A/N: So here's another chapter for you guys! As promised, this chapter is probably one of my longest yet. I just had to fit a lot in and I didn't want to do two short chapters. I hope you like it because I worked really hard to make this all piece together. Please review and let me know what you think!

After coming back from the mall, Brooke and Haley found the boys playing at the River Court and then had dinner before going their separate ways. Mark had been in a good mood, but Haley didn't question it. It was now the next morning and Haley went to wake Mark up. "Hey, wake up little man. It's morning time," Haley said tickling his sides.

"I'm up momma," he groaned, "What are we doing today?"

"Well I need to get your sister up, but what would you like to do on this sunny Sunday morning?" she asked.

"We could go to the park," he replied excitedly.

She laughed, "Ok, well how about you get dressed while I go wake your sister, and then we'll go after I can get her ready." He jumped out of bed and headed for his closet.

She still couldn't figure out why he was so happy, but she definitely wasn't complaining after the past couple of weeks. She was just glad to see her little boy smile again. She walked into Kenzie's room and couldn't help but smile at her little girl sound asleep in her crib. She quietly walked into the room and leaned over and picked her up. "Wake up my little sunshine," she whispered. Kenzie barely opened her eyes before hiding her face in Haley's chest. She walked her over to where her clothes were and changed her, then headed downstairs to find Mark sitting at the counter waiting on them.

Luke woke up to his phone ringing. "Hello," he said groggily into the phone.

"Sorry, did I wake you?" Nathan replied, "I was wondering if you were still coming to get me from the airport."

Luke got up before responding, "Yea, later," then hanging up.

"Who was on the phone?" Brooke asked walking into the bedroom from the bathroom, "And where are you going?"

"Just my brother, he had asked me to do something for him yesterday and I forgot. I won't be gone long," he answered.

Brooke paused, "He's here isn't he?" Luke stopped walking wondering how she knew. "Go on, I won't tell Haley."

"How did you know?" he wondered.

"I know everything," she joked, "but in truth I knew your brother would come to his senses. It just took him a few days to realize it."

"You are something else Brooke Davis-Scott," he said before walking over and giving her a kiss.

Brooke grinned, "And don't you forget it! Now go your pain of a brother." Luke just laughed as he walked out the door.

He pulled into the airport parking lot about fifteen minutes later and walked inside. He saw Nathan waiting near baggage claim. "Well if it isn't my pain in the ass of a brother," Luke said as he got closer, "You ready to go."

"Shut up man. Thanks for coming to get me though," Nathan stated.

Luke replied, "Just do us all a favor and fix this thing with Haley. Have you figured out what you are going to say to her yet? Also, how long are you here for?"

"I'll answer all your questions in due time. Right now I want to drop my stuff off and go find Haley. I've missed her like crazy man and Mark and Kenzie too," Nathan answered.

Luke smiled, "They'll be happy to see you too."

"I hope so because I really screwed things up with Haley. I owe her a big apology. I just hope she can forgive me," Nathan said optimistically. Luke patted him on the shoulder and followed him out to the car. He could only hope for the best for his brother. At least he was making the first step in the right direction by coming home to fix things.

After dropping off his stuff at the house, Nathan decided to walk to Haley's. He got to her house and knocked on the door to find no answer. Defeated, he walked towards the café hoping to catch them there. As he neared the café, he saw them at a distance getting ice cream from a vendor by the park. He started jogging in that direction.

Haley had yet to notice him as he got closer, but Mark looked up and yelled, "Nathan, you're back!"

Haley glanced up after paying for the ice cream and couldn't believe her eyes. He was back! She took Kenzie's hand and walked over to where Mark and Nathan currently were. Nathan hugged Mark before looking over at Haley and saying, "Hey Hales." She gave him a hint of a smile before Kenzie ran into his leg. "Hey princess," he said picking the little girl up into his arms. Kenzie just laughed.

"I kept your secret Nathan. Aren't you proud," Mark piped up after a few minutes of awkward silence as Nathan and Haley just looked at each other.

Haley crinkled her eyebrows in confusion before saying, "What secret?"

Nathan knew this was definitely not the best way to start off, but he couldn't blame Mark because he didn't know any better. He figured the quicker he could explain, the better."Luke called me yesterday and I talked to Mark. I told him that I would be coming home soon, but to keep it a secret," he stated.

"Oh," Haley sighed, "I didn't know." There was more she wanted to say, but she chose not to.

"Please don't be mad at him. I just wanted to surprise you," he replied, "I was wondering if you guys wanted to go to the River Court."

"Well he's missed you, and I'm sure he would love to," she answered bluntly, "but I'm supposed to go help Brooke."

"Momma, can we please go to the River Court with Nathan," Mark begged.

"Go ahead sweetie, but I can't," she said leaning down, "you go have fun though," before looking at Nathan, "just bring him by your mom's when you're done." Nathan nodded knowing right now was not the right time to apologize. He could tell Haley was doing everything she could to keep it together in front of the kids.

"Alright, thanks," he commented before handing Kenzie back to her. He smiled before heading to the River Court with Mark.

Haley watched them go until they were out of sight before she let out her breath. He was back. Now she was going to go give Luke a piece of her mind for not telling her.

Haley walked up to the Scott residence and knocked on the door. A few minutes later, Brooke opened the door. "Hey Haley, what are you doing here? Not that I mind that you're here, I just wasn't expecting you," Brooke said opening the door.

"Did you know he was coming back today?" Haley voiced.

Brooke sighed, "I should have guessed this had something to do with him. To answer your question though, no I didn't know until this morning when Luke was leaving to go pick him up. I'm sorry."

"So I'm guessing he forgot to mention that he talked to him yesterday and let Mark talk to him as well. Nathan also made my own son keep a secret from me because he wanted to surprise me. He has some nerve just coming back and acting like everything is just fine because it's not. He thinks he can just smile at me…" she started as tears began rolling down her face.

Luke heard the commotion and walked into the living room where Brooke and Haley were. "I'm sorry. I should have told you," he apologized. Brooke gave him a look to grab Kenzie and let her have a moment with Haley. He picked the little girl up and walked out of the room.

Brooke led Haley to the couch and said quietly, "Calm down and tell me what's going on."

"We were getting ice cream at the park when he walked up. Of course the kids were ecstatic that he was back, but I just stood there. I was in complete shock until he just smiled at me. He wanted to go to the River Court and hang out, but I told him that I needed to come help you. Mark begged me to go, but I told him I couldn't and let him go with Nathan," Haley answered, "I'm such a mess."

"The good news is that he's back though right," Brooke offered.

"Yea but for how long," Haley whispered.

Brooke gave her a hug before saying, "I think you need to talk to him. Why don't Luke and I watch the kids tonight? Maybe just hear him out. I know you're upset and you have every right to be, but he may surprise you with what he wants to tell you. After all, he came back for a reason, right?"

"Yea," she sighed, "I really want to be mad at him for what he did, but I am happy that he's back. Nathan is supposed to be bringing Mark over here when they get done."

Brooke just smiled before adding, "Go home and I'll tell Nate to come over when he gets here. Kenzie can stay here with me until Mark gets here, then we'll take them out for pizza or something."

"Thanks Brooke," she replied, "I'm sorry for freaking out. Will you tell Luke that I'm not really mad at him?"

Brooke just laughed, "I'll let him be scared for a little longer. Now go!"

Nathan and Mark walked into the Scott residence about an hour later. He heard voices coming from the kitchen and walked in to find Brooke and Kenzie sharing a snack. "Hey Mark, will you go find Luke for me? I need to talk to Nathan for a second," Brooke said.

After Mark left the room, Nathan asked, "Where's Haley?"

"She left. I'm keeping the kids while you go beg for her forgiveness," she clearly stated.

Nathan sighed, "How mad is she?"

"Well let's just say that your 'surprise' wasn't all that welcoming, but she's glad you're back. Now go fix this," she answered shooing him out the door, "And Nathan welcome home."

Nathan left and hurried to Haley's house. He knocked on the door and heard footsteps coming toward the door. Haley opened the door and walked to the living room. Nathan followed her inside and shut the door. Before she could say anything, he grabbed her hand and said, "Before you yell at me, can you at least just listen to what I have to say before I lose my nerve." She nodded so he continued, "I messed up. I shouldn't have left the way I did, and you have every reason to be mad or even hate me. I deserve it, but I do want you to know that none of it was your fault. I was scared after I kissed you, so I ran before I could screw up. Only I did screw it up. I'm so sorry I hurt you. You have to know that you are the first good thing that has happened to me. You aren't like any other girl that I've ever met and that scares the crap out of me. You're special in so many ways that I can't even imagine how you would even want to be with someone like me. You are an amazing woman and a loving mother. I don't deserve someone like you, which is why I left because it hurt too much to be around you and not kiss you or hold you. I know that isn't a good excuse but it's the truth. Now yell at me."

Haley had tears rolling down her face. "I don't hate you," she whispered after a moment of silence, "but you did hurt me. For the past two weeks, I kept replaying in my head on what I did wrong. I thought the kiss meant something until you ignored me for days before telling me that you were leaving. I've had to deal with my son wondering when you were coming back. See Nathan, you not only hurt me, but you hurt him."

"I know and I'm so sorry for that. I will do whatever it takes to make it up to you. Please just give me a chance," he begged.

Haley sighed, "But what if we don't work out. I'm so scared that you could just up and leave again when things get tough, and I'll have to pick up the pieces. I have to think about Mark and Kenzie not just me. Besides, how long are you even going to be in town for before you head back to LA."

"I didn't renew my contract. I'm officially retired from the NBA," he confessed, "I want to be with you and the kids. I've been going crazy for the last two weeks without you guys, and I don't want to spend any more time apart. I can't promise things will be perfect or that I won't screw up, but I'm here to stay that I can promise. Will you forgive me and let me spend every day making this up to you and the kids?"

Haley wiped some of the tears running down her face. "I forgive you, but please don't make me regret it," she said as he pulled her into him for a hug.

"Thank you Hales," he said into her hair, "I've missed you so much. You won't regret this."

A/N: This apology was tough to write because I wanted it to be perfect, which is why it took me several tries to get it right, but I'm happy with how it turned out. Comments?