This is my second try at an OTH fic. This is a Naley two shot fic that takes place after the season premire (5x01)

I do not own OTH, its characters or "More than anyone" by Gavin Degraw


I'm gonna lo-o-ove you more than any-o-o-one, Im gonna h-o-o-old you close-er than befo-o-re. And when I ki-

Haley flipped opened her phone, making a mental note to change her ringtone.

"Hello?"

"Hey Hales"

"Hi Lucas. What's up?" She said halfheartedly as she finished marking some test papers.

"Nothing just calling to see how my best friend is doing this morning."

"I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?"

"Don't you know what today is?" Haley frowned and looked at the calender

"No, what- Oh."

" 'Oh' is right" Her heart sank, how could she have forgotten today?

"You forgot" Lucas chided her

"No, no I didn't forget. I just have a lot on my mind these days. I've got dozens of test papers to grade, for a class full of students who hate me by the way"

"They don't hate you Haley" he interjected

"Yeah right. They throw paper at me because they love me. Then I have a four year old I'm constantly running after, helping Peyton produce some bands- sorry"

She heard Lucas inhaled deeply

"It's okay" Peyton was obviously still a touchy subject for him.

Haley sighed "And let's not forget that I also have a husband who refuses to walk and is drinking himself into oblivion. I swear, he's getting more and more like Dan everyday. Sorry again"

Lucas chuckled softly "It's okay Haley. I haven't thought about Dan for months"

"How are you doing with that?" Sometimes her motherly instincts were hard to turn off.

"Surprisingly, it's easier than I thought it would have been; forgetting Dan. It's kinda like out of sight, out of mind."

Haley snorted "Yeah, okay. Because that's been working so well with Peyton"

Haley was trying to be sensitive about the whole Peyton/Lindsay thing, but sometimes she just couldn't help herself.

"But enough about me," Lucas raised his voice, trying to change the subject "how is Nathan?"

Haley felt herself quickly becoming tired "I honestly don't know Lucas. We haven't spoken, like really spoken, since the accident. He just shut me out, shut me out like I didn't mean anything to him" She could feel the tears beginning to form.

"Haley don't cry"

She loved Lucas but sometimes she wished he didn't know her so well.

"I'm not crying"

"Yes you are" It was pointless to argue with him.

"It's just so hard Lucas. Its like I'm living with a stranger"

"Just give him some time Haley. He'll come around"

She could feel the anger boiling inside her "Give him time? Luke I've given him more than enough time. I've given him patience, love, understanding," she said as she counted them off on her fingers "but he keeps throwing it back in my face and I'm tired of it."

Lucas took a deep breath and proceeded cautiously

"Haley, you don't get it. Basketball was his life; his first love. I know what it's like to have that taken away. It's not easy"

"What, you think this is easy for me?"

"It's-"

"Lucas I know what it's like to lose your dream. I gave up touring for him, I came back so that I could be with him"

"I'm sorry Haley" he apologized but she chose to ignore it.

"You know what he told me Lucas? That his life was nothing, that he has nothing. I don't want to be with a man that thinks his own wife and child are nothing."

Lucas could hear the edge in her voice "Haley, what are saying?"

"I think," she inhaled deeply "I think that I want a divorce."

It was true, she had been thinking about it for awhile but saying that word for the first time suddenly made it seem real.

"You don't mean that Hales."

"Yes I do Lucas. I can't live like this. I need to think about Jamie"

"But what about you? What about Nathan? You love him Haley"

"I know," she continued somberly "I do and I always will but Jamie comes first. I won't let Nathan destroy him"

"I know that Haley, and I admire you for it, but don't you think divorce is taking it too far? It's only been four and a half months. You're strong, you can stick it out"

Haley closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose "I don't know if I can Luke," she sighed "I don't know if I have much left"

"As for you and Jamie being nothing Haley, he didn't mean it. No matter what he says, he still thinks the world of you and Jamie" Lucas said hopefully.

Something clicked in her head and Haley snapped her eyes open

"Why are you suddenly all 'Team Nathan'? You're supposed to be on my side."

She heard him laugh "Haley I'm always on your side but he's also my brother. I know he can be a jerk but he'll get through this. I have faith in him and I have faith in you too, little sister."

Haley sighed and smiled "Okay, fine. I'll give him another shot but Lucas if this blows up in my face, you're going down."

"Love you too"

Haley scrunched her nose "You suck"

"Oh please, you know you love me."

"Ok, Eugene"

"Ouch, low blow"

Haley began to chew on the end of her pen, still staring at the calender, purposely ignoring him.

"Fine, I get the hint" he uttered "Go chew your pen in peace"

"How did-"

"Haley please. I know you better than you know yourself."

"Bye Lucas"

"Remember, just give him some more time"

She sighed, knowing she was going to give in "I will"

"Promise?"

Holding up her two fingers, even though he couldn't see them, she said "Scout's honor"

"Bye Haley"

"Bye"

Haley shut her phone and ran her fingers through her hair. She looked back at the calender. In a fit of frustration, she threw her pen at it, missing her target completely. Today was going to suck. Haley then looked up at the clock and realized she was late. "Sh-t"

Stuffing an arm full of papers into her bag, she grabbed her keys and left the study.

-----

Lucas shut his phone feeling triumphant. He had managed to convince Haley to give Nathan more time. Looking at his watch, he quickly reopened his phone before pressing two on his speed dial.

-----

Haley's shoes clicked loudly against the hardwood floors as she walked into the living room. Principal Turner was not going to be happy if she was late, again. Why that man had decided to schedule a meeting on a Saturday, she had no idea. She got Jamie's bag ready to go to Brooke's. Brooke promised to watch him since Carrie couldn't come in today. Haley was glad that Brooke and Jamie had taken a quick liking to each other. It made life so much easier when she didn't have to worry about him being uncomfortable with new people.

Glancing at her watch again, she cursed inwardly.

"Jamie! It's time to go!"

When he didn't come running, she got a little worried since he always came when called. Haley didn't deny that Jamie was a mama's boy, in fact she loved it. She loved that she had at least one person that she could count on and that loved her unconditionally.

"Jamie!" She yelled as she walked into his bedroom. Chester, his stuffed bunny, and his red cape were still on the bed so he must not have gotten far. Jamie never left the house without them. Dozens of scenarios played through her head as she continued to look for her son. She couldn't help it, it came with being a mother.

Haley ran into the living room. "Nathan have you seen-" She looked at the couch and noticed it was empty. Now Nathan was missing too. Haley picked up the phone and began to punched in a number "Lucas; Nathan and Jamie are missing"

"Okay just calm down. Did you check the entire house?"

"Of course I did. I checked his room, my room, the bathroom, attic- "

"Did you check the backyard?" Haley stopped

Did she?

Walking towards the balcony door, she sighed in relief "He's outside." She disconnected the call and slid the door open. "Jamie! I've been looking all over for you. Didn't you hear me calling?"

Jamie saw his mother come out and looked at her excitedly "Mama, look what I can do!" Jamie stepped back from the hoop and started to dribble. He then put the small basketball under his shirt and swung it around before lifting his shirt to drop it. That move was oddly familiar to her. Where did she know that move?

"Sweetie that's great! Did Uncle Lucas teach you that?" He shook his head and continued dribbling. "Nope"

Haley furrowed her eyebrows "Then who did?"

Jamie looked up and smiled brightly "Daddy showed me."

Confused, Haley stepped down the small stairs and walked closer when she saw it. Nathan's wheelchair was parked by the edge of the pool but it was empty.

"Nathan?"

She walked faster, worried that he might have fallen into the pool but the pool was empty.

"Jamie, where's-" she turned around and the words got caught in her throat, dropping the phone.

"Nathan?"