A/N: Thanks to the awesome reviews I got I decided to update soon! Don't worry Brooke and Nathan won't be together for long (I hate BN stories), and hilaryhilary is right, the dad is not someone on the show – you find out in this chapter. Well, enjoy! And keep up the excellent reviews!

Chapter 2

Haley slouched against the door to her apartment in resignation. It was Saturday, and had been her turn to work the all-day shift at the cafe. Completely exhausted, she just wanted to lie on the couch, eat ice cream and fall asleep watching Bewitched reruns. Not that Michael and Annie would ever let her do that. However, so far she hadn't even been able to get in since she couldn't find her key. After five minutes of fumbling around in her purse she remembered that Peyton was there so she could just ring the doorbell. She did so and waited. When no one answered she rang the door bell again. And again. Now, on the fourth ring, Haley was alternately cursing the fact that she hadn't charged her cell phone and that her children had the television on so loud.

Finally, Peyton came to the door. She opened it and started speaking so rapidly, that even if Haley hadn't been tired, she still wouldn't have been able to understand her. When Peyton finished Haley asked, "What?"

"I was in the bathroom."

"Oh." Then she dragged herself inside the apartment. Haley shrugged out of her coat and placed her bag down next to the stand. The two of them made their way to the kitchen, where Peyton started making coffee as Haley sat down at the worktop. "Were the children okay?"

"Oh, they were fine. Although, they did annoy Jake a bit when he came over for lunch."

"How come?"

"Oh, nothing much," Peyton giggled. "They just told him that they liked me better because I was cooler."

Haley laughed. "Michael said he wants to be able to draw 'as good as you'."

Peyton smiled. "I know, he told me earlier today." Peyton worked as an artist for a comic book company. She had started it as a side job at college. Now, she drew full-time, but since she only needed to send them the drawings, she could work from anywhere.

"What did Jake think of that?"

"He said that while he would have been flattered if Michael had wanted to be like him, Jake couldn't exactly blame him for not wanting to be an accountant."

Haley agreed. She soon forgot how tired she was as they fell deep into conversation, mostly regarding preparations for Peyton's impending nuptials. Jake had proposed before their final semester at college, and they hoped to get married by early next year. Haley was going to be the maid of honour, of course. However, the whole time they were talking, Peyton looked like she had something on her mind. Haley finally decided to ask her about it. "Peyt, is there something you want to talk about?"

"Now that you mention it..."

"Well?" Haley prompted.

"I met him!" Peyton squealed excitedly.

"Who?"

"Nathan!"

"Nathan?"

"Uh, yeah, Nathan Scott, you next door neighbour."

"I know who Nathan is, Peyton. You just seemed so excited about it; it was like you met Johnny Depp."

"Well, Nathan can't exactly compare to Johnny Depp, but he is younger, and slightly more available."

"But you're not! You're getting married! To my brother! And Nathan's not available either!"

"Why? Do you have dibs on him?" Peyton questioned.

"No! He has a girlfriend!" Haley said, slightly more irritated at Peyton's comments than she would like.

"Oh." Peyton was slightly disappointed. Nathan had seemed like a nice guy for Haley. She decided to continue talking about him anyway. Haley was visibly annoyed and Peyton thought she might still be able to get something out of her. "Well, you didn't tell me he was so cute!"

"Peyton!"

"What? He is cute. And you know I was just teasing you earlier."

Haley calmed down. "Yeah, I know. And he is cute," she added, smiling. "How did you meet him?"

"He came over about half an hour ago to borrow some milk. He said he had run out."

"Nathan always runs out of everything."

Peyton contemplated whether she should continue in this vein, or just jump right to the question she had really wanted to ask. She decided on the latter. "So, Hales, you've been living next to this really great guy for years and you've never once considered asking him out on a date?"

Haley looked up at her friend. "Okay, firstly, I would never ask any guy out on a date, only you have the guts to do that. And, secondly, you only met Nathan for a couple minutes today, how do you know he's a great guy? And...Well, answer that before we get onto what you could possibly be thinking pairing me with Nathan!"

Peyton sighed. "If you don't want to be single for the rest of your life you're gonna have to take some initiative. And the reason I know that Nathan is a good guy is because you have been telling me so ever since you met him."

"Oh. Well, he is a nice guy, but that doesn't mean we should date."

"Okay, Haley. Now, honey, tell me, why don't you want to date the nice, handsome man next door who is not married, has a good job and helps you take care of your children?"

"Uh..." When Peyton phrased it like that it was very hard to disagree. At least until Haley remembered what she decided when she had asked herself the same question many years ago. "It wouldn't work out."

"Please tell me that you did not just say that. That is a classic line used by those in a state of self-denial."

"No, Peyton, it's true. Nathan just dates girls for a few months, and then breaks up and moves to the next. He has more one night stands than girlfriends. He's just not a long-term relationship guy. So, the break up would be especially difficult since we would still have to live next to each other. And Michael and Annie would get hurt."

"Michael and Annie? This is about you, isn't it?"

"No, it's not. They really like Nathan and the break up would be really hard on them."

"Harder than it would be on you?"

Haley was about to come up with an answer to this, when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" Michael yelled from the living room.

"No, you won't," Haley shouted, getting up. "I told you not to open the door if you don't know who it is," Haley said to Michael as she walked through the living room. "It could be a stranger." Her son came up behind her as she opened the door.

"See, Mummy, it was only Nathan," Michael commented before going back to his show.

"Hey, I came to return the milk," he said, holding the bottle out to her. His hair was wet and slightly sticking to his forehead, as if he'd had a shower recently. His polo shirt showed off the muscles in his forearms and he was smiling at her. It was his nice friendly smile, and not the smirk. Although, Haley couldn't say she found that particularly unattractive either.

"Thanks," she replied, slightly less comfortable in his presence than usual after what Peyton had said.

As Haley took the milk back, Peyton came to the door. "Hey Nathan."

"Hi Peyton. Oh," Nathan added, this time speaking to Haley, "my brother dropped by."

"Lucas?"

"Yeah, he got back from Chicago yesterday. Do you wanna meet him?"

"Uh, sure."

"Okay," Nathan smiled again, "I'll be right back." He walked out, and went back to his apartment to get Lucas.

Haley looked sideways at Peyton, expecting a remark. She did not disappoint. "His brother, huh?"

"Yeah. We've never met."

"Hmmm. So, you're finally meeting the in-laws."

"What? How did you go from suggesting us dating to saying we're married!" Haley squealed.

"Hello! He wants you to meet his brother. That's a sure sign. And Michael and Annie love him. It's like in old movies when children always know how to get the adults together."

"Well, this is not some old movie; it's my life, Peyton!"

Peyton just looked knowingly at Haley. She had only seen them for barely two seconds together, but she knew something was definitely there. She took the bottle of milk out of Haley's hands and said, "You don't want to be holding that when you first meet your future brother-in-law," before going back to the kitchen.

Haley stared back incredulously in Peyton's direction for a few moments. Then she set to work on fixing her hair.

"Luke?" Nathan called as he re-entered his house.

"I'm in the kitchen! You really have to go to the supermarket, man."

Nathan walked into the kitchen to find his elder brother leaning against the fridge. "Hey, I wanted to introduce you to my neighbour, she's home now."

"Finally, an introduction to the fabulous Haley James," Lucas said, moving past Nathan.

"What?"

"Dude," Lucas told his brother, "you're always talking about this girl and her kids. It's nice to know you're finally ready to introduce her to the family."

"Wait, what do you mean by that?" But, it was too late. Lucas was already out the door.

Haley was scolding herself for trying to do her hair before Nathan returned, but was also annoyed that she hadn't installed a mirror in the living room. She wondered whether she had time to run into her room and change out of her clothes; the next moment she was scolding herself again for being so concerned with her appearance. She didn't have any time to keep up this inner battle though, since a strange man appeared in her doorway. "You must be Haley." She nodded. "I'm Lucas," he said, holding out his hand.

She shook it, taking in his appearance. He was tall and had blue eyes. But this was where his similarities with Nathan ended. He had short light blonde hair and seemed slightly less reserved than Nathan. Nathan would never act so casual with someone he had never met before. Even if it was his brother's neighbour. "It's nice to meet you," she said.

"Not as nice as it is to finally meet you. Nathan's told me a lot about you," he replied, coming inside the apartment.

"Really?" Haley asked. This simple statement affected her more than she would have liked.

Before Lucas could answer Nathan walked in, followed momentarily by Peyton coming from the kitchen. After Lucas was introduced to Michael and Annie, the four adults went into the kitchen. As the conversation went on Peyton noticed how well Nathan and Haley related with each other. She decided that they were, in short, perfect for each other, but she knew she wouldn't be able to get them together on her own. Jake would never agree to butt into Haley's personal life. He still hadn't met Nathan, and, ever since Riley had left Haley the moment he found out she was pregnant, Jake was much happier when Haley was single. Lucas seemed to like Haley, but Peyton didn't really know him so she didn't think she could ask him. It was only after Lucas and Nathan had left, and she was helping Haley put the kids to sleep that Peyton realised the perfect person help her.