"Nathan, people are always here. I want to have alone time, you know time to figure things out. They just keep coming."
I grabbed her hand, "Hales, I'll ask them to stop visiting. It's that simple. You can be alone, okay?" I wiped the tears from her face. "Do you want me and Jase to go too?"
"No, you guys can stay I guess."
"So Haley, you know what day it is right?"
"Um….not really?"
"Well, tonight is new years eve. Isn't this great? We have a new year to start fresh together. And it's Jase's first, and you are here to experience it. The three of us, I'm so glad."
"I guess this is good, you know, kinda like a blank slate."
We sat together and played with Jason. The doctor's said that if she remained stable, she would be discharged by January 5.
On January 3 we were told that she was going to be allowed to go home. It was such a joyous moment to know that my Haley would be home with me. The doctor's wanted to make sure that she would be well taken care of and recommended that we stay close to the hospital. I told them that I lived right off Duke University's campus and asked if we could go there if any problems arose. They said that Duke had an excellent medical facility and that if needed they could also send her history. I thanked the doctor's for all of their hard work.
On January 4 I cleaned up my new apartment and gave it a fresh coat of paint. It was a small studio, so I hung a curtain to hide the bedroom area. I painted the walls grey with white trim. It looked good. I cleaned everything with Peyton, Brooke and Luke's help. They wanted to make Haley feel at home. She had never seen this apartment and didn't even remember our other one. I wondered if I would end up sleeping on the couch for a while. I was glad that she would be home, even if we weren't sleeping in the same bed. When I went back to school in a few weeks, she would be there to watch our son, and the thought alone made my heart skip a beat.
On January 5 Haley left the hospital and got into the car. I had gotten a new car when Jason was born. I wanted him safe and the car we had wasn't good enough. Haley sat in the passenger seat and Jason was in the back.
The first few minutes of the ride were silent except for Jason's baby noises. About ten minutes into the drive Haley started talking.
"So where are we going?"
"My, I mean our, new apartment. We used to live in Tree Hill in this apartment that now Brooke lives in, again. I got a studio near Duke so I could have Jason at school with me. Its small and it isn't luxurious in any way, but its home and I hope you love it. We cleaned it up a bit yesterday; you know painting and hanging curtains and stuff."
"Nathan, you didn't have to do that for me. I just am glad to be out of the hospital."
After an hour in the car we arrived outside my building.
"So, this is it?" She asked
"Yeah, and Lucas lives on campus too. He's only like a five minute walk from here. It's great, you'll see."
I grabbed Haley's stuff and got Jason out of his car seat. I walked to the door and Haley giggles. G-d it was good to hear her laugh.
"What" I asked
"You have so much stuff, let me take the baby"
"Thank you" I said, as I opened the door and walked up the stairs.
"No elevator?" Haley asked
"Nope, a walk up, but we're only on the third floor."
When we got to the door I unlocked it and told Haley to cover her eyes. I put her bags inside and took her arm. I led her inside.
"Okay, open them. What do you think?"
She opened her eyes and looked around. I was hoping that she liked it. I took the baby from her as she walked around the room.
"Nathan, it's great."
"You mean it. I mean, we cleaned up a lot yesterday and I know its small, but I like it."
"Nathan, it's perfect. Is this Jason's crib?"
"Yeah, and the bed is behind this curtain and the t.v. is there and the table there. And the kitchen is here and the bathroom is through that door." I said pointing to everything.
"Thanks, but I did no what the objects were." She said laughing with a hint of sarcasm. She sounded like her old self.
"So you want me to make you lunch while you get settled? There's a dresser for you, and it has a bunch of your clothing in it. Grilled cheese okay?"
"Yeah, thanks Nathan."
I cooked us two sandwiches while Jason sat in his crib. I finished cooking and took Jason over to his high chair. I took out some food for him, his favorite mashed bananas. "Haley" I called "Haley" I got no answer. I walked over to the bad and saw her sitting, staring at a picture. "That was our second wedding, about a year ago." I tell her.
"I know, I recognize it. I remember the church and the party and some girl named Rachel. I remember an accident too, did something happen?"
"Yeah, Cooper, my uncle and Rachel were in the limo and they went off a bridge and I dove in after them and then Luke dove after me. It was scary."
"Okay, so I do remember some stuff I guess."
"You want to go eat?"
"Yeah"
She and I sat at the table and I put Jason back into his high chair. I started to feed him when Haley stopped me. "Can I feed him Nathan? I think it would be good."
"Yeah sure, I'll be right back." I got up leaving Haley to feed Jase. I looked back at them, Haley and Jason. Finally we were a family. I went to the dresser and opened the top drawer. I pulled out a small case holding a camera. I walked back to Haley and Jase. I took a picture without telling Haley.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm capturing the moment. I didn't want you to pose; I wanted to capture it candid, the way you were." I showed her the picture and she loved it. It was her with the spoon extended to Jase and him with his mouth open ready to eat.
"So can I pose for the next one?"
"Of course"
We took a bunch more pictures of me and Haley, Haley and Jason, and all three of us together. This was a time I wanted to remember. It was the first time that we were all together, awake and not in the hospital together.
The day went on like this, me and Haley talking while Jason slept. I answered all of her questions. Just before dinner I asked Haley if she wanted to take a walk on campus. She agreed and we packed up Jason's stroller and together we looked at all Duke had to offer. Before going back, we stopped and got pizza for dinner. It was like I had Haley back. Occasionally she asked about the past, but for the most part, she was piecing her life together.
When we got back to the apartment, Haley and I gave Jason a bath. He smelled so sweet after wards and we put him in the crib. Haley got into bed and I set up camp on the couch.
"What are you doing Nathan?" Haley asked as I pulled a blanket out of the closet.
"I'm sleeping on the couch. I figured you would want the bed."
"Nathan, you don't have to sleep on the couch, come sleep in bed with me."
"I just thought you might want some time to get used to the idea that we are married and get to know me again."
"Nathan, I'm remembering all this stuff about us. I know I loved you and that I still do. Come join me."
As we were drifting off to sleep, together in bed Jason began to cry. I got up to go get him, but Haley stopped me. "I'll get him" She picked him up and started to sing to him again. This time it was a different song, definitely one that she had written though. It was a lullaby, a special song she must have made for him.
"A new song?" I ask when she's done singing.
"Yeah, I wrote it for him. I actually think I wrote it before the accident because I remember singing it to myself, trying to perfect it. Hey, can I put him in bed with us?"
"Yeah sure"
She lays Jason down gently and lays herself next to him. She kisses his cheek and leans over to me. Her lips touch mine and I know that things will be okay.
"Hey Nate, thank you for taking such good care of him and not terminating the pregnancy or anything."
"I knew how much you wanted him Haley and as long as he wasn't jeopardizing your life, he wasn't going anywhere."
"I thought you weren't happy about the pregnancy. I remember a huge fight about birth control."
"I was shocked, yeah. But he was our baby, my son and yours. I could never give that up or turn my back on it." I rolled over. "You know, you're getting a lot of memories back. This is great"
"Yeah, it is"