Author's Note: Thank you all for your kind words. They are much
appreciated. Oh, and I'm looking for a beta if anyone's interested, just
email me at mlt@sfu.ca
Disclaimer: If I owned One Tree Hill I wouldn't need to write fan fiction
Chapter Four
Peyton spotted Lucas brooding over his lunch and walked over. "Mind some company?" He looked up, mumbled something she took as an invitation and went on brooding. "I suppose I don't need to ask what you're thinking about."
"Look Peyton," Lucas snapped. "I'm really not in the mood for chit chat right now.
Peyton was unfazed. "That's all right. You can just listen. Haley told me how you reacted."
"And? How did you expect me to react?"
"Exactly like you did but that doesn't mean you should have. Luke, how long have you and Haley been best friends."
"Forever."
"So do you really want to alienate her? Because that's what's going to happen if you keep up this hostility towards Nathan."
"You know, I thought you of all people would understand. You know what a jerk Nathan is."
"I know what a jerk he was to me. You're right Lucas, Nathan didn't treat me very well when we were together. I wasn't that nice to him either a lot of the time. We weren't right for each other; that's what it all boils down to. He and Haley are right for each other and it shows in the way he treats her. Have you ever really watched them together Lucas? He dotes on her. Just look at the way he ran out of class after her. Deep down, you know he loves her and that he treats her well."
"No I don't."
"Yes you do because if you thought he wasn't treating her well, you'd have kicked his ass long ago."
"I tried to but Haley stopped me."
"You'd just received some shocking news. That doesn't count."
"Look Peyton, I already told my mom I'd try to put up with Nathan for Haley's sake but I'm not making any promises. Besides, it's really none of your business."
"Sure it is. I'm Haley's friend and I'm your friend. That makes it my business."
"Is that what we are now Peyton? Friends? It's hard to keep track."
"Hey, you're the one who dated Brooke remember."
"For like a week; are you going to hold that over my head forever?"
"Maybe. It keeps things interesting." She meant it as a joke but noticed he wasn't smiling. "It's going to take time for me to get the image of you and Brooke out of my head. You're going to have to accept that."
"Uh huh."
***
Nathan caught Haley staring at the table where Lucas and Peyton were sitting. "Penny for your thoughts?"
"I'm just wondering if things with me and Lucas will ever be the same again. I'm wondering if I've lost my best friend."
"They will and you haven't. The guy's upset and we can't blame him for that but he'll come around."
"I don't know."
"He will. Do you know why?"
"No."
"Because if your friendship didn't matter to him he wouldn't have reacted like he did. He wouldn't have cared that you got pregnant or who the father was. You'll see, once the shock wears off, he'll come around."
"And the two of you will instantly be best friends. Right."
"We'll probably never be best friends but I'm going to do everything I can to imporve our relationship."
"Really? You'd do that?"
"Of course. It matters to you and after all he is going to be this baby's uncle."
"It means a lot to hear you say that."
"It's the truth. So our doctor's appointment is at four right?"
"Yeah. You don't have to miss practice you know. Peyton said she'd drive me."
"Are you kidding? I'm the father, of course I'm going. Some things are more important than basketball. You're the one who taught me that."
Haley smiled, refusing to admit that it was exactly what she'd hoped he'd say. "Okay. Then I'll meet you at me locker after class."
"It's a date." He glanced at his watch. "I have to go tell Coach I won't be at practise."
"What are you going to tell him?"
"That I have a doctor's appointment; it's not exactly a lie. I know you don't want a lot of people to know yet."
"Thanks."
He gave her a quick kiss. "I'll see you later."
"Bye."
That afternoon
Nathan noticed Haley was drumming her fingers on the door handle of his car. They were on their way to the doctor's, about a half hour's drive away. "You nervous?"
"How can you tell?" She chuckled. "Are we there yet?"
"Almost."
"You nervous?"
"Scared to death, but excited too."
"Yeah."
They drove the rest of the way in silence, each engrossed with their own thoughts. "Here we are." He walked around to open the door for her. "You ready?"
"Yeah."
Nathan approached the reception desk. "Hi, we have an appointment at four. It's under Haley James."
The receptionist looked at the appointment schedule in front of her. "Here you are. Just have a seat over there. It should only be a few minutes."
Haley looked around at the women at various stages of pregnancy. One looked like she could go into labour any minute. Her husband was with her, rubbing her shoulders, trying to make her more comfortable. Haley hoped Nathan would still be around when she was that far along.
"Yes," Nathan said, interrupting her thoughts.
"Yes what?"
"Yes I'm going to be there when you're eight months pregnant. I'll be right where he is, rubbing your back, dealing with your constant mood swings. I'm not going anywhere."
Before she could reply, the receptionist called her name. "Haley James?"
They both stood up. "Yes."
"Right this way." She lead them to the small room. "Just put this gown on and the doctor will be right in."
"Thank you."
Less than a minute later, a woman in her mid-thirties opened the door. "Good afternoon, I'm Doctor Sharon Colson."
"I'm Haley James and this is my boyfriend Nathan Scott."
"Pleased to meet you both." She addressed Haley. "How are we feeling?"
"All right."
"Any morning sickness?"
"Yeah. It usually goes away around ten."
"Okay. Can you tell me the date of your last period?"
"February 1st." "Do you smoke? Drink? Are you on any drugs?"
"No, no and no."
"Good. We also don't recommend that pregnant women have anything with caffeine."
"I've already stopped drinking coffee. It's tough but I'll live."
"Good. Have you ever had an ultrasound before?"
"No."
"I'm going to out a jelly-like substance on your stomach then use this wand to get a picture of your uterus. It doesn't hurt. It just feels a little cold."
"Okay."
Haley lied down on the cot. Nathan held her hand and watched the image that came up on the screen. "What is that?"
"That is Haley's uterus. And that," She said, pointing to a small, peanut- shaped dot, "is your baby."
"Oh my God." They said in unison."
"Everything looks good. I'm going to take a few pictures now."
Nathan looked at Haley, kissed her forehead. "That's amazing. I can't believe that's our baby."
"I know. Nathan?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"Everything."
The next day
Nathan stood in front of his gym locker and stared at the sonogram picture he held in his hand. Practise would be starting soon but he couldn't stop looking at it. It still amazed him that that little dot was a baby. A baby he and Haley had created.
"Hey, what are you staring at?" Lucas asked, walking up to him. Nathan handed him the picture. "What is this?"
"Sonogram picture from our doctor's appointment yesterday. That," he pointed to the dot, "is the baby."
Lucas was incredulous. "That? But it's so small."
"I know. Isn't it amazing? In less than eight months that dot's going to be a living, breathing person, my son or daughter."
Lucas couldn't help to see the look of pride in Nathan's eyes and his opinion of him softened. "You really mean that don't you?"
"Yeah I do. You know, I knew we were having a baby but this, this really makes it feel real you know. I'm really going to be a father."
"Listen Nathan, I'm sorry for how I acted when I found out. It wasn't fair of me to think you'd be like your father."
"I don't blame you for thinking it."
"You're obviously not Dan, something your mom deserves a lot of credit for. You might not have been my first choice for Haley but you seem to make her happy. So.truce?" He held out his hand.
Nathan took it. "Truce."
"Mess this up and I'll kill you."
"Deal." He heard some of the other team members entering the locker room and quickly put the picture back in his locker. "Listen, the other guys don't know yet and we want to keep it that way for a while longer. Haley's not ready for everyone to know yet."
"Of course. Does Coach know?"
"Nope. I had to lie to get out of practice for the doctor's appointment."
"You have to tell him."
"I know. Soon. I'm going to go. I don't want to answer a lot of questions."
"Fair enough. I'll meet you out there."
Disclaimer: If I owned One Tree Hill I wouldn't need to write fan fiction
Chapter Four
Peyton spotted Lucas brooding over his lunch and walked over. "Mind some company?" He looked up, mumbled something she took as an invitation and went on brooding. "I suppose I don't need to ask what you're thinking about."
"Look Peyton," Lucas snapped. "I'm really not in the mood for chit chat right now.
Peyton was unfazed. "That's all right. You can just listen. Haley told me how you reacted."
"And? How did you expect me to react?"
"Exactly like you did but that doesn't mean you should have. Luke, how long have you and Haley been best friends."
"Forever."
"So do you really want to alienate her? Because that's what's going to happen if you keep up this hostility towards Nathan."
"You know, I thought you of all people would understand. You know what a jerk Nathan is."
"I know what a jerk he was to me. You're right Lucas, Nathan didn't treat me very well when we were together. I wasn't that nice to him either a lot of the time. We weren't right for each other; that's what it all boils down to. He and Haley are right for each other and it shows in the way he treats her. Have you ever really watched them together Lucas? He dotes on her. Just look at the way he ran out of class after her. Deep down, you know he loves her and that he treats her well."
"No I don't."
"Yes you do because if you thought he wasn't treating her well, you'd have kicked his ass long ago."
"I tried to but Haley stopped me."
"You'd just received some shocking news. That doesn't count."
"Look Peyton, I already told my mom I'd try to put up with Nathan for Haley's sake but I'm not making any promises. Besides, it's really none of your business."
"Sure it is. I'm Haley's friend and I'm your friend. That makes it my business."
"Is that what we are now Peyton? Friends? It's hard to keep track."
"Hey, you're the one who dated Brooke remember."
"For like a week; are you going to hold that over my head forever?"
"Maybe. It keeps things interesting." She meant it as a joke but noticed he wasn't smiling. "It's going to take time for me to get the image of you and Brooke out of my head. You're going to have to accept that."
"Uh huh."
***
Nathan caught Haley staring at the table where Lucas and Peyton were sitting. "Penny for your thoughts?"
"I'm just wondering if things with me and Lucas will ever be the same again. I'm wondering if I've lost my best friend."
"They will and you haven't. The guy's upset and we can't blame him for that but he'll come around."
"I don't know."
"He will. Do you know why?"
"No."
"Because if your friendship didn't matter to him he wouldn't have reacted like he did. He wouldn't have cared that you got pregnant or who the father was. You'll see, once the shock wears off, he'll come around."
"And the two of you will instantly be best friends. Right."
"We'll probably never be best friends but I'm going to do everything I can to imporve our relationship."
"Really? You'd do that?"
"Of course. It matters to you and after all he is going to be this baby's uncle."
"It means a lot to hear you say that."
"It's the truth. So our doctor's appointment is at four right?"
"Yeah. You don't have to miss practice you know. Peyton said she'd drive me."
"Are you kidding? I'm the father, of course I'm going. Some things are more important than basketball. You're the one who taught me that."
Haley smiled, refusing to admit that it was exactly what she'd hoped he'd say. "Okay. Then I'll meet you at me locker after class."
"It's a date." He glanced at his watch. "I have to go tell Coach I won't be at practise."
"What are you going to tell him?"
"That I have a doctor's appointment; it's not exactly a lie. I know you don't want a lot of people to know yet."
"Thanks."
He gave her a quick kiss. "I'll see you later."
"Bye."
That afternoon
Nathan noticed Haley was drumming her fingers on the door handle of his car. They were on their way to the doctor's, about a half hour's drive away. "You nervous?"
"How can you tell?" She chuckled. "Are we there yet?"
"Almost."
"You nervous?"
"Scared to death, but excited too."
"Yeah."
They drove the rest of the way in silence, each engrossed with their own thoughts. "Here we are." He walked around to open the door for her. "You ready?"
"Yeah."
Nathan approached the reception desk. "Hi, we have an appointment at four. It's under Haley James."
The receptionist looked at the appointment schedule in front of her. "Here you are. Just have a seat over there. It should only be a few minutes."
Haley looked around at the women at various stages of pregnancy. One looked like she could go into labour any minute. Her husband was with her, rubbing her shoulders, trying to make her more comfortable. Haley hoped Nathan would still be around when she was that far along.
"Yes," Nathan said, interrupting her thoughts.
"Yes what?"
"Yes I'm going to be there when you're eight months pregnant. I'll be right where he is, rubbing your back, dealing with your constant mood swings. I'm not going anywhere."
Before she could reply, the receptionist called her name. "Haley James?"
They both stood up. "Yes."
"Right this way." She lead them to the small room. "Just put this gown on and the doctor will be right in."
"Thank you."
Less than a minute later, a woman in her mid-thirties opened the door. "Good afternoon, I'm Doctor Sharon Colson."
"I'm Haley James and this is my boyfriend Nathan Scott."
"Pleased to meet you both." She addressed Haley. "How are we feeling?"
"All right."
"Any morning sickness?"
"Yeah. It usually goes away around ten."
"Okay. Can you tell me the date of your last period?"
"February 1st." "Do you smoke? Drink? Are you on any drugs?"
"No, no and no."
"Good. We also don't recommend that pregnant women have anything with caffeine."
"I've already stopped drinking coffee. It's tough but I'll live."
"Good. Have you ever had an ultrasound before?"
"No."
"I'm going to out a jelly-like substance on your stomach then use this wand to get a picture of your uterus. It doesn't hurt. It just feels a little cold."
"Okay."
Haley lied down on the cot. Nathan held her hand and watched the image that came up on the screen. "What is that?"
"That is Haley's uterus. And that," She said, pointing to a small, peanut- shaped dot, "is your baby."
"Oh my God." They said in unison."
"Everything looks good. I'm going to take a few pictures now."
Nathan looked at Haley, kissed her forehead. "That's amazing. I can't believe that's our baby."
"I know. Nathan?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"Everything."
The next day
Nathan stood in front of his gym locker and stared at the sonogram picture he held in his hand. Practise would be starting soon but he couldn't stop looking at it. It still amazed him that that little dot was a baby. A baby he and Haley had created.
"Hey, what are you staring at?" Lucas asked, walking up to him. Nathan handed him the picture. "What is this?"
"Sonogram picture from our doctor's appointment yesterday. That," he pointed to the dot, "is the baby."
Lucas was incredulous. "That? But it's so small."
"I know. Isn't it amazing? In less than eight months that dot's going to be a living, breathing person, my son or daughter."
Lucas couldn't help to see the look of pride in Nathan's eyes and his opinion of him softened. "You really mean that don't you?"
"Yeah I do. You know, I knew we were having a baby but this, this really makes it feel real you know. I'm really going to be a father."
"Listen Nathan, I'm sorry for how I acted when I found out. It wasn't fair of me to think you'd be like your father."
"I don't blame you for thinking it."
"You're obviously not Dan, something your mom deserves a lot of credit for. You might not have been my first choice for Haley but you seem to make her happy. So.truce?" He held out his hand.
Nathan took it. "Truce."
"Mess this up and I'll kill you."
"Deal." He heard some of the other team members entering the locker room and quickly put the picture back in his locker. "Listen, the other guys don't know yet and we want to keep it that way for a while longer. Haley's not ready for everyone to know yet."
"Of course. Does Coach know?"
"Nope. I had to lie to get out of practice for the doctor's appointment."
"You have to tell him."
"I know. Soon. I'm going to go. I don't want to answer a lot of questions."
"Fair enough. I'll meet you out there."
