Chapter 36

The next day Haley, at the invitation of Annabelle, had gone shopping with her...leaving Nathan to go see some of his old friends and talk with his parents. After they had bought about half of the shop they came back to an empty house. Annabelle just shrugged as she led Haley to her room and Haley gasped as she entered it.

The room was magnificent. It was much larger and more spacious than Nathan's but most of the room was taken up by Annabelle's bed and dressing area. She had a walk in closet but Haley could clearly make out words written on the door leading to it. Annabelle pressed a button on one of her remotes and Haley stared blankly as a screen came out of the roof and the lights dimmed. Annabelle ushered Haley over to the bed and as she sat down she thought back to what Nathan had said.

"Tyler and I rebelled against the money...she embraced it."

"So... seeing as Nate is my big brother...I feel I have to ask you some questions...you understand don't you? I mean I can't have some girl breaking my brother's heart...even if I like you." Annabelle spoke quickly and Haley nodded.

"Good. Now the first question... have you ever been married before?" she asked seriously and Haley smiled as she shook her head.

"No...in fact I never thought of getting married at such a young age till I met your brother..." she answered truthfully and Annabelle nodded as she tucked some of her own hair behind her ear.

"Awe how sweet...have you had sex with anyone else before you married my brother?" Haley stared wide-eyed at her.

"Wow...you don't mess about. No...the only guy I slept with before I married Nathan...was Nathan...and he was my first and only." Haley informed her as a blush crept up her cheeks and Annabelle smiled proudly.

"Great answer! And I guess the last one that I just have to know is why did you marry my brother?" Annabelle looked at Haley thoughtfully and Haley leaned back, resting on her hands as she looked at Annabelle.

"Like I said...never in my life did I think that I could love anyone as much as I do Nathan. When he had that heart attack I couldn't imagine losing him for anything...and that's when I realized I loved him...I couldn't live without him. When he asked me to marry him...it was the greatest moment in my life. So what I guess I'm saying Annabelle...is that I love your brother with my whole heart, body and soul...and I can't imagine my life without him." Haley said and Annabelle's face broke into a huge grin.

"Perfect answer...just perfect. Then it's my duty to congratulate you into the Scott family...as my sister - I don't do in-laws so we're just sisters." she said as she embraced Haley who smiled as she hugged her back.

"I never had a sister before..." Haley spoke softly and Annabelle smiled at her.

"Me neither...so I guess we could learn how to handle sisters...together..." the two girls smiled at each other before Annabelle turned to the screen.

"Now I so have to show you this...so enjoy the show..." she said dramatically as she pressed play and Haley looked at the screen as the movie started playing.

Haley's mouth fell open as she recognized herself in a lion suit, probably around 7 or 8, dancing on the stage with two guys...in front of a huge choir. It was her school's play of Lion King. Suddenly the one guy started to sing and it was like magic.

I'm gonna be a mighty king, so enemies beware!

I've never seen a king of beasts

With quite so little hair

I'm gonna be the main event

Like no king was before

I'm brushing up on looking down

I'm working on my roar

Thus far a rather uninspiring thing

Oh, I just can't wait to be king!

No one saying do this

Now when I said that--

No one saying be there

What I meant was--

No one saying stop that

What you don't realize--

No one saying see here

Now see here!

Free to run around all day

That's definitely out--

Free to do it all my way!

I think it's time that you and

I arranged a heart-to-heart

Kings don't need advice

From little hornbills for a start

If this is where the monarchy is headed

Count me out

Out of service,

Out of Africa I wouldn't hang about

This child is getting wildly out of wing

Oh, I just can't wait to be king!

Everybody look left

Everybody look right

Everywhere you look

I'm-- Standing in the spotlight

Not yet

Let every creature go for broke and sing

Let's hear it in the herd and on the wing

It's gonna be King Simba's finest fling

Oh, I just can't wait to be king!

Oh, he just can't wait to be king!

Oh, I just can't wait...

Just can't wait

To be king!

Haley stared open mouthed as the three of them bowed before the little boy who had sung so magnificently grabbed her hand and led her off the stage.

"Where...where did you get this?" she asked Annabelle who smiled at her.

"It's my brother's play from when he was 10...he was Simba...and as Tyler told me he used to be madly in love with the girl who played Nala... until Nate was sent to another school...leaving the girl behind. He never did find her again. Shame. But wow...you should know your voice sound as great as that little girl's..." Annabelle commented and Haley stared hard as she let everything sink in what she had just said.

"That's because it's her...Haley's the girl..." Nathan spoke up and the two girls turned to see him leaning against the doorframe. His gaze resting on Haley and Haley alone. They stared at each other for a few seconds as Annabelle excused herself and Nathan walked closer to Haley.

"You...you were Simba..." she said softly and he nodded gracefully.

"And I was Nala..." once again he nodded and Haley looked back at the screen before she looked back at him.

"And you were madly in love with me..." Nathan smiled as he nodded again.

"Since when did you know I was the same girl?" Nathan sat down next to Haley and took her hand in his, slowly lifting it till it was inches from his lips.

"Since the first day you stepped into Tree Hill High." he said as he kissed her hand and Haley looked at him shocked.

"You...you mean you loved me since you were 10?" she asked, amazed at what she had found out.

"Yeah...I've loved you for 10 years...and I'm going to love you for the rest of eternity..." he said and Haley smiled as she leaned forward to him and kissed him.

"Nathan Scott you amaze me every day...oh god how I love you right now..." she said happily as she kissed him passionately before she pulled away.

"That's why you commented on me watching Lion King...because you knew!" she laughed as everything made sense to her and Nathan smiled as he leaned so that their foreheads touched.

"Yes I did know...I told you you were my little lion..." he smiled and Haley laughed as Nathan picked her up.

"Nathan! What are you doing?" she demanded playfully as he carried her out of the room.

"Well you don't think I'm going to make-out with you on my little sister's bed did you?" he asked through his laughing as he scrunched up his face in disgust.

oOoOoOoOoOo

Nathan wiped the sleep from his eyes as he woke up a while later and he looked next to him to find an empty space. He sat up quickly as he noticed he had fallen asleep on the couch when he and Haley had watched movies later that day. He sprang up, looking everywhere for Haley...worried about her. He ran around the huge house until he heard giggling coming from his room. He sighed with relief as he saw his sister and wife laughing together.

"Well now ladies...what may I ask is so funny?" he asked and they both jumped, giving him horrified looks before they all three burst out laughing. Haley jumped up and walked over to him, Nathan's lips immediately attached to Haley's.

"Oh god you two! Get a room!" Annabelle moaned and Nathan looked at her.

"We already did...unfortunately you're still standing in it." he said with a smirk and Annabelle rolled her eyes.

"Fine fine I'm leaving!" she sighed as she stomped out of the room.

"Let me know if he likes it Hales!" she yelled over her shoulder and Haley smiled.

"Will do Belle! Thanks for helping!" she yelled back before she turned back to Nathan.

"Helping? Belle? Me like?" Nathan gave her his best confused look and Haley smiled as she stood on her toes, gently kissing Nathan.

"Look at the closet door..." she instructed and Nathan gave her a small smile before he let go of her and walked to the door. Immediately his jaw hit the floor.

All the old scribbling and photos were still there...but the rest of it was covered with pictures of Nathan and Haley that had been taken over the past few days and some that Haley kept with her. Further there were now notes attached on it that Haley had written to him...some songs that she had wrote for him... Nathan turned back to Haley, tears - which he would not shed in front of anyone - evident in his eyes.

"You...you did this for me?" he asked, his voice full of emotion and Haley smiled.

"You told me that this closet was a way to let you guys know that you cared and love each other. I just added me onto it..." she said with a smile and Nathan embraced her.

"I love you Haley...I love you so much!" he said into her hair and Haley laughed.

"I love you to Nathan...always and forever..."

A/N: Lion King Song – Bold pieces (Nathan sings), Italics pieces (Haley sings), Normal pieces (the other boy sings).