Deb has been such great help."

"Oh Karen, I think you give me too much credit," Deb responded.

"Speaking of the café," Dan said. "Dad, remember how you tried to visit Karen last time you were here? What's that about?"

"Danny, just because you left Karen, doesn't mean we did. We kept contact with her to make sure she and Lucas were doing okay," Mae said.

"So Nathan, when are you going back to camp," Royal interrupted.

"Um I think I'm just going to go back down for the last couple of days."

"What do you mean? That's almost 3 weeks from now!"

"I have bigger things to worry about," Nathan shrugged.

"And what is more important than basketball?" Even Dan seemed to be in shock. He seemed to have had a better outlook on life since his near death experience. However, the key word was seemed.

"Dad," Dan tried to say.

"No one asked you son," Royal cut him off. Nathan was tired of this and just went off.

"It's okay Dad, I can answer it. So what is more important than basketball? Do you even have to ask me that," Nathan was practically yelling. "My wife, my brother, my parents. Just to name a few. My dad nearly died, twice. And did we ever hear from you? No! My wife could have died if she didn't respond to the medicine she was on, but she did. My brother did die during surgery and luckily came back. One of my friends was being abused by her father and Dan was able to bring her home. Another friend was trying to get custody of his daughter for the longest time and finally did. All these things I should be thankful for and now you're telling me, basketball is the most important thing? Grow up grandpa." Nathan got up and left the table.

"I think I hit a nerve," Royal commented.

"I better go check on him," Haley said quietly as she got up.

"I'll go with you Hales," Lucas said and walked away. They went up to Nathan's bedroom. Haley knocked. "Nate, can we come in?"

"Sure," they heard him mumble and walked in. He was lying on his bed tossing a basketball up in the air.

"You okay babe," Haley kissed him lightly.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. It's just- I hate how he does that, gets inside my head you know?"

"I know," Haley said and cuddled up to him.

"I don't know how you put up with him all these years Nate," Lucas sighed. "Anything we can do to help?"

"Finding me a way to sneak out of here?"

"Or you could just walk out the back door."

"Good point. Let's go, I'm starving. We should have eaten first, then stormed out," Nathan said as he grabbed his car keys. They went down to the café. Rose was working and took their orders.

"So Luke, how are things going with you and Brooke?"

"Slow," he sighed.

"Speaking of," Haley said as Brooke walked in. "Hey Brooke!"

"Hey! I thought you all had that dinner thing tonight."

"We did, but you know the Scotts, they have short tempers," Haley and Brooke laughed.

"You're right. So what's new?"

"Actually, I'm glad you're here Brooke," Nathan said. "I was thinking…"

"Thinking? That can't be good," Lucas interrupted.

"Dude, shut up! Well you know how I'm going back to High Flyers for the big game right?" They all nodded. "So I was thinking we could all road trip down, Jake and Peyton too."

"Ahh! Road trip! We're going on a road trip," Brooke started to cheer.

"Well, I guess Brooke's in, how about you guys?" Haley and Lucas both nodded.

"Of course, wouldn't miss it!"

"This is so great! Tutorgirl we have to go shopping! Oh my God I have to call Peyton, I hope she can come too! Broody maybe we can even have our date down there," Brooke winked.

"Slow down Brooke," Haley said. "It's not for another 3 weeks."

"So? That's barely enough time to shop and pack! Come on Haley, let's go!" She tried to pull Haley out of the booth.

"Brooke, I want to eat first," Haley whined and Brooke agreed to let her eat.

"You know, I think I should probably go back to the house," Nathan said when he was done eating.

"I'll go with you," Lucas and Haley said at the same time.

"You go," Haley said to Lucas. "Brooke and I will shop, besides its more of a family thing."

"Aw, you're family Hales," Lucas said.

"I know, it's okay. Just go. See you later." She and Brooke left to go shopping once again. After they were out of sight, Lucas turned to Nathan.

"So is this trip to Florida just a part of the plan?"

"Not really, figured it would help out though."

"Dude, you've got nothing to worry about, she loves you and is already married to you after all."

"I know. Ready to go?" Lucas nodded. The boys paid and then left. Deb was the first to greet them when they got back to the house.

"I'm so glad you're back," she said as she hugged her son.

"Sorry I just left mom."

"It's okay. I'm glad you stood up to him like that. Now come back in the dining room, Karen and I have an announcement to make." She led the boys back to where everyone was still sitting. Karen then stood up next to Deb.

"Could we have everyone's attention for a minute," Deb began. "Karen and I have decided to open up another Karen's Café… in Charlotte!" Everyone stood opened mouth. Nathan and Lucas looked at each other, neither knew this was going on. But then they got up and hugged their moms.

"Good for you mom," Lucas said. Everyone else followed suit and congratulated them.

At the mall, Haley was trying on what seemed to be the thousandth bikini. "Brooke, I really don't need another one."

"You can never have too many," she yelled back. Haley gave up, there was no use trying to convince Brooke Davis of anything.

"So Tigger, how are things with you and Lucas?"

"Fine," she simply said.

"Fine? Brooke, I know you. You want to say so much more than just fine."

She let out a huge sigh. "You're right, I do. Things are great. Okay, so maybe we haven't officially gone out yet or anything but he keeps talking about how much he wants to be with me and obviously I'm still in love with—oops."

"In love with him?" Oh my God Brooke," Haley squealed.

"Keep it down," Brooke quieted her. "And you have got to get that suit Hales, Nathan will flip when he sees you in it…"

Later that night when Haley got back to the apartment, she found Nathan sleeping on the couch with ESPN on the TV. She quietly walked over and tried to lie down next to him, but the couch wasn't that big. He had started to wake up and pulled Haley on top of him. "How was shopping?"

"Fun, bought lots of swimsuits for Florida," she smiled.

"You'll have to model them for me," he winked.

"Keep dreaming. How were things back at the house?"

"Surprising."

"How so," she asked as she traced her fingers along his chest.

"Well my mom and Karen are opening another café in Charlotte."

"Wow, that's great!"

"Yeah, I guess so. My grandpa didn't say two words to me the rest of the night either," he chuckled.

"We don't need him anyways."

"We could sure use his bank account." They laughed.

"We could," she agreed yawning. Sleep was beginning to take her over. "Nate?"

"Yeah?"

"Promise we'll always be like this," she whispered as she fell asleep.

"Promise. Love you Hales." He decided they better get into their own bed so he carried her back to the bedroom. She mumbled something along the way which sounded like, "I love you too."

The next morning Haley woke up alone. She sighed to herself when she remembered what today was. Nathan had to work today. They couldn't survive on her concert earnings forever. She decided to go down to the café to see if Karen needed any help.

"Hey Haley," the petite woman greeted her.

"Hey Karen, need any help?"

"Oh it's okay, you don't need to."

"No, I need the distraction," she said as she picked up an apron and headed back behind the counter. "Oh and congratulations on the new café."

"Thanks," Karen grinned. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

"It's okay, let me know if you need any help with it." Karen nodded as she got back to work. Lucas came in around lunchtime.

"Hey buddy," he said. "Excited for Florida?"

"We were just there 2 months ago Luke. And I think Brooke's more excited than I am."

"It'll be fun," he smiled.

"Please don't tell me you're imagining Brooke in her bikini doing certain things I wouldn't want to know about right now."

"Well actually she wasn't wearing anything but—"

"LUCAS!"

"Okay, sorry. How about we do something later, go to the rivercourt, like we used to?"

"Sure, pick me up at like 6?"

"Haley you aren't even supposed to be working today. Go!" Karen said.

"Yeah Hales, go!" Lucas mocked and Karen shot him a look. "Sorry," he mumbled.

"Alright, alright, fine. Let's go! Bye Karen!" Haley and Lucas headed down to the rivercourt. It was one of their favorite things to do growing up. Sometime she would just watched Lucas play basketball or they sat under the tree and talked.

"What's going on Luke?"

"Brooke," he sighed. "I don't know what to do. I love her, I think everyone knows that, but she's freaked out by those pictures of Peyton…"

"I don't know what to tell you Lucas. Give her time, she'll come around."

"I don't want to wait though!"

"Wow, you do realize you sound about 6 years old right?"

"Whatever. I've got bigger problems."

"I guess so. Listen, I don't know if I should be telling you this, but Brooke seems to have some pretty strong feelings for you too. At least that's the impression I got after we went shopping."

"You talked about me when you were shopping! What else did she say?"

"Not getting into it. I probably already said too much."

"Okay, fair enough. So how are you?"

"Fine."

"Just fine? You and Nathan okay?"

"Yeah, we're great actually."

"Good, if you're happy, I'm happy."

"Are you happy?"

"For you, yes. For me, welcome to the pity party." Haley laughed and hugged him.

"Come on, bet I can beat you in some one on one!"

"Haley, do you realize what you just said? You couldn't even make a free throw unless you did it granny style," he snickered. Haley punched his arm. "Hey!"

"Shut up and play you big baby."

Nathan got off work at 5 and headed back for the apartment. He was disappointed when he realized Haley wasn't there, but decided to go down to the rivercourt to shoot some hoops. He was going back to the camp after all and was going to need the practice! Nathan pulled up to the court and was ecstatic when he saw his beautiful wife playing ball with his brother.

"Nathan," she squealed and jumped into his arms.

"Hello to you to," he chuckled. "Hey bro, what's up?"

"Not much, just kicking Haley's ass."

"No you're not," she protested and stuck her tongue out at him.

"Keep playing, I'll join Haley's team," Nathan winked at her.

"Hey, that's not fair," Lucas argued and once again Haley stuck her tongue out at him. "Hales you might want to come up with something less childish."

"Never," she giggled. "Ready to lose Scott?"

"Yeah Scott, ready to lose?" Lucas agreed.

"You're a Scott too," Nathan smirked.

"What? Oh.. Well, ready to lose newlyweds?"

"We're not really newlyweds anymore Lucas," Haley said. "Only a few more months until our first anniversary."

"Yeah, who'd have thought we would have made it this far?"

"Definitely not me," Lucas said. "Wow, if you asked me a year ago that I would be in this position today, I would have asked what drugs you were on." Haley and Nathan both nodded in agreement. "Anyways, back to the game!"

"Isn't this an uneven number of people to be playing a game?" Haley froze, she knew that creepy voice anywhere.

"Chris."