Disclaimer: One Tree Hill, Nathan, Haley, and the rest of the characters belong to Warner Bros., The CW, Mark Schwahn, and the rest of the producers. They are not mine.
Note: Last chapter until the epilogue. I hope you enjoy it. :) I'm not 100% happy with it.
A trail of clothes led from the sofa to the bed. It began with shoes and Nathan's vest and was followed by his shirt and trousers, finally ending with Haley's slip and stockings. He hovered above her, his hands softly caressing her skin, taking in every inch of her. Her moans were like music to his ears. She was responding to every touch, encouraging him further. This was their third time since they'd gotten home that evening and this time was lasting longer than the other two. She could tell that he was taking his time with her and she was savoring every moment of it.
It had begun when they walked into their apartment. Without saying a word, Nathan turned Haley to him after they'd closed the door. His lips were on hers in a matter of seconds and she didn't even try to resist. It didn't cross her mind to resist. They spent long moments just kissing and exploring each other's mouths. When he began to undress her, she helped him along. They tumbled together to their bed, which was where they were now.
Haley's back arched into Nathan as in one last powerful stroke, they came together. He spilled everything inside of her and she was surprised her back didn't crack with the power of her climax and how much her back arched. They both collapsed in a heap on the bed, their breathing ragged. They still clung to each other, their skin covered in a thin layer of sweat.
They hadn't said anything in the intervals between making love. They just held each other until they would begin kissing and touching and were making love again. The only words uttered since they walked in the door were, "I love you."
Haley ran her hands down his back and back up again, running her fingers through his hair. It was already in disarray from where she'd grabbed onto it while they'd been making love. The night had been intense in more ways than one. She had found in the past week that she didn't mind having his whole weight on top of her after they'd made love. There was something so strong and so powerful about having him on top of her. She felt safe and complete.
She pushed him away slightly, though, to look into his eyes. His lids were heavy, but he looked at her, his blue eyes burning into her brown. He was still inside of her, though now soft. He pulled out, but kept her next to him. She draped herself over his chest, her legs tangled with his. She just watched him as he held her and ran one hand through her tangled, long hair.
"You know I have to ask," she said to him. She didn't want to break the peace that they had right now, but she had to.
"I know you do. I'm okay, Hales. Really. I think we did the right thing. It's the right thing for everyone, really."
"I'm glad you think so. What do you think will happen?"
"I don't know." Nathan rubbed his hand over his face. He realized now that he was tired. It had been such a long day and after everything that had gone in the past few years he was now able to rest. He was now able to live his own life with nothing weighing on his shoulders. "I don't know."
Several Hours Earlier
Knowing what they were about to do, Nathan and Haley decided to forgo formalities. Instead of knocking on the door and waiting for someone to answer, they just walked in. Both tightened their hold on the other as they stepped into the foyer. The house was eerily quiet downstairs. It was completely dark except for the light coming from the kitchen. Somehow, they knew that they would find who they were looking for upstairs.
They climbed the stairs with a singular purpose. They both looked in the direction of the bedroom door and saw a sliver of light coming from underneath it. Muffled voices could be heard from inside. Haley and Nathan shared a look. Their faces were hidden by the darkness, the only light now coming from the moon streaming through the window. There was a perfect understanding. With Nathan's free hand, he turned the door knob and walked in.
What they were doing wouldn't work with an announcement. They couldn't warn anyone of their presence. It would work better with the element of surprise. It also didn't give them a chance to back out of their plan.
They could see the surprise when they walked in the room. They all stopped in their tracks and stared.
"What are you doing here?"
"We need to talk to you," Nathan said. "Both of you."
"Nathan, this isn't…," Cooper stumbled over his words. He looked at Rachel, who was holding Tommy.
Nathan noticed how nervous his uncle and his step-mother looked. Seeing them look like that, he knew that he had nothing to worry about and nothing to fear. He and Haley would be fine. He turned to her and nodded and she shut the door behind them.
"We know," Nathan began, "that Tommy is your son."
"Well," Rachel started to say.
"How did you figure it out?" Cooper asked. If Nathan said that he knew, he wasn't going to deny it. He was done denying his son now that Dan Scott was no longer an issue. He stepped closer to Rachel and placed a large, strong hand on the back of Tommy's head.
"We noticed you two looking at each other at the club," Haley answered.
"And then I heard you two talking here. It wasn't hard to put the pieces together."
"You're smarter than your father gave you credit for," Rachel commented. "What are you two going to do now?"
Nathan paused and took off his hat, shoving it into his back pocket. "We're not here about that. Not really, I guess." He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the earring that he and Haley had found at the club earlier. He held it between his thumb and index finger. "You were looking for this earlier, weren't you, Cooper? You told us that you were looking for the papers for the car, but you kept looking at this. Haley noticed it."
"It's too expensive for any of us girls at the club to afford," Haley informed them. "It's beautiful, Rachel. You wouldn't want to lose it."
Haley watched the color drain from Rachel's face and felt sorry for her. She looked to Cooper and saw his shoulders tense.
"You left it there the night he died," Haley added.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I wasn't there that night."
"Yes you were, Rachel. Mrs. Hannon and Mrs. Crowley saw you leaving. They said… well, they said that you didn't look quite right."
"Those two old busy bodies. They never know what they're talking about. You should have heard the things they were saying about you two when you started spending time together. They'll tell just about anyone who will listen that they're sure that you're pregnant."
Momentarily, Haley was offended that the two women would think that of her. Then, she remembered what they were there for and she pushed it aside.
"Rachel, it's…"
"It's okay," Nathan said. "We're pretty sure we know what happened. We know what happened that night and before it."
"Before it?"
"Nate, be careful," Cooper told him. "Whatever you think you know, you don't."
Nathan nodded. He looked his uncle square in the eye. "I think that Dan beat her. I think he hit her before and then he hit her again the night he died. I think she killed him. I'm sure of it."
Cooper stepped in front of Rachel and Tommy protectively. He vehemently shook his head and his eyes narrowed.
"No. No, she didn't. Rachel didn't kill anyone. I did it. After everything he's pulled over the years, I was done with it. He did hit her. That was the last straw. I shot him."
"You asked Nathan if he'd do anything for his family," Haley reminded Cooper. "You asked him that earlier today when we found you searching Dan's office. That's what you're doing, Cooper. You're protecting your family."
"Mrs. Hannon and Mrs. Crowley said that Rachel wasn't looking like herself that night. They said that her hair was messed up and she was tripping. She was there that night; you weren't. You would have gone there to protect her, but I don't think you went there."
Nathan looked at them. They were silent. He thought he noticed that Rachel was holding onto Tommy tighter than she was before. He moved to the bench at the end of the bed and took a seat. Haley followed, but she didn't sit. She put her arm around Nathan's shoulders.
"Ever since I came back, I've been trying to find a way to get rid of Dan. Lucas and me, we were trying to get him in prison. He deserved to be there. He was a miserable bastard of a man. The only reason I took the job at the club was to get close to him and to try and find a way to get rid of him once and for all. The reason I was so mean to Haley at first was because I was trying to protect her from what I was doing.
"He was involved in bootlegging. We found that out, but we couldn't get evidence legally and no one would have investigated him in this town. He had the sheriff in his pocket; you know what.
"You're not the first wife he hit, Rachel. You're not the first wife he treated like shit. He made my mom's life hell and I didn't do anything about it. The only thing I could do was make sure he paid after she was gone. See, you got off better than she did, Rachel. He hit you and I'm sorry for that. But he killed her."
Nathan stopped talking and looked at Cooper instead of Rachel. Cooper wasn't aware of this fact and he wasn't sure how his uncle was going to react. Cooper looked absolutely dumbstruck.
"I watched it happen," Nathan continued. "I was on the stairs and I saw him yell at Uncle Keith and my mom. Then, I saw him shoot them both. He killed her in cold blood and then he went on with his life as if nothing happened. He married and started a new family in the same house where she died. You thought it was uncomfortable being in that living room where she died, Rachel? It's more uncomfortable knowing that he did it and that he got away with it.
"So, I understand it. You had to escape. He didn't deserve to live."
Rachel sunk into the chair at her vanity and Cooper just stayed rooted in his spot. "He hit me. I went to the club to try to smooth things over with him. I knew I was going to leave, I just… I just wanted to see if I could get some money out of him before I left. I figured it would help us get settled. All three of us.
"He was angry when I got there. I think he was angry before I got there. He'd been drinking and when I went to him, he grabbed me. He hit me. So, I pulled the gun from his desk drawer. I knew it was there. He didn't see me grabbing it. His hands were around my throat. I backed away and he laughed at me. He knew the truth about Tommy and he laughed. He was about to get up to come after me again, so I shot him.
"I didn't mean to do it. I didn't plan on killing him. He was just coming after me. I… I was afraid. I didn't know he'd killed your mom, Nathan."
"He killed her? He killed Deb?" Cooper finally spoke, but it was just above a whisper. "I saw him that day. I knew she was there and she'd been drinking, but I didn't go up to see her. I didn't know. You saw him kill her."
"What are you two going to do?" Rachel asked, placing a soft kiss on Tommy's head.
"What were you planning to do if we hadn't come here?" Haley countered.
"We were packing up to leave," Cooper indicated to the bags on the bed with Rachel and Tommy's things strewn about.
"Then pack up and leave," Nathan told them. "I just don't want to live with this anymore. I want to move on with my life. I want to spend my days with my wife without Dan Scott lurking around every corner. First it was him and then it was his death. I'm done with him. I understand. I wanted everyone to know what he did to her and they will. I was angry that someone killed him before I could avenge her. I was angry that I didn't get the chance. Now I guess I'm just relieved that he didn't get a chance to kill someone else. So, leave. Move on with your life and raise Tommy. Move on with your life, and we'll move on with ours."
"You're going to just let us go? Just like that?" Cooper knew he shouldn't be skeptical and that he could take his nephew at his word, but it still seemed too good to be true.
"Tommy has a chance for a great father. It's something I never got. Go. Just, don't waste your life together."
"You both agree to this?"
Haley nodded. "We think it's what's best."
"I can't believe he killed her…" Cooper was still in shock over the news of how exactly his sister died. "I always was mad at him for not working harder to find her killer. I thought he just didn't care."
"He cared to not get caught."
"If I'd have known he did that… I would have killed the bastard years ago," Cooper declared, his teeth clenched together.
"Don't dwell on it, Cooper. He's gone and it's over. I know that's easier for me to say. I only met your sister once. But, I know that she cared about the people she loved and wouldn't want them wasting any energy on Dan Scott and especially not now that he's dead."
Cooper nodded and stood closer to Rachel, placing a hand on her shoulder. "She wouldn't want that. She wouldn't want us wasting time on him."
"You're really going to just let me leave town without saying anything to anyone?" Rachel didn't have as much experience with Nathan and Haley as Cooper did and though he seemed to trust them, she wasn't so sure.
"We are, Rachel," Nathan assured her.
"We're done with this," Haley added.
"Good luck with everything," Nathan told them both, standing and taking Haley's hand. No one said a single word. Nathan and Haley left Cooper and Rachel upstairs with Tommy feeling free. Their entire trip back to the café had been silent. They were mainly silent until they were in each other's arms after making love.
"We did the right thing and it's over," Nathan said, leaning in to kiss Haley. "Now, our life can really begin. It feels good, you know? Not having Dan to deal with anymore feels great."
"I just want you to be sure, Nathan. I don't want you living a life where you regret anything. I want to be sure that you're truly ready to move on from all of this."
"I am ready, Hales. I am so ready for this. I've been ready to let go of this and live my life for so long. I've been even more ready for it since I met you and realized I knew I was gonna spend my life with you. So, don't worry about me, Hales. You and me are gonna be just fine."
"I'm always going to worry about you, Nathan. I love you. Worrying comes with the territory."
"God, I love you. How did I get this lucky?"
"It helps that you're so damn handsome," Haley quipped.
Nathan nuzzled his nose to her neck and inhaled her scent. He began kissing her collarbone, leaving feather light kisses on her skin. She responded immediately and moved her body closer to his, wrapping herself around him, her arm snaking around his neck to bring his lips closer to her.
"It's late," Haley told him.
Nathan mumbled something incoherent, but didn't stop kissing her. His hand began to wander and he grabbed her left breast, massaging it.
As Haley moaned she again remembered that it was Sunday night. "It's late, Nathan. It's late and you have your first day of work tomorrow. I don't want to ruin the mood. You know I love you and I would love to make love to you again. But, we've had a big day."
"Ugh. Why do we even have school this week? It's almost Christmas. It makes no sense."
Haley giggled. She had to admit that Nathan did have a point. Still, his attitude toward school was much the same as it had been back in high school. She knew even then that he didn't love school and she knew it as well from speaking to him. She was the exact opposite. Haley was in her element in school.
"I know, baby. But you still have to go to work tomorrow. You need your rest for that."
"You're right," Nathan said, laying next to her and pulling her close so that her back was pressed firmly against his chest. "I love you, Haley Scott. I know what you're going to say. You're going to say that you'll always be here for me and I don't have to thank you for that because you're my wife. But I do have to thank you, Hales. Without you… I couldn't have done any of this with Dan and letting him go. You gave me something to believe in besides revenge. You gave me something good in life. Something great in life. Thank you. I love you."
Haley shifted so that she was facing him. Tears were glistening in her eyes, threatening to spill. Instead of saying what he knew she would say, what was on the tip of her tongue, she kissed him. She kissed him until they were both out of breath. They pulled apart and each closed their eyes and drifted off to sleep in each other's arms.
The next morning, Nathan awoke to the smell of coffee and breakfast awaiting him. When he opened his eyes, he found his wife next to him on their bed with a tray of food and a small box next to the tray.
"Morning," she ran a hand down his face. His eyes were still heavy with sleep, but he smiled at her. He hadn't expected this, but Haley was full of surprises and all of them were good.
"What's this?"
"Well, I woke up early."
"After I kept you up last night?" Nathan smirked.
"Yes. After you kept me up last night," she blushed. "I woke up early and in honor of your first day of your new job – your new career – I went downstairs and made you breakfast. I also snuck away yesterday and I got you something."
"You didn't have to get me anything, Hales."
"I know. I wanted to. This is a big deal for you. I know that you never thought you'd be a part of baseball again and now you have that chance. I also know that it wasn't what you originally intended or dreamed of. You still have a chance to make a real difference in the game, though. I'm already so proud of you, Nathan. Not just for getting the job, but for your strength. I know you were hiding from the game for so long. Now, you're not just facing it. You're making it part of your life again. That takes courage.
"I also think it takes courage to let go of this thing with Dan. So, I'm also proud of you for doing that. Being able to overcome those things, it's just part of what makes you so amazing and what makes me so happy that I married you and decided to spend my life with you."
Nathan lowered his head. "Haley, you can't talk to me like that. You talk to me like that, this great breakfast you made is gonna go to waste, because I'm just going to set it on the floor, take you in my arms, make love to you for hours, and then I'll miss my first day of work."
Haley laughed. "I'd better stop talking to you like that then. You're horrible, Nathan Scott. Go to work, earn some money, and prove yourself," she said, struggling to keep a straight face.
"I think I liked it the other way better."
"Aww, I'm sorry, Nathan."
"No, it's fine. We can joke about that. It's nice to joke about that." He scooted so that he was sitting up against the headboard. He reached for the discarded undershirt that he had worn the night before, pulling it over his head. He looked down at the tray of food. "There's enough for two here, Hales."
"I know. I thought I'd join you," she said, scooting into bed next to him, wrapping her robe around her. She picked up a slice of bacon. "Are you going to open your present?"
"Of course," he said, picking up the box, but not taking his eyes from hers. He tore the ribbon from the box carelessly and opened it. Finally, he looked down at the contents of the box. Inside was a blue necktie. It was already knotted for him.
"The color, it made me think of you. Your eyes. Sometimes, your eyes get a shade of blue that's a lot like that. I thought you might like to wear it today. I don't think you need me to wish you good luck. I just thought you might like it. And you'll definitely look handsome in it."
"I love it. I'll wear it today, Hales. Thank you." He leaned over and gave her a quick peck on the cheek before digging into breakfast.
Haley hurried him out of the apartment after she finished helping him get ready. By the time he left, his hair was neatly combed, his tie was tied perfectly, and he was ready to go. He had tried to help Haley set up the café. She was still working there and wouldn't be going back to school until after the New Year. As much as he tried to talk her into taking a break, Haley was used to working. She'd been doing it for so long.
Haley didn't tell Nathan, but part of the reason she was so eager to work at the café that morning was that she wanted to keep busy. She was nervous for him. She knew he would do well. She believed it completely. She just wasn't sure that he believed it. She had seen his confidence grow by leaps and bounds in the past few months. She knew he felt that confidence. She just worried that now that he was faced with the game that had been taken from him before he was ready that his confidence would win out.
She'd been chewing on her lower lip periodically throughout the morning. She had a busy day and she was grateful for that. After setting up the café and helping with the breakfast rush, she had to go to the club. She was meeting with the employees and was going to find out who was interested in working for her instead of Dan Scott.
She didn't have to worry, but before she got there and as she was walking up to the club, she was worried. They only knew her as the club's singer. Now, she was their boss. She felt some comfort seeing Julian approach the club at the same time she did. She knew she had at least him in her corner.
When the rest of the club's employees – bartenders, cigarette girls, coat check girls, and musicians – found out that Haley had inherited the club they all seemed surprised. They were all quick to agree to work for her though. It was something that Haley found surprising. The only trouble she ran into was when Chris suggested renaming the club Chris Keller's. Haley wasn't the only one who rolled her eyes at the suggestion. She also found out that Brooke had already had Julian ask several of them to work Nathan and Haley's party, which would be taking place the night before Christmas Eve. Haley assured them all that they would be compensated, but they told her that it had been taken care of.
Plans were tentatively set to re-open the club after the first of January. That was the earliest it could be done with the holidays coming up. They all also agreed that the first night they would host a benefit for the men going overseas. Haley left the club with Julian and she was feeling very pleased with her progress that morning.
However, the nerves she felt for Nathan were still there and she was glad that Julian attempted to keep the conversation flowing to distract her. He walked her all the way to the café, where he met with Brooke before the two headed off somewhere.
Haley spent the rest of the day busying herself by waiting tables. She checked the clock on the wall of the café constantly. She knew Karen noticed. Finally, after several hours of this, Karen even told her that everything would be fine and that looking at the clock wouldn't make it move any faster.
The lunch rush was just ending when Haley heard voices behind her. They were whispering, but Haley caught her name, Nathan's name, and the word baby. For the second time that day, Haley rolled her eyes. She put a fake smile on her face, not really caring if it seemed sincere, and faced Mrs. Hannon and Mrs. Crowley.
"How are you two ladies today?" Knowing how they liked their coffee, Haley poured them each a cup and placed the cream and sugar in front of them.
"We're fine, dear," Mrs. Hannon answered. "How is Nathan?"
"He's doing well. Today is his first day coaching at the school, so that's exciting."
"Well, it's good he has a job somewhere other than that wretched nightclub," Mrs. Crowley said pointedly. "No one should be working there. In fact, they should tear it down now that Mayor Scott is dead."
"Actually, I own it now," Haley informed them. "I plan on keeping it open."
"Haley," Mrs. Crowley's voice was laced with insincere concern, "that club is no place for children."
Haley knew exactly what the woman was getting at. She believed that Haley was pregnant. "Well, Nathan and I don't plan on having children just yet, so it's fine. Besides, now that I own the club, we'll be working on changing its image. We're going to begin by hosting a night just for the soldiers so they can have a night of fun before they go off to fight."
"No children just yet?" Mrs. Crowley's tone was slightly disbelieving.
"No. We love being married to each other and it has only been a week. We'd like to take some time for ourselves before expanding. Now, what can I get you two ladies for lunch? Your usual?" With that, Haley ended the discussion of her possible pregnancy. She hoped it would stop the rumors for good. She didn't need the two older women going around Tree Hill telling everyone that she and Nathan only got married because she was pregnant. Besides, nine months from then when everyone saw that they did not have a baby with them, they would all know. They would know that they got married simply because they loved each other and that's all that they needed. Love wasn't just enough; it was everything.
When Nathan did eventually walk into the café later that day Haley nearly jumped into his arms. She couldn't help herself after seeing the smile on his face. It was an honest, genuine smile and she could only guess that he'd had a good first day at work. She ignored the looks from the customers still in the café. She hugged him tightly. When she finally let go, he still held her close.
"You didn't even let me tell you how it went."
"You were smiling when you walked in. You're still smiling," she observed. "So, I just took a guess."
He removed his hat and, as was his habit, stuffed it into his back pocket. "It went well. The boys, they really seemed to listen to me. I was worried they wouldn't since I'm not even twenty yet. But, they listened to what I had to say. It was a little different being around all our old teachers. They seemed older than they did two years ago and they all kind of looked at me like… well, like they weren't sure why I was there."
"You'll win them over. They just have to see that you're not quite the guy you were in high school. You didn't take school seriously then, right?"
"Right. I didn't really take anything seriously except baseball."
Haley nodded. "You'll still take baseball seriously. But, you take a lot of other things seriously now too. Your family, your marriage. They just have to see that. Give them time. And, if they don't, I'll come down there and knock some sense into them."
"You're amazing, you know that?"
"I've heard it once or twice. You're amazing too. They'll see it. I promise."
After Haley and Karen closed down the café, with some help from Nathan, the three went to Lucas and Peyton's for dinner where they met Keith. Lucas would be shipping out right after Christmas, so they were trying to spend time with him until he left while still giving he and Peyton the alone time that they needed. Tonight would be the night that Nathan and Haley shared what they knew about Cooper and Rachel. They agreed that Lucas, Peyton, Keith, and Karen would be the only ones who knew the full truth of what happened. No one else needed to know and Nathan and Haley weren't about to send Cooper and Rachel to prison for what happened. Dan had put everyone through enough.
At dinner, Nathan and Haley explained what they had done and how they had gone about finding out who killed Dan and why they wanted to know. Nathan was aware that no one else besides he and Haley really cared who killed Dan. Mostly, they cared that Dan was dead. For them, that was the end of it. Nathan and Haley explained that they had done this for Deb.
No one else had expected that Tommy wasn't actually Dan's son or that Cooper had anything to do with Rachel. For the most part, they had done a good job of hiding their relationship. Nathan, Haley, and Dan were the only ones who had ever noticed anything going on between the two.
"I understand why you had to know, Nate," Keith said once Nathan and Haley had finished their story. "I understand and you're right; your mom deserved that. To be honest, I'm glad Danny knew that I was alive before he died. I'm also glad you told him that you knew what he did. If he were still alive, I might feel differently. I don't want you in any danger. But, since he is gone, I'm glad he went to his grave knowing that his secrets were out in the open. He deserved it. Your mom deserved for everyone to know the truth."
Nathan nodded. "Actually, that's something else that I want to talk to you all about. I'd like to talk to Mouth. On the record. I want him to know everything. It might get the sheriff in trouble, but I don't care about that. He can't do anything to me for being afraid of him when I was a seventeen year-old kid. Besides, maybe it'll help clean up Tree Hill a little now that Dan is gone."
Note: Well, like I said, I'm not 100% happy with this. But, the mystery was never the main focus. Nathan and Haley were. So, I hope you enjoyed it and I'll have the epilogue up for you in a few days!
