A/N: Overdue, I know, and a short update. I had to rework some stuff to factor in the events of Season 6 so as not to be entirely AU. Next one will hopefully be longer.

…0…

I've seen your act and I know all the facts

I'm still in love with who I wish you were

…0…

"So you just left?"

Groaning, Haley dropped her head into her hands. All the better to avoid the incredulous, and accusatory, nature of Brooke's expression.

"I can't believe it," Brooke said, a hint of laughter in her voice, as she walked around the kitchen island to pour a glass of water. She handed it to Haley on the barstool and rubbed her shoulder consolingly. "Well, I guess I can. It's not everyday your life long best friend and brother-in-law wakes up from a coma and thinks he's your husband." She paused for a second during which Haley eyes her warily. "I think I saw this on a soap opera once."

Haley rolled her eyes. "Brooke."

"Lucas hasn't called you 'mon petite frete' has he?"

"Brooke!" Exasperation finally got the best of Haley. "Can you just please let me vent?"

Wrapping a sympathetic arm around her friend's shoulder, Brooke squeezed her in effort to relay the fact that she was completely there for her. "Sure Buddy."

"Thank you," Haley said, then added, "and no, he hasn't called me that. Just let me say here and now that if Lucas ever does refer to me as his little fry, I will personally wheel his hospital bed up to the psych ward."

The two shared an uneasy laugh, the idea more absurd than funny in any context before the reason for Haley's visit to Brooke's began to sink in. the sound tapered off from both of them and Brooke watched as Haley's face fell.

"So he really thinks you guys are married, huh?"

In her head, Haley was going back through the years-all the way to grade school-trying to figure out what there could possibly be in their shared history that could lend itself to Lucas's belief of a marriage between the two of them. Yes, they were affectionate towards each other, always had been. But the leap from friendly hugs and reassuring hand squeezes to something resembling a marriage was one that even Superman couldn't make. Try as she might, her anxiety-ridden brain couldn't pinpoint a single event that could help her make the same connection that Lucas had made.

Then again, she wasn't the one who had been in a coma.

"It's so absurd," Haley said. "Lucas thinking this. Isn't it?"

Sympathy was written all over Brooke's face, all too evident in her big hazel eyes and compassion seemed to radiate off of her in waves. But when two, four, ten seconds went by without Brooke answering her question, Haley realized exactly why that was. "Brooke," she pleaded, "please don't tell me you understand all of this."

"I don't know," she said honestly. "Yeah, it's weird that Lucas would fixate on the only platonic female relationship in his life ever, but you know, you've been in his life longer than anyone else so maybe it's not as strange as we think."

With a heavy sigh, Haley ran her hands through her hair and let her head drop forward. "Guess I have to go deal with this, huh?"

"I think so."

…0…

Lucas was dressed and packing up the things Brooke and Karen had brought him when Haley walked back into his hospital room. "You leaving?"

He turned towards her voice, then looked back down at his duffel bag just as quickly. "Yeah."

She licked her lips nervously. It was obvious that the way she had just up and left earlier had hurt him. "I uh," she began, wringing her hands, "I thought they wanted to keep you a few more days, move to you to a regular room, run some tests."

Zipping his bag up, Lucas shrugged. "All my tests have been within the normal range. As long as I come back if anything feels off, there's really no reason for to stay here."

"Luke-"

"Don't."

The harsh tone of his voice made her mouth snap shut. She couldn't remember the last time Lucas had spoken to her in such a cold manner, if he ever had. They'd had arguments, yelled at each other, but this was different. This…this was heartache. And she had caused it.

"You need a ride home?" she offered quietly.

Shaking his head, he replied "Peyton's coming to get me."

"Oh." Haley shifted her weight from one foot to the other. This was the first time in her entire life that she had no idea what to say to Lucas. She didn't like the feeling, not one bit. There were days, and she remembered them vividly, that she had gone the entire day and spoken to no one else but him because he was the only one she wanted to talk to. The thought made her heart hurt. "So…things are okay with you guys?"

He shrugged again. "I don't know." He finally turned around the face her, his face tight and devoid of all emotion. "But from what I've been told, we are engaged so I figured I should try and get to know her. Maybe I'll remember some things."

"That sounds like a good idea," she said, trying to force a weak smile onto her face. Tried and failed. "I hope you guys can work it out."

"Me too."

Another silence fell over the room, just as uncomfortable as the first one. Haley fiddled with her purse strap while Lucas scrolled idly through his iPod, his eyes unfocused so she knew it was just a tactic to avoid looking at her.

Unable to stand it any longer, she finally said, "I guess I'll be going then."

"Okay," he responded, not even bothering to look at her.

"Bye, Luke," Haley whispered, and left the room before he noticed the tears that were starting to well up in her eyes.

…0…

Lyrics from 'Wish You Were' by Kate Voegel.

If my French was off up there, oops. It's been a while.