The Bitter Taste

Maybe Tomorrow

You can have it all. You just can't have

it all at once.

xxx

Haley looked up at the clock as the little hand moved. She smiled and tried to think about all the good things she had gone through while on tour. It had seemed like ages ago since she had sung on a stage in front of millions of screaming people; they were all there to see her and only her. That's what excited her most about performing; all eyes were on her. Usually, her parents or relatives would describe her to be shy and just a face in the crowd, but singing gave her a way out of that. Haley didn't know what she could possibly say to Lucas after their little encounter, it was like he was a different person all of a sudden. People change, that's what she had learned the last 6 or 7 years. She herself had changed as well. Everybody changes and it's either for the good or the bad. Haley closed her eyes and exhaled through her nose. She tried to think positively; maybe everything would work out in the end. So far everything had been going good.

Haley played with her wedding ring and bit her bottom lip. A pair of headlights about blinded her as they came through her bedroom window. It was Lucas. She just knew. A car door slammed shut and she heard footsteps walk up onto the porch and then she heard the front door open. Haley didn't know why, but she had stopped breathing for a while. It was something she had done as a kid; she thought that if she stayed as quiet as possible then she would turn invisible, and right now she wanted more than anything to be invisible.

"Hi."

He looked so nervous, Haley thought to herself as she looked at Lucas standing in the doorway of their bedroom debating whether or not he should come in or just stand there. It was like it wasn't his room anymore, he felt like an intruder.

"Hey."

And that's when they both jumped from the loud boom of thunder and the flash of light. Haley looked out the window and saw the rain start coming down; a bolt of lighting striked and immediately lit up the dark room where the two of them were. Say something, Haley thought to herself. They both were speechless, not knowing what to say or how to say something. A fight wasn't something easy to get over.

"I'm sorry for ever making you think that I'm not ready to be a husband," Lucas began; Haley opened her mouth to protest but he stopped her, "Let me finish...I would do anything for you Haley and I love you so much, and I know that I haven't shown it in the best ways these last couple of days, but I was scared."

Haley closed her eyes tightly as the sudden pang of sadness came over her, "Don't you get it Luke? I'm scared too! I'm scared of losing you forever. I don't want to be the girl who falls in and out of love; I finally found the person who I want to be with the rest of my life and the person who I'm secure with…And that person is you."

"Haley," Lucas said breathlessly as he walked into the room and reached out for her.

Haley took his hands and pulled him on their bed; he looked into her eyes as their noses touched slightly, their breathing in unison, and their hearts pounding. Haley put her soft, delicate hand on his scruffy cheek as he lightly kissed her top lip. Lucas quickly took off his shirt; Haley bit his ear lobe gently as he began to unbutton her shirt. They kissed passionately as Lucas's hands roamed Haley's body, she yelped in excitement when he finally went into her.

"Don't stop," Haley said as Lucas thrusted harder and sucked on her neck.

Lucas laid on his back as Haley caught her breath; they both laid there looking up at the ceiling in complete silence, except for the rain beating on the windows and the occasional thud of thunder. Lucas looked over at Haley, who was crying. He rolled over and stroked her cheek lightly with the back of his hand, "Hey," he said softly as she tearfully looked up at him, "What's wrong?"

"There's something I didn't tell you Luke," Haley said through her sobs.

"What?" Lucas asked as his wife looked up at him with the saddest eyes he had ever seen.

Haley sat up and wiped her nose, "I…I can't get pregnant Lucas," she said as she looked away from him.

"Baby," Lucas said as he wrapped his arms around Haley and let her cry on his chest, "It's okay…"

Haley looked up at him and slammed her hands down, "It's not okay!" She screamed causing Lucas to flinch back, "All I ever wanted in life was a husband who I loved and the house with a white picket fence maybe a dog running around and then a baby," she began and then whispered, "That's all I wanted."

Lucas opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came up. He didn't know what to say; he had always wanted a baby, but now he was put in the reality that he and Haley couldn't have one. Lucas didn't the only thing he could; he held Haley and let her cry. That was all she needed, just to cry.

"I love you Hales."

xxx

Jake quickly got Eric and Jenny into the car as the rain started to come down harder and harder. He put his hood over his head and got into the car; he revved the engine and looked back at the kids to see if they were okay. He turned back around and saw a woman standing at his window; Jake jumped and cursed to himself as he smacked his knee off the steering wheel.

"Can I help you?" Jake asked as he rolled down the window.

The girl smiled, "Hi…My car broke down a while back and I was just wondering if you could maybe give me a lift to Scott's Motors?"

She seemed friendly enough, Jake thought to himself. "Sure," he said and then unlocked the doors so she could get into the passenger's seat.

"This means a lot," the girl said and then smiled, "I'm Veronica."

Jake smile, "Jake," he said and then pulled out from the park, "It's like hell out there."

"Yeah," Veronica said as she looked back at the two kids who were starting to fall asleep, "Wait," she said, "You're Peyton's Jake?"

Jake laughed, "Or she's my Peyton," he joked, "You know Peyton?"

"Yeah," Veronica said with a smirk, "We're old friends…" She said and then bit her top lip slightly, "Has…Has she ever talked about me?"

Jake drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and then looked at Veronica, "You know, I don't think she has."

"Oh," Veronica said as she hid her disappointment, "We were close."

Jake smiled as he stopped at a red light, "Peyton's an easy person to get close to."

"Do you love her?" Veronica asked and then looked at Jake with piercing eyes.

He quirked his eyebrow and laughed, "Wow," he said and then shifted in his seat uncomfortably.

"I didn't mean for it to come out that way…" She said apologetically, "I just…I love Peyton, and I don't want anybody to hurt her, and well…If you don't love her then I think you should just leave with your daughter."

Jake looked at Veronica and shook his head, "You should get out…Scott's Motors is just a block down or so…"

"You're kicking me out of your car?" Veronica asked bitterly.

Jake unlocked the doors, "Yeah, I am. I get that you used to be old friends with Peyton, but what Peyton and I have together is none of your damn business, so I would really appreciate it if you got out."

"Ass," Veronica spat as she got out of the car and slammed the door shut.

Jake walked into the house with Jenny beside him and Eric in his arms. "You guys are home," Peyton said as she rushed to them both and kissed Eric on the forehead. She went to kiss Jake but he turned his head; Peyton hugged Jenny and then stood up, "Jenny, why don't you go upstairs and get a bath?"

"Okay," Jenny said as she ran up the stairs.

Peyton took Eric and shifted her weight onto one foot, "What's wrong?"

"I met one of your friends today," Jake said as he continued walking into the living room, "Veronica."

Peyton's heart stopped; she held her ground and waited for Jake's next move. He sat on the couch facing Peyton and looked down at the ground. "Well…"

"She told me that if I didn't love you then I should leave," Jake said, "And she told me that she loved you and wanted what was best for you."

Peyton went into the living room and sat on the opposite couch, "She was an old friend…I knew her before any of this ever happened. I don't see why you're upset?"

"God dammit Peyton," Jake said as he stood up and put his hands in his pockets, "I understand you telling Brooke or Haley about us because they're your best friends, but some complete stranger that I don't even know?"

"Jake I'm sorry," Peyton said as she changed her tone, "Look, I was grieving and she was there. Brooke had Nathan, Haley had Lucas. I just needed somebody to talk to."

Jake sighed, "It just pisses me off to think how lonely and unhappy you were…"

"But you're here now," Peyton said as she stood up and walked over to him, "And we're going to be together forever…All of us," she said as Eric reached up and grabbed Jake's nose.

Jake laughed, "I just…I don't want you to talk to that Veronica girl anymore. The way she told me she loved you made me sick."

"I don't talk to her anymore," Peyton said as she stroked Jake's cheek, "I love you."

Jake kissed Peyton, "I love you too Peyt…"

xxx

"I love the rain."

Brooke looked out the big window in the living room that overlooked the beach. Just watching the waves made her feel like a little kid watching fireworks for the first time. It looked so dangerous; that's what intrigued here. The waters were rough and the waves were high and came crashing down hard on the shore. She looked over at Nathan who was typing away at his lap top while occasionally looking up the TV which had a basketball game on. Nathan looked up and looked over Brooke who was staring at him; when they made eye contact Brooke quickly looked away and started humming to herself. Nathan laughed and shook his head as he continued working. Brooke looked at him again and stuck her tongue out; Nathan looked up and as he did Brooke turned back around again. When Brooke turned around again Nathan wasn't on the couch and his lap top was just sitting on the coffee table.

She looked around and then felt somebody tackle her onto the couch; Nathan sat on top of her with her hands pinned down as she laughed, "Shouldn't you being working?" Brooke asked as she cocked her brow.

"I'm trying…Really," Nathan began, "But somebody keeps distracting me!"

Brooke smiled, "Sweetie, the only person to blame is the person that is letting themselves be distracted," she said matter of factly.

"Don't act all innocent," he said as he kissed her softly on the cheek.

"Oh but I am innocent," Brooke said sweetly and then sat up, "You should get back to work though…You know, since you're all important and stuff."

Nathan laughed and picked up Brooke, "That's it," he said and then carried her upstairs.

"Nate! Nate!" Brooke squealed as he they got into the bedroom. He set her down and Brooke looked around the room; the lights were dimmed and the bed had white rose petals spread across them. She looked at Nathan with tears in her eyes and studied the room. A bottle of champagne and glasses were set on the bedside table and chocolate covered strawberries were set next to them, "Nathan," she said, "You didn't have to do this, this is so sweet."

Nathan leaned against the doorframe and smiled lovingly at Brooke, "I wanted to do something special," he said and then walked towards her.

"You've done enough baby," she said and then kissed him. He rested his hands on her ass and smiled down at her.

"There's one more thing," Nathan said as he walked over to his dresser and pulled out a long velvet box. He walked over to her and opened it; it was a diamond necklace with the word Forever on it, "I saw it and I knew that I had to give it to you."

Brooke put her hands on her mouth and wiped her tears quickly, "Nathan," she said her voice soft.

Nathan helped her put on the necklace and then kissed her neck, "It says forever…Because we're going to be together forever and I want you in my life forever."

"I feel the same way baby," Brooke said as she cupped his face in her hands, "You're amazing," she said and kissed him on the lips and seductively let her tongue trail across his bottom lip.

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