Two months had passed since Nathan and Haley had agreed to move in together and a lot had transpired.

Haley had agreed to stay at the apartment until the end of the current month. Brooke was selling designs consistently and had a lucrative income to cover the rent until the lease was up on the apartment.

Lucas and Peyton had mended fences and she was a regular at his new place on the weekends where the four of them would gather for cook outs.

Things had died down at the office – people were aware of the relationship between Nathan and Haley, but it was kept away from the work environment. It was also clear that Haley wasn't receiving any favoritism and the skeptics were silenced. There were of course a few females who had never warmed up to her.

"They're just jealous," Brooke had reasoned in her usual dramatic fashion. "They don't want to pretend to be happy for you because they're horrible and miserable ho-bags who go home to TV dinners and empty apartments while you go home to Nathan Scott."

Haley was slowly moving things to Nathan's condo and much of her time between work and her studies was spent cleaning and trying to organize her things at the condo.

In an effort to create space, they were cleaning things out of Nathan's condo - deciding what would stay and what would be thrown out.

"Ahh - what is this?!" Haley had jumped back from a drawer of Nathan's. "What is that smell? That's disgusting!"

Nathan had walked over to the drawer, peered inside and pulled out one of his old basketball jerseys.

"This is probably what you're smelling," he said with a sheepish grin.

Haley grimaced, "Did you not wash it...ever? It smells like a dirty gym bag."

Nathan had laughed and grabbed her to him, sliding his arms easily around her waist. "Well, you know, if you love me, if you have to love all of me - even my old dirty basketball jerseys."

Haley smiled, "but of course."

Nathan had squeezed her in a hug and walked back to the other side of the room.

"...but Nathan, if you ever smell like that," Haley said gesturing toward the basketball jersey, "...we may have an issue."

~~The next afternoon~~

"So…you two are going through with it," Lucas said from his place in the doorway.

Nathan didn't turn around from his place at the dresser, "well, I should hope so after all of this trouble."

He continued to pull clothes out of the drawers, throwing the older and worn ones in the garbage bag he was holding.

"I just want you to make sure its what you both want," Lucas said.

"It is…so please stop worrying," Nathan said.

Lucas only shrugged walking in the room, "Well let me help ya."

"Nah, its okay, I got it."

"I don't mind, I'm taking a break from reading," Lucas said. "That novel...has to be read in small doses."

Nathan smirked - yet another novel by one of their clients that would produce big revenue but was totally devoid of any creative integrity.

Lucas began clearing things off the dresser. It was at that moment that something caught his eye.

Nathan tried to hide the object but Lucas was quicker.

Lucas grabbed it, holding it behind his back so Nathan couldn't reach it.

"Ahhh- what is this ohhh, some earrings for the lady?" Lucas said in a joking tone.

Nathan just looked at him.

Lucas brought the tiny box around to open it and his mouth gaped open. He looked at Nathan in complete shock.

He had opened the box to reveal not a pair of earrings but an Asscher cut diamond ring.