Chapter 1

Brooke, Peyton, Megan, and Haley were shopping for a dress for Megan to wear in the wedding. She is going to be the flower girl, and she hates dresses more than Haley did so it was proving to be difficult. Brooke had picked out a dark pink color for Haley and Peyton's bride's maid's dresses. Haley was going to be Maid of Honor. Peyton understood why, Haley had been Lucas's best friend since forever, and Haley and Brooke grew to love each other just as much. She wasn't bothered by it, at all actually, it saved her the trouble of being publicly embarrassed when she had to make her toast. She would just cry and not be able to get it out. And she knew Brooke didn't love her any less or anything, that was a very High School thing to think.

Brooke came over to them holding a light pink dress for Megan to try on. Even haley, who admittedly loathes pink thought it was adorable on her baby. "I love it on her!" Brooke squealed. "Me too! She looks so grown up, which totally depresses me. I really wish I could make her stop growing." Haley agreed. She stared longingly at her child who was checking herself out in the mirror. "Well, I think that it is perfect, as well. And after two hours of power shopping with Brooke, I need nourishment! So let's buy the thing and get some food!" Peyton grouched at them.

"Fine, I am hungry, too." Haley agreed. Megan nods her head dully. She's pooped.

They pay and head toward Karen's Café. Karen greets them with a big smile as they enter.

"Hello, girls, did you have a fun time shopping?"

"No! Grandma Karen, we did not! I was in and out of itchy dresses that choked me or made me hot." Megan pouted.!

"Oh dear! That does not sound too pleasant! Well, did you find one you did like?" Karen asked.

"I, well, it is okay. I guess." Megan complained.

"Oh, stop complaining! You know you like that dress! And you looked beautiful in it." Haley reasoned.

"Yeah, yeah. But you have to say stuff like that. You are my mommy it is your job."

Karen sat amused at the girls childish behavior. It reminded her of Lucas and Haley when they were younger, always bantering about the dumbest things. And she couldn't help but smile.

"Okay! Stop! I am hungry, remember?" Peyton shouted, stopping such a trivial argument.

"Yes, of course you are!" Karen said rushing to order two plates of Mac and Cheese for Megan and Haley and two B.L.Ts for Brooke and Peyton.

They all sat and talked and ate and talked some more. Until Brooke finally decided it was now or never.

"Guys, we need to talk." Brooke started nervously. Peyton knew where this was leading and felt Brooke's pain of having to tell Haley because Lucas chickened out.

"Okay." Peyton and Haley said in unison. Peyton was going to help Brooke out by playing along, it would help.

"Umm. So Luke was kinda talking to Nathan and kinda asked him to be his Best Man in our wedding." She said this quicker than planned, and with one eye closed. She braced herself for a potential mental breakdown, on Haley's part.

"Oh, well, okay. I think I can handle that. It's not a huge deal. Really! Its not." Haley assured herself more than Brooke or Peyton.

Megan was still munching on her Mac and Cheese next to them, but Haley doubted she'd notice what they were saying. And Karen was taking orders, so it left the three time to talk.

"Haley, come on. We know it hurt you when Nathan left, and even more when he chose to stay away and never call, so it's okay if you are totally shocked and want to cry or scream and let it all out or something."

"Look girls, I seriously think I'll be okay. I have Megan. So I really feel like I got the best part of him, ya know? And sure it's going to be weird, and even downright awkward, but I feel okay about this." She assured them.

"Well," Brooke said. "You didn't let me finish. So do you want the potentially good new or the potentially bad news first?"

"Good." Haley said at the same time Peyton said, "Bad." They just laugh and Brooke says, "Okay. I'll go with good then. Right. So, I talked to him, he said he wanted to congratulate me or whatever, but then he said he was really looking forward to seeing everyone. Especially you." Brooke said, hoping that this would be good news, but couldn't tell from the look on her face. "And the potentially bad news?" Haley questioned.

Peyton braced herself now. This could get ugly.

"Well, he's coming early. The end of the week actually."

"What! Why? The wedding isn't for another 3 weeks! That means he'll be here for two weeks.

"Umm. Actually two months. He's coming in a week and staying for two months. Until pre-season work outs start again."

"Oh wow!" Haley was in shock. She could handle the wedding part. That's like, what maybe four days tops? But two months? That's nuts! But Brooke did say he said he was looking forward to seeing her. What the hell did that mean though? She had no clue. Only Nathan could give her that thrill, and confuse her to death all in one sentence, or action. But, for now, she decided not to think about that, or what it might mean.

"Alright, umm. Thanks for warning me. "Come on Meg, time to go."

"Okay. Bye Aunt Brooke, and Aunt Peyton." Megan said completely confused.

"Bye baby."

"Bye Meg."

They waved good bye to Karen and Haley turned back to Brooke and Peyton and gave them her 'I am fine. Really!' smile. Which neither believed.

Later that night, everyone was expected to attend a family dinner at Karen and Keith's house. Haley expected she was the last to know about Nathan's pending arrival. It made sense to her now. Why Deb and Dan were acting to fidgety when she ran in to them at the grocery store. Or why Karen and Keith were avoiding eye contact with her when she dropped Megan off at their house so she could go with Luke to get his tux. Or why Luke, her best friend in the world, was acting so weird when they were getting his tux. It all clicked in Haley's poor little head. And it made her get a headache. This was too much, too soon.

She finished getting her and Megan ready for the dinner, and heading out the door holding on to her daughter's hand as if she was afraid to let go. They walked down the street toward Karen's house in silence, until Megan started to talk. She loved to talk.

"Mommy?" Megan asked tentatively

"Yes, baby?"

"Who is Nathan? And why is he coming here early for Uncle Luke's wedding?"She asked, almost pleased that she could remember.

Haley's mind rattled. Oh, crap! She had heard them talking. She never really talked about him to Megan. Part of her kicked herself for not doing it sooner, but another thought Megan would blame herself like she had before.

(Flashback to Haley's birthday party)

"Okay Hales! I have one last present for you."

"Oh. Lukie! You didn't have to get me anything."

"Nonsense! Bring him in!"

Suddenly the gate to Haley's backyard swung open and Haley's father was sitting right there in front of her.

"Daddy!" She squealed. She only gets to see her father once and a long while now that her parents live in Florida. "Hey, Hailey-Bailey! Happy Birthday!"

"Mommy?"

"Yes baby?" Haley said. Pulling away from her father to look at her daughter

"Hows come my daddy never visits on my birthday?"

The backyard got suddenly quiet and Haley wanted to come up with some good reason that would blow this all over, but she couldn't. She just stood there, looking worried. 'This isn't good', she thought.

"Why doesn't he love me or want me mommy?"

With that she sat down on the ground next to her daughter and pulled her into her lap, and started stroking her cheek to clam her down. Everyone was staring at them.

"Oh, Baby. Your daddy does love you and does want you. Its just he lives far away and can't visit."

"Is it my fault?"

"No, baby. It isn't your fault at all!"

"So is it your faults mommy?"

"Probably, baby. Probably."

She looked up and saw Luke and her father looking really nervous and worried. She just waved them away.

(End of Flashback.)

"Mommy?" Haley realized that she was standing in the middle of the sidewalk still clutching her daughter's hand.

"Oh, Baby. Nathan is, well, umm, he's mommy's old friend."

"Den why were Aunt Brooke and Aunt Peyton afraids that you were going to cry?"

"Well, he, he kind of made me sad when he left Tree Hill."

Then it fully hit Haley's head. Megan. Megan, she'd be affected by Nathan's being here for two months. Megan would figure it out eventually. And she would have to tell her that Nathan is her father. And then when he leaves again, she'll be crushed and blame herself again. 'Oh, yes, this could get very difficult.'She wondered as she knocked on the door to Karen's house.

"I hope he doesn't make you sad again."

"Me too, baby. Me too."

Karen answered the door quickly after that and squeals in delight. "Oh. Honey. I didn't know if you would show up, but here you are." Haley wondered why she thought that, but her thoughts were interrupted by Karen's pushing her inside and everyone greeting her awkwardly. Yep, they knew.

Once everyone had sat down in the living room, Megan felt the need to be the center of attention. She stood up in front of everyone and blurted out, "Grandma Karen guess what? Nathan is coming soon and Aunt Peyton and Aunt Brooke are afraid that mommy will be sad." She smiled thinking that Karen would be proud that Megan knows something that important. But Karen just stood there stunned, as did everyone else.

Haley could feel their stares boring into her head. She was mortified. Not a great time to bring that up when clearly everyone was dancing around it. But Luke spoke up.

"Megan, how about you go get the crayons from my old room and color in the kitchen."

"Okay!" That little girl loved to color– and snoop in Luke's room, but there wasn't really anything left in there anyways. She took the crayons and coloring book into the kitchen and hummed and colored quietly.

Haley needed an excuse to leave, quickly. Nothing came.

"You told her?" Luke asked.

"Umm. Not really. She overheard at lunch today." Shooting a glaring look at Brooke and Peyton. Even though they already looked remorseful.

"I am so sorry, Haley! I didn't know she would be listening! Brooke cried.

Deb was next, questioning her before she could respond. "Does she understand what this means?" She looked hopeful Haley would say yes.

"No. And its okay Brooke. I am worried about her though. What if Nathan leaves and she blames herself again. Or he tells her before I do or.."

"Honey," Karen starts, "tell her then. Now. While you have a chance. Before Nathan gets here. Tell her."

Everyone nods in agreement. "When did you all gain up on me? Geez! You act like I left and never came back."

"Hales," Luke starts.

"No! I got it! I'll talk to her!" Haley interrupts.

"Now Haley." Keith says.

And once again they all nod their head in agreement. She takes a few deep breaths.

"Yeah, okay." She walks down the hallway to the kitchen. She looks at old pictures of Lucas and herself, Lucas and Karen, Lucas and Keith, and one of Lucas and Nathan. 'Damn. This could get ugly."

Everyone else stayed put in the living room, waiting. Which is all they could do. 'This could be bad, very, very, bad.' They thought.

Thanks for those who Review. TODAY is my Birthday! GO me!