AN: Just to be clear I am a pure Braley friendship fan. I don't always like Peyton but in this story she's a really big part of Haley's life, so there won't be any Peyton bashing.

So one more thing. I've been thinking about how long this story should take like over the course of years or just one? If it is over the course of years that means it'll take like 20-25 chapters for Haley and Nathan to get back together or they might never get back together at all. Or if it's over the course of a year then they might get back together in like 8-15 chapters. So what do you guys think?

Chapter 8

Brooke walked into her and Haley's home. Her mood was in the gutters. She couldn't believe Peyton actually hugged him. She understands a little because once upon a time they were each others anchors. A time where all Brooke did was Drink and party. A time where all Nathan did was sleep around and play basketball. A time where all Peyton did was brood over her dead mother and her absentee father. And at that time all they had was each other, they were each other's emotional punching bags, each others person to confide in.

So yea a part of her understood that Nathan was there for Peyton, when neither Brooke nor Haley could and she was there for him when everyone hated him and Haley left. So yea a part of her understood, but the part of her that had Haley in her darkest hours could never understand or ever forgive Nathan for what he put Haley through.

She walked into the living room and found Haley sitting down with her guitar writing songs, while Micca was sitting on the floor playing with his toy cars. So walking in further and plopping down on the couch next to Haley she planted a BIG FAKE smile on her face.

"Hello Family!" she greeted.

"Hey cheery!" Micca greeted her back without taking his attention off his game.

Taking one look at Brooke's face Haley knew that something was wrong and it had something to do with Haley. Because the only time Haley received the fake smile was when it had something to do with her. "Micca baby its time for bed honey." Stated Haley softly.

"But mama we haven't even had dinner yet."

"Oh right! Well what do you guys want for dinner?" Haley asked Micca and Brooke.

"How about we order Pizza little man?" Brooke asked leaning over and ruffling Micca's hair.

"AWASOME!" was all Micca had to offer.

"Great! I'll order. Micca sweetie, why don't you go upstairs and play in your room." Haley suggested.

"Okay mama." Micca agreed excitedly. He got up leaving his toys and everything where it was. He then started running towards the stairs. "WALK MICCA!" Haley yelled making him stop running and start walking towards his room.

Turning to Brooke Haley finally spoke directly to her. "You! Wait here while I go order the Pizza." She ordered. Opening her mouth to protest she was stopped short by Haley's demanding voice. "I mean it Brooke!"

Pouting Brooke replied "FINE just no mushrooms!"

"Never Tiger." Haley said sarcastically.

Turning around Haley walked to the kitchen and ordered two pizzas one cheese and another Hawaiian.

Walking back Haley sat down next to Brooke and looked at her.

"Okay tiger! Start talking." Haley ordered.

"Fine," she said and then took a minute to gather her words. "so you know how Nathan is back?"

"Brooke!" Haley warned dreading the rest of what Brooke had to tell.

"SomeandPeytonwenttoseehim." She mumbled.

"BROOKE!" Haley exclaimed.

Brooke ignored Haley and went on to tell her all about the days events from Lucas saying 'I love you' to, her and Peyton's conversation with Nathan. She of course refrained from telling Haley about Peyton's hug to him. She didn't want her to feel as betrayed as Brooke felt even though she knew that Haley probably wouldn't make a big deal out of it.

"He said 'I love you'?" Haley asked with genuine happiness for her best friends.

"Yea, it was great Hales." Brooke said with a goofy grin on her face.

"That's great Tiger!" she said pulling her best friend into a one armed hug.

"So are you really okay with the whole visiting Nathan thing?" Brooke asked with a careful tone.

"Yea are you kidding? You guys hit him twice," Haley said cheerfully with a smirk. "I was too busy being surprised to even slap him." she finished jokingly.

"Well I am glad! Lucas hit him too you know?"

"He did? Huh can't say I am surprised! He hurt Lucas too by leaving you know." Haley said with a thoughtful expression.

"Yea I know! I was actually wondering if you could talk to Lucas about that, because he wouldn't talk to me when I tried." She asked Haley with a hurt look on her face that Haley dreaded seeing.

"Yea I'll try but you know he'll come to you when he's ready."

"Yea, I guess," She said with a disbelieving look on her face. "So how was your day?"

With a look that Brooke couldn't deceiver Haley started talking hesitantly. "Yea umm I actually wanted to talk to you about that. You remember Zach right?"

Giving her a funny look Brooke finally replied. "Zach? The supper hot hotty who we hangout with every other week?" she asked sarcastically.

"Yes, Brooke that Zach." Haley confirmed with an annoyed expression. "He asked me out today!"

"So what else is new?" Brooke asked with confusion.

"I said yes!" Haley replied hesitantly.

"Yes?"

"Yes."

"Yes yes?"

"BROOKE! Yes I said YES to going out with Zach." Haley said.

"Oh Honey! That's great!" Brooke said enthusiastically.

"You really think so? I mean my life is a roller coaster right now. With Nathan back and Micca asking questions about his dad, I just I don't know if it's the right time you know?"

"Hales sweetie you have to stop talking your self out of good things, when they come your way. Zach is a great guy who Micca happens to adore." Brooke said encouragingly to Haley.

"Yea I know but Nathan-"

Before she could go on Haley was interrupted by Brooke.

"Nathan doesn't matter! You have got to stop considering Nathan in every decision you make. You've been doing that for six years now." Brooke said with passion.

"I know I just… no I just nothing your right! Nathan is the past and Zach could be really good for my future and if he's not then at least he's a step in the right direction." Haley said with new found convection.

"That's right Babe!" Brooke said smirking.

"So you think I should go see Nathan?" Haley asked softly.

"Yea I think you should, but I also think you should let him brew for a while." Brooke said with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Yea! You know what I think that's exactly what I'll do!" Haley said smirking to Brooke.

KNOCK KNOCK

"And that my little trouble maker should be the Pizza." Haley said getting up and heading towards the door.

- One Week Later -

KNOCK KNOCK

Running towards the door Haley found Micca already opening it to reveal Lucas.

"Uncle Broody!" Exclaimed Micca.

"Okay kid we really have to get you to stop calling me that." Lucas reprimanded Micca jokingly.

"Why? Mama says to always be honest." Was Micca's cheeky reply.

Chuckling Haley walked up to Lucas and hugged him and then turned back Micca. "Micca how many times have I told you to never open the door alone?" Haley asked sternly.

"But mama it was only Uncle Lucas." Micca replied.

"It was this time, but it wasn't last time and it might not be next time!" Haley said starting to get angry.

Micca was Haley's everything. The thought of something ever happening to him keeps her awake at night. For her to think that her son wasn't being careful especially after all the times she's warned him about safety, visibly shook her to her core. Especially after the whole mall incident.

When Micca was about three and half Haley and Lucas took him to the mall. Haley had turned her back for a literal second and when she turned back she couldn't find him. After spending the most heart retching hour of her life looking for her son she finally found him with the aid of mall security. Ironically enough he was at the footlocker looking at new basketballs.

Ever since that day Haley never left Micca alone he was always kept with people she was very close to and trusted very much. She didn't care that her friends always teased her about being an over bearing mother her son was more important than everything else.

Lips trembling Micca looked at the floor and apologized. "I am sorry mama, it won't happen again." He promised.

Heart breaking Haley scooted down until she was up to Micca's height. "Oh honey!" she exclaimed softly taking her son into her chest and hugging him tightly. "Mama just doesn't want anything bad to happen to her leading man sweetie." She said softly.

Pulling back a little Micca looked at her with a cheeky smile and no trace of having ever been close to tears. "I am your leading MAN?" he asked happily.

"No one but you sweetheart." She promised softly returning his smile.

"SWEET!" he exclaimed cheerfully.

Chuckling softly Haley stood up with Micca still in her arms and looked to Lucas.

Lucas was smiling widely at the mother/son moment. If he could talk all day about how proud he was of Haley, it wouldn't be enough. Even though he's always been proud of Haley he still couldn't believe how much more amazing she got.

Giving birth to a son at seventeen. Seeing all her dreams shatter, before her very eyes. Her husband walking away from her, parents off on their road trip. She had mountains and mountains of complications ahead of her.

Haley was a lot of things at the time but one thing she never was, was neither a quitter nor a statistic. She graduated high school a mother with honors. She moved on to collage and once again graduated a mother with honors. She then moved on to starting her own music production company with Peyton, and Lucas's Collage roommate Zach. And now they had about four branches of their production company across the country. All in the course of two years and seven talented never before heard of artists.

So yea if he could take a day to talk about all she's accomplished it wouldn't be long enough.

"Hey baby! Why don't you go tell Aunt Brooke that Lucas is here?" Haley suggested to Micca while putting him down.

Running up the stairs they could hear Micca faintly screaming to Brooke that uncle Broody was here.

Turning back to Haley Lucas smiled and finally greeted her properly "Hey Buddy!"

Smiling Haley turned back to him "Hey Luke!" she greeted back.

"I haven't seen you lately." Haley stated with mock hurt, as they headed towards the kitchen.

Sitting up on the counter Lucas replied. "Yea sorry about that Hales Lindsay is on my ass about that new book I've started, apparently her bosses want it done by next month at the latest." He stated tiredly.

"Yikes! That's soon! Are you close to finishing?" she asked with interest.

"Not even. I have the first two chapters and that's it."

"Luke-"she started with a motherly stern tone.

"I know, I know," he cut her off. "I've just been busy and with Nathan coming back and seeing him again…Lets just say the book has been the last thing on my mind lately. How are you doing with that anyway?" he asked her thoughtfully.

"With what?" she asked confused.

"With Nathan being back." He said.

"Oh, umm I am sort of over the whole 'Omigod he's back!' you know? I've actually been thinking about going over there and talking to him!"

"Are you sure, Haley? I mean after everything has put you through." He asked in disbelieve.

"Well it's not like I am taking him back! Micca needs to at least have one descent memory of his father and if Nathan is able to give him that memory then I can't say no!"

"Haley!" He warned.

"No Luke if anybody should understand its you." She said pointedly.

"I know Hales but just…Watch out okay?"

"Yea I will its not like I am even considering telling Micca about Nathan anytime soon."

"Your not?" he asked surprised.

"No! Of course not! I have to make sure Nathan is worth having Micca in his life first and I have to make sure that my son won't get hurt!" she said with convection.

"Oh…okay. GOOD!" He said with a smile.

Smiling back Haley turned to the fridge. "Well we better get started on breakfast."

After getting the room number from Brooke and convincing her that 'No she won't need any back-up to face Nathan', Haley headed towards Nathan's hotel room nervously.

After finding the room and checking twice that she's at the right room she started to knock. She heard a faint "coming" from inside.

And then the door was swung open to reveal a strange looking man. He had brown hair and green eyes. He looked around twenty eight years old tops. Haley could've sworn that she had seen him before only she couldn't remember where exactly.

"Yes?" he asked kindly.

"Oh umm I am looking for Nathan Scott. Maybe I have the wrong room." She said starting to turn back at the same time Nathan appeared at the door way.

"Hales?" he asked genuinely surprised.