Author's Note: Wow, it's been awhile. LOL Ok, so I had OYE almost done, but got inspired for this. When it strikes I just have to go where it takes me. I hope you all enjoy this. Warning there are some very adult situations, so proceed with caution when viewing. ;)
Also, like I always warn thinks aren't always as they seem and I'm not referring to NH in this chapter so if you pick up on something it's def not what you're expecting. Hehe.
This is dedicated to Jess, whom I had a BLAST with when she came to visit. We went to the spa, shopped, partied, drank way too much and spent our hangovers by the pool. :) I can't wait to come to NY in August and get into more trouble. Haha. Hopefully this chapter also inspires you to write because you're putting me to shame in lapses between updates. LOL So now I've pressured you and you have to write. :P
A big thanks to Lo for beta-ing and calming my nerves as always. Love ya girl!!
Now go read people and I really hope it was worth the wait. You guys are the best!!
Chapter Eleven "In Our Bedroom After The War"
Wake up! Say good morning to that sleepy person lying next to you
If there's no one there, then there's no one there, but at least the war is over
It's us - yes, we're back again, here to see you through, 'til the days end
And if the night comes, and the night will come, well at least the war is over
We won, or we think we did, when you went away, you were just a kid
And if you lost it all, and you lost it, we will still be there when the war is over
Lift your head and look out the window
Stay that way for the rest of the day and watch the time go
Listen! The birds sing! Listen! The bells ring!
All the living are dead, and the dead are all living
The war is over and we are beginning...
Here it comes! Here comes the first day! Here it comes! Here comes the first day!
It starts up in our bedroom after the war
After the war! After the war...
Stars
"Why are you here?" Haley questioned without meeting her mother's eyes as she put her brush in her bag, minutes away from being discharged.
Lydia James in her striking black suit seemed unfazed by the question or her daughter's absent excitement at her presence. "You're my daughter, why wouldn't I be here?"
Laughing quietly, Haley finally looked up and zipped her bag shut, "Funny, when I almost died you couldn't find the time. So, what changed, mother?"
Remaining undeterred, Lydia continued with her mission." Your father and I decided you should join us in Boston for the fall semester. Afterwards, we've arranged for you to attend college there." She said as if it was the most natural thing in the world to her, playing the role of a caring mother.
Perhaps before the accident the little girl inside Haley would have blindly accepted the chance of being a family no matter the facades, but Haley knew better now. Nathan had shown her what a real family was in his love for her. He was her family now.
"I will be attending Duke in the fall…with my husband." Haley informed her, even though she knew her mother would be anything but shocked. Lydia James always had an agenda and discovering her daughter's marriage was the only reason she'd shown her face.
Proving her point, Lydia appeared cool calm and collected at the declaration, fingering the pearls around her slender neck, "Yes, I heard about that. Luckily, when you weren't answering my calls, Brooke was kind enough to answer and inform me of your mistake."
"Mistake?" Haley challenged, "Oh no mother, the only mistake I have ever made was not standing up for myself and what I wanted sooner."
"Is that was this is then? A cliché act of rebellion?"
Playing with her ring, Haley smiled down at it, then faced her mother again, "For the first time, this isn't about you mom, whether defying or pleasing you. This about me and I've never been more sure of anything in my life."
Lydia's façade began to crack and she started to pace, "You want to do this Haley? You really want to be married. Fine." She stopped cold, twisting around to stare hard at her daughter, "But you won't see a dime from your father or me anymore. Then we'll see if your puppy love sustains you."
"Hales?" Haley and her mother whipped around to find a ready to pounce Nathan.
True to form, Lydia didn't miss a beat and held out her hand, "You must be Nathan, the boy intent on ruining my daughter's life," She sweetly spoke and Nathan truly thought she actually expected him to want to seek her approval.
Nathan spared her hand a disinterested glance before going to Haley's side, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Mrs. James I'm sorry you feel that way, but Haley's my wife now and really no longer your concern, not that she ever was." He smirked, not sure if he'd actually hit a nerve, but enjoying catching her off guard.
Snatching her black Chanel bag off a nearby chair, Lydia set her sights on Haley one last time, a tinge of regret sneaking through, what even she knew, had become her cold heart, yet it wasn't enough to silence her own cruel childhood family memories and years of a loveless marriage. Her demons had claimed her long ago and would never let go.
"Don't say I didn't warn you," were her last words.
Feeling all negativity follow her mother, Haley sunk into Nathan's arms, her cheek pressed tightly against his chest, "I missed you."
He chuckled, stroking her hair, "Sorry I wasn't here sooner, but I was finishing your surprise."
Leaning back, Haley eyes him curiously, "Better than my mom cutting me off?"
Pausing, Nathan switched into protective mode, "Hales, I'm going to take care of you and I'm always going to protect you."
True belief radiated off her, "Right back at you."
His excitement returned at her declaration, "So you want to get out of here and see your surprise Mrs. Scott?"
Rising up on her toes, she pecked his lips, "I'd follow you anywhere Mr. Scott."
…
With their hands intertwined, Nathan led her up the steps of a local apartment complex that they'd picked out together online the week before. They'd been too late to get into married housing at Duke, so they'd decided on staying in Tree Hill, which was only ten minutes away from campus anyway.
"I love the balcony," Haley happily sighed, imagining countless nights of staring out at the stars in Nathan's arms.
Picking out the apartment key, newly attached to his keychain, Nathan unlocked the door, opening it only partially, then turned back to his bride, "Ready to be carried over the threshold?"
She giggled as he swept her effortlessly up into his arms, "Who knew Nathan Scott was such a romantic?"
He smirked down at her, opened the door all the way with his foot, and carried her over said threshold, her gasp turning his smirk into a full blown grin.
"Oh my god, Nathan, what did you do?"
Carefully putting her down, he let her take in everything.
She spun around doing just that. He'd furnished the apartment in beautiful comforting tones of various shades of blue, rich oranges and warm beiges. It was perfect, but what really took her breath away was the magnificent London bridge mural lit up at night on the back wall, complete with a faux bridge archway to highlight its beauty. After their wedding, they stayed up for hours speaking of their dreams of their life together including Haley's vision of a London honeymoon where they get lost in their love for the rain and each other repeatedly.
Coming up behind her, Nathan encircled her waist pulling her back to him and resting his chin on the top of her head, "With school starting soon I knew we didn't have time for the real thing, but I hoped this could give you a taste of what's to come."
She sighed in utter contentment, her hands over his, "This is amazing Nathan. I could never ask for more."
Bending down he nuzzled her neck, "Peyton did the mural, she'd kill me for not giving her credit."
Smiling, Haley turned in arms, "I kind of figured that one out. You have many talents, but another Picasso you certainly aren't."
"I'd rather be a Casanova for you anyway," He grinned before capturing her lips in a tender kiss that quickly intensified when her tongue came into action, craving his taste.
He moaned into her mouth and slowly slid his hands beneath her loose yellow halter, his lower half grinding into her at the touch of her smooth taut stomach.
Her hips eagerly accepted the friction as their kisses grew more frenzied with passion.
Soon, his palms reached her heaving breasts, grabbing hold of them whole, her nipples erect and igniting with his touch.
Tearing his lips away from hers, he placed open mouthed kisses along her jaw line, "I need you, Baby, now."
Her response was a loud moan and she fisted his shirt, pulling him along with her while backing them towards the couch.
Once within reach, she gave him a naughty shove down onto it, and stood just out of his reach.
"I love it when you take control," He chuckled, undoing his shorts.
Giving him a saucy smirk that was eerily starting to mirror his own, she slowly unbuttoned her jeans and then slipped them and her white lace thong seductively off much to his ultimate satisfaction.
Dropping to her knees, she pulled his shorts and boxers the rest of the way down and set his throbbing erection free.
Still on her knees between her legs, she reached back and undid the knot of her halter, revealing her full luscious breasts.
He'd never seen a more magnificent chest in his life, so natural, so perfect and it was all his.
Standing up, her top fell to her ankles and she stepped out of it. At that, he couldn't hold back anymore and yanked her on top of him barely given her enough time to properly straddle him.
She giggled at his impatience and kissed his swollen lips, "I love you."
He paused at that and leaned back to stare into her shining eyes, filled with a sea of emotions that somehow he was lucky enough to invoke, "Don't ever leave me,"
Concern was now the main emotion she displayed in those beautiful orbs, "Never…I promise you."
With those words, she rose up and then down to join their bodies. She began slowly, savoring the feel of him, her husband, inside her. Nothing had ever felt more right to either of them.
His fingers dug into her backside, groaning as her hips swirled around his member in a delicious rhythm.
Everything faded away as she rode him with reckless abandonment, the sounds of their lovemaking no longer hindered by secrets and fear.
Her screams of pleasure escalated when his tongue swirled around her nipple and then his teeth latched on. God, the things he could do with that mouth of his.
Her juices flowed and her tight walls constricted him, sending him back to their first night together, and how she, in that anger fueled lust, ruined him for all others. There had been no going back and now instead of spending his life with memories haunting him he could spend everyday making new ones.
She screamed out his name, clinging to him for dear life while her climax overtook all her senses and he continued to thrust upwards adding even more intensity to the sensations ripping through her body.
Somehow, in her fog her lips found his once again and swallowed his own cries of passion as his pelvis shook beneath her, filling her completely until he had nothing left.
A few quiet moments passed, the sounds of their ragged breathing and soft kissing all that remained.
Finally catching her breath, a bright smile spread across Haley's flushed face, "Guess our marriage is now consummated."
He smirked, still gripping her hips. "And I plan on consummating it all over this apartment."
A noise outside startled them both, but Nathan saw the cause before her, "Dan Scott standing outside their open blinds. "Fuck." Nathan blew out lifting Haley off him and grabbing his discarded shirt off the coffee table, "Put this on."
She gave him an odd look, till she noticed what had him so riled up, "Jesus!"
Scrambling she slipped on his baby blue polo and quickly found his boxers doing the same.
Nathan had pulled on his shorts in record speed, as well and was at the door in a flash, glancing back to make sure she was decent before yanking the door open, "What the hell are you doing dad?" He growled out, making sure to block Dan for even getting a chance to come inside.
"Now, can't a father come by to congratulate his son on his nuptials?" His fake grin sent chills down Nathan's spine and the flat rectangular box wrapped in silvery paper embossed with wedding bells didn't help the situation.
"Sure if it was anyone but you. Why the fuck were you watching us? That's sick Dad, even for you."
Dan chuckled, "Don't flatter yourself, I just arrived and spotted you through the blinds. Maybe you should close them if you and your new bride want privacy. But anyway I come baring gifts, the least you could do is let me in."
Shyly, Haley appeared beside Nathan, "Of course, Mr. Scott, please come in." She kindly offered, wanting to calm the situation and at least try to make a good impression.
Nathan shook his head, knowing this was a bad idea, but stepped away from the door allowing his father inside.
Leaning over, Dan kissed Haley on the cheek and handed her his gift, "Why thank you Haley and I want to be the first to welcome you into our family."
"Thank you Mr. Scott, I'm sorry Nathan and I didn't tell you sooner, it was just kind of spur of the moment. I hope we didn't insult you."
Gently, Nathan took Haley's arm and led her away from his father, "Let's sit down."
Taking the couch, Haley and Nathan sat close as Dan took a chair across from them, "Nice place son."
Nathan just nodded and Haley smiled gratefully. She knew Dan's history and how he treated his sons, but with her own parents shutting her out of their lives completely, not that that was a stretch for them, she wanted to at least try and build something positive with her in laws. Maybe in time it could even help repair Nathan's own relationship with them.
"Well, aren't you going to open my gift," Dan encouraged, an odd gleam in his eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Haley quickly apologized, beginning to carefully undo the wrapping. It was their first wedding gift and she couldn't help but get a little thrill out of it when they really weren't expecting any.
With the wrapping off all that remained was the unmarked white box and Haley lifted the lid off it, revealing a stack of papers with a silver bow wrapped around them. "What's this?"
Nathan took the papers from her, scanning them and he almost laughed out loud, of how right he'd been about his dad, "Wow, annulment papers…nice one."
Horrified, Haley grabbed the papers back, wanting to see them with her own eyes, then looked helplessly towards her new father-in-law unable to form words as the papers fell from her hands to the floor.
"I just thought I'd save you both the trouble," Dan grinned, very pleased with himself.
Nathan picked up the papers, stood and hurled them at his father, "Get the hell out of our house NOW!"
Standing, Dan straightening out his suit, leaving the papers in a heap on his chair. "Fine, I can tell when I'm not wanted. I'll have a lawyer on stand by son. Just call me when this game of house starts to bore you."
"Get out," Nathan repeated through clenched teeth, "and if you go anywhere near Haley, I swear to god, Dan."
"Oh it's Dan now?" He gave a little chuckle, "I guess that works as from this point on I'm not paying for a damn thing of yours, at least until you come to your senses."
This time Nathan got directly in his father's face, "I don't need you or your money. So get the fuck out before I throw you out."
Holding up his hands in surrender, Dan made his way for the door, "I'm leaving and Haley dear, I hope you don't plan on getting knocked up. I won't support that bastard either."
He was still grinning as finally left their apartment.
…
Chase climbed the stairs of Brooke's house and found the brunette staring in a daze at a photo album.
"You ok?"
Brooke didn't look up, "Sit."
He did and saw her transfixed on a photo of her and Haley from cheerleading camp, holding a trophy from a competition.
"I don't think I can let her go Chase." Brooke finally spoke.
Taking the album from her, he shut it quickly and put it to the side, "She lied to you, to us. How can you even think like that?"
She still didn't look at him, "Because I love her and because I've lied to her too, we both have."
"Don't even try to compare Brooke. She lied for two years, it's not even remotely the same. She fucking married him too, did you know that? Married him, for god's sake."
Now she faced him, "I know, I was there."
Chase jumped from the bed and stared at her in shock, "You were there?"
"She's my best friend Chase, I had to see it…I had to see it for myself, to see why she could have done what she did."
"Oh so her being in love makes it easier, makes it less of a betrayal?"
She shook her head while tears begin to slip down her cheeks, "No, that's not what I meant. I just meant…well I don't know what I meant."
"She chose him over me, over you, over everything."
More tears spilled, "I know that, but are you telling me you would have wanted her back knowing she loved someone else. Jesus, what does that say about you or me for that matter? I wouldn't want that for her or you."
"What about Lucas?" Chase added. "Where was he when you needed him, with Haley that's where."
"I'm not talking about Lucas, I can't handle even thinking about him right now. He's called me a million times and I can't even pick up the phone." Haley had tried calling her too, all week from the hospital, but she'd ignored every single call.
Chase sunk to the floor, "Are you going to take him back?"
"I told you I can't even think about that and maybe a part of me wonders why I can't. Why I'm looking at photos of Haley and not him."
"Nice Brooke, so I guess you're just going to forgive everything and be Haley's little cheerleader in her new life and watch Lucas run off into the sunset with Peyton."
"Shut up!" Brooke's voice rose, "he's not going to do that."
"Just like I thought Haley wouldn't leave me."
It was Brooke's turn to leap to her feet, "Can we just stop talking about this…all of this. I can't handle it, not right now." Her hand went to her stomach and pain began to overwhelm her.
She felt Chase's arms around as she began to sob, never feeling more lost in her entire life.
…
Walking into their bedroom, Nathan handed his still shaken wife a glass of water, kneeling in front of her, "I'm so sorry, Baby."
She took a sip and then sat it on the nightstand, "Me too, I know I should have expected it, it's just everything is so overwhelming."
Lifting his hand, he stroked her dark blonde waves, "I wanted this night to be special for you,"
She smiled at that, "Nathan it is special. Coming home with you to our place, making love to you for the first time as your wife, nothing can ever take that away."
He kissed her forehead, "I needed to hear that."
She scooted over in the bed and opened the covers for him to join her, which he did after taking off his shorts.
Pulling her body into his he held her tight, realizing she'd removed his boxers. "We're going to be ok, no matter what."
Placing a tender kiss on his chest, she tilted her back and caressed his cheek, "I know we will. It's just with my mother, your dad, and Brooke won't answer my calls, not that I blame her."
"You know I'm not her biggest fan, but she'll come around."
"Lucas said the same. You know, I think you two are more alike than you think."
Nathan quirked an eyebrow, "I guess that's good he said that, but let's not go that far."
She laughed and he breathed a sigh of relief at the sound.
"So, Mrs. Scott, I know I'm all about the charm, but I think I have a better way of taking your mind off things."
There was that smirk again as he rolled on top of her, her legs spreading as if on autopilot.
"Hmm, I'm not sure I know what you're getting at Mr. Scott." She played along, already wet by his steadily growing member rubbing against her.
"Does this" he thrust inside her, a gasp mingled with a moan escaping her lips, "help?"
Her only answer was her hips jerking up against his and in that moment everything and everyone else melted away into ecstasy.
Joined as one, in their bedroom, the war was over…at least for them.
Cath