Nathan took a glance at his fiancée and couldn't help but feel bad for her. He loved Haley more than anything and he always wanted her to be happy. She was a good person, very family and friend oriented. She was the peace maker, the one always bringing everyone together. And she lived for parties and get togethers. It reminded her of the good old days. But as eight people, once the best of friends, sat in awkward silence around the table, dinner was anything but a pleasant reminder of long ago.

Haley had desperately tried to keep the conversation going. Nathan, sick to his stomach about the potential arrival of guests nine and ten sat uncomfortably watching the door. Jake, Mouth, Skills and Cameron ate their food and talked about guy stuff but no one could escape the lingering tension between Peyton and Brooke. He looked over at the single empty setting Haley had prepared for Lucas, just in case he decided to show up. The atmosphere was distressing to say the least and Nathan couldn't wait for the night to end.

"Brooke, I just wanted to say Jen is really excited about the big recital coming up. You should see her. She spends hours practicing in front of the mirror, it's so cute," Jake offered.

"Jenny's great. She's a real natural. She has a lot of talent. I love teaching her."

And just like that, another awkward pause. Cameron looked over at his girlfriend who had been picking at her food every since the plates had arrived. He wasn't used to seeing this tense, sullen Brooke. He missed his lighthearted, dimpled cheek, bright eyed girlfriend. He knew her sudden change in demeanor had something to do with the arrival of Peyton Sawyer Scott. The blonde had just returned to town and it was the former best friends' first meeting since their initial icy reunion at the dance studio. Cameron had heard all about it. Brooke had ranted and raved about it the whole night. He had been a good boyfriend and a good listener, doing his best to calm her down without much interrupting or judging. He had let her vent although it was still hard to understand her anger after so many years. Now they were face to face, just a few feet away and neither had spoken one word all evening.

"So Peyton, you live in New York City?" Cameron tried.

His face turned bright red as he felt Brooke shooting daggers at him with her eyes. Peyton looked equally uncomfortable but nevertheless, answered his question anyway.

"Yeah. Um, I went to college there. It's a really great place. I love it," she averted her own eyes.

"Yeah. I've never lived there full time but I've done some photo shoots there. I'm a photographer and I did some stuff for a couple of modeling agencies."

"That's interesting."

"You're an artist, right? Or do you work in the music industry?"

"A little of both. I…"

"Now, now, Cam," Brooke tersely interrupted with her best fake smile. "There are other guests here. It is impolite to monopolize the conversation."

"Babe, I was just trying to…"

"Be nice. I know, I know. Careful with that. Old P. Sawyer Scott here just might kiss you for it, isn't that right, Peyt?"

Peyton scowled at the cheap shot she had been expecting for over an hour as everyone else lowered their heads.

"You know what, Brooke? I…"

"Haley, what is this?" Mouth interrupted, clearly trying to divert the course of the confrontation and change the subject. "Is this keesh? Because it's really good."

"No," Haley cleared her throat. "But I'm really glad you asked. Actually, it's cheese fondue. I got the recipe from this neat little book I bought at Barnes and Noble the other day. It um, it actually has a lot of cool recipes. I'm glad you like it. I can't wait to try out some new ideas."

"Yeah, this cheese fonku is the straight up bomb," Skills agreed.

"That's fondue, sweetie," Haley corrected.

"Yeah, that too," Skills shrugged. "Sorry. I was just trying to focus on something other than the cat fight that was about to go down."

"Okay," Haley sighed, desperately looking at Nathan for reinforcement but receiving none. "There will be no cat fighting or fights of any kind. We're all friends here and we're all civilized adults and we're going to act like it. And we are going to have a nice dinner because it is important to me and that is what I planned and if gets any more weird or awkward, I am seriously going to have a nervous breakdown. So for my sanity alone, can we please just try to get through this? I mean, we've had the awkward silences and we've had the snippy remarks. Let's just get over it and move on. Heck, what else could go wrong?"

And right on cue Nathan shuddered as he heard shuffling outside the front door. Haley had spoken way too soon.

"Hey babe, I don't feel so hot. I'm gonna go upstairs and lie down."

"Nathan, we have guests. Honey, that would be rude."

And they were about to have two more guests. Before Nathan could protest or come up with another excuse, there was a knock at the door.

"Sweetie, can you get that?" she asked.

Nathan made a face, dragging his feet and taking his time. He answered and sure enough Lucas was on the other side.

"Hales, you started without your Buddy. What's up with that?" he grinned.

A collective gasp sounded throughout the table as a surprised and excited Haley jumped up, running over and throwing her arms around Lucas.

"You came!"

"Was there ever any doubt?"

"Yes," she playfully swatted at him. "We have been calling you and calling you. Where were you?"

"I…"

"Oh I guess that's not important now. Anyway, you look great and it's so good to see you! Get your butt in here! Everybody look what the cat dragged in."

Mouth, Skills and Jake stood, each taking a turn to shake Lucas' hand and engage in one of those manly type hugs.

"It's good to be back, guys," he sighed.

"Nate, baby, your brother is finally home," Haley nudged him. "Isn't this a nice surprise? Aren't you happy to see him?"

"Yeah," Nathan awkwardly approached, cutting his eyes at Lucas. "It's been a long time."

Lucas found himself face to face with a woman he hadn't seen in almost a decade. He swallowed hard. Suddenly the memories came crashing back. She was still beautiful, perhaps even more so. And he had never forgotten her. How could anyone forget the incomparable, incredible Brooke Davis?

"Brooke," he said in a soft voice. "Wow, um…gosh, it has really been a long time. You look, you look absolutely breathtaking."

She stood with confidence that masked the fact that her insides were shaking like jelly.

"Well, well, Lucas Scott. After all these years. You remembered me. I guess I should be flattered."

They hugged and he shuddered at the fact that she was back in his arms again. It was strange and exciting seeing her again.

"How have you been?"

"Fabulous. Life has been good to me."

"That, that's good to hear."

"This is my boyfriend, Cameron Drake. Cam, meet Lucas Scott."

"Nice to meet you, man," Cameron stood, offering a firm handshake.

He seemed like a nice enough guy, hardly Brooke's type but then again, what did he know? He hadn't seen her in forever. They were all different people now.

"Likewise."

But there was one more greeting left and Lucas could feel the steely stare coming from her green eyes. Throughout their relationship and marriage, she rarely got mad at him. But there was a fire burning in Peyton's eyes and he knew it was because of him.

"Lucas…"

He walked over to her, extending his arms and leaning down for a hug. She put her hands up and to stop him. It was an embarrassing moment, one he hadn't been prepared for her. Awkwardly he extended his hand for her to shake it. Instead she shook her head.

"Listen, Peyt…"

"Not here," she said in a flat voice. "We need to talk."

He simply nodded as they walked over to a private corner in the kitchen area.

"Look, I know you must be pissed," he began.

"You have no idea. Where the hell were you?"

He bit his lip.

"That's not important right now."

"The hell it's not. Look, I get you're busy. Whatever. I'm fine with that but as long as we're still legally married and in the middle of this divorce, there are a few loose ends we have to tie up. Luke, you have responsibilities. I needed you and you flaked on me."

"Sorry."

"You didn't call and you didn't bother to return my calls."

"I set up a meeting in four days. I know I was wrong but I'm trying to fix it. We'll get everything straight with the property and all that. I'm sorry."

"That's not good enough."

"Then what do you want me to do, Peyton?"

She let out a sigh.

"I, I don't know, okay? You did a really shitty thing and I don't appreciate it. Breezing in here like nothing happened is not gonna make it better."

"I know. I know and I'm sorry. I really am."

"Luke…"

"How have you been?" he asked in a quiet voice.

"I'm fine," she folded her arms.

He chuckled to himself.

"You don't look fine. You know, you never were a good liar."

"Neither were you."

"Tonight is not the time or place. Can we get together tomorrow or the next day? I want to have lunch. If there's stuff on your mind, I want to know because, well, there is a lot going on with me now, a whole lot. You'll probably want to talk about it and I think we should."

"What is it?"

It was on the tip of his tongue. Lucas still cared very much for his ex. He was interested in her life and her problems and he knew he had to tell her an important secret of his own. He probably had less than five minutes but the real deal staring into her eyes had turned out to be a lot harder than he had ever imagined.

"Don't be mad," he began. "In fact, there's really not a reason to get mad but…"

Before he could finish his sentence, there was a knock at the door. It opened before Nathan or Haley had a chance to investigate. In stepped a fashionably dressed, petite blonde.

"Can I help you?" Haley asked, puzzled why a stranger was in her house.

"Oh shit," Lucas muttered under his breath.

It wasn't supposed to happen like that.

"Yeah, I'm looking for…oh there you are, baby."

She sauntered right over to her fiancée and his wife.

"Baby?" everyone kind of repeated, looking at each other.

Caylan marched right up and wrapped her arms around Lucas, planting a big kiss on his cheek.

"I was waiting," she pouted. "I thought you had forgotten about me."

"No, I, um…no. I…"

"You were taking way too long."

"Sorry."

"Is this her?"

Caylan studied the woman in front of her, speaking as if Peyton were invisible.

"This is uh, yeah. This…this is Peyton."

Lucas stood with the stupidest look plastered on his face. He looked over at his brother for help but Nathan just shook his head. Luke was on his own for that one.

"Luke, what's going on?" Haley asked.

Brooke raised one eyebrow.

"Yeah, Scott. What is going on?"

"Okay," Lucas rubbed his clammy hands together. "Wow. Um, it was so not supposed to happen like this. Caylan, that's my little brother, Nathan and his fiancée, my best friend, Haley James. Sitting down are my friends, Jake Jagielski, Skills Taylor, Mouth McFadden and Brooke Davis. That's Brooke's boyfriend, Cameron Drake. Guys, uh, everybody this is…"

"Caylan Hughes," she proudly chirped.

"Caylan is my…"

"Fiancée," she gushed out loud, flashing the gleaming rock on her left hand. "Can you believe it?"

Lucas just closed his eyes as Mouth and Skills exchanged glances.

"Well, Haley, Nate it was nice," Skills stood. "I think I'm gonna go…hell, I don't know. Somewhere."

"I think I'll join you," Mouth quickly agreed.

"Oh fuck," Nathan hung his head.

"Did he just say fiancée?" Cameron tried to whisper to Brooke.

She rolled her eyes and smirked. Old Lucas was still up to his old tricks.

"Welcome to Tree Hill, Boyfriend."

Jake just scratched his head.

"I think I'm gonna…"

"Your what?" Haley exclaimed.

"…Go too. Good night. Um, thanks for the invite and all. Dinner was delicious."

But Haley and the others ignored him, especially Peyton. She and Lucas were in the middle of the divorce. The marriage was over everywhere except on paper. She had accepted the fact that one day they would both move on. But she had never imagined like that or so soon. She stared at the young, bubble gum popping blonde attached at her husband's hip. Suddenly it all started to make sense. She took one look at the diamond ring and at a sheepish Lucas who couldn't even look her in the eye.

"Is this true?" Peyton asked.

"Yeah. Yes, it is. That's what I was going to tell you and…"

"You are unbelievable, you know that?" she angrily brushed past him.

"Peyton, wait," he started after her.

Caylan put her hands on her hips.

"Lucas!"

He stopped dead in his tracks, torn, every eye upon him. Sure enough it was the mess Nathan had predicted.

"I, um, I'm sorry about this. I wanted to explain but maybe it's best Caylan and I just go for now."

"Maybe," a still shocked Haley mouthed.

"Come on, babe," he held out his hand for a scowling Caylan to take.

They left without another word but Lucas turned one last time to face his brother. There was nothing left to say. He had screwed everything up and he knew he only had himself to thank for it.