TWO WEEKS LATER

"Thanks again for dropping me off on your way to work, honey." Peyton said to Jake Tuesday morning as he was driving down the not-so-busy road. "I would have rescheduled, but I have already had to move Emma's appointment twice."

"It's no problem, Peyton. I already told you," Jake replied with a smile, "I'd drive you anywhere, anytime, for always."

Peyton smiled and said, "Well as great and cheesy as that sounds, I still can't wait to have my car back. it should be fixed this afternoon."

"Do you need me to pick it up on my way home?"

"No, Haley is taking me to pick it up after she picks us up. Then we will see you at Jenny's softball game tonight, right?"

Jake suddenly remembered and instantly replied, "Right."

"Jake, you cannot miss this game." Peyton warned. "You promised Jenny last week. it's the last game of the season and all the kids get awards tonight. And Jenny really, really wants you there."

"I'll be there, Peyton. I promise."

"Okay. We will see you there."

Nathan entered Brucas4Ever and walked to the back of the store to the check out counter where Brooke was working. He waited behind a customer that Brooke was taking from for a pair of denim jeans with embroidered butterflies on the bottom.

"Thank you. Please com again." Brooke said with a smile as her customer turned to leave with the purchased jeans. "Oh hey Nate."

"Hey." Nate replied with a semi smile as he leaned on the counter tope.

"What are you doing here?" Brooke wondered. "Shouldn't you be at work?"

"I couldn't really concentrate so I took off early. Look, could you get away from all this for a few minutes? I sort of need to talk to someone."

"Yeah, sure." Brooke replied, staringf at Nathan with concern. "Come on in the back."

Nathan followed Brooke to the back room. They passed Kate, Tom and Margo, three of Brooke's employees as they entered the room where designing and sewing sometimes took place. There were bulletin boards on the walls full of new designs.

"Do you want some coffee or a soda?" Brooke offered.

"No thanks. Just need a friend."

"Okay. What's up?"

Nathan sat down in a chair behind a sewing table.

"Well I don't know if you have noticed, but things between Haley and I have been a little…well, distant for quite awhile."

Brooke shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She felt like she knew where this conversation was going already. But she let Nathan continue.

"I'm pretty sure it's mostly been because of what I said about having another baby. And I know you know about that conversation because you're one of Haley's best friends. But things are still weird between Haley and me. I still feel like there is something bothering her that she won't talk to me about. She says she is just feeling lost, but it really seems like something more than that.

And I'm worried about what that 'something' might be because nothing has ever been so bad that she wouldn't tell me about what it was. I just don't understand why she doesn't feel like she can talk to me about it, whatever it is."

Brooke remained silent as she sat down in the chair on wheels in front of Nathan. She sighed and tried to give Nathan some advice without going back on the promise she had made to Haley.

"Look Nathan, I'm sure Haley is probably just trying to work through something she feels like she needs to do herself. And I'm sure she wants you to help her through whatever that is, but maybe she's just scared. Maybe she just needs a little more time to herself with it."

Nathan sighed and said, "A month, Brooke. It's been like this with us for one month. And I've tried talking to her and tried getting her to tell me what's wrong, but for some unknown reason, she won't."

Nathan fell silent while Brooke watched him, wishing she could help both her friends by telling Nathan what Haley had yet to do. But she couldn't do that, as much as she wanted to.

Nathan spoke again, "You know a couple of weeks ago, I had this dream. Lucas was in it."

He looked up at Brooke and smiled. She smiled back.

"We were out at the River Court." Nathan went on. "And mostly the dream consisted of us talking about Haley. I told Lucas pretty much everything I just told you and he responded the same way almost. Lucas always gave great advice. And I think he tried to in the dream, but I still don't understand exactly what it was he was trying to tell me.

"He said I already knew what Haley is afraid of because I've been afraid of it too. But the thing is, I can't remember being afraid anything that Haley would be afraid of too."

Brooke considered this sage advice Nathan had gotten from dream Lucas. it sounded so much like the real Lucas. and it was right on the money advice too. maybe Brooke could give Nathan advice to sort of help push dream Lucas's words into something Nathan could understand and figure out.

"But you were afraid of something pretty big recently, weren't you? Just think about it. Think about when all this started, Nate."

Brooke stood up and put her hand on her brother-in-law's shoulder.

"Think about when things started to change between you and Haley. Maybe then you can figure out what's been bothering her…and what's been bothering her."

Brooke left the work room, leaving Nathan alone and deep in thought.

"Thanks again for doing this Haley." Peyton said as she closed the door to Haley's mini van.

"No problem." Haley replied with a smile. "Is your car at Keith's?"

"Yeah." Peyton answered as Haley pulled out of the parking lot.

"Momma," Emma called from the backseat, "Juice pease!"

Peyton looked in the back seat where Emma was awake in her car seat next to Cooper, who was asleep in his car seat. Peyton reached down into the black and pink bag and pulled out a clear toddler cup with purple butterflies on it.

"Here you go sweetie."

Emma took the cup of apple juice and began to drink. Peyton faced the front again and fidgeted a little.

"God, my back is killing me." Peyton said.

"Haley glanced at Peyton and said, "Awe, do you need something for it?"

"No thanks. It'll pass. It's just on and off pain now that I'm near the end of the pregnancy."

"I remember that. You've got how many weeks left?"

"Nine weeks. Nine weeks until I can finally have my baby here."

Haley chuckled. Peyton smiled and said, "So you're awfully chipper lately. Does this mean you're feeling better about the baby?"

"Yes, actually. I am much more confidant about him or her now, and it only took me four weeks."

"So does that mean you've told Nathan?"

Haley sighed and replied, "Well, um, no not yet."

"Why not? Nathan really needs to know Haley."

"I know and I am going to tell him. I'm ready to tell him. I'm just waiting for the right time, I guess."

"Haley, there is never going to be a right time to Nathan you're pregnant again. Unless of course you wait about seven more months and he figures it out while you're in labor."

Haley laughed. After catching her breath, she explained her reasons to Peyton.

"I'm going to tell him soon, very soon. I was even thinking about telling him when I get home tonight. But I've been trying to figure out exactly how to tell him."

"How about… 'Nathan, I'm pregnant again!'"

"Ha, ha…no. that's basically how I told him the last three times. This time is different because…well, because this is the first pregnancy since what happened with Cooper. And to me, it feels like I'm pregnant for the first time all over again because I've been so scared of so much with this baby."

"Are you still scared?"

"Are you kidding?" Haley glanced quickly at Peyton before moving her eyes back to the road and continuing, "I'm terrified. But I'm not scared of the same things. I mean, I'm still nervous about money, and room and going from three kids to four, but before I was even more afraid of losing another baby or losing my life. But Lucas helped me get over that."

"Lucas? What do you mean?"

Haley smiled as she remembered the dream and she told Peyton about it, "I had this dream a couple of weeks ago and Lucas was in it…

Haley entered the bedroom that Andrew and James shared. It was the middle of the night, so they both were asleep. But Haley often woke up this time of night just to check on her boys. She looked up into the top bunk of the red metal bunk beds where Andrew was fast asleep.

Haley smiled. Andrew looked so much like Nathan. In fact, he looked most like Nathan out of all three of her boys. She straightened his covers before moving down to the bottom bunk where James was asleep with one arm wrapped around his stuffed dog and had the thumb from his free hand in his mouth.

Still smiling, Haley pulled the covers higher on James and kissed his head. She stood up and headed for the door. As she was about to leave, she glanced at the picture of her, Nathan, and Lucas holding baby Andrew in a picture frame on Andrew's dresser. She walked over and picked it up.

Haley smiled as she stared at it, remembering her best friends and all the wonderful times she used to spend with him. Mini golf, visiting the record store, and just talking. She really missed talking to Lucas, especially right now. She could really use his advice now about her current pregnancy and no-baby-Nathan situation.

"Boy, I could really use your help right about now, Luc." Haley whispered to herself. "I need you to give me some advice like you used to. I need to be here for me and…maybe tell me what to do."

"Awe, now you know I can't do that." Haley heard someone say close by.

She looked away from the photo and saw him standing by the bedroom door.

"Lucas." She said surprised with a small smile.

Lucas grinned the grin Haley had missed so much and Haley walked quickly over to hug him. She squeezed him tighter than she ever had before.

"Man, I miss you so much." She said with heavy tears.

"I miss you too." Lucas said as she finally let go of him.

Haley smiled at Lucas as he turned to look at his sleeping nephews.

"Wow, they've sure gotten big, Hales." He stated.

"Yeah, they have. Cooper's gotten big too. You know, he's going to be three in September."

"Yeah, I remember. Before you know it, your new little one will be here and growing just as fast."

Haley looked at Lucas curiously and asked, "How'd you know?"

Lucas grinned and said, "Well, that's what you're worried about, right? You're afraid to tell Nathan that you're pregnant because he said he didn't want another baby after what happened with Cooper. And you're also feeling the same fears Nathan is, aren't you?"

"Wow, you really hit the nail on the head, Luc."

"Well, I did know you for most of my life. And you've been praying to me about it."

Haley smiled a sad smile and she said, "I don't know what to do, Lucas. I'm so scared about this baby. I'm still afraid to Nathan and disappoint him, but mostly I'm scared of losing this baby like I almost lost Cooper or of losing my life. I don't want to leave my babies behind. I don't want to leave Nathan behind. I love them so much and I love this baby already and I don't want anything bad to happen."

"It won't Haley." Lucas said assuringly, hugging her. "Every thing is going to be fine. You and the baby will be okay and so will you and Nathan. You don't have to be afraid of telling Nathan, Haley. I know my brother and I know he does want more kids. once you tell him you're pregnant, he won't be so afraid anymore. You both will be able to work through your fears together. You'll be able to trust each other again."

Haley was silent in thought a minute before she asked, "So how do you know all this anyway?"

Lucas smiled and said, "Have I ever steered you wrong before?"

Haley chuckled, sniffled and replied, "No. Thanks, Luc."

Lucas pulled Haley into another hug and said, "Always. Whenever you need me, I'll be here…in your heart and in your dreams."

Haley squeezed Lucas tighter.

"Wow…" Peyton said after Haley had finished the dream story, "One hell of a dream, huh?"

"Yeah." Haley said with a smile as she pulled onto the property that was Keith's Body Shop. "But then again, I'm not totally surprised by it. After all, Luc was one hell of a dreamer."