A/N: I wanna thank IloveJameslafferty for reviewing (and sharing my hatred of Naley). And of course Niki! I also wanted to apologize for taking so long to update. I've had friends' birthdays, & my dad's birthday is in a few days. Then of course, getting ready for school to start again. I'm going on vacation on Monday, the13th, but I'll only be gone for about 3 days. I promise to update when I get back! Also, I wanted to clarify, Nathan and Haley WERE married and DID have James. They haven't really been mentioned yet, but they will be. Oh, and they all still live in Tree Hill.
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I've been searching for a reason and I'm running out of time
I can feel that it's the season
It's time to make up my mind
"What?" Rachel questioned him. Did he really just ask her to marry him? Him and Haley had only officially divorced a few months ago. They had separated over a year ago, before Rachel started dating him. But the divorce had just been made official. She wasn't really sure if they should. If they were ready for that. "Nathan, I love you. And I want to spend my life with you. I want to marry you Nathan. I do." She assured him. "I just…I don't know if either of us is ready for that sort of commitment right now." She felt bad for saying that, but it was true.
Nathan looked away. He could honestly say that he felt tears. He hadn't cried since Haley had taken James away. But at least when that happened he had Rachel there for him. He had found comfort in the arms of the girl who had wanted him. The girl who he had grown to fall in love with. "Please Rach, I love you. Will you at least think about it?" He asked her.
And I can't really tell you what I'm gonna do
There are so many thoughts in my head
There are two roads to walk down and one road to choose
So I'm thinking over the things that you've said
I'm thinking over the things
"Of course I'll think about it." She told him. And she was thinking about it. She could marry him. He wanted to marry her. But, it was difficult. He had already been married. And its not like his family liked her. Lucas did, but the rest of his family hated her. Or at least the idea of them together. Probably because she had been with Cooper too. If she got married to him she would marry into a family that hated her, and the life she loved would be long gone. She would be officially tied down. She didn't cheat on Nathan, nor did she plan too, but getting married would be an intense commitment. But, they loved each other. Maybe they should? "I…I'm gonna call Brooke. I need some time alone. I just need to think." She told a stunned Nathan, then turned and left the room. She called Brooke, saying she needed to get away. In a few minutes Brooke was there, then they both left.
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Nathan decided to call Lucas to finish getting her stuff moved in. He was relieved to find that his older brother answered the phone. "Hey, Rach just kinda bailed on me. Do you think you could come over and help me move her stuff?" About fifteen minutes later Lucas was there.
"So what happened?" Lucas asked his brother, while picking up a box to carry to the car.
"I asked her to marry me." Nathan answered, then saw Lucas drop the box. "Hey, be careful with that! Rach will kill me if anything breaks!"
"You what?!" Lucas asked, completely ignoring his brother scolding him. "Nathan, don't you think it's a little soon?" He asked.
"That's what she said. She walked out. She said she needed some time to think." He muttered. He couldn't look his brother in the eyes, he felt disappointed. Suddenly his phone buzzed in his pocket, signaling a text message. He pulled it out and read a text from Haley. Shit, he was supposed to have James this weekend! "Can you move this stuff? I gotta pick up James." And without waiting for an answer he left.
I'm thinking over
Thinking over
Thinking over the things that you've said
I'm thinking over
Thinking over
Thinking over the things
"Rach, what happened?" Brooke questioned carefully. They had made their way to the Rivercourt, and Rachel had barely spoken a word. Something was definitely going on.
"Its too soon to get married, isn't it? This soon after his divorce?" She asked Brooke. She honestly just wanted someone to tell her what to do. She couldn't make the decision on her own.
"Did…did Nathan propose?" Brooke asked her shocked.
"Yeah, he did. I have no idea what to do Brooke." She told her. She was too scared.
"Well, do you want to marry him?" She asked Rachel.
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Nathan took a drive to Haley's house. He took a few minutes to finally calm down enough to see his ex-wife and his two year old son. He walked up to the door and knocked.
"Its about time." Haley sighed, opening the door. "What took you so long?" As soon as the words came out of her mouth she noticed how sad Nathan looked. "What's wrong Nate? Problems with Rachel?" She questioned. She knew that they were moving in together. Lucas had told her that.
"I…um…I kinda proposed." He muttered. "And she kinda freaked on me and left."
"Really now? That sucks. She really is a hot piece of ass." Nathan heard a voice say behind Haley.
"Hi Kellar." He said to Chris. Yes, Haley had left Nathan for Chris.
"Daddy!" He heard his 2 year old son call out. James ran at him and wrapped his arms tightly around his father's legs. "Daddy, where's mommy Rachel?" This is what James always referred to her as. Even Haley was alright with it.
"Mommy Rachel isn't here, but its ok. We're gonna go see her later." Nathan said thinking quickly. James and Rachel seemed to have a connection. That little boy really seemed to love her.
"Yay for mommy Rachel!" James cheered. "Daddy, can we go see her now?" He begged.
Nathan looked at Haley. Haley just handed him James's bag for the weekend. "Say bye to mommy and Chris first." Nathan instructed. The little boy said his good-byes then ran to Nathan's car.
Am I ready for forever
Oh
God show me a sign 'cause if we're to be together then it's got to be divine
"I have no idea Brooke. I mean, I want to be with him, but I don't know if we're ready. Either of us. I just wish I had a sign, telling me what to do."
As if on cue, she heard a car door open, then another door open, and a voice. A small voice. "Mommy Rachel! Aunty Brooke!" She looked over and saw James running full speed at her. She was ready to let him run into her arms into a hug when he tripped on the concrete of the basketball court.
"You wanted a sign." Brooke said to her, then heard a cry. When she looked up James was laying on the ground crying.
Rachel saw him fall. She heard Brooke, but was already on her way towards the little boy. When she got to him she took him in her arms. "Shhh, its ok Jamie." She assured him. She looked at his knees and saw a small scrape. Nothing bad. Not bleeding. She looked up from him to see Nathan standing above them. "He's ok." She told him. After about two and a half minutes James finally calmed down. "I love you mommy Rachel. I missed you." He told her.
"And you didn't miss me?" Brooke asked, walking over.
"Of course I did Aunty Brooke! But I see you all the time!" It was true. Haley had Brooke come over to baby-sit, or just to visit as a friend. But Haley didn't like Rachel. And if Rachel wasn't with Nathan, Haley would try to keep James away from her. But she allowed him to see her whenever he was with his father.
And I can't really tell you what I'm gonna do
There are so many thoughts in my head
There are two roads to walk down and one road to choose
So I'm thinking over the things that you've said
I'm thinking over the things
"Uh, Brooke? Can you take him for a few minutes?" Nathan asked. He needed to talk to Rachel.
"Nope. I'm staying with mommy Rachel." James insisted, wrapping his little arms tightly around her.
"James, sweety, please go with Aunty Brooke." Rachel said to him. James pouted, but went.
"Do you still want to move in with me?" Nathan asked her. "Because Lucas is moving your stuff in. But if you don't want to anymore…" He was silenced when Rachel's lips met his.
She finally pulled back, then whispered to him. "Nathan, I love you. Yes, I still want to move in with you. And like I said before, I want to marry you. I just think it might be too soon."
Nathan smiled. "Good, because I don't know how that little boy would handle it if anything happened to our relationship. Speaking of, do you wanna go home? I'm pretty sure Lucas has finished moving everything in." He looked at his watch. It was 6 anyways. "And James has to get to bed within an hour." The latest he would put James to bed was 7 pm.
"I would love that." She said honestly. She walked over to where Brooke was sitting in Nathan's car with James. "Already making sure he's ready to go?" She asked playfully.
"No, I was just telling him about everything that has ever happened here." The Rivercourt had played a large part in their lives. It was true.
"So sweet." She said seriously. "James, are you ready to go home? You know what, mommy Rachel is even staying there." She said with a smile.
"Yay!" James cheered, causing the three adults to let out small laughs.
"You have no idea how much I agree with that." Rachel told him. "Bye Brooke." She told her, wanting to get home badly. They had to. They had to get James to bed, then they could christen their home. As theirs.
I'm thinking over
Thinking over
Thinking over the things that you've said
I'm thinking over
Thinking over
Thinking over the things
"Mommy Rachel, will you help Daddy tuck me in?" He asked before they got inside.
"Of course I will Jamie." She assured him. Nathan was the first inside. He unlocked the door and led the way in. When Rachel and James got in they both looked around shocked. "What did you do?" She asked him, shocked.
"I had Peyton get the place ready. Make you feel more at home." He told her. "Do you like it?" He asked hopefully. There was all new furniture, and on the walls there was a mural of the Italian Riviera. Rachel had brought him to her family's house there on vacation once.
"It's amazing." She told him with a smile. She loved that he would do this for her. She wanted to take him, or at least kiss him, right here, but James was standing there so she wouldn't.
"James, its bedtime. You can play with your new room in the morning." Nathan told him. In response the child's eyes grew wide and he ran into his room. Nathan and Rachel followed him in there. "James, bed." Nathan repeated. "You can play with your new room in the morning." James reluctantly climbed into bed. After pestering his father and Rachel, he finally fell asleep. Nathan led Rachel out of James's room and into the hall. "You know, after all that moving, I was thinking about going to bed early." He said suggestively, putting his hands on Rachel's hips and pulling her close to him.
"I like the sound of that." She replied, then let her lips meet his again. She started to pull him towards the bedroom, their bedroom. As soon as they made their way into the room she closed the door behind them, and regretted not getting a lock. She decided to forget about that and focus all her attention on Nathan. Her Nathan. She pulled his shirt off over his head, then unbuttoned his pants.
Nathan could tell that she could barely wait. And judging by the hardened member pressing against his jeans, he couldn't wait much longer either. He pulled her towards the bed, and practically threw her onto it. He straddled her and pulled off her light yellow camisole, revealing a purple and black lace bra. He felt himself get even harder when he saw it. "You are so sexy." He whispered to her. He unhooked her bra and pulled it off. He gripped one of her breasts, and took the other in his mouth. He heard Rachel gasp, then moan as he continued to lick her nipple. Just when he thought she was about to scream he switched, and now massaged the one he just licked, and licked the one he had massaged.
"Nathan," Rachel moaned. She reached down and slid off his unbuttoned jeans and his boxers. "I need you. Inside me." She breathed into his ear, then lightly kissed the sensitive spot right behind his ear.
Nathan loved it whenever she kissed him there, but felt like he needed more. He needed what she needed. He needed to be inside her. He unbuttoned her jeans and slid them off, revealing another day she had gone panty less. He kissed her neck while slowly sliding into her. He didn't bother with a condom. She was on the pill, and neither of them had any STD's. He loved how she felt though, and thought she felt better without condoms. She was so wet, and so tight. She was probably the best he had ever had. And that was really saying something, because he had been with a lot of girls. He started to work up the pace, going fast and hard, just how both he and Rachel liked it.
"God Nathan!" She whispered to him. She wrapped her legs around him, trying to get him as deep into her as possible. "Oh God, I'm close." She whispered, digging her nails into his back. She tried her hardest not to scream and wake the sleeping James. Instead she grabbed the closest pillow and pressed it against her face muffling the screams that came as she reached her peak.
Nathan had to lean forward and bury his face into the same pillow Rachel used to muffle her screams. She felt so good, and for some reason, they were always so loud when they were together. He now basically collapsed on top of her. After a few minutes of both of them trying to catch their breath he finally rolled off of her. "That was amazing." He whispered to her.
"Yeah, it was." Rachel said with a small smile. She looked around and managed to grab one of Nathan's large tee shirts and a pair of his boxers. Nathan seemed to give her an odd look as she put them on. "What? I don't want James to come in and find me naked." She said honestly, then handed Nathan the boxers she basically tore off of him, which was laying on the floor right next to her.
Nathan grinned as he put his boxers on, then pulled Rachel close to him. "Welcome home." He whispered into her neck, then the two lovers fell asleep in each other's arms.
He wants to marry me
Carry me far away
He wants to love me for life
He wants to be with me every morning I awake
He wants to hold me through the night
"Mommy Rachel?" Rachel suddenly heard. She looked at the clock. 8AM. Why hadn't the alarm gone off?
"Hey Jamie, come here." She offered to the young boy. He ran into the room and jumped on the bed, waking his father.
"Morning Daddy!" James said with a smile.
"Yeah, morning daddy." Rachel added, then leaned over and kissed him. "Sleep well?" She asked him with a smirk.
"Mommy Rachel, did you stay here in Daddy's room last night? Are you wearing Daddy's clothes?" James asked.
Rachel looked at Nathan again and smirked again. "Why now aren't we observant? Yes, I did stay here in Daddy's room. And yes, I am in Daddy's clothes. Because James, mommy Rachel lives here now. Daddy's room is mommy Rachel's room too." She explained to him. What was the harm in telling him?
"Oh, like how Mommy and daddy Chris share a room?" He asked. "I get it! I'm hungry." He said changing the subject.
"I'll make breakfast." Nathan told them, sitting up in bed.
"Uh, no. He said he wants breakfast. As in something edible. Meaning I'm making it." Rachel said to him. She looked from Nathan to James and just smiled. How different would it really be if they were married? Not very. They already seemed like a family.
Father which way should I go
I cannot clearly see
Oh
I love him so but only you know if he's the one for me
It took her some time, but she finally realized what she had to do. "James, go wash your face and brush your teeth. Then I'll go make breakfast." Rachel told him. James obeyed her and went into the bathroom. "So fiancé, I guess I should go make breakfast, huh?" She asked Nathan.
"Did you just say…?" Nathan asked excited. Very excited. Did she just accept his proposal?
"I would love to marry you Nathan." She told him honestly. She leaned over and kissed him, but when she tried to pull away, he pulled her back in. "Lets not get too into it, James is awake." She reminded him.
"You'll be a fantastic stepmother to him, Rachel. Rachel Scott, I like how that sounds." Nathan assured her.
"Me too." She agreed, and lightly kissed him again. "Come on, lets go make breakfast."
Thinking over the things that you've said
I'm thinking over
Thinking over
Only you know if he's the one for me
When they got downstairs Rachel started to make breakfast. Cereal for James. Eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast for Nathan and herself. "Hey buddy," Nathan said carefully to James. "Um, mommy Rachel and I have something we wanted to talk to you about. We're getting married. How are you with that?" He wanted his son to accept this.
"So is mommy Rachel going to take Mommy's place?" He asked in horror.
"No." Rachel insisted before Nathan could say anything. "James, no one can take your mommy's place. Me and Daddy getting married just means we live together, and the whole world knows how much we love each other. But I'm not taking your mommy's place."
"Oh, if it just shows how much you love each other why didn't you do it already? Do it!" He said happy.
I cant really tell you what I'm gonna do
There are so many thoughts in my head
There are two roads to walk down and one road to choose
I'm thinking over the things that you've said
Rachel smiled when James told her to marry Nathan. She served everyone food, and they all ate quickly. She cleaned up and James played in his room while Nathan got ready for the day. He came downstairs in a basketball outfit. "I'm gonna take James out with me. Probably try to teach him basketball. Come with us, my beautiful fiancé?" Nathan questioned.
"You know that line can only work for so long." She said with a smile. Of course she would go with them, but first she needed to tease her fiancé.
"Oh I know that. Because eventually I'll have to call you my beautiful wife." He gave her a light kiss. "Now run upstairs and shower. And hurry because you know that James is impatient." Before she went upstairs she heard the phone ring. "I'll get it. You get in the shower!" Nathan called to Rachel. But before she made it upstairs, she heard who had called Nathan. And it shocked her. "Cooper?"
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A/N: dundundun! And in a few days I'm leaving to go on vacation. What a shame. Oh well, I'll probably bring my laptop with me. I have wireless internet there. Sorry if it seems a little sloppy. The spacebar is broken on my laptop. You have to slam it hard for it to work. And I started writing this at 11 pm. Just finished and its 6am. I had to get it just right. R&R! I might be able to get an update in before I leave on vacation. Or manage to type it & post while I'm away. More reviewsfaster updates!