"The course of love never did run smooth."
William Shakespeare
He was running, hard and fast. The grass was long, coming up to his knees and tickling his legs as he sprang through the field. It was bright outside, the sun shining down on him warmly. He held his arms out as he ran, enjoying the wind blowing on his skin. The field was large. It took him a long time to run from one side to the other, but he didn't get tired. He loved this field. It was next to the park where the rive court was and it seemed like the only place that hadn't been touched by Tree Hill construction or house-building projects yet. It was empty and he loved it. When he reached the other side of the field, stopped. He found himself at the edge of the forest. It looked sinister and he heard voices, whispering. So he turned and walked back through the field, where it was pleasant. He looked at the flowers, took it all in.
It was quiet and peaceful.
That was until he heard his mother's voice.
"Jamie!" She said, her voice joyful. He turned, but didn't see her. Where was she? His heart pounded and he spun around, but she still wasn't there.
He started running, looking for her. "Mama!" He called, wondering where she was. Or where she had gone. As he ran, he tripped over a stick lying in the grass and just before he hit the ground, he shut his eyes and braced for impact.
But it never came.
When he opened his eyes, he was in his bed and his mom was standing in the doorway.
"Good morning, buddy." She said as she walked in and kissed his forehead. "Now get dressed, you're coming to the studio with me today. Aunt Peyton says she has news."
Jamie buried his head in his pillow and let out a loud, dramatic groan. "But mama, it's the first day of summer, don't I get to sleep in?" He asked, looking up at her.
His mother smirked and shook her head, "Alright fine. If you want to sleep in, go ahead. I was gonna go get some donuts on the way to the studio, but I guess Aunt Peyton and I will just have to eat it all ourselves."
Jamie's head came up slowly and then he pushed himself out of the bed. "Alright you win." HE smiled and started to get himself dressed.
Nathan walked up behind Haley where she stood in Jamie's doorway, "Do you want me to come too? I'd sure love some donuts." He kissed her cheek gently.
Haley turned around and shook her head. "No. I want you to go down to the river court and shoot for a while." She said seriously, gripping his arms.
"Have I ever told you you're the best wife ever?" Nathan kissed her gently.
Haley pulled away and shook her head, "Best wife ever, I like it." She smiled, "I'll bring you home a donut." She said quickly before turning back to Jamie, who had just finished getting ready. "Come on, dork. Let's get going."
Haley took her son's hand and led him out to the car where they both then climbed inside. It took them 20 minutes to get to the studio, counting the time it took them to pick up the donuts.
When they came in, Peyton greeted them warmly. She was obviously in a good mood and Haley wondered if it had anything to do with Lucas, considering it had been a month and a half since Lindsay had left and his car had been parked outside. Maybe he and Peyton were patching things up.
"Hey there!" Peyton said, cheerfully, meeting them by the doorway. She bent down to meet Jamie's eyes, "Jamie! What are you doing here? It's summer, shouldn't you be sleeping right now?" She asked with a grin.
Jamie shook his head, a donut in his hand and all over his face. "I wanted to get up to see you!" He said with a large grin.
Peyton gave Haley a questioning look.
Haley smirked and rubbed Jamie's head, "I bribed him with donuts, but he still wanted to see you though, right Jamie?" She asked, nudging his shoulder.
Jamie nodded quickly, "Yep!"
Peyton smirked and rolled her eyes. "Well that's what I like to hear." She gave him a high five.
"So Jamie, why don't you go play with Uncle Lucas, he's on the roof waiting for you."
Jamie nodded, grabbed two donuts, one for him and the other for Lucas, and then ran up the stairs excitedly. He loved his uncle.
Haley raised her eyebrows at Peyton. "Why is Lucas here? Something you want to tell me?" She asked.
Peyton shrugged quickly, "He said he wants to give us a try again, but slowly. So we're going out on our second first date tomorrow night. I think it's good. Things have been shaky lately and I just want to be comfortable around him again, you know?"
Haley nodded, "I'm really happy for you, Peyton and I hope things work out." She paused and sat down on the piano. "So is that the news I dragged myself out of bed for?"
Peyton's smile only grew. "No it's not. And I know this might be a lot, but just listen…I have a friend from LA that I was talking to the other day and he asked to hear your album so I sent it to him…and he loved it." She smiled, "It turns out he owns his own huge record label now and wants to sponsor to send you on a short tour over the summer around the US." She said, stifling her excitement. "What do you think?!"
Haley was completely caught off guard by that news. Her first reaction was to be happy. "Oh my god, Peyton! That's awesome, this is such great news." She hugged her friend, but as she did, a new thought crossed her mind:
Nathan and Jamie.
And as they pulled away from each other, Peyton could tell there was something wrong.
Haley stared at her friend, "This is not good news." She sat back, conflicted. "What about Nathan and Jamie? I can't just leave them behind like last time." She paused, looking at the ground. "I can't go on the tour. Family is too important." She decided.
Peyton shook her head. "You don't have to give your family up, Haley. They'll support your decision, plus, it's only three months this time." She pointed out. "I would just hate to see you give up your dream before even talking to Nathan about it."
Haley was still for a moment and then she gave a small nod. "You're right. Can you and Lucas watch Jamie while I go talk to Nathan really quick?" She asked.
Peyton nodded, "Of course."
Haley gave Peyton a thankful look and then rushed out to her car. She drove to the river court in a rush, trying to figure out what she was going to say to him. She knew this was a sensitive subject for their relationship.
When she arrived, Nathan ran up to the hoop and dunked it. She felt a burst of pride, but it was quickly drowned out by her nerves as Nathan spotted her and waved.
She got out and walked to the court, "Hey Michael Jordan, how's it going?"
Nathan bounced the ball to her. "Pretty good. I'm on my way back, I think. Q's been helping me a lot, he's a good kid, you know."
"I know." She clutched the ball, tightly between her hands.
Nathan looked at her. He could read her better than anyone else. "What's wrong?" He asked, stepping closer.
Haley looked up at him. "Don't freak out…"
"Oh god. When you start a sentence like that it makes me want to freak out. You're not pregnant again, are you?" Nathan looked down at her stomach.
"No." She rolled her eyes. "One of Peyton's friends has a huge record label and they want me to go on another tour around the country this summer. And I know that it's short notice and that we don't have anyone to watch Jamie since that crazy nanny left. And I know he's still scared of being alone, but it's okay…whatever. I already kind of told Peyton I couldn't go anyway-"
Nathan took her by the shoulders. "Haley, slow down." He said, meeting her eyes. "Be honest. This rock tour, is it something you want to do?"
Haley looked back at him. "I don't want to leave you again."
Nathan shook his head. "That doesn't answer my question."
"Yes, okay?!" Haley said quickly. "This rock tour, all for me, it's something I've always dreamed about, but it's not worth losing my family over."
Nathan smirked, "Hey, you won't lose us. Haley, you have supported Jamie and I in everything we've done. The least we can do is return the favor."
"But I don't want to leave you."
Nathan shook his head. "You don't have to. It's summer, I'm currently unemployed. We can come with you." He grinned, "We're going on a rock tour!" He stepped forward and embraced her, excitedly.
Haley laughed, "You, Jamie and I are going on a rock tour!" She exclaimed quickly before then realizing something important. She pulled away from Nathan. "Oh no. What about Jamie?"
Nathan creased his eyebrows, "What about Jamie?"
Haley slapped her husband's arm. "Jamie is 5 years old, way too young to be exposed to the kind of stuff you see on a rock tour. We can't go."
"But it's your dream."
Haley sighed. "I have other dreams."
Nathan shook his head, "No I won't accept that. The tour is only three months. We can find someone to watch Jamie."
"Like who? Who has enough time and money to take care of a 5 years old boy?"
Nathan smirked. "Who do we know that has time, credibility, and a whole lot of money?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Brooke."
He nodded.
Haley shook her head. "That'd be perfect!" She exclaimed, "Jamie loves Brooke and Brooke loves Jamie. Plus, she can take him to the store and have Peyton watch when she needs it and she can spoil him so he doesn't miss us. It's perfect!"
Nathan nodded, "We're going on a rock tour!" HE tried again.
Haley embraced him. "We're going on a rock tour!" She repeated, "If Brooke says yes."
That night, after sharing the news with Peyton, Lucas and Jamie, Haley left the studio to go talk to Brooke, bringing Jamie with her in the hopes that his cuteness would help her case.
Haley knocked lightly on the door, but at first there came no reply, just loud talking inside the house, almost yelling. And just as she was about to try the door to see if it was unlocked, the door swung open to reveal a stone-faced Victoria in Brooke's doorway.
Victoria smirked, "Well if it isn't one of Brooke's so-called friends? Here to ask for money? Well I'll have you know-"
Brooke cut Victoria off, walking up behind her. "Mother." She said, spitting the word out like it was trash. "Get out and please, don't come back." She ordered, her voice having a harshness that made her sound chillingly like her mother.
Brooke's mother glanced back at her before stepping out of the house, calmly, past Jamie and Haley with her head held high, as if she was proud of what she had just done.
Brooke stood in the hallway by the door after her mother had gone, eyes swimming. She turned quickly so they wouldn't see. "Sorry about that." She said, voice cracking slightly as she tried to compose herself. She walked into the kitchen and leaned over the counter, her back still to them. "Maybe you guys should come back later."
Haley was about to protest, but before she could, Jamie was walking inside.
He walked over to Brooke, "Aunt Brooke, why are you crying?" He asked, looking up at her.
Brooke turned around and shook her head. "I'm just…sad, Jamie. I'm crying because I'm sad."
Jamie reached up and took her hand in his, "Why?" He asked.
Brooke stared down at him and then glanced at Haley. "Jamie, I want you to know how great your mom is. She loves you so much and she would do anything for you. Don't ever take that for granted, okay buddy?" She said, squeezing his hand.
Jamie nodded and sent a smile in his mother's direction before turning back to Brooke. "I'm sorry your mommy wasn't like mine." He said innocently.
Brooke smiled, a tear falling down her cheek. "Me too." She crouched down and hugged him tightly before pulling away. "Why don't you go upstairs and watch TV while your mommy and I talk for a little bit?" She suggested.
Jamie nodded and ran up the stairs happily. When they heard the door shut upstairs, Brooke and Haley started talking.
Haley sat down in one of the chairs. "What is she doing back in town?" She asked, referring to Victoria because she knew that Brooke had fired her a couple of weeks ago.
Brooke looked down at the ground. "It's nothing. She's just up to her old stuff, like always." She ran her fingers through her hair, frustrated.
Haley looked at Brooke. "Don't do that. It's not nothing. She's a terrible mom to you and whenever she's in town, she tears you apart and that's not okay." She insisted, "What happened?"
Brooke didn't look like she wanted to share, but she did anyway. "She's back to take the company. She wants everything because apparently it was 50/50 between us and if she can convince the board I'm not important, they can drop me." She shook her head. "She said I'm not capable enough to handle the company. And I said if she could admit she was wrong during my childhood and could say that she loved me more than the company, then I'd give her sketches for the new line and we could work 50/50 again. But all she said was whatever."
Brooke let out an exasperated sigh, "All she had to say was I love you and she couldn't."
Haley got up and hugged her friend. "I'm sorry, Brooke. I'm so sorry." She rubbed her back.
When they pulled away, Brooke had composed herself. "Enough about Bitchtoria." She said with another sigh, "What did you need?"
Haley smiled at her for a moment, silently wondering if this was the right time to ask her. Ultimately, she decided it was now or never. "So a label called and they want me to go on a tour."
Brooke opened her mouth to say something, but Haley didn't let her.
"Before you say anything, I talked to Nathan already and he said that he wants to come with me so we won't be apart." She told Brooke happily before getting to the point, "The only problem is that Nathan and I both agreed that rock tour environment is not for kids so Jamie…" She trailed off as Brooke nodded.
"You want me to watch him…" Brooke smiled, "How long?"
Haley smiled, "We would leave at the end of this week and come back exactly three months and two days later. Is that okay?" She asked nervously, fearful that would be a deal breaker with Brooke.
She nodded slowly. "So you're saying that I get three weeks alone to spoil Jamie without tutor mom breathing down my back? Sounds good to me. Does Jamie know yet?"
Haley nodded with a grin. "We told him on the way here. And we brought his bags over too so he can start getting settled."
Brooke creased her eyebrows. "What if I had said no?"
Haley smirked, "Brooke Davis saying no to spending time with her godson? We knew that wouldn't happen."
Brooke laughed, "Well as long as you're okay with him coming to work with me and maybe witnessing World War Davis." She said, "I'll try to keep him away from her as much as I can."
Haley nodded. "Yea. And make sure he doesn't look her in the eyes or he might turn to stone." She joked.
Brooke laughed and nodded. "I'm excited. Let's go get his bags."
They made their way to the door, but it opened before they got there. And in stormed Lucas, Peyton following quietly behind him.
"Come on in." Brooke said, sarcastically. "Look if you and Peyton are looking to get it on right now, there's a kid in the house so find somewhere else. Preferably not on my furniture. I suggest the backseat of a car, it's pretty romantic." She shrugged.
Lucas smirked and shook his head. "Actually, I came to talk about Jamie. I hear he's staying with you because you're his godmother, but can I point out that I'm his godfather so shouldn't I get some time with him?" He asked, looking over Brooke at Haley, but it was Brooke who answered.
"You can have him on weekends or something, how's that?" She asked, giving him an annoyed look.
Lucas shook his head. "As godparents, we should split time with him."
"This isn't joint custody. He's just staying with me for a while. What do you care? Do you think that by the end of three months he'll like me better than you?" Brooke asked, playfully, raising her eyebrows.
Lucas smirked and rolled his eyes, "Uh, you wish." He shook his head, "Look, I just want to be his fun Uncle Lucas, is that too much to ask?" He looked at Haley for an answer.
But Brooke answered again. "You can be his fun Uncle Lucas, on weekends." She smiled.
This argument went back and forth between Brooke and Lucas for a while with Haley and Peyton watching silently. Neither of the godparents were actually mad, but they both weren't backing down either. They argued with teasing and banter, hoping eventually the other would give in, but neither did. And all Haley and Peyton could do was watch. That was until, during a frustrated paused between them, Peyton decided to speak.
"I have an idea."
Brooke looked past Lucas at her friend. "Let's hear it, P. Sawyer."
Peyton stepped forward, "This house has six bedrooms, including the master. We have plenty of room so why doesn't Lucas just stay in a room upstairs for the three months so he can spend time with Jamie? He can help out and take Jamie when you're at work sometimes, plus I'll be here too so I can take him sometimes. They say it takes a village, so why don't we start one?" She smirked.
Brooke looked up at Lucas, narrowing her eyes and then nodding. "I'm okay with it if you are. But you have to buy groceries every other week."
Lucas didn't look pleased. "Why can't we stay at my house?"
Brooke rolled her eyes.
Peyton stepped in again, "Because Jamie goes to your house all the time. He's barely ever been here." She said, "So is it a plan?"
Haley spoke for the first time. "I like that plan." She said, giving Lucas a look.
He nodded, "Fine. Looks like you've got a new tenant, Brooke Davis."
Brooke smirked and nodded, "Two, technically." She said, referring to Jamie. "Guess we have some men in this house, huh?" She chuckled, looking at Peyton.
Peyton nodded and shrugged, "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" She asked.
"Depends on if you play your cards right." Haley said as she walked towards the door to get Jamie's stuff.
"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."
Buddha
A/N: I've been waiting to post this story for a long time. I love One Tree Hill and I hope you guys like it. Please review! Thanks!
