Disclaimer: One Tree Hill, Nathan, Haley, and the others belong to Mark Schwahn, Warner Bros, The CW, etc..

Note: I am sooooooo sorry this took so long! I was having trouble thinking I didn't know where this chapter was going and then it took on a mind of its own. Thank you for your reviews! They make me happy.

"You know how dangerous that was, right?" Haley was sitting with Sam at the small table in their kitchen. They'd just eaten breakfast. Haley had been thinking all morning since she woke up. She thought about Nathan and how he came and apologized. Sam had been right, Nathan had fixed it. They weren't back to normal, but Haley was feeling like they would get there and she hadn't felt that in a while. She was scared to death, though, about what Sam had done.

On the one hand, it warmed her heart to know he cared that much at such a young age. But, she also didn't want to think about what could have possibly happened to him and Andre.

"I've always told you to stay away from strangers, Sam. Unless you're with an adult, you stay away from strangers. Most people," she began, "are good people. But there are some who like to hurt people. There are some who like to hurt little kids like you and like Andre. I know nothing happened to you, but it could have, Sam."

"But you were sad," he protested.

Haley sighed. "I was sad, but that sadness is nothing compared to what I would feel if something had happened to you. That's why you're grounded, Sam. I don't know for how long, but it won't be short. No TV, no movies, no video games, and no play dates with Andre. You're coming to the studio with me today and you're going to behave. I asked you yesterday to be a good boy for Mrs. Fields and you weren't. You're going to be a good boy for me, right?"

"I promise. Pinky swear." Sam held his small hand out for Haley, extending his pinky.

Haley couldn't help it and linked her pinky with his. "You know you can't break your promise now. Now, go upstairs and get your shoes on so we can go."

As Sam slowly climbed the stairs, Haley chewed on her lip. She still wasn't sure this was real. She'd felt like Nathan hadn't cared, but everything he'd said the day before said otherwise. She wanted to believe it. She wanted to be able to hold him and get their relationship back to where it was. She couldn't. That dark side of Nathan was one she was still hesitant about. She needed to be sure he wasn't going to go back to that and possibly hurt her and Sam again. She couldn't take that chance. If he wanted to prove that he was going to get better, then she would give him that chance. She loved him too much not to.

Haley was curious to see what would happen during lunch. They had always been upfront with each other about their feelings and the fact that Nathan worked so hard to conceal his feelings worried her. She didn't want to go back to that.

She thought back to the kiss he'd given her before he left. She didn't love the beard, but she had to admit, he looked pretty good standing there in the rain after he'd kissed her. He'd taken charge and it was sexy.

Nathan hobbled to the benches nearby. He'd just finished therapy for the day and had taken a shower. He ran his hand over his beard. He knew he should shave soon, but it was uncomfortable standing in front of the mirror on one leg. It would have to wait. Right now, he had more important things going on.

After dressing, Nathan looked in the small mirror that was in the clinic's bathroom. He smoothed out his hair, trying to make it presentable. He looked down at the khaki shorts and dark green polo he'd chosen. He wished he'd looked nicer, but he also didn't want to seem like he was too eager. He was definitely eager. Haley was giving him a chance and he wasn't going to waste it. He just didn't want it to seem like he was pushing her.

Nathan found Lucas sitting on a bench outside the clinic waiting for him. Nathan had lucked out. After four days of therapy, the paparazzi had yet to find out that he was there. They hadn't bothered him once and he was grateful. It was bad enough that the world knew he was done with basketball. He didn't need photographers in his face while he was trying to put his life back together.

"How did you get here those first couple of days before you asked me for a ride?" Lucas had a lot of questions and Nathan hadn't exactly been forthcoming.

For Nathan's part, he felt like he needed to get started on his recovery completely on his own. The people who loved him and tried to help him he had pushed away and treated horribly. If he needed help, he would ask for it eventually. But for now, he was content to do what he could on his own.

"I took a cab," Nathan answered.

"You could have called," Lucas told him.

"I know. This is something I have to do on my own. I can't really explain it, Luke."

"Just call when you need help," Lucas pleaded with Nathan.

"I will." Nathan got into the passenger seat of Lucas's new car. "I'm sorry for being a dick."

Lucas shrugged, "You were going through a rough time. We all knew you'd come around."

"Doesn't make it right."

"No. But we love you anyway." Lucas began driving in the direction of Haley and Peyton's office. He and Nathan sat in a comfortable silence. It was the first comfortable silence they'd shared in over a month. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"What made you turn around and start getting it together?"

Nathan didn't want to tell Lucas that Peyton had yelled at him. He wasn't sure how Lucas would react. He also didn't want Lucas to know exactly what Peyton had told him because he didn't know that Haley had been raped. The truth was that although Peyton's tirade had helped, it was a combination of that and of what happened with Sam. Seeing Sam in that doorway had been a sobering moment and had really hit Nathan. The gravity of what his behavior was doing hit him like a Mack truck.

"I had a little wake up call," Nathan answered. "I don't want to get into it. I needed it and I'm working on things now."

"Like Haley."

"Like Haley. I really screwed up with her."

"Yeah. I was surprised when you called from there yesterday. I can't believe Sam lied to me."

"He's in a lot of trouble."

"So, what's your plan with Haley?"

"I'm gonna take things slow. I'm gonna go to therapy when I'm scheduled, not drink, and prove to her she can trust me again."

"Sounds smart."

"I hope so. I hope she'll take me back."

Lucas looked over and saw how pensive Nathan looked. He felt for his brother. He knew he'd eventually snap out of his funk, but Lucas hoped that it wouldn't get to the point where he and Haley's relationship was strained more. He wanted to take Nathan's mind off of it for a bit. Lucas knew that Nathan was hard on himself. Thanks to Dan's influence, as confident as Nathan was, he could also be insecure. Lucas saw it a lot in his relationship with Haley, but he wasn't sure anyone else did. Anyone else would assume that cocky Nathan Scott would be the same way with his personal life that he was on the basketball court. Lucas knew better. Lucas knew that Dan had told Nathan he wasn't good at anything except basketball and that he needed improvement even there. Lucas knew all too well that Nathan felt he hadn't deserved someone as great as Haley. Whenever anyone – a reporter or a friend – joked about how Nathan managed to snag Haley James, Nathan had seriously asked himself that same question, thinking that he probably shouldn't have.

"So, lunch sounds like a great idea. I'll grab something for Peyton and me too."

"No," Nathan quickly objected.

"Whoa. Why not?"

"No, I mean. I guess. It's just, this is my chance with Haley. I've got a lot of work to do and I was kind of hoping it would just be us."

"Okay, I get it. I'll take Peyton out to lunch."

"Thanks, man."

Peyton watched Haley over the top of her laptop. She tried to keep Haley from noticing. She watched as Haley tried to work. Tried. Haley was fidgeting. She was biting her lip. Haley was nervous, but Peyton didn't know why. Peyton glanced over to the couch. Sam was sitting there, coloring. Peyton was under instructions not to speak to Sam and Haley had promised she'd explain later. The entire day, Haley and Sam had been quiet, each working on their own – Haley on music and Sam on his coloring.

"Why are you nervous?" Peyton finally just asked. She'd always preferred to be straightforward.

"Tutor Mom's nervous? About what? Hey there, Sam! How's the most handsome man I know? And where were you yesterday?" Brooke breezed into the office. She sat next to Sam, putting her arm around his shoulders.

"We're not supposed to talk to him," Peyton informed Brooke.

"Why? What's going on?" Brooke looked from Haley to Sam to Peyton and back again.

Haley set down her pen and looked at Sam. "Do you want to tell them or should I?"

"You can do it," Sam said softly.

Haley stood up and took a seat next to her son, who was now sandwiched between her and Brooke.

"He and Andre took a cab and went to visit Nathan."

Brooke and Peyton were both silent. Then, they began speaking at the same time.

"HEY!" Haley shouted to get their attention. "One at a time. He's in a lot of trouble. He's grounded until I say so and he's been told just how dangerous what he did was."

"I can't believe he did that," Peyton marveled.

"Why did he do that?" Brooke was looked at Sam, her eyes wide. "Why did you do that?" She looked directly at Sam.

Before Haley could answer, she saw Nathan come in. Lucas was behind him, carrying a bag of takeout. Haley quickly stood up and smoothed out her skirt. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled. "Hi."

"Hi," Nathan smiled when she smiled. He felt a little relieved. At least she was happy to see him.

"I thought we'd go out," she said, noticing that Lucas had food with him.

"Oh, we can if you want. I just sort of figured that since Sam was grounded that he'd be here with you and wouldn't really be allowed to go out. So, I just brought us all something."

That was considerate. That was something a good father would think of, Haley thought. It had only been a day, but he really was trying. Haley was nervous, though. She needed to wait a little longer to be sure that he was going to keep up with this behavior.

She also couldn't control the butterflies in her stomach. It was like they were just starting out their relationship instead of having been together for eight months.

Nathan turned to Lucas. "Thanks for the ride."

Lucas took the hint and nodded. He set the food down on the table and turned to his girlfriend. "I thought you and I should go to lunch. What do you say?"

Peyton eyed Nathan. He was out of the chair. He seemed sober. More importantly, he was here. Without looking away, Peyton responded to Lucas, "That sounds great." Peyton and Lucas left, leaving Brooke still sitting on the sofa with Sam.

"You didn't bring me lunch?"

"Sorry, Brooke. I didn't know you'd be here."

"You're forgiven. Have a nice lunch." Brooke stood up and walked over to Nathan. She leaned in to hug him, surprising him. She whispered ever so softly, making sure Haley and Sam didn't hear her. "Hurt her again, I will kill you." With that, Brooke sauntered out of the room.

"Did she threaten you?"

"No," Nathan lied.

"I thought we were being honest." Haley knew why he had just lied to her, but she wanted him to be completely honest with her about everything. Even if it was something trivial.

"Yes. They're protective. I know. I don't blame them."

"I don't need coddling."

"I think we all know that, Hales. We just don't want anything bad to happen to you."

"Yeah. Well." Haley looked away, the back to Nathan. She noticed him shift as he leaned on his crutches. "You should sit down."

"Thanks." Nathan took a seat next to Sam. "Hey, buddy. How's it going?"

"Uh," Haley sat in the chair next to the sofa. "He's not really allowed to do much talking today."

Nathan nodded. "Okay. I get it." Nathan wanted a chance to really talk to Haley, but he knew he couldn't with Sam there. He wanted that, but he was happy just to be able to be around them. It was the best he'd felt since before the accident.

"You went to that little Thai place I like?" Haley noticed the bag on the table and recognized the restaurant's logo.

"Yeah, I hope that's okay."

"It's great. Thank you," she began getting the food out and setting it in front of the three of them.

"I'm trying, Hales."

"I know," she said, looking into those blue eyes she got lost in so easily. "Come on, buddy. Timeout break for lunch."

Sam scooted forward on the sofa and looked at his lunch. "Hi, Nathan!"

"Hey, Sam. How's it going today?"

"I've been grounded all day."

"So, not so good then. It's for your own good, you know?"

Sam nodded.

They began eating. The silence wasn't awkward, but it also wasn't comfortable. Haley cleared her throat, wiping her lips softly with a napkin.

"So, how's therapy been?"

Nathan finished chewing his food before he answered. "It's good," he told her. "Hard work, but it's paying off already. I'm out of that stupid chair. Makes things easier."

"That's good. I'm glad." She looked at him and smiled. She really was glad to hear that he seemed happy about being out of the chair. He was showing that he did want to be better. She took in his appearance. He looked better than he had since the accident, even if he did have a beard. He'd cut his hair and it was neatly combed. It wasn't just that. He just looked healthier. He didn't look so beaten, defeated, and angry. He was starting to look like himself again and that gave Haley hope.

Nathan could tell that Haley was watching him. She was studying him and he wished he knew what she was thinking. He thought about how selfish he'd been in his attempts to keep Haley from getting hurt. He decided a change in subject was needed.

"How has work been?"

Haley hadn't expected him to ask about that. He used to ask all the time before the accident. He was always interested in what she was doing. Since the accident, it had all been about him and getting him better. He'd ignored her. He'd said it was to protect her and to get her to leave. Now he was taking an interest.

"Oh, it's been okay, I guess."

"You guess?"

Haley shrugged. "Honestly, my heart hasn't been in it much."

Nathan looked down at his food and moved some of the noodles around with his fork. "I'm sorry."

"I know you are. And I'm just being honest with you like I want you to be with me."

Nathan nodded. "I know."

"It hasn't all been like that, Nathan. I just haven't been much help with the producing end. I've actually been writing a lot, so that's good."

"Do you think you're gonna record soon?"

"I don't know. I'm still just writing. But I think I'll get an album out of this." Haley wondered if he caught on to her double meaning. She was hoping that she'd get an album out of her writing, but her writing was coming out of the situation that they'd been in. The writing, and the album, were coming from a very emotional place.

"I can't wait to hear it," Nathan said.

Haley took a bite of food so she didn't have to answer him. She wondered how he'd react when he realized that a lot of what she'd been writing was about their current situation.

They fell into silence again, but this time it was more comfortable than awkward. As they were finishing their food, Nathan looked at Haley. She looked slightly tense. She looked like she didn't know what was coming next. He wanted to do something to make it better.

"I ate," were the first words that came to his mind, and therefore from his mouth.

"Before you came here?" Haley was confused.

"No. The food you'd leave. Every day. I always ate it after you left. Thank you." He just wanted her to know that what she did was appreciated, even if he didn't show it at the time.

Haley tried not to cry. It seemed silly crying over something so trivial. It seemed ridiculous. But it was something. It was something that let her know that through all of that he did feel something. Even if that something was so simple as eating a sandwich.

Haley started picking up trash, putting it into the empty bag that had carried the food. She was trying to give herself something to do. "I was thinking, um, when Lucas gets back with Peyton, you don't have to go. I still have some work to do, but if you don't mind waiting, Sam and I can drive you home."

If Nathan could have, and if it hadn't made him seem too eager, he would have jumped up and cheered. She was asking to spend time with him. It was better than he'd hoped for. He came to the studio just hoping to spend some time with her and slowly work his way back to her. Now she was asking to spend time with him. He tried to contain his excitement.

"I don't mind waiting. That would be great. I'd love it if you guys drove me to my place." Nathan was careful not to say that it was his home. It wasn't, because his home was with Haley. He wasn't welcome back home yet, but he was hoping it would be soon.

"Okay. Like I said, I just have a few more things to do." Haley turned her back and walked back to her desk.

Before Haley could turn and notice, Sam gently tapped Nathan on the elbow. When Nathan turned to look, Sam held his fist out for Nathan. Nathan couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. He extended his own fist, connecting it with Sam's. Quietly, both opened their hands, mimicking an explosion. They were seated normally, both being quiet, by the time Haley got back to her desk and sat at it.

This was the happiest Nathan had felt in weeks. He wasn't doing anything. He was just sitting in Haley's office. But, he was in Haley's office. He was sitting just feet away from the two people he loved most in the world and they both wanted him there even though he wasn't who he once was.

He couldn't help the feeling of peace he got just from sitting there. He would occasionally look at Haley as she worked. He loved watching her work. She was so deep in concentration, making sure to be careful with everything she did. Sometimes, she would bite her lip. Sometimes, she would play a sample of music and would write down her notes about it. She took her work seriously.

Haley could tell that Nathan was watching her and she tried to concentrate. Finding herself under his intense gaze was giving her butterflies. At one point when she looked up, she caught him staring. He smiled sheepishly, but before that she could swear she saw the love she'd seen before everything had happened. It was such a welcome sight after the nothingness and anger that had been there previously.

As he sat there watching Haley work, Nathan was thinking. This was going well and he wanted to make sure that it kept going that way. He wanted to suggest the three of them get dinner before heading to his house, but he didn't want to push his luck. As Nathan continued to think, he felt his palms getting sweaty. He felt his insecurities getting to him again. He knew he couldn't do that, because that's what got them into trouble in the first place. He took a few breaths and tried to calm himself down.

"Are you okay?" Haley watched as Nathan rubbed his hands along his shorts and took a few deep breaths.

Nathan had thought that Haley was busy working and wouldn't notice his nerves. He hoped his nerves weren't noticeable, but they were.

"I'm fine. It's nothing," he answered.

Haley got a little frustrated. She didn't want to sound like she was reprimanding Nathan, but he was supposed to be honest with her. "Nathan…"

"It's silly, Hales, and it's not important."

"You can tell me anything. I'm not going to think you're silly." Haley noticed Nathan look over at Sam. She knew what he was thinking. "We'll talk about this, okay?"

"Yeah, okay." Nathan didn't want to tell Haley how nervous he was. He promised her he would be honest, though, so that's what he had to do.

The rest of the afternoon passed by quietly. As they drove to Nathan's house, they made casual conversation. When they got to the house, Nathan was hoping that Haley had forgotten that she wanted to talk. He was still trying to figure out how to extend their time together. Maybe talking would do that.

They pulled into the driveway and sat in the car, neither sure which one should make the first move. Haley decided to be the one to speak. It felt like the right thing to do. She also couldn't help herself. He was here and he was trying and after everything, she felt like that was everything. She prayed with everything in her that it would last.

"We'll walk you in," Haley offered. "We can talk."

Nathan nodded and the three exited the car. In the house, they stood in the hallway, awkwardly. Nathan thought about going to the living room, but he remembered what happened in there the last time Haley had been there. Instead, he made his way to the kitchen. Going to the refrigerator, he pulled out a juice box for Sam. He had gotten them a while back, knowing that Sam might be spending time there during the summer because of Nathan's pool.

"Sam, sweetie. You're still on a timeout, so I want you to go sit in the den for a few minutes while mommy talks to Nathan."

"Okay," Sam said, turning around and leaving.

"Do you want to sit down?" Nathan headed to the stools at his breakfast bar. He held one out for Haley to sit on.

Haley took a seat and turned to face Nathan as he sat on the stool next to her. "What's going on?"

Nathan looked down at his hands. They had always been calloused because of basketball and now they were getting calloused because of the wheelchair and crutches.

"I guess, I know it's only been a day but it just feels like this is going well and I don't want to screw it up. I'm just scared I'm gonna mess it all up and you'll be gone."

Haley bit on her lip. "You're not going to push me away anymore?"

Nathan's head jerked up. "No. Never again."

"I'm a little scared, Nathan. I know you were going through something huge. You still are. But it still hurt, because you know how I've felt about people wanting me. After what happened, after the rape, I felt like no one would want me. I tried not to let what you were doing hurt me, but it did."

"I'm so sorry, Hales. I just really thought it would be best for you. I know it wasn't. I don't… I never want to make you think about what happened to you. That's the last thing I want, Hales. It was hard, trying to act like I didn't want you because even though I was being a jerk, I was at my worst but it was always a little bit better when you were there. I'm always gonna want you."

"You can say that, Nathan, but-"

"I know. I have to prove it. I have to prove to you that you can trust me not to hurt you again. I'm gonna be patient. As long as it takes."

Haley wiped a few tears from her eyes. "I don't think that's silly, Nathan. What you said back at the office. If you're feeling something, you've got to tell me. I think we should have learned that when I didn't open up to you right away about the rape."

"I think you had a better excuse than I did."

Haley shrugged. She looked at Nathan's face. He was pensive and a bit brooding, much the way Lucas often was during their high school years. "Nathan, I have to tell you something."

"Okay." He looked up at her expectantly.

"The stuff I told you I've been writing, a lot of it has been about what's been going on with us these past few weeks. I just, I write what I feel. It's always been that way. I just don't want you to be blindsided when the material comes out."

Nathan reached over and took Haley's hand in his. They both felt that jolt of electricity they normally felt when they touched. It was like coming home again. He rubbed his thumb along her hand. "I'm fine with you getting through what I did whatever way helps you the most, Hales. If that's your music, I'm sure it's great. I love you."

"I love you, too. And I'm so happy you're working on getting better, Nathan."

"So, um," Nathan was now feeling more comfortable about talking about his feelings, "earlier in the office when I was nervous. It was because I wanted to see if you wanted to have dinner. I know Sam is grounded, but I was hoping maybe tomorrow I could take you out. If it's too soon, I get it. That's fine. I just think it's been a while since we went out and it might be good for us."

"I think that would be nice, Nathan. I'll call Brooke and Peyton to watch Sam. I'll come by and get you at seven?"

"Okay. I'll be ready." Nathan felt like a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He and Haley were really talking and they were making plans. The day had gone better than he'd hoped. He had expected maybe an hour or two with Haley, but he got an entire afternoon. He wasn't certain about asking her for dinner, but when he did, she agreed. She was also still telling him that she loved him. Deciding to take a chance, Nathan leaned in. He gently laid his hand on Haley's cheek. When she closed her eyes to his touch, he took that as a sign to continue. He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips. She moved her lips with his slightly. It was a small kiss; it was a chaste kiss. It was a kiss that held a lot of promise.

Note: Phew. I'm really looking forward to writing the next few chapters, so I hope that means that happen quickly. Thank you again for the reviews! I hope we can get to 500 soon!