Hey guys! Thank you so much for all of you that read the last chapter! A very special thank you to Sweetlilloz, luvnit, shelleylovesnaley, thekellay, kaya17tj, chase the memories, illicitencounters and twilightnaley19 for your reviews. You guys have no idea how much your words mean to me! She here we go, the next chapter of Tonight! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own OTH or its characters
Chapter 37
Relax. Destiny has its way of finding you.
"Nathan!" Haley called out walking to their house. "Nathan!"
"Hales," Nathans said coming downstairs the minute he heard Haley's voice. "What's wrong, are you okay?"
"I wanna adopt Jamie."
Nathan stared at Haley from his place at the bottom of the stairs unsure of what to say.
"I know." Haley said shaking her head and closing her eyes. "This is sudden but Lucas told me that they're shipping him off to Washington at the beginning of next week and I just…"
"Well, I knew about the Washington thing, Jack was just over here yelling at me."
"Huh?" Haley questioned.
"Don't worry about it." Nathan waved off. "Hales, you do realize that this is a really big commitment right?" Nathan worried that Haley was only suggesting this because of the news that she had received yesterday. Nathan loved Jamie just as much as Haley but it wouldn't be fair to the little boy if they were only taking him in to ease the pain.
"Nathan, it's Jamie." Haley smiled softly. "I've felt a connection with that little boy since the first day I met him. And I know that the timing is off but…"
Nathan walked closer to his fiancé and grabbed her hands in his. "Haley I'm gonna ask you a pretty real question and I need you to answer it honestly."
Haley nodded her head. "Are you only bringing this up because we can't have kids?"
Haley really thought about what he had asked her. It was true, the news that she wouldn't be able to have kids with the love of her life was beyond devastating but the news that she wouldn't be able to see Jamie anymore was just as devastating. "Nathan, even if we were pregnant right now, I'd still want to take him in."
Nathan nodded his head. "I love him Nate."
Nathan laughed. "Yeah, the kid's not so bad."
"So where do we go from here?" Haley questioned.
"Call his social worker I guess." Nathan smiled.
"Are you sure you wanna do this Nathan? I don't want to push you into anything." Haley stated nervously.
Nathan let out a small smile. "I told you I was going to have a family with you one day Haley James, and even if this is really sudden, with Jamie it just feels right." Nathan shrugged. "I don't want him in Washington with strangers, I want him here with us."
"We're really doing this." Haley smiled.
"Yeah." Nathan said softly leaning down to place a soft kiss on her lips. "We are."
Haley woke up the next day to find Nathan had already gone to school early. She hadn't been to the preschool the past week. She told Principal Turner that she was having a family emergency and he had said he understood and that she should take all the time she needed. Haley had to face the reality that she would not be able to get pregnant, it still hurt but life still went on. She needed to be there for Jamie. Ever since she met him at Brooke and Lucas' wedding she has felt a connection with the little four year old. She knew what this might have looked like to some people. That she was compensating for not being able to have kids of her own, but that wasn't it. Haley loved Jamie, she loved that the little boy trusted her, she loved that he thought of her as his best friend and she wanted to be there for him because he's never had a stable life before. She wanted the best for Jamie and she wanted to be the one to give him the opportunity to be a good man, and she wanted to take on that responsibility with Nathan. She was worried that he would think that this was rushed but Nathan was spending just as much time with Jamie as she was. She saw him hang up the pictures the little boy had drawn him during practice in his office. He loved that little boy just as much as she did that that made her happier than she had been in the past week. She had scheduled an appointment for Jamie's social worker later that day and she was anxious for it. Jake had texted her last night, the producer for an artist on their label had to cancel last minute and he begged her to go to the studio and help with the tracks that the artist wanted to lay down. At first she was going to decline but she figured this would keep her preoccupied until the meeting later. She had gotten up to get her day started when her cell phone started ringing from besides her.
She looked at the caller ID and sighed knowing that she wouldn't be able to avoid her friends forever.
"Hello?" She held the phone up to her ear.
"Haley." Brooke answered back. "I need you to talk to me, you come into the café yesterday without saying a word to me go up to the roof for two hours and then as soon as I send Luke up there you bolt off without telling him why."
Haley closed her eyes. She felt bad keeping things from her friend but she didn't want to say anything about the pregnancy issue or Jamie until everything was sorted out with the social worker.
"I know. And I'm sorry Brooke. I don't like keeping things from you guys but there's just some things Nathan and I are going through, but were gonna be okay. We just need some time until we can let you in on what's happening."
Haley heard Brooke sigh on the other side of the line. "I know Brooke, but trust me. I love you for caring but I'm okay."
"Alright Hales, but I'm here if you need me."
Haley smiled. "I know, I love you Brookie."
"Jack Daniels." Jack looked up from the pop quiz he was in the middle of to see his teacher waving a note in the air.
"You're wanted in Coach Scott's office."
"Which one?"
"Do I look like your personal assistant?" His teacher quipped slightly annoyed at the distraction. She looked back down at the slip and then back up at Jack. "Nathan Scott."
"No thanks." Jack muttered and immediately looked back down at the quiz on his desk.
His teacher made a disapproving sound. "Jack. Come on, I'm serious, you can come in after school and finish the quiz."
Once Jack saw that his classmates were now staring at him he reluctantly got up and gave his teacher his pop quiz in exchange for the note that she was holding up earlier. Making his way out of the classroom he sighed as he made the walk down to the gym. He had been skipping practice the past couple of days and every time Lucas saw him in the hallways Jack did the best he could to dodge him. He figured it was only a matter of time before either Lucas or Nathan would corner him. Especially after he had yelled at Nathan the other day. He felt bad afterwards but he was just so pissed. He was going to UNC on a basketball scholarship. He was getting out of Rachel and Damian's house. Everything he had worked so hard for was finally coming true. Despite all of this he felt every kind of emotion but happiness at the moment.
He was finally at the door of Nathan's office and he reluctantly pushed it open with both hands only to find Nathan sitting at the desk.
"Jack." Nathan stated looking up from his paperwork. "Sit down." He gestured to the seat in front of his desk.
"I'm good here." Jack muttered.
"Jack." He repeated sternly. Nathan didn't miss Jack's blatant eye roll as he moved further into the office and took a seat.
"What do you want Nathan?" Jack asked wanting to get to the point.
"I get that you're upset." Nathan started. "But I called you in here for a reason." Nathan looked at the defensive posture of the young man that was sitting in front of him and Nathan had never been more aware of just how much Jack reminded him of himself at the age of 17. Snarky, unafraid of voice his opinion and fiercely protective of those that he loved. He had the same ambitious at 17 that Jack had. College ball. And Nathan more than anything wanted Jack to have that because he knew better than anyone how fast it all flies by.
"What is it?" Jack questioned letting down his guard a little bit.
"Well, Haley and I talked and we want to take in Jamie." Nathan stated quietly.
"Are you serious?" Jack asked leaning forward in his seat slightly.
"Yeah," Nathan smiled. "We hope we have your blessing, we know how much Jamie means to you."
Jack stayed silent for a while before speaking up. "Is this because I yelled at you yesterday?"
Nathan shook his head. "Me and Hales love Jamie, and the moment we found out he was getting shipped to Washington we knew what we had to do. We have a meeting set up with his social worker tonight."
"Wow." Jack muttered. "All this because you love him?"
"Yeah." Nathan smiled. "Jack, I've been where you are, but let me tell you something one day you're 17 and planning for someday and then quietly and without you ever really noticing today is someday and then someday is yesterday and this is your life. You focus on you…be a kid while you still are one, it all goes by so fast. We're gonna do everything we can to make sure Jamie is a part of our family, and you know what?"
"What?" Jack asked not really expecting all this when he first walked into his coach's office.
"We're gonna do everything we can to make sure you're a part of our family too." Nathan finished sincerely.
"Nathan."
"No, I'm serious Jack. I get why you're so attached to Jamie. He's the family you never had but you don't have to be the rock. You're 17 Jack. You have the world at your fingertips. But if it ever gets to be too much, just know that you're not alone. I'm here for you, whatever you need."
"Wow." Jack muttered.
"What?" Nathan asked confused.
"Nothing, it's just…" Jack trailed off for a moment. "I've never had anyone actually care about me before."
Nathan let out a small smile. "Get used to it kid. You ever need a place to stay our doors are always open. And I'm not just talking about when you're on break from UNC, if you ever get sick of Rachel and Damien's crap from now until graduation you know where to come."
Jack laughed. "They leave me alone for the most part so I'm good, but thanks Nathan I appreciate it."
"Jack," Nathan called out. "We're gonna take good care of him."
Jack smiled at the man in front of him. He was more than a coach to Jack at this point. Nathan was his friend, someone he could look up to in this world full of shitty and cruel people. "I know Nate."
"Don't be a stranger, get your ass to practice before Lucas kills you."
Jack laughed and nodded before exiting Nathan's office.
Haley was frantically running around the house getting everything cleaned up for the social worker. Work had been good; it was nice to get back in the studio even if it wasn't her recording. Haley always enjoyed the producing aspect of music. But now that she didn't have anything to distract her from the meeting with the social worker, all the possible outcomes were invading her mind.
"Haley." Nathan approached her slowing as she moved manically through the kitchen.
Haley looked up and let out a disapproving sound. "What are you wearing?"
Nathan looked down at his black sweater and jeans and then back up at his temporarily crazy fiancé seeing an expectant look on her face. "Clothes?"
Haley rolled her eyes before continuing on with her task. "Hales." Nathan called out softly. "You're spraying Windex on the fruit."
Haley let out a frustrated groan before halting her movements and taking a seat at one of the barstools near the island.
"Haley." Nathan said with a slight chuckle while moving behind her and wrapping his arms around her back. "It's gonna be okay."
"You don't know that."
"Yes, I do." Nathan stated matter-of-factly. "We're good people, we know Jamie, we love him…what else is there to figure out."
"I'm just really nervous." Haley said while looking down at her hands.
Nathan placed a soft kiss on top of her head. "I know, but there is nothing to be nervous about, it's gonna be okay." Just as Haley relaxed herself into Nathan they heard the doorbell ring.
"She's early!" Haley jumped up. "I'm not ready, I don't-"
Nathan silenced her with a kiss. "Breathe." Haley closed her eyes and let out a deep breathe. "Now, we going to answer the door together, try not to let her think you're as crazy as you are." He teased.
Haley lightly hit in the side before letting out a small laugh and following him to the front door. "Ready for this?" Nathan questioned.
Haley nodded. "It's now or never." She mumbled.
Jack carefully made his way down the hall towards Jamie's room. Damian and Rachel had left an hour ago to go to a bar. Jack was disgusted.
"Make sure the kid stays safe." Damien spit out.
"He has a name." Jack angrily pointed out from his spot on the staircase.
"Whatever." Rachel waved off.
"Just make sure he's breathing, I don't need child services up my ass, he's gone in three days so until then make sure he's fine. We're gonna go out with friends."
"Just be lucky we still get the checks for you Jack otherwise we wouldn't deal with your shit."
"Please, like I wanna be here." He rolled his eyes. These two idiots were delusional.
"Watch it." Damian scowled. "Or I'll take that precious car away from you."
"But then who would buy you your beer when you're too high to get off your fucking fat ass and get it yourself."
"I swear-"Damien stormed towards him and Jack braced himself. It's not like it'd be the first time he'd take a hit from the jackass. Just as long as he didn't touch Jamie. Jack would kill him.
"Damien." Rachel called out halting his movement. "Let's just go the orphan isn't worth it, Carrie and Owen are waiting for us."
"You're lucky." Damien warned. He opened the front door letting Rachel walk out in front of him before slamming it shut behind him.
"That's me." Jack rolled his eyes making his way up the stairs and to his room. "Mr. Fucking Lucky."
"Hey squirt." Jack spoke quietly as he entered Jamie's bedroom. The four year old was on the floor at the little desk that Jack had bought him for Christmas. He had crayons sprawled out on the desk and was focused intently on his drawing. He didn't look up when Jack greeted him.
"Jamie." Jack called out a little louder this time.
Still nothing.
"James." He said more sternly. That did the trick Jamie looked up at Jack expectedly.
"I want to talk to you." Jack said walking further into the room. Jamie put his head down and looked back at the piece of paper in front of him.
Jack sighed and sat down on the floor next to Jamie. "I know you're upset with me."
"Do you not want to take care of me anymore? I'll be a good boy I promise." Jamie said quietly.
"No, Jamie. It's not you, you're a good boy but I'm going to college next year and you don't want to stay here with Rachel and Damien alone do you?"
Jamie shook his head rapidly. Jack sighed. "I love you kiddo, you'll always be my little brother and don't ever think that I don't care about you but I can't leave you here alone with them…can you understand that?"
Jamie nodded his head softly.
"James, look at me, I need to ask you a serious question."
Jamie looked up at Jack excited that he was being talked to like a grown up.
"Do you like Nathan and Haley?"
For the first time since Jamie had found out that he had to move to Washington a smile formed on his face and he nodded his head ecstatically. "Haley's my best friend and Nathan is really good at basketball he's like a superhero!"
Jack laughed at the little boy in front of him. "Good."
"Am I not going to get to see them like I won't get to see you when I move to Washington?"
Jack looked down not wanting to lie but knowing that this wasn't his news to tell. "We'll see buddy." Jack got up from his spot on the floor making his way towards the door. "You've got five minutes then I want your teeth brushed and you in your pj's…I'll be back to tuck you in."
"Jack!" Jamie called out before the older boy left the room. Jamie got up from the flooring taking the piece of paper that was in front of him over to Jack. "This is for you." He held out the picture to Jack and he took a hold of it.
Instantly a smile formed on Jack's face. It was of what he assumed to be him and Jamie playing basketball. "Promise you'll still visit me in my new home?"
Jack looked down at the little boy. He nodded slowly with a smile. "So can I stay up with you and watch Gossip Girl? It's so bad for me, I love it."
Jack laughed loudly. "Who are you? Five minutes. Go."
"Sheesh what's a kid got to do around here to stay up past bed time."
Jack smiled. "Go on squirt, pick out a book you want me to read you…I'll be back in a little."
"So Nathan, are you still signed with the Knicks?" So far the interview with the social worker had gone smoothly, she was still getting to know Nathan and Haley but so far everything had gone well.
Nathan nodded. "Currently yes, there is some trade negotiations, Haley and I want to lay some roots down in Tree Hill so I'm trying to get traded to the Bobcats, but if that doesn't work then I'm looking into retirement."
"Really?" The social worker stated surprised.
"Well, retirement from the NBA. Right now I'm co-coaching Ravens basketball with my brother Lucas so there's always that."
"So you know Jack?" She questioned.
Nathan nodded again. "He's actually the reason we know Jamie."
"And Haley, you're his music teacher at Tree Hill Pre-School?"
"Yes." Haley nodded. "Jamie's a great student."
"You don't think that this would become a conflict of interest?"
"To be honest, I've been thinking of leaving the pre-school, my friends Peyton and Jake have been begging me to come work for them at their record label here in Tree Hill as a producer so…" Nathan looked at Haley surprised but she just shrugged.
"Well, as you know I have found a home for Jamie in Washington." The social worker started out. "They are a great family, they've taken in children before but they're not looking for an adoption…as of right now they're just foster parents. You guys want to adopt Jamie and that's great, whenever we can place a child in a nice loving environment permanently it's always a good thing."
"But." Haley said when she realized the social worker had hesitated.
"But, from what you guys have told me you aren't exactly stable yet, Nathan you don't know what your future holds with this contract and the NBA and Haley you may be going in between jobs."
"We're good people." Nathan stated adamantly. "We'd never do anything to hurt Jamie, we love him."
"I know." The social worker smiled. "Which is why I'm going to set up a trial period. On Monday instead of Jamie going to Washington he's going to come here and stay with you guys for a week, it'll give you guys a chance to see what it's like with Jamie, I'll come by at the end of the week and check in, we'll talk with Jamie…see how he's feeling and take it from there."
Haley smiled at Nathan and nodded at the social worker. "I'm glad you guys contacted me, I've known Jack since he was five and I know him and Jamie have a special bond so if this all works out and we're able to keep Jamie in Tree Hill I know Jack will be thrilled."
"Jack's a good kid." Nathan commented.
"He is." The social worker nodded. She stood to get up from her seat at the dining room table but Haley stopped her.
"Actually, I have a question." She called out nervously.
"Yes, of course." The social worker sat back down. "What it is?"
"Jamie's biological parents." Haley started out hesitantly. "Will they be a factor?"
The social worker nodded in understanding. "Jamie's parents were killed in a car accident when he was just a year old, he's been in the system ever since then…we couldn't find family to take him so no that won't be a factor."
Haley's heart broke for the little boy that would never know his biological parents. "Thank you for meeting with us." Nathan spoke up.
"Of course, I'll be by on Monday to drop Jamie off."
"That went well." Nathan said as soon as he came back into the living room from letting out the social worker. "You okay Hales?"
"Yeah," Haley nodded softly. "I just really don't want to screw this up. Jamie's never been in a loving home."
"Then we'll give him one." Nathan stated adamantly. "So what's this about you going back to Jeyton?"
Haley shrugged. "I was there today helping produce this artists album and it just felt fulfilling. I love my job at the pre- school but if we take in Jamie it's just gonna be weird at school, I want him to have a place to himself…I don't want to overwhelm him, besides I really do like producing."
"Whatever makes you happy baby." Nathan shrugged. "You doing okay? That sadness still there?" He reached out to her wrapping his arms around her petite frame.
"Yeah," She stated honestly. "But the weight in my heart felt lighter today, I feel like yours, I feel like a family. It feels good." Haley leaned up to place a tender kiss on his lips. "I love you Nathan Scott."