Haley arrived home 2 days later. She had lost the baby due to complications. It was going to be a boy. Little James Keith Scott. Haley had never felt so alone in her life even though Nathan hadn't left her alone for more than ten minutes since they had arrived at the hospital. She didn't eat, she didn't sleep, she just wept in bed.

"Okay Hales," Nathan sighed, "I'm gonna go get you some food because you need to eat." Nathan was still unable to comprehend how something like this could happen. Haley's eyes didn't sparkle anymore, and there was nothing he could do. He hadn't showered since a few days ago and he felt like crying. Everything was a mess.

"Do whatever you want."Haley said dully. She crawled into bed and curled up under the blankets. She faced the wall. Tears began to stream down her face.

"Haley, this is going to be okay, alright? I love you." Nathan said before he left and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

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"Hi, it's Brooke! Leave a message and if you're lucky I'll get back to you... beep"

Lucas stopped holding his breath when he heard the message machine. He was hoping that Brooke wouldn't pick up. Even though he wanted to hear her voice, he couldn't stand to sit on the phone lying to her. He shut his phone.

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Nathan was out getting Haley some of her favorite things like Mac & Cheese and peanut butter when he turned on his phone. He had a voicemail, so he listened.

"Nate! You never called me! Where are you? Call me back or I'll have to hurt you... but maybe that's more of a pleasure than a punishment." Rachel's sexy voice echoed from the ear piece.

Nathan decided to call Rachel as he shopped.

"Hey, I knew you couldn't resist." Rachel answered on the third ring.

"Yeah, well Rachel we all know you're so irresistable." Nathan said. There was no harm in shamelessly flirting.

"When am I gonna see you sexy?" Rachel didn't sound like herself although she was still flirting, as usual.

"Well, Haley lost the baby, so I'm a little occupied with her for the next few days..."

"Oh my god Nathan, I'm so sorry." Rachel said sincerely. She had no idea. Without Brooke, she lost her connection to most of the Tree Hill world.

"It's okay, I appreciate it though. Maybe we can hang out for a little now if you're not busy?" Nathan needed to stop thinking about Haley and the baby for a little while. Rachel would be a good distraction.

"Yup, I'm definetly up for that. Where do you wanna meet?"

"The boardwalk?"

"Be there in 20."

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Brooke had been in California for a month. She woke up curled into Brett. Her parents were on a business thing of some sort for her dad so Brett had spent the night. She was really beginning to like him. He wasn't a Lucas, but Lucas would be there when she got home. Besides, she was writing him letters everyday still, just like last summer. She made sure she kept them well hidden from Brett, her parents and the dozen maids who scurried through her parent's home.

"Hi gorgeous." Brett yawned and kissed Brooke's forehead.

"Hi you." Brooke kissed him. She really liked Brett, but he just wasn't Lucas. But for now it didn't matter. She was happy.

"I have something to tell you..." Brett started smiling.

"If you're gonna ask me to marry you, that's a little Naley..." Brooke laughed. She had told him so much about her world in such a little time. He knew all about Naley, Rachel, and her friendship with Petyon. The only thing she hadn't mentioned was her Broody Lucas.

"Don't worry, I'm waiting until we're together for 3 months to do that." he winked. "Actually, I'm taking off a year from school and I think I'm gonna rent an apartment in Tree Hill with one of my friends from UNC."

What the hell? Brooke thought. What was she gonna do? Lucas lived in Tree Hill, and now Brett was coming back there with her? This was possibly a nightmare. She pinched herself.

"That's great! Ow!" Brooke said.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh I just had to pinch myself... I just can't believe this isn't a dream," she forced a smile. It was more like a nightmare.

"You better believe it... Don't think I'm letting you go so easily Brooke Davis." Brett smiled and kissed her.

"I'm gonna go make us some breakfast..." Brooke said as she lifted herself out of bed.

"Why when we can just lay here all day...?" Brett beckoned her into the bed again.

"I'm hungry. Do you want eggs?" Brooke didn't sound like herself, but she couldn't help it.

"Sure, I'll be down in a little."

Brooke went downstairs into the kitchen. She picked up her cell phone off the charger. She dialed Rachel's number.

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Rachel and Nathan were eating at a boardwalk diner.

"So, are you a mess about this baby thing?" Rachel wasn't afraid to be blunt and get to the point with her questions.

"I just don't understand how that can happen, you know? It's like surreal. Nine months and two days of waiting for this baby, the nervousness and excitement of it all taken away because of a complication." Nathan sighed. You could see how badly this was hurting him.

"I promise you Nate," Rachel said placing her hand on top of his, "everything is going to be fine. Haley's gonna be fine." Rachel had never felt so close to a guy on this level. A level where she didn't feel like she had to have sex with him, or date him. She just wanted a guy friend.

Her phone rang.

"One sec..." she said to Nate. He nodded.

"Rachel, I need you to do me a favor. I'm kind of seeing this guy in California, and he decided he's taking a year off from school and renting an apartment in Tree Hill and I need you to hint to Lucas that I'm not coming back alone so that I don't completely tear him apart... I mean, how can I be doing this? It's like a bad dream... What do I..."

"Brooke, relax. Besides," she said sternly, "I think Lucas is okay."

"What?"

Rachel could hear Brooke's heart break from across the telephone line. "I mean, he's not okay he misses you a lot, but he's coping." Rachel knew he was... whatever he was... with Peyton, but she cuoldn't tell Brooke now. Not on the phone.

"Oh, okay. Well just... do something! I gotta go he's coming... I'll see you in a few weeks friend!" Brooke hung up.