2004

"So this is it? I'm going to meet your mom and see where you grew up?" Haley asked excitedly. She and Nathan had been dating for eight months now and he had already met her parents on two occasions. On both times Haley had been frantic, worrying if her parents wouldn't like him or he thought her family was just too embarrassing and break up with her straight away. But no, Nathan was his usually warm, charming self which her family loved just as much as she did. However she had not met his family before and he hardly ever mentioned them. She knew the basics, their names, their age, what they did for a living which is also what Nathan does for a living because it's a family business. Oh yes and the fact that they were rich. Loaded, absolutely stacked with the stuff.

"Uhm" He sounded unsure at first, like there was something else he wanted to say but didn't quite know how to. "Yeah, well if that's what you would like to do, then I'm sure I can work something out" He tried to brush it off nonchalantly. Was he embarrassed of her because she wasn't from the same background?

"Ok..." Haley put the thought to the back of her mind for now and sat back into her seat and sighed. It wasn't a depressing sigh, it was a blissful. She was genuinely happy.

"What?" Nathan laughed and looked at her through his dark sunglasses.

"Nothing... Just pinching myself" she replied "I still can't believe all this is real" gesturing to his very luxury, very new, very expensive car.

"You're such a goon sometimes Haley" He laughed again returning his eyes to the road.

It wasn't the first time Haley had pinch herself around Nathan. She was mesmerized by him. His looks and charm were captivating from the beginning, even though she felt completely out of his orbit. Nathan was different compared to other guys she had usually chosen, in fact she was a bit taken by surprise of how strongly she felt for him. The unique combination of his dark hair and deep blue eyes were dazzling and charming along with his perfectly shaped face.

Considering the way she had met Nathan was out of her normal circumstances, Haley wouldn't have met someone like Nathan in a million years. It was February half term and her ridiculously rich, good friend Brooke insisted she took her place on the ski trip whilst she took care of some family concerns, pulling out at last minute. She had met him on her first day on the slopes, when Haley was overcome with nerves and fell flat on her back gaining laughter from the other members and more experienced skiers of the group, everyone except Nathan. It was only friendly banter mind, but he had rushed to her side and swept her up, insisting to teach her how to ski before returning to the slopes once more.

"I'm sorry, I'm just excited to be here" She giggled placing her arm on Nathan's before removing it to gesture to the beautiful surroundings.

"Well good, because I'm excited to have you here" Nathan Grinned.

Present day; 2010

"I would like it if you could spend some time with me this weekend? You know your fiancé?" Alex asked in a somewhat pissed off tone. His soon to be wife; Brooke would work constantly throughout her week and her weekend, leaving little time to spend with him and Ollie. Ollie being their black Labrador who is around one and half years old now. He was a 'moving in' present from Alex to Brooke, three months after they got everything settled. The pair were planning on a small wedding with close family and friends, four years after being in a healthy, strong relationship Alex proposed. However, now being just over a year into the engagement, Brooke is forcing work to come between the two.

"Look, you know I'm busy. I will try my best to get away earlier, like I always do, but you know it's a tad difficult going into a newly sprung business without a fiancé's support" Brooke scrambled around their kitchen picking up sheets and sketches.

"You think I don't support you?" Alex stood over the sink in track suit bottoms and a vest, unlike Brooke he didn't have to reach the office until nine but again unlike Brooke he returned home for five thirty the same evening.

"Well not with that attitude" Brooke continued to run around their kitchen, avoiding eye contact with Alex. She knew this wasn't fair on him, and it wasn't his fault but right now in her life, she just didn't have time to play that devoting house wife who cooks, cleans and does all the other 'house wife' duties.

Alex fell silent for a moment, watching her weaken under his gaze. He needed her to talk to him again, like she used to when they began to date which continued up until the beginning of her business. "BROOKE WOULD YOU JUST STOP AND TALK TO ME FOR FIVE MINUTES? For five minutes, could you just pretend that we are happy and you want to be in this relationship?" Brooke stopped dead in her tracks; the volume in his voice must have scared her because she daren't look at him. "I miss you; I miss my Brooke Davis – the one I met after college. She was bubbly and a pretty girl, kind hearted, sweet, she was my Brooke"

Brooke perked up, suddenly having flashbacks to her times before she met Alex. "Wha-what did you just call me?" She looked at him almost in disgust.

"I said to quote myself here 'she was bubbly and a pretty girl, kind hearted, sweet, she was my Brooke'" Alex rambled some more about how good, beautiful and kind she was but Brooke wasn't listening.

"Pretty Girl" she whispered to herself "I-I have to go I'm late" Brooke picked up her final documents and her bag and keys and headed for the door "Pretty Girl" she repeated again in a whisper.

"Uhu late again. You know what, you may as well marry the office instead of me; it gets to see you more than I do!" Alex felt bad for burdening all this onto Brooke at one time especially since he did know she was under a lot of pressure and it was his idea after all to start Clothes Over Bros.

Flashback

"You talkin' to me yet?"

"Yeah"

"Good.. And I brought you flowers"

"Ohhh, they're very nice uh where did you get them?"

"Neighbours yard"

"mhm.. Look I'm sorry about the airport earlier"

"Nah it's cool"

"No.. I felt stupid for jumping to conclusions and maybe a little jealous that you weren't actually there for me..It's good to see you Luke"

...

"I missed you Lucas Scott"

"I missed you too Pretty Girl"

2004

"So this is one of the Nathan Scott mansions? This is where you come from" Haley wore a seductive, cocky smile and wondered through the hall way into the kitchen and then the living room

"Correction, this is one Royale Scott mansion" Nathan followed Haley noticing it did seem kind of big and empty. "Oh they gotta die some day. Joking" They each smiled and faced each other

"Royale gave this to my mom and I while I was growing up after my dad became an ass and besides it's not that big"

"How many bedrooms has this place got anyways?" Haley noticed the never ending doorframes around the house.

"Around eight could be nine" Haley's mouth dropped "Why? Want to put one of them to work?" He winked and slid his arms around Haley's waist.

"You know I could, but I guess you ain't gunna get that lucky" She quickly pecked his lips whilst wrapping her arms around his neck.

"I am lucky" Nathan was smiling into Haley's eyes.

"Yeah I know this place is huge! Jealous – I think so" Haley broke his stare to take in the beautiful home.

"No, I'm that lucky to have found you. You're amazing Hales." The couple leaned in and shared a soft passionate kiss. "I said to myself I wouldn't do it now but I can't wait" Nathan walked over to the curtain and picked off a curtain ring, quickly making his way over to Haley again finding their previous position. "So there I was, walking around town wondering what on earth to buy my beautiful girlfriend for Christmas. Luke said 'all girls love jewellery' so I wandered to the local jewellers to look for a watch or a pair of earrings. And there it was, a ring standing by itself with a dazzling 'Haley James' diamond in the middle of it. I took a closer step and with each reflection of the light I saw our future memories of you wearing that ring - every Christmas, every birthday, every, every kiss, every look and every Christmas concert that our children will be in. I realised that you're her Haley" Nathan reached eye contact again to find a teary eyed Haley looking at him with awe. "You are the one for me. I love you Haley James" Nathan placed the curtain ring around her engagement finger. "Marry me? Please make me the happiest man alive by becoming my wife"

"Nathan.. I" Haley was breathless, the man she loved was proposing to her but not only that was seeing everything that she saw too. "Of course I'll marry you! Yes!" Nathan scooped her off her feet and spun her around and planted a hot passionate kiss on her lips.

Present Day; 2010

"-Brooke? Helloooo earth to Brooke? Are you listening?" Millie; Brooke's assistant, interrupted her train of thoughts. "Are you ok?"

"Oh er sorry, what were you saying?" Brooke looked at the papers shoved in her face, she looked at them and tried to concentrate but really all she could think of was her conversation with her husband shared over the breakfast table.

12:30pm

"Uh Millie, I'm heading out for lunch now and-"

"I know call you if anything comes up, you got it" Millie smiled whilst eating her lunch at her desk.

"Yeah that's great thanks." Brooke began to walk out of the office but turned around to Millie "Actually please could you just leave whatever it is on my desk, I really need a quiet lunch"

"Ok, I'll see you when you get back"

Brooke had stopped for coffee at her usual place but instead of rushing around, she took the time to sit in the corner at the back and go unnoticed. I need to go home. I need to see you Luke, I need to know I made the right choice. Brooke pulled her phone out of her bag and scrolled to find Haley's number, hoping it was still the same one she pressed the green telephone.

"Haley James speaking" Oh gawd, she's still Haley James, where's the Scott?

"H-Haley? It's me.. Brooke" Brooke closed her eyes and winced, waiting for the dial tone or just a yelling at.

"B-Brooke, oh my god? How are you?"

"I'm good. Listen, I was thinking about coming back to Tree-"

"Of course you can stay with me, Brooke. You didn't need to ask"

Tree Hill; Present Day 2010

'It hasn't changed' Brooke smiled just leaving the airport. Brooke took a taxi and headed straight for Haley's house. Her journey wasn't too long but it gave her time to think whether Luke was still living in Tree Hill, how much would he have changed? Would he resent her for coming back? Or would he still be the guy she was in love with in high school?

"Ok pretty lady, that's $20 please" Brooke didn't even realise that she had arrived; she was too busy remembering the place and seeing all the changes.

"We're here? Oh right uh here you go" Brooke handed him the money and collected her bags

"You have a nice stay now" The taxi man drove off but Brooke wondered how nice her stay would actually be.

2005:

"So I hear you're getting married?"

"Dad? What do you want?"

"I'm congratulating my son on his engagement, is that a crime?"

"For you? Yes it is."

"Listen son, I was thinking about going away next weekend and I wondered if you wanted to come? You know, guys weekend?"

"What so you can talk me out of marrying Haley? No thanks."

"So how long have you known this one for then Nate?"

"Mine and Haley's relationship has nothing to do with you"

Dan scoffed "So you picked her up from the street, say what? Last week?"

"DON'T TALK ABOUT HER LIKE THAT!"

"Why? Scared you're going to realise the truth?"

"I love her, dad. There's the truth"

"No Nathan – You're being a blind idiot! Can't you see she's not marrying you, she's marrying into your money!"

"You've never even met Haley!"

"I don't have to! I know you son and I know your type! She's not good for you"

"No! You're not good for me. I've never been happier than I am now, so why don't you just get out of my life"

"Alright, you win. But before you make the biggest mistake of your life – just take a look at this photo and tell me she's not marrying you for your money"

Nathan picked up a photo of Haley and a guy sharing an intimate moment. He shook his head in disbelief and pulled out his phone

"Hey babe, I was just going to call you"

"We need to talk"

Tree Hill; Present Day 2010

"Is that Brooke Davis I see on my doorstep?" Haley pulled Brooke into a tight hug; it had been years since she has seen her close friend.

"Haley! I've missed you so much! You look gorgeous" Haley looked different from when she last saw her. Her mousey coloured hair was now a honey blonde which was long and hung in loose curls. Her style had been updated too. She looked better than she ever had. Her eyes told a different story though, Brooke made a mental not to ask about that later.

"Compared to you? Pfft no! Where's your hair gone?" Haley admired her now shoulder length hair and showed Brooke into her house and made their way into the living room.

"I felt like a change. So come on tell me... How are things? What are you up to?"

"Well I'm an English teacher at Tree Hill High at the moment; I'm making a bit of music with Peyton – who by the way makes beautiful children"

"Peyton! Wow I miss her so much. Children? With who? I'm so behind!"

"She's married to Jake now and has been for three years. They obviously still have Jenny but now they've got a little boy; Matt Alexander Jagielski He's just about to turn two"

"Oh he must be gorgeous! I've got to see her while I'm here"

"He most certainly is, I'll drop you round later and we can all have a girly catch up. How long are you staying for Tigger?"

Brooke looked away from Haley and wondered how to answer that question. Did she even know the answer to that? "I'm not sure, I've got a few things that I need to sort out here before I go anywhere and I have no idea how long that's gunna take"

"By 'things' I assume you mean Lucas?" Haley knew Brooke's relationship with Lucas was a touchy subject but somebody had to bring it up.

"I don't know, I – I miss him. Ya know? There are things in New York that reminds me so much of him and I ask myself everyday did I make the right decision" Even though Lucas was one of Haley's best friends, she knew she could confide in Haley and not worry about it being repeated.

"It's ok to miss him. But only you can tell if you made the right decision. It was tough for him, he would have loved you forever. What changed?"

"I loved him so much. I loved him so much that I just didn't know how to stop. He is such an amazing guy but he waited until I was leaving to tell me that he loved me. I could've followed my heart and stayed with Lucas but he broke my heart one too many times. I was scared, so I did what I do best. I ran away." A tear slowly fell down her cheek and Haley pulled her into a hug.

"You should tell him. He should know why you left" Haley soothed Brooke in her arms and her thoughts slowly started to wonder back to Nathan.

"I haven't seen him in so long, I really need to think about seeing him again" Brooke looked at Haley and could tell she was thinking about Nathan. The Scott brothers changed their lives completely.

"He hasn't changed much; he doesn't talk about you anymore. He's writing another book at the minute which is good considering how much his last book was a success" Her eyes quickly looked over to the frame on the sideboard. It was of her and Lucas a few months ago and she wondered whether he was truly happy or he had perfected a fake smile. "Did you read it? His book I mean"

"I have three copies in my house but I could never turn the page. Reading everything that happened between us from his point of view would kill me. I don't know if I –"

"You should read it, if you read it you can tell how much he still loves you even if it was all those years ago."

Hope you enjoy it :)