Haley woke up in Nathan's arms a smile across her face. She sat up and looked at her husband who was still asleep. "I love you," she whispered.
A smile appeared on his face though his eyes were closed, "I love you too," he whispered back.
"How long have you been awake?"
"I just woke when I heard your voice," he said opening his eyes and pulling her into a kiss.
"Hey can we go get Keith before breakfast," Haley asked.
"Of course," he answered.
The usual café breakfast was commencing. Brooke and Tim had left. Haley looked at Nathan," have you talked to Lucas lately," she asked him.
"Yeah everyday, why," Nathan asked in return.
Looking over at Lucas helping Karen finish up the breakfast rush she answered, "I'm worried about him hanging out with Rachel. They've been together a lot lately, even last night when he knew no one would want her there."
"I'm sure he's fine. He's a big boy Hales," Nathan said not sure how to respond. He wasn't fond of Rachel but he knew better than to butt into Lucas' life. Lucas didn't butt in with him and Haley though Nathan was sure he wanted to. "I doubt there is anything going on and he stayed out of our personal lives."
"Yeah he only tried to make me see you about a hundred times the first few months I was gone. I'd call that staying out of our lives," she said.
"Ok, well he respected our decisions starting then and just stayed out of it since. Maybe we should just stay out of it?"
"But its Rachel," Haley answered. "Maybe if he brings it up?"
"Hales," Nathan said cautiously as she got up and started toward Lucas.
"You can tell mommy and auntie Brooke are best friends because Auntie Brooke has rubbed off on her," Nathan said to Keith as he watched Haley talk to Lucas as she helped him clean a table.
It was a quick conversation then she was back, "we're gonna meet him and Kaitlyn at the park in an hour."
Nathan looked at Haley sternly, "it only gets discussed if he brings it up. Got it?"
"I got it," she answered with a grin.
"You and Brooke have gotten way to close," he said shaking his head.
Haley and Nathan, with Keith in tow, headed to the park early. When they had picked Keith up from Deb's earlier his fever was gone so neither Nathan nor Deb mentioned it. Haley grabbed Keith from his car seat and handed him to Nathan as she grabbed his diaper bag, "does he seem a little sluggish to you," she asked.
Nathan was nervous and quickly touched Keith's forehead before Haley looked, "a little, but maybe he's just tired from his weekend with Nana," he answered.
"Yeah you're probably right," she said interlocking her arm with his as they walked. "I knew you were up to something yesterday when I got back in the car at that rest stop."
"Yeah, I had called Lucas to round up the friends because I had already talked to Karen and set everything up the first time we stopped and I called my mom about Keith. Karen called to confirm when I was at my mothers getting stuff. I figured even if Gavin wasn't game, which I figured he probably would be because you toured together, well if he wasn't then we'd at least have a fun night at Tric. Lucas was the only one when knew details. That's one of the reasons I kept you busy while Brooke and Tim were home so they wouldn't spoil anything."
"Oh so that's why is it," she said with a smirk.
"Well I said one of the reasons didn't I," he answered, "mainly it was because I love you," he said and kissed her. "Besides it would have happened the exact same way even if Tim and Brooke weren't home so," he said and stuck his tongue out at her.
"Ugh," Haley said and pulled her arm away and playfully pushed him away.
"Are you guys already fighting," Lucas joked walking up with Kaitlyn in his arms.
"Ha-ha," Haley said.
"Well I wouldn't know seeing as neither of you have had much time for me lately," he responded.
"Sorry we've been busy," Nathan said putting his arm around Haley.
"Yeah so have I," Lucas said.
"Oh," Haley said questioningly.
"Yeah between covering for mom plus UNC stuff I've been keeping busy," he answered. "I would have talked to you a little last night but you both seemed so caught up in each other," Lucas put Kaitlyn down in the sandbox, "is he alright," he asked nodding at Keith.
"Yeah just tired," Haley answered.
"Oh, well anyway like I was saying. I would have hung out last night but you were into each other and I didn't want to leave Rachel because I didn't feel like she was very welcome."
"Well," Haley said, "she is Rachel."
"So," Lucas said angrily. Nathan felt the tension and woke Keith and put him in the sandbox with Kaitlyn, away from the potential drama. "She's different Hales. She's not the girl from high school," Lucas defended Rachel.
"I don't trust her Luke," Haley said.
"I mean it Hales she's not the girl who tried to seduce Nate or who almost ruined your friendship with Brooke. She's had some stuff happen that changed her," Lucas said.
"Yeah like what," Haley asked as Nathan quietly stayed out of it.
"It's not my place to say just trust me," Lucas pleaded, "Tim changed. Hell so did Nathan and twice you've took a chance on him. And Nate," Nathan thought great no I'm being dragged in, "even back then when she wasn't good you saw some potential in her right? She was the one who convinced you that you'd be a good father."
"He's got a point," Nathan thought he should speak but that was all he could think to say.
Haley glared at Nathan, "I gave her a chance then too remember? See the previously mentioned almost ruined friendship with Brooke."
"Well maybe she just needs this second chance Hales," Lucas argued, "I mean it she's different she just needs friends, real friends, to keep her in line."
"So you're just friends," she asked suspiciously.
"Yes," he answered calmly, "just friends."
"You better be," she said glaring at him.
"Wait," Nathan said, "whose married here 'cuz you guys are fighting like you are." They both ignored him.
"Look if you're not going to give her a chance can we just drop it," Lucas said, "not mention it again?"
Haley was still glaring. Nathan looked at Lucas with a let me handle it look. He whispered to Haley, "just agree to disagree on this one. If he says they're just friends then they're just friends. I don't want to see him get hurt either but he looks like he's handling her just fine. Maybe she really has changed," Haley turned her glare on him. "Don't give me that look. I'm not saying you have to like her but maybe you should give her a chance if not at least drop it," he looked at her with pleading eyes.
She tried to hold her glare but she couldn't resist his look, "fine," she huffed to both of them.
They filled Lucas in on their weekend. "That's so great you guys deserve to be a happy family. So when can you shoot around," Lucas asked.
"With you," Nathan asked, "not until the next time we're home."
"That sucks," Lucas said. "Uh Nate, you sure Keith's ok?"
They all looked at the kids playing in the sandbox. Since Nathan put Keith down he hadn't moved only sat there holding the same shovel he first picked up. "He must be really tired," Nathan answered.
"We should get him home," Haley said.