Chapter 4:

When the girls pulled up at the curb of the apartment, they were shocked to see Nathan's car parked outside. "School hasn't even finished yet." Brooke said.

"Is Lucas with him?"

"I don't know."

She counted to three and said, "Only one way to find out. Let's go." Haley wanted to sound brave, but she didn't feel it. She needed to tell Nathan. But how? Her legs felt like jelly as she made her way to the door. Brooke felt so bad for her. She remembered when Lucas and her had a pregnancy scare the first time they started dating. She was glad she wasn't carrying a baby in her arms right now. There was a lot of responsibility confided into such a small thing. She knew what Haley was going through. Haley fumbled with her keys so that she could open the door.

Nathan heard a car slamming from outside. He went to the blinds and peeked out the window. "They're here. Finally!" he said under his breath. He opened the door before Haley could turn the key. "Where have you been?" Lucas demanded.

"Well, excuse you. I drove Haley to the doctors she wasn't fit enough to drive! Why aren't you guys still at school?" Brooke walked into the room with her hands on her hips. He was never that overprotective.

"Sorry, we were just worried. Brooke didn't show so I thought something bad happened. What did the doctor say?" Nathan said shyly. Haley and Brooke looked at each other. Oh if Haley could talk to her telepathically, that would be a blessing in disguise.

"He said that I'll be fine in a couple of days. See you got worked up over nothing." Oh lord!

"Okay well. Lucas and I have to go now. We'll leave you guys to it." Brooke grabbed Lucas' arm and tugged him out the door.

"See you later!" Haley called out before they left completely. The two waved good bye.

"Do you want something to eat?" Nathan asked.

Her tummy gave a growl in agreement "Yes please." She blushed and suddenly felt like he knew something else was going on.

"I'm just going to take a bath."

Nathan was waiting for the water to heat up so the he could cook the spaghetti. He leaned against the kitchen island and saw the letters piled there. He picked them up and quickly flicked through them, there was one from Duke University. Nathan didn't expect to hear from them that soon. He ripped open the envelope and skimmed the information. "Congratulations! We would like to formally congratulate you, as you have been handpicked to be in the Class of 2012. We look forward to seeing you at orientation."

He read it twice before it finally settled in him. "YES! I made it!" Nathan yelled. By the time he finished reading it the water was already boiling, he carefully added the spaghetti. Nathan couldn't wipe the grin on his face; he couldn't wait to tell Haley. "Hear that Dan. I made it!"

Haley came out of the bathroom and into the kitchen. "Mmm… Smells really nice." She pulled her wet hair into a messy bun. Nathan went to kiss her. "What was that for?"

"Why? Can't I kiss my beautiful wifey?"

"You most certainly can." She flung her arms around his neck and pulled him close so that she could give him another kiss. Nathan smiled handsomely. "Can you grab the plates?"

"Yes chief."

They ate dinner at the coffee table while watching the NBA game.

"Let me get that for you." Haley handed him her plate and got more comfortable on the couch. You're going to have to tell him. Nathan came back and sat next to her, he pulled her towards him and Haley rested her head on his chest. It took her a few minutes to build up the confidence to grab his attention away from the game. "Nathan?"

"Hmm…"

"I need to tell you something." Haley looked up at him, his eyes were still on the t.v. "Nathan…" She used the 'listen to me' tone. He grabbed the remote and switched it off.

Oh boy. It's now or never Haley. "What is it?"

"You know I went to the doctor's right?" He nodded slowly.

"What's wrong?" Haley could see the genuine concern in his dark green eyes. It pained her to see him like this. Nope, no excuses.

"Nothing's wrong."

"I don't believe you." She said that she was fine. Why would she lie in front of Lucas if she wasn't? Brooke knows something's wrong… "Tell me," he placed his hands on her shoulders. "Please? Don't say nothing's wrong. You've always been a terrible liar." That was so true! "If you don't tell me I'll go to Brooke." Was that a threat? Brooke wouldn't tell, she swore an oath - a best friend oath might she add - she breathed in and exhaled shakily. It was a force of habit to help calm her down.

"I love you so much Nathan and I would never do anything to hurt you…" He saw the unshed tears glistening in her eyes. What the hell was going on! "Haley…" She started to cry and Nathan instantly hugged her like he did this morning.

"I'm so sorry." Haley wiped the tears away with her palms. "I never meant for this to happen."

"Never meant to make what happen?" She cried even harder. Tell him Haley. He needs to know…

"I'm pregnant." Nathan's arm tensed around her. Did he hear her right?

"What?"

"We're pregnant." There was no mistaking those two words.

Haley withdrew from the embrace so she could see his reaction. That was the thing, he wasn't reacting. "Nathan, please say something. Anything."

How could he? Most teenage boys didn't get married at sixteen and now he was going to be a father. A baby on the way and he was only seventeen. How the hell did this happen? She was on the pill and… no wait, that night they got back together… Shit!

"How are you feeling?"

Haley was taken aback. She predicted a hundred scenarios but that wasn't one of them. "Ah… I'm okay I guess. I've thrown up a couple of times but that only started today." He pursed his lips together and nodded.

"When did you find out?"

"This morning when you came back from your run."

Nathan finally looked at her. "Why didn't you tell me this morning? I knew you were lying before but you said you were fine so I just brushed it off." Now this is how Haley pictured it.

"I didn't want to worry you. I knew you would react this way and I wanted to be one hundred per cent sure that I was pregnant. Can you imagine if I wasn't?"

"Yeah but you are Hales." He said harshly.

Haley closed her eyes and then opened them. "Yeah I am."

"What did the doctor say?"

"He said that I'm about 6 weeks." 6 weeks! Already? That was almost two months out of the total of nine. Nathan shook his head at the reality of it. Both Haley and him were always careful with protection when they made love. They've sat in countless Phs. Ed classes together where they taught about teenage pregnancy. He certainly didn't think he was going to end up as one.

"Are you going to keep it?"

Haley blinked. Did he actually consider aborting the baby? "Yes I am." Nathan got up and ran is hand through his hair.

"How did this happen? We're always so careful with these things. This is unbelievable. What are we going to do? We only just got renewed our vows. I… I… can't deal with this. I'm so sorry." Haley could feel him slipping away.

"Yes you can. Nathan please," she pleaded. "We're in this together. You and me." But Nathan didn't hear her. He was too caught in his own emotions to realize that his wife was still in the room. He grabbed the basketball that was near the door. Haley didn't know what to do. "Where are you going?"

"I don't know. I need some time to myself. I feel like I'm suffocating in here." With that he was out the door before Haley could stop him and he didn't look back.

Haley felt so alone, she knew better than to even hope that Nathan would be happy for the two of them. They were going to have a family. But the worse thing was, Nathan thought about terminating the pregnancy. She had to admit, she thought about it as well but she would never go through with it. She couldn't help it, she cried so hard and it felt like all she did today was cry. Haley knew then and there that whatever happened she was going to raise the baby, with or without Nathan.