Chapter 28
"What do you mean Hales? What's wrong?"
"I'm not sure but I think I'm in labour." Haley was starting to panic. She still had more than two months left in her pregnancy. This couldn't be happening. It wasn't happening.
What? How is that possible? You're not even seven months. It's okay. We'll go to the hospital. Everything will be fine." Nathan was trying desperately not to let Haley see his panic. "Luke! I need to take Haley to the hospital. Grab my keys from the table behind you."
"Sure." Luke tossed Nathan the keys. "Wait, why are you going to the hospital?" He asked, rushing over to Haley.
"She says she's in labour. We have to get to the hospital right away."
"Right." Luke looked at Haley, who wasn't talking. Her face was white. He'd never seen his best friend look so scared. "I'm going to go get her parents. We'll follow you there." He suggestion, kowing that Haley would probably want her parents to be there."
"Yeah. Thanks man."
Nathan helped Haley into the car and drove off. Lucas followed quickly with Haley's parents. He told his mom and Deb what was going on and asked that they just tell the guests that Nathan and Haley left early. He figured they didn't need to have anyone else panicking, they were doing enough of that on their own.
Nathan had to keep reminding both Haley and himself to breathe. The car ride to the hospital was quiet. Both was afraid to say what the other was thinking, that they're children were in serious danger. Nathan struggled to keep his expression calm; he had to keep it together for Haley. If he lost it they'd be in big trouble.
After a seemingly endless drive, they arrived at the possible. Nathan stoped the car and ran to the passenger side to open the door. He helped Haley out and they walked quickly into the emergency room.
"Somebody! I need a doctor!" Nathan yelled. An orderly brought a wheelchair over to Haley that she gratefully sat down in.
"Sir, what's the matter?" A nurse asked gently.
"My...my girlfriend. I think she's in labor. It's too early."
"Calm down sir." How far along is she?" "27 weeks. She's having twins"
"Take her to curtain three." A doctor yelled. "And some page NICU stat! Get someone down here."
Nathan could only watch as Haley was wheeled away. Minutes later, Lucas ran in with Haley's parents. "How is she? What's happening?"
Nathan shrugged, "I don't know. They took her. No one's told me anything. Lucas, I feel so helpless. I know she's scared and there's nothing I can do."
"There is something you can do, you can stay calm. Haley needs you to be strong for her right now."
"Lucas is right son," Mr James said, putting his hand on Nathan's shoulder. "All we can do is wait."
"How about I go and get everyone some coffee." Lucas suggested. Without waiting for an answer, he headed off in the direction of the cafeteria.
He didn't want to let on but he'd needed to get away. He needed to be there for Nathan and Haley's parents. He couldn't afford to panic. He could't let on that he was as scared as they were.
About ten minutes later Karen and Deb came running in with Peyton and Brooke in tow. Nathan had been somewhat holding it together until that point but when his mom pulled him into a hug, the floodgates opened and he cried into her shoulder, not caring that everyone was watching. He felt like he was five years old again and had just scraped his knee, only this was much bigger than a scrape.
"Shhh shhh, it's okay, it's okay. Let it out Nathan, let it out." Deb soothed. She lead her son to a nearby couch and sat down, having him rest his head on her lap like she used to when he was younger. She stroked his hair and thought of how young he seemed at that moment. It was a strange thought given that they were there because he was going to be a father in the near future, hopefully not in the too near future.
"So do we know what's happening?" Karen asked Lucas.
"I don't know. When we got here they'd already taken her to an examining room. No one's told us anything."
"Nathan doesn't seem to be handling this well."
"He was doing pretty good up until now. I think he really needed his mom. He feels pretty helpless right now."
"I can imagine. I saw you trying to comfort him when we came in. You two have sure come a long way."
"Yea I know. So much of our feud was about being childish and immature and we've both grown up a lot these last few months. It was time to let go." He noticed his mom staring at him. "What?"
"It's just, you really do seem so old now, like you truly have left not only childhood but adolescence behind you. I'm not quite ready to think of you as a grown up yet. I mean, you're going to be an uncle soon."
"Yea I know. Uncle Lucas. It still feels kinda weird. I just hope I have a little more time to get used to it."
"Yea."
"Anyone here for Haley James?" The doctor walked into the waiting room."
Nathan jumped up. "I'm the father. Please, are the babies all right?"
"She did go into labor prematurely but we managed to halt it for the time being. However she could go into labour again at any time. In order to try and prevent that we're going to keep her here on 100% bed rest until the babies are born. They're still very small and we want to prolong the pregnancy for as long as we possibly can."
"But they're all right? Can I see her?"
"So far, all three seem to be in good shape. We're keeping a very close eye on things. They're moving her up to OB right now, once she's settled in you can see her one at a time. Nurse Johnson here will take you all up."
"Okay. Thank you doctor."
***
"Hey." Nathan said as he walked into Haley's room. She was lying in bed on her left side, in order to help prevent labor.
"Hi," she managed a weak smile.
"How are you doing?"
"Relieved that they stopped labor but I'm not really looking forward to lying like this for two months."
"It'll go by fast and it will be worth it when we have two happy healthy babies in the end."
"Yeah. I really hope they're okay. You know what's weird?"
"What?"
"Well, we didn't plan them, we didn't think we wanted them. I mean, when I found out I was pregnant I thought it was the end of the world; you saw that. But now... now I can't imagine what I would do if anything happened to them."
"I know what you mean. I was thinking about that too while we were waiting for them to tell us something. I've never been so scared in all my life. Now I think I have an idea of what parents went through whenever I fell out of a tree or stayed out all night. Remind me to apologize to my mom for all those years of worry."
"That's a good idea."
"Speaking of my mom, she's here, along with your parents, Lucas and his mom and Peyton and Brooke."
"Oh wow. They didn't need to do that."
"That's what I told them but they said they wanted to be there for us. The doctor dais you could only have one visitor at a time. Who do you want to see first?"
"How about my mom? There's nothing like being in labor to make you want your mommy."
"Okay. I'll go get her. I'll see you later okay. I'm right outside if you need me." He kissed her on the forehead and walked out the door.
***
A few hours later Peyton, Brooke, Karen, Deb and Haley's parents all headed to their respective homes. Nathan insisted on staying at the hospital. He refused to leave Haley's side for more than a minute. The doctor said that as long as the hospital didn't need the bed, Nathan could sleep in Haley's room. It wasn't at all uncommon for father's in this situation to want to stick close by.
***
Lucas met Peyton and Brooke and some other friends outside the school before class. He had something important to discuss with them. "Okay guys, bet you're all wondering why I made you come to school early?"
Everyone groaned.
"Okay, as most of you know by now because Tree Hill is such a small town, Haley went into premature labor last night. They managed to stop it but she has to stay in the hospital until the twins are born. Nathan's decided to stay with her. Haley in particular is worried about missing so much school and since that's the last thing she needs to be worrying about I came up with a plan. I have in my hand a schedule of Haley and Nathan's classes. If possible I'd like each of you to sign up to take notes in one of their classes each weak. That will at least give them one less thing to think about.
Everyone nodded in agreement and a few minutes later the schedule was filled up. He was really pleased at how people were coming together for his friend and his brother, even though Nathan hadn't always been the nicest person in the world. Something great had already come of the twons' existence, the school was no longer as divided. For the first time, the jocks and cheerleaders co-mingled with the rest of the school population in peace. Lucas hoped it would continue once the drama was over.
"What do you mean Hales? What's wrong?"
"I'm not sure but I think I'm in labour." Haley was starting to panic. She still had more than two months left in her pregnancy. This couldn't be happening. It wasn't happening.
What? How is that possible? You're not even seven months. It's okay. We'll go to the hospital. Everything will be fine." Nathan was trying desperately not to let Haley see his panic. "Luke! I need to take Haley to the hospital. Grab my keys from the table behind you."
"Sure." Luke tossed Nathan the keys. "Wait, why are you going to the hospital?" He asked, rushing over to Haley.
"She says she's in labour. We have to get to the hospital right away."
"Right." Luke looked at Haley, who wasn't talking. Her face was white. He'd never seen his best friend look so scared. "I'm going to go get her parents. We'll follow you there." He suggestion, kowing that Haley would probably want her parents to be there."
"Yeah. Thanks man."
Nathan helped Haley into the car and drove off. Lucas followed quickly with Haley's parents. He told his mom and Deb what was going on and asked that they just tell the guests that Nathan and Haley left early. He figured they didn't need to have anyone else panicking, they were doing enough of that on their own.
Nathan had to keep reminding both Haley and himself to breathe. The car ride to the hospital was quiet. Both was afraid to say what the other was thinking, that they're children were in serious danger. Nathan struggled to keep his expression calm; he had to keep it together for Haley. If he lost it they'd be in big trouble.
After a seemingly endless drive, they arrived at the possible. Nathan stoped the car and ran to the passenger side to open the door. He helped Haley out and they walked quickly into the emergency room.
"Somebody! I need a doctor!" Nathan yelled. An orderly brought a wheelchair over to Haley that she gratefully sat down in.
"Sir, what's the matter?" A nurse asked gently.
"My...my girlfriend. I think she's in labor. It's too early."
"Calm down sir." How far along is she?" "27 weeks. She's having twins"
"Take her to curtain three." A doctor yelled. "And some page NICU stat! Get someone down here."
Nathan could only watch as Haley was wheeled away. Minutes later, Lucas ran in with Haley's parents. "How is she? What's happening?"
Nathan shrugged, "I don't know. They took her. No one's told me anything. Lucas, I feel so helpless. I know she's scared and there's nothing I can do."
"There is something you can do, you can stay calm. Haley needs you to be strong for her right now."
"Lucas is right son," Mr James said, putting his hand on Nathan's shoulder. "All we can do is wait."
"How about I go and get everyone some coffee." Lucas suggested. Without waiting for an answer, he headed off in the direction of the cafeteria.
He didn't want to let on but he'd needed to get away. He needed to be there for Nathan and Haley's parents. He couldn't afford to panic. He could't let on that he was as scared as they were.
About ten minutes later Karen and Deb came running in with Peyton and Brooke in tow. Nathan had been somewhat holding it together until that point but when his mom pulled him into a hug, the floodgates opened and he cried into her shoulder, not caring that everyone was watching. He felt like he was five years old again and had just scraped his knee, only this was much bigger than a scrape.
"Shhh shhh, it's okay, it's okay. Let it out Nathan, let it out." Deb soothed. She lead her son to a nearby couch and sat down, having him rest his head on her lap like she used to when he was younger. She stroked his hair and thought of how young he seemed at that moment. It was a strange thought given that they were there because he was going to be a father in the near future, hopefully not in the too near future.
"So do we know what's happening?" Karen asked Lucas.
"I don't know. When we got here they'd already taken her to an examining room. No one's told us anything."
"Nathan doesn't seem to be handling this well."
"He was doing pretty good up until now. I think he really needed his mom. He feels pretty helpless right now."
"I can imagine. I saw you trying to comfort him when we came in. You two have sure come a long way."
"Yea I know. So much of our feud was about being childish and immature and we've both grown up a lot these last few months. It was time to let go." He noticed his mom staring at him. "What?"
"It's just, you really do seem so old now, like you truly have left not only childhood but adolescence behind you. I'm not quite ready to think of you as a grown up yet. I mean, you're going to be an uncle soon."
"Yea I know. Uncle Lucas. It still feels kinda weird. I just hope I have a little more time to get used to it."
"Yea."
"Anyone here for Haley James?" The doctor walked into the waiting room."
Nathan jumped up. "I'm the father. Please, are the babies all right?"
"She did go into labor prematurely but we managed to halt it for the time being. However she could go into labour again at any time. In order to try and prevent that we're going to keep her here on 100% bed rest until the babies are born. They're still very small and we want to prolong the pregnancy for as long as we possibly can."
"But they're all right? Can I see her?"
"So far, all three seem to be in good shape. We're keeping a very close eye on things. They're moving her up to OB right now, once she's settled in you can see her one at a time. Nurse Johnson here will take you all up."
"Okay. Thank you doctor."
***
"Hey." Nathan said as he walked into Haley's room. She was lying in bed on her left side, in order to help prevent labor.
"Hi," she managed a weak smile.
"How are you doing?"
"Relieved that they stopped labor but I'm not really looking forward to lying like this for two months."
"It'll go by fast and it will be worth it when we have two happy healthy babies in the end."
"Yeah. I really hope they're okay. You know what's weird?"
"What?"
"Well, we didn't plan them, we didn't think we wanted them. I mean, when I found out I was pregnant I thought it was the end of the world; you saw that. But now... now I can't imagine what I would do if anything happened to them."
"I know what you mean. I was thinking about that too while we were waiting for them to tell us something. I've never been so scared in all my life. Now I think I have an idea of what parents went through whenever I fell out of a tree or stayed out all night. Remind me to apologize to my mom for all those years of worry."
"That's a good idea."
"Speaking of my mom, she's here, along with your parents, Lucas and his mom and Peyton and Brooke."
"Oh wow. They didn't need to do that."
"That's what I told them but they said they wanted to be there for us. The doctor dais you could only have one visitor at a time. Who do you want to see first?"
"How about my mom? There's nothing like being in labor to make you want your mommy."
"Okay. I'll go get her. I'll see you later okay. I'm right outside if you need me." He kissed her on the forehead and walked out the door.
***
A few hours later Peyton, Brooke, Karen, Deb and Haley's parents all headed to their respective homes. Nathan insisted on staying at the hospital. He refused to leave Haley's side for more than a minute. The doctor said that as long as the hospital didn't need the bed, Nathan could sleep in Haley's room. It wasn't at all uncommon for father's in this situation to want to stick close by.
***
Lucas met Peyton and Brooke and some other friends outside the school before class. He had something important to discuss with them. "Okay guys, bet you're all wondering why I made you come to school early?"
Everyone groaned.
"Okay, as most of you know by now because Tree Hill is such a small town, Haley went into premature labor last night. They managed to stop it but she has to stay in the hospital until the twins are born. Nathan's decided to stay with her. Haley in particular is worried about missing so much school and since that's the last thing she needs to be worrying about I came up with a plan. I have in my hand a schedule of Haley and Nathan's classes. If possible I'd like each of you to sign up to take notes in one of their classes each weak. That will at least give them one less thing to think about.
Everyone nodded in agreement and a few minutes later the schedule was filled up. He was really pleased at how people were coming together for his friend and his brother, even though Nathan hadn't always been the nicest person in the world. Something great had already come of the twons' existence, the school was no longer as divided. For the first time, the jocks and cheerleaders co-mingled with the rest of the school population in peace. Lucas hoped it would continue once the drama was over.
