Hi y'all. First of all, let me apologize for the delay in the update. I'm sorry, really. School was crazy and FanFic had to take the back seat for a while. In addition, if you checked my profile, my uncle got really sick so I had to deal with family stuff. I swear I wasn't just ignoring or abandoning the story. I can't promise the updating schedule will get better, but please know that I still enjoy writing this story. For those of you in college or who have been to college maybe you can sympathize with me.

Good news though! The semester is almost over and I'll have until January 10th to do nothing but write. Hopefully I can crank out a lot of chapters during my break? Without boring you too much longer, I just want to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who has stuck around with this story. It means a lot.

*Sorry for the errors. I'll go back and edit it later.

* Check my profile for updating schedules.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED IN THIS CHAPTER ;)

Chapter 20- The Hero in Her Scars

Disclaimer- I do not own anything having to do with OTH.

Sunday May 25, 2021

When Nathan and Haley walked into the main dinning room, both of their eyes focused on the boy at the table in the middle of the room. To his right were two individuals who they both knew were the Joneses. As they approached their table, Jamie saw his real parents and he stood up to greet them. Jeff and Kathy turned to see the two middle-aged adults head their way and they also got up.

"Jeff and Kathy," Jamie said with a smile. "I'd like you to meet Nathan and Haley."

With one final step closer, Nathan and Haley stopped at the edge of the table and sighed nervously. Both of them looked at their son and small smiles couldn't help but spread across their lips. He was absolutely beaming.

"Haley, you know Jeff." The boy looked from his mother to Foster father and nodded.

Before Haley could even respond, Jeff extended his hand across the table. "Nice to see you again, Haley."

Putting her small hand in the man's, Haley nodded. "Yes, sir. It's very nice to see you again."

They shook politely and exchanged smiles. When their hands broke apart, Jeff turned to the woman on his right and touched her tenderly on the arm.

"This is my wife, Kathy."

The older woman smiled through her nerves and nodded. "We've heard nothing but good things about you two."

"And we've heard great...amazing things about you and your husband." Haley added as she locked eyes with Kathy.

There was a second or two of silence but Jeff broke it when he looked up to Nathan. He was a basketball fan and knew plenty about Nathan Scott. The man was a legend.

With a hit of sarcasm, as a jovial icebreaker, Jeff laughed as he extended his hand to Nathan. "You know, you're a lot taller in person."

That was nice, Nathan thought, it wasn't too awkward yet. So far things were pretty...normal. Nathan was beginning to feel his own nerves settle as he reached for Jeff's hand.

"I get that a lot." The men shook hands and they both smiled. "It's good to meet you, Mr. Jones."

"Call me Jeff, Nathan."

With a smile of understanding, Nathan nodded. "Well, it's good to meet you, Jeff."

Silently watching the introductions, Jamie felt an overwhelming sense of relief. A couple weeks ago he would have never dreamed that this would have happened. So, as he saw the smiles and laughs, Jamie wished he had told the Joneses about Nathan and Haley from the very start. He would have spared himself the anxiety of being so secretive, and they could have done this a whole heck of a lot sooner.

As the mumbles of conversation died down, Jeff looked to the chairs and raised his brow. "Should we sit?"

Everyone agreed. Nathan pulled out Haley's chair and Jeff did the same for his wife. The five-some gathered their menus and started to narrow down their choices for dinner when the waiter approached their table. Drinks were ordered and Jeff even got some scallops wrapped in bacon for the table as an appetizer. The waiter slipped from the group to get their drinks and Kathy set her menu down.

"So, Jeff and Jamie told me you are an English professor, Haley. Is that right?"

Folding her napkin in her lap, Haley nodded. "Yes. At Davidson College."

"That's wonderful," Kathy smiled. "I bet it's so rewarding to be a teacher."

"It is."

Nathan couldn't suppress the smile on his face. He was proud of Haley. He was proud of everything she had done in her life.

"You know," Nathan leaned forward and looked from Haley to Kathy, "she won the May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award in her second year of teaching."

Haley's eyebrows raised. How did he know that? She looked at him curiously and his smile made butterflies stir in her stomach.

"That is quite an achievement." Jeff nodded and then glanced over at Jamie. "You know, he's very smart and makes excellent grades."

Nathan laughed. "That's all Haley, she's the genius. He gets it from her."

Haley blushed. "I took school very seriously."

A waiter walked to the tabled with a tray full of drinks and then was followed promptly by another with a plate of steaming scallops. Once the appetizer was set on table, the waiter asked if everybody was ready to order. They were and once everyone said what they'd like, the waiter took the menus and quickly headed for the kitchen.

As they all took a scallop and ate the delicious mollusk, more questions traveled around the table. Nathan was asked about his basketball career and Camp Scott, the nonprofit organization that gave free basketball training to children with physical disabilities and a fatal illnesses or diseases. The Joneses praised Nathan for his charitable donations and asked him what inspired him to such wonderful things.

Nathan sat back and sighed. "I guess it was my second year as a Blue Devil when I realized how great it felt to give back." He laughed with a shake of his head. "I know it sounds cheesy, but the team was required to do community service and I fell in love with this one kid, Drew. We volunteered at the Children's Hospital and we were supposed to read, or play, or mentor a kid. Drew, he was the boy I was assigned. He had terminal brain cancer."

The table became silent and and the hurt behind Nathan's eyes began to show.

"So we saw each other twice a week and would talk sports, girls, and just hang out. One day I even took him to the gym and wheeled him around the basketball court. He was so happy to be there, it was amazing. But about three months into it, I went to the hospital and and there was another kid in Drew's room.

Both Haley and Kathy inhaled sharply.

"I went to the nurses station, asked where he was, and that's when I found out. He had suffered a seizure the previous night which threw his heart into dysrhythmia and he died."

"That's horrible," Kathy shook her head and covered her mouth.

"It was." Nathan nodded slowly. "I think I went back to my apartment and cried the rest of the day. I didn't understand why he died. He was so young, and funny, and his laugh was so great. A couple days later I went to the funeral and saw his parents. His mother, Julie, pulled me aside and told me that she was at peace with Drew's passing because he had been happy. She had never seen him smile so much and he always looked forward to me coming to visit. Even though he was only nine, he had had some wonderful memories and it was because of me."

Haley had to look down to try and stop the tears she felt pooling on her bottom eyelids. She had had no idea about Nathan and Drew. Of course, she had read a little about Camp Scott, but she had never imagined that Nathan was so involved.

"So yeah, after Drew died I kinda came up with the idea of trying to help as many kids in his situation as I could. And once I made it to the NBA and got that signing check, I knew exactly what I was going to do."

This was the first time Jamie had heard about Camp Scott, in detail at least. He was almost moved to tears. And by the way Haley kept her eyes focused on her lap, he knew she was completely taken aback.

"You're a good man, Nathan." Jeff smiled with a firm shake of his head. "We should all try and be a little more like you."

Nathan smiled humbly. "People always deserve second chances. And those kids, that's what I try to do for them. They get that second chance before it's too late."

As that rolled off of Nathan's tongue, Haley looked up to Nathan and they made eye contact. She smiled at him and but sighed with a hitch in her throat. "Nathan, I..." She took another deep breath and her chin quivered. "I had no idea."

He could tell she was really touched, and that made him smile. "But, um...enough about me, what about you? What is it that you do, Jeff" Nathan looked quickly from Haley to Mr. Jones and grinned.

"I'm an executive sales representative for a communications business." Jeff shook his head. He was not a NBA superstar nor famed philanthropist. "We sell all types of software and services to corporations. It's a little lackluster, but it was my first job after college and I've been there ever since."

Haley smiled and then looked to Kathy. "And what do you do?"

Kathy exhaled and interlocked her fingers. "I'm a retired pharmacist."

Haley sighed again. She was happy that Jeff and Kathy were just "run of the mill" type people. At least Jamie was able to have a normal life with them as parents.

More discussion spurred on the topic of the Joneses life and that lasted until the food arrived. The five-some ate their meals with little conversation because the food was just that good. Jeff and Haley were commended for their restaurant selection though, but that was about it.

Pushing his plate further from his body as he finished, Jamie sat back with a smile plastered on his face. "That was so good."

Jeff wiped his mouth with his napkin. "Best grouper I've had in years. How was yours Kath?"

The woman used her fork and spoon to gather more pasta. She smiled with an exaggerated nod, "Excellent."

Haley looked down at her lobster macaroni and cheese and smiled when she glanced at Nathan. "I'm glad that I got this."

Nathan laughed. "Haley James passing up the opportunity to have macaroni and cheese?" He shook his head. "The world would have had to stop turning for that to happen."

"I don't like it that much," Haley countered with a sly smile.

Nathan smirked. "Yeah, you do."

As Nathan and Haley continued to banter playfully, Jeff and Kathy exchanged glances. Was what they were seeing harmless flirtation? Were they always like that? Kathy took her last bite of her entree and noticed the ring on Haley's left hand. She wondered if it was an engagement ring. If it was, who was she engaged to? Was it Nathan? They certainly looked like a couple.

"Haley," Kathy began, "that's a really lovely ring." The older woman nodded towards the diamond on Haley's finger.

With her smile fading, Haley looked from Nathan to her hand and then to Kathy. "Oh." She slid it up to her knuckle and then back down. "Thank you." Haley realized that she hadn't spoken a word about Peter the entire evening. "It's um...my boyfriend gave it to me on our third anniversary."

Jeff immediately looked at Nathan. His eyes had fallen to his empty plate and his lips had turned into a pout. It wasn't overt or obvious, but Jeff could tell that Nathan didn't like the fact that Haley was with another man.

"Isn't Peter coming to town tomorrow?" Jamie questioned Haley with a raise of his eyebrows.

Smiling, Haley nodded. "Yes. He should be here around lunch time tomorrow."

Kathy mused at the drastic shift in emotion and demeanor of Nathan and Haley.

"I can't wait to meet him." Jamie was completely oblivious to the swelling tension. "You know they've been together for seven years?"

Jeff's eyes widened. "Seven years? That's a long time."

Haley nodded with a weary smile. "Yeah."

Kathy was interested in this Peter guy. "And you're not married?"

"No. We've never really talked about it." Haley lied through her teeth but hoped no one could tell. "We're happy just being together, I guess."

Kathy raised her eyebrows a bit skeptical. They had been at dinner for just over an hour and she had a sinking suspicion that Nathan and Haley had a complicated relationship. Complicated because they still had feelings for each other. But who was she to judge? Kathy didn't want to go making assumptions based on a single night of observation.

But Jeff, he was interested too.

"And you Nathan, do you have yourself a girl? Someone waiting for you back home?"

Nathan snorted with laughter. "No. Closest thing I've got to a serious relationship is with my boss, Holly. We're strictly platonic though. It's one of those give and pull kinda things." He was joking in tone but it was clear that he envied Haley. He wanted someone he could go home to, share his life with.

Haley looked at him unconvinced. "Didn't you go out with that actress?"

Nathan's forehead wrinkled. "That was only for publicity. She had a new movie coming out and the Bobcats were in line to get a third title. We did that for the magazines and stupid celebrity news shows."

"But didn't it last for like a year?" Haley could have sworn she read about it.

"Yeah, but it wasn't a big deal. We'd get coffee together, go to eat, some fans would take a picture or two, and then the press would run with it." Nathan smiled. "I mean we had some good times, but we were just friends doing our part in the world of fortune and fame."

Kathy could believe it. "I think that's true. We, us ordinary folks," she said with a smile, "root for couples like that. It gets us interested."

Nathan nodded, "My point exactly."

Jamie looked at Nathan and grinned. "So what's the craziest thing the paparazzi has ever caught you doing?"

Nathan took a sip of his beer and smiled. "Real or fake?"

"Any of it." Jamie shrugged his shoulders.

Nathan laughed with a sigh. "Well, a couple years back it was reported that I was at the doctor's office getting a vasectomy because of all of my illegitimate children. There was a picture of me and my nieces and nephew and the assumption was that they were my kids." Nathan laughed. "I guess it was a slow news day."

Jeff laughed with a nod. "Must have been."

Haley smiled. She didn't remember that story, but it was believable. Sawyer, Kieth, and Harper did have the Scott genes after all.

"I don't think there has been anything else that was completely ridiculous, not that I know about at least."

A waiter walked over to their table and began to clear away the plates. "Can I interest any of you in a dessert tonight?" The table all sighed but politely said no. "Alright then, I'll be back with the check shortly."

"It has been such a thrill to meet you both," Kathy smiled as she looked to Nathan and then Haley. "If I may be frank," she widened her eyes, "I was an absolute wreck before tonight. I was nervous about meeting you two."

A relieved smile appeared across Haley's lips. "Me too. I don't know why I was so worried."

Kathy laughed. "It's only natural I guess. But I enjoyed dinner very much."

Haley nodded. "Yes, me too."

Jeff looked at Nathan. "I'm in the same boat as them. I was nervous as hell."

Nathan laughed with a roll of his eyes. "Me too. You have no idea."

Jamie grinned at all of the adults as a laugh escaped his mouth. "You all are so weird."

The table was silent for a few seconds and then a roar of laughter filled the air.

They all joked and laughed about their expectations of each other. It was clear that they all got along really well. Their preconceived doubts and worries had no warrant. Jeff, Kathy, Jamie, Nathan and Haley were all enjoying the company of each other like they had been friends for years.

"So, how long are you two going to be in town?" Nathan asked looking at Jeff.

"We leave bright and early tomorrow morning."

Haley's brow furrowed. "On no." She wanted to be able to see them again.

Jeff grinned. "If you're ever in the Raleigh area, look us up."

Kathy glanced at her husband. "I'm sure we'll see you again. I mean, if Jamie thinks it's a good idea, maybe we could have you two over sometime in the near future?"

Nathan and Haley looked at each other. "Sure," they said in unison.

The waiter walked over to the table and set the check in front of Jeff and Nathan. Both of them reached for it at the same time. Jeff knew it would be ridiculously expensive, but he thought it would be a nice gesture.

"I'll get it, Nathan."

Shaking his head, Nathan grinned. "Jeff, you've been raising my son for the last few years. It's the least I can do."

Respecting Nathan's wishes, Jeff conceded and gave Nathan the check.

Jeff looked at his watch and sighed. "We should probably get going. Kathy and I have an early morning."

Jeff got up and pulled Kathy's chair out as she stood up. He handed her her purse and smiled at Jamie.

Jamie stood up too. "I'm going to go with them."

Nathan nodded. "Absolutely. You should see them off in the morning. Give us a call tomorrow and we'll make plans."

Haley stood up and approached Kathy. She wasn't exactly sure how to say goodbye, but a hug felt right. She opened her arms and hugged Kathy tightly.

"Thank you, for everything." Haley was thanking Kathy for raising Jamie the way she had.

Patting Haley's back, Kathy whispered into her ear. "Thank you. Jamie is a blessing to us all."

The women broke apart and smiled at each other. Jeff extended his hand and shook with Nathan.

"Again, it was great to meet you."

Nathan nodded agreeably. "Yes, it was very nice to meet you."

Jeff and Kathy took a dew steps away allowing Jamie to say goodbye to his parents. He hugged them and then looked to his Foster parents.

"We should probably head back." Jamie nodded at Jeff and then glanced back to Nathan and Haley. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Nathan put his hand on Haley's shoulder and waved. "Bye."

"Bye," Haley said as the threesome walked away.

Once the Joneses and Jamie were out of eyesight, Nathan and Haley sat back down in their seats. Haley reached for her wine glass, swirled the last of it around in her glass and drank. Nathan watched and wished his beer wasn't empty. They had to wait for the waiter to return with is credit card and then they were free to go.

Nathan was about to speak but the waiter set the receipt in front of Nathan. "Thank you Mr. Scott. Please come again."

Nathan smiled and slid the card back into his wallet. Haley was already a step a head of him and got up from her chair ready to leave.

They walked out of the restaurant with a a foot or two of space between them and the tension was uncomfortable. Nathan was confused, why was there tension? He thought that the evening had gone well.

Not able to stand the silence any longer, Nathan turned to her when they got into the car. "Haley, is something wrong?" For the first time, Nathan saw the tears falling from the corner of her eyes. "Hey, it's alright. Dinner was fine."

Haley nodded but the tears still fell. "I know," she whispered looking down.

"What is it then?"

"I..." Haley brushed the tears from her cheeks. "Jeff and Kathy are such wonderful people. We're so lucky that they are taking care of Jamie."

Nathan nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, they're great."

"And," Haley began but she had to wipe away more tears, "I want to say sorry."

Nathan shook his head. "Why are you sorry. Don't apologize for giving Jamie up again. I know it was hard. I know it killed you to do it."

That didn't help Haley's tears. "No, it's not that." Breathing in a supple amount of air, Haley looked at him with regret. "I always thought you...that story about Drew, and how did you know about my award? I just...I guess I never thought you cared about anyone but yourself."

Nathan looked hurt but he understood where she was coming from. "I was an ass, Haley. There's no denying it. But I realized, that I had to make a change, and I did, and it worked out for the better."

Haley leaned back into her chair and shut her eyes. Ever since graduation, ever since the day she moved to California, Haley had always had a permanent idea of the person Nathan Scott was and would always be. A giant, pompous, arrogant, asshole who only looked out for himself. She never thought he could be compassionate or proud of someone else. The Nathan Scott she had know, the worst version of him, was an immature boy who took out all of his insecurities on the people around him.

Realizing this was his moment, Nathan touched her arm and smiled kindly. "I want to show you something." Confused, Haley peeked her eyes open. Nathan smiled and turned the key in the ignition. "It's at the house, but I think you need to see it."

ooo

Michael was sitting in the crow's nest staring out towards the ocean trying to figure out where the sky stopped and the sea began. He turned around as saw a couple cars pass in front of the house and then a giant smile spread across his face. The headlights of Jeff's car reflected off of the driveway and he knew that they were back.

Climbing down the ladder and hurrying downstairs, Michael ran to greet his friend.

Jamie, Jeff, and Kathy were in the living room talking with the Bells when Michael came in with a goofy expression on his face.

"How was dinner?" He asked enthusiastically.

Both of his parents looked at him oddly and shook their heads. Mr. Bell laughed. "Michael, son, it was Twenty Two North. They didn't eat with the Pope or the President."

Michael smirked and looked at Jamie. "Wanna go outside? Talk about what you ate?"

Patricia furrowed her brow. She didn't understand why Michael would be so excited.

Jamie nodded and excused himself from the group so he and Michael could climb the stairs to the crows nest.

"Way to be subtle back there, man. You're gonna blow our cover."

Michael laughed. "Yeah right. Mom and Dad have no idea what happened."

When they got to the top, Michael and Jamie sat on the bench that wrapped around the sides of the small little perch. Jamie looked up to the stars and smiled. The night had been pretty great.

"So, tell me about it."

Jamie looked to his friend and raised his shoulders. "I mean, it was fine. Jeff and Kathy, and Nathan and Haley were all great together."

"No awkward tension?" Michael raised his brow. "Arguments, jealousy...anything?"

Jamie shook his head. "What were you expecting? It wasn't like some daytime talk show."

Michael rolled his eyes. "I know that, but I guess I was just thinking...that maybe there would be some drama? Something for you tell me about?"

Jamie sat back and sighed. "Nope. It was just...really nice."

As the two friends sat up in the crow's nest surveying their surroundings, neither of them could have anticipated the drama that was about to unfold just down the road. Jamie was right; there hadn't been any problems at dinner. But now, just a mile down the beach, there was a can of worms, or perhaps an envelope that was going to change everything.

ooo

Nathan led Haley up to the house and sat her down on the couch. She had stopped crying and the look in her eyes showed the delicate balance between confusion and concern. Nathan sighed deeply deciding not to sit down.

"I've got to go upstairs for a second. Would you just stay here?" Haley looked around the empty house and nodded. "I'll be right back."

She watched him hurry up the stairs and she suddenly felt like she was going to throw up. Her nerves were torturing her stomach and she didn't think she'd be able to take it much longer. Nathan had been very vague about what it was that he had to give her. Hearing a door close, she closed her eyes and counted his footsteps as he neared the stairs. As if he was in slow motion, Nathan descended the stairs and finally reached her side. He didn't look different, and the only thing he had was a tattered envelope with with a clasped seal.

He sat down across from her and clutched the envelope in his hands. She looked at him and shook her head not understanding.

"Nathan, what is it?"

He licked his lips and sighed heavily. Even though he had showed Peyton and Jamie, nothing could have prepared him for this.

"Do you remember the last thing you said to me?"

Haley looked startled by the question. She tried to think back but there were only dark memories she had tried to forget all those years ago.

Realizing it wasn't coming to her, Nathan set the envelope down and shook his head. "We were at the apartment. You were moving your stuff out and I didn't even get up to help you." The shame and frustration behind his voice brought tears back to Haley's eyes. "I was watching some television show and when you grabbed the last box you stood in the doorway. Then you started to cry and I didn't turn around. I heard you set the ring on the counter and then you said..."

Cracking her lips open, Haley whispered. "I hope you can be happy one day, Nathan."

Nathan felt a lump fill his throat as she said it. He nodded with a shimmer of tears coating his eyes. "And then you left." He had to clear his throat to stop the tears from falling. "That was it."

Haley bit her lip and a solitary tear rolled to the corner of her mouth. "Nathan, we weren't working together."

He nodded. "I know. And for the rest of my life, up until now I've been trying to be happy, trying to be a better person." He ran his hand over his brow and sighed heavily. "I was only ever happy with you."

Licking the salty tears from her lips, Haley looked down and closed her eyes. She didn't know if she was up for an argument, or a reconciliation. She was tired and her head hurt from crying so much.

"I went to visit you, out in California." When he said that Haley sat up. Her eyes widened and she shook her head. "It was the summer right after our freshmen year."

"I never...but you..." Haley didn't believe him. She never saw him.

"I had a letter I was going to give you." Nathan smiled a little embarrassed. "But when I saw you..." Nathan leaned his head back and sighed. "You were so beautiful." He smiled at her and reached for the 8x11 envelope. "I saw you in Roble Hall and I panicked."

Haley looked alarmed. He knew the name of her dorm? "But why were you there?"

Nathan pulled a regular envelope from the bigger one and slid it across the table. "I needed you to read this. I wanted you to know that I was trying to be a better person. That you were the reason I wanted to change."

Haley reached for the cream envelope with the return address of the Duke Athletic department. It was still sealed. Her hands started to shake and then she looked from her hands back to the table. The large envelope was obviously filled with other things, but what?

"Nathan, what else is in there?"

He sat silently for a moment and then sighed. Nathan pushed himself up from the chair and paced around the room for a second before he could look at her again. "It's everything that ever mattered to me." With his blue eyes meeting her brown ones, he faintly smiled. "It's us." Haley's mouth fell ajar as she processed what he was telling her. "I couldn't let you go, Haley. You were too big a part of my life to erase."

Haley's breaths had become heavy and sharp. "Nathan..." She set the letter in her lap and reached for the envelope.

"Just look at it Haley, we can talk about it later."

She didn't want that, but before she could stop him, Nathan was in his bedroom with the door shut. What was she supposed to do? Look at all of it, maybe she was only to read the letter? Looking from the letter to the envelope and then back again, Haley decided she'd open the bigger one first.

Her tears had yielded a little and she closed her eyes to ready herself for what she was about to see. She had no idea what it was going to be.

Reaching across the table, Haley took the package in her hand and slowly felt inside. It was a mixture of things, and shapes, and textures. Pulling a glossy picture from the envelope, she smiled when she saw what it was.

"The wedding." Haley smiled fighting tears as she traced the edge with her finger.

She was pretty sure she had give all of her pictures and things concerning the life she built with Nathan to Lucas. She didn't want them. Haley hadn't seen a picture of them together in seventeen years. AS she looked at her younger self with lighter hair and a beaming smile, she wondered where that had gone. Where did the passion and love in their relationship go? A tear dropped onto the picture and she lightly brushed it away. She smiled through her sadness remembering that day. Captured on the page were Nathan and Haley walking hand in hand with flower petals floating in the air. The wedding had just ended and they were on their way to the airport.

Haley set the picture down. Like many things in their life, the honeymoon never worked out. Ironically, Nathan and Haley never worked out.

She reached into the envelope once again and pulled out more pictures. One was from the weekend they spent at Rachel's cabin, another was before a Raven's game, and another was of them at the beach house. As she looked at the images frozen in time, Haley wondered what else he had in the envelope.

The next thing she pulled out was small and smooth, round. There were two of them.

"Uh." Haley sighed when she saw the rings. "Oh my gosh." She took the smaller one and circled the edges with her thumb. She sometimes wondered what had happened to it, if he had kept it, or if had been lost. She squeezed it in the palm of her hand and then looked at Nathan's ring. It was so much bigger than hers. She slipped it over her thumb and spun it loosely.

She carefully placed the rings on the coffee table and then felt another piece of jewelry. It was a bracelet. Their bracelet.

"Don't say I never gave you anything." Haley smiled as she slipped the old Cracker Jack box prize over her wrist. The elastic had grown limp and the plastic colors were faded, but it was still the same.

Instead of blindly reaching into the envelope again, Haley peered into the opening. She could see what looked like newspaper clippings, more pictures, some documents, and then a small black square caught her eye. She didn't know what it was.

Pulling it from it's home, Haley's eyes filled with tears again. It was a grainy ultrasound picture. A small white speck was centered in the middle and Haley touched the small dot.

"Jamie."

She laughed as tears continued to fall. She didn't have an ultrasound photo of Jamie. Turning the picture over, she could see a note inked in on the back in Nathan's thin handwriting. It was smeared in spots but she could still make it out.

Baby Scott

Haley placed the picture on the table and took a moment to compose herself. She dabbed at the wetness under her eyes and sighed again. She was going to continue to look through the large envelope but the letter Nathan had giver her had fallen to the floor. As she picked it up, she turned it over not believing it hadn't been opened in seventeen years.

Knowing she would look at it eventually, Haley spared herself the wait and broke the seal faster than she could have imagined. Because the paper was old and moth-eaten, it tore easily and she slid the folded letter into her palm. Before unfolding the page, Haley took a deep, sustaining breath and nodded. She had to make sure she was ready.

She delicately unfolded the letter and smiled. It was handwritten, not typed.

June 20, 2005 was the date.

Haley-

How have you been? I bet Stanford is great. From what I can tell by the pictures on the Internet it looks cool.

Haley laughed but continued to read.

I made the All American Team. Did Lucas tell you? I haven't been home in a while, but I think about Tree Hill a lot. Do you miss it?

Haley smiled at his questions. Even in his writing she could tell he was nervous.

I'm writing because I think that maybe we made a mistake. I know we haven't talked in over a year, but I do think about you. I wonder what you're doing or where you are. Sometimes I'll call Lucas to see if maybe you're home and I can see you, but he said you never came home this year. Is it because of me? Don't not come home because of me. I'll stay away if that's what you want. But there's some things I think you should know before we stop acknowledging each other's existence.

Nathan had that right. Haley nodded at his words. She had tried to subdue any feelings or memories of Nathan at that point in her life.

I want you to know that I never thought we'd end up hating each other, or you hating me.

Haley sighed, "I didn't hate you Nathan, just what you were becoming."

But I think that maybe I had it all backwards. I thought that since we were married and had a kid on the way that I didn't have to try anymore. The only thing I thought I needed to worry about was becoming a Duke Blue Devil. I know I never told you, or thanked you enough, but you're the reason I made it. You and Jamie. Lucas told me that's what you named him.

When Haley read 'him,' a sharp stabbing pain started in her chest. She couldn't believe that she didn't call Nathan the day he was born. She didn't have the decency to let Nathan to say hello or goodbye. Continuing to read, Haley didn't understand how Nathan could have ever forgiven her for that. In that instance, Haley was just has horrible a person as he had ever been. But Haley read on, and tears started to form behind her eyes once more.

I think this time apart has made me realize that you were the one who I needed the most in my life. And I drove you away. I'm sorry I ruined our chance to be happy, for you to have a happy life, and for us to have a family. I'm the reason our dreams didn't come true, it wasn't your or our son.

"No you weren't, Nathan." Haley shook her head and wiped her eyes. She felt like she had contributed to their demise by not doing anything, because sometimes not doing anything at all is more significant than actions or words.

Please know that I'll always love you. I have always loved you, Haley James. Ever since that day on the River Walk where you mixed up basketball and football. I just knew that you were the girl I was meant to spend the rest of my life with. We may have had our differences, but that's what made us great.

Somehow I lost track of what I needed in my life. And if I had just taken the time to see it, you were standing there right in front of me.

If you're willing to give me another chance, I'd like to talk.

Haley took another deep breath and underlined the phone number he included with a fingernail. She wonder if it was his same number. At the bottom he had signed it and put his jersey number next to it. He had always been 23.

Haley carefully folded the letter and placed it back into the envelope. She was going to look at more stuff but she needed to talk to him. Haley needed to see Nathan.

She quietly got off of the couch and gathered the envelope. She walked to Nathan's bedroom door with a whirlwind of emotions flying through her mind. She raised her fist to knock, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She struggled to find the words she was going to say to him when he opened the door, but before she realized, Haley had knocked three times.

Nathan got up from his bed and closed his eyes as he made his way to the door. He was ready for whatever was about to happen.

When he opened the door, Haley felt the urge to say something but she didn't. She stood silently in the door frame with an empty stare. Clutched in her hands was the envelope and she looked down to it. She was numb feeling but was able to smile wearily. All of her emotions had drained her face of color and she had mascara stains under her eyes.

"I..." Her voice caught as silent sobs stirred from her throat. "You..." She shook her head and breathed deeply. "We..."

Nathan didn't want to see her like this. He didn't like seeing the hurt and pain and sadness. Nathan took a step closer to her and the space between them vanished. He carefully and tenderly used his thumb to clean the dark smudges under her eyes.

At the touch of his hand on her face, Haley closed her eyes and buried her cheek into his shoulder. Nathan put a protective hand on the back of her head and pulled her close. She had started crying again and Nathan was fighting his own tears.

"I'm sorry, Haley. I'm so sorry."

They stayed still for a moment or two longer, silent and comfortable in each other's arms. A damp circle formed on Nathan's shirt from Haley's tears but he didn't mind. When her breathing returned to normal and her tears stopped falling at such a frequent rate, Haley looked up into Nathan's eyes.

"Why didn't you...I would have..." Haley couldn't be certain that she would have forgiven him if she had seen all of this all those years ago. But, time heals all wounds, right? The beating in her chest was unrelenting and Haley surprised herself with what she said next. "I love you, Nathan."

Nathan almost smiled.

It was the truth, though. Haley had never been able to really let go of Nathan. She tried not to think about him, but he was always there; an undercurrent roaming her thoughts. He was the hero behind her scars even if he had been the one who had inflicted so much pain and anguish. Realizing that he was trying to set things right, she was slowly beginning to forgive him, and the envelope and all of its contents made it that much easier.

Losing herself to the moment, Haley lifted to her tip toes and inched towards his jaw.

Nathan knew what to do next. It was like the time they had spent apart was far less than the seventeen years. He met her halfway with a tender kiss. Both of them had their eyes closed.

The long, slow kiss turned into small more passionate ones and the next thing either of them knew, Nathan was unbuttoning his shirt and Haley had her skirt unzipped. Once her shirt was off, he slowly unbuttoned her blouse as they stepped towards the bed. Nathan carefully laid her across the plush comforter and kissed up and down Haley's neck.

She opened her eyes for the first time and when she saw the passion and desire, the want and need burning behind his eyes she knew that they were probably in over their heads. But Haley, she needed him in her moment of vulnerability.

Would there be regrets? Probably. Did she think about Peter? No. Was what she was doing a result of the culmination of emotions she couldn't quite get a handle on? Yes. But as they continued to undress on top of his bed, Haley didn't care about any of it.

The fire within Nathan's touch had her heart melting and her head throbbing. She couldn't resist him.

As they continued to kiss in the dimly lit room, there was no stopping the inevitable. Nathan and Haley were about to cross a line and there was no going back.

Whoa, that was a long one!
Sorry for all the errors. I was in a hurry to post.

So, the Joneses and Naley worked out very well at dinner. I didn't think there would be any problems. Did you?

Drama time! ;)
Nathan showed her the envelope. What did you expect her reactions to be? Did you think they would end up in bed together?
It may seem a little forced, but she is dealing with so much and everything met at a boiling point.
Are her actions genuine?
How is Nathan going to react?

Next chapter:
The morning after. N/H talk more about their past, open up to each other. Peter comes to town to throw a wrench in everything. Jamie talks with N/H about their past...together.

Please review! I know it took me forever to update but I really intend to get this story back on track. Feedback, as you know, drives this story.