A/N: More of the behind the scenes moments of the Scotts - and how they became a family. Also, I do know that the gravestones say that Keith died in March but the continuity monkeys at our beloved OTH are not exactly famous for making sense (Jamie's movable birthday, anyone?). If Seasons 3 & 4 are all of senior year, than something had to give.
Thinking about doing a chapter for the missing years, and season 5 - depends on if anyone wants it. Please R/R and enjoy!!
July, Summer before Senior Year
Nathan sat in his dorm room, reading a letter. Naked except for a pair of shorts, he felt the breeze of the air conditioner and sighed in relief. Some days, it barely worked at all.
"I was a coward…" he read Haley's handwriting. Her weekly letter, a mixture of regret and hope. Of asking forgiveness, and offering love.
A knock on his door startled him.
"Coming!" He called, slipping the letter under a pillow. He saw her through the peephole and pulled on a shirt before tugging open the door.
She smiled.
"You're gonna get caught," he warned her with a slightly flirty grin. The girls' program dorms were on the other side of the campus.
"So let's go to the cafeteria," she smiled back.
"I'll meet you there," Nathan promised.
"I'll wait," she smiled, stepping into his room.
He gave her a steady look. She shrugged and left with a toss of her long dark hair.
She was nice, and pretty, and willing - Nathan knew. The problem was him. No matter how angry he'd gotten, he'd didn't seem to be able to let go of thinking of himself as married.
Nathan slipped Haley's latest letter back out from under the pillow. Looked at her distinctive handwriting and sighed. Some days he was still so angry and betrayed, he could barely breathe. Other days, he missed her so much that he found himself grinding his teeth.
He loved her. He'd never loved anyone like that before, and he knew he could go a whole lifetime and never find another love like that again.
But that didn't mean he could picture himself trusting her again, no matter how much he tried.
He took put the letter into a small lockbox with a pile of her other letters, and a couple from his mom that had had money in them – with pleas that he call. And a postcard Lucas had sent, with the picture of main street on it – and in blue letters along the bottom; Greetings from Tree Hill, North Carolina!
He dragged a fingertip across the glossy words and felt a pang of… something. Shaking his head, Nathan closed it up and pushed the drawer closed. He pressed the palm of his hand against his wedding ring through his shirt and then inhaled. Even after he dropped his arm, he could feel the circle of it against his skin.
Whether he wore it on the outside or not, he was someone's - Haley's - husband. He'd said always, and forever. And he'd meant it. Even if she hadn't.
In his mind's eye, he remembered his mother admitting to her affair. Shaking his head, he tried to let it go.
Nathan followed the girl. The door closing behind him with a firm click.
August, Senior Year
Nathan looked through the window, a quizzical expression on his face. "Keith? What the hell?"
Keith leaned over and pushed the passenger door of the truck open. Nathan climbed in. "Hey."
"Seriously, man – everyone's been looking for you. How are you?"
"How are you?" Keith responded, seriously.
"No worries," he shrugged. "Ready for the season."
"I don't mean basketball," Keith sighed, putting the car in gear and merging into traffic. The river court faded behind them.
"Where you been, anyway?"
"Around," Keith avoided answering. "And I'm going back there, too. But I needed to talk to you, now that you're home."
"What's up?" Nathan asked, searching his uncle's profile for a clue.
"Look, I figure by now the two of us have had all of secrets that we can handle. So I thought you should know – this summer, while you were at High Flyers, your dad tried to get your emancipation canceled."
"He what?!" Nathan fell back against the seat in surprise.
"Yeah, uh…"Keith exhaled loudly. "Here's the thing, there's a clause in the law that states that if an emancipated minor resumes living with their family in a way that's inconsistent with being independent, then the whole thing can be rescinded."
"You're serious?" Nate rubbed his face in shock. "So this is what all that family unity shit was about? Just another of Dan's ploys? So, what? I'm under his control again?"
"No, no…" Keith held up his hand. "Look, the fly in the ointment was that you got married. Unless you get that annulled – not divorced – you stay emancipated."
"I signed annulment papers," Nathan confessed hoarsely, appalled at how his father had played him.
"Dan couldn't produce them. Until he can, you're OK."
Nathan thought for a long moment. "Keith, I'm grateful you told me all this, but…"
"How did I know?" he nodded to his nephew. "Jules – Emily – told me his plan. Dan can be indiscreet, in certain circumstances. When I found out, I gave a lawyer a retainer for you." Keith fumbled in shirt pocket and produced a business card. "Here's the name. They still have the balance, because it didn't get too far. A copy of your marriage certificate was all it took."
Nathan slipped the card into his wallet. "You did this for me," he mused.
"Sometimes I feel kinda bad that I didn't get to know you better when you were growing up," his uncle admitted, glancing at him. "But we're family. When you emancipated yourself from Dan, you did something I wish I'd done 20 years ago. I admire you, Nathan. I know it hasn't been easy."
Nate looked out the window and didn't respond.
"Have you figured out what you're going to do now?"
"I don't know, I mean – can I live in the house?"
"You can live anywhere you want. Your independence is safe. If you want to live there, then do it. Do whatever it takes to make your own dreams come true. And don't apologize for it."
He rubbed his short, dark hair, and thought. "My mom…."
"Yeah," Keith nodded.
They fell quiet. Keith realized that he'd driven them nearly to the beach. With a sigh, he made a u-turn and started them back towards the river court.
"So other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?" Keith finally said, teasingly.
"What?" Nathan asked, confused.
"A joke," his uncle sighed. "How was High Flyers? Have you heard from anyone? Seen anyone since you got back?"
Nathan shrugged. "It doesn't matter."
"It doesn't?"
"Nah. Not until I decide how I feel about it, anyway."
"It? You mean your dad? Or Luke? Or…Haley?"
"All of them, I guess. Even Tim transferred schools," Nathan scoffed. "Right now, I just want to get my game in front of the scouts. Get to Duke, and out of Tree Hill."
Keith gave him a half-smile. "One good thing you did get from your father? You think about the long game. A lot of guys your age can't see that far."
"How about guys your age?" Nathan challenged.
Keith shrugged. "I'm getting there. To be honest, there was something I wanted. But at the first sign of trouble, I just…walked away without a fight. I thought being bold meant I should be impatient – they're not the same."
Nate turned and gave Keith his full attention. "No, they're not," he agreed.
The older man sighed in frustration. "The things that really matter? They're messy."
"Look, are we talking about you… or…?"
"Me," Keith confirmed, gently. "I'm not gonna load you up with unasked advice. Besides, you have a good head on your shoulders."
They pulled up back at the river court, and he put the car in park.
"You going to be around?"
His uncle shook his head. "Not yet. But you can always call."
"Yeah," Nate responded, a little disappointed. He opened the door, but turned before he got out. "Keith? Thanks, man."
"No problem," he smiled. "Good luck."
"You too," Nathan reached in and shook his hand. "You, too."
September, Senior Year
In a flash of regret, Nathan turned and began walking back towards the apartment building. As he approached, he could hear Haley crying. Rubbing his mouth, he considered what to do.
On the one hand, he didn't want to send her the wrong message and tell her everything was going to be all right – when he wasn't sure it ever would be. On the other hand, it broke his heart to listen to her pain.
He stopped behind a Labor Day Sale!! sign and tried to decide. Then he heard his brother's voice, "Hales?"
"He wants a divorce," she told Lucas, her voice cracking.
"He said so?" Luke asked, not really surprised – but sad.
Nathan couldn't hear her reply, just renewed crying. Muffled, as though Luke was holding her against his chest. Soft nonsense noises, as his brother tried to soothe his wife.
"Tell me," Luke urged.
"He said he wants a divorce, what else is there to say?"
"Oh, Haley," Luke sympathized.
"It's my own fault," she said mournfully. "I just…thought I'd have the chance to be forgiven. To show him…"
"I know," Luke agreed.
Nathan looked up at the stars and took a deep breath.
"What can I do to help?"
"Nothing. I guess we have to wait a year…"
"A year from now, or a year from when you joined the tour?" Lucas asked.
There was silence, as though the whole town was waiting for the answer.
"Uh, a year from now…I think we said."
And then the little noises came back, the click of the "Walk/Do Not Walk" sign and the engines from the cars over on the highway.
"What does that mean?" Haley asked Luke softly.
"My brother isn't the type to say what he doesn't intend. I can't read his mind, but it sounds like he wants to give you guys as much of a chance as possible. A lot can happen in a year, Hales," he reminded her.
"Yeah," she agreed, as though hearing those words again made them more true.
"So? Have some faith," Luke urged.
Nathan nodded to himself, not quite smiling. He began walking back the way he came, before they could notice he'd been there. Echoing back, he could just barely hear Lucas telling Haley to go back to the apartment and get some sleep. And his wife agreeing, with a little more hope and a little less desperation than she'd had before.
October, Senior Year
Nathan stepped out from the bathroom, the steam escaping into the hall with him. He fixed the waistband on his shorts but left off his shirt, his skin still damp from his shower.
"Whoa," he stepped back, realizing he wasn't alone.
Lucas held a finger up to his lips. "Shhh," he indicated where Brooke slept on the couch with a nod of his head.
Nathan nodded, and opened the fridge. He found a near-empty carton of orange juice and finished it in a couple of loud gulps.
"So does this mean…"
Nathan shrugged. "Day at a time, man."
Lucas nodded. He looked at the wedding ring hanging from his brother's neck. And the bright white scar on his gut. Now that he wasn't quite as pissed as he had been, Lucas remembered all the wounds his brother was carrying. And winced.
He turned and set the timer on the coffee maker, so it would brew for Haley and Brooke before they had to leave for school.
"You need a ride to practice?" Nathan asked, pulling on his shirt.
"Yeah, actually," Luke grabbed his book bag and they quietly left the apartment – making sure the door locked behind them.
"Tell me you're gonna be ready for the Classic," Nathan instructed as they got into his car. "Because, man, you're still playing like ass."
"I know," Luke admitted. "But I'm trying, man."
"Try harder," Nate urged. "You're the one who gave me the speech about all the guys depending on us. I'm not the one letting them down."
"The tournament's early this year," Lucas grumbled.
"So another month or two would make all the difference?" he scoffed. "I don't buy it."
"Says the guy who trained 24/7 this summer," Luke mocked.
They fell into an uncomfortable silence. Every subject seemed full of conversational land mines.
"So…have you talked to Keith since he got back?" Luke finally offered, a small olive branch.
"Uh, actually," his brother admitted, "Before that."
Luke felt a sharp jab of pain, of envy. "What do you mean?"
"He helped me out last summer with some stuff."
"But…" Lucas trailed off, unsure how to react.
"Sucks to have the shoe on the other foot, doesn't it?" Nate demanded, glancing at him. "To have a stranger suddenly in your world and you frozen out?"
"That's not…" Luke took a deep breath.
His brother stayed silent, negotiating the early morning traffic to the old gym.
"You know what sucks the most about what you just said?" Lucas asked.
"What, that it's true?"
"No. You're full of shit on that. But you just called me a stranger."
Nate thought about it a moment. "You know, we tried to avoid it but the plain truth is - we've seen each other play since we were kids. So that's where I most feel like I know you, on the court. And lately, you're not you, man. It's like - I can't read you at all. Every move you make is tired. You're not the guy I need. Not the teammate. Not the brother."
"I know," Luke confessed, sincerely. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry," Nate instructed as he parked the car. "Be better."
"Yeah," Luke promised. "OK."
November, Senior Year
The bell over the door rang as they pushed into the diner.
Nathan looked up from the booth where he'd been waiting for them. A wan smile on his face. "Hey," he reached out his hand, and Haley took it.
Lucas slid into the booth across from them. He reached for Nate's water glass and took a few sips.
"The gravestone was delivered like they promised," Haley told her husband. "It looks good."
Lucas gave a bitter smile at the word 'good'.
"How's Karen?" Nathan asked.
"The same," Luke sighed. "Locked in her room."
"Is she gonna be OK with us going to this thing at Rachel's this weekend?"
"I don't know," he looked away. "I still don't know if I should go. It's barely been what..."
"10 days," Nathan noted, carefully. "She's grieving."
"They were gonna get married," Lucas said, his voice hoarse. "When I was growing up, it was the thing I prayed for more than anything." Luke's eyes were shiny with unshed tears.
Haley reached across the table with her free hand and gripped Luke's. Their fingers entwined, her other hand gripped tightly by her husband. The three sat, linked - and yet, broken. Quiet in the bustle of the restaurant.
Two waitresses stood behind the counter, watching. "You get their order?" One asked.
"Give 'em a minute," the other urged.
"These families that walk over from the cemetery," the first one observed. "Order nothing and tip lousy. We're not a church, you know."
"Give 'em a minute," the other one repeated, almost in a whisper. "I think it's those kids, from the school."
"Oh," said the first. "Oh, yeah. That was awful."
Across the room, the three sat next the window. Oblivious to the conversations about them and around them; united in their sorrow.
December, Senior Year
"Good news, Tutor Bride!" Brooke floated into the apartment with a big smile.
"What?" Haley looked up from her textbooks, exhausted.
"I heard next weekend's forecast on the way over, it supposed to be 75 degrees on your re-wedding day!" She clapped with glee, as though she had arranged the whole thing. "I'm telling you, this global warming thing has its upside!"
Nathan exited the bedroom and stopped. The circles under his wife's eyes told him the story loud and clear.
"Go home, Brooke," Nathan instructed. "Or wherever it is you're living when you're not here – which is all the time, lately."
Brooke's eyes darted to his, they traded looks. She nodded, "I have bridal things to arrange, anyway."
He tossed her a grateful look as she exited.
"Hey."
"Hey," Haley responded. "What were we thinking? Getting married just before finals and the holidays? This is crazy, Nathan. There's no way everything is going to get done," a few tears of frustration slipped from her eyes.
Nathan leaned over and closed her book, pulling it from her numb fingers. Then he reached under her and lifted his wife into his arms.
"Nathan!" Haley protested.
"Shhh," he instructed, carrying her to their bed and gently putting her on it. He curled up next to her, pulling the sheets up.
"I though we said…"
"Haley," Nate interrupted. "Seriously. You've lost weight since Keith died. And you haven't been sleeping well. I'm beginning to agree that this wedding idea was too much." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, as they lay facing each other in bed.
She sighed, feeling her husband's hand on her neck. His thumb tracing her jaw.
"This was supposed to be happy thing, Hales. A celebration. You don't look happy."
"I'm happy," she promised him. "Marrying you, again. That makes me happy."
His finger traced her cheek, the outside of her ear.
"Hey," she warned. "Remember our deal?"
He looked into her eyes. "That first night, do you remember…?"
"Which first night?" Haley asked, a sly grin tugging her lips.
"The one after the wedding," Nathan smoothed her hair. "When we actually…"
"Right," Haley nodded, blushing.
"It was…"
"Awkward, at first," Haley admitted, blushing even harder.
"Sacred," Nathan corrected.
"Sacred," she repeated, unsure if she'd ever heard that word come from his lips.
He saw her expression, and kissed her softly. "Yes, sacred. You hear girls talk about it like that, and you think it's just a load of bullshit they put on sex to make it mean something more than just, I don't know, fun."
Normally, she would have interrupted with a more enlightened opinion. But Haley held her tongue, waiting.
"But that first time, I got it," Nathan continued, at last. "And every time, since."
Her heart raced, listening to his words. Seeing the feelings on his face.
"It started the first time we slept together," he told her, "after I collapsed? I woke up in the middle of the night and realized, that was the first time I'd ever slept with anyone I hadn't had sex with. You were in my arms, snoring…"
Haley coughed in disbelief.
"…and I remember watching you, and putting my hand on your heart…" Nathan pressed his palm to her chest and she slipped her own over it. "I didn't know what I was feeling, then."
"Sacred," Haley repeated, carefully.
"With all the craziness with Brooke, and the rehearsal party, and secret wedding dress fittings, I just don't want you to lose sight of that. What this is all about. Haley, you are sacred to me. Do you understand?"
"When I saw the blood on your jersey during the game…" she looked into his eyes. "I understand." She promised.
"Besides, you have to have your strength up if you're going to keep yourself from attacking this body carnally before the ceremony."
"God, I love you," she announced, amazed how deep it went.
"Back at you, Haley James…"
"Scott," they both said simultaneously. And then their smiles dissolved into kisses, pulling each other so close that it was like being one.
January, Senior Year
He heard the ball, and knew before he even got close enough to see - who he'd find playing.
"Dude," Lucas shook his head, at the sight of his brother jogging towards the river court.
"Oh, man," Skills laughed. "You are so busted."
"How many minutes you been playing?" Nathan demanded, holding out his hands for the pass.
"Maybe 5," Lucas mused.
"More like 10," Skills corrected.
"Sit it out," Nathan instructed.
Lucas gave him a long, hard, look.
"Just take a break," Nathan said. "Skills and I should be knocking around some pass drills, anyway. We're in the playoffs, now."
"Pass drills?" Skills protested. "It's 2AM!"
"So what are you doing here, then?" Nathan challenged.
The three all looked at each other. Finally, Skills raised his hand. "Bevin dropped the bomb, man. After the game. The 'L' word, you know."
Lucas and Nathan shared a look and nodded in commiseration.
"I'm missing Brooke," Luke admitted. "And Keith. And it's making me crazy to be on the sidelines. And this whole thing with Derek…"
"Since the accident," Nathan confessed, "I can barely sleep. I keep going back to the bridge."
The three looked at each other again. Finally they burst out laughing.
"We pitiful, dawgs," Skills chuckled, stealing the ball back and dribbling.
"Pathetic," Lucas agreed, back up to the stands and taking a seat.
"So very, very sad," Nathan announced, taking the ball off rebound and bringing it back to half-court.
"Go to his left!" Lucas instructed his old friend.
"Oh, man," Nathan groaned as Skills made the steal.
"This is why I am honored to be wearing a brother's shirt," Skills hooted, jumping to make the 2 points.
"You know, I was honored to wear it, too," Nathan looked over at Lucas and the brothers shared a crooked smile.
Then Nathan turned his attention back to Skills. Who knew enough to be wary, but faced him head-on for the joy of it.
February, Senior Year
"This is not how I expected to be spending our first anniversary," Haley sighed. She looked down at her socked feet, resting in the stirrups, and groaned.
"Me, either," Nathan agreed. He looked around the examination room uncomfortably.
"OK," the doctor announced, entering the room. "Let's see what we see – or hear, as the case may be." She pressed a wand onto Haley's still-smooth belly and moved it around in inches. A fast thud-thud-thud noise sound soon echoed in the room.
"Oh, wow," Nathan reacted, squeezing Haley's hand. "That's him? Or her?"
"That's the baby," the doctor agreed with a smile. "Everything sounds just right." She gave Haley a towel to wipe her stomach with, and put the wand back in its holder on the machine.
The doctor flipped through Haley's chart and made some notations. "All right, we did some tests because we weren't sure of conception dates – right?"
Haley nodded. "I was on the Pill," she reminded the woman.
"Right, OK. So…" she took a breath. "It looks like you're about 17 weeks along. Your due date should be just about mid-July, say the 14th."
"July?" Haley repeated.
"So we conceived…"
"The week before Halloween," the doctor confirmed. "Give or take some days."
Nathan and Haley shared a long, secret look. "The storm?" she guessed.
"Maybe," he said, kissing her forehead.
"Probably," she decided, daring him to say different.
"We usually schedule the sonogram for the 20 week mark," the doctor handed them a pamphlet. "You can make the appointment on your way out today."
"Will we find out then if it's a boy or a girl?" Nathan asked.
"If the baby cooperates," the doctor warned. "Are there any more questions?"
Haley and Nathan couldn't think of any, and a few minutes later they were walking out the door of the clinic.
Peyton and Lucas were sitting on the hood of his car, waiting.
"Hey," Nathan reached out and knocked fists with his brother. "What are you doing here?"
"Giving you a ride to practice. Now that I'm back on the team, and all."
"Oh… right," Nathan acted as though he'd forgotten. He glanced at Peyton but Lucas gave him the 'Don't Ask' look. Nathan nodded. "So you want to hear about the newest Scott prodigy?"
"Of course."
"Due July 14th; give or take," Haley announced. "So at least we get to actually finish high school first."
"This is the high water mark in our family," Lucas commiserated, putting his arm around her.
"True," Nathan laughed. "But Duke has family-style dorms…"
"…in their graduate housing department, but they're being flexible," Haley added.
"Which is good, because undergrads are required to live on campus the first 3 years…" Nathan rolled his eyes.
"And they've offered a child-care scholarship, on-campus…"
"So we're actually feeling a bit hopeful about the Scott family adventures with college," Nathan finished.
"Couldn't tell," Lucas teased.
"It sounds great," Peyton gave Lucas a dirty look, and then smiled at the couple.
"It does, actually," Luke agreed. "You ready, Nate?"
Nathan reached through the window and kissed his wife as Peyton slipped into the passenger seat beside her. Within moments, the two girls were headed off towards Karen's so Haley could start her shift.
Headed back towards Keith's old car, Nathan gave his brother a look.
"Still? With the 'Peyton afraid to be alone' thing?"
Lucas held up his hands. "As you can see."
"Don't get me wrong, I love the girl – but sooner or later, she's gotta find the strength."
"I know, little brother," Lucas sighed. "I actually have a plan to help with that."
"Practice, first," Nathan ordered, pulling on his seatbelt.
"Yes, sir," Lucas saluted, starting up the car.
March, Senior Year
It was Karen who found him. Sitting in a pew of the chapel, crying silently.
"Hey," she carefully lowered herself beside him. "Our family should get a discount here, don't you think?"
Nathan shuddered, trying to stop the tears. He hugged his arms around his chest, and rocked slightly.
"Hey," Karen repeated as she awkwardly laid a hand on his arm and patted. "Listen, the doctors are saying good things. Luke's heart looks strong. And Haley is breathing on her own."
"They have to be all right," Nathan whispered brokenly. "They're all I have. They have to be all right."
"They will be," Karen promised gently, with a faith that was not as much a lie as it was a hope.
"My wife, and baby, and brother…" Nathan cried.
"I know," she agreed, her own tears beginning to fall.
"Nothing matters if…"
"Shhhh," Karen soothed.
"It's all my fault," Nathan dropped his head to her shoulder, and sobbed.
"They are going to be all right," Karen promised. "You need to believe."
She felt him nod, just a little. And their tears started to slow.
"Who's with them?" he asked, finally. His voice broken with fear and grief.
"Peyton and Brooke," Karen told him.
He straightened and took a deep breath. "Uh, OK."
"I'm going to get you some coffee," Karen said, finally, pulling herself to her feet. "And me some gestationally-approved apple juice or something."
Nathan looked up at her, "Karen?"
She turned, and looked down at him kindly.
"Thanks."
"Believe," she reminded him.
"OK," he agreed, able to breath again without it stinging his lungs.
She nodded, and left quietly. He watched her go, almost with new eyes.
April, Senior Year
"All I'm saying is that my eyes need an acid bath," Lucas announced as he finished his impossibly expensive soda.
Peyton burst out in peals of laughter. "Oh, come on! It was hysterical! How can you not be amazed that Mouth and Skills taught Nathan to dance?"
"I'm not sure that qualifies as dancing," Haley objected, giggling. "More like a synchronization of random body motions."
"Oh," Lucas groaned. "Harsh."
"But true," Peyton added, still laughing. "Ah, the things people will do for love."
The lights went up and Lucas helped Haley to her feet. "I'm good," she told him, once she had her crutches steady.
"You sure?" he wondered, hovering a little as she made a little skip.
"I really am," she promised. "But thanks."
"What's a brother for?" Lucas asked, meeting her eyes.
"Or a best friend," Haley smiled.
Peyton held out her arm, and Lucas jogged up to reach her. As they walked towards the exit, Haley step-hopped after them.
Rachel had a shrewd expression as she looked at Lucas and then back at Haley. She shrugged, and kept pace with the Scott Wife towards the door.
May, Senior Year
He crawled onto the bed with her.
"Wow, mirrored ceilings," he whistled.
"Yeah, it's kinda freaking me out," Haley admitted. "One bad speed bump and it's a nasty death – don't you think?"
"Oh," Luke considered the possibilities. "OK, now it's creeping me out."
"Where's your posse?" She asked, absently rubbing her belly.
"Brooke and Peyton are in two of the bunks - but I'm not sure if they're asleep. Skills and Nathan are nursing the last of the scotch, I think."
"And Chris?"
"Ah, Chris Keller is passed out cold. Nathan and I put him in another bunk and buttoned the curtain on him. And don't think the irony of that escaped us. To be honest, I thought you would be out like a light, too."
"Baby's up," she groaned.
He looked at her belly, and then back up at her face.
"Go ahead," she rolled her eyes.
Almost nervously, Lucas laid his hand on Haley's stomach. At first he didn't feel anything, but then a soft movement. Like drifting pressure. Awed, he searched his best friend's face. "Whoa," he whispered.
"Yeah," she agreed.
The baby continued to move, and Lucas tucked a pillow under his head and kept his hand on her belly. "This is amazing, Hales."
"Well, yes and no," she responded ruefully. "Sometimes it would be nice if we could sleep at the same time. It's kind of weird sharing a body with someone who's on their own independent schedule, you know?"
"But really cool, too," Lucas felt a hard thump on his palm and jerked a little.
"He knows you're there," she told him.
"Wow," he sighed. "I wish…"
"That Keith were here to share this with your mom?" Haley guessed.
Lucas met her eyes and nodded.
"Yeah," she agreed. "I wish that, too."
Haley yawned, and Lucas sat up. He rummaged through some of the cabinets and found an extra blanket and some more pillows. Spreading the blanket over Haley, he lay back down and looked up at their reflections.
"Thanks," she yawned again. "I hadn't even noticed I was cold. The air conditioner must be on high."
"Well, I can see why you wouldn't want to get under Chris Keller's sheets," Lucas teased.
"Eww," Haley agreed. She rolled to her side a little and began to drift off.
Luke tucked a strand of hair off her face and gazed at Haley. She didn't look much like the girl he used to know – except for the fact that her smile was just the same. Sometimes, he loved Haley so much it surprised him. There should be some kind of special kinship for what they had. A word for it that was more abiding than "best friend" –a term 7 year olds could use with abandon. Different than "sister", because they shared a camaraderie afforded by having different parents. And an affection that was less platonic – but not romantic. The writer in Lucas struggled with it as his body relaxed, but in the end, all he could think was … "Haley."
In the doorway, Nathan blinked as he looked down on his sleeping wife and brother. The bed was set almost into the floor and Haley was bundled in a blanket and curved around a pile of pillows. Lucas was on his back, one hand behind his head.
With a sigh, Nathan kissed his wife's cheek – and then her belly. Carefully, he slipped one of the pillows free and dropped it on the floor on the other side of his wife. He lay down on his side, facing her, and listened as she breathed. Until sleep faded him, too, into dreams.
June, Senior Year
"So what I'm telling you, is that this baby could come any time after Wednesday."
"I got it, Nathan" Luke reminded him, having heard the news more than once.
"I just don't understand. Babies are supposed to be born after 9 months. How can it be OK to be born at 8?"
"Because 36 weeks is gestationally pretty full-term."
Nathan shot his brother a look, and Lucas laughed at his expression. "Hey, I'm getting all this in stereo – don't forget."
Haley joined them on the porch of the Scott house with a tray of drinks. "Wow," she said, looking out onto the lawn.
"It's grass, Hales. Green, green, and more green," Nathan pointed out.
"I'm just remembering the first time I was back here," she told him, joining them at the patio table.
"The booster dinner," Lucas remembered.
"Oh, yeah, fun times," Nathan groaned.
"I kissed Peyton," Lucas recalled. "I kissed a lot of Peyton."
"Dude! Dial down the details!" Nathan protested.
"You're still kissing Peyton," Haley reminded her friend with a grin. "Oh, and I was so crushing on Nathan." She blushed, the memory of that night's humiliation coming back to her.
"You should be embarrassed! Nathan was, like, the anti-Haley."
"No way, man. I was totally crushing on her right back," Nathan confessed. "I'd known it wouldn't be her scene, but I'd been totally wishing I was with Haley rather than at that party. I practically jumped out of my skin when I turned around and she was there. And then, when Brooke ripped into her, I was never so close to hitting a woman in my life."
"Oh, Brooke back then – God," Haley groaned.
"I just walked right out of my parent's party to find you and apologize," Nathan told his wife. "My parents practically had a cow. And then you wouldn't accept it. No one's ever called me on my shit like that," he said admiringly.
"Damn straight," she smiled, leaning over to kiss him briefly.
"I'm still kissing Peyton," Lucas repeated happily.
"We've come a long, long way," Haley noted, sipping her juice.
"Damn straight," Nathan repeated, but not happily.
"Bro," Lucas looked over at him. "I was proud of you this afternoon. Proud of how you stepped up, and proud to be your brother."
Nathan looked into his glass and sighed. "I feel like I threw it all away," he sighed. "Everything I worked my whole life for."
"But look at the man you became," Haley pointed out, gently. "You have more integrity and strength than anyone could have ever imagined."
Lucas nodded in agreement.
"After what I did, I have no idea what's gonna happen. Will Duke – will any school – still take me," Nathan wondered. "What the hell happens now? Haley could have this baby any minute…"
"Ahem!" she shook her head.
"Soon," he corrected. "And all our plans are just – poof."
"In the end, it's going to be OK," Luke said, very seriously.
"How do you know, man?"
"Because if it's not OK, then it's not the end," Haley answered. "We'll make this right for us," she promised.
"For our family," Luke added.
Nathan looked at his brother, and then at his wife. He reached out his hand, and she took it. "OK," he exhaled, faith restored once again. "OK."
Luke lifted a glass and toasted him while Haley rested her head on Nathan's shoulder. In the trees, a raven darted towards the ground and swooped back up.
And as one, the little family smiled at the sign.
