Sorry for the long wait for chapter two. Thanks to everyone who took the time to read/review/message. It's lovely to see interest in the story.

Big thanks to DiamondMolls for all the help she gave me, :)

Chapter Two

Brooke stood at the bar, waiting for her drink to be made. The events of the day were running throughout her mind. The wedding had been beautiful and she was truly happy for her friends, but she couldn't help wonder what her own wedding to Lucas would have been like. She knew that it was ridiculous that she was even thinking about it. She still loved Lucas, she probably always would but she wasn't in love with him, at least not the way Peyton was. And that's okay, they had both moved on and she genuinely loved her life. But… there was a part of her that felt that she wouldn't ever get completely over him and now she would never get another chance with him. Because… the boy she loved… loved that girl she loved.

Her hand drifted to rest on her stomach, where she was carrying their child. Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones because she hadn't had all these crazy thoughts before. During their engagement Brooke hadn't had any doubts that they were doing the right thing, what was meant to happen.

Even Haley had asked her if she was okay with everything and Brooke tried to tell her that she was glad that Lucas and Peyton found their way back to each other but she could tell that Haley didn't really believe her. When they had lived together in high school Brooke had been head over heels in love with Lucas, and Haley had seen that firsthand. Just as Brooke had seen everything Nathan and Haley went through to find their way back to each other. Maybe Haley saw the events as tied, because they had been going through it at the same time. The only difference was that Nathan and Haley lasted, while Lucas and she hadn't. And maybe that's the way it was supposed to be, daydream weddings notwithstanding.

Brooke sighed and glanced around the room for her lover. He was a big reason why she'd be so happy for the last year. They had known each other for years, and she had always known that he was so hot but nothing had come of it. Almost a year ago that had changed; at Jamie's seventh birthday party they had both been in attendance and the sparks between them flew immediately. They started things out with a friends with benefits type of relationship, but it had unwittingly evolved into something more. She was nervous because she could sense that he was ready for an even bigger emotional connection and she wasn't sure she could give it to him.

While scanning the room she saw Haley and Nathan rushing out of the reception, probably on their way home to work on that their baby Haley told her they were trying for. They were giggling and laughing like adolescents and it made Brooke smile. Sometimes true love worked out and that gave her hope for her own future.

As her eyes drifted away from the entryway she caught sight of a determined redhead walking towards her.

Oh.

OH.

OH SHIT.

Rachel Gatina is back in Tree Hill.

Forgetting about her drink Brooke went to meet Rachel.

Once she reached her she made sure to keep her voice low, "What are you doing here Rachel?"

"Hi to you too whore," Rachel rolled her eyes.

"Hi whore, glad to see you," Brooke parroted. "Now what the hell is going on?"

Rachel smiled slyly, "Can't I come back home?"

Brooke looked around, "We can't talk here, look I'll be right back and then we'll go to my place. Wait for me."

Brooke quickly found her lover and told him that she was going to have to cancel their plans for the night. Grabbing hold of Rachel she dragged her out of the reception.

"God Brooke, it was an open bar. You could have at least let me get a drink first." Rachel bitched as soon as they were on their way.

"Shut up Rachel! You're supposed to be in rehab! And why did you come back to Tree Hill? You were supposed to stay in New York."

"Oh I'm sorry mom; I guess I should have asked permission." Rachel shrugged, "What if I wanted to say congratulations to the happy couple?"

"Bullshit, don't lie to me slut."

Rachel smirked, "So I didn't want to see the couple that looks like freaky siblings get married. Maybe I missed my best friend."

Brooke hit her palm on the steering wheel. "Dammit Rachel, are you high?"

Rachel's eyes lowered, "No."

"No not right now, but yes for recently?" Brooke pressed her lips together, trying to hold in everything until they got to her house. The last thing she needed was to get even more pissed while driving; she'd probably get in an accident.

Rachel followed Brooke into the house, "This place looks just like I remembered it."

Refusing to be distracted Brooke asked what had been bothering her since she first saw Rachel.

"Where's Rian?"

Smiling out at her husband, Haley settled more comfortably in her seat before she reached over the console and grabbed one of his hands, "It was a nice wedding wasn't it?"

Nathan shrugged, "It was alright."

"You're such a guy," Haley laughed.

"Usually you're grateful for that."

Seeing Nathan give her his trademark smirk, Haley melted a little. It was arrogant as hell, but it still got to her.

"Brooke seemed okay with everything."

"Why wouldn't she be? Lucas and she broke up years ago Hales."

Haley shrugged, "I don't know, but if we broke up I would never be happy with marrying or dating someone else. No matter how many years have passed."

Nathan thought about it, "I wouldn't be happy either, but maybe that just shows that Brooke wasn't really in love with him the way we are." Nathan kept glancing at Haley out of the corner of his eyes. Sitting down had caused her dress to rise up, baring more of the legs. Nathan tried to focus on the road, but his eyes kept drifting to his wife.

"Maybe."

Nathan brought the hand he was still holding up to his mouth and placed a kiss on the palm, lips lingering for a long moment.

When they arrived home Nathan has his tongue in Haley's mouth and her dress half unzipped before they even reached the door. Backing her against the door he licked a path down her neck, making sure to pay extra attention to her hot spots.

"Nathan….. door….key… put in ….op…ohhhhhh" Haley's words trailed off into a moan as he nibbled his way down her collarbone, loving the delicious tension that was building up.

Nathan had reached back into his pocket and was halfheartedly trying to figure out which key as for the front door. Stupid key chain with too many stupid keys. It was becoming even harder for him to care about the keys since Haley decided to wrap her legs around his waist, hooking her ankles and locking him in place, then she reached down to caress his erection through his pants.

"Oh god Hales… wait baby… inside…" Nathan actions contradicted his words as he reached down to undo his pants, allowing her greater access.

Nathan reached under Haley's dress and ripped off her thong, hitching her up higher he placed her at a better angle.

Minutes later Haley's legs unlocked and she lowered them to the ground. Waiting for the buzzing to leave her head she leaned against the door.

Nathan smirked and looked down at her; one hand redoing his pants while the other was braced against the door. "Well… at least we don't have any close neighbors and it's dark."

"Oh god," becoming aware of those surrounding Haley pushed away from the door, desperate to get inside. Unfortunately her head was still foggy and off balanced, she tripped.

Nathan sprang into action, leaning down to make sure she wasn't hurt. "Hales! Are you okay?"

Haley just sat there blushing and rubbing her butt, "No, I think I broke my ass."

"Now that Peyton is moved out, do you think I can stay here?"

"Don't fuck with me Rachel. I want to know what you are doing here and where you left Rian. She was with Sally when I called this afternoon."

Rachel rolled her eyes, "Calm down slut, my parents are at their house for the weekend and wanted to see her so I got her from the nanny. Then since I knew that Lukey boy was getting married I wanted to be here to support you. Don't worry I'm not going to mess up your pretty life." Rachel looked away from her friend when she said the last part, knowing it wasn't true.

Brooke visibly softened, "It's not that Rachel… it's just things here… they're so good with everyone now."

"And I'll screw it up, right?" Rachel spat out bitterly.

Brooke didn't want to hurt her friend, but she wanted to tell her what she thought. So she softly replied with, "Maybe you won't mean to but you will Rachel. Even then odds are that you are going to do it intentionally."

Rachel's face straightened out and she sat down on the couch, "I don't want to screw up your life Brooke but it's been over three years. Maybe it's time for the truth to come out."

Brooke sat on the coffee table in front of Rachel, "It's your secret Rachel, but remember what I put on the line for you. Everything we've done to keep this going. Don't fuck it up on a whim."

"I need help… everything is so expensive."

"Rachel! I pay for everything for you and Rian; you don't even have to work."

"Fine maybe I'm doing okay with money, but what about family? Rian is missing out."

"Please Rachel, this is the only thing I've asked for you to do for me. You know I love Rian but I love my family too."

Though she nodded like she agreed Rachel already knew what she wanted to do, she didn't want to hurt Brooke but she'd been getting the urge to do it for a while now. The only thing that was stopping her was that Brooke might never forgive her… and even though the thought of that scared her, things were getting desperate enough for her to put that on the line.

Nathan and Haley had had made it inside their house and were currently cuddled together on the couch. Nathan's hand was covering Haley's lower belly as if there was already a child in there. Who would have thought that 'Hot Shot' Nathan Scott would turn out to be so crazy about kids?

Idly running her hand over his bare chest Haley thought about their encounter outside. Though she had been aware that they were in view of anyone who really looked it still hadn't really clicked for her at the time. Nathan had a way of making her forget anything and as embarrassing as it could be she loved it. Her inhibitions flew out the window.

"I think after this one we should have at least one more," Nathan captured her hand and gave her his best smile, the one Jamie gave her when he wanted something.

"Why don't wait until this one is born, or hey maybe even wait until I get pregnant before we discuss a fourth child."

"No Haley look, I was thinking about it. Whether we have a boy or girl now Ashlyn and Jamie are going to need at least one of each."

"Nathan-."

"Or what if we had twins or something now it would work... well except that won't work if they are the same sex. If that happens then we are going to need to have at least one more after that."

"You would think that you were the one that came from a large family." Haley grumbled.

"What was that Hales?" Nathan broke out of his thoughts and stared at his gorgeous wife, who had an adorable pout on her face...

"Forget it." Haley smiled against his chest. Nathan continued talking about his plans for the baby while Haley's thoughts drifted in a different direction.

After a few bumps in the rode they had finally had the life they had always wanted. Not that they didn't have their arguments, they still did. But it was over petty stuff like Nathan not taking the garbage out or her leaving her makeup on the bathroom counter, and both of them realized that these things weren't important. After Jamie was kidnapped they had saw a marriage counselor 

that help them a lot. Some of the things the doctor said she didn't agree with but she had given them a golden piece of advice. It was simple really.

Never go to bed angry at each other.

And they didn't, if one of them was upset before they slept they talked through what was bothering them. In over three years they haven't woken up mad at each other and Haley couldn't be any happier.

Haley sighed and snuggled closer to her husband, still trying to block out his baby talk.

The silence filled the house. Brooke was at one of the windows, staring at the ocean willing a plan to come to her so that she could fix this so everyone she loved was happy.

"How long have you been using this time?" When Brooke spoke she was neither accusatory nor upset, more resigned to the fact that no matter what help she tried to find Rachel, she wasn't going to get better until she wanted to. Knowing this wouldn't stop Brooke from trying to help Rachel, she really did love her. It was just that sometimes she couldn't stand her.

"I just slipped a few times." Rachel looked at the floors, ashamed to admit it to Brooke. There was no point in hiding it though, Brooke would find out. She always did.

Brooke leaned against the window, resting her forehead against the pane, enjoying the cool feeling against her flushed skin.

"Where are you getting the money to pay for the drugs Rachel? Are you hooking again?"

Brooke refused to support Rachel if the money she gave her was spent on drugs. The first time that Rachel got money from Brooke she had vanished for a week in a drug induced haze. After that Brooke made sure that her accountant paid all the bills coming from the Gattina residence. Rachel wasn't allowed to handle any cash, and the first time she got desperate enough to sell her body to support her habit she had shown up on Brooke's doorsteps in tears, broken enough for Brooke to convince her that she needed to be in rehab. She lasted half a week before she left the center.

At first Brooke thought that Rachel had been so ashamed of what she did that she didn't want the drugs anymore. But that wasn't the case, Rachel just didn't care anymore, about anything … most of the time she couldn't be bothered with her child.

Rachel merely shrugged, battling down her uneasy feelings. "Would it make a difference? You know about the drugs I don't know why you act surprised everything you mention them."

"Rachel…"

"No Brooke, you aren't paying for them. That was your condition, so just leave it alone."

"Oh no... don't do that Rachel! I've been trying to help you for three years. Don't act like I'm upset about money or that I don't care that you do drugs."

"Whatever…"

Brooke bit her lip and turned around from the window and looked at her friend. The once gorgeous redhead was now looking sick and too skinny. Her muscle tone was nonexistent and her completion was sallow. All the superficial changes that reflected the abuse that she had laid upon her body. Rachel no longer cared about taking care of herself and it showed.

Coming closer to the couch, Brooke crouched down next to her, "What if I spent more time in New York Rach? I'll be there to help you more and I could spend time with Rian."

"Brooke that wouldn't change anything. At least not in the long run, you said it yourself… I'm going to tell eventually. At least if I tell now most of the kids are younger and won't realize what is going on."

Panic rose in Brooke, if Rachel told….

Rachel shook her head, "Look I'm going to pick up Rian. I'll be back and we can talk about it after she's sleeping."

Brooke sat on the couch and pressed the heel of her hand between her eyes, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to come. She never should have tried to help Rachel; it was going to backfire and hurt everyone she loved.

Rachel got in the car, and was almost to her parent's mansion when her cell phone rang. Looking at the number she pulled over to the side of the road. The call was short but Rachel got the point quickly. Hanging up she rested her forehead on the wheel of the car.

Saying a silent apology to Brooke she quickly made a U-Turn.

After all of Nathan's baby talk Haley had quickly kissed him and told him if he mentioned one more word about babies, twins, or anything related to her getting pregnant she would make sure he would never have another child. He had taken her seriously and quickly closed his mouth.

The only problem now was that he was alone with his thoughts and he couldn't help but think about the problem that had shown up at the reception. He hadn't seen her in over three years and if he had gotten his wish he never would have again.

His arms tighten instinctively around his wife; as if he held onto her tight enough she would never be lost to him again. She and the kids were everything to him, and he would do anything to keep them.

Haley glanced up at her husband when she felt his grip tighten, but when she was that he was looking upset she reached up. Just as her mouth was about to touch his the doorbell rang.

Haley flushed when she realized that they were sitting naked in the living room. She quickly pulled on her husband's shirt and handed him his pants.

After Nathan pulled them on he walked to the door and was only slightly surprised to see who was there.

"Rachel."

Disclaimer: I own nothing; not OTH or its characters.

nickcheer: I can't really say right now, but a lot will be revealed in the next chapter. Thanks for taking the time to read and review. :)

Spotsunshine: As you could see above, Brooke told Peyton that she was pregnant with Leyton's baby. Thanks for taking the time to read and review. :)

Jude136: Thanks, I'm glad you are enjoyed the first chapter :)

LovingNaley: Thanks for taking the time to read and review.

patto85: Rachel is a total waste of space. Good guess on what Brooke told Peyton. Her man isn't Chase, sorry. The Naley storyline isn't going to be a third party storyline, it's more about how they deal with what happened. Glad you are liking it so far (PS I know you are a Leyton fan and just wanted to let you know that there will be no Triangle in this story. Even though Brooke had thoughts about Lucas earlier it wasn't really about Brucas, more about how sometimes she wonders what if? and how that plays a part in her new relationship.) Thanks for taking time to read and review.

luvnaley23: sorry about the Rachel, it is pretty gross. :( Glad you liked the start. Thanks for taking time to read and review.

IDreamOfLucas: Glad you like Leyton, Rachel sucks lol. Sorry. Thanks for reading and reviewing :)

BrookeHaleyPeytonLove: Thanks!

Felicity: Thank you!

sssssss: Thanks! :)

anon: Hmmm, I'm not stupid and really don't appreciate the insinuation that I am. I'm sure parts of this story will upset some people but there is no reason to personally attack me.

Um, glad you like Leyton?

Jess2303: Hey Jess! All the Rachel and Nathan stuff will come out soon, promise. Total Naley fan here so if Nathan did do something I'm sure they'll work through it. Nathan did mess up, but in this storyline it was more believable for him being the one who screwed up. At least to me. :D Thanks for taking time to read and review.

carrie: Thanks for taking the time to read and review.