Author's Note: Okay, so this is a totally short chapter, but it has some important stuff in it I promise! Thanks for everyone's reviews and I am glad to see new faces. Oh! And if anyone is reading this and not reading Calla's Right Here, stop reading my story and read HERS. lol- it's great. For real, go read it.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Love takes Time

"Hey there gorgeous," Brooke said as she slid into the booth in front of Nathan. He rolled his eyes but played along. He tossed a French fry at her and she happily ate it, grinning from one ear to the other. "Where's Haley?" She asked.

He looked up at her, not expecting that from her. Had Haley told her about that night? Nathan had successfully avoided her for the last three days, crashing over at Jake's and Peyton's. "She's around," he offered her. Brooke's smile faded and she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I know you did not just say that."

Nathan rolled his eyes before digging back into his hamburger. "I just mean… I haven't seen her. That's all," he confessed. Brooke looked at him and smiled sadly. She could tell that the man in front of her hadn't slept well and that he was troubled by something. Brooke wanted to help him, even if the subject wasn't something she knew anything about. She didn't know where his head was, but she knew where Haley's was.

"Nathan, you have to go home to her."

He laughed a bit and took a sip of his soda before stuffing another fry in his mouth. "See that's funny. I don't really have a home now do I?" he asked her. He hadn't meant to make her feel guilty but somehow, it had happened. She just wouldn't let the subject of Haley go and he wasn't ready to talk about it. He couldn't tell her how he felt about Haley. How could he?

"I talked to Haley," she cut him off. She didn't give him time to continue, but continued to talk. "She loves you Nathan. And I know that there's all this stuff you have to work out. Believe me. But the love that you two have is worth it."

Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Me and Haley, or you and Lucas?"

"Both I guess. I'm not stupid I know this is going to be awkward for a really long time. I mean it's not everyday you date your boyfriends brother," Brooke tried to make a joke. Nathan laughed at her terrible attempt to lighten the situation and waited for her to continue. "But back in the day, it was always the six of us. Peyton and Jake. Luke and me. Haley and you. I'd like to believe that somehow, everything else will work it out."

He nodded his head in understanding. It wasn't something that just Brooke had thought, it was something that each of the friends had individually thought about. They all wanted their friendships to last and so far- they all had.

"It's a good theory Brooke."

Brooke bit her lip. "Nathan, I love you and all I want is for you to be happy. Haley can give you that, if you let her."

"She doesn't belong in Tree Hill Brooke."

Brooke sighed. She knew honestly that Nathan was right. Haley James was born for life outside of Tree Hill. But, it was her choice and she chose to stay within the city limits. Tree Hill was her home and she would never abandon that, or the people in it. "It's Haley's choice and she wants to be here. With you," Brooke smiled.

"Maybe you're right."

She reached across the table and squeeze his hand before grinning proudly. "I am always right," she reminded him. Nathan laughed as he nodded his head and continued to eat his meal, his thoughts wandering back towards Haley.

……

Isabella turned to Lucas and groaned. "Are you kidding me? Mom would totally like a trip to a day spa," she said with a huge smile. Lucas shrugged his shoulders. After a day of shopping for Brooke's birthday and buying several presents… he still hadn't found the right present. Isabella sat down at the little table and waited as her father bought her a soda before shrugging her shoulders. "You could always buy her a certificate to someplace."

"I am not buying your mom a certificate. I want to live to my next birthday," Lucas laughed. Isabella laughed along with him and an idea popped into her head. She pointed towards the jewelers in front of them and smiled. "No, I am not buying her jewelry."

Isabella shook her head. "Not just any jewelry daddy. Buy her a ring," she grinned. Lucas's smile fell from his face as he choked on his drink. If it wasn't for the look on his daughters face, he would have laughed right there.

"I can't just buy your mom a ring Isabella."

She shook her head. "Why not dad? I mean you and mom are back together right? Uncle Nate and Haley are getting together. Hell they live together," Isabella said. She covered her mouth with her hands and prayed her father hadn't heard her say hell.

"Isabella Rose," Lucas said sternly.

She looked down at the table and couldn't help the giggle that escaped from her lips. Had her father really used her middle name? He must be taking lessons from her mom, she thought to herself. "Dad I am sorry. It slipped out," she laughed.

"It's okay… just don't let it happen again."

Truth was, Lucas was in no way ready to punish his daughter. Not that he could anyways, he had heard the stories about daddy's little girls and hadn't believed them until he stared at his own daughter. She grinned, causing her mother's dimples to show and that made Lucas smile even more.

"I know we're back together and sooner or later, the ring will come."

Isabella crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't understand why is it taking so long? It's what you want right? You want to marry mom?"

Lucas nodded his head. "Of course. But love takes time Isabella."

"Don't you think you wasted enough time?"

……

Haley stirred the macaroni on her kitchen stove and sighed. She hadn't heard from Nathan and she was beginning to get worried. Perhaps, it had been a mistake in his eyes. Maybe he really didn't have feelings for her, it had been a rebound thing.

She was about to call him, when her front door opened and Nathan appeared. "Hales, are you home?" Nathan called out. Haley held her breath for a moment, before running her hands through her hair. She glanced down at her outfit and wiped off her hands on the apron as she took it off.

"In the kitchen," she finally replied.

Nathan walked towards the kitchen and smiled down at her. "Hey," he said before leaning down and placing a quick kiss on her lips. He handed her purple flowers and backed away from her, watching as she searched for a vase. "I think we put them under the sink."

She smiled at him and sure enough, the vases were all lined up, underneath the sink. He laughed for a moment before stuffing his hands in his jeans. "I'm sorry I haven't called you," Nathan said simply. Haley shook her head and pretended not to be bothered by it. "I just didn't know what to say to you."

"It's okay Nathan. I understand," Haley lied. She bit her bottom lip before continuing. "Maybe it's best if we just pretend that nothing happened."

Nathan looked at her in confusion and shook his head no. "That's not what I mean Haley. I don't want to pretend it didn't happen. I talked to Brooke this morning and she told me to face something I have been hiding for a while now."

"What's that Nathan?" She asked quietly.

He took a hold of her hands and pulled her out of the kitchen and towards their living room. Nathan sat her down gently on the couch and bent down in front of her. "Brooke and I… we've been living a lie for the last ten years. We've been pretending to be in love with each other, when we couldn't be. Because our hearts have been with other people."

"Nathan…" Haley began.

He cut her off by putting his fingertips to her mouth and she kissed them gently. "I love you Haley James, I have everyday since high school. I was afraid of admitting it to Brooke, to you… to myself because I didn't want to take you away from what you're good at. But I realize now that I want to be with you. Where ever you are," he smiled.

She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him firmly on his lips. "Nathan, that's all I have ever wanted. I've been in love with you since high school and was too afraid to admit it to anyone. And then Luke came back and it seemed like I finally had my chance… I was so scared you didn't want me. Want us."

"I want you Haley. Right now and forever," he whispered as he kissed her. Haley smiled against his kisses and held on tightly to him. She had waited so long to hear him say those words and now that he had, she was never going to let him go again.

"Always."

Up next on Never Gone you ask? A marriage, a secret and some Brucas lovin! R&R guys, I love all of your thoughts.