Okay, so I totally got this chapter done quicker than expected! Thanks for all of the great reviews on the last few chapters! Enjoy!

What Happens Next

Chapter 17

Lucas stood outside of the beach house on Wednesday afternoon waiting for someone to answer the door.

Haley swung it open smiling, "Hey you."

Lucas hugged her, "You're looking good."

"I'm feeling a lot better," she motioned for him to follow her into the house, "I'm still going to bed early, but at least I'm not bed-bound."

Lucas looked around, "Where is everyone?"

"I'm alone for the first time in days. It's wonderful."

"I can leave," Lucas stood.

"No, sorry, I didn't mean…" she sat next to him, "Stay. Nathan decided to take an extra shift at the dealership."

Lucas rose an eyebrow, "And your parents? Natalie?"

Haley chuckled, "They took her shopping. Something about toys and clothes."

"How have things been with them?"

She shrugged, "Not too bad I guess. They've been helping out, a lot. Mom's been cooking and cleaning. Dad's been doing odds and ends around the house. And he's cleaning out the garage – something Nathan is VERY thankful for."

Lucas laughed at the thought of Nathan cleaning out the garage. "And your relationship with them?"

"It's okay. They're trying."

"Are you trying?"

"They're still here, aren't they."

"Haley…"

"What am I supposed to do Lucas? It's hard. I've been hating them for almost a year."

"Just listen, have an open mind, and give them a chance."

Haley huffed.

Lucas patted her arm, "Haley Scott, you're a better person than that."

"They keep saying they're sorry and how much they love me, love us."

"And do you believe them?"

"Yeah, I do," she sighed.

"So what's the problem?"

"I don't know. Just my stubbornness I guess."

"Wow. Did you just admit that you're stubborn?"

"Shut up. Now, was there a reason you stopped by?" Haley pretended to be annoyed.

"To check on you. To make sure your parents weren't driving you crazy."

"I'm doing good, thanks."

"I also thought maybe you'd like to go out for the evening."

"But…"

"I talked to Nathan at lunch. He said he was going to work tonight and agreed you might like a night out."

Haley rose an eyebrow, "Oh yeah? What would this evening entail?"

"You getting a little dressed up and ready to go at 6:00 when I come to pick you up."

"How dressed up is a little?"

"Nathan mentioned something about a blue dress."

Haley nodded her head, "I can do that."

"Great," Lucas stood, "I'll be back in a few hours."

Haley watched Lucas slip out the door and picked up the phone. Barely waiting for the hello she began speaking, "Brooke! Go get Peyton and be here in," she looked at the clock, "15 minutes."

"Hello to you too tutor-wife."

"No time for chat Brooke."

"What's going on?"

"Just get over here. I'll tell you both then."

Brooke and Peyton were standing on the front stoop when Haley stuck her head out the bedroom window, "Door's open. Come on up." The pair looked at each other and shrugged.

Haley, clad only in a towel wrapped around her body and one around her hair, smiled, "Perfect timing."

"Do you care to tell us what's going on?"

"I have a date," Haley grinned giddily.

"A date?" Peyton questioned.

"Yep."

"But you've had lots of dates with Nathan, what's the big emergency?"

"It's not with Nathan. He's working tonight."

"A night on the town alone? I thought you said it was a date."

Haley shook her head, "It IS a date, with Lucas."

"Lucas?" Brooke looked at her quizzically.

"Yes, Lucas."

"But Nathan…"

"Told him what dress I should wear."

"I still don't see what the big deal is."

Haley walked to her closet and pulled out the blue dress.

Brooke let out a low whistle, "That's a nice dress."

"I know. And I haven't had a real night out since before Natalie was born."

"But it's not even with your husband."

"Who cares? It's not like I'm going out and picking up strange men at the bar while he's working. I'm just spending a nice night out with my best friend, who happens to be my husband's brother as well."

"What are we waiting for then? Let's make you beautiful," Brooke paused.

"Not that you aren't already," Peyton finished.

"I get it. Thanks you two."

Lucas arrived back at the beach house carrying a single red rose.

Peyton swung open the door and smiled at him, "Your date will be ready momentarily."

He stepped into the living room, "Called in the reinforcements did she?"

"Yeah, something like that," Peyton chuckled. "So what are your intentions for the evening?"

Rolling his eyes he sat down, "I thought we'd get some beer and pizza then go down to the beach and hopefully I'll get laid," Lucas smirked.

Peyton smacked him as Haley appeared at the top of the stairs, "I heard that mister. I did NOT get this dressed up for a romp in the sand."

"But beer and pizza?"

"Of course," she now stood next to him, "not."

"You look beautiful," he handed her the rose, "Remind me why we never dated."

Haley wrinkled her nose, "Ew. Because you've always been like a brother. And now, well, now you're a brother-in-law. It's just wrong."

"Right," Lucas smiled.

"Besides, I only date guys for their money – and the great sex. And, from what I hear," she winked at Brooke as they headed towards the door, "You can't offer either of those."

"Hey…" Lucas protested as he heard Brooke and Peyton roaring with laughter behind them.

"Don't keep her out too late!" Peyton shouted.

"Yeah! We know where you live mister!"

"And so does her husband!"

Sitting in the car, Haley turned to Lucas, "So where are we off to tonight?"

"I thought we'd have dinner at Pierre's downtown, then they're showing Les Miserables at the theater."

"Lucas!" Haley gasped.

"Don't start Hales. I wanted to do this. I missed you."

"I missed you too, but that's a lot of money."

"I don't have a girlfriend to spend my hard earned café wages on, which makes you a prime candidate for spoiling."

"Don't get me wrong, I love the treatment, but my husband might not…even if you ARE brothers and he trusts you."

"I'll clear any and all spoiling with him first, don't worry. Besides, he knows you deserve it."

The drive downtown was quiet. But once they were sitting at the table in the restaurant Haley felt her excitement return, "Are you sure you can afford this?" she asked, whispering from behind the menu.

"Yes Haley," Lucas laughed.

"I don't think I've ever eaten anything this expensive."

"There's gotta be a first time for everything." Lucas grinned, "Do you remember the first time I took you to the café?"

"How could I forget? We were what, like 10?"

"Yeah, it was 5th grade, your family was new to town, and the kids were laughing at that coat thing you were wearing."

"Was Nathan one of those kids?" Haley asked with a twinkle in her eye.

Lucas thought about it, "Actually, I think he started it."

Haley shook her head, "I'll have to tell him that story later."

"To make him feel bad?"

She chuckled, "No. When we first started dating, he would make fun of my poncho every chance he got."

"A poncho, that's what it was called. I remembered that it had a weird name. Well anyway, you were sad and I told you I would treat you to the best ice cream shake in the world."

"I thought it was so cool that your mom owned a café and you ate dinner there every night."

"Then you ate there every night for the next two months – until your mom started requesting you be home at least five nights a week for dinner with the family."

Haley laughed, "Yeah, and I ran away."

"Those were good times."

"Yeah, they were," Haley paused, "Do you remember when things got so complicated?"

"The day I joined the team."

Haley nodded, "And Nathan made your life hell."

"Only because Dan was pressuring him."

"And because he was an ass."

"He was, wasn't he."

"Oh yeah," Haley smiled, thinking about how much her husband had changed. "Did I ever tell you that we were fighting when you were in the hospital?"

"No. but I guess it doesn't surprise me. What about?"

"He admitted to hooking up with me as a way to get to you."

"He did? I always suspected…"

"It's amazing how much he's changed, isn't it."

"Yeah, but he's not the only one. A lot of people changed through a series of events stemming from that one thing."

"You know those predictions we used to make?"

"Yeah."

"None of them ever mentioned anything about me being married or being a parent before high school was over."

Lucas smiled, "They never mentioned Nathan Scott either."

Nathan was sitting on the sofa playing NBA Live when Haley came dancing into the house late that night.

"Someone had a great time."

Haley stopped in her tracks, surprised, "Hey you," she leaned over the back of the sofa and wrapped her arms around his neck, "I did, thank you." She kissed him softly. Sliding around the side of the sofa she sat next to him, "It's late, you didn't have to wait up."

"But I wanted to," he grinned at her, "even if id does mean I'll be dragging ass at school tomorrow."

Haley kissed him again, "Finish your game and I'll meet you in bed." She raised an eyebrow, "20 minutes?"

"It's a date."

Lying in bed, Haley felt Nathan crawl in beside her, "You know what I discovered tonight?" Not waiting for an answer she continued, "That we were destined to be together."

"Oh yeah, how'd you come to that conclusion?" Nathan whispered at he wrapped his arms around her.

"Did you know that it's because of you that Lucas and I are friends today?"

"How so?"

"Because when my family moved to Tree Hill in 5th grade, you were picking on me…making fun of my poncho actually…and Lucas came to my rescue."

"See, even back then I knew it was just ugly," Nathan chuckled softly, "Sorry that I picked on you."

"If you hadn't, Lucas and I might never have become friends, so it's cool."

"I'm glad."

Haley rolled to face him, "You know, we ran into a group of girls from school when we went for a walk along the docks after the show. It was weird. They gave me some strange looks. I think it night be a good thing that I don't attend Tree Hill High anymore. They already hate me for turning you into my one-woman man, but now, seeing me with Lucas…"

"Yeah, about that…" Nathan began.

"You're NOT a one-woman man?" Haley screeched.