(Hey people! Another update, are you happy? You should be. I hope you enjoy this. I'm officially on Spring Break so you might get a couple more this week, but I'm not promising anything. And you should check out the Daley one-shot/song-fic I just put up, "It Aint Easy Bein' Me". It's nice and angsty. Everything that is happening in this story was planned from the beginning, so don't hate me ok? At the end of the day this is a Daley story, not a Naley. And it will never be a Naley, just remember that. And don't hate me. Reviews = LOVE!)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
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Life at Home
Ch 9 – The Short beginning to the End
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"Nathan," Haley says again, as equally quite as before. She looked into his beautiful eyes that still, to that day, held a part of her heart. Her mind was…blank in a while. She didn't know what to do or what to think with her ex-husband standing so close to her.
"It's me," he confirmed with a smirk. He then saw a guy come into his view. The mystery guy started glaring at Nathan and Nathan automatically knew who it was. Haley's boyfriend, he thought bitterly.
"Nathan!" Haley said, excited. She flung her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, enjoying the feeling of him pressed up against him. She had been fighting an internal battle, not sure whether she wanted to hug or hit Nathan. He broke her heart, sure, but she missed him so much.
Dean froze when he saw his girlfriend hug her ex-husband. He wanted to kill the guy. How dare Nathan Scott just waltz back into Haley's life like he belonged there!? He didn't. Dean did, and he wouldn't, no, couldn't loose her. But how could he compete with what they once had?
"Hales!" Nathan exclaimed happily, picking her up and swinging her around. "I missed you!" And just like that the happy mood was ruined. Why was she hugging him? He broke her heart! She pulled back like his touch burned her skin. She put distance between them with her blocking the doorway.
"What are you doing here, Nathan?" She snapped, hating the harshness in her voice. Nathan narrowed his eyes and realized she was shutting herself off from him. He sighed.
"I haven't been home in awhile," he told her with sincerity.
"Is Tree Hill even your home anymore?" Haley asked sharply.
"No, but you are. Can I come in?" He requested. Haley was blown away by his words. She was blown away by his words. She was swooning, but not as much as she used to. He was her home too, but so was Dean. Was it possible to be completely in love with two guys?
"No, you can't," Dean's rough voice ordered. He walked behind Haley and she leaned against him with a sigh. She needed his comfort and it was almost like he knew that. Either that or he was just staking his claim on her. Maybe a little bit of each.
"I didn't ask you," Nathan snapped, glaring at the guy touching his ex-wife. He wondered how much he had touched her. If they had…
"Listen here pretty boy…" Dean started, stalking forward, but Haley stopped him.
"Stop," she said firmly and both guys' gaze went to her. "You can come in, Nathan." Nathan smirked at Dean as he passed her.
"What?! Haley…" Dean started to lecture her, but she held up her hand.
"He shouldn't have to stand outside," Haley explained with a shrug. Dean let out a frustrated breath.
"Whatever, Haley," Dean said angrily and followed Nathan into her house. He wasn't mad at her, not at all, but he didn't get why Nathan had to come back at that moment. Things were great between Dean and Haley, but Nathan was going to ruin that. He saw Nathan sitting on the couch and he smirked. He wondered if the pretty boy knew that he and his ex-wife fooled around on that couch all the time, and had done just that not even an hour before. Dean went to lean up against the wall opposite to where Nathan was sitting. They glared at each other. Haley came into the room. She had no idea where to sit. By Nathan or by Dean? It really was an awkward situation. She chose a chair that was in between Nathan and Dean. It was an appropriate position for her.
"Why are you here, Nathan? And don't say just coming home. Why are you here at my house?" Haley asked, playing with her hands. She refused to look at either of the guys who held her heart.
"I've been traded to the Charlotte Bobcats, and I though you should be the first to know," he said quietly, hurt by her reaction. He was also trying to ketch her eye, but she just refused. Haley looked, and was, concerned by his statement. Charlotte Bobcats!? Was he…moving to Tree Hill?
"So are you…where are you going to be living?" She asked hesitantly. Dean grimaced at the question, fearing the answer. Nathan just smiled.
"In Tree Hill. I'm actually here looking for a house," Nathan told her with a grin. Dean felt his blood boil. He didn't want his girlfriend's ex-husband anywhere near her, let alone in the same town. Haley felt her heart beat pick up and hated her body for the familiar reaction. She couldn't help it though; he was going to be living in the same town as her!?
"Figures you would come back now," Dean muttered quietly, but both Nathan and Haley heard him. After hearing Dean's voice a wave of guilt took over Haley. How could she be having feelings for Nathan when Dean was in the same room? Who was she…Lucas? The worst part was the she was in love with both guys. A love like hers and Nathan's just didn't dissipate. It couldn't. But she could no longer deny that she was in love with Dean. She had always fallen in love hard and fast. She did with Nathan and she once again did, this time with Dean.
"Excuse me?" Nathan barked out to Dean.
"You heard me," Dean scoffed. Nathan stood up and noted, with satisfaction, that he was taller then the guy.
"You know what? I don't think this has anything to do with you. So how about you leave and leave the adult conversation to me and my…" Nathan stopped before he could say the word 'wife'. His eyes went over to Haley and saw that she had casted hers downward. "Haley," he finished. Dean stalked towards Nathan until he was in the taller guys face.
"Let's get this straight. She is "your" nothing," Dean practically growled and anyone could hear the threat ringing in his voice. Nathan just smirked, though. He never was one to back down from a challenge.
"If she was my 'nothing' then you wouldn't' feel so threatened and jealous, now would you? You know as well as I do that she's a lot of things to me. Including the woman I loved and still love. Can you say the same?" Nathan questioned cockily. He wasn't expecting to be pinned back up against the wall, or the look of physical threat in Dean's eyes. Dean was starting to scare the crap out of him.
"You know, I get that you think the world revolves around…" Dean started, but Haley's soft voice made him stop.
"Dean, baby! Stop!" The two boys allowed her to pull them apart. She was so confused, especially with Nathan saying he loved her, but she knew she needed to get Dean away from Nathan. And fast. She put her hands on Dean's chest and looked into his green eyes. She really loved his eyes. When she looked him in the eyes she felt like he was starring straight into her soul. Like he could read and see her perfectly. That's one thing she never felt with Nathan.
"Haley," Dean started. Maybe he was going to protest or maybe he was going to apologize, he didn't even know though. Luckily Haley cut him off with a heartbroken chuckle. She hated to see them fight.
"I get it, but maybe..." She paused; knowing what she was going to say would be hard and might seriously piss off Dean. She took that opportunity to wrap her arms around his neck and play with the hairs at the nape of his neck. Dean relaxed at her touch and the feel of having her wrapped around him. She had this crazy effect on him he couldn't even begin to understand. Nathan's heart physically hurt at the sight of them together like that. That was supposed to be him she was wrapped around. Not this punk. "Nathan's right," She finished finally.
"What!?" Dean demanded furiously, and when he saw Nathan's smirk he just got madder. He untangled her arms from around his neck and took several steps back.
"I just mean, well, you have a temper, Baby. And it's sweet you want to protect me from my big bad ex and all, but Nathan and I need to have this talk. And we need to have this talk without you needing to add homicide to your rap sheet. Please just understand, Dean. I don't want to do this without you, but I need to," she explained with desperation in her voice. Dean was just too hurt himself to care if he was hurting her. He may even had been a little happy he was about to hurt her. She was hurting him so why not return the favor?
"You want me to leave? I'll leave Haley," he said icily and started heading for her door. She could tell he was pissed, but she couldn't let him leave like that. She just couldn't. She started following him quickly and stopped him with a hand on his arm.
"Baby, stop. I don't want you to leave…" she started, but he interrupted her.
"You just think it's for the best? Bull shit, Haley. That's crap and you know it. You've been pinning after him with unrequited ducky love for years now and he's finally back. What do you care if you're already with another guy? You just want that asshole that only cares for himself!" He vented and the words struck a cord with Haley. He could see the shock and pain on her face and felt his stomach sink. He knew he would eventually hurt her, he just knew it. He couldn't stand that look on her face, so he bolted. Leaving Haley standing at her door all alone and Nathan just in the other room. Haley quickly walked into the room with Nathan, a woman on a mission. Nathan saw Haley come back in, all alone, and smile. The smile disappeared when she pushed his chest. Hard.
"Did you really have to piss him off like that?!" She demanded one hand on her hip with the other hip gutted out, and a fierce glare on her face. He smirked at her angry pose.
"Y…" he started but she wouldn't let him finish.
"You can't just walk back into my life and piss of my boyfriend, Nate! I'm finally moving on," Haley said exasperated. She flopped down onto the couch and Nathan sat on the floor in front of her.
"What if I don't want you to move on?" Nathan questioned.
"What?" Haley questioned in shock.
"Haley, I still love you and I will always love you," Nathan said with conviction.
"I hope you will because I love you to," she told him and he smiled. "But it doesn't change anything. We've hurt each other so much Nathan, and I'm not lining myself up for that again. My heart couldn't handle it. Not to mention I have Dean now."
"Do you love him?" Nathan asked, not wanting to know the answer.
"Yeah," she breathed and he smiled sadly.
"Then I'm happy for you," he stated. "Um, you think we could go see the rest of the group?" Nathan asked, no longer wanting to be alone with her. It was hard for the both of them.
"Yeah, lets go." And they headed off to see their friends, worried about what their reaction to Nathan might be.
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Sam had gone back to his and Dean's motel room shortly after his fight with Peyton. Brooke wanted to hang out with the curly headed devil, and Sam couldn't stand her. So he left. He decided to curl up with one of his favorite books, "The Catcher and the Rye". He wasn't expecting his brother to come crashing through the door when he was on page forty-two. He noticed that his brother looked pissed off. He got alarmed instantaneously.
"Man, what's wrong?" Sam asked, concerned. Dean's eyes shot to his younger brother. Like always Sam could see the emotions he was hiding. The sadness and desperation.
"Nathan's back," Dean said and provided no other explanation. Sam didn't need it. He let out an angry breath and shook his head.
"How's Haley?" Sam questioned, worried about one of his best friends. Dean sighed and sat down in a chair. God, I was so stupid, Dean thought.
"Not good, and I made it even worse," Dean admitted to his brother.
"What did you do?" Sam asked cautiously.
"I was an ass," Dean said honestly. He was already regretting his actions. Of course she wanted to talk to Nathan alone after seeing him blow up.
"When are you not?" Sam joked. Dean sent him a glare. "Man," Sam sighed. "You'll just have to apologize. It'll be fine. This is a stressful situation, and it's going to be hard on the both of you. She'll understand."
"Thanks Sammy, for making this seem like a scene in a chick flick," Dean said sarcastically, but both boys knew Dean really was grateful for Sam's words.
"Jerk," Sam scoffed.
"Bitch."
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Haley took Nathan to see Lucas first. Lucas did not take seeing his brother again very well. It would have gone better if Nathan wasn't with Haley, but there was no changing the past. Lucas' first reaction was to punch Nathan, but he was expecting it and moved out of the way. Then there was a lot of yelling and hateful words. Finally they ended up sitting on Lucas' couch just starring at each other. And Lindsey was just completely confused.
"So you're moving here?" Lucas questioned and Nathan nodded. He was hurt that he and his brother were no longer close, but he couldn't say he blamed him. "And what about…" Lucas questioned, motioning between Haley and Nathan. They looked at each other with wide eyes, shocked that Lucas would be that bold. Nathan wasn't going to say anything; he was leaving where him and Haley stood up to her.
"I think," Haley started, but she paused. She starred into Nathan's piercing blue eyes and found herself wishing they were Dean's green ones. She had to smile at that. She realized right then that Dean really did help her move on. That Dean was the one she wanted to be with. "That we should be friends," Haley finished with a smile. Nathan felt a sting at her words, but was happy that she at least wanted to be friends. He would work on becoming more with her though. He wanted Haley and no one else.
"That would be great," Nathan smiled.
"Yeah it would be just great!" Lucas said snidely and it made Haley laugh.
"Shut up, Pucas," Nathan said with a smirk.
"Hey!" Lucas protested before all three started laughing. Maybe, just maybe, things could work out between the three of them.
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"It's late, so you should probably wait to see everyone else tomorrow," Haley told Nathan as she drove back to her house.
"Yeah," Nathan agreed. "And I'm not really excited to see Peyton and Brooke," he admitted.
"Why not?" Haley asked.
"You're kidding me right?" Nathan asked seriously and Haley shook her head no. "They'll kill me! Brooke especially." He laughed at the though of Brooke Davis and how protective of Haley she was.
"They have no right to even be mad. What happened between us was both of our faults," Haley told him seriously. "I don't blame you."
"Thank you," Nathan said sincerely.
"Eh, no problem," Haley laughed and Nathan joined in. They both loved the feeling of laughing with the other again. "It's pretty late so you can just crash on my couch if you want," Haley told him.
"Are you sure?" Nathan asked, shocked. Haley parked her car in front of her house and started getting out.
"I'm sure now come on," Haley laughed and lead him into her apartment. Haley had not clue that Dean came to apologize and saw her letting Nathan into her apartment. Dean had no clue Nathan was just going to sleep on her couch. Dean jumped back into his car that Haley didn't notice, and drove off thinking his girlfriend was cheating on him. Things were getting messy that was for sure.
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(Shorter than previous chapters, but oh well. Tell me what you thought! Yeah, trouble in Daley world, but it'll all work out. Not for a while though. :D So, did you like how Haley admitted to loving Dean though? Woot! Woot! Question time!
How did you like Supernatural on Thursday? I liked it. My heart broke for Bobby and I'm haunted by the line "She was my soul mate. How many times do I have to kill her?" That was brilliance. Though, it put a plot line for a short Daley story through my mind though. One that might never get published.
When you have spring break and what not do you go places or just stay home? I just say home. :( Well, I hang out with friends, but I don't go on vacation or anything.
What is one cartoon you LOVED as a child? Power Rangers. I still love the original ones. I also loved (and still love) Sonic and Yugio (I spelled that wrong).
So, reviews would be appreciated! And check out that one-shot, please. I also wanted to inform you of my upcoming projects. I don't know when I'll start them and which I'll start first but here's my list. The second part to "Sleeping to Dream" and it will be posted as ch2 on that. A Damon (from the Vampire Diaries) /Haley story titled "I Hate that I Love You". A Daley titled "Left for Dead"; I am most excited about that one. And then a Saley called "Back to the beginning." If you want any of the summaries' just tell me and I'll PM them to you. This AN is getting really long though and I didn't want it to be longer than the actual story. :D REVIEW!)
