AN: Hey guys sorry it took me so long. I really like this one. Hope you
will too. Written with love. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Nope, still own nothing.
Description: Bah, just read it and find out. It's too complicated to summarize.
The truth shall set her free: by grace
The doctor's office was sterile and white, but some how gave Haley an uneasy feeling as she and Lucas waited for the doctor. Outside the large glass window, the cloudy sky looked ominous. Something was about to happen. Mother's instinct. Haley smiled as she thought that. On impulse, she gave Lucas a quick kiss on the cheek.
"What was that for?" He asked with a small smile.
"For everything. I really appreciate it." Haley said simply. Lucas gave her hand a squeeze. He got a feeling in the pit of his stomach just then, and frowned. He brushed it away, reassuring himself that Haley was still there and alright.
"You say that until you go into labor." They chuckled. "Then everything becomes my fault." A fork of lightening pierced the sky.
One, two, three, four...a booming thunder echoed out. Haley shivered. Lucas smiled.
"Four miles away."
"That's what I got."
They were silent for a moment.
FLASHBACK: Lucas's kitchen
"MOM!" Lucas hollered out, bounding in through the door, soaking wet and Haley at his heels. "MOM It's RAINING!"
The pair took their soaking jackets off, giggling at each other's appearance. A tired Karen appeared in the doorway and ushered them into the laundry room, where she promptly changed them into dry clothes.
A huge crash of thunder shuddered the house and Haley jumped, gritting her teeth. She was frightened of thunderstorms. Karen saw this and with a small smile scooped the pair up in her arms and went into the kitchen. She began making hot chocolate.
"Haley, are you frightened of thunderstorms?"
"No." Said Haley defiantly. Then she shrugged. "Well, only a little."
Karen smiled kindly. Lucas sat up straighter. "I'm not scared anymore! Tell her the story, mom!"
"Well, Haley," Said Karen, bringing the hot cocoa over, and sitting down. "A long time ago, there was a lonely giant that live in the mountains a little way from a kingdom. The lonely giant would see the people in the kingdom laughing, and he would feel bad because he had never laughed."
Haley sipped her cocoa and listened as outside the wind howled.
"So one day, the lonely giant decided to wander over to the kingdom to make them as miserable as he was. He scared the people of the kingdom with his thunderous footsteps, and the people wouldn't be friends with him because he had scared them so much. But the lonely giant wanted to be friends with them now. So he devised a plan. He told the people of the kingdom that he would wait a second for every mile he was away before piercing the sky with his thunderbolt. From that day on, the lonely giant was no longer lonely, for he was friends with the people of the kingdom."
"A second?" Said Haley doubtfully. "But that's not a lot of time."
Karen laughed. "No, it's not. But listen, I will show you what I mean."
A few seconds later, thunder boomed from the distance. Karen held up her hands.
"One...Two...Three...Four..." A lightning bolt pierced the sky. Karen and Lucas smiled at Haley, who was wide eyed. "So the giant...the storm...is giving you warning so you can protect yourself from his thunderous footsteps. He's four miles away."
Haley smiled. For the rest of the night, every time thunder rang out, Haley would hold up her fingers and count how far away the giant was. And from that night on, she wasn't scared. Well, for most of the time, anyways.
END OF FLASHBACK
Haley squeezed Lucas's hand harder now, as thunder echoed out. They both smiled at the memory.
Haley glanced at her best friend, unsure of how to tell him of her and Nathan's rekindled relationship. She decided that the direct approach would be best.
"Listen, Lucas." She turned to him earnestly. "I have something important to tell you. Nathan and I are back together."
Lucas looked stunned. He looked into her eyes, which were searching his nervously. He opened his mouth, and closed it. It seemed like there was no reason for his secret now. And yet, he didn't want to divulge it. Not now, not ever. But he had to tell her.
"Haley I need to tell you something," He began painfully. This wasn't happening. He wasn't handing his best friend back over to his evil half- brother. He just wasn't. And yet his mouth kept moving, and his efforts to close it were futile. "I...I've been hiding something from you."
Haley's features darkened slightly but she continued watching him, obviously just as nervous as he was. Lucas took a deep breath, still unwilling to let her go.
That's not for you to decide, Lucas told himself. She will find out eventually anyways. Just do it, Scott.
"Do you remember anything about that night at Tim's party?" He asked hesitantly. Haley shook her head with questioning eyes. "Well while we did do some things," He looked at his hands, and watched as Haley did the same, both of them embarrassed. It took a moment for him to continue. "But I stopped before things got too far. I didn't want you to do anything you would regret." He said honestly, his eyes pleading with her.
Haley still wasn't quite processing everything. Seeing the confused look on her face, Lucas sighed impatiently at her for making him say it.
"I'm not the father," He said despairingly. "Hales, Nathan's the father."
"Is this...some kind of joke?" She choked. Lucas looked at the ground, and shook his head helplessly.
"I'm sorry Hales. I couldn't let that-"
Haley turned her back to him, breathing hard, and giving the undeserving approaching nurse the death-glare, as if it were somehow her fault. The nurse backed away, looking scared.
She turned back to Lucas and slapped him across the face, furious tears sparkling in her eyes, still unable to believe it. Nathan was the father of her child? She shook her head furiously.
"Take me home. Now." She told a stunned Lucas. Lucas obeyed, swallowing hard.
The ride back to Lucas's house was cold and awkward, neither knowing what to say. Haley couldn't believe what Lucas had done. Lucas watched her in pain, as he reflected on how his plan had backfired. Instead of protecting Haley, he had hurt her, possibly beyond repair.
"Haley, I-"
"Don't talk to me Lucas. I don't think I can forgive you for what you did."
He wanted to say he was sorry. He wanted to be there for her. His heart ached, wanting to squeeze her hand again. I did it for you, can't you see?
"I think you should go stay at Peyton's for tonight." Haley told him, her voice shaking slightly.
Lucas bowed his head.
Nathan flipped his cell phone up and dialed the operator, his heart pounding furiously. Rain sprinkled his windshield. The operators voice came over the line.
"Tree Hill hospital, please."
"I will directly connect you."
There was a dial tone, and then Nathan listened as the number was dialed. A lady's voice came over the line.
"Tree Hill Hospital, this is Alyssa, how may I direct you?"
"Yes, Hello, my name is Lucas Scott, and I was wondering if Haley James was there?" His heart constricted painfully as he said the next words. "She's there to check on her pregnancy."
The nurse sounded surprised.
"I'm sorry, who is this?" She asked curiously.
"Scott. 2237 Harper lane." He said smoothly, glancing up at the house he was parked in front of. He drummed his fingers impatiently. There were lights pulling up the street.
"Yes. Well, Mr. Scott, um, you and Haley just left a minute ago." There was a click. The nurse frowned. "You said this was Lucas Scott? It says here that the father is a Nathan Scott."
But Nathan had already hung up, his worst fears confirmed.
Drops of rain splattered the windshield as the car came to a rolling stop. Haley jumped out, giving Lucas one last hateful look that Lucas knew would scar his mind forever.
He watched her as she marched determinedly up the driveway, the ominous feeling back in the pit of his stomach.
He pulled away, not noticing the car that was partially hidden at the top of the driveway.
Haley glanced up momentarily as she reached the top of the driveway, watching as the clouds threatened to open up and pour down on them. She shivered. There was a car door opened and she turned as a figure stepped out of a black car that was partially hidden behind some trees.
Nathan.
"Hey," Haley said nervously, wiping the tears from her cheeks. There was something about his presence there that made her nervous...had he seen her and Lucas talking? Did he know?
"Hey." For a moment, Nathan's face softened at the look on her face. She looked so fragile. The rain was falling harder now. He walked up to her. His voice was quiet when he spoke, and it sent shivers down Haley's spine.
"Please tell me it's not true."
Haley's stomach dropped, and she gulped. She was suddenly feeling guilty and queasy. She looked up into his eyes.
"What's not true?" She asked innocently, her tone fooling neither of them.
"Are you pregnant?" He whispered.
"H-how...did you know?"
"I called the hospital."
"Oh. So you know who the father is?" She asked timidly, hopefully. Nathan shot her a filthy look.
"Yes. I know. Who the father is." He said snidely.
Something about his tone made her think he wasn't happy about his newfound child. Haley frowned.
"I thought, maybe, well..." She trailed off, unsure of what to say. "That you might be happy..."
"That I would be happy?" Nathan gave a forced laugh. "Yeah, I'm thrilled."
Haley looked down at the ground, tears flowing again.
"I don't think we can be together with something like this hanging over our heads." Nathan said softly, hurt in his voice. "I can't believe you would hide something like this from me." Haley looked up at him pleadingly.
"But..." Haley opened her mouth, but Nathan shook his head sadly.
"I'm done, Haley."
With that he turned and walked back to his car. Haley watched him, now sobbing as Nathan pulled out of the driveway.
Her worst fear...she was alone again, this time with no one to run to. Her body shook as she stood in the now pouring rain, realizing she had lost everything. She turned to walk into the house, tears flowing freely down her face.
There was only one thing to do.
Peyton opened the door to find a soaking and very upset Lucas standing there. Outside the wind was howling and the trees were swaying in the wet night. Peyton was taken aback at seeing Lucas look so torn apart, looking so young and helpless.
"She knows," Said Lucas, his voice breaking and a single tear dripping down his cheek.
Karen shivered slightly and shook her hair out as she stepped into her warm kitchen, dropping her coat and purse on the table. She took a long sip of her coffee before continuing to her bedroom to change out of her work clothes.
Flipping on her television, she turned it to the weather channel and set her mail and coffee down on the dresser. She watched as the weatherman frowned on the television.
"It's gonna be a rough night," He was saying. "Severe thunderstorm warning for the Tree Hill area, and surrounding towns including Mount Pleasant, Macomb..." Karen frowned.
"Haley?" She called out. There was no answer. Karen stood and went into the guest bedroom. "There's a severe weather warning, so we're gonna go into the basement until-"
She stopped, noticing that the room was a mess. The drawers were pulled out, clothes spilling out of them, the bed was tousled and the lamp lay on the floor, broken. Karen gasped.
She didn't even bother looking through the rest of the house. She knew it was empty. She grabbed the phone and hurriedly dialed Lucas's cell.
"It's okay, Lucas," Peyton was saying to him. She couldn't believe it. Haley finally knew. She was free. She and Lucas could really be together. And it could be just them. Peyton sat with Lucas, who looked as though his best friend had died.
Which she kind of had. Peyton reminded herself. She frowned.
Lucas's phone rang, and he jumped slightly from the shock. He flipped it open.
"'Lo?" Lucas said sadly.
"Lucas? It's me. Haley's gone."
AN: Oooooooooooh what's gonna happen? Where did Haley go? Review to find out!
Disclaimer: Nope, still own nothing.
Description: Bah, just read it and find out. It's too complicated to summarize.
The truth shall set her free: by grace
The doctor's office was sterile and white, but some how gave Haley an uneasy feeling as she and Lucas waited for the doctor. Outside the large glass window, the cloudy sky looked ominous. Something was about to happen. Mother's instinct. Haley smiled as she thought that. On impulse, she gave Lucas a quick kiss on the cheek.
"What was that for?" He asked with a small smile.
"For everything. I really appreciate it." Haley said simply. Lucas gave her hand a squeeze. He got a feeling in the pit of his stomach just then, and frowned. He brushed it away, reassuring himself that Haley was still there and alright.
"You say that until you go into labor." They chuckled. "Then everything becomes my fault." A fork of lightening pierced the sky.
One, two, three, four...a booming thunder echoed out. Haley shivered. Lucas smiled.
"Four miles away."
"That's what I got."
They were silent for a moment.
FLASHBACK: Lucas's kitchen
"MOM!" Lucas hollered out, bounding in through the door, soaking wet and Haley at his heels. "MOM It's RAINING!"
The pair took their soaking jackets off, giggling at each other's appearance. A tired Karen appeared in the doorway and ushered them into the laundry room, where she promptly changed them into dry clothes.
A huge crash of thunder shuddered the house and Haley jumped, gritting her teeth. She was frightened of thunderstorms. Karen saw this and with a small smile scooped the pair up in her arms and went into the kitchen. She began making hot chocolate.
"Haley, are you frightened of thunderstorms?"
"No." Said Haley defiantly. Then she shrugged. "Well, only a little."
Karen smiled kindly. Lucas sat up straighter. "I'm not scared anymore! Tell her the story, mom!"
"Well, Haley," Said Karen, bringing the hot cocoa over, and sitting down. "A long time ago, there was a lonely giant that live in the mountains a little way from a kingdom. The lonely giant would see the people in the kingdom laughing, and he would feel bad because he had never laughed."
Haley sipped her cocoa and listened as outside the wind howled.
"So one day, the lonely giant decided to wander over to the kingdom to make them as miserable as he was. He scared the people of the kingdom with his thunderous footsteps, and the people wouldn't be friends with him because he had scared them so much. But the lonely giant wanted to be friends with them now. So he devised a plan. He told the people of the kingdom that he would wait a second for every mile he was away before piercing the sky with his thunderbolt. From that day on, the lonely giant was no longer lonely, for he was friends with the people of the kingdom."
"A second?" Said Haley doubtfully. "But that's not a lot of time."
Karen laughed. "No, it's not. But listen, I will show you what I mean."
A few seconds later, thunder boomed from the distance. Karen held up her hands.
"One...Two...Three...Four..." A lightning bolt pierced the sky. Karen and Lucas smiled at Haley, who was wide eyed. "So the giant...the storm...is giving you warning so you can protect yourself from his thunderous footsteps. He's four miles away."
Haley smiled. For the rest of the night, every time thunder rang out, Haley would hold up her fingers and count how far away the giant was. And from that night on, she wasn't scared. Well, for most of the time, anyways.
END OF FLASHBACK
Haley squeezed Lucas's hand harder now, as thunder echoed out. They both smiled at the memory.
Haley glanced at her best friend, unsure of how to tell him of her and Nathan's rekindled relationship. She decided that the direct approach would be best.
"Listen, Lucas." She turned to him earnestly. "I have something important to tell you. Nathan and I are back together."
Lucas looked stunned. He looked into her eyes, which were searching his nervously. He opened his mouth, and closed it. It seemed like there was no reason for his secret now. And yet, he didn't want to divulge it. Not now, not ever. But he had to tell her.
"Haley I need to tell you something," He began painfully. This wasn't happening. He wasn't handing his best friend back over to his evil half- brother. He just wasn't. And yet his mouth kept moving, and his efforts to close it were futile. "I...I've been hiding something from you."
Haley's features darkened slightly but she continued watching him, obviously just as nervous as he was. Lucas took a deep breath, still unwilling to let her go.
That's not for you to decide, Lucas told himself. She will find out eventually anyways. Just do it, Scott.
"Do you remember anything about that night at Tim's party?" He asked hesitantly. Haley shook her head with questioning eyes. "Well while we did do some things," He looked at his hands, and watched as Haley did the same, both of them embarrassed. It took a moment for him to continue. "But I stopped before things got too far. I didn't want you to do anything you would regret." He said honestly, his eyes pleading with her.
Haley still wasn't quite processing everything. Seeing the confused look on her face, Lucas sighed impatiently at her for making him say it.
"I'm not the father," He said despairingly. "Hales, Nathan's the father."
"Is this...some kind of joke?" She choked. Lucas looked at the ground, and shook his head helplessly.
"I'm sorry Hales. I couldn't let that-"
Haley turned her back to him, breathing hard, and giving the undeserving approaching nurse the death-glare, as if it were somehow her fault. The nurse backed away, looking scared.
She turned back to Lucas and slapped him across the face, furious tears sparkling in her eyes, still unable to believe it. Nathan was the father of her child? She shook her head furiously.
"Take me home. Now." She told a stunned Lucas. Lucas obeyed, swallowing hard.
The ride back to Lucas's house was cold and awkward, neither knowing what to say. Haley couldn't believe what Lucas had done. Lucas watched her in pain, as he reflected on how his plan had backfired. Instead of protecting Haley, he had hurt her, possibly beyond repair.
"Haley, I-"
"Don't talk to me Lucas. I don't think I can forgive you for what you did."
He wanted to say he was sorry. He wanted to be there for her. His heart ached, wanting to squeeze her hand again. I did it for you, can't you see?
"I think you should go stay at Peyton's for tonight." Haley told him, her voice shaking slightly.
Lucas bowed his head.
Nathan flipped his cell phone up and dialed the operator, his heart pounding furiously. Rain sprinkled his windshield. The operators voice came over the line.
"Tree Hill hospital, please."
"I will directly connect you."
There was a dial tone, and then Nathan listened as the number was dialed. A lady's voice came over the line.
"Tree Hill Hospital, this is Alyssa, how may I direct you?"
"Yes, Hello, my name is Lucas Scott, and I was wondering if Haley James was there?" His heart constricted painfully as he said the next words. "She's there to check on her pregnancy."
The nurse sounded surprised.
"I'm sorry, who is this?" She asked curiously.
"Scott. 2237 Harper lane." He said smoothly, glancing up at the house he was parked in front of. He drummed his fingers impatiently. There were lights pulling up the street.
"Yes. Well, Mr. Scott, um, you and Haley just left a minute ago." There was a click. The nurse frowned. "You said this was Lucas Scott? It says here that the father is a Nathan Scott."
But Nathan had already hung up, his worst fears confirmed.
Drops of rain splattered the windshield as the car came to a rolling stop. Haley jumped out, giving Lucas one last hateful look that Lucas knew would scar his mind forever.
He watched her as she marched determinedly up the driveway, the ominous feeling back in the pit of his stomach.
He pulled away, not noticing the car that was partially hidden at the top of the driveway.
Haley glanced up momentarily as she reached the top of the driveway, watching as the clouds threatened to open up and pour down on them. She shivered. There was a car door opened and she turned as a figure stepped out of a black car that was partially hidden behind some trees.
Nathan.
"Hey," Haley said nervously, wiping the tears from her cheeks. There was something about his presence there that made her nervous...had he seen her and Lucas talking? Did he know?
"Hey." For a moment, Nathan's face softened at the look on her face. She looked so fragile. The rain was falling harder now. He walked up to her. His voice was quiet when he spoke, and it sent shivers down Haley's spine.
"Please tell me it's not true."
Haley's stomach dropped, and she gulped. She was suddenly feeling guilty and queasy. She looked up into his eyes.
"What's not true?" She asked innocently, her tone fooling neither of them.
"Are you pregnant?" He whispered.
"H-how...did you know?"
"I called the hospital."
"Oh. So you know who the father is?" She asked timidly, hopefully. Nathan shot her a filthy look.
"Yes. I know. Who the father is." He said snidely.
Something about his tone made her think he wasn't happy about his newfound child. Haley frowned.
"I thought, maybe, well..." She trailed off, unsure of what to say. "That you might be happy..."
"That I would be happy?" Nathan gave a forced laugh. "Yeah, I'm thrilled."
Haley looked down at the ground, tears flowing again.
"I don't think we can be together with something like this hanging over our heads." Nathan said softly, hurt in his voice. "I can't believe you would hide something like this from me." Haley looked up at him pleadingly.
"But..." Haley opened her mouth, but Nathan shook his head sadly.
"I'm done, Haley."
With that he turned and walked back to his car. Haley watched him, now sobbing as Nathan pulled out of the driveway.
Her worst fear...she was alone again, this time with no one to run to. Her body shook as she stood in the now pouring rain, realizing she had lost everything. She turned to walk into the house, tears flowing freely down her face.
There was only one thing to do.
Peyton opened the door to find a soaking and very upset Lucas standing there. Outside the wind was howling and the trees were swaying in the wet night. Peyton was taken aback at seeing Lucas look so torn apart, looking so young and helpless.
"She knows," Said Lucas, his voice breaking and a single tear dripping down his cheek.
Karen shivered slightly and shook her hair out as she stepped into her warm kitchen, dropping her coat and purse on the table. She took a long sip of her coffee before continuing to her bedroom to change out of her work clothes.
Flipping on her television, she turned it to the weather channel and set her mail and coffee down on the dresser. She watched as the weatherman frowned on the television.
"It's gonna be a rough night," He was saying. "Severe thunderstorm warning for the Tree Hill area, and surrounding towns including Mount Pleasant, Macomb..." Karen frowned.
"Haley?" She called out. There was no answer. Karen stood and went into the guest bedroom. "There's a severe weather warning, so we're gonna go into the basement until-"
She stopped, noticing that the room was a mess. The drawers were pulled out, clothes spilling out of them, the bed was tousled and the lamp lay on the floor, broken. Karen gasped.
She didn't even bother looking through the rest of the house. She knew it was empty. She grabbed the phone and hurriedly dialed Lucas's cell.
"It's okay, Lucas," Peyton was saying to him. She couldn't believe it. Haley finally knew. She was free. She and Lucas could really be together. And it could be just them. Peyton sat with Lucas, who looked as though his best friend had died.
Which she kind of had. Peyton reminded herself. She frowned.
Lucas's phone rang, and he jumped slightly from the shock. He flipped it open.
"'Lo?" Lucas said sadly.
"Lucas? It's me. Haley's gone."
AN: Oooooooooooh what's gonna happen? Where did Haley go? Review to find out!