The Hardest Thing
Chapter 1
September
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these OTH (or DC) characters, even though I'd like to. J
Author's Note: This is the third story in my Nathan and Haley series. The first two are "What Is Meant to Be" and "Love Will Prevail."
Story background: Our favorite characters are adults, age 26. Haley and Nathan are separated. It was something Haley wanted, but Nathan fought. They have three kids - Harrison - 8, Abby, 4, and Emma - 3. Other couples: Mouth and Brooke, Jake and Peyton, Lucas and Amanda. This also has a small bit of Dawson's Creek (Pacey and Joey). Please Enjoy and review!
September
Lucas laughs as Mouth describes Brooke's latest antics. A very pregnant Brooke was expecting their first baby in a month and was beyond restless. She was now cleaning everything a second time, and driving her husband crazy in the process. Lucas and Jake could both relate. Lucas and Amanda's son James was 18 months old. And Jake and Peyton's baby girl Piper was just 4 months old. Jake elbowed Lucas and nodded his head towards the bar. The trio watched as Haley sat down and ordered a drink. She never saw them sitting in the corner, even though they'd been sitting at the same table every Tuesday for the past month. It was moments like now that they were glad Nathan had stopped accompanying them after Haley left. Him being home with the kids was better than him being here.
Haley sat down on her usual stool at the end of the bar. It had only been a month since she'd left Nathan, but already she was lonely. They'd been married of nine years and had three beautiful children. But it felt like something was missing. She'd never experienced the love of anyone but Nathan and wondered if there was something else out there. She was staying in a small apartment in Capeside, the next town over. She'd begun frequenting this bar, she'd found that she didn't know how else to meet men. Her job as a substitute teacher made it hard.
Pacey walked to the end of the bar where he saw her sitting. She'd been in every night this week, never ordering more than a soda or ginger ale. He couldn't figure her out. He'd seen her in here before, and she'd actually been drinking and flirting with the men, but not this week. She was sticking to herself. As a bartender (and the owner), he decided it would be safe to consider her a regular and thought he should try to strike up a conversation.
Nathan sits alone in the living room watching TV when he hears the shuffling of small slippers against the carpeted floor. He smiles at his four-year-old as she climbs into his lap, "Hey kiddo, aren't you supposed to be in bed?" He kisses her forehead.
Abby looks at him with her big brown eyes, "I miss mommy."
Hugging her, Nathan says, "So do I baby."
"When is she coming home?"
"I don't know. Soon I hope."
" Harrison says she's never coming back. That she doesn't love us anymore."
Nathan paused, silently cursing his son, "Mommy loves you, and Emma, and Harrison. She always will."
"What about you daddy? Does mommy still love you too?"
Pulling her close, he whispered, "I sure hope so."
"Me too."
"How about I read you a book, and then you'll be able to sleep," he stood up and slung her over his shoulder.
"Okay daddy."
Haley looked up at the bartender as he approached. She smiled, he was kinda cute, but not like Nathan. She scolded herself, stop comparing guys to him. Although, not that it mattered, she wasn't really looking for a guy anymore. It had been a month, and those first few weeks, she'd been all about finding someone new. That was why she left. Right? But her situation had changed, and she wasn't so sure what she wanted anymore.
Pacey smiled, "What can I get for you tonight?"
"The usual, I guess. A ginger ale," she added, seeing his questioning face.
Pacey pulled a bottle out of the cooler and poured it over ice into a glass. He smiled at the brunette. "Can I ask what brings you here every night? Most of my regulars don't even come every night. And they always order something a little, um, stronger."
"Is that your way of hitting on me?" Haley smiled slightly.
"If it makes you smile, sure. Actually, no, sorry, I've got a lady at home that I'm pretty serious about."
"I see."
"So?"
"I don't enjoy sitting alone at home."
"What about your husband?" Pacey nods at her tanned hand.
"We're separated. He won't give me the divorce."
"Ahh. I see. Mind if I ask how long you're been separated?"
Haley picked up her drink and mumbled, "A while."
"What, like six months or a year?" Pacey questioned further.
She looked him straight in the eye this time, "Neither. It's actually only been a month."
"A month? And you've already asked for a divorce? Things must've been bad for a while then, huh?" Pacey didn't know what it was exactly that had him so interested in this woman.
"No. I just realized that he's not 'the one' for me."
Pacey immediately knew what he saw in her, he saw her immense need for a friend, "How long have you been married?"
"Nine years," Haley looked away, almost sad, "We got married in high school. He was my first love. We only dated a short time, but thought we were doing the right thing."
"But now?"
"I know we were too young. He's dated other people, knew more and had to grow up fast. But I'd never dated, and fell head over heels for his charm."
"And now he's lost his charm?"
"I don't know. Maybe." Haley knew she spoke the truth. She didn't know what had changed. But, somehow, she felt that something had.
"You don't know? Okay then." Pacey thinks about what she's said. He glances at the three men in the corner that have been watching her since she came in. "Hey, my shift's over. Would you like to go next door and grab a piece of pie?"
Haley looks at him, and smiles slightly, "Sure."
Mouth leans into the table, "She's actually leaving with him. This is not cool."
Jake frowns, "You realize our wives are going to kill us when they find out, right?"
"As long as we don't tell Nathan, we should be okay," Lucas adds. "Besides, what could we do? If we tried to stop her, she'd get pissed and think Nathan was having us spy on her. Things would only get worse."
"Has she talked to anyone? Peyton's getting worried."
Mouth looked at his friends, "She's kept to herself as far as people from Tree Hill are concerned. I think she believes we'd try to convince her to change her mind. I also think she's having regrets, and knows we'd be right."
It was Lucas's turn to frown, "Come on Mouth, we've known Haley longer than anyone. Did that look like she has regrets?"
"Lucas, she hasn't been that shy, sad little girl in a long time. Maybe you need to stop seeing her as your sister-in-law, and see her as just your friend again. A friend in trouble."
"But we are still friends."
Mouth shook his head, "Yes, but you're also the brother of her husband. You're thinking about the family. Maybe you should think about Haley James."
Jake tilted his head, "You know Mouth, think about what you just said. Maybe she IS that shy, sad girl again."
"How so?"
"She's trying to rejuvenate her music career, we think, and she's scared. She's questioning the decision she made nine years ago, and is sad."
Lucas smiled, "You're right, she's regressing. We're dealing with Haley James, not Haley Scott. And she ALWAYS needed a friend. One of us needs to talk to her."
Jake looked at his friends, "Lucas, you're out. Despite the fact that you were her best friend, you've got the brother-in-law factor going on now. And me, well, I haven't really known her much longer than Nathan has."
Mouth bowed his head, "I'll try. We've been friends almost as long as her and Lucas."
"You're a good man Mouth."
He nodded his head, "Hey, wait, does anyone know how to contact her?"
"Check with the nanny."
Nathan smiled when he opened the door and saw Joey, "The girls are still sleeping."
"Late night?"
"They were really missing their mom."
"Nathan, I'm sorry. I only met her once, but I can tell that the kids really adore her. She must be a really great person."
"Yeah, something like that."
"How is her mom? Will she be back soon?"
"My mother-in-law is fine. My wife isn't visiting her parents. That's just a story for the kids," Nathan pauses briefly, "She left me. She wants a divorce."
"Oh Nathan," she hugs him, "What do you want?"
"For my kids to be happy again."
"They will be. And I'll do everything I can to help."
"Thanks Joey, that means a lot to me."
Joey smiles softly at her employer, "Anytime."