I'm back for another update. It's a short chapter-it's just a filler chapter. I'm thinking there's going to be a couple more chapters until the story is finished. So, read and let me know what you think.
Haley awoke confused by her surroundings for just a moment until she noticed Nathan laying next to her. He was peacefully sleeping with a faint smile etched on his face. She couldn't help but smile at him. She remembered the previous night and closed her eyes. Just thinking about it had her entire body heating up. She couldn't believe she was laying in his arms once again. She never thought she would be here.
"What are you thinking about?" His voice asked causing her to snap out of her thoughts.
"Hey, you're awake." She said quietly.
"I'm awake." He said leaning in and brushing his lips against hers in a sensual kiss. "I love you." He mumbled against her lips.
"I love you, too." She returned. "So..."
"So, what?" He prodded.
"What does this mean? I mean, are we together or are we dating. What is this?" She asked timidly.
"I think this means that I love you. I think this means that we're getting a second chance, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You're my everything, Haley James. I have loved you since I was sixteen, and I haven't been able to get over you. I tried. God knows I tried, but I couldn't. I want to marry you, and I want to have babies with you. I love you. So, that's what this means." He said.
"You are quite charming, Nathan Scott." She smiled.
"You haven't even seen my A game." He teased.
"Lord help me if that's true." She laughed before capturing him in another kiss. Before their kiss could get too heated, Haley's cell phone began to ring. "Just ignore it." He mumbled against her lips. Although tempted, she forced herself to pull back. "It's my ringtone for Quinn. What if something's wrong? I'll just be a couple minutes." She said.
"Okay." He relented. She gave him a seductive smile before picking up her phone. "Hey, Quinny." She greeted cheerfully.
Nathan watched her facial expressions and quirked an eyebrow. He waited patiently as she hung up the phone. "Is everything okay?" He asked.
"Yeah. That was actually Clay. Quinn's in labor! Come on, we've gotta go!" She exclaimed. The two quickly stood up, got dressed, and rushed out the door.
"Haley, I would like you to meet your neice, Madison Elizabeth Evans." Quinn introduced handing the baby over to her sister.
"Hi, Madison. You are just about the most precious baby in the world." Haley gushed as tears formed in her eyes. "She's beautiful, Quinny." She said looking up to her sister.
"Thank you. We think so, too." Quinn said looking at Clay.
"How are you feeling?" Haley asked.
"I'm tired-very tired." Quinn answered.
"Well, sixteen hours of labor will do that to you." Haley laughed.
"Are you glad you have a neice?" Quinn asked.
"I'm just glad she's healthy and finally here." Haley responded. "And I'm glad her mommy is healthy and okay." She said.
"Hey, I'm going to go get you something to drink. I'll be right back." Clay spoke kissing Quinn gently on the forehead. He smiled before exiting the room.
"So, I couldn't help but notice you arrived here with Nathan." Quinn said.
"Yeah, he's waiting out in the hall. He thought we would want some privacy." Haley said.
"Okay. So, why is he here?" Quinn asked. She definitely noticed the way Haley kept quiet trying to avoid the question. "Hales, what's going on?" She prodded.
"I was going to tell you. We've just been trying to figure out what everything means before we go all public on this. But, umm, Nathan and I are together. We're dating." Haley answered.
"That's great, Hales!" Quinn exclaimed.
"We're taking things slow. Well, we were kind of taking things slow until last night." Haley said somewhat embarrassed.
"I am not at all surprised by that. You two never did know how to keep your hands off of each other. Are you happy?" Quinn asked.
"I am. I am so happy. I haven't felt this way in so long. I love him." Haley replied.
"Then, I'm happy for you. You deserve this, Hales. You deserve to be happy and in love. And Nathan's the right guy for you, Hales. I've always thought that. I mean, I had no ill feelings towards Mark, but he wasn't the one. I knew who always held your heart-who would always hold your heart. And Nathan loves you so much. I saw it in your eyes that first moment at Tric when we were all together. And this is your guys' chance to start over. This is what you both deserve-that second chance everyone always wants." Quinn said.
"Thanks, Quinn." Haley said. "So, when do we start planning your wedding?" She asked.
"I'm so glad you asked. Before I went into labor, Clay and I set a date. We're getting married on May 28. I figure that it's two months from now. That should give me plenty of time to lose my baby weight and plenty of time to finish all of the preparations." Quinn answered.
"Well, I am here to help you with anything you need. How about I just come over and watch over Maddie while you finish the planning?" Haley suggested teasingly. Seconds later, Clay and Nathan came walking into the hospital room. "I hope you don't mind another visitor. He looked kind of bored just sitting in the waiting room." Clay said.
"Of course, I don't mind another visitor. Hey, Nathan." Quinn greeted.
"Hey. Congratulations." Nathan said as both Clay and Quinn nodded their heads in appreciation. Nathan turned his attention towards Haley and gave her a small smile. "Hey." He greeted quietly.
"Hey." She returned as he came to stand right next to her. "Isn't she precious?"
"She is adorable." He agreed. The two looked at one another and shared a smile as they both instantly thought of their own baby.
An hour later, Nathan and Haley left the hospital. They didn't go home right away. They found themselves at the cemetary. They grabbed some food and decided to have a little picnic by their tree. "Thank you, Nathan. Thank you so much for last night and for today. I know it wasn't fun to just sit in a hospital all day." Haley began.
"Hey, stop. It was perfect. I got to spend the day with you. And I got to hold a beautiful baby girl in my arms. And now, I get to relax with the most beautiful woman in the world." He said.
"You're so cheesy." She laughed.
"Yeah, I guess I am." He said. "But you love that about me."
"Yeah, I guess I do." She said leaning in to kiss him softly. "You should probably know that my parents are in town. And I sort of agreed to have dinner with them tonight." She informed him.
"Okay. That sounds nice." He said.
"Well, I was wondering-well, hoping-that you would like to come with me." She said timidly.
"Oh, I don't know if that's such a good idea." He said. He instantly felt terrible seeing the wave of disappointment etch across her face. "Haley, I just..."
"No, it's okay." She interrupted. "I thought we would be in this together, but I guess not. I thought we were together, but I guess not." She said standing up and marching away. He was quick to follow and gently grabbed her arm. "Hales, it's not like that. Please don't be mad." He said.
"I'm not mad, Nathan. I'm not mad." She said quietly. She slowly turned around to face him. "Can you just take me home? I'm tired, and I just want to take a nap before I have to meet my parents." She said.
"Haley, I..."
"Nathan, can you please just take me home?" She asked.
"Of course." He agreed and led her to his SUV. Minutes later, they were pulling into her driveway. He put the car in park as they sat there quietly for just a couple seconds. "I love you, Haley." He declared softly.
"I know. I love you, too." She returned.
"I just don't thin..."
"I'm gonna go. I'm tired. Thanks for last night and for today. I'll call you tomorrow or something." She interrupted. She leaned over and brushed her lips against his cheek and moved to open the door. Before she moved too far, he pulled her back to him as he captured her in a kiss. They kissed one another sensually as he tried to deepen the kiss by running his tongue along her bottom lip. She quickly granted him access as their tongues met.
After the need for air become too great, Haley pulled back. "I should go." She whispered as he nodded in understanding. He sent her a small smile before she climbed out of the SUV and walked into her house. Nathan sighed as he watched her disappear from his sight.
"Hey, sweetie!" Lydia exclaimed embracing Haley into a tight embrace.
"Hey, mom. It's good to see you." Haley said.
"Well, come on. Your dad is just as excited to see you as I am." Lydia said pulling her daughter along with her into the kitchen. "Jimmy, somebody's here to see you."
"Well, lookie there. It's my beautiful daughter." Jimmy said pulling her into a hug. "I've missed you, sweetie." He said.
"Hey, dad. I've missed you, too." She returned.
"So, we know what's going on in Quinn's life. What's going on in our youngest daughter's life?" He asked as they all finished getting the food ready.
"Not much." Haley dismissed vaguely.
"That's a lie." Lydia cut in as Haley looked to her parents confused. "Sweetie, we know about you and Mark. Quinny told us that you guys broke up awhile ago. How are you doing with that?" Her mother elaborated.
"Honestly, I'm okay. Mark and I haven't been good together for awhile. The truth is that we fell out of love a long time ago. He moved back to California. It's where he belongs. And I'm staying here. I'm happy." Haley said.
"That's great, sweetie. As long as you're happy, we're happy." Lydia said.
"There is something else that's going on in my life right now. Something that's new but not so new, if that makes any sense." Haley began.
"Well, it would make sense if you explained a little bit further." Lydia said.
"Right. Well, it's just that I...I'm kind of see..." The doorbell sounded interrupting her before she could elaborate any more.
"Hold that thought, I'll be right back." Jimmy said. Seconds later, he walked back into the kitchen with someone tailing closely behind him "Look who's here." He said. Both Lydia and Haley looked up shocked at who they saw.
"Nathan! It's wonderful to see you!" Lydia exclaimed embracing her former son-in-law in a hug.
"Hello, Mrs. James. It's good to see you, too." Nathan greeted as he locked eyes with Haley.
"Will you be staying for dinner?" Lydia asked as they broke out of their embrace.
"Yeah, I am." He answered.
"Wonderful! Well, I'm going to go set the table while my husband here helps me." She said pulling Jimmy away with her to give Nathan and Haley some privacy.
"What are you doing here, Nathan?" Haley asked quietly.
"I'm having dinner with my girlfriend and her parents." He answered. He smiled at the look on her face. Before long, she was rushing over to him and throwing her arms around his neck pulling him into a passionate kiss.
"Thank you, Nathan." She mumbled against his lips.
"You're welcome, Haley. I want to explain why I said no before." He began.
"No, you don't have to explain anything." She interrupted.
"Yes, I do. Haley, I love you so much, and I want this. I want you. I want to marry you again, and I want to have children with you. I want it all. I was hesitant before because I was afraid. I was afraid of seeing your parents after all of these years. I was afraid that seeing them would remind you of what happened between us in the past, and that would cause you to start questioning whether we were making the right decision. I didn't want you to remember how much I hurt you. I didn't want you to feel the pain all over again." He explained.
"Nathan, we both hurt each other. You are not the only one at fault for our divorce. We both made mistakes. I always remember the past. It will always be a part of me. But I've dealt with it. And now that we're both older and more mature, we're going to make this work. We'll come out stronger now. I love you, and I'm not going to walk away this time. I'm not. I'm here-through the good and the bad." She said.
"Good. That's what I needed to hear. I love you, too." He said as they shared a sweet kiss.
"So, are you ready to go deal with my parents?" She asked with a laugh.
"Ready when you are." He said as they linked hands and began walking towards the dining room.
I should have another chapter posted in a day or two. So, until next time!