The Long Road

Chapter 1

Background: Set in season 3, where time has moved pretty fast. By the time the time capsule video came out, it is already the end of the school year. The school shooting never occurred and Haley and Nathan are still on the rocks.

Authors Note: I mostly write X-Men fic, but I do watch OTH and when I got the first 3 seasons on DVD, I forgot how great the Nathan-Haley dynamic is. Enjoy, be kind and please review !

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"Hey" Haley said softy. Nathan was on a bench outside overlooking the garden. She thought he looked so handsome in his tuxedo.

"Hey." Nathan replied, standing up quickly. He was at a loss of words over seeing how beautiful Haley looked tonight. But he knew Haley would be upset with what he said on the video and that she avoided him. He was happy to see her now.

"I'm glad you made it.. I wanted to see you .. but I was afraid and with it being prom and everything…that stupid video... I'm sorry."

"Nathan it's ok you don't have to apologize."

"No, but I want to .. I was angry and hurt during that time, I didn't mean what I said."

"No, Nathan you did .. you might want to take it back now, but you meant it Nathan.. even if it was only for a moment.. "

"Haley, please I'm sorry."

"Nathan, I'm not mad about the video, I mean, yes I was, obviously, but … (composing herself).. it's our senior prom Nathan and I don't want to get into our issues .. at least not for the next few hours.."

"I want to talk about this Haley.. I can't tell you enough of how sorry I am."

"You're right, we have to talk, but I thought about this night ever since I was a freshmen, and I never thought I would be dealing with so much right now, let alone be married, but I pictured myself having fun with my friends and my date would be this incredible handsome guy.. Nathan, I know we have a lot to deal with but right now I don't want to fight, I don't want to talk.. I just want to dance with that incredible handsome guy.. so please Nathan." Haley extended her hand.

Nathan took it and smiled. They went inside and danced to a slow song on the dance floor. She buried her head on his chest, not wanting to think of all the problems that lay before them. Right now she just wanted to just enjoy the moment.

After the prom there was an after party at a beach house. Eventually, Haley separated herself from the crowd and walked along the beach, stopping not too far from the Scott beach house, where she ran into an unexpected guest. Stuffing the papers he had just handed to her in her purse, she leaned against the railing and took in the cool night and the sounds of waves crashing. A million emotions were going through her, she didn't know what to say or to do. She placed a hand on her stomach, hoping for everything to work out.

A short time later, Nathan came out looking for her.

"I thought I'd find you here." Nathan said, walking up to Haley. "It looked like you had fun out there tonight….I'm sorry for messing it up."

"..." She sighed.

"Haley look."

"No Nathan, please no more apologizing for the video or any of that… it's done with and over… the video just made me realize certain things .. it made me realize how much I care for you and how much I love you…and how much I hurt you.. which makes saying this that much harder."

"Haley, what're you talking about?" Nathan asked confused.

"Nathan, I'm so sorry for leaving you and making you feel like I gave up on our marriage(tearing up)"

"Haley.."

"We keep hurting each other.. and the only way to do that is to stop."

"What're you getting at?"

Tears fell from her face. "I'm done Nathan .. that's what I mean .. for the past year, all I've been trying to do is bring us back together. You get close to me and then you pull away.. you've been doing this for months .. I've been fighting so hard for us but all this time .. you gave up on us before I even got back.. I never had a chance but you still kept giving my hopes up." She opened her purse and threw the papers to the ground.

"It was bad enough you told the whole world what a mistake it was to marry me but you had to put it in writing too." She said storming off, tears in her eyes.

Nathan reached down and picked up the papers. He was shocked to see the annulment papers he signed earlier. He thought it was lost to the fire but apparently he was wrong.

He started to run after her.

"Haley!"

"Get away from me."

He grabbed her arm and the both of them stop.

"What Nathan !?!.. what more do you want from me.. (crying hysterically now).. I can't .. I can't do this…"

"Haley please.."

But her breating only got more erratic and she held on to her stomach. She looked down to see blood had seeped through her silk dress. Nathan continued to hold her arm as he was suddenly very scared and before she knew it she had collapsed on the sand.

"Haley.. Haley wake up please!" Nathan pleaded, tears running down his face.

To Be Continued ….