Chapter 3.
Nathan walked into his bedroom to find Haley midway through her nightly preparations for bed. As he closed the door he took a second to just watch her as she busied herself removing the little make-up she did wear, and applying face cream. He thought to himself not for the first time how much he loved his wife. "You know how much I love you right Hales? I mean you and Jamie are my life. I can't believe how lost I was after the accident; I almost lost what really matters, which is you guys." Nathan says as he wraps his hands around Haley's body pulling her close. It had been a year since the accident, six months since his pity party was ended by some tough words of wisdom from a long legged blonde. "You know before Peyt knocked some since into me I was so obsessed with losing sight of my dream that I lost track of my reality." Nathan's voice held so much sentiment that when Haley turned around and looked him in the eye, she saw such raw emotion; pain, sorrow, regret, embarrassment, but most of all there was fear. Haley turned around completely in Nathans hold, until her chest was pressed against his, reached up and placed her hands on either side of his face framing it. She then rose up on her tippy toes to bring him down for a searing kiss, pouring her love and appreciation for him into it. When they pulled apart, both allowing their lungs to expand for necessary oxygen intake, she kissed him again this time more gently but still as loving. "Nathan, you will never loose me, I know it got rough there for a second, but you gotta know, I need you just as bad as you need me. We're a team babe, remember that." He gazed into her eyes, amazed at how much love he saw. It broke down a wall he did not know he was consciously building, a wall made of all the emotions he tried to drink away after the accident. Haley saw it when he finally let go of the past and finally started to forgive himself, finally started the last phase of his healing. Overjoyed by their realizations, they lost themselves in each other, fully expressing their undying love to and for one another.
Sometime later, as they laid in each other's arms, Haley thought about what Nathan had said earlier. "Peyton really must of got through to you huh?" Haley said as she stroked her hand through Nathan's soft brown hair. "Yeah she did. She got me to take my head out my ass long enough to see the damage I was doing to my family," Nathan quoted, "Sawyer always did have a way with words." he chuckled as he thought about Peyton's not so subtle wake up call. "She really does care about you, I know how close you two are." Haley mused as she continued to stroke Nathan's hair. "Yeah, who would have thought that I would end up having Peyton Sawyer as a little sister?" "You do realize she's older than you right?" Haley joked, which got her a role of the eyes from Nathan. "I'm bigger than she is, so ha" Nathan said sticking his tongue out at her for good measure. "And we wonder where our son gets it from" Haley scolded although there was a smile creeping up her face. "I'm worried about her you know." Nathan said looking down at Haley as he spoke. "She has a least been leaving the house since you made her three days ago though." Haley commented remembering seeing Peyton yesterday at the label. "She just seems so lost Hales, like somebody just sucked the joy from her." Nathan replied shaking his head. "I just wanna help her you know Hales. I feel so helpless right now. She's hurting and all I can do is just stand there and just look." Nathan continued, the frustration clear in his voice. "Nathan, there is nothing either one us can do that we haven't already tried. We both know what Peyton needs, and we also know she is waaayy to stubborn to admit it." Haley said with conviction. "Brooke." "Brooke." They said at the same time. "Have you spoken to her lately?" Nathan asked. "Yeah, I called her the other morning, but she missed the call. She called me back and Jamie answered the phone. He really misses her. Anyway I spoke to her, and she is going through it just like Peyton. She wants to come home, but is respecting Peyton's orders and staying away. She told me to tell her she would give her up if that's what Peyton wants. It's so weird. It's like all the Brooke Davis spunk and attitude we know and love has vanished, and in its place is this weak self-condemning person that I have no clue how to get through to." Haley ran a hand through her hair musing it more than it already was. "What a pair" Nathan states once again shaking his head. "Yeah but their best friends who we love to death, so what are we gonna do to fix this." Haley said sitting up against their headboard. "I don't know Hales, what can we do. Brooke's too chicken to come home, no matter what she says her reason for staying away is, and Peyt is too stubborn to admit she wants her home." Nathan said joining Haley against the headboard. "Which is why once again I say what are WE gonna do to fix this." Haley said emphasizing the "we" to get her point across. "Do you have a plan Haley James?" "I just might, and it's Haley James Scott thank you very much!" Haley replied with mischief in her eyes. "I'm probably gonna regret this, but... what's the plan Hales?" Nathan said reluctantly. "We get them together in one place." Haley said as if that was an easy thing to do. "How, if I may ask, do you plan to do that and they both be willing?" "We invite them to Jamie's birthday party, and let nature take it from there." "How do you know they will come?" Nathan questioned. "We have a secret weapon…. He's five going on fifty, sports a red cape, and calls you Daddy." Haley said. "You would exploit our son like that?" Nathan inquired. "Damn right if it can get those two together again." She replied with conviction. "I knew I married you for a reason" Nathan smirked leaning over to peck Haley on the cheek. "And all this time I thought it was because of my awesome pancakes…huh who knew." Haley bantered receiving a glare from Nathan before it turned into a grin. "So when do we set this brilliant plan of yours into action?" Nathan asked looking at Haley. "Operation Breyton begins tomorrow."
Reviews are awesome guys… This is my first story, and I love feedback …It keeps me motivated J