A/N: So I decided to do a little jump forward to about a month or so – so it's June. Lucas is okay, don't worry! I just needed to give myself some time ahead to get to the parts that I have already pre-written! Here you go!

Chapter 14: Loaded Gun

It had been a month since Lucas's incident, and he not only had Brooke down his throat but his mother as well. Karen was trying to watch Lucas while planning the gender reveal party at the same exact time. Lucas felt trapped and it was summer. He should be out playing basketball with his friends, not sitting in his house trying to write a book when he had lost his inspiration. Brooke was all over the place too. She was trying to get as many designs done as she could so that when she had the baby, she would have something to fall back on. Dan had been trying to contact him too, which he thought was weird. There was something definitely going on with his so called father and he didn't want to find out what it was. Frankly, if Dan died he wouldn't have cared. He would do anything to have Dan dead and Keith still alive.

Haley and Nathan were doing great. They began to discuss little details about their wedding – like the date and the guest list. Nathan didn't want to jump full force into it yet because he wanted to enjoy his summer. They settled on an October wedding because Haley had wanted a fall wedding since she was younger. He was a little nervous about it being only 4 months away, but he didn't want to crush Haley's dream. He didn't really care where or when he married Haley – as long as he married her. They were currently apartment hunting at the same time, which was stressful enough. They wanted to get an apartment close to Duke's campus so that they could live together instead of separate in the dorms. Nathan's mother pitched in some money, and Nathan swore he would pay her back but she told him she wouldn't accept his money, that it was her "engagement" gift. Dan still was trying to get a hold of Haley but Nathan wouldn't let her leave his site. She felt protected but also too sheltered and she wanted to be able to do things without Nathan asking 150 questions. She understood why he was so concerned but she wasn't afraid of Dan anymore. Lucas and Nathan had been training her to fight him off, and not let his manipulative thoughts get the best of her. It was hard, but she knew she had to do it.

"Hello?" Haley answered the phone as she was looking over the finalized guest list for the wedding. There were 150 people that were on the list and Haley didn't even understand how they knew that many people.

"Hey Haley! Remember me?"

"Oh my gosh, hi Chris!" Haley hadn't heard from Chris since the kidnapping incident, in fact, no one had. No one knew if he was dead or alive, he had fallen off the face of the earth.

"Hey, congrats on the engagement by the way! I heard through the grapevine. Chris Keller still wishes he could have you but he respects Naley."

"Naley? What is with everyone and calling us Naley?"

"Aw Haley, you're so naïve. Couple names are all the thing now. You aren't a real couple unless you have a couple name."

"Well, good to know Nathan and I fit the category." Haley laughed. Chris was always talking about the most random things. She was used to his nonsense by now.

Dan Scott stood outside Chris Keller's apartment, watching the little twerp pacing back and forth as he talked on the phone to Haley. He knew Chris was talking to Haley by the stupid grin that he had plastered all over his face. Dan didn't understand why all these guys were falling for Haley James. He thought she was annoying, and deserved to be trapped in a basement far away.

"So exactly why are we targeting this fool when we are trying to take down Haley?" Felix asked, popping out of a bush and looking at Dan confused.

"I told you this already Felix. Chris has been the one that got in the way last time. We have to make sure that he doesn't get in the way again."

"Poor kid." Felix shook his head as he walked to the back of the house to make sure that everything was clear. He returned back and faced Dan.

"He should have thought about that before he went and rescued the damn girl. It's not my fault that he chose this for himself."

"You're crazy man. I don't know how your wife can sleep next to you at night."

"Felix, I suggest that you shut up before I decide not to pay you."

"You right." Felix put his hands up and walked away.

It happened so fast. Felix barged into Chris's back door scaring the shit out of him. In truth, he was distracting Chris from his near death. Dan opened the front door and aimed his handgun at Chris's back and shot, having no mercy and feeling no emotion. He had killed his own brother in cold blood so he had no problem killing Chris in the same way.

"Brooke, for the love of God can you please stop pacing around me?! I am literally just sitting here typing my novel. You're making me nervous and extremely irritated." Lucas said, in an annoyed tone. Brooke wouldn't leave him alone. She wouldn't let him do anything, and even fought with him when he wanted to get up and pee. This is ridiculous.

"Sorry Broody but I'm afraid to let you out of my site. Last time that happened, it didn't work out so well did it?"

"Brooke, I'm not going to die! It was a stupid mistake on my part. It's extraneous physical activity that's the problem, not sitting here or getting up to pee. Can you please relax and stop babysitting me? I'm a grown man for God's sake."

"Lucas, I need you and so does this baby! If I have to babysit you to make sure nothing happens to you, then by God I am going to do it."

"You're literally so annoying right now." Lucas was annoyed and on edge about everything. Everyone was treating him like a baby the past month and he was sick of it. He understood that they cared about him and wanted to make sure he was okay, but he wasn't dying and didn't need to be watched 24/7.

"Sorry that being concerned for your health comes across as annoying to you Luke."

"I love that you're concerned for my health and are looking out for me but you are being insane. You don't let me out of your site, which normally I wouldn't mind, but not when you're treating me like I'm my four year old sister. You're almost as bad as my mother, and that's an issue."

"Lucas, you're being ridiculous. I have to look out for you or else you're going to do something stupid. You haven't learned from the past couple of times so how do I know you'll actually listen?"

"Do you hear yourself right now Brooke? It's one thing to look out for me but it's another for not trust me to take care of myself. Last time I checked, I know my body better than you, no?" He threw his hands up in the air, placing them on his temple extremely frustrated. It seemed like everything irritated him lately.

"Excuse me for being concerned!"

"Can you just leave please? I can't handle you right now. I need some space."

"You're kidding right? Where am I supposed to go Luke? I live with you, remember? I moved in after graduation."

"I don't know, call your mother or something. You know she loves to see you. Or go back to Haley's." Lucas turned to face away from her. He felt like he was being suffocated.

"Wow. Real mature Lucas, real mature. Just throw your girlfriend and child on the street."

"You're being dramatic, like always. Haley would love to have you stay over and don't say she wouldn't because we both know that's a lie." Brooke huffed and walked out, slamming the door behind her and marching out of the house. Karen was sitting at the table with Lily, coloring. She didn't even bother to look at them or even say bye. Lucas was being so immature and unreasonable. Did he not get that she loved him more than anything in this world and that she was terrified of being in a situation where she would have to raise THEIR child alone? Lucas didn't see the bigger picture. He was so focused on the here and now, that he lost sight of what the future held. In 5 months they were going to be parents, and there was no way he could continue acting like this with a baby in the picture.

"Hey girly, what's up?" Haley's chipper voice picked up on the first ring. Brooke was thankful for her best friend and constant happiness. She was like a little ball of sunshine.

"Hey Tutorgirl, do you by any chance need help planning your wedding tonight? Or are in need of some chick flicks and popcorn?"

"Hmmm, well let's see. If this constitutes a girl's night than I would never turn down that opportunity. Is everything okay Brooke?"

"Er.. can I stay with you tonight?"

"Yeah, of course. You know the door is always open to you! Did something happen with Lucas?" Brooke loved the concern that Haley had in her voice. At least someone cared about her and how she felt.

"Yeah, but I don't want to talk about it just yet. I'll be over soon – I need a serious Haley James hug right now."

"Well, you know you always have one Brookie! See you soon okay?" She hung up and Brooke felt better. It was amazing that a simple interaction with her best friend could make her feel better. She headed over to her car and turned the key into the ignition when her phone buzzed and distracted her. There was an incoming text from Lucas.

Stay at Haley's for a couple days.

Her heart sank. She didn't like the direction that this was headed in. She was distracted from her thoughts when she felt a tiny flutter of movement. It startled her at first, but then she realized that it must have been the baby. She started to cry. She was crying because she was able to experience this child inside of her move, and that was unexplainable, but Lucas wasn't there to experience it with her. She was crying because even though she had a tiny growing fetus inside of her, she still felt lonely.

_Haley figured she had some time to kill before Brooke showed up on her doorstep. Nathan was gone for the night, he had plans to hang out with Chris Keller. Haley still found it weird how her current fiancée was hanging out with her ex-hookup buddy and they were friends. Chris had really made an impression on Nathan when he dragged Haley away from her near death experience by that same man who continued to haunt her dreams. She hadn't had a good night of sleep in months, constantly in fear that he would return with Dan Scott and kill her. She had slept with Nathan every single night since, and she knew that tonight was going to be hard. She knew Nathan and Chris were probably going to have some beers and Nathan would crash there. That was fine, she rather he be safe than sorry, but she wanted him to hold her through the night. She figured she would distract her mind with wedding planning but she was getting nowhere fast. When Brooke had called asking for some girl time, Haley was relieved because she truly needed the distraction. She wasn't happy that her best friend had done something to hurt her other best friend so she figured she would give him a call.

"Hi Hales." Lucas wasn't stupid. He knew that she was calling him to ask about what happened with Brooke. He frankly shouldn't have answered but he knew that if he didn't, Haley would keep calling him until he did. He didn't have the patience for a game of phone tag tonight so he figured he might as well rip the band-aid off now.

"I'm surprised you picked up. Usually when you're in trouble and you know it and I call you, you like to play this game of phone tag. I'm glad to see you're maturing." Haley was kidding around, but Lucas didn't laugh when she chuckled. This isn't good.

"What do you want Hales? I'm really busy."

"That's no way to talk to your best friend! Are you okay Luke?"

"I'm fine."

"You don't sound it."

"I'm fine Haley."

"Well, then can you tell me what happened with Brooke?"

"I'm sure she can tell you. You'll probably take her side anyways and call me an asshole."

"Don't make assumptions like that Luke. You know you're my best friend, now can you please tell me what's bothering you?"

"Maybe another time Hales." And with that, he hung up. He knew that he shouldn't shut his best friend out like this but he didn't know what was wrong. He felt so empty and depressed. He didn't really want to be around anyone, which is why he kept pushing Brooke away and immersing himself into his novel. He wasn't satisfied. He knew that he shouldn't be bouncing with joy with the new baby coming but he wasn't feeling it. He wasn't feeling himself and he didn't quite know how to fix that. Hesitantly he looked over at his phone. He knew of someone that would help him not feel so shitty, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to deal with her right now. Sure, she would make him break out of this spell but was it worth it? Lucas hesitated for a moment, contemplating and fighting with his own mind. Fuck it. He picked up the phone, scrolled to her contact information and hit the call button.

"Well, well, well; if it isn't Lucas Scott. I've been waiting for you." She said, obviously enjoying that he was feeding into her.

"Haha very funny. Look, are you around?"

"Of course I am. I can be anywhere you want. Are you finally giving in?"

"Yeah, but just this once. I need something to ease my mind."

"Better get it all out of your system now party boy. Five months from now and your life is over. No more fun and games, just diapers and baby puke all over the place."

"Can you just get me it please?"

"Sure thing Broody. Tell me where and I'll be your girl."

"Rivercourt, 15 minutes."

"You don't waste anytime do you?. Glad to see you're finally giving in. See you soon."

Nathan pulled into Chris's driveway. He saw that Chris's car was in the driveway, but the house was dark. It was weird that Chris hadn't picked up any of Nathan's phone calls. He figured they were still hanging out so he thought driving over would just save him some time. He got out of the car and headed over to the door. He went to knock, only to realize that the door was open a crack. This is weird. Chris loved the spotlight but he was a paranoid individual who always locked the door behind him. Something wasn't right.

Nathan opened the door and called out his name a couple of time. There was no response. He turned on the light and was absolutely horrified at what he saw. He threw up and placed his hand on the wall and felt like he was going to faint. This couldn't be happening right now. There was no way that what he was seeing before his eyes was real.

Chris Keller laid on the floor, absolutely covered in blood. His face was half blown off, clearly being shot not only in the chest but the head as well. Blood covered everything in the kitchen where the crime scene had occurred. Nathan fell to the ground, pulling out his phone. He had to call someone, so he called the one person he thought of.

"Hey baby! How's Chris?"

"Chris is dead." Haley spat out her water that she was drinking and covered her mouth. Brooke turned to face her knowing that something wasn't right.

"Nathan, what are you talking about?" Haley felt her heart begin to race.

"Chris is dead. Someone shot him. There's blood everywhere. Chris is dead."

Everything went black.