Chapter 20: One Month

Haley just stood there staring back at Nathan. In utter shock. Did he just say he wanted to move in together?

" Did you just say you wanted to move in together?" Haley said

" Yeah. Kinda. I mean, come on, Hales. It could work. It could make this stronger. Us stronger."

" Nathan. Were back together for like an hour and you want to move in together already! That's insane!"

" Why Haley? Why is it so crazy? Cause I want this to be something real? Or cause your too scared?"

" All of it, Nathan. Look, I love you. And I want this work. I really do. And if I didn't have Nate and Holly... I probably would've said yes in like a second. But...It's really hard with them. And...well maybe Nathan would love that idea. I know he would. But...Holly has said about two words to you...and until she gets to know you. And is okay with everything. Then I just can't. I'm sorry, Nathan."

" Me too."

Haley turns to walk the other way home when Nathan speaks.

" Haley. If I promise to get to know Holly for the next month. Like I've taken the last month to know Nathan. Then...will you at least think about it? One month."

" You mean, if you can get your daughter to like you?"

" Yeah."

" If you can get Holly to like you almost as much as Nathan does. Then yeah. I might just agree to this. But if you can't...then we just have to stay the way we are. Okay?"

" Fine. Thank you, Haley. You want me to take you home now. It's late. Come on."

Haley walks back over to Nathan and they hold hands while they walk to Nathan's car.

In front of Haley's house

" So, I had a great time tonight, Nathan. A night I never thought I would get back again. Thank you."

" Yeah, me too, Hales. Never thought you would go out with me again."

" Yeah. Right. Your so full of it Nathan Scott."

" Am not."

" Okay. Sure. So, are you gonna start with Holly tomorrow?"

" I guess so. How should I start?"

" I'm not sure. Okay, here's what we can do, you can come to my house tomorrow while I take Nathan somewhere. I'll call you when were gone. And you can go and talk and do what ever with Holly. Okay?"

" Okay. You've got great ideas, Haley James- Scott."

" I know. Well, I'll see you tomorrow then."

" Yeah. Tomorrow."

As Haley is about to get out of the car Nathan grabs her arm and pulls her back in. He crashes his lips against hers. And Haley deepens the kiss. Then they pull apart slowly.

" Good night, Haley. I love you."

" I love you too. Good Night, Nate."

Haley says and gets out of the car and walks toward her house. Smiling at her thoughts of Nathan. Nathan drives away after he sees she gets inside. He smiles at Haley. He just feels like he did all those years ago. It was great.

When Haley got inside she didn't hear anyone so she assumed that Nathan and Holly were sleeping. She walked toward the kitchen to get a drink and turned on the light only to see her son sitting there.

" Oh. God, Nathan. You just took 10 years off my wife."

" Well, where have you been,Mom. It is after 1 in the morning. I finally had to send my little sister to bed." Nathan said trying to sound just like her and all responsible.

" Haha, Nate. I was just down at the docks with your father. It's okay."

" I know. So how did it go anyway?"

" Fine. But tomorrow you and me are gonna hang out, Okay, I think you and I need to talk and stuff. We really haven't had the chance since your dad came into the picture. Okay?"

" But mom, I was going to play ball with dad and Uncle Luke tomorrow."

" Well, you can do that another time. You've hung out with him everyday for weeks. It's my turn now."

" Fine. But what about Holly?"

" Well, your dad wants to get to know her. So, I'm gonna let them hang out tomorrow."

" You do know Holly hates him?"

" That's why they're gonna get to know one another. It's time she does."

" Okay. Good night, Mom. Love you."

" Love you too, Nate. Good night." Haley said to her son while hugging him.

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The next day- Saturday afternoon

Nathan and Haley told Holly they were going shopping for some basketball stuff and knew she wouldn't want to tag along. As soon as Haley and Nathan left Haley took out her cell phone.

" Hey, Nathan. We just left you can head over now. If there are any problems you can call me, Okay?"

" Haley, I think I can take care of my own kid."

" I know. I know Nathan, your right. I'm just nervous about this I guess."

" Don't be Hales. Everything will be fine. Don't worry. I'll talk to you later. I love you."

" You too. Okay. Bye."

" Bye."

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Haley's House

Nathan pulled up to the house took a deep breath and walked up to the door. He rang the door bell and waited. Holly was in her room talking to a new friend online. When she heard the door bell. A bit annoyed about it but ended the conversation and walked downstairs to answer it. She open the door and was surprised to see none other than her father, Nathan Scott.

" Sorry, my mom and brother aren't home." Holly said to her father as nicely as she could.

" I know." Nathan said back to his daughter.

" Then...why are you here?"

" I'm here to see you. Your mom and I talked and thought it would be a good idea if you and I hung out for the day. So what do you say? You wanna do something?" Nathan asks as he walks through the front door closing it behind him.

" Me? Why?"

" Because I haven't gotten a chance to get to know you. I've been busy with your brother. With basketball and boy can that boy talk. Now it's your turn."

" Was this my mom's idea? Cause I am gonna kill her."

" First retract the claws. Second, It was my idea. I just wanna know my daughter. Please, Holly."

" Fine. Just give me five minutes."

" Okay. Cool."

Holly tells him and runs upstairs. She is a bit annoyed cause she really didn't feel like doing anything today. Especially with her father. But she was going to do it for her mom. Cause she wanted her mom to be happy. She walked downstairs a few minutes later. Nathan leads her out to his car and they start to drive.

" So what do you wanna do, Holly?"

" I don't know."

" Okay, fine. Well, what do you like to do?" Holly just shrugged. " Well, do you like to shop? You hungry? We could go to Karen's and then go down by the market street docks and look in some stores if you want."

" Okay. That sounds...fine."

Just then Nathan pulled up to Karen's cafe and they both get out. When they walk in Karen is standing at the counter. She sees Nathan walk in and walks around to go see him.

" Hey, Nathan. I haven't seen you in here in a while." Karen says while she hugs him

" Yeah, I know, Karen. I've just been dealing with...alot lately."

" Oh, okay. And who's this beautiful young lady?"

" Um...Karen this is...my daughter, Holly."

" Your daughter? You have a daughter? Since when, Nathan?"

" Since...my wife came back."

" Haley's back? You mean...this is..." Nathan nods as she continues." Wow... hi it's nice to meet you Holly. Your mom, used to hang out with my son all the time."

" Your son's Lucas then, right?"

" Yeah. You meet him?"

" Yeah. A couple times. Actually came over with his girlfriend last night."

" Oh, Brooke."

" Yeah."

" Well, it's great to meet you. Surprised Luke never said anything. But good to meet you. So, where's your mom?"

" Uh...she's out with my brother for the day. Basketball junk."

" You have a brother. Older or younger?"

" Older I guess. He's my twin."

" Wow. Nathan two kids huh? That's sure a surprise."

" More than you could know, Karen."

" So, what's your son's name?"

" Nathan."

" Nathan? Really? Wow. That's surprising. When Haley was younger she used to get so annoyed when people named their kids after the fathers. She used to say " are you really that stupid you can't think of another name". But I guess she had a change of heart when she left."

" Yeah. I guess so."

" So, anyway can I get you guys anything?"

Nathan and Holly sat down at the counter and ordered. Karen kept coming over and talking to them and they talked as well. She told her father about her interests and how she always did secretly likes to play basketball. But never told her mother. When they were finished they left and walked down by the river. They went and got some ice cream and went into some stores to look at the weird Tree Hill merchandise. They bought a few magnets and a t-shirt each. They walked down and looked across at the beautiful river with the memorial bridge in the distance. Then they got back in Nathan's car and drove across the river to the rivercourt. Nathan promised Holly he wouldn't tell her mother about the basketball but if she wanted to play a little she could. Without anyone else knowing. They went down there and played a little one on one. Holly had so much fun. She hadn't played since she did with her friends back in California. Nathan was quite surprised by how good his daughter was. But...after all...she was a Scott. After they finished a great game they headed back over to Haley's house. They walked in and saw Nathan sitting on the couch.

" Hey, Nate. Where's mom?" Holly asked her brother

" She's...at the hospital." Nathan replied quietly

" What? What happened? Is she okay?" Nathan asked his son very quickly.

" Yeah. She's fine."

" Then what's up, Nathan?"

" Dad, there's been an accident?"

Nathan stood there just waiting for his son to say who it was and what exactly happened. He was really scared. Cause if Haley was at the hospital then it must have been someone she really cared about. And that means he did too.