Wow, guys. I had the worst summer (hence no writing). I got sick with kidney stones, my grandfather passed away, my computer decided to stop working, and I took 12 hours of summer classes. Some of it may sound familiar if you know about ReeseHolden's troubles this summer. Ugh. Please understand that I had almost no time to write. However, on the plus side, I went to Wilmington and met six cast members of OTH. But, what also makes it better is the reminder that I have all of my readers waiting for an update. The satisfaction of seeing the hit count, favorites, alerts, the reviews too, is just great. So, after some serious time away, I'm back. Hopefully for a while. I think I've mastered my schedule this semester and I can hop back on the writing train.

Because I know it was so long since the last update, this chapter is EXTRA LONG.

A giant THANKS goes out to all of my readers and especially my reviewers. I couldn't do it without you. Enjoy the chapter! Who is ready for Naley's second first date?

Chapter 25- Rocky Roads Ahead

Disclaimer- I do not own OTH. I do not own anything related to OTH.

Tuesday, May 27, 2021

Nathan woke up feeling better than he had in years. There was no heavy conscious, no ache in his heart, and no regrets or "what ifs" circling his thoughts. For the first time in a long time, Nathan was happy. He was happy to be home and happy to be with Haley.

As a smile curved across his lips, Nathan stretched his lazy muscles and rolled over to his side to stare at the clock on the bedside table. It was closing in on eight. Turning his attention from the clock to the quiet house, Nathan listened for the sounds of movement outside his room. Was Haley awake?

Tossing the covers from his legs, Nathan got up and pulled a pair of gym shorts over his boxers as he walked toward the door. He went into the living room and then glanced into the kitchen. There was no sign of Haley. And since the coffee maker wasn't on, Nathan figured she was still upstairs asleep. Craving a cup of coffee as he looked at the machine though, Nathan fixed the pot and grabbed an old newspaper. With the paper in hand, he headed outside to the deck to sit in the morning sun.

Lounging in one of the old wooden chairs, Nathan calmly began his morning. Turning the pages carefully, Nathan began to think about the day ahead of him. It was a big day, after all. He was taking Haley out on their second first date. But what to do? Nathan folded the paper in his lap and looked out across the dunes as he thought about the possibilities.

He wanted to take her somewhere familiar, but where? Was it too cliché to take her to the Riverwalk? What about the restaurants downtown? How was he supposed to take her out somewhere new if they'd already been? And flowers. Nathan really wanted to get her flowers, but was it too much to get her purple flowers? Nathan and Haley's past was so rich with memories and places that were special to to them that he couldn't think of a place that would be special to them now, today. Closing his eyes as he tried to think of the perfect place, Nathan let a frustrated sigh slip though his mouth.

He couldn't take her to those places, the ones that had been so important to them in high school. Nathan didn't want Haley to fall back in love with him by manipulating her heart; remind her of the great times they'd had together by reliving their past. No. If they were going to work this time, Nathan was going to have to find something new, something they had never done before. He wanted her to see that the new Nathan, the improved Nathan, was the person she loved. But how he was going to do that plagued his mind.

Opening his eyes, Nathan squinted as the bright light reflected off of the sand. It was a gorgeous summer morning but that wasn't helping him decide what to do. But then, as he looked down to his lap, Nathan found the answer he was looking for. An advertisement in the paper caught his eye. Could it be that simple? Nathan looked at the black and white picture of the familiar staple of Tree Hill's downtown and smiled. Maybe he could give Haley a little bit of everything.

Grabbing the paper, Nathan stood up and headed back into the house. The smell of coffee lingered in the air as Nathan went into his bedroom to get his phone. Bringing the phone back to the kitchen where he had placed the paper, Nathan dialed the number from the advertisement.

Just upstairs Haley was in bed not quite ready to start her day. She was awake but her eyes were still closed. She was happily stuck in the in between; she was too awake to go back to what she was dreaming about, but still able to go back to sleep to start all over again. But her dream, the one that was fading out of her memory as she slipped back to her conscious self, was a good one. It had her smiling. It had her smiling because it was about Nathan.

A yawn crept through her lips and that's when Haley finally opened her eyes. She glanced at her watch and rubbed the sleep from under her eyes. Was it really almost nine o'clock? Haley sighed at the thought of sleeping so late. To give herself a little slack, Haley did think about the previous day and how drained she had become. The Peter debacle and amount of tears she had cried exhausted her to no end. Truth be told, she probably could have slept until noon if she really wanted to.

But Haley didn't want to; she didn't want to miss out on any time with Nathan. So, after a quick trip to the bathroom, Haley headed for the stairs to see if he was awake. She'd gotten to the top of the steps when she found her answer. The familiar aroma of coffee was a pretty good indication that he was awake, but she also heard him talking.

"Yes. It starts at eight." Haley headed toward his voice. "But you recommend to get there about thirty minutes before that. Uh-huh." Nathan smiled when he saw Haley. "And everything is already paid for? You got my card information?" Nathan listened to the other end of the line. "Okay. I'll see you at the booth this evening. Thanks so much. Bye."

Haley pulled a mug from the cabinet and turned to Nathan with a smirk. "So, who was that?"

"Someone."

Haley laughed. "Just someone, huh."

"It might have had to do with our date tonight." Nathan smirked right back at her as he shrugged his shoulders. "I can't say for sure."

Haley watched as her black coffee turned a smooth brown as she stirred in milk and then looked at Nathan. "Our date?" She turned to face him and blew into her cup causing a cloud of steam to fly away from her lips before she took a sip. "Are you going to tell me anything about it?"

Nathan got up from the bar stool he was sitting on and grinned. "I can tell you that we have to be downtown around seven thirty."

Haley's eyebrows raised. "So it's downtown?" She immediately thought about the restaurants that lined the Cape. Which one was it? The next question she had unintentionally flew out of her mouth. "What should I wear?"

Nathan smiled as he poured coffee into a cup. "I have a feeling that whatever you wear will be perfectly fine." He turned to face her and took a sip of his drink. " And," he laughed thinking about it, "you'll probably head over to Clothes Over Bro's in a little while. I bet you and the girls will spend the morning picking something out."

Knowing he was right, Haley smiled as she swallowed a mouthful of her coffee. In a flirty tone, Haley grinned at him. "Any requests?"

Nathan set his cup down on the counter. "I have always loved you in green."

Haley knew he was going to say that and nodded. There was something about Nathan, about the way he was talking to her and the way he looked at her, that had her stomach twisting into nervous knots.

The slow realization that their conversation was naturally seductive and flirty made Haley's cheeks burn pink. But as much as it made her blush, it was a feeling she loved. Never breaking eye contact, she walked to Nathan's side and set her cup next to his, and her hand grazed his fingertips when she placed it on the bar. She stared into his eyes knowing that all was well. She knew that they, as a couple, were going to work. Getting lost in those blue eyes of his, Haley sighed happily.

"Doesn't all of this...doesn't it feel..." She didn't even get a chance to finish because Nathan said it for her.

"Right?" Nathan looked down to Haley and locked his arms around her waist pulling her close.

She smiled but her brow was furrowed, showing the deep emotion that ran through her body. "Yeah. Like everything is going to be okay?" Her face brightened and she started to smile. "That this, us... that we're where we're supposed to be?"

Nathan smiled. He knew he had always been meant to be with Haley. A long time ago he'd forgotten, but he never would again. So hearing her say it, it made his chest pound like crazy.

"As long as I'm with you, Haley, I don't care where we are or what we're doing..." Nathan laughed subtly. "I know I'll be happy."

Haley laid her head against his chest and smiled. Happy was an understatement. She couldn't even pick a word that could describe the back flips her stomach was making or the steady pounding of her chest. "Whatever you have planned for tonight, I'm excited."

Nathan felt her body press against his. "Me too."

Haley looked up to him and felt herself rise to her tiptoes. Her movement was instinctual, reaffirming the feeling that this was the way things were supposed to be. Their kiss was soft and quiet and tasted like coffee, but it was passionate in all of the right ways.

Haley fell back to flat feet and smiled. "I should go."

With his hands still around her waist, Nathan pulled her back toward him. "Go? Go where?"

Haley bit her lip and smirked. "To take a shower."

Nathan's grip loosened. "Oh."

"Then I'll call Brooke so I can get ready for tonight."

Did he really think she was going to leave? No, but there's always the possibility. His hands fell to his side and he nodded. "You go take a shower and I'll call Jamie, okay?"

Haley smiled and spun on her toe as she headed for the stairs. Nathan watched her until he couldn't see her anymore and then he walked to the far counter to get his phone. He didn't even hesitate when he punched in Jamie's number. His happy delirium, the excited army of nerves that were marching through his body preparing for tonight, didn't make him think twice about calling his son at all.

Nathan had no idea what Jamie was doing or how serious of a situation he was in at the Bell's beach house.

ooo

Jamie sat on the couch while Mr. and Mrs. Bell occupied the chairs directly across from him. Michael sat on the floor with a giant bowl of Apple Jacks between his legs, intently listening to the conversation in front of him. Even though it was early on a summer morning, Jamie had been up for a while. He knew there would be questions about last night, about Nathan and Haley, because he'd avoided the interrogation by the Bells when he got back to the house last night. So, when he got up this morning, he knew they'd want answers. And that's what he'd been doing for the better half of an hour; Jamie had been telling Patricia, Billy, and Michael all about his relationship with his biological parents.

Patricia burst into tears when she had heard the story. Mr. Bell had sat quietly as he digested the information. Jamie told them about his encounter with An Unkindness of Ravens, the tumultuous relationship between Nathan and Haley, Peter, the envelope, his birthday party, and his plans for the future.

All in all, the conversation had been pretty one-sided, but that was about to change. As a law man, Mr. Bell sat up in his chair and asked Jamie serious questions that he knew should be addressed. He wanted Jamie to be realistic about his expectations with his parents.

"Now, what are your intentions with Nathan and Haley, Jamie? Do you want to try to be part of their lives?"

Jamie nodded. "Yeah, I mean, I hope so."

Mr. Bell sighed. "I'm sure as you know, since you are a minor, you can't make these decisions by yourself. I'm not saying you're incapable, but legally...What do the Joneses think of all of this?"

Jamie sat back. Wasn't it kind of early to be talking about all of that stuff? "Well, when we were at dinner, they were supportive, I guess. We haven't really talked about it."

Billy shifted in his seat and cracked a knuckle before he asked his next question. "Because they are your legal guardians, I think it'd be wise for you to come up with an agreement about your visitation with Nathan and Haley. Jeff and Kathy are going to have a mountain of paperwork they're going to have to deal with. The Foster system is full of red tape, and I think, I think it would be best if you went back to Raleigh to figure out how you want to approach this."

Jamie was starting to feel the seriousness of the situation sink in. "But, the Joneses, they never adopted me. Don't I have..."

Mr. Bell interrupted Jamie. "I know, but they're responsible for you. You can't just expect to stay here and live with Nathan and Haley, can you?"

Jamie started to feel a bubble of emotion build in his throat. "No, but..."

"And like you said, neither of them live here. Haley lives in Davidson and Nathan lives in..."

"New York." Jamie finished.

"I'm afraid," Billy started, "that you're going to get attached to these people, Jamie. But, I'm sure they have lives they have to get back to. And even if this is just for the summer, what happens next?" Billy got out of his chair. He walked to Jamie's side and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Just think about it, would you? I'm going to Chicago tomorrow. I'd be happy to drop you in Raleigh so you can talk with Jeff and Kathy about everything."

Billy smiled as best as he could and then walked out of the room.

Patricia got up from her chair and sat down next to Jamie. Wrapping an arm around him, Patricia hugged Jamie and smiled. She could tell that he was a little upset. "I know Billy sounded a little scary, but he means well." Patricia patted Jamie's arm. "He's probably right, though. You should go back to Raleigh and talk with Jeff and Kathy. Get your ducks in a row and see what's best for everyone. And don't you worry about coming back here. You'll always have a spot in my house, Jamie Scott." Patricia smiled again as she got up. "Figure out what you want to do and we'll do whatever."

Jamie nodded. "Thanks, Mrs. Bell."

Jamie watched Patricia walk out of the room and he sighed as he leaned back into the cushions.

Michael took the opportunity to get a word in now that his parents were gone. "What are you gonna do, man?

"I don't know." Jamie ran a hand over his forehead.

"Well, did you talk to Jeff and Kathy about this at all?"

"No, not really." The more Jamie thought about it, the more him leaving made sense. "But I probably should."

Michael groaned as he got up from the floor. "Well, just let me know. I can tell dad what your plans are."

"Yeah, okay." Jamie nodded appreciatively at his friend and then stuck his hand into his pocket. "I'm gonna go outside. Maybe I'll call Jeff and Kathy."

Micheal understood. "Alright. I'll give you some space."

The phone call with Jeff lasted for twenty minutes. When Jamie said goodbye, he put the phone in his pocket and took a moment to gather his emotions. Jeff was in agreement with Mr. Jones. Jamie should go back to Raleigh to figure everything out. Jeff even said he'd schedule a meeting with the Foster Parent Agency at the Social Services Department so they could do everything they needed. He had been really supportive and encouraging, but Jamie couldn't help but get upset a little. The thoughts of having to leave everyone in Tree Hill, to leave Nathan and Haley, were pulling at his heartstrings. He felt like he had just gotten back, and now, now he had to leave again?

Jamie leaned against the wooden railing and stared out across the horizon. He should have know that it couldn't last. Jamie started to realize, that if he was really going to have some sort of life with Nathan and Haley, he was going to have to go back to Raleigh and have a serious discussion with the Joneses. He was also going to have to talk with Nathan and Haley. How was he going to fit into their equation of life? But, before he could think anymore about it, Jamie felt his pocket buzz.

Pulling his phone from his pocket, Jamie smiled when he saw Nathan's name on the screen.

"Hello?"

"Jamie?"

"Hey, Nathan."

"How are you?" Nathan's voice sounded ten times better than the last time Jamie had heard his father.

"Good."

"Well, I just wanted to tell you that Peter is gone. He left last night. And Haley and I, we're gonna to try to work things out."

Jamie smiled. "That's great, really great."

Nathan sighed through the receiver. "I think so too." A pause filtered through the air before Nathan spoke again. "So about last night...everything is fine. It's going to work out. And Jamie, I can't tell you how much it meant to me for you to go over to Lucas' house like you did. I really appreciate it."

"I was glad to go with you." Jamie paused like Nathan did, but he was pausing to think about the best way to tell Nathan that he was going back to Raleigh. "So, I've been talking with the Bells."

"Uh-huh." Nathan knew that Jamie had probably filled them all in.

"And, well... Mr. Bell is a lawyer and he gave me some advice."

Nathan's tone turned defensive. "What kind of advice?"

"He just told me that I should probably go back home, that I should go back to Raleigh to figure out what I want to do. Like, I need to talk with the Joneses about everything. And you too. Depending on what kind of relationship we want to have, you, me, and Haley, we might have to go to family court." Jamie paused again. "That's only if you want me in your life or parental rights."

"Of course we want you in our lives, Jamie."

Relieved, Jamie felt his muscles relax and the anxiety that was bubbling around in his stomach subsided. "Yeah?"

"Yes. And if you need to go back home to figure everything out, go. If Haley or I need to go to Raleigh, we'll be there. Just let us know."

Happy that Nathan was as encouraging as he was, Jamie sighed into the phone. "Well...Mr. Bell offered to take me back tomorrow. So, I might go then."

"Whatever you decide, just let me or Haley know."

Jamie nodded, "I will."

Nathan stuttered into the phone. "I...I was really just calling to see how you were. But, seriously, if anything changes, if something happens, let us know, alright?"

"I will," Jamie said repeating himself.

"I know there is a lot of stuff we haven't talked about, but I'm willing to do what it takes to have you in my life, Jamie. You're my son, and..." Nathan felt a lump form in his throat. "I love you."

Jamie was a bit taken aback by what Nathan had said. He believed him, though. Jamie felt it too. The feeling was something that was hard to describe. There was something inside of him that drew him to Nathan and Haley, and it was more than DNA. Love between a parent and child is the best kind of love there is. Not only is there comfort and compassion, but Jamie knew that he was cared about. He knew that no matter what, he had two people, a mother and father, who wanted the best for him in life.

Jamie's voice broke the silence as he smiled into his phone. "I love you, too."

Nathan was relived to hear Jamie repeat the words. He hadn't intended on saying it, but he was glad that Jamie felt the same. "If you need anything, just give me a call. Okay?"

"I will." Jamie rolled his eyes at himself because he felt like he'd been saying that phrase every time he spoke.

"I'll talk to you soon."

"Bye, Nathan."

"Bye."

Jamie put his phone on the railing and sighed. After talking with Jeff and now Nathan, he knew that things were complicated. On one hand, he had a set of great parents waiting for him in Raleigh. Jeff and Kathy had been the best parents to him and he really cared about them. But on the other hand, his real parents, the ones who gave him up as teenagers, were willing to have him in their lives. He couldn't abandon the Joneses, but what about Nathan and Haley? It was unrealistic to think that he could have them all at the same capacity, but what was he supposed to do? Would he or a court make the ultimate decision? The uncertainty of the situation loomed in the back of his mind.

Knowing that he couldn't avoid facing the reality of the situation, Jamie turned back to go inside the house. He needed to find Mr. Bell to tell him that he'd like to go back to Raleigh in the morning.

ooo

After taking her shower and eating a quick breakfast, Haley decided it was about time to head to the familiar corner store in downtown Tree Hill. She'd sent her raspy-voiced friend a text making sure she was at work, and once Brooke responded, Haley made her way downtown as soon as she could. Parking her car in a parallel spot close to Clothes Over Bro's, Haley hurried into the shop to see what Brooke had available to wear on her date with Nathan. It shouldn't have surprised her when she walked into the store to see Peyton sitting in one of the chairs.

Haley laughed as she pushed her sunglasses into her hair. "Word travels fast around here, huh?" She laughed to herself knowing that Brooke must have sent Peyton a message about Haley's wardrobe need.

Peyton smirked as she stood up. "Yep."

Haley laughed again as she headed to the counter.

Brooke came out of the back with three dresses wrapped in plastic draped over her shoulder. She smiled when she saw Haley.

"So these are the newest things in the store." Brooke carefully rested the dresses on the counter. "Two of them are greenish and one is brown."

Haley laughed when Brooke said greenish. What did that even mean? "I want something that is comfortable, but nice looking."

Peyton shot Brooke a look and grinned. They'd just gone through this same spiel when Haley got a dress for her dinner with the Joneses. Comfortable and charming. Elegant and mature. Haley wanted to show off her features. Peyton eyed the three dresses and, knowing that Nathan was the person Haley wanted to impress the most, she pointed to the one in the middle.

"That one." She raised her brow and nodded. "He's going to love that one."

Brooke grunted as a stern look flashed across her face. "Let her look at all of them, Peyton. They are all beautiful dresses."

"Oh, I have no doubt about that, but I know Nathan, and I know Haley..." Her smile returned and she motioned for Haley to get the one in the middle. "But it's that one you want. Trust me."

Haley looked from Peyton to Brooke and then to the dress. It was a subtle green, a hunter green that almost looked black, and strapless. It was Mediterranean looking, perfect for summer. Taking a closer glance Haley noticed the tiny leaf patterns she hadn't seen at first. They were camouflaged by the dark color, but they were there and she loved it. The dress was just the right length, too. It was going to hit her an inch above her knee, showing off her short but toned legs.

"I'll try this one."

Peyton flashed Brooke an "ah-ha" look and nodded. "Great. Your going to look great."

Brooke handed Haley the dress and motioned toward a dressing rooms. "Go in whichever you want."

Both of the women watched Haley walk to the back and then Brooke leaned on the counter and sighed. Peyton noticed that Brooke wasn't her normal, chipper self and shook her head.

"Is something wrong?"

Brooke sighed again and looked at her oldest friend. "Do you think this is a good idea, Peyton?"

The blonde laughed. "What? Us helping Haley? Yes."

"No, not that." Brooke looked over her shoulder. "Nathan and Haley going out...on a date."

Peyton nodded. "I think it's a fabulous idea."

Brooke furrowed her brow and shook her head. "Why am I the only one who thinks that this, them two together, has the potential to be horrible? Do you not remember how bad it was when they broke up? Nathan wouldn't even talk to any of us. Haley had to move in with Lucas..."

"Brooke, they were kids. We were kids. None of us knew anything back then."

"So now, after all of this time, it's going to be alright?"

Peyton shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know, but I hope so. I know that he's missed her for seventeen years, and that she's never really been able to love someone as much as she loves Nathan."

"But what happens if it doesn't work out? What happens if they aren't the people they think they are?" Before Peyton could answer, Brooke kept going. "I don't want them to get hurt again. Do you remember that day Haley stayed in bed the whole day crying? And don't even think about blaming that on the pregnancy. She was heartbroken. You and I and Lucas had to stay with her to make sure she was all right. We did it in shifts."

As Brooke spoke, Peyton knew that it was the truth. "Of course she was sad, Brooke. The love of her life stopped giving a damn about her. And it wasn't just her, he gave up on the baby, on Jamie."

"What makes you think that he won't give up on them again?"

Peyton cut her eyes. Why could Brooke not see that Nathan was a changed man? And then, the sudden flashes of the envelope invaded her thoughts. Did Brooke know about the envelope? Did she know about the letter Nathan wrote to Haley when she was at Stanford? Just as Peyton started to mention the envelope, Haley walked out of a dressing room all smiles.

"This fit is amazing." Walking closer to the counter, Haley ran her hands down the side of her dress. "Brooke, I don't think I tell you enough, but you're an amazingly talented designer."

The worry and dread that had previously been painted across Brooke's face vanished. She smiled with kind eyes and a warm look about her. "Thanks, Haley. That means a lot." She moved around the counter and smiled even wider when she saw Haley's full figure in front of her. "You were right, Peyt. This is the one."

Haley smiled toward Peyton. "Thanks. Both of you. This is going to be perfect."

Brooke walked to one of the display tables and picked up a few things. She then walked to the front of the store where the shoes were and grabbed a pair she knew would go amazingly. "All of this," Brooke set the stuff down in her arms, "will make it even better."

Haley saw glints of gold and purple jewelry and smiled. "I'm just going to go change. I'll be right back."

Brooke walked to the counter and began to bag the shoes and accessories when Peyton stopped her.

"Hey."

Brooke looked up, her smile was gone and the previously abandoned worried expression had taken its place. "Don't try to tell me that this is a good thing, okay. It probably will be. But if it's not, and she, if they get their hearts broken again, I'm not going to say I didn't warn you." Brooke looked over her shoulder and sighed. "She looks happy, and if this is what makes her happy, then I'll support her...but, Peyton, I have a bad feeling about it."

Intuition and premonitions was not a pair of the many things Brooke Davis-Baker was famously known for, but Peyton respected her friend enough to at least understand where she was coming from. The blonde walked to the register and leaned on the counter.

"I just want them to try is all I'm saying. I'd rather them know for sure that they'll work out or not than push their feelings aside and go on about their life. They have to take this chance."

"It just scares me. I love them too much to see them in so much pain. I don't want that to happen again."

Peyton nodded. "I know, and you're a good friend to worry about them. But sometimes we have to take those chances and make mistakes to know what it is that we really want, what we need." Brooke's face started to look less and less worried as Peyton continued to talk. "I think it's still there, Brooke. I think they love each other like they did when we were sixteen, and I think they'll find it."

Brooke sighed one last time as she put the last little box in a bag. "Maybe you're right, Peyton. Maybe they will get their happily ever after? They had it once before, so what should stop them now?"

Haley walked out of the dressing room and hurried to the counter. "This is so great, Brooke. Really."

Brooke nodded and handed Haley the bag as she slipped the dress back into its plastic shell. "Don't even try to pay for it." She smirked as Haley stopped fidgeting with her purse. "You know your money is no good in here."

"Thank you, Brooke."

"So, where is he taking you, Haley?" Peyton asked because she was genuinely interested.

Haley laughed. "I don't know. He wouldn't really tell me."

Brooke smirked again and her brow raised. "Well, did he tell you anything?"

Haley lifted her shoulder and laughed again. "All I know is that we're coming downtown around seven-thirty or so. It was kind of secretive."

"Ooh," Peyton laughed, "mysterious." She shook her head thinking of what Nathan might have planned. "Maybe you're going to have a sweet candlelit dinner at the restaurant where you had your first date?"

"Let's not forget that was all because of me." Brooke interrupted with a pointed finger.

Peyton furrowed her brow. "Brooke, you only did that because you had been a complete bitch to Haley and needed to make it up to her."

"Okay, yes. But still...I was the one who kinda, sorta, just a little bit got them together."

Haley laughed at her two friends. Brooke might have had a tiny part, but Nathan had really gotten together with Haley because of Lucas. Nathan wanted to piss him off and Haley wanted Nathan to back off of him with all of the basketball nonsense. As she thought about it, those years seemed like decades ago. She looked at her watch and sighed. It wasn't even twelve noon. She was going to have to wait almost eight hours to see what Nathan had planned for their evening. But what was eight or so hours when they'd spent more than fifteen years apart?

Haley was starting to feel butterflies swirl around in her stomach and the color burning on her cheeks caught both Peyton and Brooke's attention. The first of the two put her elbows on the counter and smiled.

"You're nervous aren't you?"

Haley looked to the counter and nodded. "A little."

Brooke laughed and walked around the counter with the dress and bag in her hands. "You'll have a good time, Haley. Enjoy yourself."

Peyton smirked at Brooke's remark. Maybe she was coming around on the idea that Nathan and Haley could work as a couple? "Of course you'll have a good time, Haley. And if you don't," she widened her eyes joking, "you can come over to my house and we can kill a bottle of wine."

"I'll come, too." Brooke chimed in.

Haley laughed as she pulled her keys from her purse. "It's a deal."

Brooke walked Haley to the door and grinned. "You're going to look beautiful, tonight. Peyton and I won't wait up too long for you."

Peyton stopped at the door and leaned on the frame. "It'll be great, Haley. Call us to tell us all about it."

Haley slid her sunglasses down across her head and smiled. "I will. I'll see you two later."

Both Peyton and Brooke said bye at the same time as Haley skipped down the stoop of Clothes Over Bro's toward the street. She hung the dress in her backseat and placed the bag on the seat before giving a quick wave to the girls.

Peyton turned to Brooke and crossed her arms. "You still think it's a bad idea?"

Brooke sighed and shook her head. "I don't know. We'll just have to wait and see."

ooo

Nathan and Haley each spent those eight or so agonizing hours away from each other, but the suspense leading up to their date was tantalizing and exciting. Haley had butterflies and Nathan couldn't keep thoughts of her out of his mind. It was probably for the best that they were apart, because if they were together, who knows what would have happened. Too much of a good thing can sometimes turn out baldly, so they wanted to keep their distance a little bit.

Haley spent most of her day at the beach house doing a whole lot of nothing. She went out on the beach for a few hours, soaked up the late May sun, and cooled her feet off in the long Atlantic waves. It wasn't stressful and it surely wasn't strenuous, but it's what she needed. She relaxed for most of the day and enjoyed her down time.

While Haley spent her time calming her nerves, Nathan spent most of his day talking on the phone. He'd gone to the River Court, but in between jump shots and free throws, Nathan had spoken to his boss, publicist, and lawyer. He'd asked his boss for an extended leave and fortunately he'd gotten one. He talked with his publicist about the potential for "personal matters" to make it to the mainstream media, and wanted everything about his biological son, about Jamie, to be kept private. And that's where his talk with his lawyer started. He needed legal advice about what he should do with Jamie and the Joneses. He needed to know what rights he had and where he stood in getting Jamie to be a permanent fixture in his life. He'd worked up a good sweat and his blood was pumping at a quick pace, but not nearly as fast as it was now.

As Nathan looked into the mirror, he smiled thinking that the day had gone by in the blink of an eye. All of those phone conversations had kept him busy during the day and he couldn't believe that it was almost time to leave for the date.

Straitening his tie with one last glance in the mirror, Nathan also flattened the blue dress shirt against his chest and sighed. This was it. This was the night he was going to really win her back...hopefully. He glanced at the clock and the nerves started to set in. It was almost seven. Knowing that they'd need time to make it downtown, he grabbed his sports coat and headed for the living room to wait for Haley.

She was coming down the stairs just as he walked to the center of the room.

"Wow." Nathan tugged at his collar as he watched her carefully step down each stair. "You look...you look amazing."

Haley smiled and looked down to her feet, the same feet that were stuffed into plum, peep toe heels that were already starting to hurt. But, she did have to admit that she looked super sexy. Brooke Davis-Baker had a ridiculous sense of style. The shoes were paired with the green Grecian dress that she'd picked up earlier, golden jewelry and a plum barrette. She was absolutely stunning. The tight waist showed off her figure and she could tell how high the heels were when she reached his side. Haley didn't have to look up as much as normal.

"So, should we go in one car or...? Nathan reached into his pocket and felt his slick metal keys.

Haley smirked, "If you have plans for later, another hot date or something, I guess we can take two..."

"No, I..." He smiled and shook his head. "I just...let's take mine."

She could tell he was nervous and saw past her lame excuse at a joke. "Your car is fine. Let's take yours."

Nathan took a deep breath and blew the hot air from his chest out of his mouth. He needed to calm down before things got awkward. "Wanna go now?"

Haley looked at the clock on the wall and nodded. "Yeah.

Nathan smiled and put his hand on the small of her back as they walked to the front door. He held the door as she walked through the frame and then, with one last moment of composure by himself, Nathan closed his eyes and nodded. "I can do this. We can do this." He opened his eyes and then turned closing the door with a loud thud.

Downtown Tree Hill was always beautiful once the sun had gone to sleep and the stars brightened the sky. Lights flickered from all directions and the sound of the evening adventurers echoed off of the many brick buildings. The Cape looked especially bright as the moonlight bounced off of the fast waves, and Haley leaned into her seat with a smile. There was nothing better than Tree Hill at night.

The car ride had been quiet, Nathan and Haley hadn't talked about anything specific, but as Nathan pulled onto Water street towards the public parking lot, Haley couldn't hold her tongue any longer.

"Are you ever going to tell me where or what we're doing?"

Nathan stopped the car when he found a spot and the interior lights came on illuminating his smirk. "We're here."

Haley looked around and laughed. Surely he wasn't taking her to the parking lot for their date. Deciding she could get a better look at her surroundings outside of the car, Haley opened her door and stepped onto the gravel. Once she opened her door, the thick summer air pressed against her skin and her heart began to beat faster. The Riverwalk was just a few yards away, there were restaurants around every corner, but what was he talking about?

Slipping cash into one of the machines, Nathan nodded. "You coming?"

She looked at him and kinked her brow. "Nathan? Where are we going?"

He laughed and waited for her to join his side before they started walking.

"I wanted to take you somewhere that we'd never been to before...together. Somewhere that's still close enough to the places that matter." His hand reached for hers and he locked them together. "So I wanted to come here."

Haley looked from his eyes that reflected the light so perfectly to the giant red and white boat in front of them. She stopped for a second as she realized where they were and what they were going to do.

"Are we...we're going to go out on the Henrietta?"

Nathan nodded with a quick smile. "Yeah. I just thought that since we've never...you've never..." He didn't have to keep talking because he could tell that she was happy. She looked excited like he hadn't seen before. "Let me pick up the tickets real quick, alright. Stay here for a sec."

Haley felt like she was floating outside of her body. Everything was perfect: the location, the time, the date, and the person she'd spend the rest of her evening with. She didn't know exactly what they'd be doing, but this, them having dinner on the river boat far exceeded her expectations.

"Here you go." Nathan handed her a ticket and smiled. "We can start boarding if you want."

She nodded and wrapped an arm through his as they headed to the ramp. The closer they got to the boat, the louder the music was. A live band, perhaps a jazz band, was playing "Hello, Dolly" and the energetic music echoed in Haley's pulse. She'd never been on the river boat before, and she was excited to see what it was like.

Whatever nerves Nathan has been battling before now had vanished completely. He could feel it, their chemistry and conversation told him that the evening was going to be a success.

A hostess greeted the couple with a slight bow and led them to the main dining area where tables were set up. The band, the one Haley kept hearing, was playing up in the front of the room and she smiled widely when the trumpeter finished a long and extensive solo. She loved music almost as much as she loved Nathan.

Nathan noticed her shoulders rocking back and forth and he smiled. Even sitting he could see the music move through her body, and he loved to see her in her element. Music was her thing just like basketball was his. Several couples had taken to the dance floor, and he wondered if Haley wanted to dance. Nathan wasn't much of a dancer, he'd probably trip over his big feet or stomp on her toes if they danced, but what would it hurt? He might bruise his ego and maybe his pride, but it would be worth it. She didn't have to tell him she wanted to dance; he could see it. The way she drummed her fingers lightly against the table cloth was invitation enough.

As the band finished one song and started another, Nathan stood up and pulled his jacket strait. He held out his hand and smirked with a raised brow.

"Care to dance, Haley James?"

Surprised by his offer, Haley's voice caught in her throat. "Uh, I...yes. I'd like that."

Nathan nodded as he led her to the center of the dance floor. A jazz version of the Eagle's "Heartache Tonight" resonated from the small band but it was full of emotion. A sexy song by nature, Nathan and Haley gravitated toward each other and swayed as one as the song moved through the verse.

The back and forth of their two step was sultry and it had both Nathan and Haley smiling like teenagers. There was no denying the sparks that they had. Nathan leaned down to Haley and whispered into her ear.

"Competition. Two o'clock."

His breath was warm on her neck and she smiled as goosebumps ran across her arms. She glanced over her left shoulder and saw the competition he'd been talking about. A couple, probably in their late sixties or early seventies, were rocking back and forth with the same amount of energy the couple thirty years their junior had.

Nathan, with his head still close to Haley's, raised one brow and then pulled her close to his chest. She immediately knew what to do next. Haley took a few steps backwards and felt Nathan lift her arm to spin. While it wasn't the prettiest of moves or the smoothest, Haley twirled back into Nathan's arms with a smile across her lips. She laughed at their failure, but it was fun. They were definitely not ballroom professionals, but that didn't change the way Haley felt. Her smile was bigger than ever. She hadn't had that much fun in a really long time.

He laughed and stepped close. "Maybe we should leave the fancy stuff to them?"

She nodded and bounced her shoulders to the beat as they moved step for step. "Maybe."

As the band finished the song with an instrumental outtro, a woman walked to the mic and smiled at all of the dinner cruise patrons. She announced that they'd be serving the first course shortly and if everyone could return to their seats, she'd appreciate it.

When they got back to their table, Nathan got Haley's chair for her and they sat down to enjoy their salads. They were both quiet for a while but then Haley spoke.

"This is so much fun. I would have never thought to do this."

Nathan smirked because he knew it was a complement. "Yeah, it's cool. A lot different from the last time I was on one of these."

Haley furrowed her brow and wiped the corner of he mouth with her napkin. "Wait, you've done this?"

Nathan laughed. "No. Not exactly." He looked around the room and shook his head. "I was on one during high school, though, with Chris."

"Chris?" The name wasn't immediately ringing any bells, but then a thin face with spiked up hair and a thin lanky body with entirely too much jewelry flew into her mind. "Chris...Keller?"

Nathan nodded. "Yeah."

"What...when was that?"

Nathan shook his head and sighed. "Gah, it was senior year, I think? I don't really remember."

Haley couldn't pin the time frame down when he would have been with Chris. What was he even doing with him? "But you hated Chris. Why were you with him?"

Nathan sat back in his chair and smiled. "For you. I'd given him money to help you with your album, but he lost it, so we had to get it back."

"So you got on a river boat?" Haley looked around and didn't see the connection to money, not the one they were on at least.

"Yeah, we got on one for some poker thing. There was a lot of gambling." Nathan sighed with a roll of his eyes. "You want to hear something funny? It'll prove to you that dad, that Dan wanted us to break up." Haley nodded so he continued. "We used the money he gave Chris to seduce you for our starter."

"What?"

"Apparently he tried to pay Chris off. He wanted him to seduce you, sleep with you, and then I'd get mad and we'd break up. But it never worked out like he planned. Not like that anyway." Nathan's face drained some of its color as he thought about their break-up. Going back to the poker talk, Nathan smiled with a laugh. "But, we used that money during out first hand."

Haley was amused by everything he was telling her; their life back in high school played out like a soap opera. She didn't want to relive the break-up per say, but everything else was funny to reminisce about. Wanting to hear more, she widened her eyes and smirked. "Well, what happened after that?"

"Uh, there were cheating allegations and then we went swimming."

"Swimming?"

Nathan laughed, "Not by choice. Chris and I jumped off of the boat. When never got the money and I'm pretty sure I punched him in the face after that. Twice maybe."

Haley laughed as she sat back in her chair shaking her head. "And you did all of that for me?"

Nathan nodded and Haley blushed. He hadn't intended on telling her that story, but he did and he was glad. Maybe the Henrietta, any river boat for that matter, was more important to them than he had originally thought.

They talked for a while and the topic still lingered about that poker game, but it was slowly fading out their dialog. A waiter approached their table and removed their empty salad plates, clearing the way for new food and a different conversation. Nathan had important things to tell her; he needed to tell her about Jamie and their plans for the future. He would have done it while the staff prepared for the second course, but two fans walked up to the table taking away his chance.

A father and son walked up to the table and smiled. The dad put his hand on his son's shoulder and extended his hand to Nathan. "Excuse me sir, are you Nathan Scott?"

Haley wasn't exactly used to fans popping up so her eyes bulged as the strangers lingered around the table.

Nathan looked to the fans and nodded while he shook hands. "I am."

The man sighed and pulled out a pen. "My name is John and this is my son, Andrew. I'm uh...my son and I...we're huge Bobcats fans..."

Nathan's smile widened and he looked to the boy. "You like basketball?" The boy nodded but didn't speak. He seemed paralyzed with excitement. Nathan reached for the pen and signed the napkin the father had in his hands.

Haley watched Nathan act so kind and generous that it caused her own heart to swell. As her presence faded from the foreground to the background, she thought that the fans maybe more comfortable if she excused herself. So, she told Nathan that she was heading out to the observation deck for a few minutes. He started to object, tell her not to leave, but she quietly slipped away from the table leaving him with the two fans.

Outside, Haley wrapped her arms around her body because the heat of the day had finally worn off. A slight breeze had picked up but the same salty smell floated through the air. The Henrietta was just past the big green bridge and Haley squinted through the darkness to trace the edges of its silhouette. After making out the bridge, her eyes scanned past the bridge further down river to the city scape. She leaned against the metal railing and peered out across the water towards the downtown area. She couldn't see people, but she could see lights. Lights from restaurants, hotels, bars, cars, streetlights, anything and everything reflected off of the fast current and she smiled. She smiled because the date had been going well and she hoped it would stay that way.

Music from the band below her feet seeped through the floor and she could tell it was a slow one, an old one. Haley started humming the words to "Moon River" as the jazz instruments lulled through the melody. She was quiet. No one else could hear her, and not that anyone else was around, most people were enjoying their dinner, she stayed still never opening her lips. But she could feel the music, feel the words, inside of her rushing through her body like her feelings for Nathan. Since they'd gotten on the boat, her heart had been pounding, leaping for more room out of her chest. But she had kept it contained though, stirring up heat that was burning hot on her chest.

Haley's nerves were firing on all cylinders. They were in overdrive as they tried to maintain a calm and collected exterior. But their efforts were futile; Haley's hands excitedly trembled against the metal and her jewelry dinged against the railing.

"Haley?" Nathan stepped through the door of the observation deck and smiled.

She turned on her heel and flashed him a smile. "Hey."

Feeling the cool air, Nathan slid his coat off and motioned for Haley to let him put it on her. She let him and wrapped the long arms around her side. They were both quiet for a moment, taking in the serene look of everything, and then Nathan looked down to Haley.

"Sorry about that back in the dining room."

Haley started to shake her head. "No. Don't apologize." She turned to face him and her smile returned. "People look up to you, Nathan. They idolize you, respect you." She wiggled her hand out of a sleeve and touched his arm. "It's nice."

Nathan looked down and shook his head. "They don't idolize me, Haley."

Haley's brow furrowed but she smiled. "Yes they do. You've done some pretty amazing things in your life. And they're proud of you, Nathan." Her eyes locked onto his even in dimly lit room. "I'm proud of you."

Her words ran like fire through his veins. He leaned down and she met him halfway with a soft kiss. And with the tips of their noses still touching, Nathan kissed her again before pulling away. He knew this was the perfect time to talk about their son.

"I talked with Jamie today," he said slowly.

"You did?" It wasn't exactly a question, but Haley was always happy to hear about Jamie.

"Yeah." Nathan nodded as he inhaled deeply. "And he got me thinking..."

Haley could tell that he was serious by the slow tone of his voice. "About what?"

"His future. Our future."

Haley felt a bubble form in the back of her throat. He said our. Did Nathan see a future with her?

Nathan took another deep breath and sighed. "I don't know what your plans are or what mine are, but we have to start thinking about what we want to do about Jamie. He's going back to Raleigh tomorrow to talk with the Joneses and the Social Services people." He stopped so she could take it all in. "He needs to find out what his options are. We need to find out what our options are. So, I called my lawyer today." Nathan stopped again but her eyes told him she was hungry for more information. "He told me that we'll probably have to go to court. We're going to have to show that we're fit to be parents. And that's if we want custody of him or if we want to get our rights back."

"I do. I'll do anything to have him back in my life."

Nathan listened to her but shook his head. "It's not going to be that simple, Haley. It's not a matter of who wants him the most. We can't go to court and expect a judge to hand him over. We have to show that we, you or I, want to be a family with him. One of us or both of us is going to have to move to Raleigh." He looked down and shook his head. "I mean...what kind of father would I be if I was five hundred miles away?"

Haley looked up to him with worried eyes and shook her head. What kind of mother would she be to Jamie if she stayed in Davidson? She had a life there, a great job, and friends, but Jamie was worth it all. She'd move across the country if she had to. But, the more she thought about Raleigh, the more Haley though about Jamie's resident Foster parents.

"What about the Joneses?" Haley's voice softened as the intensity of the situation rose.

"That's another thing. I don't want to take Jamie away from them, they're great people." Sighing as frustration built behind his voice, Nathan shrugged his shoulders. "And I don't think he wants that either. So, what do we do? How do we, you and I, become his parents without hurting Jeff and Kathy?"

Haley shook her head as a fresh layer of tears coated her eyes. She couldn't stand hurting someone else, especially the Joneses, but she was hurting too. "I don't want to be this close and not be able to get him back, Nathan. I don't want to lose him again."

"Haley, we won't lose him. He'll always be our son." Nathan pulled her into a hug. "But, worst case scenario, he'll have to stay with the Joneses until he's eighteen. And I know that sounds bad, but it's only a year."

"We've missed his whole life, Nathan. I don't want to miss anymore of it if we don't have to."

He squeezed his arms around her tighter and nodded. "I know." Pressing his cheek to the top of her head, Nathan sighed. "I don't want to miss it either."

Haley brushed a tear from her cheek and licked her bottom lip. "So what do we do? How do we keep him in our life?"

With a subtle emphasis in his voice, Nathan looked her in the eye. "We fight for him."

Haley turned away and took a deep breath. This wasn't a fight, though. She didn't want to fight with the Joneses or the state of North Carolina to see who Jamie belonged to. In her mind, he'd always been hers. She knew the day the nurse laid the baby on her chest. She knew he was hers even when he wasn't around. Jamie Scott was her son.

The more she thought about it, the possibility of not getting Jamie, the more it made her think of her and Nathan's relationship. Was this what they really needed to be working on now? Was Nathan the guy who needed to occupy her thoughts? She knew he wasn't; Jamie was her priority right now. Turning to Nathan, Haley took a deep breath and sighed.

"I love you, Nathan. I do." Her voice began to tremble and she felt his hand cup her face. "But I don't think...I can't focus on you and Jamie at the same time." She sounded sincere and her tears were proof. "It doesn't mean that we can't try this again, but let's figure everything out with Jamie first." She stopped talking but he didn't respond. "Okay?" She put her hand on his chest and swallowed the ball of emotion building in her throat.

As Nathan looked down to the woman he loved, he hated to admit that she was right. Jamie was the most important thing in either of their lives. He was the reason they were both in Tree Hill after all. He too felt the ball of regret and guilt and pain form in his throat, so he looked away to clear his thoughts.

"I want to do it together, Haley," he finally said. "You and me. Together. He's our son." His voice softened and cracked as he began his next sentence. "And I...I don't think I can be a good father without you."

Haley's tears fell faster and she nodded. "We'll do it together, then. We'll get him back and work on being a family." She smiled and put a hand on his chest.

Nathan covered her hand with his and then brought it up to his lips. His hot breath warmed her skin and she could feel the flutter of her heart.

"I love you, Haley." He kissed her hand and she fell toward his tall frame for a hug.

She cried into his shoulder and then looked up with mascara stains under her eyes and a laugh slipped out of her mouth. "I bet our dinner is cold by now."

Nathan smiled as he shook his head. "That's alright." He breathed in the smell of her perfume and sighed. "I'd rather be with you anyway."

Haley felt the last tear on her lid slide down her cheek. "Can we stay out here a little bit longer?"

Nathan smiled as his hand ran up and down her back. "Sure."

The two thirty-somethings stood there, under the soft humming lights of the river boat's deck and under the haze of uncertainty. Neither of them knew how things would unfold with Jamie. The road ahead of them was bound to have twists and turns and speed bumps. Things were going to get serious really quickly. But together, Nathan and Haley were going to be okay. Together, Nathan and Haley were going to try and salvage the family that they'd given up on those many years ago. Together, Nathan and Haley were going to make things work.

As the Henrietta slowly crept back toward its spot on the Riverwalk, Nathan and Haley were patiently waiting to get their life back; a life they had always been meant to share with each other and with Jamie.

Whew! That was long!

So, Nathan and Haley obviously love each other, but their relationship has to be put on hold so they can keep Jamie in their lives.
Brooke seems like she is still hesitant about the whole Naley reunion. How will she overcome those fears? Will Peyton tell her about the envelope?

Next chapter:
Jamie and the Jones in Raleigh talk with Social Services
Nathan and Haley road trip to Raleigh.
Everyone will meet and discuss what is the best/legal option available.

I know it was long, but you all deserved it. Sorry again about the wait. Check my profile for updating information.

I'd really appreciate feedback. Reviews are lovely little messages that tell my fingers to write!