Summary: This is the love story of the new Scott Family - It starts off sort of slow, then picks up by mid-chapter one, so please stick with it! Seasons 1&2 are year 1, seasons 3&4 are year 2, etc. Plus some short summer interludes. I do my best to follow canon, so this story should feel like it is woven right out of the cloth of the show. Naley! So MUCH of the drama played out off-screen, so that's the meat of this.

By request, the scenes get longer after they leave high school and become real chapters.

Disclaimer: Not my characters, I'm just taking them out to play for a while.

BROTHERS IN ARMS

or

HOW WE BECAME US

July, before Junior Year

Nathan Scott slowed his jog down to a walk, tugging the earbuds from his ears. Across the street, a group of 8 guys were playing pickup on the River Court in the afternoon sun. Jogging back and forth, it was obvious in the first couple of seconds that none of them could contain him. Lucas. Didn't matter if they double- or even triple-teamed him; wherever he tossed the rock from, it found nothing but net.

But he wasn't working any patterns; especially on D. His athleticism wasn't up to the level of his ball handling. His footwork was sloppy.

Just pissing his talent. Nathan shook his head.

A small group sat in the stands cheering. The dark-haired girl who was the guy's constant companion clapping and laughing. It was like they all thought if was for fun. Posing for the camera.

Made his teeth hurt.

With a shrug, he resumed his run. Tucking the earbuds back in and cranking the tunes.

August, before the start of school

"Did you get it?" Haley asked, peering over Luke's shoulder at the schedule in his hand. "Did they make the change?"

"Yeah," he confirmed. "What about you?"

"Yeah, they fixed it," She grinned. "So, AP English – here we come. You know it's worth college credit?"

"You may have mentioned it once or twice."

"It's going to be a good year, isn't it?"

He gave her a quirky half-smile and she laughed, in a wonderful mood all of a sudden. As they passed the gym on the way to the near-empty parking lot, the thump-thump of basketballs echoed out.

"What are they doing? School hasn't even started and it's like, a million degrees in there," Haley protested.

Coach Durham blew a whistle and the guys dropped to the floor, panting in the heat. "Get up!" he shouted with authority. "This isn't naptime! You've got 30 seconds to hydrate and then we start again!"

The groans echoed all the way out to the sidewalk. "You got a problem with that, Jageilski?" The coach yelled.

Nathan pulled himself up and walked to the wall, where he had a power drink waiting. In the glare of the sun from outside, he saw two figures. As he got closer, he realized who they were.

Lucas recognized him in the same moment. For a second, he froze – a familiar note of disbelief tugging in him. Then he reached and tugged Haley's hand. "Let's go," he urged. "I'm dying in this heat."

"Yeah," Haley agreed absently, watching Nathan.

At the sound of her voice, Nathan turned his face a quarter inch and stared at her. Like he'd never quite seen her before.

Then Tim raced up and dumped cold water on Nathan's head. By the time Nathan was done retaliating, the two had gone.

September, Junior Year

Nathan and Tim sat at one of the outdoor tables, eating lunch.

"So it was a date," Tim accused, his mouth full of roast beef sandwich.

"I'm not talking to you about it," Nathan told him, not for the first time. He took a long swallow from his water bottle.

"She's…not your usual type, dude."

"Still not talking about it," Nate repeated, thumbing through a bag of chips.

"I'm just saying, man. You're Nathan Scott. What are you doing with her?"

Nathan shook his head and sighed. "Dude, have you ever even had a conversation with a girl?"

"You mean, like my mom?"

Nathan groaned and crumpled the remains of his lunch in a ball. It flew the 8 feet to the garbage can easily.

"3 points," Tim announced, tossing his own just as handily. "You know what I think? You're still doing it to get at Lucas. Big buildup, and then leave her flat for another cheerleader and your brother is left crying."

"Don't call him that," Nathan stood, angry.

"Sorry, dude," Tim quickly chased to catch up with him.

"Just keep your mouth shut about her, is all," Nathan shook his head as they walked back towards the school.

"OK, OK…"

From a table behind where they'd been sitting, Luke put down the book he was no longer reading. He watched Nathan and Tim walk away with narrowed eyes.

October, Junior Year

Nathan stood in the doorway to the diner, scanning for his girl. The beating of his heart slowed a little when he realized she wasn't there.

Keith raised a finger towards him, and he took a breath before awkwardly greeting his uncle. "Hey."

"Hey," Keith responded. "What's up?"

"Just thought Haley'd be here by now," he exhaled.

"Haven't seen her," Keith answered, taking a swallow of bad coffee.

"Nathan!" Deb called, lighting up at the sight of her son. "How are you?"

"Same as I was on Sunday, Mom," he responded, reluctantly. God, he wished she wouldn't act as if 2 days apart was like, forever. Like she didn't remember when she'd be gone for weeks at a time.

"Have you eaten yet? I can get you a sandwich," she offered.

Nathan shrugged in acceptance and Deb moved towards the kitchen to make him dinner. He looked around at the messy tables and realized Haley wouldn't have much time for him. It pissed him off, sometimes, how much everyone relied on her.

The door swung open again, and Lucas stepped in.

"It's raining?" Keith asked, as his nephew wiped the water from his face.

"Just started pouring," he confirmed.

Nate thought about Haley walking to the diner from school after her last tutoring appointment. His eyes swung to Luke's. They seemed to communicate silently for a moment.

"I'll head back…"

"No," Nathan interrupted, pulling his backpack over a shoulder. "I got it."

Lucas started to argue and then stopped himself. He stepped to the side as Nate passed.

Deb emerged from the kitchen with a plate in her hand. "Where'd he go?" She asked, looking around for her son.

Luke explained; "To pick up Haley."

Keith's eyes narrowed, wondering if the two boys even knew how attuned they were becoming to each other. Then he turned to smile at Deb blandly, and kept his thoughts to himself.

November, Junior Year

The nurse looked up at Nathan from the desk. "Can I help you?"

He kept his hands stuffed in his jacket pockets. "They told me downstairs that Lucas Scott's room is around here?"

"I'm sorry, it's after visiting hours," she informed him, indicating the big clock on the wall with her chin. "Unless you're on the list?"

"The list?" he repeated, confused.

Another nurse walked up and gave Nathan a startled smile. "I know you! You're on the Ravens, right? I saw you in the paper. Oh, what's your name?"

"Nathan. Nathan Scott," he admitted.

The first nurse exchanged a glance with the newly arrived woman. "It's after hours."

"But this is his brother, Junie," she protested. "You are his brother, right?"

"Yeah," Nathan answered after a long moment of thought.

"Then just follow me, I'll show you the room."

Nathan stood where he was, almost unable to move. He'd told a lot of lies in his life, but this time it was the truth that kind of didn't feel right.

Then he remembered Haley's face, and found his feet moving him after the nurse.

December, Junior Year

Nathan dropped from the window into the side yard and turned. From the sidewalk, Lucas stared at him with a funny expression.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Nathan asked in a stunned semi-whisper, nervously glancing at the house as he walked towards the street. He felt a surge of almost angry defensiveness as he looked at Luke, suddenly remembering how tweaked the guy had been over his kiss with Peyton.

"I was about to ask you the same thing," Luke responded just as aggressively, pulling back the hood of his sweatshirt. "It's 6AM and you just dropped out of my best friend's window."

"It's 6AM and you're outside my girlfriend's house," he countered, stepping up close to Luke and staring him in the eye.

They stared each other down as the weak sun began to creep over the horizon.

"Boys? Isn't it a little early to come calling?" Jimmy James called down from the front steps as he picked up the morning paper.

The brothers jumped at his voice. They turned in unison to look at Haley's dad. "Just out jogging, Mr. James," Lucas finally explained. "Is Haley up yet?"

"I don't know, you want me to check?"

Nathan gave him a stern look. "No, thanks," Luke called out to Jimmy. "Just tell her I stopped by?"

"We," Nathan amended, clearing his throat. "We stopped by."

Jimmy nodded and ducked back into the house.

"So?" Nate finally asked.

"I was just out jogging," Lucas repeated.

Nathan shook his head and walked away towards where his car was parked down the street, "Whatever, " he sighed.

"Wait," Luke shouted after a moment, racing to catch up.

Nate unlocked the Mustang and slid behind the wheel. Lucas climbed in on the passenger side. "Look, I'm sorry about the other day. What I said about you and Peyton."

Nathan shrugged. "What was that all about, anyway?"

"Stuff that's been going on that has nothing to do with you, or with Haley," he rubbed his cheeks hard with his good hand, like he was trying to wake up. "I got to apologize to her, too. Everything's just been so fucked up lately."

"I hear that," Nate agreed, turning on the car. "Where am I taking you?"

"Home, if it's no trouble."

Nathan nodded. "So, you want to talk about it?"

"With you?" Luke asked, almost surprised.

"Well, I'm here," Nate pointed out, pulling up at a red light.

"Actually, I'd still rather talk about you dropping out of that window. What's up with that?"

"It's nothing," Nate dismissed.

Lucas sat quietly, waiting for him to explain better than that.

After a long moment, Nathan glanced over at him. Almost shyly. "OK, look. The thing is, all my life - no matter who I was with - all I wanted at night was to get into my own bed, alone, when it was time to crash. You know? But since that night when I collapsed, I just … don't sleep well if she's not near," he admitted. "When I see her, I can finally relax because everything's…I don't know…all right. It's crazy, right?"

"It's not crazy, Nate," Lucas assured him seriously. "Haley does that for you?"

"Yeah, actually," he nodded. "She does."

"Wow," Lucas looked away, out the window.

"What?"

"Just…wow. It's for real with you two, you know?"

"You're just figuring that?"

Lucas shrugged.

"Now you tell me something," Nate demanded. "You and Haley…"

"Oh, God," Lucas interrupted. "No. Never."

"Eww," Nate recoiled, turning to give Luke an appalled look. "I know that, man. What I meant to ask is… this thing with her family. What's up with that?"

"Oh, you've noticed?"

"Hard not to. You two ever talk about it?"

"Not really. Look, as you may have guessed, I don't know much about regular families." Nathan looked uncomfortable as Luke continued, "It's always sort of just been Keith and my mom and me – and Haley. I thought it was normal that she'd spend Thanksgiving night with us, eating leftovers and playing some dorky board game my mom pulled out."

"But she's got this entire stadium of people related to her," Nate pointed out.

"Exactly," Luke agreed.

"It's just hard to figure. You know, the other night, I went to drop Haley off and the house was dark. Note on the fridge said they went to Charlotte for a 'yarn do'. What the hell's a 'yarn do'?"

"Oh, Mrs. James and her friend, Marion - have you met her?"

Nathan shook his head.

"Well, they knit. Or crochet. Stuff with yarn. Anyway, they're always going to afghan conferences and string shows."

"Oh. That actually explains a lot." Nathan had a flash of the world's ugliest poncho and tried to wipe it from his mind. "She takes it all in stride, though. That they're checked out so much."

"Look, Mr. and Mrs. James are actually pretty cool. But Haley has a lot of brothers and sisters, and I think her parents decided early on to sort of pick their battles."

"And Haley isn't one of them," Nathan nodded slowly. "The thing I've always admired with Haley? She's loyal. To people, to her responsibilities. Even when it's not fair to her, you know?" Nate asked.

"Yeah, I know," Luke echoed. "It actually kinda bugged me, once you were in the mix."

"I know the feeling," Nathan agreed, chuckling.

They fell quiet until they pulled up in front of Luke's house. He paused before getting out. "So, we OK?"

"Well, still not so sure 'bout you, but I'm fine," Nate assured him with a smile, holding up his fist.

Luke banged it with his own and got of the car, a bemused expression plastered on his face.

January, Junior Year

Nathan and Lucas were drenched in sweat as they burst into apartment. They jogged over to the fridge, pulling out a couple of sports drinks and downing them in loud gulps.

"Good workout?" Haley asked with a laugh from the stool where she'd been studying.

"Oh, yeah, excellent," Lucas groaned, still short of breath.

"You're still out of shape, old man," Nathan scoffed. He pulled his damp shirt off and leaned over to kiss Haley softly. "I'm gonna hit the shower."

She scrunched up her nose and nodded.

"You should stay," Nathan called back to Luke from the hallway. "That way I can beat your ass at NBA Live, too."

Lucas looked over at his best friend with raised eyebrows.

"Stay," she urged. "I make great delivery pizza."

He looked down at his sweaty clothes.

"I'm sure we can dig up something. You're pretty much the same size," she looked at him pleadingly.

"Yeah," he acquiesced after a moment of thought. "If it makes you happy."

"It does, Luke," she smiled.

As Dan climbed the steps to his son's apartment an hour later, he could hear the noise softly echoing out. Dan slipped into a dark spot on the landing and looked through the window, curious.

Nathan was sprawled out on the couch, with Haley and Lucas sitting on the floor with their backs against it. Nathan had a piece of pizza in one hand, and the other was reaching down, trying to screw with Lucas' controller – obviously trying to give Haley the advantage as she gripped her own controller intently, her tongue sticking out in concentration.

Something happened in the game, and all 3 jumped and shouted. Dan stepped back in surprise, watching for another long moment before turning on his heel and heading back the way he came.

"Hey, what's that?" Nathan asked, swinging his legs to the floor and peering out the window.

"Anyone there?" Haley asked, pressing buttons furiously.

"I don't see anyone…"

"Then you better get back here, your girlfriend just benched Kobe."

"What?! Hales…!" he leaped back onto the couch while Lucas laughed out loud as he scored again.

The morning of the first Saturday of February, Junior Year

"You…what?" Luke stared at Haley and Nathan, feeling all the blood drain from his face.

"We got married," Haley repeated, the ring on her hand still shining in front of his eyes.

"Uh, can you do that?" he asked, stunned.

"Obviously," Haley grinned. Then her smile faded. "Lucas, are you all right?"

"No, I'm fine. Uh, Congratulations," Lucas lifted a hand as though to reach out, and then dropped it. "Look, I have to go. Keith's waiting."

As he turned for the door, Haley and Nathan made a small shout of protest. They exchanged a look, and Haley dove back to the bedroom and tugged on a pair of jeans before racing out the door. Nathan was hot on her heels.

"Lucas!" They called.

He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked up.

"Look, I was going to tell you, but…"

"I saw you both, last night," Lucas reminded them, a taste of betrayal on his lips. "Nate, you came and met me on the River Court! Just 3 words, man!"

"I know, I know…"

"I told him that I wanted to be the one to tell you. But then, at the cemetery…"

"I told you I was leaving," Lucas recalled. "Yeah. But it's just, Hales, I always thought that when that day happened it would be, like, a decade from now! And …I'd be there. You know?"

"You still can be," Nathan interrupted. "We were supposed to have the ceremony last night when we did the paperwork but Haley's mom got delayed."

"It's this morning, at the beach. You know the spot," Haley took a step closer to him. "Please, Luke."

"I have to go, Keith's waiting," He reminded her. "I have to go."

Haley looked as though she would cry for a moment and then exhaled. "I know," she agreed. "I do, really. We have to follow our hearts."

"Yeah," Lucas agreed. He leaned up and kissed Haley gently on the cheek. Then he met Nate's eyes; "Take care of her."

"I will," Nathan promised solemnly.

"This is crazy, you know that – right?"

"Actually," Nathan gave him a wry expression. "We do. But that doesn't make it wrong."

"OK," he sighed, suddenly tired. "Look, I'll call. We'll talk."

"You better." Haley reached out and squeezed Luke's hand. Then he turned and walked to the Land Rover, where Keith was waiting.

Reluctantly, Haley let Nathan take her by the shoulder and lead her away. Back up to their apartment to get ready for their wedding.

March, Junior Year.

Lucas dribbled down the empty basketball court, stopping and tossing the ball.

It bounced off the backboard and onto the floor.

"That shot's still haunting you?" Whitey asked, stepping into the gym.

"Sometimes, yeah."

Whitey nodded in understanding. His steps sounding loud as he approached.

"How you doing with your list?" Luke asked, dribbling back and starting the charge again.

"Oh, Nate told you about that?" Whitey chuckled. "Actually, I was just online. Trying to figure out how to buy tickets to on the Internet. Thought I'd go down to Orlando during spring break."

"Oh, man… pre-draft training camp?" Lucas said enviously.

"No, you idiot. Disney World. I'm going to see that mouse."

Lucas stopped cold. "You mean Mickey Mouse, Coach?" he asked, disbelieving.

"Is that so hard to believe? Yes. My wife's family is having a reunion and they asked me, though I can't imagine why. Her favorite niece is going to be there, with her kids, and I thought…" he trailed off.

"That's nice, Coach," Lucas said seriously.

"Yeah," Coach sighed. "How is your brother?" He marveled at saying that out loud to Lucas. At having Nathan and Lucas acknowledge each other, and Dan unable to control it any more.

"He's good, why?"

Coach shrugged.

Lucas looked over at his coach, approaching with the ball under his arm. "Look, can we talk – just between us?"

Whitey nodded.

"What are their chances? I mean, I'm older than both of them and I can tell you for a fact – there's no way I'd be ready to be married." The pregnancy scare with Brooke flashed through his mind and he exhaled slowly. "And they're already going through so much stuff."

Whitey's eyes narrowed, prompting Lucas to explain.

"Just, conflicting interests and…unhelpful family," he sighed. "It all happened so fast, you know?"

"Let me tell you a story, Lucas. You ever hear of Robert Louis Stevenson?"

"Of course."

"You know that he was really sick his whole life? They didn't think he'd live to long enough to grow up. But he did, and when he was 26 he met a pretty woman named Fanny. Unfortunately, she was already married to someone else. The two fell in love immediately but they weren't the kind to live in the wrong so after they'd known each other just a couple of months, Fanny left England and went back to California -to her husband."

Whitey rubbed the back of his neck as he continued, "Robert was sickly, skinny, and poor, but he had to follow her. His family thought it was suicide and cut him off. Working his way, the trip took more than 3 years - and he got so ill at times that he almost didn't make it. But they did find each other, and they married, and they had 14 years together before he died. Robert always said that being her husband, it made those years splendid."

"No regrets," Lucas said softly.

"The truth is, some people really do know they're meant to be together. Nathan and Haley are going to have a lot to overcome, marrying so young. More than other couples. But they both know a little something about hard work. And like Robert with his Fanny, I think Nathan recognized in Haley pretty quickly that all the great things he had in here," Whitey tapped his chest over his heart, "were meant to be shared with her."

Lucas nodded, slowly.

"There isn't a night that goes by that I don't dread going to bed without Camilla," he added sadly. "She was the end of my days. Watch Nathan looks at Haley, Luke. See the changes in them over the past months."

"She's the end of his days," Luke repeated, in realization.

"And how can you live apart from that?" Whitey asked.

"You can't, I guess," he answered.

"And I'll tell you another thing," Whitey continued softly.

"Yeah, Coach?"

"They DO have family in their corner. They have Keith, and they have you."

Lucas nodded slowly.

Whitey headed back to his office.

"Hey, Coach!" Luke called after him.

"Yes, Lucas?"

"Robert Louis Stevenson?"

"Yes," he chuckled. "Camilla's favorite."

Lucas smiled at him and then jogged back to the half court for another toss.

April, Junior Year.

"You really took the test?" Nathan challenged, holding the ball over his head.

"Yes," Lucas answered.

"And you're clean?"

"Yes!"

"OK, baskets for teams," Nathan grinned, with the sound of a 'swoosh' quickly following.

"Is this a closed court, or can anyone join?" Jake called as he approached, Peyton at his side.

"Oh, I definitely got Jake," Lucas laughed, pointing.

Skillz quickly joined Tim and Nathan, and Fergie jogged over to join Lucas. Junk and Peyton climbed onto the bleachers next to Mouth.

"It's good he's back," Mouth noted to Peyton, seeing how she watched Jake.

"Yeah," she gave a slow smile and nodded.

"Hey," Haley greeted them, climbing up to sit next to Peyton.

"Hey," Peyton glanced at her, neutrally.

"Go, Lucas!" Haley cheered as Lucas stole the ball for a 3-pointer.

Nathan gave her a look and then ran the ball in, immediately jumping it for 2. He hung off the old net for a moment with a huge smile then raised his eyebrows at Haley.

"Go, Nathan!" she clapped, wildly.

"That's right!" He yelled approvingly to her, heading back down court.

The teams chuckled at them before pressing down even harder. The play picked up as they established rhythms, sweat pouring freely. The sun dipped into late afternoon as one game dragged into two. On the last point, an ancient ice cream truck turned into the drive – its bells ringing an old children's rhyme.

"C'mon," Peyton urged. "Let's treat."

Haley nodded and followed. They pulled bills form their pockets, buying a dozen assorted ice creams and carrying them back to the court. The guys fell on them like wolves.

"Hey did you get any bomb pops?" Tim asked, peering through the pile.

Junk looked at the bomb pop he'd just unraveled, looked at Tim, and then leaned in and took a big bite. Lucas couldn't help laughing as he took a Popsicle for himself and tossed another to Nathan.

The group all sat on the bleachers, turned to watch the river behind them, and ate the ice creams. The camaraderie was cool and easy like a breeze, and quiet except for the sound of the water.

Until Jake's phone rang. "That's my parents, time to pick up Jenny."

Peyton stood and joined him. "I need to stalk Michelle Branch's people one more time, anyway," she smiled. They waved as they headed off to her car.

Lucas turned to watch them leave, a strange expression on his face. Haley noticed it, and turned to catch Nathan's eye.

Lucas looked back at them. "Hey, guys, there's something I should tell you…" He looked around, at the guys all listening. "Later?"

"Sure," Nathan shrugged. "Did you hear, Taylor's is moving out?"

"Good," Lucas nodded. The three shared a look and turned back to their popsicles. Haley moved closer to her husband, his free hand reaching hers. For a moment it was like all the secrets and all the complications of life had fallen away.

"Like that morning," Nathan murmured.

"When you think, let it always be this way," Haley added softly.

"It's a good day," Lucas agreed.

"Yeah," Mouth agreed.

Junk and Fergie shared a look, and then shook their heads.

"Nothing like a bomb pop," Tim sighed.

And they all burst out laughing.

May, Junior Year.

"What's with you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You suck, dude."

"So do you."

"Wife. No Wife. What's your excuse?"

"I'm just cutting you a break."

Nathan scoffed, faked, and dropped the rock from half court.

Lucas exhaled, and jogged over to pick up the ball.

Nathan held out his hands for it.

"Are you going to talk to me?" Lucas asked, tucking the ball under his arm.

"And say what?"

"I don't know – anything?!"

"Nothing to say, man," Nathan tugged the ball from Lucas' grip and began dribbling. Then he took a deep breath, "She made me believe, man. I never believed in anything more than this," he looked around the court. "Until her."

Lucas nodded, and didn't say anything. Accepted the pass. Made the shot and then caught the ball and headed back up to his brother.

"How could she do that? How could she give me faith and then not have any?"

"I wouldn't say that."

Nathan glared at him. "Then where is she? I gave up High Flyers. I'm here. Where's she?"

"You wanted her to have this. You saw it when no one else did, her musical talent. She never even let me see it, man."

Nathan stopped and looked at him. He held the ball under his arm.

"The point wasn't for her to choose it over our marriage," Nathan said bitterly. He missed a shot, and chased after the ball.

"Is that what she's doing?" Lucas asked.

"Look around, man."

"I'm here," he reminded his brother, softly.

"Yeah," Nathan nodded, catching his brother's gaze. "Yeah."

June, Junior Year

"You don't want to know what I think!" Lucas shouted, running his hands through his short hair, jittery with anger and frustration. "Between the stuff with my mom, Nathan's mom, Nathan's accident, Keith, the dealership fire, and Brooke? It hasn't been a good month, Haley, and now is not a good time to be playing Truth or Dare with me."

"I want to know. I do, Luke!"

"OK, you know what I think? I think he got his life ripped apart because he believed. I think he changed himself to be worthy of you. And you know where it got him? Chris Keller! And a Car! In a Wall! Over you, Hales."

"God, I know," she sobbed. "You're right. If I could take it all back…"

"Would you? Really…?"

"Yes!" She collapsed in sobs on his bed. Trying to cover her face. Trying not to play the sympathy card. But it was like her heart was ripped in half.

"Damn it," he sighed. "Don't you remember, at the beginning of the year? He was everything we hated, you and I. And you know what, Haley? We did it. It took the both of us, but we took away everything that guy had." Lucas turned and punched the wall with his fist.

"I get sick, thinking that he was alone, that I left him."

"And then I moved into his old life," Lucas collapsed beside her on the bed. Suddenly exhausted.

"In less than a year," she realized aloud, horrified at how much he was saying was true. "How do I make it right, Luke?"

"Do you want to?"

"I do. More than I can possibly say. Every night I was performing, when I was on stage it would feel great. It would feel like I guess it does when you play a great game, and everything goes right. This may not make sense, but I'd feel so close to Nathan, you know? Like I was experiencing this thing that he would understand. And then I would get off the stage, and there would be this dressing room. Empty. And I would remember, it was a lie. I wasn't experiencing it with him. I was experiencing it in spite of him. At the cost of this amazing thing that I cherish. And a little voice inside me got louder and louder, until it was screaming."

Luke looked at Haley helplessly. "When he found out I was still investigating Dan, it was like…utter betrayal. The same expression Keith had after his wedding, by the way." He shook his head. "Fuck," he swore.

"I'm so sorry," Haley cried, softer now.

"Me, too," Lucas told her, gathering his best friend up in his arms.

She continued to sob, with Luke's heart breaking in time with hers. Slowly, they fell onto the mattress. Exhausted and wrenched empty. The darkness settled on them, as they drifted into sleep.

"What time is it?" Lucas asked, wiping his face and peering into the night.

"2 AM, ish," she answered, her voice raw from the earlier tears.

"I should call the hospital," he said, almost to himself. "And check if Peyton's called."

"I should go sleep in your mom's room. I feel like all I'm doing is imposing, everywhere I go."

"No," he reached out his arm and held her back. "You're not imposing, Hales. Never. You're my best friend."

"But…"

"Always, Haley," He interrupted, pulling her close and kissing her forehead. "Stay."

"Nathan's at High Flyers by now. His plane landed hours ago."

Lucas exhaled. "He deserves something good for a while. Away from this."

"And when he gets back?"

"We're going to put it back together, Haley," Lucas kissed her forehead again and slipped out of the bed. "I'm going to check my messages, and grab a bottle of water. Just rest, OK?"

"OK," she nodded, resting her face onto one of the pillows. "Lucas?"

He stopped in the doorway. "Yeah, Hales?"

"Thank you," she said, almost crying again.

"I love you."

"I love you, too," she answered, gratefully.

"Look, you know you don't have to meet up with your parents," he offered. "You could spend the summer here."

"Quinn sent a ticket," she reminded him softly. "And I was thinking of rejoining the tour for a while. Without Nathan here, it doesn't feel right."

Lucas looked at her, suddenly overwhelmingly sad. "Just think about it, OK? You came home to be home. I think that's important, even if Nathan isn't here."

"I'll think about it," she said, trying to appease him.

"Good," Luke flipped the hallway light and went off to make his call. Haley watched him for a moment, and then turned to her side. And hoped to find sleep.