A/N: I felt like this was really rushed, but I wanted to go ahead and get it up to get some feedback. I'm not quite sure where I want this to end, but I'm hoping no more than five more chapters.

Kait

Nathan groaned as he stretched his sore muscles getting off the plane. He never thought a couple hours on a plane could be so uncomfortable. He followed the other passengers to the luggage claim and once he'd received his bag, went to find his ride.

A tall, muscular, well groomed black man held a sign with his name printed neatly next to the High Flyers logo.

"Nathan Scott? I'm Milt West," he held out his hand for a firm shake and reached with his other hand for Nathan's bag.

"It's nice to meet you, sir" Nathan breathed a sigh of relief, "So we've got 'bout an hours ride right?"

"Close to, yeah," Milt nodded, "I was glad you decided to come Nathan, we were upset when your Dad turned us down last year."

"Things have changed where he is concerned," Nathan sighed, clenching his jaw at this new information, "do you mind if I call my wife?"

"I was under the impression the two of you weren't on good terms after our last conversation," Milt spoke carefully, not wanting to upset the young man more than he obviously had with his previous statement.

"We're working on it," Nathan replied pulling his phone from his pocket to turn it on.

"Listen Nathan, I don't know the personal details of your life but I get the feeling from your father that he likes things his way--"

"You could say that," Nathan smirked, "I was finally able to escape him this last school year thanks to my wife, that's why I originally turned you down."

"Smart man," he smiled unlocking his trunk to drop Nathan's bag in, "so why'd your coach call me trying to get you back in last month?"

"She left to go on a music tour," Nathan sighed, "I'd really rather not discuss all of this now. Let's just say she came back with custody of her nephew. Then I needed her help to pass and make it here for the summer and things are starting to look up for us."

"Listen, I don't like to tell my campers what to do and how to act, as long as you do what is expected of you here, but I know how hard it is to have to learn to make it on your own, it's one of the most difficult things you can do."

"Thanks Coach," he nodded slowly, "I'm trying to work on that."

"Alright, well call her, they tend to worry, when there is hardly anything to worry about," he chuckled as they drove away from the airport.

"Hello," the groggy voice greeted him, "Nathan?" she questioned behind a yawn.

"Yah, were you sleeping? I didn't want to wake you," he smiled at the scratchy sound of her voice.

"Figured since Casey was asleep, I might as well get some myself," she yawned again.

"How is he?" Nathan asked already picturing the sweet baby in his mind's eye.

"Good, he fell asleep in the car on the way back from the airport. I didn't have the heart to wake him," he could hear the smile in her voice, "I brought him in here with me."

"Give him a kiss for me," he requested, "I just wanted to let you know that I made it here and Coach West is driving me to camp now."

"Is he nice?" she asked, placing a hand on Casey's belly, when he grunted in his sleep.

"Yeah, I think this is going to work out well for us Hales," he sighed, "I'm going to let you get back to sleep, we'll talk again soon, okay?"

"I love you," she whispered, "so much."

"I love you too," he murmured, "give Casey a kiss for me."

"I will," she promised before hanging up the phone. Laying her head back down on the pillow and watching Casey sleep. "Daddy is working so hard for us, buddy."

Nathan sighed as they continued down the highway, "I think this is going to be what you need, Nathan Scott," Milt West promised. The rest of the drive was made in silence until, they arrived at camp.

Nathan got settled in his room and went to bed almost immediately after a promise Milt that they would begin his rehab early the next morning. Nathan set a picture of Haley and Casey on his nightstand before going to bed that night.

Nathan had only been gone a month and camp had only been in session for a few weeks. "I really miss you," Haley whispered into the phone not wanting to disturb the sleeping baby next to her.

"Me too," No matter how you phrased it, one month, four weeks, 30 days, it was just too long for either of them.

"Casey started babbling today, just out of the blue like 20 syllables in a row," she announced, "and he slept from 11 to 6, which would be considered the whole night."

"And I'm missing it," his pout could be heard through the phone, "how's school going and how are you holding up?"

"School's good, the advisor at Tree Hill Community College said if I pass the four courses I'm taking now I'll be able to take an equivalency exam to get my GED," she relayed.

"Yeah, I was told the same, I actually took it last weekend so if I don't pass it this time I'll have another chance," he sighed, "there's…umm…also these scouts, I've been offered some scholarships for the fall," he spoke quietly, not knowing how the news would be received.

"Oh…well th—that's awesome Nathan, you go where you want, I'm sure they'll be a community college nearby…I'll just do that for a semester--"

"Wait Hales, I'm sure they'll offer you something too, I made sure everyone knows we're a package deal—all three of us," he cut off her sentence before she could go too far.

"That's really sweet, but I don't want a scholarship just because I'm the wife of the star basketball player--"

"No matter when we apply or go to college that's always going to be a major factor Haley," he became very aggravated, very easily at her words, "that's just the way it is, you may not like it, but if they want me bad enough, they're going to offer everything they can and in some cases that may be a full-ride scholarship for you as well."

"I understand that--"

"I don't think you do, and besides once you get there, you can prove how much you deserve it by making the grades you always make," he practically growled.

"Why are you trying to pick a fight with me," she whispered finally after a moment of silence.

"Because you deserve everything you want, and I'm starting to realize I'll never be able to give it all to you," he sighed heavily, "I'll call you tomorrow."

She stared at the phone, listening to the barely audible dial tone, "but you're all I want," she whispered into the darkened room.

Another month and Nathan and Haley were back on somewhat stable ground. Haley had completed her four courses and had taken her equivalency exam. Nathan had received his score, barely passing but he did pass. Haley's score would be arriving any day now.

Parents weekend at High Flyers was coming up and Haley and Lucas were surprising Nathan by making the drive down to Florida even though Haley had told him she wouldn't be able to make it.

"You two ready to roll?" Lucas asked, jumping down from the driver's seat of his new jeep, the latest bribe from Dan.

"Yes," she opened the back door to deposit Casey in the carseat, "You can grab those suitcases."

"How much stuff do you need for a one week trip?" he asked grabbing the two suitcases.

"Do you know how much stuff a baby needs in one week?" she asked crawling back out of the car.

"This is going to be a long trip isn't it?" he asked standing next to her, "I'm glad you accepted my offer."

"You're just lucky my finals were last week," she winked, "Okay let's go."

"Wait," Deb called running toward them, "I've got you plenty of sandwiches, drinks, and some cereal and applesauce so Casey can try out solid foods. Lucas, go get the cooler from my car."

"You didn't have to do that Deb," Haley smiled at her mother-in-law, recently out of rehab and doing well, "thank you."

"Your more than welcome, I also wanted to make sure you got these they were delivered to the café."

"These are Casey's adoption papers, Nathan and I have to sign them," Haley turned the envelope over reading the return address for Vivian and Chase's lawyer, before tucking the envelope into Casey's diaper bag.

"Alright," Lucas clapped his hands, "what now?" he grumped when his phone rang.

Haley and Deb laughed as he answered, "I need to get back to the café, have fun, and tell Nate I love him."

"Promise," Haley smiled, turning to Lucas as he hung up, "that doesn't look like good news."

"Peyton wants to go, I told her you were going, she said she promised a cease fire."

"I never had a problem with her Luke," Haley smiled, "she doesn't know about Casey though."

"I told her we'd be there in ten," he smiled.

"Let's roll."