Thanks for the reviews. Enjoy the update.


"All they had was hospital vanilla." Haley said as she walked over to Nathan's bedside. She then placed a spoonful of the pudding into his mouth.

"Tastes hospitaly." Nathan replied as he nodded.

"I know," Haley replied as she placed the spoon and pudding down. "When we get home I am going to fill the freezer with rocky road."

"And mint chocolate chip." Nathan added as Haley wrapped her arms around his shoulders. They then shared a loving kiss.

"I don't want to know what you're doing. I just want to hug Nate," Grace said as Nick wheeled her into the room in a wheelchair. He pushed it to Nathan's bedside and Haley moved out of the way as Grace stood. She then enveloped Nathan in a hug. "Thanks for saving me and my beautiful baby boy."

"You're welcome." Nathan replied as he returned the hug. The two then separated and Nick helped Grace back over to her bed. Once she was settled, Nick looked over at Nathan and said.

"You saved the two most important people in my life. How can I ever repay you?"

"I'm just glad that we all got out alive." Nathan replied.

"How is Ben doing?" Haley asked.

"He's doing really well," Grace replied with a smile. "The nurses are amazed at how well he's responding to everything."

"I'm really glad to hear that," Haley said as she sat on the bed beside Nathan. She snuggled against him as he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm so glad that everything turned out the way it did and I'm glad that that monster is dead and we all have our families back together."

"I totally agree with that," Nick said. "You know I think that Nathan should get some kind of award for what he did."

"I don't need an award," Nathan replied. "I have everything I need here. I have my beautiful wife and my son. My parents are here and you guys are safe. I don't need anything else."

"You know this is the first time since the night you were taken that Jamie has slept for longer than two hours." Haley said to Nathan as she looked over to where Jamie was sleeping soundly in a travel play pen.

"Maybe he was picking up on your stress levels." Nathan suggested.

"He probably was," Haley replied. "I'm never going to let you out of my sight again."

"You don't have to stay with me the whole time." Nathan told her as he smiled.

"Are you kidding me?" Haley asked as she moved so she could look in his eyes. She tightened her hold on him as she added. "I'm never going to let you go. If I could sew my skin to yours I would."

"That's really gross." Nathan replied as he let out a slight laugh.

"I have to agree." Grace said as she cuddled closer to Nick.

"Grace have you seen your sister yet?" Haley asked in a curious tone.

"Yeah I saw her and Dean after we went to check on Ben," Grace replied. "She's gone back to Tree Hill to get me and Ben some things that we need."

"When you get released are they going to transfer Ben to Tree Hill?" Haley asked.

"It depends on how he is when that happens," Grace replied. "I hope that he can get transferred the same day they release me. That way we don't have to leave him here."

"If he isn't, we're staying here until he is," Nick told her. "We're not leaving him behind."

~X~

"Haley. Haley wake up," Nathan said as he shook her gently. Haley opened her eyes and looked at him. He smiled widely at her as he added. "Jamie is walking."

Haley looked over to where Jamie was. She saw that Karen and Keith were sat in two visitor chairs. Keith was fast asleep and Karen looked like she hadn't been awake long. Nathan managed t move himself so that he was sat on his bed.

"Come here Jamie. Come on you can do it. Oh good boy, good job," Nathan encouraged as Jamie made his way over to him. He then looked back at Haley with a huge smile on his face. It quickly fell as he saw how upset she was. "Hey. Hey what's wrong?"

"I've just been trying to hold it all together for so long and he started walking while you were gone and I just started thinking what if you never came home and what would I do and I don't know how I would go on," Haley said as he cried. "I can't wake up every morning without you next to me and I can't imagine it."

"Okay. Okay. Hey," Nathan said in a soothing tone as he wrapped his arms around her. She held him tightly as he spoke again. "You know what I kept thinking the whole time I was kidnapped? Opening up the door to our home and seeing you. It's what kept me going; the thought of us together. That's all I ever need to think about."

Haley tried to snuggle even closer to him at his words and Nathan kissed her forehead gently. Nick and Grace watched them and almost mirrored their embrace.

"I can't wait until we see Ben doing that." Nick said as he stroked Grace's hair.

"Me neither," Grace replied. "I can't wait until we witness all of his firsts."

"I think the best one will be bringing him home." Nick said as he smiled.

"It is, trust me," Nathan replied. "I remember when we brought Jamie home from the hospital. It was one of the best days of my life. But I have to say that today tops that."

"Really?" Haley asked him.

"Yeah really," Nathan answered. "After what Grace and I went through in that basement, see you guys again feels better than winning the lottery would."

"I agree," Grace said. "Being back with my new family and knowing that John Ryder is well and truly dead, just makes me feel so happy."

"It's definitely great to have you, Nathan and little Ben back and safe," Karen said as she smiled at Grace. "I don't know what any of us would have done if the outcome had turned out for the worse."

"Dadda!" Jamie said as he held his arms out to Nathan.

"Come here little guy," he said as he moved away from Haley. Jamie toddled over to him and Nathan went to lift him. He then winced as his newly attached thumb protested. "Okay how are we gonna do this?"

"I'll give you a hand," Nick said as he climbed off Grace's bed. He walked the few steps to where Jamie was and lifted him, before sitting him in Nathan's lap. "There we go."

"Thanks man," Nathan said as he settled back against the pillows. He smiled at Jamie as he spoke again. "Did you say Dadda? He said Dadda Hales."

"I heard," Haley said as she smiled at Jamie. "Who's a clever boy."

"Is that his first word?" Grace asked.

"It's his first proper word," Haley told her as her eyes stayed on Jamie. "You're clever Jamie."

"Maybe he was saving it for a special occasion," Nick suggested as he sat back beside Grace. She snuggled against him and winced as she did. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just caught my leg," she replied. "I don't know which part of me hurts the most right now."

"I take it that it's almost time for your pain meds?" Karen asked her.

"From the way I feel I have to say yes." Grace said as she rested her head on Nick's shoulder.

"I have to agree with that," Nathan said as Jamie looked at his bandaged hand. "I feel like the last lot of medication has just worn off."

"Do you want me to go and get a nurse?" Karen asked as she stood from her seat.

"That would be great mom," Nathan told her as he gave her a pained smile. "Thanks."

"Hopefully I won't be too long in finding one." Karen said as she turned and headed to the door.

~X~

A week later, Grace and Nathan were discharged from the hospital. Both Nick and Grace were relieved when the doctor told them that Ben was well enough to be transported to the hospital in Tree Hill. They were also relieved when they were told that they could travel in the ambulance with him. It made the travel arrangements back to Tree Hill a lot easier and only required one car.

Once Ben was settled in the NICU at Tree Hill Memorial, Nick and Grace spent several hours at his bedside before they headed back to their house. Nick helped Grace into the house and into their bedroom. He made sure that she was comfortable before he headed to the kitchen to make them some dinner. As he walked towards the kitchen door, he heard the phone begin to ring. He quickly hurried into the kitchen and picked up the receiver.

"Hello?"

"Hey Nick its Keith," the voice at the other end of the line said. "Karen wants to know if you and Grace want to come here for dinner. That way it'll save you having to cook."

"We'd love to," Nick replied. "And that was good timing. I was just about to try and make something. You've saved Grace from eating something that will either look more like charcoal or be completely under done."

"Well in that case you have about an hour before dinner will be ready," Keith told him. "Just bring yourselves. There's no need to worry about anything else."

"What's Karen cooking?" Nick asked in a curious tone.

"Lasagna," Keith answered. "And for dessert she's making a raspberry trifle."

"That sounds delicious," Nick told him. "Grace will be pleased that she can have food that she can actually eat."

"Karen will be pleased that you're both coming," Keith said. "This meal is like a welcome home gathering. We invited Dean and Kay but I forgot that they're heading off to see Dean's parents tonight."

"Yeah Carly mentioned that," Nick replied. "Same is taking her there to introduce her to his parents."

"Things seem to be getting serious between those two." Keith remarked.

"It is," Nick confirmed. "I know I gave her ex-boyfriend hell when they were dating. I'm just glad that I don't need to do that with Sam. He's proved to me that he's a good guy and good enough for my sister after everything he did to help find Grace and Nathan."

"Nick can you come and help me?" Grace called from the bedroom.

"Sure honey," he called back. "Keith I gotta go. Grace needs help with something."

"Okay," Keith replied. "See you in about an hour."

"You sure will. We wouldn't miss Karen's cooking for anything." Nick told him with a laugh.

"See you then." Keith replied as he too laughed.

"Bye," Nick added before he placed the receiver down. He then headed towards the bedroom. "What do you need help with Pretty Girl?"

"Can you get me the breast pump from my hospital bag?" she asked. "I tried but my leg is giving me hell right now."

"Sure I can baby," he replied before he kissed her. He then headed over to where he had placed the bag and retrieved the item Grace needed. He looked at her as he grinned and asked. "Do you need my help using this?"

"Do you want to offer your help?" she asked as she returned the grin.

"Of course I do." Nick replied as he placed the pump back down. Grace looked at him with a quizzical frown as she asked.

"What did you do that for?" Nick's grin changed to a smirk as he walked back over to the bed.

"Because I know that Ben doesn't need any milk right now," Nick answered. He sat on the bed beside her as he added. "So I thought we could have a little fun before we go to Karen and Keith's for dinner."

"You know that we can't have sex just yet." She reminded him.

"I know," Nick replied. "I was thinking of something else."

"What?" she asked as she kinked her eyebrow at him.

"It'll be better to just show you," he said as he lowered his gaze to her chest. "Now I just need to get you naked; at least from the waist up."

"Are you being mega pervy right now?" she asked in an amused tone.

"Oh totally," he replied as he began to unbutton her blouse. "I'm about to have a lot of fun."

~X~

"Karen did you do anything different with the trifle?" Grace asked as they ate dessert.

"I did actually," Karen replied. "I put some melted white chocolate into the custard. Is it bad?"

"Hell no," Grace replied. "It's delicious."

"I have to agree with Grace mom," Nathan replied. "Your trifle was amazing before but now it's out of this world."

"I'm glad you like it," Karen said as she smiled at him. "I'm going to enjoy having you back here. I can fatten you up again. You're looking very skinny."

"Well I was kidnapped and held prisoner for a month by a psycho who liked to starve me for days at a time before he would torture me. Then if I was good and didn't complain too much while he was torturing me I'd get something resembling a snack." Nathan replied. When he had finished speaking, an awkward silence settled on the six of them.

"Did you manage to sort things out with the college?" Nick asked after several minutes had passed.

"Not really," Nathan replied with a sigh. "As of today I no longer attend college."

"What?!" Karen and Keith asked in a shocked tone.

"To cut a long story short I attend Duke because of a basketball scholarship," Nathan began to explain. "Now I can no longer play, I no longer have a scholarship."

"Seriously?" Grace asked in shocked tone. "Can they do that?"

"Apparently so." Haley replied.

"But shouldn't they wait until you've recovered before they definitely decide you can't play anymore?" Grace asked in an upset tone.

"I'm never going to be able to play again Grace," Nathan told her. "My hand is too messed up."

"It's all my fault." Grace said in a whisper.

"No it isn't," Nathan replied as he looked at her. "I already told you that it's not your fault Grace. You didn't ask me to cut my thumb off. In fact you tried to stop me remember? I did it because I wanted to get us all out of there and like I said, I would do it again if the situation called for it. Just think of what would have happened if I hadn't done it."

"I just can't help feeling guilty," Grace told him. "If I'd have just finished him off the first time then none of this would have happened."

"You don't know that," Nathan told her. Karen, Keith, Haley and Nick remained quiet as they listened. "If it wasn't him it could have been some other nut job. There's a lot of unstable people out there Grace."

"I know," she replied as she sighed. "It still doesn't make the guilt any less for me."

"The only person who ruined my basketball career was mw," Nathan told her as he looked into her eyes. "It wasn't you or even that freak that called himself John Ryder; it was me."

"Then how do I stop feeling guilty about it?" Grace asked in a sad tone.

"I don't know." Nathan admitted.

"Did either of you arrange to see a counselor?" Haley asked in a soft tone.

"No." Grace replied.

"Me neither." Nathan answered.

"Maybe you should." Keith told them.

"I don't feel comfortable at the thought of sitting in a room with some stranger and telling them about everything that happened," Nathan replied. "Especially when they have no idea what it was like."

"What about having a joint session with Grace?" Karen suggested. "That way you have each other for support and someone who knows what you went through."

"I think that's a good idea," Haley said. "I can't begin to imagine what it was like for the both of you. Maybe if you go together it will help you both."

"Maybe it would," Nick agreed. "Even I can't imagine what it was like for you."

"If you want I can call some of the numbers the hospital gave us and see who has the first available appointment." Karen offered.

"It won't hurt to go for at least one session with a shrink," Keith told them. "That way you can see if you like them."

"Alright," Nathan replied. "If Grace agrees then it's okay with me."

"What do you say Grace?" Nick asked in a soft tone.

"Like Keith said it won't hurt to have one session right?" Grace replied not sounding convinced.

"I'll start calling as soon as they open," Karen said. "Just let me know what time is best for you."

"Around ten is good for me," Grace replied. "That'll give me chance to take Ben's milk to the hospital and spend some time with him before hand."

"How are you getting there?" Karen asked.

"I can drive her." Nick told her.

"You'll be working." Grace told him.

"I forgot about that." Nick replied.

"You're on paternity leave." Keith reminded him.

"I was meaning to talk to you about that," Nick said. "I was going to ask you if I could take it when Ben comes home."

"I don't see a problem with that," Keith replied. "In fact that will work out better seeing as though Dean is off visiting his folks."

"Thanks Keith," Nick replied. "That way I can help Grace with Ben."

"You're going to need all the help you can get," Haley said. "I'm so grateful to everybody that helped me and Nathan when Jamie was born."

"Nathan, did you and Haley think about what we were talking about earlier?" Karen asked changing the subject.

"We did," Nathan replied as he and Haley shared a look. "And after a lot of debating, Haley agreed to a trial run to see how everything works out."

"It's going to be strange being at college by myself," Haley said as she frowned. "I just hope that I don't have to share a room with a stranger."

"Did you speak to the person in charge of arranging the accommodation?" Karen asked.

"Yeah. She's going to call me back tomorrow," Haley replied. "She seemed nice. Especially once I'd told her about why I was calling. I'm going to miss not having Nathan and Jamie with me."

"Where will they be?" Grace asked with a puzzled frown.

"Here," Nathan replied. "If I can't go to college the least I can do is look after Jamie so that Haley can concentrate on her studies. And by staying here I have help until I recover properly."

"And I'll be driving back here every Friday afternoon after classes so I can spend the weekend with my family." Haley added.

"Hey if you decide to keep doing that until you graduate, Nathan and Grace can hang out together with the boys. The boys can keep an eye on them." Nick said as he grinned. His words had the desired effect and everyone around the table laughed.

"It'll be a lot more fun than the last time we hung out." Grace said.

"I think going to the dentist is more fun than the last time." Nathan replied in a dry tone. There were a few more moments before the sound of Jamie crying met everyone's ears.

"I'll go and get him," Haley said to Nathan as she stood. She saw that he was about to get up as well. "You just sit there. The doctor told you to rest."

"I want to help." Nathan replied.

"You can when you're better," Haley told him. "You need to rest for longer than a week Nathan."

"Yes you do," Keith agreed. "So you and Grace can relax while we clean up."

"You want to watch some trashy TV with me?" Nathan asked Grace.

"Sure," Grace replied before she turned to Nick and asked. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to help clean up," he told her as he smiled. "It's only fair that I help."

"Okay," Grace said as she returned the smile. She then chuckled as she looked at Nathan and asked. "Nathan do you want a race to the lounge?"

"Sure," he replied as he laughed. "As long as it's a three legged race."

"I think we have three working legs between us," Grace replied. "But you still have an advantage over me with the full use of one of your legs."

"Don't worry I'll play fair." Nathan told her as the two of them began to hobble towards the lounge. Nick laughed softly to himself as he followed Karen and Keith to the kitchen.

~X~

"So how do you think it went with the shrink?" Nathan asked Grace two days later. They were sat on the bleachers at the river court.

"I don't know," Grace replied with a sigh. "Dr. Alvarez seems nice enough but the thought of reliving everything that he put us through makes me want to run again."

"Is that what you did the first time?" Nathan asked.

"Yeah," Grace confirmed. "If I knew at the time that he wasn't dead I would have stayed there until I made sure that he was and then run."

"Grace you need to stop blaming yourself," Nathan told her. "I don't blame you for what happened, so you shouldn't blame yourself."

"I can't help it," Grace told him. "It's always there at the back of my mind and there's this voice that mocks me for causing all of this. I want it to go away but I don't think it ever will."

"It will one day," Nathan told her. "It has to."

"How?" Grace asked as she burst into tears.

"Hey it's okay," Nathan said as he wrapped his arms around her. She leaned against him as she cried heavier. "Just let it out."

"How can you be so strong?" Grace asked through her sobs. He stroked her back comfortingly as she spoke.

"I'm just waiting for the break down I know is coming," he replied. "I just wish it would happen soon then maybe I can sleep again."

"You can't sleep either?" Grace asked. Nathan shook his head in response. "Neither can I. They gave me some medication but I haven't taken any of it. Ben won't be able to have any milk from me if I do."

"That sucks," Nathan replied. "Haley got me some aromatherapy stuff to see if that helps, but it doesn't. I spend the night switching between watching Haley sleep and then watching Jamie sleep. And I find myself wondering what they would have done if I hadn't made it. Like how would she have told Jamie if I didn't? Then I think of everything I could have missed out on; his graduation, his wedding, his children."

"I know exactly what you mean," Grace said as she wiped at her face. "When we were in that basement and I started having contractions, I didn't think that Ben would make it out of there alive and I would miss all those milestones in his life. If it hadn't been for you doing what you did, then we wouldn't be here now."

"You mean at the river court after a session with a shrink and wondering how we can switch out minds off so we can sleep." Nathan said in a dry tone.

"Yeah," Grace replied in a whisper. "Do you think we'll ever be back to normal?"

"Physically no," Nathan answered. "Did you feel normal again when you first came here?"

"Not at first," Grace told him. "Moving here was the start of getting over everything that happened. I couldn't have done it without your mom's help."

"What about Nick?" Nathan asked.

"I couldn't stand him when I first met him," Grace began. "He pulled up at the side of the road where I was walking and made some pervert comment. So that became his nickname almost. When we first came here we tolerated each other. It was only when your uncle Dan let us go to his cabin that things moved up a level and we began a relationship. But by then I was over what had happened to me."

"I see," Nathan replied in a surprised tone. He grinned as he added. "There must be something about that cabin."

"What do you mean?" Grace asked in a puzzled tone.

"That was the place me and Haley made our relationship official," Nathan told her. "We went with some friends from school and they camped out back while me and Hales had the bedroom. It was pretty awesome."

"Did you ever see any deer there?" Grace asked.

"No I didn't," he replied. "Did you?"

"Yeah," Grace said as she laughed. "I heard a noise outside one night when I'd had a little too much wine and I was convinced it was a serial killed like Jason Voorhees. So I made Nick go and check it out. We went outside and it turned out to be a mommy deer with her baby. They went to drink out of the lake."

"That's awesome," Nathan told her. He then laughed as he added. "And pretty damn funny."

"It is now," Grace said. "At the time I was convinced there was a crazy person in the woods."

"Let's just hope we've had our share of crazy," Nathan said. He then realized that he still had his arms around Grace. "Are you hungry?"

"I am actually." Grace replied.

"Shall we go to the café and pig out?" he asked. "It'll make my mom's day."

"That sounds like a plan." Grace said as the two of them separated somewhat reluctantly.

"I'm glad that you can still drive," Nathan said as the stood from where they were sat and began to move towards Grace's car. "Otherwise we'd be arriving at the café for breakfast one day next week the speed we're moving at."

"I'm just glad I don't need my left pinky finger for that," Grace said. "I'm dreading what customers at the café will think if or when I go back there."

"If they make any comment about it just tell them that you're in an elite club that has only two members and the missing pinky finger is our version of a membership card." Nathan replied with a slight chuckle.

"Nathan!" Grace said as she laughed.

"Well we might as well laugh about it. It beats crying." Nathan replied.

"You're right with that one," Grace agreed as they reached the car. "You know I think your mom is pretty awesome. I mean she helped me the first time I survived John Ryder and her idea for us to have joint therapy sessions might be just what I need to get over everything this time."

"I have to agree with you there," Nathan said as he sat in the front passenger seat. "But I have to say that talking with you is helping more than talking with Dr. Alvarez. We should just not bother with a shrink and just talk with each other. I think that will be the best thing for the both of us."

"Good thinking there Nate," Grace replied as she sat in the drivers seat. "Why pay a fortune when it's free to talk to each other?"

"Exactly," Nathan said as they both closed the doors. "Now let's go and pig out. I feel like I could eat a horse."