I know how much I completely suck for not updating sooner it's just I made myself finish chapter twelve before posting this. Now I'll start working on chapter thirteen.

This chapter is gonna send you all crazy and completely confused but if you are that's good because I want you to be confused.

The italics are a flashback to the Sunday after last chapter when Nathan and Haley are gonna leave for California and the normal text is the next Sunday-so basically the next week. And the italics at the end of the song are the song which is the name of this chapter.

Thank you to the amazing reviewers and readers! You all really keep me motivated to get chapters up quicker so thank you!

Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill but the ideas of this story are mine.

Enjoy!

Lax


Summary: Nathan and Haley have shared a forbidden love for the past six years behind their parent's backs and have recently received a little push. Brooke and Lucas are in love and engaged much to everyone's objections. And where on Earth do Jake Jigelski and Peyton Sawyer fit into the equation? Will Nathan and Haley's parents ever find out about their reality? What will happen to their Bubba? Will Brooke and Lucas make it down the aisle with their whole world against them? How exactly will Peyton and Jake bring Nathan and Haley's future to ruins? Three couples...two marriages...one Bubba...what next?

Chapter Eleven-We Belong Together

We belong together
Like the open seas and shores
Wedded by the planet force
We've all been spoken for


The hammer may strike, be dead on the ground.
A net to my hand, a cross on his crown.
We're done if, who we're undone,
Finished if who we are incomplete.
As one we are everything,
We are everything we need.


We belong together
Like the open seas and shores
Wedded by the planet force
We've all been spoken for.

We Belong Together by Gavin DeGraw

Haley looked out the window of the passenger seat she sat at and saw Nathan's Cadillac Escalade drive beside the SUV she was within. Nathan's face turned to look back at Haley's and their eyes locked longingly. How had it come to this? Why had it come to this? Their thoughts drifted back to a week ago when Brooke had first made the offer.

Haley walked into the kitchen to find Jake sitting at the breakfast bar, munching on a few slices of toast and sipping ice cold juice.

"Hi," Jake greeted with a toothy grin.

"Hey," Haley's smile was slightly strained. "Have your parents left?"

"Yeah, they went pretty early this morning," Jake replied.

Haley nodded and turned to the fridge. Bending she picked up the juice bottle and poured some into a glass. Her back stayed facing Jake's as she drank the glass's content, grimacing at the thought of it not staying down.

"Any plans for today?" Jake asked. "I mean, what's there to do in a small town like Tree Hill?"

"Actually, not much. There's cafes and a few clubs and stores and stuff," Haley offered pathetically.

"Mind showing me around?" Jake questioned shyly.

"Erm…I'm sorry Jake but Brooke-my best friend-and I are booked in for a visit to the spa. I had thought you were coming next week and we kinda booked this last week. I'm sorry," Haley apologised.

"It's okay, I'm sure I can find my way around," Jake brushed off the rejection with another grin.

"Actually…I gotta go. I'm supposed to be meeting Brooke for 1," Haley excused.

"Ok, bye," Jake waved.

Haley smiled and exited the kitchen. Pulling her jacket around her body tightly Haley stepped out into the welcome spring air. Spring-Haley's favourite season. It marked new beginnings and everywhere you looked there were forms of growth and birth. Trees blossomed sacred whites and pinks and flowers evolved from buds on green stalks. Breathing in the humid air Haley turned to look at the house she had just left.

Bending Haley plucked one of the purple flowers from its cluster and breathed in its hypnotising scent. She had always loved the pretty purple flowers planted at the front of her house. She would now be leaving the house and those flowers. Wiping away the ever-falling tears Haley stood, letting the flower fall from her hands and grace the asphalt of the driveway. Turning Haley walked to her car and climbed into the driver's seat. Early that morning she had loaded her car with a suitcase of the essential belongings she wished to take with her. It hadn't been a particularly hard job seeing as nobody had been around. Without looking back, Haley put the car in gear and pulled away from her house, for the very last time.


"Morning," Nathan greeted Peyton as he walked into the house's foyer to find Peyton on her way upstairs.

Truth be told, he felt slightly bad for leaving Peyton's life hanging here. But not bad enough to not leave for California with his child and lover this very evening.

"Whatever you say," Peyton grumbled before flouncing upstairs.

"Well I sure am glad I'm not sticking around to marry her," Nathan said sarcastically to Lucas who had seen the interaction.

"Let's go," Lucas motioned to the door.

"Yeah, just one minute," Nathan walked into the kitchen.

"Nathan," Karen turned to her youngest son with loving eyes.

"Hi mummy," Nathan said feeling sentimental.

Nathan opened his mouth to say more but shook his head against it. Instead he engulfed his mother into a tight embrace, bending his head and resting it on her neck.

"Nathan?" Karen asked uncertainly.

"Mum," Nathan whispered trying to keep his tears at bay. He asked vulnerably, "You love me don't you?"

"Of course I do sweetie," Karen pulled back slightly to look into Nathan's eyes. "Don't you ever doubt that. I will always love you."

"Even if I do something wrong when it's right?" Nathan asked.

"I will always love you," Karen asserted.

Nathan bent his head once again and held his mother in his arms. He would be absolutely fine leaving Tree Hill. His only regret would be that he could never tell his mother the truth and when she found out, it would be too late because he would be on the other side of the country.

"Nathan, what's wrong?" Karen spoke fearfully as she felt a hot tear fall onto her neck.

"Nothing," Nathan dismissed.

"Are you okay?" Karen asked.

"Uh-huh," Nathan nodded as more tears fell before pulling back and wiping them away with the back of his hand. "I have to go mum."

"What do you mean you have to go? Where are you going?" Karen asked desperately searching Nathan's eyes.

"I have to go mum," Nathan repeated moving out of the embrace and softly kissing his mother's cheeks.

Turning Nathan walked from the kitchen and to the foyer where Lucas awaited him.

"Wait!" Karen screamed running after Nathan. "Where are you going Nathan?"

Nathan ignored his mother and did his best to tune out her pleas as he walked out of the house and to Lucas' car.

"Nathan!" Karen pleaded.

Nathan turned and Karen's heart filled with hope but shattered as Nathan spoke the fearful words, "I love you mum but I have to go."

"Nathan!" Karen's scream could be heard as they drove off into who knows where.


Nathan and Lucas had arrived at Brooke's house and they were now awaiting Haley. There was a knock at the door and Brooke opened the door to reveal a desperate Haley.

"Haley," Nathan spoke and Haley ran into his awaiting arms.

Haley's tears flowed at an overwhelming pace as Nathan's arms tightened around her.

"I was so scared when I left and I just-" Haley tried.

"Ssh, it's ok," Nathan soothed.

And for the first time that both Nathan and Haley had left their respective houses they felt safe. They felt reassured knowing that everything would work out for them. They felt a tiny glimpse of light as they thought of their future. And they really did feel safe. Everything that they were doing was for their Bubba and it would be ok.

"I'm sorry, I'm a mess," Haley let out a choked laugh as she moved back.

"You think I'm any better?" Nathan asked honestly.

"Do you want a drink Haley?" Brooke asked cutting in.

"Erm…a glass of water would be good. My stomach's been up and down all morning," Haley smiled wiping away her tear tracks.

"Have you eaten anything today?" Nathan inquired.


"No," Haley smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry, I just couldn't take any food."

"Do you want any food?" Brooke asked.

"Maybe later but not right now," Haley answered.

Brooke nodded and walked out of her living room, pulling Lucas with her.

"Do you think they'll go for it?" Lucas asked as Brooke poured a glass with water.

"I don't know but I hope so," Brooke shrugged.

Walking back into the living room they saw that Nathan and Haley had found seats on the sofa, Nathan's arm snug around Haley. Brooke handed a grateful Haley the glass.

"So what are the plans?" Lucas asked.

"Our flight leaves at six so we have to be at the airport at three. Basically we have to leave at two," Nathan filled them in.

Haley's hand found Nathan's in a way for the butterflies in their stomachs to calm. They were so close to being free that they could almost taste it. As soon as that aeroplane was in the air they would be truly free.

"Are you sure there's no other way?" Lucas asked.

Haley set the half-empty glass on the table and shook her head gravely.

"We've done everything we could think of," Haley answered.

"Maybe not everything," Brooke spoke.

"What do you mean Brooke?" Nathan asked curiously.

Brooke stood up and walked over to her mantelpiece. Picking up the pictures she handed them to Haley. Haley started to flip through them as Nathan looked over her shoulder. Each picture was a different shot of the same cabin in a clearing in the heart of the woods.

"I don't understand," Haley looked up. "Are you saying we should run away to the woods instead?"

"You guys said that you were running out of time so before Haley starts showing you guys wanted to leave. But you also wanted to tell your parents. This is your way out to having that time," Brooke said cryptically.

"But, I don't…what the hell are you going on about Brooke?" Nathan was bewildered.

"My parents own a cabin in the woods which they hardly ever go to. I propose that we go to the cabin. Lucas, I, Haley, Nathan, Jake and Peyton," Nathan began to protest but Brooke ploughed on needing to say what she had to. "I think we should take a little holiday for two months. It's enough time for you guys to tell Jake and Peyton the truth and prepare for how you guys will tell your parents. You were tight for time so I'm giving you time-two whole months of time. What do you think?"

"I think you're nuts," Nathan spoke.

"Why would we do this Brooke?" Haley asked. "We can't do this. It doesn't matter how much time we have. Either way we're still screwed. The only way out is to leave forever."

"And what Haley? And forget about everything here? Forget about your lives?" Brooke challenged.

"Damn it Brooke! You think this is easy on us?" Nathan blew standing up. "You know why we're doing it. We're leaving for our child. We wanna give our Bubba everything without having to worry about this town or our parents breathing down our necks. Why can't you understand that?"

"Understand what? That your mother might want to be involved with her grandchild seeing as she's the only decent grandparent this kid will have!" Brooke pointed out.

Nathan gasped that Brooke had actually gone there. Nathan had just about left that house and his mother and she had just thrown it back in his face like it meant nothing. Haley stood up seeing the inner turmoil and anger in Nathan's eyes. Walking over to him she laced her hand through his.

"Brooke, you were supposed to support us," Haley accused softly.

"I do support you Haley. I love you guys so much and I can't see you going through this. Running across the country isn't going to help you guys. The only thing that will is coming clean and telling your screwed up parents that it's your lives! Take control for once, please!" Brooke pleaded.

"Brooke we-"

"I'm giving you guys two months of time. Do you think it's fair to Jake and Peyton to just leave them hanging like that? Is it their fault that they ended up being promised to you guys? You guys will ruin their lives too! And what about Karen? Doesn't she deserve to know the truth? You know that she'll support and stand by you guys. And what about Lucas and I? Is it fair that you'll be leaving us? You know we support you but is this really the right way to go about it? Come on you guys. It's two extra months," Brooke persuaded desperately.

"What do you think about this man?" Nathan addressed his quiet brother.

"I say go for it. What do you have to lose? If you guys can have time to work things out for your child then why not? And it's not like anybody will stop you from flying to California after two weeks or whatever. We're just trying to help you," Lucas reasoned.

"The choice is yours," Brooke left the room with Lucas in tow to allow Haley and Nathan to think.

"What do you say? Two months away at a cabin in the middle of nowhere," Haley turned to Nathan and wrapped her arms loosely around his waist.

"I'd do anything for you and our child," Nathan sighed. "Do you think it's a good idea?"

"No and yes. I think that we should just leave for California right now but we'll always be left wondering what if? What if we had gone? Would things be different? If we go we have more time and we can actually leave gracefully. What do you think?" Haley answered.

Nathan brushed a hair from Haley's eyes and stroked her cheek. "I think we should go."

A smile graced Haley's face, "So do I."

"Besides if we didn't Brooke would hold it against us forever."

"So we're really doing this?"

"Yep, we're really doing this," Nathan sealed the deal with a kiss.

"I knew it!" Brooke bounded into the room not caring that she was intruding on their moment. "I knew you guys would agree!"

"Well you do put up a pretty good fight," Haley laughed.

"I do don't I?" Brooke mused.

"You sure do cheery," Lucas wrapped his arms around Brooke from behind and kissed her cheek.

"So, how are we doing this then?" Nathan asked.

"We leave next Sunday and we'll be there for two months so pack tonnes of clothes,"

Brooke told.

"Erm…my stomach's kinda better now. Can I have some food please?" Haley begged.

Brooke shook her head and they all laughed at Haley's appetite.

Nathan's eyes fell back on the road. Jake was driving Haley and he was driving Peyton, both cars following Lucas' who sat with Brooke. All three cars driving to same destination: the cabin.

We belong together
Like the open seas and shores
Wedded by the planet force
We've all been spoken for

Peyton made a move to change the radio station but Nathan stopped her just as Haley had done with Jake. Even sitting in separate cars they listened to the beauty of the same song.

We belong together
Like the open seas and shores
Wedded by the planet force
We've all been spoken for


The hammer may strike, be dead on the ground.
A net to my hand, a cross on his crown.
We're done if, who we're undone,
Finished if who we are incomplete.
As one we are everything,
We are everything we need.


We belong together
Like the open seas and shores
Wedded by the planet force
We've all been spoken for.


What good is a life, with no one to share,
The light of the moon, the honour of a swear.
We can try to live the way in which you speak,
Taste the milk of your mother earth's love,
Spread the word of consciousness you see,
We are everything we need


We belong together
Like the open seas and shores
Wedded by the planet force
We've all been spoken for


All this indecision
All this independent strength
Still, we've got our hearts on safe
We've got our hearts on safe


Someday when you're lonely,
Sometime after all this bliss,
Somewhere lost in emptiness,
I hope you find this gift...
I hope you find this gift..
I hope you find this gift.

It was as if the song was describing them, as if Gavin DeGraw was singing for them. The song was telling them to keep faith and that everything would be ok. And that's all they had left…faith and belief of a better place…where everything would be ok.


Lax you are so bad! Why the hell do you keep putting twists in it? Sorry, I love it.

And yes, you're all right! This fic is named after Gavin DeGraw's song! The song just fits so perfectly.

Leave a review on what you thought!

Lax