Nathan and Haley had made the decision to tell his mom and their extended family of Lucas, Karen and Lilly first and then make the trip to Atlanta to tell her parents. Nathan had chosen a time when Lucas was back from New York.

It had been decided at Nathan's urging – that the Scott family (and the Roes) would gather on Friday night for a family dinner - one that was met with much suspicion from Lucas, especially when he discovered Haley was also invited.

"I don't know Mom, I think something strange is going on," Lucas said, sipping a glass of wine at the kitchen counter while Karen was rinsing the vegetables for the salad.

"What do you think is going on?" Karen asked.

"I don't know...but this whole gathering the family thing...it's a little fishy…c'mon – It's Nathan…since when does he plan family dinners?" Lucas replied.

"Not necessarily," Karen responded. "I mean, maybe he just wanted everyone together before you guys have to get back to your lives."

"Nah, I don't buy it," Lucas said. "Speaking of, practice has already started for him – he must have had to get out of practice to even be here now…he wouldn't do that unless it was important. I know him...something is going on -- I think they're back together, that's what I think."

Karen looked at him, "Lucas, they dated for four years...why would they get everyone together just to announce that they're dating again."

"Oh god, you're right," Lucas turned pale. "It could be worse...they may have run off and gotten married."

Karen looked at him and smirked, "You could be completely wrong about the whole thing-- you're jumping to an awful lot of conclusions here. We don't know anything...it may be nothing."

Lucas looked at her, took another sip of wine and replied, "It's Nathan- there's very little that would surprise me at this point. I just hope he knows what he's doing."

~~~

Around 5:30pm, Nathan was firing up the grill when he saw Haley walking up the driveway.

"Hey," he said stepping toward her.

"Hi," she replied.

"Here, let me take that for you," he said, taking the covered dish she had brought with her. He looked at it, "Is this?"

"My homemade macaroni and cheese," she smiled.

"How did I guess that?" Nathan grinned.

The two walked the short distance across the lawn to the backdoor of the patio.

Nathan opened the door for her and she stepped in with him following.

Karen looked over at her, "Hey Haley!"

"Hi!" Haley responded.

Haley ran over to hug Lucas and turned to hug Karen.

The ladies soon were engrossed in a conversation about music acts at Tric.

Lucas looked at Nathan, still trying to read any expressions on his face, any evidence that could decipher what was happening here.

Soon after, Deb and Lilly came into the kitchen and hugged their Hello's to Haley.

Haley began to play with Lilly and Nathan found himself getting caught up just watching the two of them together. Deb and Karen were "talking shop" about the plans for the cafe while they made salads and appetizers.

Nathan stepped out to put steaks on the grill. Lucas followed him outside where the two were alone.

"Alright man, now that we're alone...what the hell is going on?"

Nathan didn't want to turn around and face him, he just continued putting steaks on the grill. "What's that?"

"This whole gathering...what's going on?"

Nathan turned around with the empty plate, shut the grill, looked at him and walked inside.

The truth was, Nathan wanted to tell everyone at the same time, but he couldn't lie to Lucas. Lucas had gotten to know him too well and could tell when he was telling the truth. He couldn't stand there and tell him it was nothing. Lucas would see right through it.

This behavior further convinced Lucas of his suspicions.

He followed Nathan back into the house.

The ladies were at work, setting out the covered side dishes when Nathan brought the grilled steaks in a short time later.

The group stacked their plates and began to sit around the dining room table.

Nathan looked nervously over at Haley throughout the meal. The majority of the time she returned the expression.

Now that he had everyone here, it was just a question of the right time - the right time to drop the bomb that would change his family forever. He knew then that there would never be a right time.

Nathan stood up from his chair. "Hey, I wanted everyone here tonight, because there's something I need to tell you...."

"....Haley is having a baby," Nathan announced.

Lucas dropped his fork on her plate and a loud clanging sound was all that was heard in the room.

All eyes went from Nathan to Haley, in silence.

Nathan tried to smile, looking from Karen to his mother to Lilly to Lucas....

Deb cleared her throat, "uh....well, that's certainly a surprise to hear....congratulations!" she smiled at Haley.

Haley smiled meekly.

Lucas sat there, mouth agape. He had known something was up - he just didn't realize it was this big.

Karen and even little Lilly followed suit in congratulating Nathan and Haley but it was easy to see, all were in a shocked daze.

Deb turned to Haley, "...when is the baby due?"

"I'm due on the first of March," Haley answered.

"She has her second prenatal visit on Monday," Nathan said. "I'm taking her."

Deb nodded. She was silent and then when she looked at him again, he could see she had tears in her eyes.

"Mom," he spoke up.

She stood up from her seat and walked to him, wrapping her arms around him in a hug.

Nathan smiled and hugged her back.

"My baby boy is going to be a father," she said, hugging him tighter.

Then, she stepped over and reached for Haley's arm. Haley stood up and Deb enveloped her into a hug as well.

"You're a part of our family now," Deb said.

Haley could feel her eyes welling up with tears as she hugged her tighter.

Lucas sat there, witnessing the emotional scene. He stood up to hug Haley, who cried into his shoulder. He kissed her forehead and let go of her to turn to his brother.

"Can I speak to you for a minute?" Lucas asked Nathan. "In private."

Nathan nodded and followed Lucas out on to the patio.

"Listen...are you alright? I mean, this is a shock to the system...have you really thought this through?"

Nathan looked at Lucas, "Lucas, there's nothing to think about – she and I have already discussed everything, alright? She was very forthcoming with the information about Chris. There's no chance the baby could be his and I never even questioned her about it. I just want you to be happy for us."

"Happy? Nathan, this scares the hell out of me!" Lucas exclaimed. "I don't know if you're ready for this at all! You and Haley aren't even together….she needs to have someone who won't look back on this with regret. She deserves that." His protective streak was out in full force.

"Lucas, I know you're worried...but trust me, I can handle this."

"You say that now, but have you even begun to grasp the severity of what all of this means once the shock wears off?" Lucas asked. "I mean, this is the rest of your life we're talking about here...nothing will ever be the same again. What about basketball?"

"What would you have me do, Lucas?" Nathan asked, getting defensive. "...of course I didn't ask for this, but its been dealt to me, alright? I have to take responsibility for what's happened."

Then the realization hit him –

"You think I'm going to end up like him. That's it, isn't it?" Nathan said, his voice taking on a venomous tone.

"I didn't say that," Lucas said.

"You didn't have to – it's all over your face. You think history is going to repeat itself…you think that I am going to change my mind just like Dan and decide that Haley and the baby don't fit in my life plan for my basketball career…" Nathan said.

Lucas stood there for a moment in silence.

"Nice to know what my brother really thinks of me," Nathan said, feeling sickened.

"I just want you to think long and hard about all of this, that's all. I'm not saying you're like Dan. I just don't want to see you make the decision to be here with Haley and then change your mind because it's a lot of pressure…"

"Listen to me, Lucas," Nathan said firmly. "I'm going to be here for Haley every step of the way, but I will need your support here. I need to know that you're going to be here for me. This isn't going to be easy, I know that...but I can do this...I have to do this. I have to be there for her."

That final statement pronounced, Nathan walked back into the house to join the rest of the group.

The Scotts and the Roes had had their fair share of trials to overcome and had always proven that they would hold strong and stick together no matter what happened. Lucas just knew that there would be some rough storms to weather ahead.