AN: I really REALLY tried to make this chapter good. But it was really hard! For some reason when I start to write all the words that have ever been in my head disappear, which really sucks. LOL so I've tried my best and I hope you guys like it and thanks for wishing me luck on the job hunt :)

Chapter 17

Haley was excited.

Pure excitement was running through her veins. Today was Sunday and the whole family was getting together and nothing could rain on her parade. Not even the constant phone calls she kept getting from Zach. They still hadn't talked and if she were being honest with herself then Haley would realise that she really didn't want to.

She had no idea what to say to him. On the one hand she wanted to forgive him and get back on track with their relationship. Haley didn't know why but she was positive that if she were to give Zach a real chance, then she believed with all her heart that they could have an amazing relationship together. Of that she was positive; a relationship that would last for a very long time.

But on the other hand, she has so much going on that giving Zach a second chance seems like a last option to her. She didn't want to confuse things for Micca. He's going to be introduced to his dad soon and adding Zach to the equation would just confuse her son.

Feeling dizzy Haley went to the couch and sat down for a while. Haley had been feeling dizzy lately and she's been meaning to go to a doctor but had been so busy lately that she just convinced herself it was due to stress.

Taking a deep breath Haley finally found the strength to get up and start the Barbeque preparations. Brooke, like always, had found a way to get out of helping prepare things, even though there wasn't much to do really and everyone would be arriving soon.

Micca was in his playroom, watching Kung Foe Panda.

Hearing the doorbell ring Haley went to answer it. Upon opening the door Haley was bombarded with a large bouquet of flowers. Taking the offered flowers Haley came face to face with Zach.

"I come in peace!" Zach said cheekily.

"Zach." She deadpanned, controlling her need to blush upon seeing him.

Taking a deep breath Zach smiled sheepishly. "I am sorry."

'Oh uh' Haley thought to herself. 'Holly crap! What I do? He's standing here looking all gorgeous. I am not immune to that smile! Okay Haley think of Lucas, think of Lucas and Brooke doing it! EWWW! Okay good I am as immune as I'll ever get. Okay Haley take a deep breathe and say the first thing that comes to your mind' Haley directed herself.

"We can't date anymore." 'Shit'

"WHAT?" Zach yelped in surprise, "Look Haley I know I made a mistake. I had no right snapping at you like that, I was just having a crummy day and I took it out on you and for that I am so sorry but Haley we're in a relationship! We're supposed to fight and then have amazing make out sessions, and if this is about not telling Micca about us dating, I've already agreed that it's up to you." Zach rambled shakily.

"I am sorry Zach but this has nothing to do with you." Haley said apologetically.

"Is it Nathan?" He asked.

"NO!" she answered quickly, too quickly. "No, it's not about Nathan it's about me, it's about my son." Haley paused, taking a deep breath. "These next couple of month are going to be so complicated for Micca and I. Nathan is back now and as much as I wish I didn't have to I have to let him and Micca get to know each other and that alone is going to complicate things to hell and the last thing my son and I need –the last thing you deserve- is the added complication of trying to date each other."

"It's okay you know." He started softly. "I knew it was too good to last."

"Zach," Haley started softly taking his hand in hers. "I like you, like really like you and when things calm down you'll be the first person I talk to." Haley promised.

"Okay, I'll be waiting." He said nodding softly and headed towards the door.

"Zach!" Haley called out.

"Yes?" he asked turning around and staying glued to his spot, making Haley walk towards him.

"We've been friends for five years and we work together. I really hope this doesn't make things weird."

"It won't!" he promised leaning down to kiss her forehead, and then headed for the door.

"Hales, you okay?" Brooke asked in concern.

"Yea I am fine Brooke."

"Are you sure? You don't look so good!" Brooke said frowning.

"AWW thanks Brooke; you always know how to cheer me up." Haley said sarcastically.

"Come on Hales; tell me what is going on?" Brooke pressed on.

When Brooke first got home she went and said hi to Micca and then went to the kitchen to greet Haley. But the minute she went in and got a good look at Haley she felt her concern for her best friend go through the roof, but she just convinced herself that she was just nervous, that Nathan and Lucas were going to be in the same house.

"It's nothing Brooke, I am just tired."

"Is this about Zach?" Brooke asked carefully.

"Yea I guess, I was just really excited about dating Zach you know?"

"Yea honey," Brooke started sympathetically. "I think you did the right think though."

"You do?" Haley asked in surprise.

"Yea honey, I mean don't get me wrong I love Zach but you have too much going for a relationship right now."

"That's exactly what I said to him."

"Well you were right!"

"Tha-" Haley started but was interrupted by the door bell ringing.

"I'll get that." Haley said running to the door.

"AUNT HALEY!" a little girl's voice screamed out as soon as Haley opened the door.

"Lilly!" Haley exclaimed brightly, taking the little girl in her arms.

"I missed you Aunt Haley!"Lilly said happily and hugged her surrogate aunt tighter.

"Awe I missed you too beautiful." Haley said and put the little girl down.

"Where's Micca?"Lilly asked looking around the living room.

"He's in the playroom sweetheart." Haley directed and the minute the words were out of her mouth Lilly was already half way towards where Micca was.

Chuckling lightly Haley turned to Keith and Karen, who were smiling proudly at the girl they both thought of as their own daughter.

"Hey Haley," Karen greeted Haley taking her in her arms.

"Hey Karen, how are you guys?" Haley asked, pulling away and hugging Keith.

"We're good! How have you been Hales?" Keith asked in genuine concern.

"Ah the news reached you guys." Haley said looking at both of them as they all took their seats on the couch.

"Well we got as far as your fight with Lucas." Karen said thoughtfully in concern.

"I know I know what you guys are going to say! You're both disappointed that I don't want to talk to Lucas until he works things what with Nathan. But you have to see things from my point of view! All Lucas has done lately is try and sabotage any chance of Micca getting to know his father and that just doesn't sit right with me." Haley rambled.

"Actually…" Karen started.

"We were going to say that we are proud of you." Keith said finishing for Karen.

"What?" Haley gapped in shock.

"You've taken a horrible situation and you're handling it with grace Haley. That's more than I can say for myself when Dan came back into my life." Karen said softly.

"What she said." Keith said sheepishly pointing to Karen.

"Thank you." Haley choked out, fighting back tears.

"Awe honey," Karen started softly taking Haley's hand in hers but was interrupted by Brooke bursting into the living room.

"HALEY JAMES! How could you not tell me that my favourite Scotts were here?" Brooke exclaimed in faux anger.

"Get your own mama and papa Scott!" Haley joked referring to the gang's inside joke.

"Ha. Ha. Ha." Brooke deadpanned, reaching over to hug Keith and then Karen.

"You know, there are enough of us to go around." Keith joked making the three women laugh.

"Yea, but I don't like to share." Brooke said shaking her head.

"Me either." Haley replied in distaste.

"You wish, you could share with me." Brooke said sticking her tongue out in Haley's direction.

"HAH, yea right." Haley exclaimed sarcastically and rolled her eyes playfully. "I'll get that." Haley said running to the door when she heard the bell ring.

"We're here!" Jake exclaimed as soon as she opened the door.

"Who invited you?" Haley asked playfully.

"Hilarious Bub! You. Are. Hilarious." Jake laughed and hugged Haley.

Six years ago when Haley found out she was pregnant and then had a miscarriage with Micca's twin, with no family around and in need of protection, Jake took on the job. And ever since then Haley and Jake have been like siblings around each other and even Haley's family view Jake as family especially after they learned of how much he'd been there for her when they couldn't.

Well to be fair, Haley's family viewed all her friends as extended family. They have the family like roles down without a hitch, from the pranks all the way to the playful banter.

"How have you been Hales?" he asked once Peyton and jenny greeted Haley and went into the living room.

"You just saw me yesterday Jake." Haley said and started walking back in but Jake's hand on her arm stopped her and he gave her a pointed look.

"I am exhausted." Haley said honestly, taking a deep breath.

"What can I do?" Jake asked in concern.

"Nothing." Haley said looking him in the eyes. "There is nothing you can do."

"Okay." Jake nodded softly, and took Haley's hand in his and they walked into the living room.

"Get your hands off my husband." Peyton demanded in faux jealousy, making everyone laugh.

"EWW Haley why is Jake here?" Brooke playfully sneered.

"I don't know I just found him outside and he looked too cute to just leave him there." Haley replied, pinching Jake's cheeks.

"Awe I've always known you wanted me Hales!" Jake joked.

"Um no thanks! I have better taste than that."

"Hey! My husband is adorable."

"Awe thanks babe, you're adorable too." Jake said kissing Peyton softly.

"Guys!" Haley called out, getting everyone's attention.

"I have an announcement to make." Haley started once she had everyone's eyes on her. "Brooke already knows this but I think I should tell the rest of you. God knows none of us handle surprises too well….. I invited Nathan to dinner and he agreed and I would really appreciate it if we all kept any hostility towards ourselves. Because Lucas is also coming and I expect them to be fully brothers again by the time dinner is over." Haley rambled, making all her friends smile fondly at her.

"Consider it done."

"No hostility whatsoever."

"Okay."

"No problem." They all promised with the odd nod here and there.

Nathan was in hell.

He'd gotten to Haley's about an hour before everyone sat down to eat. He'd spent most of that hour with the kids while Lucas complained about him being at dinner which caused a more than one unkind word from both Haley and Peyton, a reprimand from both Karen and Keith, and a warning to uphold sex from Brooke which pretty much caused Lucas to stay quiet just before Deb and Jake got involved.

And now. Here they were, all the adults sitting in Haley and Brooke's large dinner table, starting to eat dinner. And the awkward silence could not get any more awkward. On one than more occasion everyone has tried to get Lucas and Nathan to talk, which of course didn't work. Lucas had taken more than one jab at Nathan, who was completely ignored, much to Lucas's dismay and Deb and Haley's pride.

"OKAY! I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!" Haley exclaimed suddenly after Lucas's latest jab, making everyone flinch.

"What the hell is your problem Lucas?" She asked harshly.

"My problem is everyone acting as if nothing is wrong and treating this trash as if he actually belongs here." Lucas yelled pointing at Nathan.

"Lucas!" Karen and Keith exclaimed in disappointment at the time Deb yelled "Excuse me?" in disbelief.

"He does belong here Lucas! He's family." Haley said narrowly.

"He sure as hell isn't my family." Lucas yelled.

"He's more family than us Luke." Jake said reasonably.

"No Jake." Lucas denied firmly standing up in anger. "Family sticks by you! They pick you over the world. They sacrifice everything for you! Keith sacrificing his Life to take care of a kid who wasn't his own; that's family! You and Peyton not going to New York so you can stick by Haley; that's family. NOT a dead beat father who walks out on his pregnant wife. I can't forgive him and I am not sorry that I can't."

"He is mine to forgive Lucas!" Haley said standing up as well. "You need to get over yourself! Because I will not let you divide this family apart! I've said it once and I'll say it again Lucas; either get over your shit or stay the hell out of my life."

"There you go again," Lucas exclaimed sarcastically. "Picking Nathan over me."

"Yea Lucas I did pick him over you and if I remember correctly you did the same once." Haley scowled. "but no I am not picking Nathan 'my husband' over you I am picking Nathan 'my son's father' over you Luke and I promise you that if you don't get over your anger soon then you and me are going to be through! So there you go Lucas the ball is in your court." She finished heaving slightly feeling out of breath.

"Are you okay Haley?" Nathan asked, talking for the first time since they started dinner.

"Yea Hales, you don't look so good." Jake said getting up from his chair and moving towards Haley.

"I don't feel so good." Haley said swaying. She heard a chorus of "HALEY!" yelled in concern, before everything went black.

AN: Reviews are very much appreciated because they let me know whether people actually like the way the story is heading or not.