Author's Note: Flashback Sequence written in Italics...

"Lucas! Dinner's ready!"

Lucas rolled his eyes. His mother was calling him down for supper like he was 8 years old and they were some happy sitcom family. He turned up his music, ignoring the knock at the door. But it wouldn't stop and eventually the door opened.

"Did I invite you in, man?"

Dan took a deep breath.

"Did you hear your mother calling you?"

"Yep."

"Son, please quit being stubborn and join us. She worked really hard on the meal."

"I'm not hungry."

"Look, the whole family is downstairs waiting for you. Your grandparents are here and so is Keith."

"Ah. A little quality time with the folks, huh?"

"Don't be a smart ass."

"Fine", Lucas grinned, shutting off the stereo. "I'll come downstairs and play your stupid little game."

Dan kept a careful eye on his oldest as they sat at the dining room table.

"So nice of you to join us, boy", Royal bellowed sarcastically.

Lucas shrugged.

"I was busy."

"It's so nice to see you, honey", Mae smiled. "We sure did miss you. How was South Carolina?"

"Fine."

"And Nathan?"

Lucas flinched.

"The prodigal good son is alive and well, Grandma."

"That's nice. And how is his racing coming along?"

Lucas balled up his napkin and threw it.

"Goddammitt, Grandma! I don't know. Why don't you ask him?"

"Lucas!" Karen admonished.

"Boy, watch your mouth!" Royal yelled. "You don't talk to your grandmother that way!"

"Everybody just calm down", Dan said. "Lucas is just upset."

"Oh quit making excuses for the boy", Royal frowned. "And we all know why you're so upset."

"And why is that, Grandpa?" Lucas challenged.

"Because the little lady cast you out of your house just like Jonah was cast out of the body of the whale."

"Interesting analogy."

"Don't get cute. You're supposed to be the man of the house and you let that little River Rat girl treat you like a goddamned servant! What's wrong with you?"

"Oh Royal", Mae sighed. "Leave him alone."

"It doesn't matter anyway. We're getting a divorce."

"Divorce?" Karen practically gasped.

Lucas rolled his eyes.

"Oh Mom, don't even pretend to be concerned."

"Of course I'm concerned, honey."

"Yes", Dan said, taking a sip of wine and trying to contain his smile. "We are very concerned, son."

"We know where your concern is", Keith quipped. "It was a dream come true having a daughter in law for a bartender, eh, Boozy?"

Dan narrowed his eyes as his face reddened.

"Well, I'm sure whatever it is, you and Haley will work it out", Karen ignored them. "I'm sure in a few days everything will blow over and you two crazy kids will be back to normal."

"I wouldn't count on it, Mom."

"Honey…"

"I cheated on her, okay? I met this chick in Charleston and we started hanging out the whole summer and I boned her and Haley found out, all thanks to Dan's big mouth bastard son."

"Oh Lucas…"

"And she kicked me out on my ass and my marriage is over. Grandpa, can you pass the salt, please?"

The whole table was stunned and quiet.

"Well, I say you did an excellent job with dinner, dear", Dan smiled. "The chicken was superb."

Karen shot her husband a death glare.

"Never mind the chicken. Lucas, what are you going to do?"

He shrugged.

"I don't know. I'll figure something out."

"Of course you will, honey", Mae patted his hand.

Royal was disgusted.

"Stop babying him! That's his damned problem now. He can't hold on to a steady job and now he can't even hold on to that wife he married. You're a disgrace to this family's name!"

"Royal!"

Lucas looked right at his grandfather.

"I'm the disgrace? That's funny. You're a real husband of the year yourself, not to mention all your shady politics and business dealings but oh I forgot, we aren't supposed to talk about that, are we? And I have this wimp over here for a father and as far as a mother, well Mom you haven't been home for dinner in what, six, seven years? But uh, I guess having Uncle Keith around always sweetens the pot as a nice incentive."

Keith and Karen hung their heads.

"Just where the hell do you think you're going?" Royal demanded as he watched his oldest grandson stand.

"Away from all of you", he muttered as he grabbed his keys and hopped in the truck.

Lucas cranked the engine and turned the radio up so loud that the bass was making the house windows rattle. He closed his eyes. God, everything was so fucked up! All at once he felt like he had nothing. As much as he hated to admit it, his grandfather had been right. He had never been able to hold on to much. He hadn't been able to make it all the way with basketball. He had jumped from career to career. And when he had failed at everything else, the last solid and sacred thing in his life was now gone as well. And it was by his own hand.

Where had it all gone wrong? When? How? Lucas just closed his eyes…

He rolled over and his eyes slowly opened. She was just watching him sleep.

"What are you doing, listening to me breathe?" he joked, his voice still rough with sleep.

"Yes", she said softly.

Lucas smiled.

"I guess I can't complain. I mean, you are my wife now."

A wide grin spread across Haley's face.

"That's right, Mister and don't you forget it. Wife…the word just kind of flows off the tongue, doesn't it?"

"Sort of like husband?"

"Yeah. You are my husband. Wow…it's gonna take some getting used to saying that. It's weird. A good kind of weird but still weird. Makes sense?"

He shrugged.

"I guess."

"Sorry babe if I'm babbling. I get that way sometimes. But it's only been like 24 hours since we got married. How do you feel about that?"

He touched her left hand, admiring the band on her ring finger.

"I feel good. Happy."

She stroked the stubble forming on his chin.

"Are you sure?"

Lucas looked at her and smiled.

"I'm sure, babe. In fact, I am more sure about this than anything I've ever done. I mean it. I love you, Hales and what we did yesterday…well, that means the world to me. I finally feel part of something special. I know I grew up with two parents and friends and everything but I was always kind of empty inside. Now, I don't feel that way anymore…and it's because of you. You've changed me. You gave me a purpose. I know it might sound corny or stupid…"

Haley shook her head as tears filled her eyes.

"No. It isn't corny or stupid. It's beautiful."

He pulled her naked body closer to his and kissed her lips gently. God, she was beautiful. How lucky he was to wake up next to her very morning. How lucky he was to even have her.

"I love you", he whispered.

"Lucas?"

"Yeah."

"Baby, promise me that we'll always be like this. We'll always be as happy as we are this moment. And promise that you won't get tired of me."

"Haley, as long as we're together, then we'll always be like this. And I'll never get tired of you. That you can't count on. And I'll never leave you or lie to you or hurt you. That is my promise to you. Always."

She nodded and enveloped his larger body as he rolled on top of her. They kissed and both knew it was time to make love again. It was a beautiful, intimate moment, one they hoped would last forever…

The music blared louder and louder. Lucas sighed as he looked in the rear view mirror and didn't recognize the man staring back. He couldn't deal anymore. He felt like his head was going to explode…or at least his heart.

"Lucas", Karen ran out to the truck. "Honey, come back inside. Please."

"Why?"

"You're hurting."

He laughed out loud.

"Whatever."

"I know you're angry. Listen, forget about your grandparents and Keith and your dad. We can talk. I'll make us some hot chocolate and we'll sit under the stars and figure this whole mess out just like we used to. What do you say?"

Lucas just shook his head.

"I say I'm not a little kid anymore and I say those days passed a long time ago. You were the one that missed them, Mom."

She opened her mouth to speak but he pressed on the gas and roared off leaving a trail of smoke. There was nothing more to say.