Okay. I promise Brooke and Lucas will hook up sooner or later. Not sure excatly when though. Ill add them in whenI can.

Chapter 7: Tree Hill and All of It's Glamor

Nathan drove his rented Escalade into Tree Hill and gloomily looked around. Being back in Tree Hill was like having someone stick a knife in his heart, and then not dying. It was cruel and unusual punishment. It held too many memories. Bad ones that haunted his dreams at night, and good ones that were his nightmares. It had been eleven years since he had left and never came back. He had tried for so long to forget about her- no Tree Hill. Forget Tree Hill. But failed miserably. And as he drove past the rivercourt, the high school, the docks, all he could think about was her- no them. Them. The relationships he had failed miserably at.

"Oh look! There is Karen's Café!" Hannah stated.

Nathan's head snapped to look at her, tearing him from his thoughts. "Nicole, how do you know about Karen's?"

"I told her." Brooke said a little too quickly.

"Karen's? It looks so, grungy, babe. Did you eat there?" Kristin said, disgusted.

"Ah. Yes, he did. And Karen's Café is one of the best places in the city." Brooke told her, doing her best not to rip her head off.

"Doesn't say much, now does it?" She mumbled.

"Kristin. You haven't even been there. And I wouldn't go around saying things like that considering Nathan's mom is part-owner of it."

"Really? Nathan, you didn't tell me that."

He shrugged. "Didn't think it mattered much."

They all calmed down into a slightly awkward silence until they passed Peyton's house.

"Oh. My. God! Let me out! Now!" Brooke squealed.

"Brooke..." Nathan grumbled.

"No! I don't want to stay at the beach house, I want to stay with my best friend in the whole wide world. You coming ho?" She asked to Hannah.

"Sure. Bye dad." She said giving him a kiss on the cheek and getting her suitcase out of the back and following Brooke up the walk.

She was slightly surprised when Brooke just walked in, leaving her luggage by the door, and walking toward the living room, but she followed her anyway.

"So basically, I took Hannah's place-" Nicole was telling the story still.

"And I took hers." Hannah finished, announcing their presence.

"B. Davis!" Peyton squealed.

"P. Sawyer?" She squealed, ignoring everyone else and almost tackling Peyton as she hugged her.

"Actually it's Jagelski now." Jake corrected, standing up to hug her as well. Hannah walked over to Nicole and hugged her, then Jenny.

"WHAT! You two got married, and I wasn't even there."Brooke complained.

"We didn't have any idea where to send the invitation, and besides we kind of eloped. And we are a BIG one soon, so-"

"Okay! Peyton! You are done! Come here Brooke!" Haley shouted, ignoring Peyton when she stuck her tongue out at her.

"TUTORGIRL!" Brooke said, running at her.

"Hey, Tigger! Long time no see."

"Long time my ass. It was freaking forever." Brooke exaggerated. Haley laughed.

"And BROODY!" She said, moving over to hug him, trying to ignore the tingle that went up her spine as his arms wrapped around her back.

"Hey Cherry." He said, trying to keep from kissing her or something.

"Hey mom!" Hannah said.

"Hey baby!" She said, tearing up and pulling her into a hug.

"Hey mom!" Nicole laughed.

"Hey Nicole!" She said pulling her into the hug.

"Oh! Brookie wants in!" Brooke cried, wrapping her arms around Haley.

"Oh! Us too!" Peyton squealed as her and Jenny came into the hug.

"Lucas! There is a spot in between me and Haley!"

"Oh god! Put him somewhere else! I have been stuck with him for my entire life!"

"What are you complaining about! You got the good Scott! I had to deal with Nathan for eleven excruciating years!" She noticed Haley wince at his name. "Oh, sorry Haley."

"It's okay. Come on Jake! You too!"

"Ah. I'm good." He started, but Peyton yanked him in and there was an eight person hug in the middle of the living room.

"Oh crap!" Haley said as she leaned on Lucas, who leaned on Brooke, and then they slowly started falling. On top of Haley.

"Oh. Crap." Haley breathed out as she was at the bottom of a pile of people.

"Oh, Haley, you know you like the view of my boobs you are clearly getting right now." Brooke said.

"God Brooke! You'll poke my eye out with one of those." They both giggled.

"Okay! We have to go to Karen's now! I missed my mommy!" Haley said.

"YOUR mommy!" Lucas questioned.

"Shut up! You are just jealous."

"Right Hales. Whatever."

They all walked, except for Brooke and Haley, who practically ran, to Karen's Café. They walked in past the crowd, and to the counter.

"Haley?" Karen said loudly, which caused Deb to peak her head out as well.

She walked over to hug her, then saw Lucas over her shoulder, and hugged him. And then saw Brooke and hugged her.

And then saw both Nicole and Hannah, together.

"Nicole. This is your as-good as Grandma Karen."

Karen was crying as she wrapped her arms around her, and grinned when Nicole clung onto her.

Deb, who had finished hugging everyone, saw them.

"Oh my gosh." Deb sighed.

"Uh. Have you ever met Nicole?"

"Once, but she was maybe 5." She responded, as she flung herself at the two girls, crying hysterically.

"Deb, as in Deborah? As in my middle name?" Nicole asked, steading herself and Deb, who were tipping backwards.

"Yep." Haley responded.

"Well. This is a nice little family reunion." A voice drawled out from the doorway.

"Shut up Chris!" Haley, Hannah Lucas, and Taylor, who walked in behind him yelled.

"Sorry. I guess future in laws don't get much love in this family." Chris said reaching for Taylor's hand.

"No, we just don't love YOU." Haley replied.

"Oh baby, I love you." Taylor said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Ew. Some of us want to keep down our airplane pretzels, thank you very much." Nicole commented.

They all laughed.

"So! How long are you guys in town?" Karen asked.

"A week. Haley has a show Wednesday, and then I have to be back for pre-season practice NEXT Wednesday, so we are staying until Sunday night."

"Good! Plenty of time to catch up." Karen said.

"So, Brooke. If you are here does that mean my screw up of a son is here too?" Deb asked.

"Uh, yeah it does." She said glancing nervously at Haley, who had closed her eyes in hopes that the act would make her invisible.

"Uh. I'll be back... later. I think." Haley said, walking out of the diner and down the familiar streets of Tree Hill.

"Haley! Haley wait up!" Someone shouted after her.

Haley didn't wait for whoever was calling her. Nor did she slow down. Being back in Tree Hill made her feel like she was back in high school, even at the age of 30. She was happy she could walk the streets without reporters or paparazzi or fans bothering her. She loved her fans, but missed walking down the streets without being mobbed. So many thoughts were circling in her head. 'Nathan. Twins together. Tree Hill. Family. Nathan.' It was like they were an annoying bug she kept swatting at, but wouldn't die.

"Haley.. We were calling for you! Why.. Why, didn't you stop?" Brooke and Peyton caught up to her.

"Maybe I didn't want to be caught." She knew she was coming off Bi8tchy, but she really didn't care.

"Haley, we are going to talk. Now." And they grabbed her arms and dragged her toward the nearest bench. They sat her down in between them and stared at her.

"What?" She exclaimed, noticing they were waiting for her to talk.

"Guys. I don't really know if I can do this again."

"Do what? See him, figure out a way for the girls to be together more? No one is asking you to get together again." Brooke stated.

"Yeah, but..."

"But nothing. We thought we closed the book on the Naley Saga a long time ago. But clearly we were wrong. You two are parents to two beautiful girls. So you will always have a role in the other's life."

"Are you trying to make me feel better?"

"Well. I was. But then I figured the truth would be better."

"Thanks." She grumbled sarcastically.

"Look. Haley, do you still love Nathan?" Peyton asked.

"No! I absolutely repulse him! He makes me crazy!" Haley exclaimed, catching odd looks from an elderly couple passing by.

"Then why is this such a big deal?" Peyton asked.

"I don't know."

"Haley. It will be fine. I promise."

"You know what! You guys are right!" She said.

"Of course we are Tutorgirl! You are good at school and singing, and we are good at relationships!"

"What! We're no better than her! Look at you: Still pining over Lucas after all of these years."

"WHAT! AM NOT!"

"Brooke."

"Alright maybe just a little." She admitted softly.

"Thank you." Peyton said, satisfied.

"Right. So its Monday night, in Tree Hill, and we are three women who currently are in possession of no kids, and no significant others! What are we going to do!" Brooke asked, excited.

"Eat junk food?" Haley offered.

"Listen to music?"

"NO! Girls! Party! Duh! Wow, we are getting old!"

"Don't even start with the 'O' word Brooke Davis!"

"Sorry. Lets go!"

Thanks for reviewing!

Katie