Peyton pulled her hair back into a loose pony and zipped up her sweatshirt. She grabbed her keys and closed her hotel room door.
"Okay, Luke, i'm on my way." She said into her cell phone.
"Okay see you in a bit." He replied, sounding rushed to get his things together for their 3 day road trip to New York.
Peyton smiled as she pulled up to Lucas's house. After a short kiss, the two were off.

Nathan was awake bright and early that Saturday morning to pick Haley up from the Tree Hill airport. After an hour drive, he stomped his way right into the luggage-claiming conveyor belts and watched nervously for Haley.
"Hey hot stuff," Haley squealed as she came up from behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Nathan was relieved to hear her voice. He spun around and gave her a kiss, "I'm so glad your home." He hugged her so tightly with his eyes shut. "I don't know if I could've lasted another day without you."
She rubbed his neck with her hands, than grasped the endings of her sleeves while curling her face into his chest. "I got my stuff, so let's go?" She smiled.
"Yeah." He said helping her haul out three huge bags of luggage.

Back at the house Haley was settling in. She was tidying up and re-arranging while Nathan showered.
She walked into the bathroom to retrieve the basket of dirty clothes to take to the Laundromats, and yelled, "Nathan!"
He peaked his head out the door and joked, "Want to join me?" They shared a laugh.
"I'm going to invite Brooke over for dinner, okay?¨
Nathan almost slipped but caught himself on the tiled wall, "Uh¨
"Honey are you okay?¨ Haley asked concerned.
"Yeah i'm fine. I guess I was just hoping we could spend the night alone, since it's your first day back and all¨ Nathan was lying through his teeth about the reason why he didn't want Brooke around.
"Well I guess. Maybe i'll go visit her at work tomorrow, do you know if she's working?¨ Haley said picking up Nathan's dirty clothes that were bunched up near the shower door.
"Why would I care when Brooke works? ¨ Nathan said defensively.
"Woah, sorry I asked.¨
"Sorry.¨ He apologized.
"It's fine, i'll just call Lucas. I think i'm going to go see him tomorrow too.¨ She said before exiting.
"Good idea, i'll be out in a few¨ Nathan's voice drifted off as Haley went into the bedroom to collect the remainder of Nathan's dirty clothes.
She stopped at the doorway, and looked around. Nathan got out of the shower, and walked up behind her with a towel wrapped around him waste. He stopped right beside her.
"Nathan, why aren't there any sheets on the bed? ¨ She said looking him dead in the eye.
"Uhh, they were looking a little dirty, so I though i'd wash them. They're by the door in a bag if you want to take them with you when you go.¨ He said shaking off the look, and walking to the closet.
"Oh. Okay, i'll take them with me, yeah.¨ She said, looking a little confused and put off.
"What's wrong honey¨ Nathan asked, walking over to her still wearing his towel.
"I guess it's just weird to be home, you know¨
"Weird good? Weird bad?¨ Nathan said wrapping his arms around Haley, pushing her into his chest.
"Good, definitely. I just get a sense that something's changed. I don't know, maybe i'm crazy. Well I guess since it's just you and I, so we will probably be skipping dinner¨ she laughed, I'm going to go replace the sheets¨ she said as she walked out.
Nathan waited until Haley was out of sight, and punched the bare mattress. "Dammit¨ he murmured quietly.

Brooke was alone in her apartment pacing around her kitchen. "What to do, what to do?¨ She chatted to herself. Hmm¨ Brooke picked up her phone and dialed Lucas' apartment phone. No answer. She dialed his cell phone. No answer.
"Hey it's me, Brooke, where are you, out of state?¨ she said giggling, I was wandering if you wanted to hang out tonight. Since Peyton's gone and all, maybe you're a little upset or whatever, so i'm here. Call me when you get this, talk to later.¨

The next morning Haley awoke in Nathan's arms. She scrambled around for her shorts and a t-shirt. Nathan barely opened his eyes, and rolled over. She didn't want to wake him, so she showered and readied herself quietly.

Went to see Brooke&Luke
I'll be back soon!
Love, Haley xoxo

She wrote her note, left it on the kitchen counter, and took Nathan's car.
Brooke was doing inventory with a few of her staff members considering it was only 7am, 2 hours before the store opened.
Haley tapped on the door, and Brooke walked out into plain view of the window. Is that Haley?¨ Her face turned sour. She hustled over to the door, and Haley followed her from the window. She waved.
Brooke opened the door. "Oh my God, Haley, what are you doing here? I thought you were off on tour till like next fricken month¨ Brooke was shocked, and speaking a mile a minute.
"Yeah well i'm here for Nathan's birthday weekend, and I wanted to stop by and see how you were.¨ Haley said embracing Brooke for a hug. "So how are things?¨
"Same old, same old. The store is doing great, oh and Peyton came to town, and her and Lucas had sex, and I haven't talked to either of them since like yesterday, so yeah. How's the tour?¨ Brooke rambled.
"Wait, slow down? Peyton's here? Lucas did what?¨ Haley's jaw was open wide enough to stick a bottle into it.
"Well Peyton came to visit us down-home Tree Hill folk to get away from her busy New York fast-paced lifestyle like 2 days ago. She came to see both Lucas and I, but unlike Lucas I told her to get her scrawny blonde ass away from me. Lucas basically invited her to sleepover the first night she got here!¨
"Oh God, gross¨ Haley laughed at Brookes wording, slapping her lightly on the shoulder. How come Nathan never said anything?! Well where is she staying?¨
"Oh she's gone now. She left this morning I think. I called Luke and left him a bunch of messages and he hasn't called me back, so I don't know what's going on. Maybe she locked him in the closet?¨ Brooke giggled as she watched Haley look around the store.
"Brooke these clothes are really, really nice. And that's not funny.¨ Haley pointed at Brooke. I was going to stop by after I came to see you but¨
"Do you want me to come with? I mean the shop opens in an hour, and they can handle it if i'm not back in time,¨ Brooke ushered to her well-dressed staff of teenaged girls.
"Uh, no offence Brooke but i'd really rather see him on my own. Sorry.¨ Haley said glancing away from the reasonably priced tank tops and jean designs.
"None taken. I'm sure if you catch him early enough, he'll probably be calling some blonde bimbo's name from his bedroom.¨ She said slyly.
"Brooke.¨ Haley looked up again.
"How long are you staying, Tutor wife?¨
"Man you haven't called me that in a while,¨ she laughed. "¡'m leaving Monday morning.¨
"Haley, i'm not trying to tell you how to live your life, but-¨ Haley cut Brooke off.
"But what?¨
"But Nathan misses you. He needs you, you know. He loves you, and I know you think he's being supportive this time around, but he's just scared he's going to lose you again. Your dreams are important rock star, but Nathan's in a dark place right now, and he could really use his wife.¨ Brooke made eye contact.
Haley sighed, and she bit her lip while nodding. "Yeah. I'm going to get going, i'll call you after I talk to Lucas.¨
"Abso-freaking-lutley. It's so good to see you.¨

Haley smiled, and left Brooke's clothing store.
It nearly slipped Brooke's mind that she had just slept with her husband one night ago. She went back to occupying her guilty time with designing time, and penciled a few jacket designs.

"Anybody home? Luke¨ Haley shouted from Lucas' doorstep. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed his house number, no answer.
Than she called personal directory and retrieved Peyton's cell phone number. "Here it goes.¨
Ring ring ring.
"Hello?¨ Peyton said, questionably, to the unknown caller.
"Peyton?¨
"Who is this?¨
"It's Haley,¨ she spoke bitterly.
"Oh, Haley. Wow it's good to hear from you, how have things been goin-¨
"Haley cut her off, "I just wanted to speak with Lucas. He's not answering his phone, do you have any idea where he is?¨ Haley said business-like.
"Yeah, just a sec.¨ Peyton said as the phone fuzzed.
Haley's eye's widened.
"Hello¨ Lucas said not knowing who was on the other end of the line.
"Oh my God, you're with her? Brooke said she went home.¨
"Woah, Haley? Is that you?¨
"Your damn right it is. Where the hell are you?¨ She was angry.
"It's really a long story.¨ Lucas said not wanting to explain.
"You got thirty seconds before I hang up and never speak to you again,¨ Haley muttered.
"Peyton came back, and she wants to be back for good. We're on our way to New York to get her stuff, and she's going to move in with me.¨

"You're kidding. Lucas are you insane? This girl left you your senior year of high school, never called, and now your on your way to New York to bring her back here again?¨ Haley's voice elevated.
"Haley don't be mad. She made a mistake, and i'm not going to crucify her for it 5 years later. Look, I honestly believe she's a different person now, a better person.¨ Peyton was listening to the conversation, and smiled. "How's the tour going?¨
"Well, for one thing, i'm standing in front of your doorstep right now. I came home for Nathan's birthday tomorrow!¨
"Wait a minute, you're at Tree Hill right now?¨ Lucas was confused.
"Yes. I flew in yesterday.¨
"Haley, why didn't you tell me. This could've waited, i've missed you!¨ Lucas was outraged.
"Luke, what are you doing? With Peyton? With Brooke? This isn't like you. All the stuff you said about making changes, that was all a lie. Please Luke, just do what's best for you for once in your damn life. Drop Peyton off, and get back here before Monday morning so I can please see my best friend before I leave.¨
"Haley¨
"Lucas, i'm serious. I watched you beat yourself up over the way Peyton left you. I watched you blame yourself for months and months. You finally let everything go, and now you slip up like this? Luke your better than this, I know you are. Stop selling yourself short and just be the person everyone knows you could be. Just because your lonely and you miss her doesn't mean it's best that she stay. I'm glad she came to visit, and i'm really happy for you that you got this closure, but you know what you need to do.¨
"Haley…¨
"Lucas. In the end, it's your choice, and you can do whatever you want. I just want you to know that both Brooke, and I, and i'm sure Nathan and your Mom too, know that your better than this, your better than Peyton, and you deserve a hell of a lot more than you know.¨ Haley hung up the phone.
Lucas slammed the phone onto the back seat.
"What was that about?¨ Peyton asked rubbing his shoulder.
"Nothing, Haley was just trying to help me out with some stuff.¨ Lucas said insensitively, ignoring her touch.
"Anything that I can help you with?¨ She asked.
"No, it's not really your place.¨ Lucas responded.

Peyton felt a pain in her heart. She stared at Lucas, than away out the window.