A/N: So yes, Kate Voegele was AMAZING. She's just omg, I cannot put into words how good she was live. If you want my story of the night and videos, go to my Tumblr .com (yes I know I changed it again, it was Kate inspired). Or if you want just the videos they're on my youtube channel Jodiexoxxx :) I decided to update because my wonderful beta Shay told me too :P We both needed some kind of way to finish the really well dark is the word conversation (you really do not wanna know) so she told me to update so I am :) I love you babe :)

Replies -

naley12: I'm glad you like it! :) Last chapter was the one I had originally used the idea you gave me but I rewrote it...obviously:') but who knows, who says I decided not to use it at all...;) hahahaaaa. A tease for you for always reviewing :) xo

shelleylovesnaley: Thank you! :) Thanks for your ideas as well, I'm always open to using them :P The whole thing with my dad was just embarrasing. I was so mortified. He was treating me like I'm 5 in the middle of Pizza Hut in front of 2 boys from my year, omg. *hides face forever*. Thanks for caring though :) xo

Chapter 37

I awoke the next day with a huge grin on my face, looking at the ring that now occupied my fourth finger on my left hand. The ring was simple; a silver band with a square diamond in the centre. I didn't pay much attention to the carat of the diamond, but it was beautiful either way. It felt right to have it there, almost like I'd been wearing it for a while, taken it off, and just put it back on. I had no idea how he'd afforded it, it looked to be expensive. But expensive or not, diamond or not, it was beautiful.

"Do you like it?" Nathan asked, not opening his eyes.

"How did you –"

"Do you really think I need to see you with my eyes to know what you're doing? You're looking at your ring again." He laughed.

"Oh. Well, yes. I love it, Nathan. It's perfect. How did you know?" I asked, moving closer to him.

"I got Charlie to help me out. I knew you two were quite close, and I knew she wouldn't tell you. Brooke would've made it too obvious, and Peyton probably would have told Lucas who would have definitely told you." He smiled, wrapping his arms around me.

"When did you get to talk to Charlie?" I questioned.

"I spoke to her during practice one morning. When you felt too sick with the baby and you didn't come in."

"You've had the ring all that time?" I asked, shocked.

"Pretty much, yeah. It was about two or three weeks before I could afford it. So I got it, and I hid it from you. I wanted to wait for the perfect moment, and I've been carrying it around with me for a while, waiting for that perfect moment. Last night, when we were just sitting and watching the rest of the city, it just seemed right. I always knew I wanted to spend my life with you, ever since we got together, but last night everything just seemed, I don't know, perfect, I suppose. You, me, and our baby, just us together, and that's all that matters." He smiled. "I can't wait for you to be Mrs. Scott, you know."

"I can't wait, either. But I don't want to get married until after the baby's born. I don't want to look like a whale in my dress." I laughed. "Plus, she'd make the cutest flower girl."

"Sounds good to me." He smiled, placing a kiss on my head. "Do you want to tell anyone yet?"

"I want too, but I don't think we should. Maybe at the after party, once the Olympics are all over. We can tell them the baby's a girl, too." I suggested.

"I think that sounds perfect." He replied, pressing his lips to mine.

It was magic the way he kissed me; the way his lips connected with mine. It was finally right between us, and somehow, among the dizziness and the breathlessness, I clung to him like a lifeline. Something changed inside of me, that would never be reversed.

A few hours later, we got up and got ourselves ready, ready for the day ahead of us. Today, we were going for a picnic in St. James Park. The plan was originally for the two of us, but we'd invited others along to spend some time with them before competition. Now, Nathan, Brooke, Peyton, Charlie, Julian, Lucas, Chase and I were all going on a picnic. The sun was shining and the weather was beautiful. The day was perfect for a picnic, and we'd all chipped in so that the food didn't get too expensive.

We walked out from our apartment, with the food we'd bought in hand. We were meeting up with the rest of them just outside the Olympic village, where we were all staying. We were all relatively close to each other, but not everyone got the roommates they wanted. Anyone that didn't would have probably switched around by now, I wouldn't know, I was only really paying attention to where I would be situated, and luckily for me, that was with Nathan. At least if I couldn't see him during the day every day, I'd see him when he came home.

By the time we arrived, it didn't take us long to realize we were the last ones there. Clearly, everyone picked up on this.

"Haley!" Brooke shrieked. "Where have you and tutor-boy been! We've been waiting for ages!"

"Brooke, they're only ten minutes late." Charlie laughed from behind her.

"So not the point! You two weren't doing the dirty were you?" She asked.

"No! Brooke, please. We were just a bit slow getting ready." I laughed in reply.

"Slow, my ass. You two were so getting it on."

"We were not!" I protested.

"Whatever, let's just go." She said, walking back to Julian and walking with him.

I held onto Nathan's hand, our fingers entwined as always, as we walked through the city towards the park. Nearly everyone had complained at my need to pee every ten minutes, but that wasn't my fault. Nathan had told them to stop complaining, but they didn't stop. It didn't bug me as such; it was as annoying for me as it was for them. We did eventually reach the park, and found the perfect spot. We still had a while before lunch time, so everyone went off and explored the rest of the park, whilst Nathan and I stayed put in our spot, enjoying each other's company. I lay content in his arms with our hands linked on top of my stomach.

"I love you, you know that?" He smiled, pressing his lips to my head.

"Mm, I definitely know that. I love you, too." I grinned, craning my neck to look up at him and place my lips on his. "And it looks like Isabella does, too." I laughed as she kicked harder from inside of me.

"Daddy loves you, too, princess. He just wants some alone time with mommy before mommy's friends come back and demand all her attention." He laughed, pressing a kiss to my stomach before looking back up at me. "Come here, you." He pulled me closer to him, entwining our hands and fusing our lips together in a moment of heated passion.

I was still not used to this new feeling experienced between us; everything seemed to fall perfectly into place now that we were engaged. It would definitely take some getting used to, but that could wait. Grasping the whole engagement thing could wait. Right now, all that mattered was that I was content to lie in his arms and just be.

I carried my ring on a chain around my neck, so it always close to my heart, but nobody would find out. I felt bad for lying to them all, they were my best friends and I knew I could trust them, I just didn't want to distract from their competition.

"Nathan?" I asked, looking up at him.

"Hmm?" He replied, looking at me.

"Would you hate it if I told Brooke and Peyton?" I smiled, biting the bottom of my lip.

"No, of course not. If you want too, I'll be right there telling them with you." He replied, placing a kiss on my cheek.

"Thank you, baby." I smiled, pressing my lips to his. "I love you."

"I love you, too. You know I do." He grinned, returning my kiss.

Lunch had come and gone, and the boys had left us to gossip while we were basking in the sun, and they had gone elsewhere. They didn't say where they were going, but said they wouldn't be back for a while. I planned on telling the girls about Nathan and I while the boys weren't here, and I suspected Nathan would do the same.

I was trying to figure out how to put the news to them in my head; I didn't want to just blurt it out. Maybe I could just slip the ring on my finger and let them notice? Or maybe I should just tell them? Telling them was probably the best option. Now all I had to do was figure out how to do it so they wouldn't be mad. At least I was going to tell them, and they couldn't get mad for not telling them when it only happened yesterday. I sat up from the position I was lying in before working up the courage to speak.

"Guys, I need to tell you something." I said, trying not to show any emotion to give it away.

"What is it, Hales? Is it the baby? Is it alright?" Brooke panicked, as Peyton and Charlie's expressions seemed to show me the same thing.

"No, calm down. The baby's fine, kicking as hard as ever. I have good news to share with you, for once." I laughed.

"Oh. Well what is it?" Brooke replied.

"Yeah, come on Hales, don't keep us waiting." Peyton hurried me.

"Nathan asked me to marry him." I grinned, having a recollection of the moment in my head.

They all squealed in what I thought to be delight as if felt three pairs of arms wrap themselves around me. I did my best to hug them all in return as I smiled and laughed with them. I think it was safe to say that they were happy for me.

"He finally did it, huh?" Charlie smiled.

"Yeah, last night. And the rings perfect, Char. Thanks for helping him out." I smiled brightly, waiting for the reaction of my two best friends.

"Did you say yes?" Brooke asked.

"Of course I did! We're getting married." I laughed as I smiled a great smile that reached my ears. I hadn't prepared myself for Brooke's high pitched scream when I told her. "Brooke! Please, the baby will go deaf." I laughed once more.

"Oops, sorry." She bit her lip as she looked at me before smiling once more and pulling me into a hug. "I'm so happy for you. My best friends getting married!"

"I am." I smiled, hugging her back as best I could.

"Congratulations, Hales. I'm really happy for you." Peyton spoke up. "You deserve all the happiness in the world."

"Thanks, you guys." I smiled.

"Well what are you waiting for? Show me the ring!" Brooke demanded with a laugh. I pulled my chain from inside my top and took off the ring, placing it in its rightful spot. I held out my hand to her, so she could look at the newly acquired ring. "Oh my god, it's beautiful! Tutor boy did well."

"Char helped him." I laughed. "And it's perfect. I wouldn't want it anywhere else. But we're not telling people until after competition. So I'm keeping it on my necklace so it's close to my heart. And you can't tell anyone. Especially not Rachel."

"She'll be devastated. She thinks she has a shot with Nathan." Peyton replied.

"She really hates you." Charlie laughed.

"Let her hate me. I'm pregnant with his baby, and he proposed to me. I think that's evidence enough who he wants to be with." I smiled.

"Haley James, everyone, always the graceful one." Brooke laughed.

"Well someone has to be. And we all know it's not going to be you." I teased as she feigned offence.

"Hey! I'm taking things slow with Julian, you know that. I'm not as bad as you think I am!" She protested.

"You're right." Peyton said simply.

"You're worse." I finished, laughing.

"Oh whatever! You guys are so cruel." She pouted.

"Oh come on, Brooke. We're only kidding." Peyton replied, laughing. "Kinda."

"Seriously, B. I'm happy for you and Julian. We're only teasing you. But he's treating you right isn't he? And you're not being too harsh with him? He's not like you." I reminded her.

"I know. We're very happy, though. I love him, and he loves me. He's different from any boy I've ever been with." Brooke replied.

"Aw, Tigger, that's great. You sound very happy. I can tell he's different." I smiled, hearing her talk about her boyfriend.

"He is. And he's a totally amazing kisser."

"Try not to sicken my baby before it's even born." I laughed.

"Sorry. But my godchild wants to know all about Julian, don't you baby?" She spoke to the bump.

"Brooke!" I laughed. "Anyway, you two are quiet. What about Luke and Chase?"

"I'm just thankful to be here, doing what I love. I do like Chase, but for the moment I need to stay focused on my gymnastics, so no boys for me for a while." Charlie explained.

"That's probably the best idea. I'm proud of you, Char." I smiled.

"Thanks, Hales."

"What about Luke, Peyt? Not going to have to give him a slap and tell him to treat you properly, am I?" I laughed.

"No, he's perfect. He says the sweetest things to me." She gushed.

"I'm glad. He gets it from his mom. She raised him to be a proper gentleman. He always used to tell my dad that he would never hurt me when Taylor told my parents we were making out in my room." I sighed, thinking of my absentee parents.

"Aw, Hales, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I forgot." Peyton apologized, wrapping her arms around me as my eyes filled with unshed tears. Damn hormones.

"It's not your fault."

"Have you spoken to them since?" Brooke asked.

"No. Quinn says they don't talk about me anymore. Says it's like I don't exist." I sniffed, wiping my eyes. "It's alright, though. I have Nathan, and his parents are more than supportive enough of us. They kicked me out, and in return they won't know their grandchild. Simple as that."

"Well I'm glad you've got the right attitude about it, but you know you don't have to pretend around us. We know you inside out. Peyt and I have been your friends forever. If you want to cry about it or let it out, you know we're here. You don't have to bottle it all up." Brooke comforted, squeezing my hand.

"I know. Thanks, Tigger. And you, Peyt. Heck, Char, come here. You've all helped me through this, and I love you all." I embraced them all as best I could.

"Can I ask you something?" Charlie asked, quietly once I let them go.

"Shoot." I replied.

"Do you ever…regret it? Like, picking a family over your career? I mean, it's got to be hard for you, watching us all compete here when you know you should be, too. You lost your dream. Doesn't it ever upset you?" She asked, looking at me. "I don't mean it in a bad way, I'm happy that you're happy. I was just curious."

"Um…I never regret it, no. But I do have days where I wish things could be different. I don't believe in abortion and I'd never have done that to my baby, but sometimes I just wish things could be different. I do wish I could be competing here, but what can you do? I'm happy with Nathan, and we're happy with our baby, so, I can't really answer that. But just don't do what I did, it's not a way out, trust me. You're good at what you do, and trust me Char, you can go far with gymnastics." I smiled, rubbing her arm.

"Thank you." She smiled. "But who's gonna coach me when we get back? You'll be going to college in Durham."

"You've still got Tom. He'll be there for you. You can do this, Char. I believe in you and you don't need me to coach you to do well. But I promise I'll be coming back whenever I can." I reassured her.

"You promise?"

"I pinkie promise." I said, linking my little finger through hers.