Chapter 12: Home Again

"That's the last of them," Nathan grinned as he placed the last box onto the huge moving truck that would be carrying all of his and Haley's belongings to the home they bought in Tree Hill. His season had finished early. The Lakers lost the third game of the single elimination tournament, allowing Nathan to be with Haley a little sooner than originally planned.

It had been a month and a half since his wife had flown across country with Lucas to get settled back into Tree Hill, North Carolina. Peyton had left shortly after to get back to her husband, Jake and their son. Brooke became Nathan's roommate while everyone else was gone. She had intended to get her own place but something very bad happened, allowing her to be able to go back home to Tree Hill with Nathan.

"You okay, today?" Nathan asked Brooke. Ever since the incident, Brooke had become so quiet.

"I'm alright. I'll be better when I get to jump into Luke's arms," Brooke sighed.

"Haley didn't tell him what happened with Jackson Bishop… I just thought you should know," Nathan told her as helped put her bags into the cab.

"How do you tell the man you love that your ex-business partner raped you?" Brooke asked in a whisper.

"I don't know… If it had been Haley, I would kill the guy…"

"Lucas will want to do that too… That's why I didn't want to tell him into I could face to face."

"So you guys are going to try and make things work, for real this time?" Nathan asked her.

"He asked me to marry him," Brooke put a smile on her face.

"Over the phone?" Nathan laughed. "What a loser!"

"It was sweet, okay?" Brooke laughed. "Lucas said the house Haley bought was beautiful. It overlooks the river."

"Yeah, she emailed pictures. It's a great house. I'm glad she had Lucas to help her with it."

"I'm really glad that things turned out okay with you guys. I'm sorry we all kept butting in," Brooke sighed.

"I told you. Haley and I are solid. We always will be." Nathan grinned that cocky grin of his.

"So, are we ready to get out of here?" Brooke asked.

"Yeah," Nathan grinned as got in the cab behind her.

In Tree Hill, Deb, Karen, Kaci and Lucas were trying to help Haley start her welcome home party for her husband. Because Haley was finally showing, none of them would let her do much but sit on the couch and order them around.

"I forgot the cake!" Haley screamed.

"I'll go get it," Lucas sighed as he stood to leave.

"Not so fast. You help your mom, I'll go get the cake," Haley grinned as she swiped the keys from the counter. She pulled into a parking space in front of the bakery and walked inside.

"Mac, what are you doing here?" Haley asked.

"Picking up some bread for my mom. She only eats the bread from the bakery," Mac laughed as she looked down at Haley's stomach.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Haley whispered remembering that Mac had lost her baby.

"It's okay. Actually, my ex Colin and I got married last week," Mac showed Haley her ring.

"Congratulations," Haley smiled.

"How's Lucas?" Mac asked.

"He's good. He's happy," Haley smiled.

"Tell him I said hello… Um, I should be going. Good seeing you, Haley. Good luck with everything." Mac turned and walked out of the store.

When Haley finally got back to her house, she opened the door and saw her husband standing inside waiting for her.

"Nathan!" Haley grinned as she set the cake down and ran over to her husband, throwing her arms around his neck.

"Haley, I've missed you so much! Look at your belly! The baby is getting so big," Nathan grinned as he kissed Haley's stomach.

"I thought you weren't getting home until later this afternoon," Haley smiled.

"We caught a sooner flight," Brooke smiled. "We missed you guys way too much."

"You still haven't told me why you quit your partnership…." Lucas pried for more information.

"Because Jackson Bishop is an ass," Nathan answered.

"It's a long story and I promise to tell you all about it later," Brooke kissed her fiance. He nodded his head.

"Well, we should get going," Deb smiled, "I'm so glad you're home for good, Nathan."

"Me too… but mom, you know that Haley and I are only going to be here during the off season… The rest of the year, we'll be in Atlanta."

"Yes, but Atlanta is a lot closer than L.A. I just didn't care for the place," Deb smiled. Everyone hugged and said their good byes leaving only Haley, Nathan, Brooke and Lucas.

"So…" Lucas laughed.

"It's quiet here," Haley smiled.

"Yeah, you can't hear the hustle and bustle of the city…" Nathan continued.

"I wouldn't trade it for the world," Brooke smiled.

"I don't mean to rush you guys out or anything… but I'd really like to be alone with my wife. Pregnancy makes her sexy as hell and I'm struggling to not touch her," Nathan spoke up. They all laughed.

"Are you serious? Sex with my belly looking like this? That's gross, Nathan!" Haley playfully punched him the arm. He scooped her up and carried her into the bedroom.

"Lock the door behind you!" Nathan yelled to Brooke and Lucas from the bedroom. They just laughed as Lucas helped carry Brooke's things to his car. The whole car ride was pretty silent until Lucas noticed Brooke crying as he pulled up his driveway.

"What's the matter, pretty girl?" Lucas asked.

"I have to tell you something. It's the reason I left L.A." Brooke cried.

"Go ahead, sweetie. I'm listening," Lucas encouraged her to continue.

"Jackson raped me," Brooke said quickly.

"Brooke… Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was so embarrassed. By the time I told Nathan, it was too late to go to the cops. I just didn't want you to get upset."

"I'll kill him!" Lucas screamed.

"No, Luke. It doesn't matter anyway. It's over. Please, can we just forget it. I need you to hold me. I've needed that the whole time you were away."

Lucas nodded and carried Brooke into the house. She cried herself to sleep and Lucas cried with her. How could such an awful thing happen to his pretty girl?