Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill

Cause and Effect

Chapter Twenty-One

It was five o'clock on Friday morning when the Duke basketball team and cheer squad bordered their plane to Miami. The players and cheerleaders were half asleep as they filed into their seats. The team, cheerleaders, coaches, and trainers were the only ones occupying the coach section of the plane, but the first class section was occupied with passengers not affiliated with Duke Basketball. Haley laid her head on Nathan's shoulder as soon as she sat down in her seat. She has never been a morning person, and the squad and basketball team had left campus over two hours ago to make sure they had plenty of time to board the plane and get through security.

"Wake me up when we get there," Haley mumbled to Nathan. He was sitting in the window seat while Haley was sitting on the aisle seat of their small two seat row. The seats were in pairs of two on each side of the small aisle of the plane. The coaches and trainers and taken the very front seats of the section while the cheerleaders and basketball players sat further back away from the prying eyes of the adults in charge of them.

"Ex-Tutor-Girl how can you be sleepy?" Brooke chirped she was sitting in the seat across the aisle from Haley and Nathan. The window seat next to Brooke was unoccupied, and for a reason. The brunette cheer captain was defiantly a morning person, and she had already had three cups of coffee before boarding the plane.

Haley groaned as she snuggled into Nathan's chest, "Brooke this is a three hour flight and I plan on sleeping the whole entire time."

"Haley that's no fun!" Brooke whined.

Nathan rolled his eyes, "Brooke some of us didn't drink three cups of coffee with extra shots of espresso."

"Whatever, Nate," Brooke muttered as she pulled out the latest issue of Vogue from her bag.

The plane had yet to take off, as the flight attendant was going over safety procedures. The college students half listened as their eyes tried to stay open. Luckily the flight attendant finished quickly and started her way down the aisle checking if the passenger's seat belts were buckled. The plan took of moments after the flight attendant had finished her seatbelt inspections, and the college students minus Brooke fell asleep quickly.

Brooke flipped the through the pages of her Vogue magazine for what seemed like the hundredth time. It was a little over two hours into the flight and Brooke was bored of her mind. The cheer captain grinned as she saw Nathan's eyes start to flutter open. This was her chance to ask him about when he was going to propose to Haley. The basketball star had never given her an answer about the Championship Game proposal idea, and it bugged Brooke to know end. She loved Haley and she loved weddings and she knew hundreds of proposal ideas but Nathan just couldn't pick one. It irritate Brooke to no end, just like Nathan she wanted Haley's proposal to be perfect. Brooke knew that her best Friend deserved it more than anyone after the year she had. The cheer captain admired Haley a lot. She didn't know of many girls that could make a total one eighty like Haley had with her eating disorder.

"Pssst, Nathan," Brooke loudly whispered as she snapped her fingers to get Nathan's attention.

The basketball star striking blue eyes popped open as he glanced in Brooke's direction. "What Brooke?" He asked clearly grumpy from just waking up.

"Is Haley asleep?"

"She's dead asleep don't wake her up Brooke," Nathan replied. Haley was curled up against Nathan and sound asleep. Nathan figured that he would end up having to carry the freshmen girl off the plane because he wouldn't be able to wake her.

"I am not going to wake her," Brooke began, "I just need you to answer a little tiny question."

"Fine," Nathan said.

Brooke grinned, "When are you going to-"

"Brooke, Haley is right here!" Nathan exclaimed knowing what Brooke was going to ask.

"She asleep!"

"So, she could wake up!"

Brooke rolled her eyes and grabbed a pin and piece of paper out her Duke Cheer book bag. She scribbled her question down quickly and then held it up from Nathan to read.

The younger Scott brother sighed as he read the paper. The question 'when are you going to propose' was written largely across the loose leaf paper in dark red ink.

"I haven't decided yet," Nathan admitted.

"Nathan!" Brooke sighed as she crumbled up the paper and threw into her bag. "What do mean you haven't decided yet? You have had the ri-"

"Haley right here," Nathan said interrupting the brunette girl. Haley was a deep sleeper but Nathan wasn't going to take any chances of her overhearing any talk about the proposal.

"Why can't you just make a decision? You're as bad as Lucas!" Brooke replied. Her boyfriend could never make up his mind, and it often drove her insane.

"You so did not just compare me to my brother," Nathan stated.

Brooke nodded, "Yeah I did. It's the truth neither of you can make up your minds!"

"I so can make up my mind!"

"Then when are you going to you know?"

"I am not telling you."

The brunette eyes widen, and her jaw dropped. "You're not going to tell me?" She whined. "After all the help I've given you?"

"I just don't know when or where yet Brooke, okay. It's just going to happen when it happens," Nathan answered. He was sick trying to plan when he was going propose to Haley. Instead he was just going to keep the ring safely in the draw string back in his wallet, and propose to her when the moment felt right.

"You're just going to wing it aren't you?"

"Yeah."

Brooke shook her head. "Boys," she muttered underneath breath as she turned her attention back to her magazine.

Haley sighed as dropped her suitcase down on the ground in her hotel room. It was now nine o'clock in the morning, but Haley was still exhausted. She couldn't sleep the night before, in fear that her shirt would ride up to reveal the tattoo she a gotten Wednesday night. Haley didn't know why she had thought about getting a tattoo, but she just wanted something to remember how she was feeling right then for rest of her life. She felt loved, and in twenty years she wanted to remember how she was feeling. How even when nothing but drama, and stress filled the world surrounding her she could just look at Nathan and none of that matter because he loved. Haley wanted to remember that feeling forever, the feeling of falling in love with man that had saved her.

So Wednesday afternoon she went to a Tattoo parlor and got a tattoo. Haley had gotten Nathan's jersey number twenty-three in a dark navy blue right on her lower back. It was small, each number only the size of quarter. The number the represented so much more than that. It represent the man that had came running out in the rain after her, determined to save her from the eating disorder that at the time control her life. Haley only hoped Nathan didn't freak out when he finally saw it.

"Haley isn't this exciting! It's like a mini-spring break!" Brooke exclaimed as she plopped down on her bed. The room was relatively small with two full small size beds with a dresser in between, a dresser with a TV, and small bathroom.

"I am just excited it's warm," Haley replied as she sat down on her own bed. Unfortunately, Nathan couldn't be her roommate, he and the rest of the basketball team were under lock and key until after the game Saturday night. They weren't allowed to leave the hotel without the coaches, and they weren't supposed to be in any girls' rooms or have any girls in their rooms.

"You are already missing Boy Toy aren't you?" Brooke asked.

"You don't miss Lucas?" Haley shot back.

The brunette rolled her eyes, "Of course I do, but he isn't down the hall!"

"Are you making us practice tonight?" Haley asked, changing the subject. One of the reasons the basketball players had flown out so early was so they would have time to practice, and also so they wouldn't be jet lagged. Brooke also had planned on making the cheer squad practice but she never said when. Unlike the basketball players the cheerleaders just had to be back in their room by curfew

which was eleven, and Haley had wanted to head to the beach since it was in the high seventies.

"Nice way to change the subject, and yes. We're using one of the hotel's ballrooms to go over the new halftime routine when the basketball players leave for practice in about an hour," Brooke said.

Haley yawned, "Okay. I guess I'll go to the beach later." The hotel was only a couple of blocks from the beach and about a ten minute drive to Miami University.

"Didn't get enough sleep on the plan?" Brooke asked.

"Yeah and the past couple of nights," Haley answered truthfully.

Brooke crossed her arms, "Why, nothing's wrong is there?"

"No," Haley said as she lay down on her stomach. She realized that her t-shirt had ridden up revealing her new tattoo, but Broke had seen it before she could tug the grey t-shirt down.

"You got Nathan's number tattoo on your ass?" Brooke asked in shock.

"It's above my ass, thank you very much," Haley replied. Her tattoo sat right above her bottom, and was visible thanks to the low rise jeans she was wearing.

Brooke rolled her eyes, "I am guessing this is why you haven't been sleeping the past couple of nights. Nathan doesn't know you got it does he?"

"No, he's going to freak," Haley answered.

"He's going to freak I am going to freak! Haley you got a tattoo!"

"You have a tattoo, Brooke."

"Yes, my boyfriend knew when I got it to!"

"Well, Nathan will know when I tell him."

The cheer captain shook her head, "Or when you bend over and he sees it."

"Brooke," Haley began. "I know getting a tattoo isn't something that I seem like I would do. I just wanted to get one to remember how I feel about Nathan for the rest of my life."

"Okay, I get that Haley, but maybe not tell Nathan until after the game," Brooke suggested.

"You think he's going to freak?" Haley asked.

"Yeah at first," Brooke answered.

Haley raised her eyebrow, "At first? What is he going to do after he freaks?"

"Get totally turned on after seeing that his girlfriend has his number tattooed on her back," Brooke smirked.

"Brooke!" Haley exclaimed as she grabbed a pillow and threw it at the brunette.

Brooke laughed as caught the pillow. "What? You know it's true," the cheer captain replied before tossing the pillow back at Haley who dodge the flying object. "You are totally getting lai-"

"Brooke!" Haley yelled as she blushed. Haley had always planned one saving herself for marriage but being with Nathan made her rethink that plan. They still hadn't done it yet, though. Clothes would start to come off in some of their heated make-out sessions but they hadn't gone all the way.

"What? You and Nathan still haven't done the dirty?" Brooke playfully asked.

"No," Haley said sitting up and crossing her arms. "I mean I want to, but I kind of told Nathan when we first started dating that I wanted to wait until marriage."

"So what Nathan wants to wait now?" Brooke asked.

"I don't know," Haley whined. "Why are guys so confusing?'

Brooke shrugged," Your guess is as good as mine."

Nathan really didn't like to sleep alone anymore. He had become so used to having Haley practically use him as a pillow that he just couldn't sleep without her, especially knowing she was on the opposite end of the hall. The basketball star was so tempted to sneak out of his room and go to his girlfriend's but he knew it was impossible. There was Duke staff- coaches and trainers- monitoring the hallway to make sure no basketball snuck out and had night on the town before the game. Duke just had to be on a never ending winning streak; Nathan thought as tried sleeping on his side yet again. Usually the team was at least allowed to walk around the hotel they were staying at for away games, but no. Duke was an on winning streak and so the players were not only being pushed harder in practice, but they were also having more and more rules enforced of them.

None of the guys had even seen the cheerleaders since they arrived at the hotel. The team was total isolated. The coaches wanted no distractions around their players, and so the cheerleaders were kept away from the boys. The two groups didn't even eat dinner together like they usually did on away games.

It was really starting to bug Nathan that he hadn't seen Haley. He we she was safe right down the hall, but he had learned very quickly that he just felt better when he saw for himself that Haley was safe and sound. Honestly he had been worried sick that the cheerleaders weren't put under lock and key like the basketball players. He didn't like the idea of Haley wondering around Miami without him there. Nathan didn't like the idea of Haley ever being alone in big city she had never been to before, or just the idea that she wasn't there with him.

He was just worried. Nathan had always been protective over Haley, but lately after the most recent Rachel situation he felt like he needed to watch out for Haley more than usual. Nathan had felt like he had been the underlining cause for the last Rachel situation. Rachel had always been after him since the day he started at Duke, and she had always been jealous of any girl that Nathan gave so much a second glance. Even when the basketball star stopped sleeping, around Rachel was always throwing herself at him. He should have known Rachel wouldn't lay off him once he got a girlfriend, or a soon-to-be fiancée.

Nathan groaned as he looked at the clock, it was almost one in the morning. He had been trying to go to sleep for the past three hours, but he couldn't. Not only did he miss Haley, he had a lot on his mind too.

He not only had to figure out when to propose to Haley, but he also had to figure out how to tell her about his newest tattoo. Nathan knew he had to tell her about the tattoo soon because it was hard not to walk around the apartment without a shirt, or remember to sleep with one. Somehow he managed three days without Haley noticing that he was now wearing a shirt to bed, which was something he never did in less he was cold.

Nathan had gotten the tattoo Tuesday morning after practice. He was tired of waiting to propose to acknowledge that he and Haley were a permanent thing. So after his early morning basketball practice he went to that tattoo shop to get yet another tattoo. He had originally wanted two, one of Haley's initials and the one he had ended up getting. The tattoo artist suggested not get Haley's initials though if he planned on marrying her soon since they would change. Nathan had agreed and instead got just one tattoo.

The tattoo he ended up getting was on his rib cage. In dark black ink the words 'Always and Forever' were written in a simple cursive script. The tattoo was permanent and made Nathan feel like his and Haley's relationship wasn't going anywhere.

He was still afraid of losing her. Nathan sometimes wouldn't sleep at night and instead just watch Haley breathe in and out as she slept. He was just still so worried that one day he would wake up and she would be gone. When Haley had relapsed, Nathan had been worried sick that she was going to end up dead because of her anorexia. It was then that he realized that he couldn't handle the thought of losing her.

He had moped around during the beginning Thanksgiving, sick and worried over his girlfriend. His mom didn't understand what was going on because he didn't tell her. Nathan knew his mom would just think that Haley was just some girl. And that was when hit Nathan, at the time Haley was just his girlfriend, but at the same time she was so much more than that. He hadn't lost just his girlfriend to anorexia but the love of his life, his first and only love, the girl that he was meant to be with. It was then that Nathan knew he was going to marry Haley James as soon as she got better.

He just wanted to do this one thing right, but he was scared that he was going to mess it up.

Nathan grinned when he saw Haley the next morning in the hotel's lobby; she was standing with a bunch of cheerleaders and dressed for a day on the beach. The basketball star was suppose to be on the to the hotel's lounge for the hotel's complimentary breakfast, but he suddenly didn't care if he was late and he didn't waste any time running up to her and wrapping his arms around her.

"I missed you last night," he said before kissing Haley on the lips.

The cheerleader smiled as Nathan kissed her again. "Nathan," she scolded. "I don't think your coaches would appreciate you kissing me in the middle of the hotel lobby."

Nathan smirked and kissed Haley again, "What? I haven't seen you since we got here."

"I know," Haley sighed. "The coaches seem pretty adamant about the team not getting distract before the game."

"Well, it's not helping me," Nathan admitted. "I kind of missed being used as a human pillow last night."

"Don't worry Brooke is working on the room switching once we get back from the beach," Haley replied.

"So not fair. You get to go to the beach and I get to work out," Nathan said.

Haley rolled her eyes, "Yes, Brooke is calling squad-bonding time, or that's how she justified getting permission from the coaches to let us go." The squad didn't have their own coach their year due to budget restrictions and the lack of finding a decent one, so one of the assistant basketball coaches were technically in charge of chaperoning the cheerleaders during away games. In reality though Brooke called all the shots, and made sure all her cheerleaders were where they were supposed to be.

"Well tomorrow we are going to the beach," Nathan began, "And be careful today. Stay with the group, and didn't go on any wild adventures with Brooke."

Haley rolled her eyes, "I won't come back with a Mohawk, Nathan don't worry."

"Hales, do you have to bring that up?"

"Yes, now give me a kiss so I can go." The other cheerleader's were starting it make their way out of the hotel lobby and to the nearby beach.

Nathan sighed as he kissed Haley for the last time, "I love you Hales."

"Love you too," the cheerleader replied. "I'll see you at the game," she added before joining Brooke and another cheerleader on their way out.

"Sleep better?" Haley asked Nathan the next morning, as she saw his eyes begin to open from his night sleep. Duke had won the night before and the basketball team was no longer under constant watch by their coaches. Brooke had managed to switch all the rooms around so everyone was now rooming with who they wanted to. Meaning Nathan and Haley got to spend the night together.

Nathan nodded as pulled Haley closer to him, "Much better."

"So what are we doing today?" Haley asked. The plane back to Durham didn't leave until seven, giving the college students the whole day to do whatever they wanted.

Nathan smirked as he kissed Haley on the lips. "Does that answer your question?"

"Nathan I thought you said we were going to go to the beach!" Haley whined.

"We are but I can still kiss you there," Nathan replied before capturing Haley's lips again. "Are maybe I could just stay here and kiss you," he suggested as he began trailing kissed down Haley's neck.

"As much as I love your kisses, I really want to go to the beach," Haley said.

"Okay," Nathan mumbled before he kissed his girlfriend on the lips again. "Just you and me though, no Brooke."

Haley rolled her eyes, "Brooke is going on a shopping spree don't worry."

"Good because I don't plan on sharing you today," Nathan said as he kissed Haley again.

The cheerleader kissed him back but quickly pulled away. "The beach is waiting," She smiled before climbing out of the bed. "Come get dressed and let's go!"

"One more kiss," Nathan began. "And then I'll get dressed."

Haley shook her head as she climb back on the bed and kissed her boyfriend on the lips. One night away from her and he couldn't keep his hands or lips of her. Haley didn't mind though.

"Happy?" Haley asked after pulling away from Nathan's lips.

"For now," Nathan answered as he leaned in to kiss Haley again; the honey girl blonde girl quickly turned her head so he kissed her cheek.

"No more kisses until we get to the beach," Haley declared as she got up from the bed.

"Hales," Nathan whined as the honey blonde girl grabbed her clothes from her bag. "Come on!"

The cheerleader just smirked as she closed the bathroom door.

Nathan ran his hands through his hair; Haley James was defiantly something else.

Two hours later the two were finally at the beach. It was a wonderful day to be outside with the sun shining brightly and the temperature being in the low seventies. Haley and Nathan walked hand in hand alongside the water just enjoying each other's company and the warm weather. The cold water occasionally cover their sandal wearing feet, but the two didn't mind, they were just happy to have a relaxing day away from Duke and drama.

"This is exactly what I needed," Haley said.

Nathan nodded. Their lives the past week had been filled with drama that neither one needed. He had just been relieved to find out that Rachel was moving to San Diego and was on the opposite side of the country from him and Haley.

"I know, I thought for a second that the coaches were going to make us stay in the hotel room," Nathan replied. The coaches, who were over the moon happy that the team won yet again, were still as stricter than usual. The players and cheerleaders had to switch rooms after the coaches came around at curfew, and several of the players' stashes of alcohol had been confiscated by the coaches last night. Nathan had started to worry that he be stuck in the hotel room yet again, but luckily the coaches seem more at ease today. They had given their okay for the players to do whatever they wanted as long as they were back by four to load the bus to airport.

"They just don't want you to do anything stupid, like get drunk and end up with a tattoo and Mohawk," Haley smiled.

Nathan groaned, "You said you liked my tattoo!"

"Yes but I believe the coaches did start to enforce more rules on the team when you revealed you were drunk when you got it," The cheerleader countered.

"That's just a coincidence."

"I don't think so."

The basketball star shook his head, "See I am pretty sure that it had something to do with the fact we got through the first half the year undefeated."

"Okay, maybe it could be that," Haley sighed.

"Just admit I am right," Nathan suggested.

Haley rolled her eyes, "So not going to happen, Nathan."

"Are you sure about that?" Nathan asked he scooped the cheerleader into his arms without hesitation.

"Nathan!" Haley yelled, "Put me down!"

"Nope," he replied as he stepped into the water, "Not until you admit that I am right."

"You're going to drop me! Just put me down!" Haley demanded as Nathan took another step into the water.

"Not happening Hales," the basketball player then took a couple of more steps into the water.

Haley then realized that Nathan was getting deeper and deeper into the water. "Nathan what are you doing?"

"Just having a little fun," Nathan answered with a smirk on his face.

"Don't you dare," Haley said knowing that Nathan was planning on getting her soaking wet.

Nathan grinned, "You know me to well Haley James."

"How about I admit your right if you promise not to get me wet?" Haley suggested.

"Deal," Nathan agreed as he placed Haley down. Haley shivered slightly as her legs got submerged into the water. The water only hit about the middle of her calves but it was freezing.

"You want me to carry you now don't you?" Nathan asked when he saw the goose bumps on Haley's arm from the water.

"You know me too well Nathan Scott," Haley replied with a cheeky grin.

Nathan kissed the honey blonde girl on the cheek before he picked her up again. Haley wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her back to the beach and out of the water. Nathan placed her feet down on the warm sand but he kept his arms securely around her waist, pressing Haley against his chest.

"So I was right?"

Haley rolled her eyes. "You were right," she replied before breaking Nathan's grasp and turning to walk down the beach.

Nathan's breathe hitched in his throat when he looked at Haley's retreating figure. The back of t-shirt had ridden up just a little bit to show a small strip of skin, right in the middle of that small strip of skin was a small navy blue twenty three.

"Haley?" Nathan's voice rose, "Did you get a tattoo?" he asked in shock. Haley wasn't the type of girl to get a tattoo. She always was level headed, more responsible, and classier than he was. She just wasn't the tattoo type of girl. Haley always dressed on the more conservative side never showing too much skin. The shortest skirt she owned was her cheer skirt and she always complained about how short it was.

The cheerleader instantly turned around to face. "Yeah," Haley replied, her voice a little shaky. "You like it?" She asked nervously.

"Do you like mine?" Nathan asked as he lifted up his shirt to reveal his newest tattoo.

Haley gasped when she saw the words 'Always and Forever' on Nathan's rib cage. There on his body was a permanent reminder of his and Haley's love. "Oh, Nathan when in the world did you get it?"

"Tuesday why do you think I've been wearing a shirt to bed?" Nathan replied as he let his shirt down.

"I love it," Haley admitted as she stepped closer to Nathan. She tugged his shirt up again and began tracing the words with her fingertips.

"Hales, I can't believe you got a tattoo," Nathan said.

"You don't like it?" Haley questioned as she jerked her away from Nathan.

"I am just shocked that you got a tattoo. I mean it's a big deal it's going be there forever," Nathan explained.

"And yours isn't?" Haley shot back.

Nathan sighed, "It is. It's just, you got a tattoo Haley. I am a little shocked here; you're not like the tattoo type."

"And you are?"

"I already had a tattoo."

"Yeah, did you get this one when you drunk too?" Haley asked.

"No," Nathan began. "Hales, I got this tattoo because I wanted something that made us seemed more permanent okay? It's not going either, just like how you and I aren't either. I just don't understand why you got one, especially my jersey number."

The cheerleader smiled a little, "You're the guy that saved me Nathan and I want to remember that forever. I just don't understand why you're so shocked."

"I just don't want to do anything to mess things up with you Haley. I just worried that I am going to screw everything up with us and lose you. I just want to do everything right with us," Nathan explained.

"You're not going to lose me because I got your number on my back," Haley said. "You're never going to lose me Nathan."

He nodded as he placed a kiss ever so softly on Haley's lips. "I love the tattoo Haley," Nathan admitted. He couldn't help but love the thought that Haley had his number forever on printed onto her body. It was something that showed she planned on being with just for as long he was. They were permanent, and they weren't going anywhere even if there wasn't a ring on Haley's finger.

Author's Note- Thanks for reading and I hoped you enjoyed this chapter! –Beddazzlement