A/N: I honestly have no excuses and I know I say that a lot, but it feels like every chapter I just get stuck and I think it has to do with the fact that I don't normally write Naley fics.

I wonder if I maybe do some sort of time jump in the near future that it picks this story up sooner.

Chapter Ten: Three Little Words

"How are things with Nathan?" Karen asks as she and Haley close the café for the night.

"Things are well and this is the longest relationship I ever had to be honest."

Karen smiles at her pseudo daughter. She loved Haley and Andrea to death and she didn't want anything to happen to them at all.

"How long have you and Nathan been dating?"

"Almost four months and Andrea loves him. Boy does she love him and it worries me sometimes," Haley admits.

Karen pushes Haley into the nearest seat and sits down next to her.

"Tell me your fears Haley."

"I worry that at some point that Nathan and I won't work out and then Andrea gets hurt in the process. I can't have that. Andi has had Lucas in her life, but it's not the same because Nathan treats Andi like she's his and if he goes away then Andi loses a dad and I can't have that."

"Haley, you have already taken the biggest step any single mother makes and that's letting someone into your life and around your kid. Nathan was kind of a bad guy, but you changed him and everyone sees it. It's amazing isn't it? How one person can change another?"

"When is it too early to be in love?" Haley asks quietly.

Karen grins.

"I don't think anyone can answer that question Haley, but if you want my opinion, I don't think it's ever too early to fall in love. It just depends on the situation."

"How do you think Nathan is handling the whole babysitting thing?" Karen asks with a slight laugh.

"I don't know and he doesn't have Brooke to fall back on either. She's been staying at Jake's for the past few weeks."

-One's a Number, Three's Family-

Andi crawls up onto the couch surprising Nathan who had been watching a late basketball game.

"Aren't you supposed to be in bed Andi? I could have sworn I put you to bed a few hours ago."

"I'm not tired," Andi says as she rubs her eyes.

"Your momma might be upset when she comes home and you're still awake. I could get in trouble. Do you want me to get in trouble?"

Andi shakes her head.

"I'm sad," Andi says in her three year old sigh. "Momma's not here."

"I know sweetie, but isn't Nathan a good substitute?"

Andi nods her head with a smile. She loved that Nathan was watching her. Earlier they had played dress up, but Nathan had made Andi promise that she wouldn't tell anyone including her mother and wanting to please Nathan, Andi agreed. They also sat down and watched Finding Nemo, one of Andi's favorite movies. Nathan's as well only no one knew that.

Nathan stands up from the couch and picks Andi up in his arms.

"Okay, you, let's get you back to bed."

Nathan walks into Andi's room and tucks her in. He sits down on the side of her bed.

"Nathan, can you be my daddy?"

It was only an innocent question from the young girl, but it had made Nathan pause. He didn't know where his relationship with Haley was going, but he knew that he felt something for her and he already knew he loved Andi like a daughter, but he couldn't answer any of Andi's questions without talking to Haley first. He didn't want to assume anything.

"I don't know Andi, but I promise that when I do know, you will be the first to know."

Andi closes her eyes and Nathan kisses her on the forehead.

"Goodnight Andrea."

The only sound he had gotten in return was a soft little snore. He wondered if Andi had gotten it from her mother.

-One's a Number, Three's Family-

Haley walks into the apartment with a yawn.

After he had put Andi back to bed, Nathan resumed his seat on the couch to continue to watch the Duke Carolina game. Duke was winning.

"How was she?" Haley asks as she puts her purse on the kitchen table.

"It was great. I had fun. I've never had that much fun before."

Haley smiles adoringly at her boyfriend. Haley joins Nathan on the couch.

"Was she missing me at all?"

Nathan nods his head.

"She came out of bed a about an hour or so ago. She had been sleeping for a few hours before then. She missed you though."

"Andi does that a lot. She comes out of her room maybe two times a night. Hopefully I can break her out of that habit."

"I think it's because she just wants to know what is going on and who is there. She's curious."

"That she is."

Nathan leans his head back against the couch. He really wanted to bring up what Andi had said earlier, but he didn't want Haley to apologize for it. She loved Andi as if she was his own and he would be sad if Haley said that he wasn't a dad to her. But he did have to bring it up because he was afraid that Andi would bring it up tomorrow.

"Andi asked if I could be her dad."

"I honestly don't know what to say. I mean I know you're not her dad and most teenage guys would hate to be called that and I understand if you totally don't want to be with me anymore, but you're the first guy that I've actually fell in love with and I just. Andi would be heartbroken…"

Nathan looks at Haley with a smile as she continues to babble. He could've sworn that somewhere in Haley's words that she had told him she loved him and he was okay with that because he loved her too.

"Haley stop."

Haley stops and looks at Nathan with a look of question on her face. She had said a lot and at this point she had no idea what she had just said.

"I already think of Andi as my daughter and its okay because that girl is awesome. Also, you just kind of told me that you loved me."

Haley gasps.

"No I did not."

Nathan grins and nods his head.

"Yes you did," Haley looks embarrassed, but Nathan just continues to smile. "And it's okay because I love you, too."

A/N: I want to know what you guys want to see for upcoming chapters. The more ideas I get the more chapters I can put out and put out on time.