Chapter Twenty-One: Maybe Tonight

"Where to, Haley?" asked Jared, as Haley climbed into the long black car.

"The airport," she said. He glanced at her in the rearview mirror and noticed her flushed face, the rigidness of her pose.

"A friend visiting? You look nervous," he said.

"I'm fine. My friend Chris," explained Haley, staring out the window to the busy street.

"I was hoping it would be Nathan. You've missed him, haven't you?" asked Jared. Haley paused. Had she missed Nathan? It had never occurred to her to miss him.

"No more than usual," she said, smiling tiredly.

XxxxxX

As soon as she saw Chris Kellar come down the escalator, Haley felt instantly calmer. For the first time in what had felt like weeks, she allowed her face to relax into a smile as he caught sight of her and did the same.

"Haley!" he said happily. He lifted her into the air with his hug and she laughed happily.

"Hey Chris. You look good," she said. "California treating you well?"

"It's too damn sunny all the time. And LA's all about sidekicks and UGGS," said Chris in disgust.

"Well duh. Come on, Jared's waiting," said Haley.

"Your driver?" asked Chris, cracking a smile. Haley smiled herself at his pride in her. It was him that had started it all, made her life what it was.

"Yeah. Taylor and Gabby will be at home, but you'll love them," said Haley firmly, leading him out of the airport.

XxxxxxX

"Chris, this is my sister Taylor," said Haley stiffly, feeling uncomfortable as Chris' eyes went immediately to her pregnant stomach. Most men would have stayed quiet. But Chris wasn't most men.

"Congratulations," he said. Taylor's arms tightened around her belly and she nodded swiftly, ever aware of it.

"Thanks," she said softly. Haley quickly motion to Gabby.

"And this is my foster daughter, Gabriela Travers. Gabby this is my friend Chris," said Haley.

"Nice to meet you," she said. He responded in kind, and Haley quickly ushered him to his bedroom so he could get settled.

Haley walked slowly back to the living room. Gabby had run off, probably to her room. Taylor was sitting by herself on the sofa, her head in her hands, her blonde hair streaming down.

"Hey," said Haley gently, going to sit beside her and running a comforting hand on her back.

"I'm screwed, aren't I," she said listlessly.

"We'll get through it. It might even be fun," said Haley.

"Babies need fathers too," said Taylor.

"He'll come through," said Haley confidently.

"I always thought that by the time I was thirty I'd know better than to get knocked up," said Taylor mournfully.

"It doesn't always work like that," said Haley comfortingly.

XxxxxxX

"Peyton?" called out Lucas. She came running, an infant in her arms. She wiped a smear of baby food off her cheek and smiled at him.

"Luke, you're finally here," she said happily, walking to him.

"Good to see you too. Which one's this?" he asked, examining the almost translucent hair on her head.

"Davie. AJ's napping," said Peyton, looking closely at the baby to verify it.

"AJ?" asked Lucas in confusion.

"Ava Madison Jagielski. AJ. How was your trip? How's Nate?" asked Peyton in concern, frowning slightly as Ben ran into the room and launched himself at her. He was suffering from the lack of attention. It was obvious.

"She's gorgeous. And Nate's fine, under the circumstances," said Lucas. Peyton nodded understandingly and absently jiggled the baby in her arms.

"Can I take her?" asked Lucas, holding out his arms. Peyton handed Davis to Lucas, wrung out her hands and put her arms around her young son.

"Have you been to Haley's?" asked Peyton.

"Not going to happen, Pey," he said firmly.

"I think it's fairly obvious that her and Nathan are history. And that you love her," said Peyton gently.

"Not like that." Lucas looked up as Jenny walked in, holding Ava on her hip.

"Mommy, she's awake now," said Jenny, going to kiss her Uncle's cheek.

Peyton examined Lucas' face as he talked to Jenny. His usually smooth face had a slight scruffiness to it, that which he hadn't had since Tree Hill days. He had just noticeable bags under his eyes. He looked terrible. Peyton had gotten to know Haley again, and she understood why. On whatever level, the two had been made for each other.

As Davis began to doze her off, Lucas gently placed her in the bassinette. As he did so, his eyes grazed the magazine on the coffee table.

"What's this?" he asked, picking it up. On it's cover was the face that he knew better than any other. He stared into her deep brown eyes before reading the caption, and seeing the man who accompanied her.

"Bastard," he muttered under his breath. He looked in disgust at the picture of Haley walking down the New York street, her hand in Chris Kellar's.

Peyton slowly approached him, stuck her hands in her back pockets and stared at him. For a second she looked like teenage Peyton, the girl he'd once known.

"Nathan lost her to him. You lost her to Nathan. They're both effectively out of the running," said Peyton. He didn't appear to hear her. He needed a stronger message. "Go get her."

Lucas glanced up at Peyton and back down at the woman he-what was Haley to him? Boundaries had been crossed so many times, and re-crossed, that it seemed impossible to define. At least it had finally occurred to her that she was in fact a woman.

Lucas firmly kissed her forehead before running out. He didn't know he'd succeed. He did know however, that he'd never forgive himself if he didn't at least try.

As he drove over in the cab, it occurred to him that Chris Kellar would be there.

Lucas ran into the elegant lobby and up many floors in the elevator before bursting into her apartment. He'd pictured an ideal setting: Haley waiting for him, Haley alone, Haley period. He missed her. He didn't expect what he saw.

Nathan and Chris standing ten feet apart from each other, looking liable to yell "Draw!" at any moment. A slightly pregnant Taylor standing with Haley at the door, looking horror struck.

Lucas walked in until he, Chris and Nathan formed a perfect three pointed triangle. Nathan turned forty-five degrees to face both of them.

"What are you doing here?" asked Lucas of his younger brother. Nathan's jaw tightened slightly and his blue eyes flashed.

"What are you doing here?" he challenged.

"I thought you were over," said Lucas in confusion, looking at Haley, who's eyes were on him and not Nathan. Nor Chris.

"It depends on what you mean by over," said Nathan. His eyes landed on everyone in the room: Lucas, Taylor, Chris, Haley. He looked back to Lucas. "And who you mean, I guess."