This is the second to last chapter.
A week later they stood infront of the school doors together, just watching as others walked in as if nothing had changed. The school had been closed in order for the students to have time to seek whatever help they needed and for the school to install a new security system. But event thought it had been a week, neither of them were ready to walk back in those doors.
"You ready?" Nathan whispered.
"Together?" She asked looking over at him.
"Together." He nodded locking eyes with her.
"Hey guys." Brooke said walking over towards them Lucas behind her, she was perky but not as much as usual.
"Hi." Haley said as Nathan nodded at them.
"Let's get to class." Lucas said reaching out to hold his best friends hand as he saw her fidgeting, knowing Nathan couldn't hold them like he usually did.
She smiled up at him.
"C'mon, Tutor Mom, and you can tell us all about how you blew me off at the mall yesterday to sleep."
"Sorry I was too busy making a baby" Haley smirked at Brooke while they walked.
"Likely story."
"Nathan." Whitey called out after him before his lunch period.
"Yeah coach?" He asked turning around.
"How are you holding up?" He asked quietly.
"Better than expected. It's just a little hard because basketball was always my way out when I was upset or mad and I can't right now." He sighed opening up to the man who had been like a father like him over the past four years.
"Listen, I know this is going to be a tough time for you right now but just stick it out, your stronger than you think. And I just wanted you to know that I'm proud of the man that you've become. You couldn't have turned out any better." Whitey said to the young man. He had seen him go from his troubled days to a respectable adult and he honestly couldn't be more proud. "I would have never guessed when I first met Danny Scott's son that he could be such a fine young man but you are and you should be proud of yourself."
"Thanks Whitey." Nathan said humbly, giving his coach a quick hug. "I couldn't have done it without you."
Haley sighed walking up the steps to their apartment that afternoon. Because of the days off she had so much homework and had to help Nathan with his as well. And for some reason Deb wanted to talk to Nathan alone that night which meant she had to drop him off at the house because he couldn't drive. "Hales." Nathan said from behind her as he hobbled up the stairs.
"What?"
"We got two big envelopes in the mail." He said, he had picked it up in the house for them before following her back to the apartment.
Haley dropped her keys on the floor in front of the door. "Who are they from?"
"Duke." He said nervously knowing their scholarship papers would be inside, if they got them.
"Let's go inside." She said grabbing the keys of the floor and dropping her stuff on the table when she walked in, as did Nathan as he handed her her envelope and kept his.
"You first." Nathan said as she nodded and opened her envelope.
"congratulations on your acceptance to Duke." She smiled. "You have been provided a full academic scholarship for tuition."
Nathan did his best to hug her as they each smiled from ear to ear before he nervously opened his. "Congratulations on your acceptance to Duke, you have been awarded a 35,000 scholarship for your sports achievements. How much is the tuition?"
Haley tore threw her packet to find the numbers. "$45000. Nate that's only 10000 dollars left, we can afford that. Plus we will get financial aid because of the fact that your emancipated."
He sighed, happy that he got something but was hoping for a full ride.
"Nathan" She said rubbing his arm. "We can do this, I know it."
"I guess." He whispered.
"Mom" Nathan called out walking through the open door of his old house as men worked around him packing boxes.
"Upstairs." She called out.
"What's going on?" He asked finding her in his fathers office.
"I have something to tell you." She smiled. "The divorce is final, your father is out of our lives for good."
"What?" Nathan asked.
"I know I told you it was final before, but this morning I signed the final terms. Everything left of his in the house I'm sending to the beach house."
"That's great." He smiled hugging his mother.
"I never thought I'd see the day when we were out from under Dan Scott's control." She said thinking about it.
"I'm proud of you mom, for standing up for yourself."
"Thank you...I also have other good news for you. I want to pay for your apartment at Duke and for your groceries, so here is a credit card I set up in your name that draws from my account, I don't want to see random charges on their but any item you buy at the food store goes on this and set up your apartment expenses to get drawn out of this. Also, put whatever is left of your tuition at Duke on here, I don't want you to have to worry about that."
"Mom, that's too much."
"Nathan, you're my son and I want to help you. I know you are still going to work hard and you deserve to not have to worry as much, all you need to do is to pay for the baby's things now. I was in your shoes once and I understand. I also wasn't the best mother and want to make that up to you."
"Thank you so much." Nathan said moving to hug her.
"But it comes with the clause that I get to visit once a month when you are there."
"Of course." He smiled.
"Also...your grandparents are coming to town and they want to have dunner with us. Dan isn't invited but Lucas and Karen are."
"Haley you almost ready babe?" Nathan asked as he fixed the buttons on his polo. "Hales?" He asked again when he got no response, only to find her crying in the bathroom. "What's wrong, are you okay?"
She nodded yes before saying "I'm just so big and so pregnant. I'm uncomfortable all the time and I just want to have the baby Nathan I don't know how much more I can take."
"I know Hales. I get it I do, but he will be here soon. You just have to stick out these last few days, you have been so strong."
"I'm so hormonal and nothing fits...and I just want to meet our son." She said as he wiped away her tears.
"This is the final stretch, you can do it. Tomorrow I get my cast off and get the boot put on, then we will go to our final check up. After that it's only two more weeks. You can do it. And if it helps anything I think you look beautiful."
"Really?" She asked, looking up at him doe eyed.
"Yes really." He said leaning in to kiss her.
"Hey buddy." Lucas smiled moving in to hug his best friend when he walked into Deb Scott's house.
"Hi" She smiled.
"How's my godson doing?" He asked placing his hand on her stomach.
"He has the hickups." She laughed.
"And how is his Mom?"
"Okay, sticking it out."
"You are doing great." He smiled at her. "You know your my best friend."
"And your mine too" She smiled as he pulled her into a side hug and walked with her. "Thanks for always being there Luke."
"Any time." He said kissing the top of her head.
"Hello!" Mae said as her and Royal walked into the house.
"Hi" Haley said hugging the older woman, while ignoring Royal.
"Grandma," Nathan said moving to hug her as well. "it's good to see you."
"You too, Haley you're simply glowing." She complemented.
"Really, are you sure it's not sweat, cause apparently that comes with the territory." SHe joked as Mae laughed.
Karen and Keith came in to hug both of them, as did Lucas and Deb. Apparently Mae and Royal would visit them once a month to get to know Lucas and had now formed a better relationship.
"Haley, Nathan." Royal said clearing his throat. "I wanted to apologize for what I said the last time we spoke. I was out of line and rude."
Haley nodded as Nathan reached out to shake his hand. They didn't forgive him, they wouldn't but they could move on from it. "Good to see you son." Royal then said moving to sit down.
"So how have you guys been?" Mae asked as everyone took a seat.
Nathan smiled looking around. This was his family. He had the James' and would always appreciate that and thought of them as his family, but this was his family. His family without Dan.
"Hey Luke." Nathan said walking into the den where Royal, Keith, and Lucas sat talking. "Could you give me a hand grabbing a few things from the basement with me, their Dan's and my mom wants us to bring them into the front room, and I really can't." He said with a nod to his crutches.
"Sure." He said getting up and following Nathan. "So how's everything going lately?"
"Good, Haley's hormones are out of whack but we've been doing pretty well. I'm ready for my son to come." He said excitedly.
"You know Nate, I'm proud of you. You've come so far and it's a great accomplishment."
"Thanks Luke." Nathan said looking over at him.
"Any time little brother, now where are these boxes?"
"Any day now." Karen smiled at Haley as she washed dishes and Haley dried.
Deb and Mae were putting the rest of the left overs away on the other side of the kitchen.
"Yep, I'm excited...but nervous." She said honestly running a hand over her stomach.
"You'll be a great mother Haley." Karen smiled looking over at the young woman whom she had watched grow so much over the past few months. "And Nathan will always be by your side."
"You think so" She questioned on the mother part.
"Of course." Karen said honestly turning to Haley and wiping off her wet hands before pulling the young girl into a hug. "I know so. I have so much faith in you and I know you can do this. And when you need help, You've got me." Karen finished her statement by running her hand over Haley's cheek before smiling.
"Have you two always been close?" Mae asked.
"Yeah." Haley smiled picking up another plate to dry. "I think I spent more time at the Cafe when I was a kid then at home. Luke and I built this miniature golf course on the roof and we spent all day up there."
"it was quite impressive for two seven year olds." Karen filled in.
"And Karen loved me more than Lucas anyhow." Haley said as Karen laughed loudly. "Oh boy, I remember how you used to yell at us after we stole milk for balloon fights."
"You two used to play upstairs and eventually you learned the cafe like it was your own, I swear she runs it better than me most days." Karen complimented.
"No one can do that." Haley objected.
"I have to agree with Haley." Deb smiled at Karen as she smiled back.
"Hey tutor wifey!" Brooke smiled walking up to Haley and linking arms with her as they walked into school the next morning.
"Hi Brooke."
"Where's tutor husband?"
"Getting his cast off, Deb took him so that way I didn't have to miss another day of school."
"Gross" Brooke said with a disgusted face.
"I know, I'm glad I don't have to see it."
"I would be too, now let's get to class." Brooke said making Haley practically skip with her as they chatted and laughed.
Nathan walked up the stairs to the apartment, struggling with his boot but he made it. Haley was standing at the counter making a snack when he snuck up behind her, rested his hands on her stomach, and kissed her neck. "Hey baby."
"Hi." She said as he felt her relax into him.
"How was your day?"
"Okay, I missed you though." She smiled looking down at his hands. She knew he could feel the baby kicking against them, like he always did when he heard Nathan's voice. "How's the boot?"
"annoying but better than the crutches. You almost ready to head to the doctors?"
"Yeah, give me ten more minutes."
"How are you feeling about this?"
"Nervous." She admitted. "It's surreal, I mean it feels like just yesterday we had our first appointment and now we are having our last and the baby could arrive any day now."
"I know, me too. But we are ready for this I honestly believe so."
He felt Haley tense in his arms before she let out a deep breath "I hope so because...my water just broke."
"What?" He asked as she turned around and he saw the puddle at their feet.
"It's time...The baby's coming." She smiled up at him.