Chapter 21: Valentine's Day Overload

Haley grinned into her full length mirror. It was Valentines Day... Her first Valentines Day with her husband and even though she was 7 months pregnant, and as big as a whale, she looked gorgeous. Rachel and Brooke had helped her pick out a black maternity dress that was actually pretty stylish. When she was completely satisifed with her look, she went downstairs to get every thing ready for Nathan. They were having a candle lit dinner for two as soon as he got home from his late practice. He had been so sweet to her all day, leaving her either a box of chocolates or a pink rose in each class she had. At first her friends thought it was cute but by the end of the day they were all ready to gag.

Haley had decorated the dining room with pink and red streamers and she had even made Nathan an adorable heart shaped cake with pink frosting. Haley had never celebrated Valentines Day before but then again she had never felt this much love towards another person either.

"Haley James Scott, where are you?" Brooke's voice called out from the front door.

"I'm in here," Haley called back from the dining room where she was lighting candles.

"Whoa, it looks like Valentine's Day threw up in here," Brooke laughed. Haley smiled.

"I just want it to be special... It's not too much is it?" Haley asked concerned.

"No, it's great. As romantic as Nathan is... He'll love it."

"So, I don't mean to rush you or anything but their practice ended 20 minutes ago. Nathan will be home any minute..." Haley checked her watch.

"I know, but Luke is picking me up here when he drops Nathan off... Besides, I wanted to see how you looked..." Brooke grinned.

"Well?" Haley asked as she did a little twirl.

"You look gorgeous, as usual... The hair could use a little help, though..." Brooke told her as she tried to fix Haley's hair. Haley smacked her hand.

"Leave it alone... You've never liked my hair," Haley laughed.

"Haley, I'm home!" Nathan called out as he closed the front door. Haley walked out of the dining room, followed by Brooke. "You look beautiful!" Nathan grinned.

"And you kind of smell," Brooke waved her hand in front of her nose before dashing out the front door. Haley laughed.

"Do I really smell?" Nathan asked. Haley made a face.

"Just a little," She told him as she put her thumb and pointer finger together to show him. He smiled.

"I'm gonna go run through the shower. I'll be right back," He kissed her quickly before running upstairs. Haley decided to wait for him on the couch. As soon as she got sat down the doorbell rang. Haley struggled to stand up. She opened the door but didn't recognize the two faces staring back at her.

"Can I help you?" Haley asked.

"Haley, I assume?" the man asked.

"Yes..." Haley answered cautiously.

"We're Nathan's grandparents... I'm Royal, and this is my wife Mae," the man grinned.

"Oh my goodness, come on in. I've heard a lot about you... Nathan will be down in a minute," Haley stepped aside for them to enter the house.

"This is a beautiful home you have, Haley..." Mae smiled.

"Thank you. We really like it... Can I get you two something to drink?" Haley asked politely.

"Some water, please," Royal answered.

"Let me help you dear," Mae began to follow Haley in the kitchen.

"Haley... I was thinking maybe we could just eat naked!" Nathan called out as he ran down the stairs wearing only a towel. Haley's eyes bulged out of her head when she heard him. "Grandpa! What are you doing here?" Nathan asked embarassed.

"Go get dressed Nathan!" Royal told him sternly.

"Yes sir!" Nathan replied before running back up the stairs.

Haley carried out a glass of water for Royal.

"He doesn't usually walk around the house naked," Haley informed them, slightly embarassed.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of, Haley. Royal used to be the same way before gravity took it's effect..." Mae smiled. Haley's face turned bright red.

"Mae, did you have to go and tell her that... It's embarassing," Royal told his wife.

"Nathan..." Mae smiled as she hugged her now, fully clothed, grandson.

"Hey Grandma... What are you guys doing here?" Nathan asked.

"Well, we were visiting your father and he said now would probably be the best time to visit you," Royal answered.

"Normally it would be fine," Nathan started. Haley shot him a look. "It's just today is Valentines Day..."

"Oh, Royal... we forgot," Mae looked upset.

"Who really needs one day of the year to tell someone you love them. It's stupid, if you ask me..." Royal shrugged.

"It's just our first one together..." Nathan interrupted.

"We'll go. We're sorry we interrupted..." Mae stood to leave.

"No, please stay. I have more than enough food for everyone," Haley spoke up. Mae looked happy.

"Yeah," Nathan backed down. "You should have dinner with us."

"Let me help you, Haley," Mae offered.

Haley and Mae went into the kitchen. She grabbed two extra plates and more silverware. Mae took it into the dining room.

"Oh my," Mae spoke.

"What? What is it?" Haley asked as she walked into the dining room.

"You were planning something special with my grandson..." Mae sighed.

"It's okay, Mrs. Scott. Really. Every night with your grandson is special," Haley's eyes glistened as she spoke.

"It's so refreshing to see your love for Nathan... I only ever see that with Karen and Keith..." Mae looked upset.

"Not Deb and Dan?" Haley asked.

"No... They're divorcing, you know..." Mae sighed.

"No, I didn't know... I don't think Nathan even knows."

"Well, they are. I feel so badly for Deb. She's such a sweet woman," Mae smiled.

"Yes she is. Deb has been such a huge help with the pregnancy," Haley smiled.

"Not my Danny though... He's not too happy about the little baby you're carrying..."

"No, he's not our biggest fan, that's for sure," Haley sighed.

"He's a fool. He's my son and I love him, but he's a fool..." Mae started crying. Nathan and Royal walked in.

"Why's she crying?" Royal demanded.

"Danny is an idiot. He said Haley was bad news... She's sweet as can be," Mae cried.

"Grandma, it's okay. We all know how Dad is. We just don't let it bother us," Nathan tried to console his grandmother.

"Just doesn't seem right for us to be eating dinner so happily like this, while your mom is upset about your dad," Mae cried.

"What'd he do now?" Nathan asked.

"He filed for divorce," Royal informed Nathan.

"Nobody told me... Does Lucas know?" Nathan asked.

"We don't know. We haven't seen the boy," Royal answered.

"I'm going to bring in the dinner... Nathan, will you help me?" Haley asked. Nathan followed her into the kitchen. She hugged him.

"I'm sorry sweetie. Divorce is really hard," Haley hugged him as tight as her pregnant belly would allow.

"It's okay. Mom deserves better... We all do," Nathan spoke still stunned. "The dining room looks nice."

"Thanks... I was going for ultra- romantic!" Haley grinned.

"It would have been if Grandma and Grandpa weren't here."

"They seem really nice," Haley smiled.

"Don't under estimate Grandpa though... Dad had to get it from someone," Nathan informed her. It sent chills down Haley's spine.

The dinner was nice. Mae told them about how she and Royal met and fell in love and got pregnant with Keith. The stories were nice. Haley loved hearing about other people falling in love. Haley stopped smiling for a second and Nathan noticed.

"Hales, you okay?" Nathan asked.

"Yeah... yeah, I am, Nathan, come here," Haley grinned as Nathan stood up and walked around the table. He knelt down beside her as Mae and Royal looked on curiously. Haley took Nathan's hand and put it on her stomach. Nathan started smiling.

"She's kicking," Nathan smiled at his wife.

"Haley, do you mind?" Mae asked as she stood up. Haley nodded as she moved Nathan's hand to allow Mae to feel. "It's absolutely beautiful."

"That was the first time?" Royal asked.

"Yeah," Haley smiled.

"Does it hurt?" Nathan asked.

"Not really hurt... It just feels different," Haley smiled as a tear fell down her cheek. "I just get so emotional, lately." Haley laughed.

"You're both going to be great parents," Royal spoke up before stepping outside to smoke his pipe. Nathan followed him.

"Did you really mean what you said before?" Nathan asked.

"Yes, yes I did... When your dad told us what was going on with you, I was livid. I thought you'd learn from his mistakes... So I had to come down here to check it out for myself... Haley's a sweet girl, I don't know why your dad doesn't like her. He hasn't always been so bright, ya know?" Royal told Nathan.

"I love her... More than basketball... If I ever had to choose, I'd choose her without a doubt," Nathan admitted.

"Lucky for you, you don't," Royal smiled.

"That's true... but why can't dad see that?" Nathan asked.

"He's hard headed. Sometime I wonder if your grandma didn't have an affair with the devil, himself to produce that one..." Royal and Nathan laughed.

"Thanks for coming to visit, Grandpa... I hope you and Grandma can come back once the baby is born..."

"Yeah, what is all this nonsense about it being a girl? Maybe your mother had an affair with the milk man or something..." Royal laughed.

"Yeah, I know Scott's have boys... Haley and I will have a son one day... But for now, this little girl will be good enough for me," Nathan smiled. He liked having a reasonable father figure to talk to.

"You know, the WNBA is doing great things..." Royal started. Nathan smiled.

"It'll be up to her," Nathan grinned. "I'll never pressure my children to do anything."

"Haley would probably want her to be a cheerleader or something?" Royal asked.

"Haley will want her to do whatever makes her happy," Nathan admitted. "You'd be surprised, though... Haley's pretty good at basketball, herself."

Royal smiled at Nathan before they went back inside. Haley was sitting next to Mae on the couch showing her the ultra sound pictures she had put in the baby book.

"Well, it's late. You two should have some alone time tonight," Royal spoke up.

"Already?" Haley asked. His grandparents had really made an impression with Haley. She loved them.

"Afraid so, dear. We'll be back when that little miracle gets here," Mae smiled as she hugged Haley goodbye. Royal bent down to hug Haley as well.

"Take care of my boy, ya hear?" Royal whispered to Haley. She smiled as she nodded. They hugged Nathan tightly before leaving.

"They are awesome! You're so lucky to have grandparents like them," Haley smiled.

"Yeah, I guess I am," Nathan smiled before sitting down beside his wife and putting his hand back on her belly.

"She hasn't kicked in a few minutes," Haley smiled at him.

"That's okay. I just feel close to her, like this... I want her to know that Daddy will always be here for her," Nathan smiled as he kissed Haley.

TBC! I hope you guys liked it... It was a pretty fun chapter to write.