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Nathan woke up bright and early. He'd had to wake up bright and early several times before, but he'd never done it with a smile on his face. He didn't think he'd stopped smiling since dropping Haley off the night before. He smiled all through practice, getting ribbed from his teammates the entire time. He didn't care. Practice went great. He did everything his coach told him to do and he did it perfectly. Slinging his duffel bag over his shoulder, he took his phone from his pocket and dialed Haley's number as he walked to his car. He wasn't worried about seeming too eager this time. He told Haley he would call today and that's what he was doing.

Haley picked up the phone on its second ring. She was just as excited to hear from Nathan as he was to call her.

"I had a great time last night," was the first thing he said.

"I did too. What are you up to today?"

"Just got out of practice. Getting ready for tomorrow. Basically just gonna relax for the rest of the day. What about you?"

"I just had lunch with Peyton and Brooke. We've been working all morning. I'm picking Sam up from pre-school in about an hour."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." The two were silent for several seconds. Haley debated whether or not she should ask. This probably wasn't what he had in mind for a second date. She decided to ask anyway. "Listen, I know this probably isn't what you were thinking when we decided on a second date, but did you want to come with me to get him? We were just going to eat dinner and watch a movie today. It'll probably be Cars."

"Cars, huh? That's Disney, right?" Nathan hadn't watched an animated movie since he was a kid.

"Yeah. If you don't want to come don't worry about it. It's a pretty low key afternoon."

"No, no. I think it'd be nice. I can't really stay late. Big day tomorrow."

"Well, Sam has a seven o'clock bedtime, so that works out."

"I'll come right over?"

"Yeah, meet me at my house, I'm headed there now."

"Okay, I'll see you in a bit."

As Nathan ended his call with Haley another was coming in. He looked at the caller ID before answering.

"Hey, Luke. Thanks for the house last night."

"Yeah, I haven't gotten the chance to talk to you. How'd it go?"

"Great."

"Great? Nathan, normally I can't get you to shut up about girls you go out with. Now all you're saying is great?"

"Haley is different."

"I've been saying that."

"It was great, Lucas. But I can't talk, I'm going to her house now and we're picking up Sam and then we're going to watch Cars."

Lucas was silent for a moment. Nathan couldn't see him, but Lucas had taken the phone away from his ear and was looking at it quizzically.

"Lucas? You still there?"

"You're going to watch Cars?"

"Yeah," Nathan answered, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Have you seen it?"

"No, I'm an adult."

"Shut up, Pucas."

"One date and you're already whipped."

"I'm hanging up on you now."

"Nate, if I don't talk to you before then, good luck tomorrow."

"Oh, thanks, Lucas. Are you coming?"

"You got me floor seats; of course I'll be there. Peyton was going to come, but she's going to watch it with some friends instead."

"Thanks, man. I'll see you after the game."

"Later, brother."

Nathan's presence with Haley at the pre-school that Sam attended garnered a few second glances and stares from some of the other parents and students. When they arrived, Nathan looked around. The small campus, if it could be called that, was nice. It was gated and a woman was standing there with a clipboard. When Haley walked up to her, she gave the girl her name and someone went to get Sam. Haley signed for him and they waited a few moments. Sam came running up to his mom with a bucket filled with crayons, markers, and a few picture books. Tucked inside were a few drawings he'd done that day.

"How was school, bud?" Haley took Sam's red bucket from him and took his hand as they made their way back to the car.

"Good. We drew pictures and we finished our story and then we played with the parachute." Sam looked up at Nathan. "Nathan, are you gonna have movie night too?"

"If you don't mind." Nathan knew Sam liked him, but it was different now. Now he and Haley were dating and Nathan wanted to make sure that Sam was okay with that. It was one thing when Nathan and Haley were friends and when they hung out as a group. Now Nathan was hoping that it would be a lot more one on one time with he and Haley. But he knew that a lot of that depended on Sam's reaction to Nathan's increased presence in his mom's life. It had been Sam and Haley for so long. While there were others, specifically Brooke and Peyton, it was mainly Sam and Haley. The last thing that Nathan wanted was to interfere with that.

"Sure! Mommy's making chicken wraps!" Sam stopped, forcing Haley to stop as well. He reached his free hand for Nathan's and took it. Because of Sam, the three were now linked, all holding hands as they made their way the short distance to Haley's car. Nathan looked over at Haley and the two smiled at each other.

Haley watched as her son took Nathan's hand. She could tell that Sam trusted Nathan completely. The two had become friends. Haley knew she was going to have to talk to Sam about her relationship with Nathan. She hoped that Sam would be okay with it. It was a definite change. Sam hadn't been aware of the dates Haley had been on. They hadn't progressed to any level that would warrant telling him about it. Telling him would only confuse him. Nathan, though, was a different story. He was already around because they were friends. Haley had a feeling, too, that he would be around longer in a bigger capacity. Their date had gone so well last night and even though this wasn't the second date either had in mind – if it could be considered a date – his enthusiasm at the idea of a quiet night at home with Haley and Sam had given her hope. She would make a point to sit down and talk to Sam after a few more dates with Nathan. She just wanted to be sure. Haley also thought it would be a good idea to wait until after Thanksgiving. She didn't want her son telling her family anything prematurely. She wasn't sure what reaction she'd get from all of them when she told them she was seeing someone.

Once inside the house Haley took Sam's jacket and hung it in the closet in the entryway. "Sam, why don't you take your bucket upstairs and put it away for tomorrow. Come down when you're done. I'm going to get dinner started."

"Okay, mommy." Sam walked up the stairs, bucket in hand. Nathan watched him go. Being around Sam was making him remember the simplicity of being a child. Childhood was drawings and crayons and movie nights. At least, that's what Nathan felt like childhood should be. His was a bit different. By the time he was Sam's age he was already playing basketball. Dan was already coaching him and pushing him.

Nathan turned his attention back to Haley, who was hanging up her sweater. "Do you want help?"

Haley shook her head and Nathan was slightly disappointed. "But I'd like the company."

Nathan's expression brightened and he followed her into the kitchen. He watched as Haley naturally moved around her kitchen. She started gathering everything she'd need: chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, tortillas, dressing. He'd never watched a woman in the kitchen. His mother had been prone to calling for takeout or bringing something home after work. Home cooked meals were rare. He really only got them when they went to his grandparents house. Watching Haley navigate her kitchen and prepare dinner was something he'd never thought of, but something he enjoyed. She didn't treat it like a chore like his mother treated cooking.

"What do you want to drink?" Her voice broke his thoughts. She'd noticed him staring and wanted desperately to say something. Whenever he looked at her she felt the butterflies. The feeling was a little different after last night. Now the feeling didn't carry with it nerves, but the excitement won out and was now the dominant feeling.

For a split second, Haley thought she saw Nathan blush after her question.

"It's gonna sound kind of weird, but the night before a game I usually drink milk."

Haley grinned and decided to have some fun with this new piece of information. "Big, tough Nathan Scott drinks milk?"

Since she was smiling, Nathan took the opportunity to play along. "Hey, it does a body good." He was smirking and there was a mischievous glint in his eye that did not go unnoticed by Haley.

Haley decided not to comment. She and Nathan were taking things slowly, but she didn't want him to think that she was ready for more in the relationship than she was yet. She'd let the comment on his body go. She already knew that something was doing his body good. He didn't have to tell her. Her smile didn't leave her face as she went to the cupboard. She pulled out a cup and going to the refrigerator, she poured Nathan a glass of milk. She set the cup in front of him – a plastic cup covered in cartoon characters.

"Very funny, Hales." Still, Nathan lifted the cup and brought it to his lips, taking a sip.

"Do you get nervous before the season starts?"

"A little bit, actually. I know what I'm doing; I know all of our plays. But, I also know that small mistakes can cost a whole game. When I get on the court it all goes away and I'm fine. Instinct takes over and something else, this rush."

"Adrenaline," Haley supplied.

"Yeah. Exactly."

Haley nodded. "I get it before I go on stage."

"You get nervous?"

"So nervous," she admitted. "Most of the time before I go on stage Peyton finds me under a table humming the finale from Les Miserables. I can't remember the lyrics, the chords, or the notes. Then I get on stage and the lights go up. I know my band is behind me and they're prepared and it clicks. I'm still nervous because I've never liked being the center of attention. But I know that I know what I'm doing."

"Well, I've only seen you perform a couple of times, but you were great. Couldn't tell you were nervous at all."

"Thanks. You'll do great tomorrow. Peyton, Brooke, and Julian are coming over to watch. None of us know much about the game, but we'll do our best to keep up."

"I'm almost sorry Lucas is coming. He could tell you what's going on. He could have gone all the way if he could still play."

"Shame about the heart condition," Haley said, sympathizing. She knew from their summers during high school that Lucas loved the game and that he was apparently quite good. She felt bad for him when she found out that the reason he couldn't play was because of an inherited heart condition. She remembered what she'd been told about it being genetic and she looked at Nathan. "Have you been tested for it?"

Nathan nodded. "Healthy as can be. Heart's in good condition. I still try and be careful. Dan had a heart attack before he was forty. Don't want that happening to me."

Haley chewed on her lip. They'd only known each other for a few months and had only been on one date, so she couldn't fully explain the sense of relief that came over her in knowing that Nathan definitely was not afflicted with the same heart condition as his brother and that he was also taking steps to make sure the same fate that came to his father did not come to him.

As Haley was washing lettuce and tomatoes, Sam walked in. He carried in front of him a small box. Nathan had taken a seat at the small kitchen table as he watched Haley, after she had said she didn't need any help. Sam came and set the box on the table. Nathan looked at it and saw that it was a jigsaw puzzle. Sam dragged a chair a little closer to Nathan and climbed up, resting on his knees so he was a little taller.

"Nathan, do you want to help with the puzzle?"

"Just until dinner," Haley told them.

Nathan had never had a child come up to him and ask him to spend time with them before but with Sam he liked it. Puzzles, activity books, animated movies – these were things that were not normally part of Nathan's life. Yet, with Sam and Haley they were and Nathan didn't mind. More than not minding, Nathan was enjoying this kind of life. After years of parties, booze, and women, he was experiencing something new. He definitely knew which lifestyle he preferred

"Right, only until dinner." Nathan opened the box and he and Sam began sorting pieces. They were so immersed in fitting the pieces together that they didn't notice when Haley set plates in front of them. They'd made it half way through the puzzle. Sam kept his chair close to Nathan's as they ate. Haley had a glass of milk in front of Sam in a cup similar to Nathan's. He looked over at her and noticed that she too had a glass of milk in a plastic cup. He smiled and raised his cup to her.

"This is really great, Hales."

Haley blushed. "Oh, it's nothing. Just something quick."

"Yeah, but you made it yourself. And it tastes great. So, it's great."

"Thank you. What kind of stuff did your mom used to make?"

Nathan pushed some food around on his plate nervously. "She didn't cook. She brought home takeout and we heated stuff up."

"Oh, well…"

"My grandma is a great cook. And Lucas's mom Karen. The two of them are doing Thanksgiving dinner this year."

"Karen's a great cook. She cooked for us all one night when they were in Charlotte. It was great. So, you're going to Tree Hill for Thanksgiving?"

"Yeah, yeah. I have a game in Miami the day before and I can catch a quick flight right after."

"Peyton's going. Between you and me, I think she's a little nervous about meeting Karen and Keith."

"But she's met them before."

"Yeah, but she hasn't met them as Lucas's girlfriend. She'll be fine, she's just nervous."

"What about you two?"

"Charlotte, actually. The whole family is coming. All seven James kids, wives, husbands, kids. Brooke and Julian."

"I can't believe you're the youngest of seven. I don't know, I just grew up with just me. Six others seems like a lot."

"Oh, it was. By the time I was born, though, they were all so much older. Especially Ned and Vivian."

"Tell Ned I said hi."

"I will."

"And I meant what I said about a game. I'll be in Charlotte in January."

Haley nodded. They finished their dinner and headed into the living room where Haley found the Cars DVD and put it in the player. Sam took a seat on the floor, leaning against the sofa. Haley sat near the arm of the sofa, her feet tucked underneath her. Nathan was unsure of where to sit. He and Haley weren't close enough to sit too closely but he didn't want to sit so far away that it would be awkward. He decided to go with a different approach and took a seat on the floor next to Sam. Haley chuckled quietly and smiled at the two of them.

Sam looked up at Nathan. "What's your favorite movie?"

Without thinking, Nathan answered, "GoodFellas."

"Oh. What's that about?"

Now Nathan had to think about how to explain GoodFellas to a four year-old. He cocked his head to the side, thinking about the movie. "It's about a funny guy," Nathan finally answered.

"We should watch it someday," Sam said.

Haley shook her head. "Not for a long time, sweetie."

"How come?"

"It's for grownups," Nathan replied.

Sam looked at the TV screen, thinking. "Cars is my favorite."

"I've never seen it," Nathan admitted.

"It's the best!"

Nathan was surprised to find himself enjoying Cars. He couldn't remember the last time he'd watched an animated movie. He was surprised to find a pretty good story in there. Doc Hudson reminded him of Whitey and Lightening McQueen's arrogance hit a little close to home. He and Lightening both had listened to older, wiser men and had come out better for it.

When the movie ended Haley declared that it was Sam's bedtime. She sent him upstairs to brush his teeth, wash his face, and put on his pajamas. She explained to Nathan that Sam liked the independence of getting himself ready, but he also still loved a bedtime story.

Haley walked Nathan to the door, knowing it was time for him to go. He had a big day tomorrow.

"Thanks for coming tonight," she said.

"I had a great time."

"Really?" She was skeptical. They'd had chicken wraps and watched Cars.

"I really did. This is nice. You two made a great family for yourself, it's nice being around that."

Haley nodded and bit her lip. "Good luck tomorrow."

"Thanks."

"I'll be watching. Call me sometime after it, if you want."

"I want to. I definitely want to. I'd like to take you out again. Somewhere quiet. You know, still keep it low key and private. I'll call you, though. If not tomorrow, definitely the day after."

"You've got that road trip, right?"

Nathan nodded. "We'll make plans for after that. Something between then and Thanksgiving."

"That sounds good. Great," she corrected herself. Haley leaned forward and enveloped Nathan in a hug. Feeling a little bold, she copied Nathan's move from the night before. She brought her lips to his cheek and kissed him. Her other hand rested on his other cheek and she smiled at him, nodding before opening the door and letting him out.

Haley nervously played with the ring on her pinky finger. She, Brooke, Peyton, and Julian were sitting in her living room watching Nathan's game. It was almost over and he had played well. Knowing as little as Haley did about the game, she could tell that he was playing well. She also couldn't deny how great he looked in his uniform. Watching him play was thrilling. Haley had never thought of basketball as a graceful sport, but she was finding that she thought it was. At least when Nathan was playing. He moved between the other players with ease and finesse. The way his body moved when he took a shot, when he jumped to reach the net. Haley was definitely impressed.

The Lakers were winning, but by a slim margin and the game was nearly over. Haley knew that Nathan and the team had it in them to win, but it was still so close. The Utah Jazz were definitely giving them a run for their money.

Haley had let Sam stay up to watch the first thirty minutes of the game. He had watched with great attention and surprisingly, he knew more about the game than any of the adults in the room. Nathan and Lucas had done a good job of explaining it to him.

The buzzer rang and the game was over. The Lakers had managed a win when Nathan blocked a shot at the last minute. Haley felt a sense of pride watching him and her smile didn't go unnoticed by her best friends. Haley wasn't usually someone to watch sports. Occasionally she would watch figure skating and gymnastics when the Olympics were on, but she wasn't someone who watched sports. She was surprised at how much she liked watching Nathan play the game that he loved. It was so clear to her in the way that he played just how much he loved the game. She could tell that, like they discussed the night before, he got onto a court and he was where he belonged. He was in his element.

The next morning Nathan was packing some things for his trip. He looked over at his phone and picked it up.

"Morning," he greeted Haley when she answered the phone.

"Morning. I didn't expect you to call so soon." The truth was she was excited that he did.

"I uh, I couldn't wait."

Haley blushed and was glad he couldn't see her to see how deeply. "You were great last night. Congratulations."

"Did you know what was going on?"

"Kind of. I know you guys won. I know it looked like you played great and then the guys talking on TV said that you were. Sam explained some of it at the beginning before he went to sleep."

"I could try explaining it to you someday."

"I would like that. Especially if I'm going to be watching more games."

Nathan assumed that if she was going to watch more games that it meant that she'd be watching for him. He was elated. This was one of the best things he could have heard. "So, I get back on Thursday. Do you have plans Friday afternoon?"

"I have to work, actually."

"Oh," Nathan tried not to sound too disappointed. An idea came to him. "Well, what if I brought some food in? We could hang out?"

"Yeah. Sure. Maybe four?"

"Four, okay. What about Sam?"

"He'll be with Andre and Chuck."

"Okay. Friday at four."

"It's a date," she added.

"It's a date. I can't wait."

"Good luck with your games, Nathan."

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