One Night in New York

by musicloverx

Can one night change your life? Nathan is her bosses son, the epitome of tall, dark and handsome and he knows it, uses it. Haley is the typical beautiful, amicable girl next door that he'd usually let bypass him and yet for him she's not typical at all. Some would say they're a complete mismatch but the consquences of one night are about to put them on a very similiar path...

12. Chapter 12

Chapter 12

2 weeks later

Nathan sighed in relief as he finally dropped his luggage and flopped down onto the black leather couch in the apartment. His usual flight of 45 minutes from Connecticut had taken almost 2 hours more with flight delays and then the onset of yet another snowstorm over New York city. Not that he had anyone to blame but himself, it was his decision after all to stay the extra night...

'So I have an idea…' His sandy haired friend said as he fingered some sort of gel like product through his hair.

'Well that's a first..' Nathan goaded sipping from a can as he continued to watch the basketball match playing on TV.

'I say you stay, one last Harriet's on a Sunday for old times sake…'

Nathan chuckled. 'That ear piercing annoying brunette still works there I take it?'

Clay grinned. 'You bet she not only works she strips there now.'

Nathan rolled his eyes. 'It's not a strip club Clay.'

'May as well be with what she wears to the bar.'

Nathan smirked.

'See…' Clay enthused.

'No I'm just thinking about what an idiot you are.'

'She wants me she's just playing hard to get. Besides, tonight's the night man….you know the night after New Years is full of women who didn't get their kiss at midnight or hell even the ones who want to find their prince charming..'

'And you're it?'

'We both are, come on us duo they don't stand a chance.'

'I don't know man I should…'

'Let me guess call Haley…ask for her permission…' Clay jabbed his friend.

'Well…no…' Nathan frowned. 'I'm working tomorrow and I was planning on stopping over at Haley's tonight.'

Clay chuckled.

'What?'

'You know you sound like the prize dad right now? What's next, loving devoted husband? Where's your life gone Nate?'

Nathan frowned at that. 'I thought you said you were happy for me?'

'Of course I'm happy for you, I'm happy considering the unplanned pregnancy things are working out but how close are you to this? I mean you were all for telling me just how much you two have emphasised that you still want to live your own lives..'

'We are.' Nathan said resolutely.

'What's one more night? You said yourself it felt like a very short visit..'

Nathan sighed. 'I don't know Clay..'

'What will you be in the doghouse with Haley?'

'No. It isn't like that..' Nathan could feel himself getting pissed now.

Clay just chuckled. 'So prove it big guy.' He teased him as he tossed him over a proper can of beer.' And drink up, it's your last night out for a while.'

The decision was made before he even really considered it.

Nathan leaned forward on the couch as he opened up his phone again his thumb hovering over her name. He had been so conflicted over the holidays, confused by the myriad of feelings inside of him and how much he'd missed her especially those first few days but in the space of questioning what the hell was happening to him he's also realised how blinded he had been, maybe how blinded they'd both being.

Its not like this could ever work. She was the girl next door and he was the bad guy she never should have got involved with. As much as Nathan hated clichés it was true. They ever even would have properly attempted whatever was happening between them it if it weren't for this baby. He reasoned with himself on the flight home that Haley was buying into this whole thing for the baby's sake but soon she too would see what a complete error this was and well he was never going to be the guy she'd have chosen.

And even if he was that guy, he knew all too much how life was never the fairy-tale like Jake had planned for it to be or even his father.

He couldn't even allow himself to play into the thought, the chance that Haley was the girl. 'His Karen' as his father used to say. To even allow that thought in for a second was risking everything he'd worked so hard to build since the last time he had been shattered to pieces.

To care for someone deeply, well with it came the inevitable consequence of loss and Nathan wasn't sure he'd survive that again. Ever.

And he wasn't about to test it.

He knew it was the right decision, things would feel more normal. He'd only decided it and he was feeling like he had some form of control over his life again.

Sighing he dragged himself off the couch and over to the counter where Lucas had left all the files he had to brief before tomorrow. So staying the extra night in Connecticut and going out had been such a good idea at the time.

Nathan rubbed his hand across his forehead as he glanced down at the files. He could do this, lose himself in work after all it had become his default setting in his early twenties.

He glanced at his watch. He needed to call Haley, he knew that. But he wasn't even sure what to say.

And lost in work he had been when over 40 minutes later Nathan heard a knock to his apartment door.

Nathan swung back the door not expecting to see the blonde beauty that had taken over every single thought inside his head the past two weeks so soon. And had been away from her two weeks only enhanced how naturally beautiful she really was? On instinct he swallowed hard as he took her in standing there in that cute black beanie of hers, her golden locks tumbling from underneath it, that light tint lingering on her lips after what he knew had been a long day in the office.

'Hey, I didn't know you were back until I met Luke in work…' She said openly and honestly, an easy smile lit up her face now.

the sound of her voice even has the hair standing to attnetion on his bare arms. Nathan felt himself stiffening up, confused by how challenged his resolution was with her standing right here in front of him.

And so he did what he was best at doing and distanced himself.

'Yea I just took an extra day I actually just got in this afternoon.' Nathan said as he walked back over to the kitchen counter where he had all the files spread out.

'Oh I figured your flight was last night.' Haley said as she let the door close behind her, dropping her handbag down on the side table as she stepped inside his apartment which was mostly dark aside from the overhead lights he had on in the kitchen area.

'It was meant to be I ended up going out..'

'Killing the black to work blues huh?…' Haley teased.

'Something like that…' Nathan mumbled as he continued sorting through the files skewing across his counter as if she wasn't standing across fromm him.

And that was the first hunch she got.

After the way they'd left things, the intensity of it all she had been nervous to see him but mostly those nerves were painted with excitement not the dread it was quickly turning to.

Something was off with him. She didn't really know how to take it, sure she thought things may even be a little awkward seen as this was their first time seeing each other in person after the kiss. they had spoke sparingly on the phone across the holidays but she hadn't seen him since that night he dropped her home. It's not like she expected Nathan to see her with open arms but she hadn't expected this kind of aloofness.

Haley wondered had she overstepped some invisible mark by coming around here, had something happened? All these silly excuses swarmed her mind and yet internally she just knew like the flicker of a light switch it all had changed and what was left inside of her was just stale.

'How's the baby?' He asked her.

He hadn't called their son 'baby' for a long time, nothing wrong with that he was a baby after all but it was usually my little man. Haley's acute recognition of that told her that her internal instinct was very much on par.

What went wrong? She felt like screaming it but she knew she would only end up crying.

'Eh yeh…everything's fine.' Haley barely got the words out. 'What about you?' She said biting the bullet watching as he froze momentarily before sifting through the paper again. Like he hadn't heard but his momentary pause told her he had and maybe just wished he hadn't.

'What about me?' Nathan pressed.

Haley didn't really like the way he threw the question back in her face as if not to ask, he was the one acting all distant and just weird all of a sudden. 'You just seem different…like off somehow' Haley acknowledged openly.

'If I'm being honest the last few days I've felt more like me.' Nathan said.

Haley frowned at his words and that stale feeling just grew inside of her.

'I think we've got too caught up in this…...'

And there it was. The first stab at her heart.

'When it comes down to it, we're not together Haley nor would we be had you not got pregnant so to even entertain that was just…hell we've just decided to live separately to raise this child..' He spoke like he was refuting a debate, it was hurtful and demeaning and that fiery spirit that inside of her fought back.

'You're the one that kissed me Nathan not the other way around so don't turn around and tell me that this is all on me I'm not alone in this..' Haley defended herself.

'In what?'

'Us... this... whatever it is…' Haley said throwing her hands up at his ridiculous question.

'There is no us.' Nathan said noticing her visibly flinch as he raised his voice at her. Nathan softened. 'Look I care about you Haley, both of you but I can't just step into the boyfriend or father role Haley and us play happy families cause you got pregnant the one time you slept with me life doesn't work that way…' He reasoned with her.

'I'm not asking you to play happy families Nathan. I just I guess I thought we were becoming friends you know both of our lives are changing so fast because of this..'

'We've got too caught up in that.'

Haley crossed her eyes at his words. 'So you keep saying'

'I just think maybe we should step back from each other a bit, obviously with the appointments I'll be there…'

But with me you won't. Haley felt like saying but she didn't. There was the second strike at her heart. He didn't want her. He never had. And while he'd got swept up in the baby and all of it she'd found herself purely swept up in him.

The stagnant feeling just kept on building inside of her. That moment they'd shared in her porchway, the very moment she'd replayed in her mind for the past two weeks just slipped away to nothingness.

And it just left her feeling empty and confused.

Somehow, she'd given him the power to leave her like this.

But she was a James girl and she'd be damned if she gave him anything more of herself. 'Done.' Haley agreed easily as she walked back over to the table adjacent to the door where she'd dropped her handbag.

'What?' Nathan spluttered unexpectedly as he watched her gather up her things like this was just as easy as saying done and then walking out the door.

'I said done Nathan, if distance or a step back or whatever a whole step away from this is what you want then you've got it.' Haley almost amazed herself at how much her voice didn't falter because she felt the sadness crawling up her throat.

To think shed expected to come over here and end up sharing a takeaway with him and chatting about their Christmas.

'Look Haley I …'

She found it quiet annoying how his aloofness seemed to fade in response to her own detachment, it's like as soon as she joined him in his game he stopped playing, he was forever creating a new game for them to play and she was so damn tired of it.

'What did you think was going to happen Nathan…you tell me you've felt more like you since you've been away from me and the baby and now you're surprised I'm gonna walk out the door.' Haley sighed. 'What you wanna sit and chat about how our Christmas' now…'

'We're still friends Haley we have this baby…'

She almost wanted to laugh - she wasn't foolish to think the pregnancy wasn't a major part of the reason they'd become so close but lately she'd also felt like there was more to this connection between them , like had she'd never slept with him they possibly could have dated and it have become something great.

'How silly of me.' Haley mumbled to herself as she slung her purse over her shoulder catching sight of his phone vibrating on the table.

'What?' Nathan said catching some of her words not entirely sure what she had said. His phone started vibrating rather abrasively though his quiet apartment then.

It had been a while since Haley even thought about Nathan's instincts , she'd become so swept up the romantic notion of him as this guy that just had a difficult past and was running from it the only way he knew how that she allowed herself to fall for him regardless.

And she had she realised now as she glanced up at him taking him in standing there in a simple navy sweater and grey jeans, his hair ruffled in that sexy way that drove her mad. She has fallen for him hard - it had just happened without her realising.

She found the most magic moments in her life happened without her conscious control of them , like she was free from the recesses of her mind but they were simultaneously some of the moments that brought her the most pain.

Just like now.

'Haley..' Nathan prodded softly.

'Carries calling you.' Haley said with a dry tone.

Nathan grimaced and Haley was pretty sure why. 'She's not…that's not what it looks like.' He fumbled for words, he couldn't even…Haley would take this the completely wrong way.

'It doesn't matter we're not together right I mean we wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for this child right? Haley threw his words back at him before she reached for the door handle. 'I've got to go.' She said curtly.

'Haley I'm sorry.' Nathan said not knowing what else to say

'Yea me too.' Haley said unemotionally as she walked away from him

XXXXX

'Looks like it's just you and me now bud, I know you like the sound of your daddy's voice but you might not hear for a little while… mummy just needs a timeout now..' Haley said softly as she sat up onto the stool in her kitchen the following morning. Not going to cry. Not going to cry. She kept on chanting to herself.

'Why does mummy need a timeout?' Brooke said as she breezed through the kitchen in a pair of flashy red heels and a navy business suit.

'You look..'

'Like New York's net hot emergent designer whose just about to get her break…' Brooke said pointedly as she grabbed her expresso mug.

'Well yeah…' Haley said as she spoke to her tummy. 'Aunt Brooke is crazy….'

Brooke just smiled. 'What does mummy need a time out from?'

'Oh you know life…' Haley said not the least bit dramatic.

'What happened?' Brooke said frowning as she noticed there wasn't even anything jokey about this at all.

'Just what you said was going to happen Brooke, I let my guard down and I think I actually started to like him and…' Haley sighed willing herself not to get upset over this. 'Well let's just say that Nathan had a totally different realisation in our time apart….'

'That's it I swear I'm gonna get a pitch fork or something and march into his office.'

'Yea that would really finish off your look.' Haley tried to joke.

'What exactly did he say to you?'

'He was completely off when I went over there I just got this horrible feeling you know.' Haley said. 'Anyway I called him out on it I said something was off and you know what he said?' Haley sighed rhetorically. 'He said he's felt more like himself the last few days. He said we should have space that we've been too caught up in this..'

'So what he's the one that started calling you at night unannounced or showing up here and what about that almost kiss at thanksgiving the one you told me about….' Brooke's eyebrow cocked up then when she noticed her friend's familiar denial behaviour as she glanced down biting her lip all of a sudden engrossed in the bowl of soggy cereal in front of her.

'Haley…it was an almost kiss right?.'

'No….' Haley shook her head. 'I mean yea…' She flustered out. 'We didn't kiss then but we did the night before I left..'

Brooke's eyes widened softly. 'When?'

'After the party he walked me home and when he dropped me off he kissed me.' Haley admitted then.

'How come you never told me?' she said softly.

'Because I was scared Brooke... Haley admitted. 'And confused...'

'And then you left and when you came back he….god I could hurt him.'

'Technically he hasn't done anything wrong….'

'Oh aside from breaking your heart.

'I wasn't in love with him, I'm not..' Haley said softly.

'Haley you don't let anyone in, you never have -…until Nathan I know you don't want to admit that but it's true.'

'You remember what you said to me when I told you we were gonna try for this baby..'

'Yea…' Brooke said softly. 'I told you to…'

'Be careful.' Haley finished for her. 'You said this could end up painful if I let my guard down. God Brooke was I just completely naive or what, I mean I really thought this wouldn't happen to me…..I don't even know how it did it just happened..'

'That's usually how it does.' Brooke said softly. 'I'm sorry Haley…' She said as she saddled up to her friend pulling her in for side hug. 'It's not supposed to be like this, we're much to pretty to get our hearts broken.'

Haley just smiled at her words.

'You gonna be ok?'

'I have to be.' Haley said. 'For this little munchkin but I also have to protect myself and that means not being as forthcoming with Nathan as I have been, sure I want him to be in ours son's life I just don't think he should be in mine.'

'Right now he doesn't deserve to be.' Brooke said honestly. 'And I really want to go all 8th grade cheer camp on his ass.'

Haley giggled at that but it was empty. 'God I can't believe we thought that competition was like the weight of the world on our shoulders.'

'Eh Haley it was trust me I still have nightmares about that routine.' Brooke dramatized. 'Look I have to go you show up late for these things and you're out with the drop of a hat.'

'You're gonna get your break Brooke you know that?'

'Things always work out in the end right?'

'We got to keep believing in that.' Haley said with a smile that didn't quiet reach her eyes as Brooke gave her one last gentle squeeze. 'It's going to be okay.'

XXXXX

'What two weeks off wasn't enough for you? You had to take yesterday as well?' Peyton jibbed Nathan as she came in through his office doors plonking the briefing on his desk. 'That's for this morning's review.'

'I went out Sunday night so…'

'Yea I heard Carrie told the whole office she met the boss out..'

'She's from Connecticut happened to be in the same bar as us that's all there was to it.'

'She said she hooked up with you.'

'We didn't hook up.' Nathan said very clearly.

'I know you wouldn't do that to Haley.' Peyton said.

Nathan frowned at her words. 'Well me and Haley aren't in a relationship Peyton.'

This time Peyton frowned at his curt tone. 'Well I know that but you two have gotten close...'

'Gotten close doesn't constitute relationship.'

'So what are you saying that you would have hooked up with someone Sunday night?'

'Not Sunday night but if it were to happen I've nothing to feel guilty about.'

Peyton rolled her eyes at Nathan's familiar denial before she pointedly said. 'You like her.'

'Right I like her….everyone likes Haley, she's a likeable girl….wholly annoying but also likeable. What has that got to do with any of this?'

'No you like her Nathan …you're running again. You do this every time the moment things start going well for you, you run its why you went to Clay isn't it…some solid man advice cause let's put it out there he's been doing really well running from himself since Sara died why not join him?'

'For your information Peyton things in my life had been going well before all this baby stuff….I was quite content and don't bring Clay into this it has nothing to do with it.'

'Quite content fine….I'll play along you were quite content Nathan but you know what you've been lately….happy….yea that 5-letter word that hasn't really being in your life since we lost Jake, I've seen a guy I used to know lately and there's no way I'm letting you mess that up…'

'I'm not messing anything up I'm just trying to get some normality in my life back..'

'Is that what Clay said you needed?'

'No it's what I noticed was missing when I went to Connecticut..'

'That's an illusion.' Peyton argued.

'No what's an illusion is what me and Haley have been living in, playing pretend shopping for the baby, ringing each other….where was it gonna go Peyt?'

'I think you know and that's why your freaking out.'

'I'm not freaking out I'm just being realistic in fact this is the first day I've woken up and things just feel more normal again.'

'And where does Haley stand in all of this? You know she actually said she missed you yesterday we were joking about it how she could actually miss you but she did.'

And he had missed her. He had. But he wasn't that kind of a guy and he wasn't gonna be that kind of guy.

Peyton took his radio silence as her answer. 'Dammit Nathan you've already spoke to her haven't you..'

'I just said we need a step back that's all. Haley's a big girl Peyt she was fine, it's not like any of us have feelings.'

'Right.' Peyton said pissed off at his complete ignorance towards the situation; he truly was living in denial land because from what she could see Nathan had definitely been feeling something for a certain blonde. 'You know you're going to screw up the best thing that's ever happened to you…'

Nathan frowned at her words looking up from his desk. 'They're still going to be in my life Peyton I'm not walking away from either of them, I'm just saying we need to be sensible here….this is how it is going to be when the baby comes along.'

'And you'd be ok with that? Sharing your son with another family, she'll move on and be gone out of your life…you'll have your son but Haley will be gone, baby or not a girl like Haley is very hard to find Nathan and something tells me you know that. Are you willing to let that go?'

'She was never mine to begin with Peyton.'

Peyton just looked like she was giving up. 'She likes you that much I know.'

'Why are you so adamant on this? Not everything works out like a little fairy-tale you of all people should know that…' Nathan couldn't help but argue then feeling his anger getting the better of him, too many people were pressing him lately on the right way to live his own life. It was just ridiculous.

Peyton gave him a sorry, hurtful look and Nathan immediately felt worse than ever.

'You know what Nathan your right I know exactly what it feels like not to have that but not by choice so if a person has a choice I'll do everything in my damn power to make them realise just how lucky they are to have that but I'm done trying with you.'

Nathan sighed running his hands through his hair. 'Peyton wait….' She had already pulled back his office door with extreme force. Some days it felt like they were teenagers again and she was slamming his bedroom door, between the pair of them they went from low key to hot-headed within seconds - Jake was always the middle man pulling him apart but back in those days the three of them would end up laughing. He hardly ever laughed with Peyton anymore. And they have become closer since losing Jake but in ways it felt like their relationship was just marred with pain now and not the joy it once was.

XXXXX

'Should I be worried that my best friend is ringing you first about road vogue?' Haley teased Luke as she came into the boardroom dropping her stuff down beside him.

Lucas just shook his head with a big goofy smile on his face.

Haley couldn't help but smile. 'Brooke's really happy Luke and shed kill me for saying this but you're a big part of that.' She said honestly.

'Unlike my prick of a bother to quote Brooke..' Lucas said. 'Who seems to be doing the completely opposite for you.'

'She told you.' Haley said obviously.

'Not so much told as shouted down the line that she wished she' dug her heel in his ass while she had the chance.'

Haley smiled. That was so Brooke. 'She can get a little over protective. But I can fight my own battles and this is one I'm done fighting in if he wants space from all of this he's got it.'

Lucas nodded knowingly deciding the one thing Haley needed right now was not to have her head wrecked over Nathan. 'So how was your first Christmas without touching a drop of alcohol?' Lucas teased her.

Haley smiled as she began to recount a typical James family Christmas.

Nathan walked into the boardroom, the briefing Peyton had landed on his desk this morning tucked underneath his arm. He immediately heard Haley's giggles floating up towards the end of the table where he usually sat. She was sitting there so comfortable laughing with Lucas and all of a sudden he found himself feeling misplaced despite how much he'd argued with himself and with Peyton how back to normal he felt.

Damn if they weren't all screwing with his head.

Haley sitting down the back of the room laughing away with Lucas just wasn't helping things.

When Lucas glanced up he noted how tense Nathan appeared. You've done this to yourself. He felt like saying to him but bit his tongue, the least he could do Haley was not leave her with it. 'I guess that's my cue to go hope your meeting doesn't run too long. See you for lunch?'

'That's if Brooke hasn't taken you away.' Haley teased him.

'I like Brooke Haley I do but lunch with her after a morning at rogue vogue I do not want.'

Haley just giggled knowing exactly what he meant.

'Eh…Hi Haley..' Nathan said softly as he walked down to the end table now and stood in front of her.

Haley lifted her eyes in surprise not expecting him to make the move down to her obviously, she figured Nathan would keep his distance after last night. If she wasn't feeling so sour about it all she may even smile at his obvious awkwardness now, why was he acting like he wasn't the one that placed them in this situation?

It's like he decided to play this particular game and not read the rulebook.

'Hey.' Haley said easily offering him a very hesitant smile before she glanced at the papers in front of her again. She felt his presence heavily. 'Do you need something? She asked trying not to be brazen about this when she felt like being brazen.

'No…well before everyone gets here…I was just wondering if…well things kind of fell flat last night.'

Whose fault is that? Haley bit her tongue as she listened to him.

'I was wondering if you have a scan soon I'm sure you said we had the 28 week one after the holidays…I have it in my head.'

Haley shook her head. 'No.' She tried to swallow down the slight bit of guilt she felt before glancing back at him. One scan wouldn't hurt. It was just the 28-week growth scan, another routine scan it's not like Nathan was going to discover a whole lot more between their last one and now. She needed to do this one alone after everything.

'Oh..' Nathan mumbled. 'I thought there was one..'

'I visited my home doctor when I was back at Christmas too so everything's fine.' Haley said then meeting his eyes. For a second she thought he was going to challenge her, prob a bit further but he relented much to her relief.

Nathan nodded feeling unsettled by the screen that seemed to be placed between them now, Haley felt distant formal almost and it really wasn't sitting well with him. It hadn't even been like this with them in the beginning, even when they fought with each other.

So he'd wanted to put distance between them but not this sort of cold distance.

It's like everything they'd shared together had just been taken back and locked away like a passing déjà vu memory where you wondered if any of it had even been real.

'Haley look about last night…' Nathan began softly.

Haley winced. Why did he have to do this here? 'Nathan it's ok you were just being honest.'

'I didn't want to hurt you.'

'It doesn't matter.'

'It does.' He countered softly.

'It doesn't change anything.' Haley said matter of factly.

He didn't know what to say to that. She was right, an apology or his declaration that he didn't want to hurt her didn't change a damn thing.

Haley could have sworn she actually let a breath go when people started filtering into the boardroom. The silence between them was so ear-piercing, for two people who'd bantered so much from the start it was weird having nothing to say now.

'Hey Nathan, welcome back.' Some of their co-workers approached him then as Haley used that time as an excuse to move away from him towards Anna and get in to conversation with her.

This space, timeout or whatever it was called was the only thing that was going to help her forget how she felt about him and remind herself that that idea in her head would never come into fruition.

XXXXX

The weeks past simultaneously fast and slowly for Haley since she and Nathan had their moment; whatever it was, hardly a break up? Not really the end of friendship either when there hadn't being a solid one to begin with.

No it was more the decision he made that he didn't want anything to do with her. Yep, that was it. Take a step back meaning I wish I hadn't gotten tangled up in this mess with you but I guess I can still support the baby while living my own life.

It is what they'd agreed on, they'd continue to try and live their separate lives while raising a child. Haley didn't know why she was still so lost in herself with how it all played out after she returned from her Christmas break.

That's right you only went and fell for the guy Haley. Yep these past 3 weeks, 2 of which had been spent on maternity leave had given her enough time and space to realise she had actually started to like Nathan a lot.

At first she chalked it to hormones and the baby and almost convincing herself she wanted him because of that but she was only kidding herself, the spark had been there since they met. That inevitable spark shed ignored that soon turned into a raging flame the night they slept in that hotel together and then was almost slowly igniting into something so much more profound; in their late night phone calls, in that real handsome grin that would crinkle his features instead of that smug smirk he always wore for everyone else, in the way he would bend down and speak to her tummy when he'd stop by the apartment. He captured her heart in a way she never ever saw coming, she'd stopped believing in that kind of love a long time ago, not that she was cynical she just didn't hold the expectation of it, it's like she'd convinced herself because of that she was almost protected against it, like it wouldn't happen for her.

Just like she'd convinced herself Nathan wasn't the type of guy to pursue relationships or fall for a girl like her. Nice girl Haley James.

And yet despite all of that she'd fallen for him anyway.

The last 3 weeks had been the hardest of her pregnancy, it was actually easier in the beginning when they weren't close. But now she just disheartened and a little hard done by, he'd kissed her, he was the one that told her he'd miss her and then he never had.

Maybe Brooke was right, maybe he had broken a little piece of her heart.

And that little piece he'd broken may as well have hardened to stone. As innate as it was for Haley to open up around people if they rejected that she often closed herself entirely.

She wasn't trying to be hurt Nathan back, it wasn't that. She was just trying to protect herself.

But she had placed as much distance between them as she could, the last two weeks out of the office had helped with that. Helped her but there was no avoiding today, he'd called last night and asked if she could come over to his mom's to help traul through some of Lily's old stuff. The conversation was vague and Haley was happy to leave it at that just to get him off the phone.

The doorbell rang breaking Haley from her thoughts. She blew out a breath before going over to the door and pulling it back to see Nathan standing there looking rather dishevelled, his typical Friday evening sexy undone kind of look; yep pregnancy hormones were a bitch.

'Did you run here?' Haley questioned as she noticed then how out of breath he was, one forearm leaning against her door as he caught his breath.

Nathan shrugged sheepishly. 'I ran up the stairs and have just realised how unfit I've gotten.'

He certainly didn't look unfit Haley thought as her eyes took him in of their own accord, standing there in a fitted grey shirt undone up to his elbows and navy work pants.

'Has it really just being two weeks?'

'Huh…' Haley mumbled realising Nathan had said something and she glanced up noticing his eyes weren't on her at all but in fact her belly. 'You look much bigger..'

Haley gave him another expectant look and Nathan panicked. 'Not you Hales…the bump , the baby looks bigger….not you, I mean you're small probably why the bump looks so big… He grimaced at the heedless probably even more insulting ramble.

Haley gave him a sheepish smile of her own. 'Nathan it's fine I wasn't about to bite your head off. I am very pregnant.'

'I know I can't believe it's just a few weeks to go.' He said softly.

'I know.' She replied.

A stiffy silence followed them, one each equally hated but didn't know what to do about.

'So eh…we miss you at the office..' Nathan said lamely.

'I'm sorry I left you to deal with the hounding questions.' Haley said thinking back on her last week in the office the rumours of her impending maternity leave and baby were just grating so much she told Peyton to tell the next person that came to her with a rumour to quash it immediately and say it was Nathan's. That rumour was quashed at Friday night drinks after Haley left.

'Nothing I couldn't handle.' Nathan said. 'I'm glad how it happened, I didn't want you to have to deal with that Haley.' Their eyes met before Haley tore hers away from his stealthy gaze.'

'So will we get going?' she said then finding it rather unsettling how frigid things seemed between them.

'Sure.' Nathan said waiting for Haley to grab her things and lock her door.

Haley was really grateful for Luke right about now, he'd rang Nathan in preparation for an important meeting with Mr. Rogers about expanding their financial investments. He's been on that call for mot of the ride out of the city. It wasn't like Luke to be freaking out, he was usually the calm one which Haley was pretty sure Luke was actively telling Nathan on the phone now as the younger brother beside her defended himself saying he never rang Luke freaking out like this.

'Look man we're almost here I got to go.' Nathan said then as Haley's eyes widened in awe at the sight of the neighbourhood they'd found themselves in, they were about an hour out of the city now in a lovely neighbourhood called Hudson Valley.

'It's beautiful out here.' Haley said as she took in the perfect framing of pink dogwood trees up the entire valley.

Nathan smiled at her words. 'Yea it's very mum, it's her little home from home you know.' He indicated into the left then at the corner house, a subtle olive-green shade with complimenting white windows and a white oak porch. Haley smiled. This was so very Karen.

They got out of the car in companionable silence and Haley couldn't' help but wonder if somehow back in that house the stuffy feeling would come back again. She wished Karen was here but Nathan had told her she wanted to give them some time to sort through stuff before she brought Lily home on top of them.

'So Haley there's kind of a reason I asked you to come out here aside from just going through all of Lily's stuff…' Nathan said then as the pair of them came into the kitchen where he dropped the keys onto the counter. 'I didn't want to ambush you with this in front of mum..'

'O-kay…' Haley hedged not really sure where he was going with this but already very much aware that one ambush in her lifetime was more than enough for Nathan.

'Mums moving back home to Tree Hill.' He said softly.

'Oh….' Haley said softly before frowning. 'Are we here to pack?' She couldn't help but babble resulting in a soft chuckle being expelled from his lips that still made her heart flutter. Haley scolded herself, not like she had much control over that though.

'No we're not here to pack.' Nathan smiled before drumming his fingers along the countertop not really sure why he was so nervous about saying this.

'What is it Nathan?'

The soft tone of her voice had him calming like always. 'She's offered me the house Hales, well me or Luke but we spoke about it and with the baby and everything…'

'You're moving…' Haley said surprised trying to wrap her head around where he was directing this conversation.

'Well no…its why I brought you here I wanted to see what you'd think.'

It's perfect…for a family. Haley thought wearily. They were so far from that unit they weren't even touching the same area code. Hadn't Nathan said he wanted a step back for them to live their own lives….this seemed to contradict this.

Noting the shock and evident silence he stepped in. 'I know it's a lot Haley, I haven't even made a decision…I just thought it's not far out of the city and my apartment is really not suited to a baby, I mean there may be weekends mum will be staying over and I don't want to be putting her up there, me taking over the house seems like the best bet right now…'

'I don't know what to say..I don't know what you expect me to say..' Haley commented softly.

'Say you don't think it's the worst idea…' Nathan plead jokingly with a wistful smile.

Haley sighed. 'I just…I don't understand this Nathan does it not completely contradict everything you said?'

Nathan frowned at her words and so she continued as hesitant as she was to broach this topic of conversation again.

'You said your life was starting to feel like normal right and we were too caught up in this…how is selling your apartment and moving out of the city keeping up your end of the deal I mean…'

'I didn't think we made a deal..'

'You made the deal.' Haley fired back all of a shot and there it was that stuffy silence evaded them again.

Nathan hesitated in the uncomfortable space between them. 'I get it you're still upset with me.'

'I'm not upset I just feel like you're pulling the rug out from under me time and time again Nathan and I can't keep up. This whole house to me….right now doesn't make any sense. I just feel like you're gonna regret this, you'll miss your life in New York and then you'll end up resenting me even more…'

'Is that what you think? That I resent you?'

He seemed hurt by the thought but she wasn't allowing herself to even buy into that. 'Maybe not resent but god Nathan you were so cold that night you came back after the holidays…it's like you realised how much I affected your life and the thought of seeing me again…'

'It wasn't like that.' He told her like he was willing her to believe something right now he didn't really understand himself.

'Then what was it Nathan?…'

The silence hung in the air between them weighted with misunderstanding and confusion.

'Haleeey..' Lily's over excited squeal broke through the heavy tension in the air as her feet ran into the kitchen. 'Wow it's so big..' She said as she noticed her tummy.

Haley smiled at the little girl, feeling Nathan's eyes linger on her which made it impossible to escape the tension between them even with Lily in the room. 'Want to say hi?'

'Hi peanut…' Lily said.

'I don't think he's a peanut anymore Lils.' Nathan said his voice thick with emotion. He cleared his throat just as Karen came into the kitchen.

'Hello you two.' She said as she dropped down the grocery bags into the countertops.

'Hi Karen. This house from what I've seen is beautiful.'

'Nathan not give you the grand tour.. '

'We just got here mum.' Nathan said, 'Traffic was busy coming out of the city.'

'Always is Friday evening everyone escapes.' Karen said as she began to unload the bags. 'I left a lot of Lily's old stuff in the living room if you want to have a look through it while I get dinner prepared..'

'Can I help?' Lily said excitedly.

'Of course.' Haley said more than pleased to have the little girl in the company of her and Nathan.

XXXXX

'Need any help?' Haley said as she stepped into the kitchen over an hour later where Karen was pulling out a casserole dish.

'You know I would tell you you're very near your due date and should sit down but I never listened to it from my boys so..' Karen teased as Haley just smiled.

Karen smiled. 'You've got that whole pregnancy glow about you Haley, you've the hair for it I just looked drowned out..' She mused.

'Well I certainly don't feel it but thank you' Haley said as she instinctively took the vegetables off the boil and began to drain the water. 'Brooke's being telling me it since week 8 I swear she was doing it to prevent the inevitable I'm so fat cry.'

'Which I take it you had anyway.'

'Precisely.' Haley laughed. 'We were going out and one dress wouldn't fit so of course I had a complete breakdown.' She laughed softly now.

'I was pregnant with Lucas my senior prom so you can imagine how that went.' Karen teased. 'He seems happy with this Brooke girl I feel its quiet serious when I've yet to meet her.'

'She's very bubbly.' Haley said.

'I think Lucas needs a bit of bubbly in his life much too sulky that boy sometimes.'

Haley giggled.

'Speaking of sulky boys I take it Nathan told you?'

Haley took too emptying the vegetables into the shared bowl as she spoke. 'He did.'

'Haley I don't want to pry I know Nathan is my son and you probably think that puts me and you in ana awkward position but I would hope not, I'd like to think aside from work we have come friends and if anything is going on especially with this baby you can talk to me.' Karen said as she sent her a soft smile.

Haley bit her lip as she carefully fixed the vegetables into the bowl. 'It's everything surrounding the baby.' She admitted softly. 'We agreed to live separately Karen try and raise it separately but be there for each other so neither of us would have to move or completely overturn our lives…so Nathan suggesting he might move here….I'm just struggling with that that's all.'

'Would it help you if I told you that if any of my boys were to move out of New York first it would be Nathan..'

Haley looked at her unexpectedly.

'I know you'd think Luke right?'

Haley nodded.

'Luke likes the anonymity of the city, he loves the feeling of getting lost there he was always a bit of a lone soul in school.' Karen admitted. 'Whereas Nathan let's say he played into the attention more..' Karen smiled. 'But it was just a means to an end, a way to survive high school when he got out of it he began to soften and suddenly the crowds and all of it were too smothering for him. I mean he can be reckless Haley and make very rash decisions but this…this wasn't one of them.'

'I guess I just thought he was thinking down the line his apartment wouldn't be suitable enough so he'd just move here for the kid I just…I feel like he might later regret it.'

'We talked about me moving and Nathan moving outside the city months before all this happened I just figured now gave me the push I needed besides I ant Lily to go to high school in Tree Hill. It's home you know, it always will be. I'll be doing most of my work from there and maybe fly back to New York fortnightly and take this munchkin off your hands.' Karen said knowingly nodding at Haley's tummy.

Haley couldn't help but smile at that. 'Thanks Karen.'

'Well don't thank me yet..' She kidded. 'It's what I'm here for.'

XXXXX

Haley came back into the living room her blonde locks now tousled up into a high bun without a trace of make up on and she was effortlessly glowing.

Nathan sent her a soft smile. 'I take it seen as you've no make-up on Lils isn't going to be a make-up artist just yet…' He kidded around.

Haley smiled. 'I wasn't really feeling the purple eyeshadow and pink cheeks look.'

Nathan's smiled widened.

'I wouldn't be smiling I totally told her you're up next.'

'Your funny Hales.'

Nathan expelled a soft sigh as they fell into silence again, he missed Haley kidding around with him leaning into his jokes with terrible ones of her own, missed her laugh, missed how happy she used to be in his company and how happy she made him.

He was aware he'd brought this on himself, on them but he never expected it to be like this.

He thought things would just go back to how they were before they got even closer where they still bantered; normal. They'd found themselves in this confusing grey area where Nathan felt they weren't even friends anymore, they were just stuck and while Haley may have felt that he resented her he was beginning to realise it was most definitely the other way around and probably rightly so. He had caused this.

'Haley I know I hurt you I'm sorry when I said we needed to step away from this I didn't mean I didn't want us to not talk or see each other…I've barely being able to reach you these past two weeks.'

'It's easier that way..' Haley said softly.

'Why?' Nathan said his eyes beseeching hers now and she stood in front of the fire pulling at the sleeves of her sweater.

Because I have feelings for you. 'It just is.' Haley replied helplessly. What more could she say, if he kept pushing she'd say the words that would have running him from her entirely she was sure of it.

'So where does this leave us?'

'I guess right back where we started.' Haley supplied with a shrug. 'Friend….acquaintances even, let's just focus on our son that is the only reason we're here right…'

'Right.' Nathan said softly as he caught her eyes. 'Guess I better take you home.' He said then as he patted his jeans down for his keys.

'Eh your mum suggested staying she said you were planning on waiting here the weekend so she can take me up in the morning cause she is dropping stuff at the office.'

'OH eh sure…' Nathan said. 'We've only another spare room though…'

Haley gave him a curious look.

'3-bedroom house.' Nathan said wondering why all of a sudden he was sounding like a 17-year-old boy fumbling over the fact he may have to share with a girl.

'Oh….' Haley said realising.

'I can sleep on the couch.'

'No…no it's fine.' Acquaintances share beds right? She mused sarcastically to herself. 'It's fine.' Haley said as she caught Nathan's hesitance. 'I just haven't been sleeping great the last few nights so if I do keep you up you may have to go to the couch. He's being kicking a lot.' Haley said rubbing her tummy.

The last trimester Nathan felt had definitely being a little tougher on Haley, such a petite thing feeling the strain of the late weeks of pregnancy. 'How about you get ready for bed and I'll bring you up a hot chocolate.' He said wanting to do something nice for her.

'Ok.' Haley said sending him a small unsure smile as she padded out of the room.

Nathan leant back against the couch blowing out a breath as he closed his eyes trying to sieve through the myriad of confusion in his head.

'You okay honey?' Karen prodded softly as she walked into the room a mug of cocoa in her hands.

Nathan smiled at her.

'I made a pot.' She told him as she took a sip looking at him knowingly.

'I'm fine mom.' Nathan answered almost automatically.

'Ok let's try that again. Are you two okay?'

'I don't know.' Nathan admitted honestly. 'I feel like I'm messing things up and the baby isn't even here yet.' He sighed.

Karen smiled softly as she positioned herself on the sofa beside him tucking her legs under herself. 'I happen to think you've come a long way from the boy that broke down in front of me almost 9 months ago and told me he couldn't do this.'

'I'm not sure Haley would say the same I've just made this harder for her.'

'Why is that?' Karen prodded gently.

Nathan shrugged.

'You know I think maybe if you stop trying to control it…your relationship with her things will get easier.' Karen said softly. 'This whole friends one minute, distancing the next. Maybe just let things be without so much conscious thought and you'll both find yourselves floating on water rather than trudging through mud.'

Nathan smiled at his mother's words, poetic as they were. 'Sounds like something Luke would say.'

Karen smiled. 'Did I also tell you things are going to be ok lately?'

Nathan just gave her a look. Cause they are, they will be.'

Nathan stepped into his room offering Haley a small smile as she chatted away softly on the phone. He left the mug of hot cocoa by her bed before walking into the bathroom and turning the shower on.

Haley heard the low volume humming of the shower against the back wall its rhythm almost melodic to the high energy of her mum on the call.

'I think I'll need you around more after the baby is born Mum.' She said softly.

'I know but I just want to be there in case he comes early and I also want to meet Nathan you've kept me away for 9 months…'

'And 7 of which weren't spent in London no?' Haley teased her mum.

Lydia cackled on the other end and it just made her smile.

'Still honey I'd like to be there I'm going to rent a room for the 2 weeks.'

'You don't have to do that…' Haley said. 'You can take my room I'll room in with Brooke.'

'For two weeks?' Lydia said. 'I know she's your best friend and I love her to pieces but you can't room with her for 2 weeks Haley.'

Haley giggled at her mother. 'I really miss you mom.'

'I miss you two my baby girl but I'll see you very soon.'

Haley smiled as she clicked the end tone on the phone just as Nathan stepped back into the bedroom shirtless with lounge pants on running a cotton white towel through his damp locks.

Haley peeled her gaze away from him as she left her phone to the side and picked up the mug of hot cocoa. 'Thanks.'

'It's all mom Hales she made a pot of it.'

'A pot.' Haley said with a smile.

Nathan shrugged. 'Lily goes for a bowl.'

Haley smiled at that. 'That was my mom on the phone, she's coming to stay next week until the baby gets here.'

Nathan dropped down onto the bed beside her the towel hanging limply around his neck. 'That'll be nice for you to have her here.'

'She wants to meet you.' Haley said quiet wearily.

'What is she going to try and hurt me?'

The thought made Haley giggle, her mother though she could be sharp with her words was the softest creature on the planet, she saw goodness in everyone and everything.

'Well I'm glad the thought amuses you…'

'It's not that…it's my mom she's not like that, not that she's a complete push over but she wouldn't deliberately go out of her way to hurt someone…'

'Sounds like you.' Nathan said softly as their eyes met. 'I mean you're definitely no pushover Haley but you always try and see the good in people.' You did in me he felt like saying but he swallowed the words down feeling they were almost futile now after the way he'd acted.

Haley drank another sip of hot chocolate letting his words simmer in the air between them for a moment before speaking again. 'So…eh mom flies in next week I was thinking we could do lunch or something maybe even with you and Karen that might make the meeting less ….weird I guess.'

'Sure that sounds good.' Nathan said equally unwilling to sit through a meal with Haley and her mother alone as she was.

The pair sat in silence then as Haley left her half empty hot chocolate on the dresser she pushed up on the bed then before pulling the pillows back down and snuggling down underneath the covers. 'I'm gonna try get some sleep it's been a long day.'

'Ok.' Nathan said softly. 'Just let me know if you need anything ok.'

Haley just gave him a small nod before she turned over on her side. Nathan watched her for a few moments before turning his eyes back towards the ceiling.

Things weren't even right back to where they started, it was worse and he'd only himself to blame for pushing her away. The weight of Peyton's words to him weighed heavily on his mind, sure he'd been content with his normal life but pregnancy aside these last few months with Haley he'd actually been happy and after the magnitude of loss he'd experienced in his early twenties he couldn't even remember when he'd laughed or felt so light-hearted and that was all Haley. And all he'd done was hurt her. Nathan sighed softly as he too turned on his side their backs facing each other wondering how the hell they were going to make it through the next few weeks side by side and yet metaphorically worlds apart.