This is a short, 5 chapter fic on the cycle of grief; on which Naley experience, though mostly Nathan. Takes place when Nathan heard the news that he wasn't going to Duke. Nothing happen to Lucas, only Nathan got caught. Haley's still pregnant.

Depression-

"…I'm sorry, but we do not allow cheaters on to our school. We're sorry Mr. Scott, but you are no longer accepted into Duke" the administrator spoke sternly, followed by hanging up. Nathan kept the phone by his ears, stunned, shocked, but above all ruined; his dream was shattered. Slowly taking the phone from his ear, he placed it on the table and leaned his head into his hand. Everything he worked for, sacrificed, was gone; all in one sentence.

"Nathan, so I been thinking about…" Haley stopped, staring at Nathan. She walked towards him worried.

"What's wrong?" Haley asked, sitting beside him. He turned to her. His eyes were all teary, as if he had allergies. He locked eyes with her; the image of a frightened boy appeared through his eyes.

"I'm not going to Duke anymore" he faintly spoke, looking down at his hands once more. Haley turned her head sideways, turning his head towards her again.

"What do you mean?" she asked shaken. He looked down at her stomach. How was he now suppose to provide food for their child, then money to the school…that is if any school accepted him?

"I got caught. They know about me shaving points off in the championships. They know everything. What am I suppose to do Hales?" he asked wretchedly, leaning his head into her neck. Haley tighten her arms over his waist.

"It'll be ok. Another school will accept you. You're Nathan Scott, any school would be lucky to have you on their team. Juts wait and see, things will come together" Haley assured him, praying she was right. His scholarship was an ease on their payment issues. Now that it was gone, and the school offer itself, where would they to go? With what money, and a baby soon to be born? Graduating was suppose to be stress free not the opposite.

"I'm going to go to the river court" Nathan said emotionless, rising from the couch. Haley looked up at him, his teary eyes.

"Do you want me to go with you?" she asked. He shook his head, followed by swinging his hand over his long hair.

"No, I need to be alone. I…I'll be back later" he said, turning around, making his way out of the house.

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Haley made her was to a familiar house. Once she has known since childhood. She knocked on the back door, waiting to be answered. It as soon opened by a smiling blonde.

"Hey buddy, what's wrong?" Lucas asked, hugging his best friend. She hugged him in return, letting the worry decrease.

"It's Nathan" Haley spoke. Lucas stepped back, waiting for her to explain further. Haley sat on the edge of his bed, tapping her hands on her swollen stomach. "Duke called, they declined his offer…Lucas what are we suppose to do? Go to? And with what money? Plus the baby is on its was…" Haley rambled on.

"Ok, first off, breath. Why did Duke decline his offer?" Lucas asked, sitting beside Haley.

"They know about the championships. They know he shaved pointes" Haley answered. Lucas looked away, taking in the news. Do they know about him as well? He breathed out heavily.

"It'll be alright" he said unsure. Haley turned to him, becoming worried once more. "Haley, it's just another obstacle in yours and Nathan's path. So, he wont be attending his desired school, but hey. There are more schools out there" Lucas replied. Haley weakly smiled.

"I don't think things will be as simple. Not this time…can you do me a favor?" Haley asked. Lucas swung his arm over her shoulder, smiling.

"Anything" he replied.

"Can you go talk to Nathan, maybe you'll make him feel better than I could" Haley said.

"Sure" Lucas answered, rising from his bed.

"Do you want anything before I leave?" Lucas asked. Haley sniffed, she felt tears ready to burst out.

"No, I'm ok. I'm just going to hang out with Karen. Go talk to him" Haley said, walking away from his bedroom to the living room.

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Lucas walked over the short hill, placing his hands in his pocket. He sat next to Nathan on the bench.

"Hey" Lucas replied. Nathan kept his eyes fixed on the basketball he held.

"My life's over Luke. Everything I worked for, is gone. Gone forever" Nathan said dully, spinning the basketball around.

"That's not true. You have Haley, and your son is soon to be here. You have your friends, you have me. Nathan, this is like I told Haley, just another obstacle. Maybe Duke is not the answer, but there are other schools" Lucas said.

"You don't get it. Duke was it. It was the place I was going to go…I'm a failure" Nathan muttered.

"No you're not. Stop your moaning and go look for other schools. This is not the end" Lucas said, jumping of the bench to face Nathan.

"But it is! It is…where am I suppose to go look at now? I never searched for other schools, other than Duke. And if, if I was accepted, with what money? I have no financial aid. Duke had everything, it provided everything! Everything I wanted" Nathan explained, gripping the ball harder.

"Well, you're not going to find out by just sitting there. Nate, you have a family to think about, this is not all about you now. I know for the moment this seems horrible, but in every dark place, light will shine its way in. I believe things will clear up. All you have to do is be patient" Lucas said. Nathan looked up at him for the first time.

"But for how long? School's about to be over-

"I don't know. I don't know. You have to be a man about this Nate. Think positive-

"I cant! My dreams are shattered. This is all I ever wanted" Nathan finished. Lucas sighed. His half brother was one stubborn guy. He doesn't know how Haley deals with him to this day.

"I'm sorry this is happening, but it happened. Not get up, deal with it, and move on" Lucas replied sternly. Nathan looked away, he didn't get it.

"Why didn't you get caught?" Nathan asked. Lucas looked at him appalled; he asks him this, above all?

"What? Are you really asking me this?" Lucas asked him. Nathan turned his stare back at Lucas.

"You also shaved pointes. I wasn't the only one" Nathan replied.

"Because I was only allowed o play for fifteen minutes. Remember? I have HCM. Do you think they would blame the whole entire shit on me? You did Nathan, not me" Lucas answered. Nathan looked down, dropping the ball.

"You're right" he answered dejectedly. " I did this, me only" Nathan finished, walking away from Lucas.

"Nathan! Wait!" Lucas shouted out. Though Nathan didn't turn around or say anything at all. He kept walking to his vehicle and drove away, to who knows where.

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"What do you plan to do?" Brooke asked. Haley sighed, resting her head on her pillow.

"I don't know. We haven't even talk about it. It's been a week. All he does, is be sad. I hate seeing him like this; this vulnerable" Haley replied.

"I'm sorry. Poor Nathan…have you refused the school at least?" Brooke asked.

"Yeah, I did. It's kind of ironic, if you think about. At first we were fighting about what school we should be going to, and now, no schools are willing to accept us" Haley said.

"Does he know that?" Brooke asked.

"No, I cant tell him. Not the way he is. He's like he was after the limo accident. He wont let me in. I don't know how much- Oh, hi honey" Haley said as she saw Nathan walk into the living room.

"Hi Nathan" Brooke said. Nathan simply smiled at them and walked p the stairs.

"See, this is how he's like all the time. I…he wont even say he needs help" Haley said, as a tear rolled down her face. Brooke hugged her friend.

"It'll be ok. Something will pop out, other than your kid, and just watch. Things will be alright again" Brooke soothed Haley.

"Thanks Tigger" Haley slightly chuckled.

"Well I have to go, and don't worry Hales. Things will brighten up. They will" Brooke said, hugging Haley once more and departing from the Scott residence. Haley sighed, wiping away her tears. Forcing a smile, she walked up the staircase. She heard a noise, and it was coming for her room. Slowly walking towards the room, Haley tilt the door half open. Finally what she was hoping appeared. Nathan was crying, letting his emotions out, than how he has been: numb. Haley walked to him, hugging him. Nathan tried to stop crying, but he couldn't.

"I'm sorry Hales" he sobbed, hugging his wide dearly.

"It's not your fault" Haley replied.

"But it is, it's all my fault. If I didn't agree, this would of never happened. I'm a failure Hales" Nathan cried out. Hugging him tighter herself, Haley then couldn't help but cry as well.

"I'm sorry. Please don't leave me" Nathan said faintly.

"It's ok, I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. I'm not going anywhere" Haley softly spoke repeatedly. He finally had his breakdown. Something that had been bottled in for a while.

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