Chapter 8

Haley knocked softly on the office door.

'Come in.' Karen called from the other side. Haley stepped inside juggling a holder of cups and her office bag over her shoulder. Karen watched her amused the girl seemed to make things difficult for herself but you couldn't help but smile at her, she just had that aura about her.

'Morning Haley.' Karen said with a warming smile.

'Morning.' Haley said softly as she settled into the seat a little unsurely, Karen had been away since the unfortunate incident regarding a bucket in Nathan's office room and she really wasn't sure what to expect from her request to come into her office this morning.

Karen smiled. 'How have you been?'

Was there a right answer to that question? It was deeply personal and sure being pregnant with her bosses grandchild was technically as personal as it got but still.

Catching onto her hesitance Karen continued. 'You can talk to me Haley…I asked you to meet me this morning so we could clear the air on some things but I need to know how you are.'

'I'm okay.' Haley answered figuring that was the safest option.

Still it told Karen everything.

Seconds later Nathan came in through the door holding a cup of his own. He glanced wearily between his mother and Haley. 'What's this about?'

'Sit down.' Karen said a sense of calm acquaintance in her tone. 'I'm glad to see you can get your own coffee.' She pointed out with a smile towards her son.

Nathan fought with the urge to roll his eyes as he sat in the chair next to Haley.

'Have you two been talking?' She asked them casually.

'Yes.' Nathan said stubbornly.

'Not really.' Haley answered at the same time.

Karen glanced between the two of them before her challenging stare fell on Nathan.

So he took the bait and of course he threw it back on the blonde girl beside him. 'We have been talking Haley I specifically remember coming around by your office to talk last week.'

'Oh sorry I remember you shouting at me not necessarily talking.' Haley couldn't help but retort as their eyes just locked on each other.

'Nathan I hope you didn't shout at her.' Karen said.

'I didn't shout…' Nathan blew up realising his voice had gone much higher already which really wasn't helping his case. 'I didn't. I tried to talk to you about things and you were being a bitch.' He said pointedly towards Haley.

'Nathan.' Karen warned him.

Haley just shook her head. 'I'm sorry but you telling me you wish you didn't have to be there for our kid kind of warranted that response.' Haley sniped back as if Karen wasn't even there in front of them.

'You're twisting my words…' He fired back.

'I'm not that's exactly what you said…you haven't even asked about the scan Nathan.'

'What's there to ask? You're pregnant it's pretty self-explanatory.'

'You ja…'

'Ok enough…' Karen interceded her head going back and forth between the pair like an intense tennis match. 'Enough both of you.' She said this time.

'I'm sorry Karen….' Haley said then berating herself for getting into a spitting match in her office of all places. 'He's just…he…'

'Oh that's right go blame it on me.'

'Enough.' Karen repeated her vice an octave higher this time.

The pair quietened.

'I won't have this not in work and seen as we are officially on the clock we are in work and that's what I need to both of you about.' Karen said.

'Mom…' Nathan began.

'I'm not done talking.' She said with a tone that left absolutely no room for another interruption.

Haley bit back a smile.

'I've a list here…'

Nathan closed his eyes as he sighed softly. When his mom had a list it was never a good thing. Them stupid damn lists.

'Ok firstly you will not ask Haley to do anymore coffee runs, nothing of the sort..'

Nathan didn't respond but he could feel Haley's eyes on him, when he glanced over she was looking at him smugly almost. Bitch.

'Nathan..'

'Sure mom ok..' He sighed.

'Sit up straight Nathan..' Karen ordered him noticing he'd slouched over like a petulant child.

Nathan straightened himself feeling his nerves on their last end as Haley tried to stiffly her laugh beside him.

'Secondly You two are working together on this campaign, you both know that and you both need to work professionally on this. I've seen you do it before very well.' Karen said pointedly. 'So that means actually being civil about your current situation like adults would be so it doesn't impact on your work and if you can't do that well then I might have to look at other alternatives..'

'Why do I get the feeling that is being directed at me?' Nathan mumbled.

'You don't treat Haley any differently as you would anyone else on that team.' Karen said sternly.

Nathan just nodded.

'Nathan..'

'Yea mum I heard you god stop treating me like a teenager.'

Haley rolled her eyes at his grouchiness.

'I will when you stop acting like one.'

'And thirdly…' Karen continued on. 'This came back from the Ryan Harris this morning.' Karen said as she left 3 templates on her desk. 'I told him we will have a mock copy done up for the advertising campaign by the end of the week I need you two to get started on that today.'

'What about Peyton?'

'I've faxed this over to Peyton she's already started the designs.'

'So Peyton can work away on her own but we need to work together. What's this some kind of test?' Nathan scoffed as he stood up from his chair. 'Lock us up in the same room and see if we can play nice.'

Haley just shook her head at his childish actions.

'No it's your job.' Karen refuted. 'And I'm giving you that order as your boss not your mother. Now I've a meeting at 9.30 so we will leave this here, I'll check in with you both later.' Karen said with a smile then as he got up from her desk.

Nathan took up the templates in silent acceptance as he made his way out of the office. Haley followed his lead and stood up from the chair.

The pair of them walked in the same suspended silence towards Nathan's office.

Haley sighed softly watching as he shed himself of his blazer leaving him standing there in a light grey shirt cuffed to the elbows and black slacks, it was unjust how he always looked so handsome. 'She's only trying to help.' She said as she closed the door to his office. 'Nathan we have to work together there's no way around it.'

Nathan scoffed lightly as if the words themselves were obscene. 'Oh this isn't about the work Haley and mum knows that she's purely doing this so we have no choice but to talk about everything else…'

'Everything else being the baby?' Haley said pointedly. 'You can say it as it is you know.'

'Whatever.' He brushed her off.

'Why are you like this?'

Nathan glanced across appreciating the outfit she'd chosen today, the fitted grey mini skirt hugged her hourglass frame perfectly dipping in at the waist of her crisp white shirt. Haley looked damn good in a white shirt. He didn't say anything in response to her comment then as he peeled his eyes away and began to sift through the papers on his desk.

'Hell I don't expect it from you but you could show your mum a bit more respect.'

'I do respect her Haley you have no idea so I suggest you stay out of it.'

'I'm not staying out of it when it concerns me, be pissy with me whatever but don't take it out on your mom and you know what maybe she has a point maybe we do need to actually talk about this.'

'Well the last time I tried to do that you weren't so willing were you?' He snapped back at her.

'Because you were being like this!' Haley retorted as she willed herself not to raise her voice at him, it would do no good.

'Fine…' Nathan said as he plopped down in this office chair. 'You want to talk let's talk.'

Haley was still standing a few feet from him her arms crossed over herself now her gaze meeting his expectant one. God she could throw another glass of water at him only this time she wouldn't miss.

'Well…' Nathan began.

'Oh so you expect me to start this…you really have nothing to say.' Haley quipped.

'I wasn't the one at the scan.' Nathan retorted.

Haley scoffed. 'Oh and did you ever think for a second that point in itself makes it your place to ask..'

'Like I said it's pretty self-explanatory they check everything's going ok and you're good to go.'

'How would you know?' She spat at him. 'You weren't the one that had to be there or sit in those dingy plastic chairs waiting outside a damn maternity word or look at the judgy middle aged nurse who gave me a just another one of those scatty girls who got pregnant and doesn't even know who the father is looks….'

'What do you care what she thinks?'

'Oh yea easy for you to say.' Haley quipped spitefully.

A murky silence fell between them then, the current of disbelief of this entire situation still so very intact. Haley stepped forward then and began to stack the files of templates together.

'What are you doing?' He frowned as she began to stuff them into her bag.

'I'm working on these for the day I'll drop them down to you before lunch so you can fill in the details before Karen comes looking for them.' Haley said.

'Haley…' Nathan robed her. 'The whole point of her meeting us was because we need to work on this together.'

'I'm perfectly capable of doing it alone.' She refuted making sure the double meaning behind her message was not lost on him.

XXXXX

'Hi honey.' Karen said as she stepped inside Nathan's office just as he was slipping on his blazer.

He smiled at her and how seamlessly she interchanged between the roles of boss and mom, he supposed it was what had made her so good at her job. He couldn't begrudge her for earlier, he admired her. He always had.

'Haley and I, we..we worked on it separately but we've come up with the 3 ideas.' Nathan told her honestly.

Karen just nodded deciding not to press that matter much further, at least not tonight. 'Are you doing ok?'

Nathan nodded before shrugging. 'I should have been there.' He sighed.

'It's not too late to change that.' Karen interceded softly. 'And it's not too late to say those words to Haley.'

'Why weren't you there?' Karen prodded softly after a few minutes.

Nathan shrugged giving her nothing of himself.

'Was doing it once enough have Lils and I scarred you for life?' She teased him lightly.

'That's not funny mom.' Nathan said.

Karen smiled regardless. 'Oh you know it got me through I know your dad would have been laughing at some of the faces you pulled when you'd come in for those appointments.' She countered. 'You know that got me through and even if you didn't want to be there you were.'

'I did want to be there for you mom.'

'So what about Haley? You don't want to be there for her?'

'I do but…'

'Then it's pretty simple.'

'It's not that simple mum.'

'It is you're just making it complicated.'

'We can't even sit together in the same room for 5 minutes without arguing.'

'Well a little birdie told me you sat together in this office for 12 hours without arguing when you were working on the proposal launch so it has been done.'

'Lucas needs to shut up.'

'And be nice to your brother he is worried about you, you know.'

'All he seems to be strung up on is doing the right thing by Haley.'

'Yea because that will help you in the long run, he knows that you also need a little support coming to terms with this.'

Nathan sighed, he knew his mother's words were right. Lucas may have as expected griped and bitched at him for letting it happen but ever since he had stepped back and checked in with Haley on his own will and hadn't pushed Nathan.

He was helping, Nathan knew that.

'I'm gonna go have a drink.'

'Friday night drinks with the team can I get a woo woo?' Karen bigged it up. Nathan just sent her look. 'Please don't ever repeat that in my office mum.'

'What is you say these days…is it can I get a yee-haw?'

Nathan chuckled amused by her. 'No it's definitely not that, what's this Andy guy getting you into?' He teased her.

'He listens to some band called the Courteeners have you their cd?' Karen joked with her youngest son.

'No and neither should you.' He teased her. She pinched his cheek and Nathan scolded her, some things never changed.

XXXXX

'Hey man.' Nathan said as he came up beside Luke at the bar.

Lucas acknowledged him with a pat on the shoulder as he ordered them both a whiskey.

Nathan wolf whistled. 'One of those days?'

'you have no idea.' Lucas mumbled.

'Any in with my girl?'

'Which one?' Lucas countered.

Nathan just gave him a look.

'She seems in chirpy form tonight but that might be cause you're not here.' Lucas mused.

'Probably.' Nathan sighed.

Lucas glanced at him amused. 'Wow are you being all self-reproaching?'

'I guess if I knew that that meant.' Nathan joked dryly. 'I've messed up man…I don't know what to say to her.'

'Just tell her you're sorry.'

'Sorry kind of seems like a moot point at this stage.'

'Then tell her you're going to be there or you're going to try, that's all she needs to know. Haley is really cool Nate, so the pregnancy thing it's scary the timing is off I get it but it could have been another girl and that could have ended very differently for you.'

'I know that.' Nathan mumbled.

'She's really given you space.'

'I'm pretty sure I made that decision for her she doesn't want to be around me.'

'Can you blame her?' Lucas nudged him. 'Just be the kind of person I know you are and let her into your life, trust me it will make things a lot better for the both of you.' Lucas said as he tipped back the whiskey. 'Now drink that up and talk to her.' He gave him another slap on the shoulder before leaving him at the bar.

It was about ten minutes later when Nathan stopped berating himself for his lack of courage to go over there where Haley was sitting next to Lucas and across from Peyton, Julian, David and Anna. It must have been one of those weeks because everyone seemed to be at the bar tonight. Trying to get a moment with her with everyone around was going to be difficult.

He noticed how she tensed up immediately the moment he slipped into the stool beside her.

'On the hard stuff too Nate.' David acknowledged as he joined them.

Nathan tipped his glass up. 'I'm just following Luke's lead.'

'Which is never a good thing for anyone.' Anna piped up.

'Hey…come on why me tonight?'

'Because you haven't had the slating in ages.' Peyton piped in.

'You guys didn't hear about the Lindsey situation..' Haley mused.

'Lindsey, I thought you went on a date with that girl Haley is friends with?' Anna said.

'Brooke, yes he did this happened before that.' Haley filled in.

'Isn't that that hot editor girl from Pret?' Anna said brazenly as everyone chuckled at her.

'Hot engaged editor girl…' Lucas corrected.

Nathan chuckled. He knew where this was going.

'It's not funny.'

'It kind of is, you were just playing the nice card..' Haley giggled as she sipped her cranberry juice.

'Please don't tell me you used one of your lines on her.'

'Well…' Lucas squinted rather painfully. 'That and I was drunk..'

'Lethal combo..' Nathan said as the others laughed.

'He started kissing her neck…'

'Haley…' Lucas scolded her. 'I thought we liked you.'

'We do, a lot.' Julian mused.

Nathan frowned at that comment as he caught the way Julian was glancing across the table at Haley. For some reason it irked him.

'Her fiancé who happens to be Mark Scholes, a publisher at Pret was there to see the whole thing…'

The others at the table laughed as Nathan leaned in a little closer to Haley.

She felt the shivers coat her neck as the warmth of his breath fanned across her shoulder, the faded scent of his Armani aftershave tingled with his inherent smell was deliciously torturable. She'd acknowledge the night they met in the bar and it only came more apparent but damn did he smell insanely good. Always.

'Can we talk?'

Haley began to bite her lip before she peeked a glance at him, his blue eyes were boring into hers and for once she didn't observe the shield that often seemed to coat them.

'I'm not sure that's such a good idea.' She countered honestly unwilling to relent even if his eyes told her another story of how this could possibly go she didn't have the will to test it not tonight.

Haley glanced away from him again.

'I'm sorry.' Nathan said softly enough for no one else to hear but with enough bosom for it to reach her.

That she hadn't expected at this table full of people. Not at all. Haley glanced his way again and his resolve was so clear, it was there in his eyes again. The best way to know him was through his eyes, she's learnt that pretty early on but only when he let her, which was very seldom.

And she couldn't keep doing this, taking crap from him only for him to turn around and show her glimpses of that other guy, it was like a light switch except for when he turned the so called 'nice' guy to off it's like his power went out because that person rarely came back. And Haley couldn't go there again, she just couldn't.

Still, she found herself slipping out of the seat past him regardless. The rest of the group too tipsy and laughing up Lucas story to even notice the pair slip away.

Haley walked right out of the bar through the double glass doors towards the reception. She reached the plush leather couches before deciding against sitting down, it's not like this could be prolonged - queue the screaming match she felt like mocking.

'Can we sit?' Nathan said as he reached her pausing a few steps away from her, he glanced around the reception area noting it was empty aside from the security at the entrance.

'I'd rather not.' Haley said as she crossed her arms over herself.

Oh she was going to make this difficult. It's not like he didn't deserve it. Nathan blew out a breath slipping his hands into his pockets before he spoke. 'I was being a coward earlier when I told you the scan and all that is pretty self-explanatory, I know what that's like, how overwhelming it can…..'

Haley wasn't quiet catching on.

'I was there for mum , her first appointment I didn't want her going alone. I was there when she broke down over that same question asking if the father was coming…'

'So…what is this…is this you telling me you thought I might feel something similar and you didn't want to deal with it….' Her words weren't spiteful, it seemed like she was hurt.

'No it's not that. I didn't even think about how you'd feel because I just blocked it out Haley….it's something…' He realised he was about to tell her it's something he'd become very good at since his father and Jake had died but he didn't want to make this about himself.

She was waiting expectantly.

'I was a coward that's all, you know I justified you having Brooke there I said it would be easier on us both in the long run but it's not. We need to try and deal with this together Haley.'

'I never said I wanted to alone.' Haley reasoned. 'You pushed me Nathan and you've kept on pushing..'

'I know that.'

'Why?' She asked then as their eyes met. He looked confused.

'I just want to know why you hate me so much..'

'I don't hate you.' Nathan refuted quickly.

'Don't you? Up until I came here you had it pretty much sussed and ever since..' Her words trailed off then as she blew out a breath, she didn't have it in her to recount hell even think about the spiralling that had occurred the moment she admitted she was pregnant.

'Believe me I didn't have it sussed..'

'Then why does it feel like you're punishing me?' Haley admitted honestly. 'I just I can't do this Nathan, this back and forth I won't sit back and be sniped at only for you to come and be nice the next day…who knows which side of you I'll get tomorrow.'

'How about neither of those sides and you'll just get me, who wants to try..' Nathan told her.

Haley was fairly standing her ground, there was no relenting with her and he found he quiet liked that about her. She was like his mom in that way, a gentle heart but a strong soul.

'I want to be there for the next scan Haley.' Nathan said. 'If you'll have me.'

'I'd never deny you that Nathan.' She admitted then.

He nodded giving her an unsure smile watching as Haley bit her lip, for some reason his gut pinched a little at how uncomfortable she was around him. He didn't like that he made her feel that way.

'Look we should get back before people…'

Nathan nodded. 'You go, I'm just gonna get some fresh air.'

'Ok.' Haley said a part of her almost wanting to step outside and chat with him but her own protective nature held her back. 'My next appointment isn't for another two weeks if you want I can just share my calendar in work I add them to that.'

'Yea, that's good.' Nathan said stiffly, the impersonal nature of all of this was difficult. What, she couldn't even text him now?

'Guess I'll see you inside..' Haley mumbled as she walked away from him.

XXXXX

1 week later

'Hi mom.' Nathan said as Karen stepped into his office with a file in her hands.

Karen smiled. 'Hi honey, here's the briefing of past launches I know the events team have already gone down to suss out the venue, the hotel have set the date for 18th December.'

'The gala worked well last year.' Nathan said as he took the file from his mom.

'It did I'm thinking we could do something like that again with a twist' Karen said. 'I don't know, this line it just feels special you know its inspired by your father.'

Nathan just smiled knowingly.

'Just keep that in mind when your executing some ideas oh and Nathan..' Karen said as she paused by the doorway. 'Go home and get some rest, this will all be here tomorrow.' She reminded him as she slipped out of the office.

Nathan sighed resting his head in his hands. He could feel himself nodding off just as his phone rang.

'Hello.' He mumbled tiredly.

'Nathan..eh have you seen Haley around the office this evening?'

'No I haven't seen her since afternoon..' Nathan mumbled as he yawned.

'Look Brooke is worried she can't get through to her and she was supposed to be home an hour ago.'

'I'm sure she is fine.' Nathan said not really listening to the conversation as he glanced over the file Karen has dropped on his desk.

'I'm sure it nothing but Brooke's a little worried so can you just see if she's around you know Haley she'd never be late or not home at all without telling someone..'

'Yea sure. Aren't you two supposed to be out on a date?'

'Yea we're leaving shortly just let us know if you see her ok.'

Nathan ended the call running his hands down his face as he got up from his office chair. It had been one of those relentless days, he shook his watch noticing it was just past 9. He'd often put in later nights and not felt this fatigued. It had been nothing but paperwork and meetings the past few weeks totalled with coming to terms with this whole pregnancy his mind was in complete overdrive.

The office floor was quiet as he walked through it. Thursdays were Friday juniors around this place, the bar would probably be just as heaving this evening as it would be tomorrow. God it had been an age since he just went out and got laid, the whole baby thing kind of gave that a sour edge.

He went into the quarters of Haley's office space noticing the dimmed light switched on at her desk as he reached it he could see her papers spread across It like she had recently been working and wasn't planning on leaving anytime soon. He glanced around the office not seeing a sight of her.

Nathan walked around the floor space before stopping outside the toilets. 'Haley…' He called out not hearing a sound. The last thing he needed was her attacking him for going into the women's bathrooms - not that it would be the first time he'd gone in there. Yea definitely don't give her that excuse.

'Haley…' He called out again. He noticed the sensor lights were on underneath the door. Nathan frowned, instinct told him to open it which is exactly what he did and there she was lying on the floor huddling her tummy, her face was twisted in pain. 'Oh my god what happened?' Nathan panicked as he got down on his knees beside her.

'Nathan…' she flinched in pain and he panicked. 'Hey…it's ok…its ok..' He said calmy as he carefully lifted her into his arms, her head fell against his chest as her hand remained clutched to her side. 'It's going to be ok Haley.' He urged her although a pregnant girl in pain on the floor of bathroom was never good thing. Ever.

XXXXX

He knew if she could have she would have gave off to him for the speed he drove, he was careful but he broke limits to get them there.

Now they sat waiting in the room. Nathan hadn't let go of her hand, neither of them seemed to notice.

'Haley James…' A nurse came through the Er doors offering a kind smile to the pair.

Nathan stood up with her.

'Just Haley I'm afraid we will call you in as soon as we can, the doctor just wants to look her over first.' the nurse assured. 'If further scans are required we will bring you down.

Nathan nodded feeling Haley tug him. He glanced down at her confused before realising he'd had her hand in a death grip. He dropped it giving her a small uneasy smile seeing the worry shining in her brown eyes and then she was taken away.

Haley waited unsurely sitting on the edge of the hospital bed beyond the blue curtain. She should of took comfort in their lack of panic, she knew doctors needed to remain relax and calm but this felt minor to them and major for her, the short stabbing pain in her side had regressed a little but it was still there.

The doctor who introduced himself as Doctor Copeland came back around with an easy smile on his face. 'you're going to be fine Haley round ligament pain brought on by stress is common and your results don't reveal anything abnormal. 'He said as he stood beside her..'here's the term of your pregnancy, your baby's sex, your …'

His words zoned out as Haley felt her heart race at the three-letter word on the page 'My baby's sex..' she gasped quietly.

'Oh I'm sorry did you not..'

'no, it's ok…'Haley said softly as she smiled. 'It's ok.'

Nathan was sitting forward in the plastic chair his head in his hands when he heard shuffling out the door.

'It's always good news when it's not an overnight stay in here.' the nurse said as she and Haley walked along. 'Get home safe you two.' She said kindly.

Nathan stood up from his chair the relief flooding through him when he noticed her. She seemed relaxed, happy almost. 'Everything's ok?' He hedged.

Haley nodded. 'Yea…'

'I mean….are you sure…they couldn't know that quick you were in a lot of pain..' Nathan said insecurely.

'It was severe ligament pain the doctor said it can be brought on by stress.'

Nathan nodded feeling even worse than before. This was all his fault, she had been stressing this entire pregnancy probably because of him and this whole situation. He'd been so wrapped up in them and what they would do when the baby came he didn't even think of how it was affecting her and the baby right now. Haley obviously wasn't feeling as well as she could be.

He felt horrible. His mother was right, his father would be ashamed of him.

Haley watched the mirage of conflicting emotions spread across Nathans face, his features which were usually set in stone seemed eroded tonight, he looked visibly upset and it surprised her.

Sure it wasn't a nice situation but it's not like they were playing happy families.

'Nathan…' she prodded softly.

'Let's get you home.' He said and she just nodded softly as he placed his hand on the small of her back and led her out to the hospital.

XXXXX

Next thing she knew her eyes were fluttering open as the engine cut off. 'Oh god….' Haley mumbled sleepily. 'Did I conk out the whole way?.'

'You need your sleep and you should rest tomorrow.' Nathan said. 'I already told mom you won't be in tomorrow.'

'Nathan…'

'You need to rest Hales besides its Friday in the office you know people are only productive until noon on that day.'

She was too tired to argue him.

Haley went to reach for the handle when he spoke to her again. 'You need me to carry you up?' She wasn't sure if it was her tiredness but his tone seemed to imply teasing. She wanted to say yes but she nodded. 'no.'

Nathan got out of his car anyway and came around to walk beside her. 'Just in case you go fainting on me again.' He said and she shook her head. 'I think I like you better when you don't care.' she mumbled.

He chuckled softly. 'Now I won't leave your side.'

'I can see that.' Haley said as they made their way up the first flight of stairs to her door.

'I've got it from here.' She said as she struggled to slip the key in.

Nathan didn't tease her for it, instead gently slipping his fingers through hers to grasp it and opened the door for them both.

'Ok you go straight to bed. I'm not leaving here until I see you in there.'

Even after the night the two of them had she still managed to roll her eyes at him while he chuckled and she shot him a glare. Some things would never change.

Haley was just getting in under the covers having changed into a baggy jersey when Nathan came to her doorway, he stood their smirking. 'Is that a knicks jersey? That's hot.'

Haley couldn't help but smile. 'Ok before you give 1 cool point to Haley it isn't mine it's an ex of Brooke's.'

'You wear your best friends ex's clothes that's just weird Hales.'

'It's comfy but yea he's not that kind of ex, we're all still friends. What did you bring me?'

Nathan smiled at her child like excitement as he handed her the cup of hot cocoa. 'Mom's special.' He said and for some absurd reason she felt the goosebumps tickle her skin as the cup passed between their fingers.

Haley sat up against the headboard sipping on the hot drink as Nathan hesitantly sat down on the bed, if she wasn't so exhausted she would have laughed at how awkward he seemed in her room.

'Haley look I know your tired and all after everything but there's some things I need to say to you, you don't have to say anything look even if you fall asleep I won't get mad…'

'What is it?' She prodded gently wondering if her tendency to nervously ramble was contagious seen as Nathan didn't seem like the type of guy to do it until now.

He sighed softly running a hand through his already mused up locks before he glanced her way again. 'I'm not proud of how I reacted Haley, how I've continued to…I really am sorry. I know you think when I mentioned options that's because I hated the thought of us having or keeping this child together it isn't that….it's more the panic over how the whole things going to play out which me even saying to you again now isn't helping cause you're not supposed to be stressing.'

'Its,,,'

'And don't say its ok cause you know it nots in fact if you weren't so exhausted now you'd probably be saying you've been right all along and I'm and ass…'

'Well I have been and you are' She teased lightly.

'You were scared tonight.' He said softly

She nodded her eyes catching his.

'Me too and then when I heard this was all brought on by stress…' He sighed softly. 'I really am sorry Haley.'

'This wasn't all you…'

'I haven't helped the situation and I know it's going to take a lot more than some lame apology and we can't just decide overnight we're gonna be civil and it will work out but maybe if we try for the baby …and I guess our focus now should be on keeping you healthy too…'

'With hot chocolate…' She teased.

'That's allowed.' He smiled feeling a little more at ease around her as he climbed up onto the bed lying beside her and rested his hands behind his head.

'Well your certainly making yourself comfortable.' Haley noted.

'I'm waiting until you fall asleep.'

'Nathan I'm not gona get out of bed now, also the doctor did say everything was fine.'

Haley reached over then to place down her mug as she lied down facing Nathan.

The two just lied there together in silence for a while before she spoke again. the words left her before she even contemplated what she was saying.

'It's a boy you know.'

Nathan was sure his heart stopped as he turned over on his side to face her, his eyes wide and imploring. 'What…but you said…'

'It's a boy Nathan. The doctor told me tonight…by accident actually.'

The smile that broke out on his face had her insides folding over in warmth.

'Wow…' he mumbled.

Haley just smiled.

'A son.' He said softly as their eyes met neither of them willing to look away both feeling the rather transfixing alignment of this very moment, despite the chaos and the confusion that preceded every single moment before it- right now it felt like this revelation as early as it was, was meant to be here like this.

Nathan swallowed hard pulling his eyes away from hers afraid if he looked in them any longer something would come spilling out, he didn't know what it was, he wanted to say it was possibly because of the openness of this moment and this baby they now shared between them but even before all of this there was something about Haley, something about being with her that made him almost powerless to those quiet demons inside of himself. It's like they wanted to be heard and he didn't want her to hear them, god if she did, if she seen how really messed up he felt she'd….she'd definitely freak about this baby and that's the last thing he wanted her to do.

Haley wasn't sure why her heart was beating so loudly, it felt like it was thumping out of her chest, perhaps the emotional gravity of this day of Nathan being here. God the way he looked at her just then it was like looking at a different person. Very rarely she has witnessed these mere intricate glimpses someone very different from the guy she knew at the office, hell she had witnessed that the night she slept with him and since refused to acknowledge it.

But it felt like she was missing something when it came to him and discovering it all the same and she wasn't sure whether to keep finding out or dismiss it entirely.