Time to see what fate could do after a push in the right direction.

As Haley dragged Nathan out of the house, pulling a wiggling James out after them, she sent a silent pray to whatever god-like figures were watching, begging for some other-worldly good luck. Brooke was their last hope. If she couldn't help Lucas, then Haley was just plain out of ideas. Suddenly they were outside, and Haley kicked herself for not thinking more clearly. It was freezing out here!

"Mommy! It's cold! I don't want to be out here! Why can't we go back inside with Aunt Brooke and Uncle Luke!?" James jumped up and down, trying to stress his point as his young voice pitched up in frustration.

"I'm sorry hunny, mommy forgot it had snowed last night. Tell ya what, how's bout we all go in to town and get some hot chocolate?" Haley crouched down low to be eye to eye with her son. She loved this bundle of energy, and he knew it.

"Say, that's a great idea. But daddy's got some work to do, so I'll stay here. You and mommy can have some hot cocoa and just relax okay?" Nathan looked down at the two, love so clearly swirling in his eyes. Haley and James were his life, and he wanted to spend every minute with them. But right now, the idea of leaving Brooke and Lucas alone in the same house for longer than thirty minutes without any adult supervision didn't seem the best idea. Sure, he wasn't going to interfere, but he also didn't want to come back home to a trashed house and police tape as they surveyed a murder scene. With those two, anything was possible.

Pulling Haley to a standing position, he whispered his thoughts into her ear, and she nodded in agreement. She walked over to the back door, opened it enough to grab her keys, and two jackets from the hook, and hurried back over to James who was huddled in Nathan's arms.

"There's, like, no sound coming from the house. I hope they haven't killed each other already." Taking James, she wrapped him in his jacket and then slipped into her own. Their feet were starting to go numb, they were both in house shoes. Wow, yeah she hadn't planned this whole thing very well. That's what she gets for fabricating excuses at the last minute.

"I'll go inside and take a discreet look around. You two go have fun, and I'll call if something horrible happens. How long do you think you'll be gone?"

"Oh, a couple hours I guess. Maybe three. If you think they need more time just call me and we'll go wander around the mall or something." Haley was finally feeling upbeat for the first time in what felt like months. Things were finally going to come to a head. No more tip toeing, no more wondering what would happen next. Yay!

"Alright, well loves of my life, you two go have some fun, and I'll try to keep the blood from staining the carpet." Grinning at his gorgeous wife, he kissed her good bye and watched as they trudged through the snow to the garage and drove away. Diving back inside – holy fuck his feet were cold! – he ran silently upstairs to his bedroom and changed into some much warmer pants and thick socks.

A little warmer now, he began to stealthily sneak around his house. Trying really really hard not to burst into a fit of unmanly giggles at the fact he was creeping around his own house, he went in search of the strange pair. Finding them in the kitchen, Brooke making a snack – or trying to anyways, she never was good at domestic duties – and Lucas sitting at the bar, watching her every move. At least there weren't any signs of violence. He ducked back around the corner and went to his study, where at least he could play some Playstation and catch up on some games. They seemed to be okay, right?

FLASHBACK

"Hi Lucas." She said again as Nathan and Haley ran past them. Her voice sent shivers up and down his spine, and he had to fight the urge to pull her to him.

"Hey yourself. Long time no see." His ice blue eyes stared back at her, and a familiar flush started somewhere deep down inside. God, even after three years he can still bring her to the brink of ecstasy with one look.

"It's nice to see you again Luke. Don't be mad at Hales or Nate, I asked that they keep my visit quiet. I wanted some time to get caught up on things before I dove back into the drama that is Tree Hill." She stood from against the door jam, and stepped forward her hand outstretched. What was she doing?

"Can I take your jacket? I know it's freezing out there, but Hales keeps it to near tropical temperatures inside. You must be getting warm." Ha! It wasn't the temperature that was causing the flush, it was the petite brunette with the dimples standing within arm's reach. That familiar scent moved with her and he was taken back to when things were simpler and he had had the right to hug her. What had gone so wrong? How had they drifted so far apart?

Shrugging out of his jacket, Brooke admired his wide shoulders and lean waist. He was dressed in a pair of dark blue jeans that hugged his hips and a long sleeve pull over that clearly defined his muscled chest. Taking in a deep breath to control her emotions, she reached up and helped him finish removing the jacket. Her hand brushed against his arm for an instant, and that familiar flash of attraction shot up her body.

Jerking back as if she'd been burned, Brooke turned swiftly around to hide her reaction and hung his jacket in the front closet. Reaching up to grab a hanger, her shirt pulled up just that tiny bit, enough to give Lucas a glimpse of her smooth skin and taut belly. Man…he missed her so much. Fighting every urge he had to reach out and slip his hands around her waist, he just stood there watching, heavy-lidded, as she finished and closed the door.

"Um, do you want to come in and have a drink? I think there's still some snacks that Haley made, I can get you something to eat, if you're hungry." Brooke had intended on giving him a hug, but if a simple grazing of fingers brought about that strong a reaction, she couldn't trust herself not to try and jump his bones if he hugged her.

Nodding, Lucas watched as she walked past him and followed her into the kitchen. Her hips swaying just like he'd remembered, he swallowed hard against the emotions rising inside him, and sat down at the bar. He didn't trust his own voice; he'd give away the desire and need he felt for her and scare her off. That was the last thing he wanted to do. For the first time in a year, he was feeling…alive. Like life was worth living, like he had a reason to wake up. If only they all had known what he was intending on doing when he'd first come to knock on Nathan's door.