"You've reached Nathan Scott, leave a message and I'll get back to you."
"Hey Nate...give me a call back okay? I just got back from the doctors and you can drop the kids off whenever. I'll be home all afternoon." Haley said over the phone pushing away tears and trying to remain calm as she left the message on her ex-husbands phone. They had been divorced for two years now but they still remained friendly. They had to, they had two kids together. Lydia was barely one when Haley filed for divorce and they officially separated. She had to; the fighting wasn't good for either of them nor the kids. They both blamed it on the fact that they got married young, and had Jamie young, neither of them got to live their dreams to their full potential and resented each other for it. Now that they were separate they would be able to. Well Nathan was able to.
She also missed Nathan like hell. He was the love of her life. She tried to put on a brave face and act like she didn't, especially in front of him. He was happy. He was a basketball coach and there was nothing he loved more than his job, aside from his kids. She didn't want to ruin that. It came above everything to her, his happiness mattered more than hers.
She started teaching again since they separated. She no longer was Mrs. Scott, and that was a hard fact to face for her but she was learning to respond to the name Ms. James. But she knew, ever since the day they met he was her soul mate. And he always would be. She didn't tell anyone this, although she thought Lucas knew. Her best friend always knew somehow.
For Lydia it was nothing, she didn't remember a time when she wasn't being shuffled from house to house. Luckily since the pair got along they were about to settle out a custody arraignment on their own and work out every detail together. It was hardest on Jamie. He always knew his parents as a loving couple and preferred them together. But he learned to accept the fact that that was how life would be from now on. The news Haley just got made her worried for more reasons than one, especially since the little boy was going to get another shocking revelation.
"Knock knock." Nathan said walking into the house.
"I'm in the kitchen." Haley called out.
"Hey mom." Jamie said running by.
"Hi." She said waiting for him to come into the kitchen but he started up the stairs.
"I have to feed Chester."
"Hi momma!" Lydia said at Haley's feet.
"Hey baby." Haley squatted down to hug her.
Nathan walked in the kitchen and instantly noticed that Haley had been crying. "Hales?" He said questionativly.
"Lyd, do you want a snack? How about you go grab an apple from the fridge and I will cut it up for you." Haley said standing up as the little girl ran off.
"Is something wrong?"
"We need to talk." She said quietly.
"What's wrong?" He questioned becoming worried.
"Nathan, please not here." She said nodding to Lydia who was handing her an apple.
"Lyd, how about momma cuts up the apple and then we put on the Little Mermaid for you!"
"Yay!" The little girl cheered.
Haley sat on her bed...their bed...their old bed...waiting for Nathan. He slowly walked into the room and shut the door.
"Lydia is watching the movie, and Jamie is playing ball out back. Now what is wrong, did something happened at the doctors?"
"You should sit down." She whispered as he took a seat next to her. "So I went to the hospital to get my yearly mammogram done." She started as tears filled his eyes knowing what would come next. "I have cancer Nathan."
"No" He stuttered out barely above a whisper. "How...No..What?"
"I...They said..." She tried to speak but couldn't. The words caught in her throat.
"How is this possible...no one else in your family..." Nathan questioned shaking his head.
"It doesn't have to be genetic. I have a bunch of appointments lined up and obviously I will tell you as everything goes on what's happening...and I know we aren't together anymore but I like to think we're friends...and you're the father of my children so you should know first."
"Hales...how are you being so strong?" He asked openly crying in front of her.
"I have to be. Because if I'm not would spend my last days crying and not with my children, happy."
"These aren't your last days; you are going to get the best treatment possible..." He insisted, his voice course. Nathan reached for her hand to reinforce his words.
"Nathan, we have to be realistic...if anything happens take care of them. Make sure they know I love them, make sure they remember me...especially Lydia. She's so young."
"Nothing is going to happen" He said making her look at him by brushing his hand along her chin. "Okay, you are going to fight like hell and beat cancers ass. You will make it out of this. For our kids and for me...I will be at every appointment. I will be by your side through it all. I can't and won't do this alone Haley. I will not raise our children by myself." Haley inched her hand up his neck and then leaned in to kiss him.
"That was..." Nathan said trying to explain it as he slid his t-shirt on.
"It was you comforting me. We are dealing with something horrible and both of our emotions are out of wack. It was nothing so don't worry about me getting attached." Haley said through her teeth knowing it was more but not wanting to make him stand by her because of pity. She buttoned the last button of her shirt and walked out of the bedroom leaving Nathan behind only to wish what had just happened meant something to her like it did to him.
Haley closed the door behind her and walked into the bathroom across the hall to make sure she looked presentable. She wiped the tears from her eyes and tried to suck it up. She missed him so much, but with her clock ticking she knew they would never be back together.
"How about I stay for dinner kids?" Nathan asked as he walked into the kitchen, where Jamie and Lydia sat, Haley in front of them chopping tomatoes at the counter.
"Yay!" Lydia cheered as Jamie looked at him, knowing something was up. Sure his parents still talked but never to the point that his father would stick around for hours after dropping them off.
"We will talk about it after they go to sleep." Nathan whispered walking by his ex-wife.
"Mom, isn't Aunt Brooke watching us tonight?" Jamie questioned.
"Oh yeah" She said as it had completely slipped her mind. "She is coming in like...half an hour." She said looking at the clock. "She will probably pick up some food for you two then." Haley shifted to put the tomatoes away. "Jamie, why don't you go pack your bag, and I will help Lyd with hers." Haley moved around and lifted the little girl up to set her on her hip.
"I'll help you bud." Nathan said following Jamie to his room.
"Dad." Jamie said quietly, shutting his door behind him.
"What's up, Jaime?"
"I was going to ask you that, is something wrong?"
"Why would you think that?" Nathan asked, trying to keep a straight face. It was too soon to tell him, especially without Haley there. It was her decision of when to tell him.
"Cause you never stay this long."
"Your mom and I...I was just going to stay after so we could work out a new schedule since summer is nearly over."
"Oh" He said knowing that usually did take time. "Can we...I know it's...but could..."
"What is it, Jamie?" Nathan asked taking a seat next to him on his bed.
"I just, I know it's far off but could we spend the holidays together? All of us?...I don't care where but can we celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas together?"
Nathan's heart pinged, knowing how much the divorce hurt Jamie...and himself as well "Of course, if that's what you want, your mom and I will work it out."
"Thanks" He said smiling "And can I get a new TV?"
Nathan chuckled and shook his head "I'll talk to your mom about that one."
"Jamie wants us to spend the holidays together...as a family. It's really important to him." Nathan said as they shut the front door after saying good bye to the kids for the night.
"Oh, okay, that's nice." Haley whispered.
"What's wrong?" He questioned turning to face her.
"I just...we failed them. We couldn't make it work and...He is hurting because of us." Nathan enveloped her in a hug, frankly feeling the same as her. "And this might be my last Christmas with them"
"Don't talk like that; you are going to be fine. I know it."
"Thank you for standing by me."
"There's nowhere else I would be. So what's first?" He asked leading them to sit on the couch.
"I have an appointment at the doctors tomorrow to discuss everything."
"Do you want me to watch the kids?"
"Actually...I'd rather you come with me."
"Oh okay." He said, looking into her eyes. "Of course I will."
"It's early in the morning so the kids will be at Brooke's...how am I going to tell Brooke? Or Lucas, or Peyton, or Karen, or my family."
"With me by your side through it all" Nathan said pulling Haley close to him as they both started crying.