Disclaimer: I do not own OTH or any of it characters places or such. I am simply borrowing them

AN/ Guys, I am so sorry for the lack of updates lately. Life has been crazy and time has gotten away from me. Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter. They were a great motivation for me to write. I am working on the next chapter already so I hope to have that up sooner than the last couple of chapters. Don't forget to review!

As always suggestions are welcome!

Nathan could not help, but feel like his dad had known all along who belonged together. He had never said anything to him and Nathan knew he probably would not have listened anyway. As he stood there with Haley in front of him, his hands still planted firmly on her shoulders. He knew that he still had a long way to go before he would okay, but he had people in his life that he could count on to get him through the next couple of months even years. A lot had happened over the last couple of days and it was almost too much for Nathan to handle. Just having Haley standing there let him know that he could count on her. They still had a lot to talk about, but she would be there when he needed her even if they decided it was best to stay friends. It was who Haley was.

Haley left the tears fall as she continued look at the swinging chain holding their picture. She knew that picture well and remembered the day that it had been taken.

FLASHBACK

"I can't believe that you guys are leaving us," Lydia said to the group of teenagers standing in the driveway.

"Don't worry mom we will be home before you know it" Haley replied to her mom.

"I can't believe you are old enough to go to college. I remember when you four were in diapers," Anna said

"Oh mom" Peyton said as she pulled her mom into a hug

"Don't worry Anna. You still have a couple of us who aren't leaving you" Jake said as he stood to the right of Anna and put his arm around her.

"Oh I know" Anna said as she released Peyton

"How about a couple of pictures?" Karen said

"You and your pictures, Mom" Lucas complained

"This pictures are for Meredith's picture wall"

"Well, when you put it that way"

"Kids over here for a picture" Everyone moved to stand beside each other

"Okay…One, two, three...Smile" The camera flashed catching the ten friends together one last time before their lives began as adults.

"That is going to be a good picture," Anna said as she stepped up to stand beside Karen. "How about we get one of our four musketeers. I can put it on the mantle next to the other one when they were babies"

"Good idea" Karen said as Lucas, Peyton, Haley and Nathan stood next to each other arms around each

"The original four" Keith said as he smiled at his sons and their two best friends

"Smile guys" Karen said as the camera flashed capturing the moment forever

END OF FLASHBACK

"I remember that day" Nathan finally spoke

"Yea, me too. It was the day that we left for college. Anna wanted a picture of the four musketeers to go on the mantle next to the one when were little"

"Yea and that is where it is at. I noticed it the other day"

"Yea, me too"

Silence settled between them. They stood there for another 15 minutes until Jake and Peyton walked up.

"Are you two okay?" Peyton asked cautiously

"Yea" Nathan said as he looked at Haley and then looked at Peyton, "Yea, I think I am going to be okay"

"I love you Nate. I am here for you" Peyton said as she pulled Nathan into a hug.

"I know Peyt. I love you too," Nathan said

"What do you say we go home?" Jake asked as he tried to hide a yawn

"Yea, that sounds like a good idea" Nathan said, "Haley, Can I have those pictures?"

"Yea" Haley said as she handed the three pictures to Nathan

Nathan took them, looking through them one last time. He tossed them into the truck so that they fell on the floorboard of the truck. 'These are yours dad. Thank you for the memories'

"Let's go home guys," Nathan said as he turned towards the other three and they started walking back towards the police station building.

Lucas unlocked the back door and opened it. He turned to lock it back and noticed Karen sitting at the kitchen table.

"Mom?"

"You are out late"

"Yea, sorry. I asked Brooke to meet me at the rivercourt. I needed someone to talk to." Lucas said as he sat down across from his mom at the table.

"I figured that was where you were. Where is your brother?"

"I don't know. He left right after you went to bed."

"I am sure he is probably with Peyton or Haley"

"I don't think he is with Haley"

"Why? Did something happen?"

"Yea, but I think Nathan should be the one to tell you about it. He is probably going to need your advice"

"Okay" Karen said letting the topic slide

"Couldn't sleep?" Lucas asked

"Yea and I got up to check on you guys. Old habits die hard, you know. When I couldn't find you I came in here and sat down"

"Sorry to worry you. Have you been up long?"

"No, a couple of minutes. I actually just sat down when you came in"

"Well, if you want to go back to bed. I will wait for Nate"

"Okay. Come get me if you need me"

"I will mom"

Karen stood and walked over to where her son was sitting. "I love you Lucas". Karen said before placing a kiss on his forehead

"I love you too Mom"

"Good Night"

"Night" Lucas responded as his mom headed back to bed. Lucas stood from the kitchen and walked into the living room. Finding an old comedy on TV, he stretched out on the couch and started laughing as he waited for his brother.

"Thank for offering to give me a ride home, Haley" Nathan said from the passenger seat of Haley's green Mazda.

"It is not a problem. I am going that way anyway."

"Thanks for coming tonight when Peyton called"

"To be honest, I really didn't want to"

"I know. Haley…"

"Nathan not tonight. It is late and I am really not coherent enough to have that conversation with you"

"Okay" Nathan said excepting that the conversation that he was longing to have would have to wait. It was probably a good thing.

"I am sorry"

"No, don't be sorry. You are right. It is late and it is not the time"

Haley pulled her car into the Scott's driveway killing her headlights so that they would not shine into the house.

"Thanks again Haley"

"Your welcome. I guess I will see you sometime tomorrow"

"Yea, I will be up early. I promised mom I would get Meredith to school for her"

"You could always go back to bed after Meredith is at school"

"Yea, but then I am wasting the day," Nathan said as he laughed

"That is something your dad would say"

"Exactly. Well, Good night" Nathan said as he opened the door and stepped out of the car.

"Good Night"

"Haley, Thanks again." Nathan said as he leaned into the car, "You don't know how much it meant to me to have you there with me tonight"

"Your welcome Nate. Go get some sleep"

"Okay. You too" Nathan said as he closed her door and walked up the driveway towards the back of the house.

Haley drove away with her heart heavy. She had avoided the conversation tonight, but she knew that tomorrow was a new day. She couldn't avoid it forever. She needed to figure out what she wanted to say to him. She needed to figure out what she wanted. Well, she knew what she wanted, but she needed to know if that was the best thing for them. She couldn't think about it anymore tonight. She was just too tired.

Lucas heard the back door open, but didn't move from his spot on the couch. The comedy that he had been watching was ending and he knew that Nathan would see the TV on as he walked back towards his bedroom.

"Hey"

"Hey"

"Your are up late" Nathan said as he sat down in the chair he had occupied earlier

"Yea, I just got home a little while ago. I told mom that I would wait for you"

"She was awake?"

"Yea, she was sitting at the kitchen table when I came in"

"Is she okay?"

"Yea, she said that she had gotten up to check on us. When she couldn't find either of us, she sat down to wait for us."

"Old habit die hard I guess. She used to do that when we were in high school"

"Yea, and when we were home from college on break." Lucas said as the movie ended and he sat up to look at his brother, "you okay?"

"Yea, I think I am going to be. I went and saw the truck"

"I thought that were you were going to go when you left here"

"It is pretty bad. The picture on TV is nothing compared to seeing it in person. I found some pictures on the dashboard"

"Of what?"

"There was one of the three of us, the day that we got the truck to start. One of mom and dad with Meredith when she was born and the picture of you and I the first time the magic and bobcats played each other."

"Dad always said that he had those pictures. I always assumed they were in his wallet or something."

"He had something else"

"What?"

"A chain hanging from the rearview mirror. It had two pictures on either side of it. One was of you and Brooke graduation night and the other was of Haley and I the day that we left for college. It was from that picture that Mom took of the four of us."

"That is weird. I didn't know that was there. It almost sounds like dad knew who was meant to be together."

"Well, at least he is one for two"

"Still no luck with Haley?"

"Not really. I tried calling her on the way to the police station and she didn't answer. Peyton called her a couple of hours later when I wouldn't talk to her or Jake. She gave me a ride home"

"Did you talk about the other night?"

"No, She stopped that conversation. I actually glad that she did. I am still lost on what to say to her"

"Maybe you should talk to mom. She is always great with advice"

"Yea, I might go by the café after I drop Meredith off at school before it gets to busy there"

"I can take Meredith to school if you want"

"No, I will do it. You get that duty on Wednesday"

Lucas laughed, "Okay. Well, I am heading to bed. I am exhausted," Lucas said as he turned off the TV

"Yea, I guess I better head that way too. It is going to be weird sleeping in my old room again," Nathan said as the two brothers walked down the hall towards their bedrooms

"Yea, it was weird for me when I got here last week. Just don't try to get up and walk without light. You tend to run into things you forgot were there."

"Okay. Night Luke" Nathan said as he opened his door

"Night Nate" Lucas said as he closed his door.

Nathan was drifting off to sleep when his door opened. He opened his eyes and lifted his head. Meredith was standing in the doorway holding the bear that Keith had given her.

"Hey Munchkin. You okay?"

"Can I sleep in here, Nate?"

"Yea, come on" Nathan said as he patted the other side of his full size bed. Meredith closed the door as Nathan turned on his bedside light so that she could see.

When Meredith was under the covers and settled, Nathan turned off the light and turned to face his sister.

"Nate, I am scared"

"Scared of what?"

"That man that was in my room the other day"

"You don't have to be scared about him. He is not going be bothering us ever again. They are putting him in jail for a very long time."

"Promise?"

"I promise. Now, go to sleep. We have to get up early"

"Good Night Nate"

"Good Night Meredith"

Nathan watched his sister drifted off to sleep before drifting off to sleep himself.