AN: I'm so happy that you guys like this story. Most of your questions will be answered pretty quickly. Here is the next chapter. I really hope you guys like it.

Chapter One –Making the Best of This Life

Nathan Scott took one good look around and braced himself. Coming at him full speed were Jordan and Brennan. Sure they were only six and seemed small. But Nathan knew better. When they hit, they hit hard and last time he was in pain for a week. Getting hit by one of them was enough, but two, well, that was just something that down right hurt. As he braced himself he smiled as he noticed Hayden running up from behind him. It was a second later when Hayden hit Brennan hard and both boys fell to the ground. Jordan, always the fighter, didn't stop until he slammed into Nathan. The football fell out of Nathan's hands and Jordan covered his body over the ball.

"Baker ball!" Brennan grinned as he stood up.

Nathan sat up and watched Hayden as he stood slowly up and walked over to him. He held out his little hand and Nathan laughed as he took it. The kid was five years old and small. His blonde hair was sticking up and his blue eyes matched Nathan's. Unlike, Jordan and Brennan, naturally Hayden preferred basketball. Nathan pulled himself up and wiped some of the dirt off of his shorts. He had wanted to play flag football. He had even suggested it several times but the twins wouldn't allow it.

Jordan smiled wickedly. "Our ball, Nate. I told you Bakers' are better than Scotts'."

Nathan laughed as Hayden looked the other way shaking his head. The twins were competitive to say the least. They were completely aggressive in any sport that they played in and almost always more than not, they won. Nathan knew one thing. They were just like their mother. They were identical twins and the only reason he could tell them apart is because Jordan was a little bigger than Brennan. Jordan also wore his hair spiky like Hayden and Brennan liked his brushed down.

He walked a few feet back until he was standing next to Hayden. He was out of breath, tired, and ready to call it a day. They had been playing for over an hour now and getting their asses kicked. It didn't help matters that the twins loved to rub it in. Sure, he was playing with three kids but he hated to lose. It was getting darker by the second and he knew that dinner would be ready soon.

"This is what we're going to do," Nathan started.

Hayden held up his hands. "Let's just give up. They won. What else is new?" He kicked the grass before looking back up at Nathan with a scowl on his face. He wasn't happy.

"What did I tell you about giving up?" Nathan asked as he bent down.

"But their beating us," Hayden complained as he looked the other way. "I hate this stupid game anyway! Let's go play basketball. You promised." He smiled hopefully with eager eyes.

He had promised and he knew that right when they were finished with this game he would go out front and play with Hayden for a little while. It was only fair that he keep his promises.

"Scott men don't quit! So let's show these two how it's done," Nathan smiled as he stood up. "You just keep Jordan out of my way and I'll get the ball back." This was ridiculous. It was bad enough that he promised that he wouldn't use all of his talents. He was used to holding back when he played with the boys. But it was times like these when he wanted to play to his full potential. It would make Hayden happy if they won. He wanted Hayden to be happy.

"I wish Daddy would come play," Hayden stated before walking away. "Then we would win!"

Nathan laughed as he glanced over towards the house. His brother was still grilling the steaks while everyone else was sitting on the deck talking. Hayden thought that Lucas was Superman and he worshipped his father. He noticed Brooke waving to him and he waved back before going stand by the three kids. It was a second later when he was running and then carefully pinning Brennan to the ground. The game continued until the twins scored another touchdown. If Lucas hadn't of called them in for dinner, Nathan was sure that the kids would have stayed playing all night. He didn't know how they had so much energy.

He walked back slowly as the kids ran. How they were doing it he didn't know. He was sweating and out of breath. Once he was in the house he went straight to the bathroom and washed his hands. The dining room was filled with talking and laughing and he quickly took his seat. The wooden chair was cold against his skin that touched it. He relaxed himself as he reached for his glass of water.

"So, Nate…that was a pretty hard hit," Brooke commented as she fixed her plate of food.

He rolled his eyes. "I didn't hit them hard. I told you I would be careful, didn't I?"

"She was talking about Jordan hitting you," Julian chuckled. "My little man is a linebacker in the making. But don't sweat it, Nathan. He hits everyone hard. He almost pulled out my back last week." Julian reached behind him and rubbed his sore back.

"What about me, Daddy?" Brennan mumbled looking up from his plate.

"Definitely a quarterback," Julian smiled as he disheveled Brennan's hair. The little boy smiled satisfied before looking back down at his plate. Before he started eating he moved his little hand over the top of his head and brushed down his hair. Nathan held in his laughter before quickly looking away.

Hayden was looking up at him from across the table as he pushed his food around. He glanced down at his plate before making sure that his mother wasn't looking. "We're still going to play basketball, huh, Uncle Nate?" He had that hopeful look in his eyes again. How could he say no to that?

"Sure –"

"Not tonight, Sweetie," Peyton cut him off. "It's too late. Maybe, tomorrow. Now eat your dinner." She squeezed his arm as he looked down angry at his plate.

Nathan sent Hayden an apologetic look before he started eating. Dinner went as it always did when they got together on Sunday nights. The kids ate quickly before running off to play. The grownups talked about their week and anything new they heard around town. None of this was new to Nathan. So like every week he sat there and listened and talked when he had to. Once the kids were gone he noticed both Brooke and Peyton looking at him. Why am I not surprised? You would swear that I'm one of their husbands.

"So…?"

He should have known that Brooke would go first. It didn't surprise him that Peyton followed right behind her. They were always on his back. Luckily the guys tried to help him out most of the times. This wasn't one of those times. Traitors, he thought.

"Just spit it out," Lucas chuckled.

"How are things with Kelly?" Peyton asked with a smile.

Brooke clapped her hands. "Good I hope. It's been two weeks, so tell us!"

It was killing her. Nathan could see it in her eyes. She hated not knowing things and he loved watching her like this. It took everything in him not to laugh. It was bad enough that Julian and Lucas were laughing already. He moved his fork over the food in his plate before looking up again. It looked like Brooke was about to burst with anticipation. She wondered why he called her the Gossip Queen of Tree Hill.

"I broke up with her," Nathan admitted. Here it comes. He cringed at the look on their faces. It didn't help matters that they guys started laughing. Some friends they were.

"You what?" Peyton asked loudly.

Brooke glowered at him. "Damn it, Nathan!"

"What was wrong with this one?" Julian laughed.

"Oh, leave him alone," Lucas chuckled. "You can't expect him to marry a girl after two weeks. Besides, you guys remember Kelly don't you? Wasn't she the one that corrected Brennan at the café last week? I think it was you, Brooke, who told Nathan that you would kill her if she ever talked to your kid like that again?" He eyed Brooke with a knowing look and she rolled her eyes in defeated.

"She was a bitch."

Nathan glanced next to Brooke and noticed Sam smiling. All eyes were on her and Nathan held in his laughter at the look on Brooke's face. Sam looked quickly to Julian for help. He laughed then.

"Samantha," Brooke scolded.

"What…she was," Sam shrugged. "Not like this is news."

"Still," Brooke mumbled while glaring at her. "I wish you wouldn't use those words, especially while your brothers are around."

Sam glanced around before looking back at Brooke and smiling. "They're in Hayden's room, remember?" She laughed softly before placing in her earphones. She stood up and walked away from the table.

"Gotta love teenage rebellion," Peyton smiled before standing up.

"Well, you should know, you were the queen of it," Nathan retorted. She rolled her eyes before she started picking up the plates around the table. Nathan smiled as Lucas and Julian started laughing.

"More like covered head to toe in issues," Lucas added.

"Hey," Peyton laughed.

"Wow, P. Sawyer. First your brother-in-law and then your husband," Brooke smiled before looking over at Julian. She kissed him before standing up and picking up their plates. She raised her eyebrows. "I thought you ran a tight ship around here?"

"I do!" Peyton rolled her eyes. "Plus, I wasn't that bad."

"You were pretty messed up," Nathan continued.

Peyton slapped him on the head as she walked by. "Maybe, that was because my boyfriend was a jackass!" She smiled at him before sticking out her tongue.

"So true," Lucas chuckled. Nathan glared at him. "What you were? You treated Peyton like crap back then. Everyone knows it."

"In the words of my daughter 'it's not like this is news'," Julian smiled brightly with air quotes. Nathan watched as Brooke smiled at Julian as he mentioned Sam as their daughter. They had been getting more comfortable with that lately. He even noticed that Sam had called them Mom and Dad at times. It was really nice to watch.

"Luckily you're not the guy anymore," Peyton smiled at him comfortingly.

He wasn't, he knew that. Still, it hurt to hear about the guy he used to be. That was such a long time ago and that guy was long gone. He hadn't been that guy in years and he never wanted to be him again. This is who he was now. The people around him were his family and they pretty much did everything together. He was an Uncle to all four of the kids, five if you included Brooke and Julian's adoptive daughter Sam. He loved all of them and to them he was cool Uncle Nathan. Whenever Mom and Dad said no, they would come to him. He loved being cool Uncle Nathan.

The Nathan now was a changed man. Where it happened –when it happened –how it happened –they all knew. Because they knew him, they understood how it had changed him. It was something that he didn't want to think about right now.

Let's just say that it was during his junior year. His parents had been fighting constantly and it was then that they had told him about the divorce. Everything else in his life fell apart. It was at the end of his junior year when his Dad had a heart attack. It had changed their family. His parents had decided to save their marriage and things had gotten better over the summer. His father was a changed man and instead of pushing him about basketball he only encouraged him. He hadn't been the same man. It was at that time that Dan wanted to finally get to know Lucas. At this point Nathan and Lucas were friends because of something that had happened to both of them. Nathan didn't need to get to know Lucas. They had already been hanging out and talking. It was before this happened that they had become brothers.

So when Dan tired to have a relationship with Lucas it was hard at first. Lucas was really the only person that understood him and he didn't want Dan to take that away. He didn't want Dan to change Lucas like he had changed him. But again his father was different and eventually Nathan got used to seeing Lucas over at his house for dinner. They even did things together like going to basketball games, playing golf, and before Nathan knew it his Uncle Keith and his father were on good terms. They were a family. It was weird but also nice.

Before their senior year had started, Keith and Karen had finally gotten married. Nathan had been happy for them. They both seemed really happy and he knew it made his brother happy that they were together now. Dan might be in Lucas's life now but Keith was Lucas's father. Even now Lucas called Keith Dad. At first it was weird for Nathan to hear but now he was used to it. To Lucas Dan was still Dan and that's what he called him. He wondered what Dan would do if he called him by his first name. Probably knock the daylights out of him. He laughed at the thought.

Because their relationship got better, that meant basketball got better. Senior year they won the State Championship and both got scholarships to the colleges they wanted. Nathan went to his dream school Duke and Lucas went off to UNC.

Rewind back to junior year and that's when Peyton had left him for his brother. He still couldn't believe that Lucas got the girl but he did. They had started dating officially after a time that Nathan didn't want to think about. After that they had been joined at the hip. Peyton followed Lucas to UNC and when she was twenty she had Hayden. They got married right before she found out she was pregnant. Nathan's godchild was born nine months later. Nathan didn't know who Hayden looked like more, his mother or his father. You could see both of them in him, from his blonde hair to his blue eyes. When Hayden was just two, Peyton had gotten pregnant again. His sister-in-law/ex-girlfriend was certainly fertile. Then came Anna Karen Scott with her little blonde curls and that smile to die for. Peyton often teased him about Anna having him wrapped around her little finger. It was true. He couldn't resist the little girl. Anything she wanted was hers. There was nothing that he wouldn't do for her.

After they all graduated, they all returned home to Tree Hill.

Playing in the NBA had always been his dream. It still was his dream. But after a car accident, that didn't happen. He was supposed to be tenth pick in the draft but his knee was too messed up to play. He had to have surgery and then rehab was a bitch. After that it just seemed like too much work. He couldn't play like he used to and no team would want him now. Now, he spent his time coaching the Ravens. Ever since Whitey had made him assistant coach he enjoyed helping out. Last year Whitey finally retired and Nathan became head coach along with Lucas. They shared the responsibility together. It wasn't so bad.

Brooke had finally returned to Tree Hill last year. She had left during their junior year when her father got transferred to Los Angeles. Nathan hadn't seen her since then. That was until she returned to Tree Hill again. With her, was her husband and their two kids. Nathan had been shocked to find out Brooke Davis was not only a wife but a mom. She was a good one too. Julian and Brooke had adopted Sam right after they moved here…

"Earth to Nathan!"

Brooke's hand was moving back and forth in front of his face. He slapped it away before turning and focusing on her face. She was looking at him like he had a third eye. Her attention turned to Peyton and she shrugged.

"What the hell were you daydreaming about?" Peyton laughed.

"Just about how we all got here," Nathan answered as best as he could. It seemed like only yesterday they were graduating. He was twenty five now. Time seems to move fast when you're not really there.

Brooke rolled her eyes. "Well, how about we talk about what went wrong with Kelly?"

"Look," Nathan mumbled looking down. "I really appreciate you guys trying to hook me up. But just stop, ok. I feel like you're auditioning wives for me." Which they were. He knew that. Every new date always had a string attached to it. He couldn't just go out and have fun. No, he had to wonder if this lady of the week was the one for him, which they never were and they would never be. Didn't they know that?

"We just want you to be happy," Brooke explained with a soft smile.

He looked away. "I ruined the chances for that a long time ago." With that he stood up and went to meet the guys in the living room. The guys must have left while he was daydreaming. He walked into the living room and took a seat on the sofa next to Julian. The guys were watching an old football game and he instantly started watching with them. It was a few seconds later when Julian handed him a beer.

"Want to talk about it?" Lucas asked as he glanced at his brother.

He shook his head. "Not really. Kelly was just Kelly. Things were going great and then the other night we were having dinner and she starts laughing. That was the end of it."

"Because she laughed?" Julian chuckled. "You're unbelievable!"

"It was the first time I ever really heard her laugh," Nathan shrugged. "I mean, she didn't stop. It was like this piercing loud noise and I found myself wanting to hit her to make it stop. Like I said, it was just over."

"Glad you didn't hit her," Lucas grinned.

"Yeah, well, I'm sure it won't be long until they set me up with another crazy one. I'm just sick of the whole dating thing. I'm tired of it. I'm done." Both of them looked at him like he was crazy and he smiled. It had been the truth, he was tired of looking. He wanted what they both had. He wanted someone in his life that loved him. He wanted his kids to be able to play with Hayden and Anna. He wanted to have a son that would beat Jordan and Brennan in football and soccer. He wanted something that he could never have. He blew his chances for that years ago.

It was when the game was almost finished that Anna came walking into the living room. The two and a half year old walked perfectly past her father and smiled as she made it in front of him. She held out her arms for Nathan.

"Up."

Sam laughed as she followed right behind her before taking a seat in between Julian and Nathan. Nathan lifted Anna in his arms and watched as the little girl sat in his lap before turning to face the TV. She placed her head back on Nathan's chest and clapped her hands together.

"What are the boys doing?" Julian asked Sam.

She laughed. "Well, when I followed Anna Banana out…" Nathan chuckled as Anna started laughing at the mention of her nickname. Sam smiled over at Anna before pinching Anna's fat little cheek. "…Jordan was trying to convince Brennan and Hayden that they could fly."

"You told them they couldn't, right?" Julian asked quickly. "Right, Sam?"

"I tried but Jordan swore that they could. They were climbing to the top of bunk beds when I left," Sam said nonchalantly. Before Julian could say anything they heard a loud noise coming from upstairs. Julian jumped up and took off for the hallway.

"Are you going to go?" Nathan asked Lucas.

He shook his head. "Hayden jumped off the hood of the car last week. He didn't fly then. I'm pretty sure he knows that he can't fly now. He might wear that cape but he knows what's what. I'm sure Jordan talked Brennan into it, though."

"Yep," Sam agreed.

"Those boys," Nathan chuckled.

"Spon-bob, Daddy," Anna mumbled pointing to the TV.

Lucas groaned. "SpongeBob, Daddy. It's all I hear. You're lucky I love you, Princess." He begrudgingly changed the channel and as soon as SpongeBob appeared on screen Anna laughed and pointed towards the TV. Nathan chuckled as he watched her before she settled down and started watching the show. This was the only show that she just had to watch. It was the only one that kept her still.

"So you excited about school starting, Sam?" Nathan asked glancing over at her.

She shrugged. "It's starting if I like it or not. Plus, Brooke is really excited about it. We went school shopping last weekend. You know Brooke and shopping. It's high school. Jocks and Cheerleaders…wait, weren't you guys the jocks? And I'm sure that Peyton and Brooke ran the whole high school hierarchy. Am I right?"

"No, they didn't," Nathan mumbled shaking his head.

"Yeah, he did," Lucas smiled as he pointed to him.

"So, I had a lot of friends," Nathan shrugged. "Big deal."

Sam laughed. "And this is when you two weren't brothers yet?"

"We weren't even friends," Lucas nodded. "Nathan did everything he could to make my life hell back then. But that was a long time ago. A different lifetime ago." Lucas smiled at Sam and Nathan.

"You guys really didn't get along? It's a little hard to believe. I've only even known you guys as best friends," Sam stated while looking between the two.

"Hated his guts," Nathan replied with a smirk.

"Mutual hatred sounds about right," Lucas agreed.

She glanced at them intriguingly. "So…then, what happened? What changed your mind about hating each other? How did you guys become brothers?"

Nathan felt his heart pound hard in his chest. He could feel Lucas' eyes on him and he held onto Anna tighter. He briefly closed his eyes before looking up. Sam was still waiting for an answer. How do you tell someone the most single important memory of your life? How do you capture the pain and put it into words? How do you explain that it was heartbreak that brought them together?

"It was a pretty difficult time for us back then," Lucas answered. All of his attention was on Sam and Nathan watched as his smile faded and his eyes became sad. Nathan didn't need to ask why. He already knew. It was something that they didn't talk about. Ever.

"We just realized that we had a lot more in common than we thought we did. We became friends first and then somewhere along the way the brothers' thing just kicked in. Kind of like with you and your new family. I'm sure you didn't consider the twins your brothers' right when you moved in with Brooke and Julian, huh?" Lucas asked cautiously.

"Those little monsters are…my brothers now," Sam laughed. "But you're right. They were just Brooke and Julian's kids back then. I get it. I just wish my brothers would be old enough to come to high school with me. The kids are so mean. I bet if Jordan were there he would give them one look and they would know not to mess with me."

"So true," Lucas agreed.

"It won't be that bad," Nathan laughed. "Besides, I'll be there if you need me. And hey, you might even end up being in one of Luke's classes. Easy A." Nathan smirked as Lucas rolled his eyes.

"I hope," Sam laughed.

"My class isn't that easy," Lucas stated firmly.

"Whatever," Sam chuckled. "You'll have us reading the whole time. I can't wait." Her voice was nothing but sarcastic as she smiled at the both of them. It didn't surprise Nathan how easy it was to get along with Sam. She was a really bright kid who got dealt a bad life before Brooke and Julian found her. Now, she wanted for nothing and she was really loved by all of them. She was apart of their family. Blood or no blood she was his niece and the same went for the twins. Some people were just family.

Julian walked into the living room with Brennan hanging over his shoulder. The little boy looked up and smiled and Nathan noticed the Band-Aid across his forehead.

"Couldn't fly, huh?" Nathan chuckled.

"I fly." Anna went to stand up and Nathan quickly put his arms around her as Lucas jumped up to stop her. Peyton would kill both of them if something happened to her baby girl. He made her sit still in his lap as he kissed her cheek and she giggled.

"Since none of you look like a Superhero I suggest that you stop saying the word fly," Julian suggested. He sat down and pulled Brennan onto his lap before he examined the little boys face. "Your mom is going to mad."

That was true. Brooke had loved a lot of things in her life but her three kids meant the world to her. Nathan never really knew Brooke until he knew her as a mother. This was a different girl than he once had gone to high school with. And once she saw the cut on Brennan's head she was going to be pissed.

"How about you? You ready for school, little man?" Nathan asked glancing over at Brennan. The little boy nodded with a smile. He loved school, Jordan not so much.

"He said he wants a cute teacher this year," Julian teased as he glanced down at his son.

Brennan glowered at his father. "I-did-not!" The words were rushed out.

"You did, too," Sam added.

"Girls are gross," Brennan mumbled while sticking his tongue out at Sam.

"Are you saying your sister is gross?" Julian chuckled.

"No," Brennan shook his head. "And not Mommy, but all the other ones are!"

"Thanks, kid," Sam laughed. "But what about Anna Banana over here?"

Anna started laughing and Nathan couldn't help but laugh along with her. She slammed her little fists into Nathan's legs before looking back at him and giggling some more. It was a second later when she pulled herself up and placed her hands on his face. She touched his eyes before reaching for his hair. She pulled a fist full and Nathan bent his head down so that she wouldn't fall.

"She only loves you because of your hair," Lucas smirked as he watched her. "It's why I cut mine. She likes to pull. I couldn't take it." He ran a hand over his shaved head before laughing.

"A little help," Nathan called out as she started pulling harder.

Lucas stood and took Anna's hands out of Nathan's hair. He then took her in his arms and started kissing her face. She giggled loudly as she squirmed in his arms. They all laughed before they started watching SpongeBob again.

It was a few hours later when Nathan finally arrived home. Once he was in the door he went straight to his answering machine. As he listened to his messages he took off his shoes and opened a bottle of beer. He sat there listening to his mother tell him all about Mexico and how much fun they were having. The last one was from Peyton wanting to make sure that he got home ok and to remind him to pick up Anna from daycare tomorrow. Like I would forget.

He took a long hot shower before making it to his bed. He wasn't surprised at how tired he was at the moment. After being around the kids that much he had gotten used to it. Being fun Uncle Nathan did have a lot of advantages. At least now he didn't have to lay in bed thinking about the past. On nights like these he fell asleep instantly and with a smile on his face. It was nights like these when he couldn't wait to wake up and do it all over again.

~***~

The week had gone by in a haze. At least for Nathan it did. He had spent most of his time going over tapes of last years games over and over again. School would be starting in just a few short weeks and he needed to be ready. Most of the team would be returning and his varsity team was ready for another season. He wanted them to be great this year. Some of the kids were really talented.

When he wasn't working he was spending time with the kids and his brother.

Of course, Peyton and Brooke had set him up on yet another blind date. This one wasn't so bad. Courtney was nice. She was really pretty and very interesting. On their first date a few nights ago she told him all about how she became the librarian in Tree Hill. He didn't even know Tree Hill had a library, much less a librarian, but he didn't tell her that. They had gotten along great and despite not wanting to, he really liked her. He couldn't find anything wrong with her and he had tried. They were going out again on Sunday for lunch. Brooke and Peyton would be pleased that he liked this one.

He stood at the bar waiting for Owen to return with the three drinks he ordered. Tric was very busy and considering it was Friday he wasn't surprised that there was a line outside. He never had that problem here. It helped that his mother and Lucas's mother owned the place. His name was always on the list and he never had to wait in line to get in. The perks of a small town, he thought amused.

Since high school, Tric had been the place to be in Tree Hill.

Everyone who was anyone knew about this place. Over the years Peyton had managed the place for his mother and Karen. She was really good at it to. She had gotten some really amazing musical performers to play here. He had been surprised at some of the artist that she had gotten. In one of the back dressing rooms they had this huge wall where Peyton had made them sign. It was actually really cool to see their names and pictures on the wall. If he had liked a girl a lot, he would take her back there and show her. They would always flip out and smile at him. All the girls loved it.

He glanced up at the stage and noticed one of the local bands. They were getting ready to play. It was five guys that went to high school and he often seen them in the quad just sitting on one of the tables and looking at people. They all dressed in black and at least three of them, he noticed, wore makeup. It was pretty funny. He watched as the lead singer started playing his guitar. Across his shirt was F U and Nathan shook his head. These guys were weird, but the drummer Jack was one of Sam's friends and so Peyton couldn't tell Sam no when she asked. Thank god, Jack didn't wear makeup like the other ones. Kid was still weird though.

He couldn't help but glance at the lady a few feet down from him. She was leaning over the bar trying to get Owens' attention. Her rack was huge and they were hanging out. Nathan couldn't help but look. She looked over and smiled at him and he quickly looked away. There was nothing more embarrassing than a girl catching you looking at her breasts. He tapped his fingers on the bar and kept his eyes on the stage.

"Sorry about the wait," Owen said placing three beer bottles right in front of them. "Not five tonight?"

"Peyton and Lucas are staying in for the night," Nathan answered.

"Married people," Owen chuckled. "Let me know if I can get you guys anything else."

"Sure thing man," Nathan nodded. He walked back to the table with a smile on his face. He hadn't got caught checking someone out in a long time. Back in high school he would have been all over that girl and she would have been begging him to take her home. The old him would have been all over her and she would have been another good time –one in a string of one-night-stands –it was the way of the popular jock he once was. Yeah, he had been shallow and a dick. Like most guys all he wanted was to get laid and not have to deal with the girl in the morning. He was definitely shallow.

He brushed past a few people that were listening to the band. Most of them were still in high school. Once he was close enough to their table, he couldn't help but start his story. Brooke would just love this one. He didn't care that Brooke was currently talking to girl standing in front of their table.

"Man you should see this blonde at the bar. She had this huge rack…"

His words died on his lips as the girl turned slightly to see his face. It was one of those moments where he felt everything stop around him. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest but it sounded like it was in slow motion. The beats of his heart and the sounds every few seconds weren't matching. As on cue his stomach started doing flip-flops. Those brown eyes were looking at him and it was enough to send his heart pounding out of his chest. How long had it been since he had seen those soulful brown eyes?

The girl before him wasn't the girl he once knew all those year ago. This wasn't a girl at all. This was a woman. A beautiful woman. Back in high school she had auburn short hair and now it was long, wavy, and golden blonde. She had filled out in all the right places and now she had curves. This wasn't shy Haley James the girl next door. This was beautiful grown up Haley James with the same beautiful chocolate eyes that he always lost himself in. Her face looked the same but he could tell that she was older. She was more beautiful than ever.

His mouth was suddenly dry, his breathing ragged.

What was she doing to him?

He searched for words. Any words would have been good. But he was too busy replaying what he had said as he walked up and he knew that it had came out wrong and she had heard it wrong. She didn't know that he was making fun of the girl.

"You should go for it," Haley encouraged him.

His words came crashing around him. He wanted to tell her it wasn't like that. He wanted to tell her everything but he was still in shock that she was standing before him. Haley James was standing right in front of him and he wanted to reach out and make sure that she was real. But she quickly looked away from him and went back to talking to Brooke.

"So it was good seeing you," Haley smiled.

"Yeah," Brooke nodded. "I'll give Peyton the message, Tutor girl."

As soon as Brooke called her that, Nathan felt a sharp pain in his heart as Haley closed her eyes and looked down. The name had made her cringe and Nathan wanted to glare at Brooke but he couldn't take his eyes off of her. Damn it, Brooke!

"Thanks," Haley nodded. Without even one glance at him she turned and walked away. He stood there like an idiot watching her go. Every part of him was pulling for him to follow her. But he knew in his heart that he didn't deserve to be around her at all. Not after what he had done. His eyes followed her until she was out of the door. Even with her out of the room, his heart beat didn't return to normal, neither did his breathing.

"And who was that?" Julian asked Brooke.

"Haley James," Brooke answered simply. "The love of Nathan's life."

"That looks like nothing from the girl in the pictures," Julian mumbled. "But she's beautiful, Nate."

It was then that he found his voice. Sure, she had thrown him off balance. She had always done that in the past. He wasn't surprised by this. What surprised him was that she was even here in Tree Hill at all. He felt this information shake him to his very core.

"Haley's always been beautiful," Nathan muttered as his heart thudded wildly in his chest. Even as he recovered from her return, his feet still felt the need to follow her. The constant pounding of his heart was faster than it had been in years. The memory of her was running wild in his head and if Brooke and Julian hadn't been here with him to notice her presence, then he wouldn't be sure if she was really here. It wouldn't be the first time that his subconscious gave him what he wanted more than anything.

He felt everything in him wanting to burst out of the shell he built around himself. Then with the happiness flowing through him from her return that surely meant that he would feel more. And he did. He felt the pain of her leaving taking over until he was numb again.