Okay... I LOVE this chapter. I don't know what it is exactly. It has a flashback in it, and I really enjoyed writing that. It's a little bit shorter but I really like it! Thank you for reading!

Chapter 37

Haley let out a slow, deep breath, glancing over at the time and shaking her head. She raised her hands to massage the back of her neck lightly, clearing her throat and closing her eyes.

Of course this was happening. Not that it would be completely horrible, by any means... But of course. Because he was Nathan, and some way or another, it was bound to happen again. Of course.

She couldn't help but think about the last time she was in this position, Nathan was next to her. Now he was in another city, completely clueless, while she was standing alone, completely stressed out.

She rubbed at her neck, trying to relieve her tension as she waited. It had been a long time since they'd been here, and if someone would've told her she'd be here at around this time last year, she would've laughed in their face.

She let out a deep breath, allowing her mind to wander to several years ago.

xxxx

Haley twisted her hands nervously, biting down on her lip and looking over at Nathan. She let out a deep breath when his hand moved over to envelope hers, leaning back against the couch.

"Would you stop thinking so loudly?" He asked her, raising his eyebrows and offering her a small, weak smile.

"Would you start thinking loudly? I can't read you, Nathan..." Haley trailed off, squeezing his hand lightly, before dropping it, pushing her hands through her hair.

"I don't know what you want me to say, Haley," Nathan said, clearing his throat and leaning back, rubbing his hands down his face. "This is a lot."

"Do you think I don't know that, Nathan?" She snapped at him, before sucking in a deep breath, leaning forward, resting her elbows on her knees, staring at the ground.

Nathan sighed softly, reaching over and rubbing her back lightly, "Haley, I'm sorry..." He said, shaking her head. "It's just a big deal, I mean... My dad is going to kill me," He said, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Well, I'm glad that's your biggest concern, Nathan," She said, pushing his hand off of her, sitting up slowly.

Nathan shook his head, "Sorry," He said softly, reaching over and grabbing onto her hand. "I just... I don't know, Hales."

"Me too..." She said, brushing her thumb over his knuckles, slouching over and sighing softly. "I can't believe this," She groaned, looking over at her stressed out boyfriend, dropping his hand once again and standing up quickly.

Nathan jumped up to his feet soon after her, watching her as she began to pace back and forth.

"Haley..." He trailed off, raising his eyebrows and clearing his throat.

"Don't say it's going to be okay, Nathan! That's not what I want!" She said, turning to him and pointing her finger at him.

"I don't know what's going to happen, babe..." He trailed off, running his hand through his hair. "I'm going to call Coach K and let me him know that I'm sick and can't go to practice today, okay?" He said, stepping forward, grabbing onto her wrist.

"Okay," She responded, beginning to pace again, watching as Nathan left the room. She glanced at the clock again, shaking her head slowly. She had a class in ten minutes, and she definitely wasn't going to make it.

Seconds ticked by like hours. Their whole future was going to come down to this.

It made her feel a little sick just thinking about it.

She had not even noticed when Nathan entered the room again, until he was pulling her into a hug.

"Haley," He said softly, looking down at her and nodding his head slowly. "We're going to be fine. It's just a scare, I'm sure..."

Haley could see the fear in his eyes. He looked terrified, despite the brave face he was trying to put on for her, and the strong tone.

"You don't have to-"

"Quiet," He said, shaking his head. "Let's just sit and wait, okay?" He said softly, pressing a kiss to her forehead, sitting down on the couch slowly.

At six minutes, she stood up slowly, gripping Nathan's hand tightly in her own. She looked over at him, nodding her head slowly.

"Ready?" She asked him softly, raising her eyebrows.

"Not really..." Nathan trailed off, squeezing her hand, his gaze shifting towards the bathroom door. "Definitely not ready," He said quietly, before guiding her towards the door slowly.

Haley could hear her heart pounding louder with each foot step, Nathan could've been talking to her the whole time, and she'd never know.

His hand stopped on the door handle, his eyes wide as he looked down at her.

Haley wanted to say something to comfort him, but there were no words to say. She wasn't feeling very comforted herself, honestly, and he'd been trying to do so the last few minutes.

She finished pushing the door open, looking at the white stick laying on the countertop. He eyes moved back over to Nathan, who had his own eyes squeezed shut in a last prayer that this wasn't actually happening to them.

She took a step forward, picking it up gingerly and looking down at it.

Positive.

She felt tears well in her eyes as she looked at Nathan, opening her mouth to speak, but no words would come out. All she could do was nod her head slowly.

Part of her expected two big strong arms to envelope her, and begin to assure her that it was okay, that they'd figure it out together.

But that wasn't the case.

She watched as he took a step backwards, and knew exactly what he was about to do.

"I have to go," Nathan said quickly, taking another step back, clearing his throat and meeting her eyes again. "I have to go," He repeated, before turning and bolting out of the room.

Haley leaned against the wall, sinking down slowly and letting out a deep breath, listening as she heard the door to their apartment slam shut.

She looked down at the positive pregnancy test once again, biting down on her lip and shaking her head, pressing her face into her knees, letting out a sob.

She couldn't believe she was pregnant. They'd been careful, they'd always been careful. Of course, nothing was one hundred percent effective, and he was a Scott, and Scotts were the kings of knocking people up despite any measures taken to prevent it.

She should've expected him to run away. His father had drilled a baby being a bad thing into his mind for years in order to make himself looks like a better guy. According to Dan Scott, when you had a baby, any life you previously planned was finished, and now all you could be was a parent. Forget the NBA, he'd be wearing diaper bags and bouncing a baby instead of a basketball.

He'd just been so calm through out the whole process until they looked at the test. Maybe he'd been sure that it wouldn't be positive, and that's why he was calm.

Hell, he'd already called in to skip out on basketball practice, so he was probably going to blame that one on her too.

She knew living together at Duke was a bad idea too, because they'd have permanent access to each other. And Nathan was always ready to have sex with her. Always. She'd jump in the shower, and then two minutes later he'd be in there, pinning her up against the wall. They'd both be exhausted after a long day of school and tutoring and practice, and they'd go to bed and all the sudden he'd be pressed against her, sucking on her neck and acting as if his body had not just gone through hours of exercise.

Maybe they wouldn't be in this situation if he wasn't so damn horny all the damn time.

She let out another deep breath, hugging her knees tighter against her. She wasn't going to make excuses for him. It's not like this is what she wanted either. This was so hard, and so scary for her too, yet he'd just walked out on her like their relationship was nothing.

She stood up slowly, smoothing her hand over her flat stomach, biting down on her lip lightly. If the test was right... There was another person growing inside of her. A mixture of her, and the man she loved.

Maybe it was scary, but at least the outcome would be amazing.

She couldn't help but smile at the thought of holding a little baby.

The thought of her and Nathan having kids wasn't foreign to her. Hell, they'd discussed it multiple times. But that had always been something in the future. Sometimes the future comes a little quicker than expected.

She bit down on her lip hard, walking out of the bathroom, feeling a little bit like she was floating, her head spinning. She stepped into their bedroom, laying down on the neatly made bed. She rolled onto her side, resting her hand on her stomach and letting out a deep breath, looking to where her usually so caring boyfriend should be laying right now.

She understood that he was scared, completely. And she'd understand if he needed some time alone, but he just left her to deal with the shock by herself. She had no idea where he'd gone, or if he was even going to come back.

Haley squeezed her eyes shut, and curled up slightly, letting out another sob as she pressing her face into the pillow.

She woke up a few hours later to a familiar weight sinking down on the bed by her feet. She lifted up her head and looked over at him, letting out a deep breath.

"Nathan..." She trailed off, eyeing her boyfriend and sitting up slowly.

Nathan scooted towards her, wiping at her cheek, trying to get the make up stains off her face. "You've been crying."

"I'm scared," She admitted to him, tugging her face away from his hand, sighing softly.

"Me too," He told her, clearing his throat and pushing his hand trough his hair.

"You left me," She said, scooting away from him and wrapping her arms around herself.

"I shouldn't have," He said, looking over at her and letting out a deep breath. "I went to practice, and Coach kicked me out because I was playing like shit and he thought I was sick."

"I needed you with me and you left me," She said again, smacking his arm and hugging her knees to her chest once again.

"I know," Nathan said, resting his hand on her arm. "I'm sorry, Hales... I'm not ready to be a dad, I mean... I have so much stuff left that I want to do-"

"Do you think I'm ready to be a mom, Nathan? Honestly," She bit out, lifting her head up and glaring at him. "Just get out of her if that's what you're going to do, Dan..."

"You didn't let me finish, Hales..." He chuckled, scooting closer to her, sliding his arm around her shoulders. "I love you, okay? And that means something to me..." He trailed off, nodding at her. "I love you, and we're going to be okay."

She looked up at him, biting her lip and nodding for him to continue speaking.

"My father thought kids restricted him, but he restricted himself by thinking that, and I'm not going to let myself do that, okay? We're going to get through this, together. It's you and me, Haley James. Well now it you, me, and the kid..." He said, sliding his hand over her stomach, letting out a deep breath.

Haley felt herself relax, leaning into him and squeezing her eyes shut, beginning to cry again at his sweet words. "I really needed to hear you say that, Nathan..." She whispered to him.

"I needed to say it," He responded, kissing the top of her head and letting out a deep breath. "I guess we better look into getting you a doctor's appointment or something, just to ensure that you are actually pregnant."

"Just be here with me for now, alright?" She said softly, looking up at him. "I just need you to hold me, because I'm scared, and you make me feel less afraid."

He nodded at her, scooting down the bed, pulling her down with him, hugging her close to his chest. "We're going to be alright," He whispered to her again, sliding his hand underneath her shirt, ghosting his fingertips over her stomach lightly.

Haley smiled slightly, glancing down at his hand and letting out a deep breath, "I love you, Nathan," She whispered.

Nathan kissed her head again, holding her tightly to him, to offer her, and himself some type of comfort. "I love you too, baby..."

Haley nodded her head, letting out a deep breath. They'd figure things out, they always did.

xxxx

Haley remembered every detail so vividly, the fear, the anger... She remembered how it felt to fall even deeper in love with Nathan at his sweet words of reassurance. And here they were, coming up on seven years later, plenty of hardships and trials... But they were okay. His words still rang true.

She needed him right now though. She didn't want to do this without him. Hell, she couldn't believe she'd even tried to do this without him. She couldn't do this without him.

Of course, the situation was a little different now. They wouldn't have to worry about money, or going through school with a baby. But she still felt scared. She was afraid that everything would happen all over again, and she really needed Nathan here to reassure her.

She let out a deep breath, tossing the test in the trash without looking at it, shaking her head. She pulled out her phone and checked the time, it was nearing eleven o'clock, and he'd called her an hour ago to let her know that he was going to sleep. She shook her head, finding his contact and calling him quickly.

It was a few rings before he finally picked up.

"Hello?" He asked her, his voice hoarse from sleep.

"Hi, Nathan... Sorry to call you so late, I know you were asleep..." Haley let out a shaky breath, biting her lip and stepping out of the bathroom, sitting down on the bed.

"It's okay, baby... Are you alright?" He asked her, clearing his throat and yawning quietly.

"Yeah, I'm fine... I just needed to hear your voice right now," She assured him, biting down on her bottom lip.

"You don't sound very sure of yourself..." He trailed off, frowning.

"No, really. I just miss you," She said to him, pushing her fingers through her hair.

"I'll be home in two days," He said to her, letting out a small sigh. "I'll probably be grouchy though, so you might want to kick me to the guest room in advance," He told her, laughing quietly.

"I can handle it," She laughed, letting out a deep breath. "I'm sorry for waking you up."

"Don't feel sorry, Hales... You're just about the only person that can call me while I'm asleep that I don't get angry about," He assured her.

"I love you, Nathan..." She breathed out, biting down onto her bottom lip.

"I love you too, Haley. Are you sure you're okay?" He asked her, frowning. "I know my girl, and she's not sounding super happy right now."

"I'm really alright, honey... I just miss you," She told him, brushing her hand over the comforter beneath her.

"Oh yeah? And what do you miss about me?" He asked her, raising his eyebrows.

Haley could hear the smirk in his voice, rolling her eyes and shaking her head, smiling brightly.

"I miss your smile, and your laugh. I miss how you make my heart flutter when you walk into a room, and how you make me feel spoiled and protected," She told him, crossing her legs.

"Okay, I was hoping to get a little sexy talk in before I went back to sleep, but those things work too..." Nathan joked, laughing quietly.

"Yeah, better save that for when you get home. I love you, Nathan Scott. I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?" She said softly into the phone, letting out a deep breath.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Nathan asked her again.

"I'm fine, Nathan, really..." She trailed off, pushing her hand through her hair.

"Alright, well... I love you too. Don't hesitate to call me again," He said, clearing his throat. "Talk to you tomorrow."

Haley bit her lip, hanging up the phone and looking down at the bed beneath her. Talking to him already made her feel a little bit better.

She stood up slowly, twisting her ring on her finger slightly. She walked out of the room, heading into Jamie's room.

She sat down on the edge of his bed, looking down at him and smiling slightly.

Staring down at him definitely made her feel less afraid. Jamie was the light of her world, the light of their world. He had not been planned either, but he meant everything. From the moment they'd seen him on the ultrasound, heard his heartbeat, it had been a whole shift in emotion. They'd been terrified still, but they'd fallen in love with him, and that helped balance things out.

She smoothed her hand over Jamie's back, laying down on her side next to him, letting out a deep breath. She couldn't believe that he was six now.

Her gaze moved over to the little rabbit cage set up on the table in his room, rolling her eyes at the proof of their son's birthday not too long ago.

They'd almost had to move the cage from his room because he wouldn't stop getting out of bed to talk to Chester the bunny. Her or Nathan would check on him, and he'd stare at them like a deer in headlights, and apologize quickly before climbing back into bed. And then sure enough, half an hour later, he'd be up again.

He'd only recently started going I bed and actually staying in bed, despite having the rabbit for quite awhile.

Her baby boy wasn't so little anymore, and the thought of that made her scoot closer to Jamie, kissing his head softly.

He cuddled up closer to her in his sleep, making her grin. Okay, he was still her little cuddle bug, and she hoped that wouldn't change for awhile. As he got older though, she could feel pieces of her missing. He'd learned to do things for himself that she would normally help him with. She'd just about sobbed as she watched Nathan teach him how to ride his bike.

If she were to be pregnant... Maybe it wouldn't be so horrible. Of course, she wanted to be married for a little while before they started trying to have another baby. But if he held true to his name, and had gotten her pregnant, she'd be okay with that.

Of course she'd be okay. As she looked down at Jamie, there was no doubt in her mind that they would be perfectly fine. They'd done it before, and they'd gotten the most amazing son out of it.

So whether it was true or not, as Nathan had assured her so many years ago, they'd be alright. They always would be.

With another kiss to Jamie's head, she allowed herself to relax into his bed, and fall asleep with her little miracle curled up against her.