Author's Note: Hey guys! I'm back with Chapter 2! Sorry I didn't update sooner, it's just been a crazy week with finals and work. I know most, probably all of you, were confused about some things after the first chapter, but I wanted to start and end it that way, leave you guys asking questions and wondering. Most of your questions should be answered in this chapter. If they aren't, ask me and I'll answer them as best I can without giving the story away. 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. Krissy is mine though.

Rating: PG to PG-13

The Sweetest Sin

Chapter 2

Haley sighed and smiled sadly as she watched Krissy sleeping peacefully in her bed, clutching the stuffed dog Luke had given her for her third birthday only a few short months ago. The last three years had been hard on both her and Krissy. Haley's parents were never home and her mother had split almost as soon after Kristina Summer James had been born to get back to her job. Their jobs and careers were all what her parents cared about. They didn't care that they left their daughter to raise a child as a teenage mother all by herself.

She had always tried to protect Krissy from her parents because she knew that they would hurt her; not physically of course, but emotionally, just as she had been when she was younger, but she was used to it now. She didn't want anyone to hurt Krissy as much as her parents had hurt her when they had left her and she would do anything to protect her from going through the same thing.

Haley hardly ever talked about her parents to Krissy so the little girl hardly knew anything about them. What was the point? They very rarely came home anyway. Luke was there for both of them and helped out a lot with Krissy and Haley was grateful. She didn't know what she'd do if she had to take care of her all by herself. Since Lucas was over at the house a lot, whether it was to hang out, study, or take care of Kris, the two had become really close; as much as she and Haley were. Luke had been there for them ever since Kris was born and when Haley's mother left. Ever since she could talk, Krissy had taken to calling Haley and Lucas, mommy and daddy, because they were the only parents she had really ever known her entire life. She knew that Haley was her sister and that Luke wasn't her real dad, but she took great pride and comfort in calling them mommy and daddy even though she still called them Luke and Haley.

She sighed again as she thought about last night. She could have sworn that Lucas had wanted to kiss her after tickling her and she could still feel the disappointment coursing through her body when he had pulled away. But she couldn't kiss him, it was wrong and they had been friends for nearly fifteen years. And that's how their relationship would stay; on a strictly friendship level.

Haley felt a hand on her lower back and a soft but deep voice, "She's still sleeping?" She nodded and turned her head to look at Lucas, who was gazing at the little girl lovingly. She quietly closed the door to avoid waking her, "Yeah, I made the mistake of giving her some ice cream last night and she started bouncing off the walls. She tuckered herself out, and me as well." "Come on, I'll make you some breakfast. What do you want," he asked, leading her to the kitchen.

Fifteen minutes later, Haley was sitting at the table eating while Luke fixed his own breakfast when Krissy walked sleepily into the room, rubbing her eyes. "Morning Haley," she yawned then saw Luke over by the stove and raced over to him, hugging his legs, "Daddy!" He picked her up and placed her on his hip, "Hey baby. Did you sleep good?" The little girl nodded her head emphatically and she gave him one of her big smiles, "Uh huh, I had really good dream last night! I dreamed that you, me, and mommy went to the court by the river to play basketball then we went to go get ice cream! And I was walking between you two with both of you holding my hands and swinging me. Then we went to the docks to watch all the boats!"

Lucas smiled at her enthusiastic explanation, "That sounds great! I think we could do that." "Oh no, no more ice cream for you, missy. You've already had enough from the overdose of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream you had last night," Haley said as she shook her finger from side to side. "How about we do all of those things, but instead of the ice cream, we go to the café and get some lunch," Lucas suggested. "Okay," Krissy said excitedly. "Fine by me," Haley responded then took the little girl from Luke, "let's get you dressed and some food in you then we can go."

When Haley and Krissy came out twenty minutes later, Krissy was dressed in a pair of little jean shorts and was wearing a lavender colored hooded sweatshirt that she had also gotten from Luke on her third birthday; she hardly went anywhere outside without wearing it. "You're looking spiffy, little lady," he said with a grin. She giggled, "I look just like you, but mine's purple." "I know, I picked it out just for you because I know purple is your favorite color besides blue," he replied as he picked her up. "Let's go to the court now! I wanna play basketball," Krissy exclaimed excitedly. "Alright, off to the rivercourt we go."

It was empty when they reached the court and Kris immediately ran onto it, trying to bounce the basketball, which was big in proportion to her small body. Haley smiled at the scene and turned to Lucas. "She's truly her daddy's little girl. She loves basketball and she loves you," she said softly. "I'm not her dad though, at least not her real one," Lucas replied with a hint of sadness. "Yes you are; you are her father in every way that counts. And you are her real father. You're here for her; you're there when she cries, when she's happy… you're here for everything; you're real to her. My father and mother are just an illusion to her, figments of her imagination, strangers who come visit her every once in a great while. She looks up to you as a father figure and I'm glad that she does. She hardly has any other men in her life for her to look up to. I'm glad that you're here for me too. I don't know what I'd do without you. It's been so hard raising Kris all by myself these past three years but you've been there to help me since the beginning…."

By now, tears had welled in her eyes and Lucas pulled her in close to his chest for a tight hug. "Sh, it's okay. I'll always be here for you, no matter what, Hales, you know that." She nodded and Krissy called from the court, "Come on, I want to play!" The two teens joined her and Lucas placed her on his shoulders, "Alright Squirt, it's you and me against Mommy. Are we going to win?" "Yeah," the girl exclaimed as she slapped him a high five. Haley rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, "Of course you're going to win, Kris, you've got the star of the Ravens basketball team as your partner. I think I'm being ganged up on here." "Oh come on Hales, be a good sport. This isn't a competition anyway. We're just having some fun," Lucas responded as he bounced the basketball with one hand. "Yeah, it's fun for you two because you can actually play basketball, I can't." "You can at least try," he suggested. Haley sighed in defeat, "Okay, let's get this over with." Lucas just shook his head and laughed in amusement. They had this conversation every time they went to play basketball.

It was nearly noon when Lucas, Haley, and Krissy left the docks and headed to the café for some lunch. Krissy was between them, holding both their hands and they were gently swinging her forward as they walked, her making joyous giggles as they did so.

They entered the café and sat in their usual booth then Karen came over to them with a bright smile, "Hey guys, hey Kris! What can I get for you?" "Don't worry about it Mom, I'll make our lunch. Let me guess, grilled cheese and apple juice for the little princess and a BLT and a coke for you," he said as he pointed a finger at Krissy then Haley. "Yep, yep!" Krissy replied. Haley nodded and Lucas responded as he stood up next to his mother, "I'll be back in a few minutes." Karen went back behind the counter as she stared at Haley with Krissy and smiled as she thought about her son. He was such a good guy for helping Haley out. Even though Krissy wasn't Haley's daughter, Karen knew how hard it was to raise a child at such a young age. She didn't know how Haley could manage to go to school, tutor people, work at the café, and still have time to play and take care of Krissy, but she did.

A few minutes later, Haley felt someone kiss her cheek, "Hey babe." Nathan then slid into the booth seat opposite them and reached over to ruffle Krissy's hair, "Hey kid." The little girl got any angry look on her face and she tried to smooth her hair back down, "My name is not Kid! My name is Kristina Summer James." "Sorry Krissy," Nathan apologized. She still looked mad, "Don't call me Krissy! Only Mommy and Daddy and Karen are allowed to call me that." She turned to Haley, "Mommy, I want Daddy!" Krissy then slid down from the seat and ran to the kitchen but was stopped by Lucas coming out, "Whoa there Squirt, what's the rush?" "Daddy," Kris shouted, reaching up to him for him to pick her up. He set the plates down on the counter and picked her up, "What's wrong baby?" She then explained what had happened at the table in the best way she could for a three-year-old.

Meanwhile, back in the booth, Haley replied, "Sorry, I don't know what's gotten into her. She's usually not like this." "That's okay," Nathan responded, trying to hide the anger rising within him at the scene that had just played out and seeing Krissy run to Lucas. He then remembered the first time that, that had happened. Haley had been tutoring him for a week and he hadn't known about Krissy.

Nathan walked up the steps to Haley's house and knocked on the door. A little girl answered and stared up at him inquisitively, "Who are you?" "I'm sorry, I must have the wrong address. I was looking for Haley James," he said. "Nope you got the right place," she said then shouted into the house, "Mommy! Someone's at the door for you!" His eyes widened in shock and almost bulged out of their sockets at this. Haley James had a daughter? Where was the father? Haley came from somewhere in the back and placed her on her hip, "Sweetie, I told you not to answer the door." Haley faced Nathan, "Oh, hey Nathan. This is Krissy, and Krissy, this is Nathan." Krissy had her head laid against Haley's shoulder and was sucking her thumb shyly. "Come on in," Haley gestured for him to step inside and she closed the door after he did. They sat on the couch with Krissy in Haley's lap and Nathan sat in an armchair. "Not that I'm not glad to see you, but why are you here," she asked, "did I forget that we had a tutoring session today?" Nathan shook his head, "No, I just wanted to ask you if we could have tomorrow's session on Tuesday instead?" "Sure, that's fine with me," Haley replied.

It was then the door opened and Lucas entered, "Hey Hales." Krissy bolted off of Haley's lap and raced over to him, "Daddy!" He swooped her up and kissed her cheek as he held her up in the air then cradled her in his arms, "Hey baby, how's my little girl?" Nathan nearly died of a heart attack right then and there. Lucas was the father? Lucas and Haley had a child together? Maybe that's why they're so close… "Uh, I'm just gonna go. I'll see you later Haley," Nathan replied awkwardly. "Okay, I'll see you Tuesday."

"What's up Nate," Haley asked, noticing the expression on his face. "I wanted to ask you something," he stated. "Okay, what is it," she inquired. "I know it's still a month or two away, but I wanted to ask you if you would go to senior prom with me?" Haley shifted uncomfortably and replied, "I'm sorry Nathan, but I promised Luke freshman year that we would go to senior prom together. And you know I'm not one to break promises…." "What the hell Haley," he began to shout, "you'll go to the last, most important dance of our high school years with Lucas and not even your own boyfriend?" "Nathan, please…" she begged him to understand. "What's going on here," Lucas asked sternly as he walked up with Krissy in his arms. "Nothing," Nathan responded coldly, "I'm out of here." He began to walk away and Haley followed him, placing a hand gently on his arm to stop him, "Nathan, wait… I'll go with you to prom, okay? I'm sorry. I'll tell Luke that I can't go with him." She stood on her tip toes and kissed him lightly on the lips. He nodded silently then left the café.

"What was that all about," Lucas asked when Haley returned to the booth. "I can't go with you to prom, Luke," she replied. "Why," he asked confusedly. "Nathan asked me and I said yes." "But Haley, you promised that we'd go together," Lucas started to raise his voice. "I know, but that was freshman year, Luke, I didn't have a boyfriend then." "Whatever Haley. Your food is on the counter. I'm gonna go," He stood up angrily and began to walk away when Krissy ran after him, "Wait! Daddy, I want to come with you!" He picked her up and turned to Haley, "I'll bring her back to your house later."

It was early evening and Lucas had still not returned with Krissy. She decided to go to his house and see if he was there. She entered his room from the door outside and smiled softly at the sight. Lucas lay flat on his back with Krissy laying on her stomach on his chest, one arm flung over his body and sucking her thumb on her other. Luke had one hand protectively holding Krissy with it on her back. She watched the gentle rise and fall of their chests as they slept peacefully; she didn't want to disturb them. She lightly ran her hand over her sister's head and stoked her cheek then kissed her forehead. She sat down and suddenly she felt tired; tired from the day, tired from the fight, and tired from keeping her innermost secret from her best friend.

She carefully lay down beside him and Krissy, making sure not to wake them up. She stared at his innocent baby face and blonde locks, his lips and then his chest and arms. He had such strong arms; many a time he had held her when she cried, or hugged her when she was happy; she loved those arms, they made her feel safe. She placed her hand next to Luke's on Krissy's back and smiled then drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

It was nearly dark out when Lucas woke up and he was surprised to see Haley sleeping beside him. He then looked to Krissy and saw that Haley's hand was right next his on the girl's back. He sighed contentedly and reveled at having Haley beside him. For a moment, he could just imagine them being together, the three of them being a family. He imagined waking up every morning next to her just like this and making love to her every night. He knew Haley didn't think of herself as all that pretty, but she was. To him, she was the most beautiful person in the world. He wanted hold her and kiss her, be with her in a way that they had never been before. But that was off limits to him; Haley was dating someone; his half-brother no less. He was brought out of his reverie when Haley shifted a little and slowly opened her eyes. "Hey," she said quietly. "Hi," he whispered with a raspy voice. "I'm sorry," she murmured and she looked down at Krissy, avoiding his eyes. "I'm sorry too, I didn't mean to blow up at you like that. And you're right. You should go with your boyfriend."

"Thanks Luke, for being so understanding," Haley said then sat up, "I'm going to take Krissy home and put her to bed. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" He nodded and Haley gently picked the sleeping child up in her arms. Thankfully, Krissy stayed asleep and Haley made her way towards the door. "Bye Luke," she responded quietly as she walked out.

On the inside, he was hurting badly. He had wanted so much to go to senior prom with Haley. He had already begun to plan their special night together, but now his hopes were shattered. He had intended on telling her how he felt that night. He had been planning senior prom with Haley for years, since the beginning of freshman year when the pact had been made that they would go to every dance together. This was before Nathan had stepped into the picture and ruined everything. Now she would never know what he had done for her and how he felt about her.