I don't own anything related to One Tree Hill, but I DO wish I owned two certain brothers.
"Brooke, this is really way too daring. I mean, seriously. Look at me. Look at this dress. Look at me in this dress," Haley stated doubtfully. "Oh, come on, Tutor Girl! This night was made for fun, games, great food, and that hint of sexuality you love to get from the cute waiters at the table next to yours!" "You know, she may just be right. I mean, seriously, Haley. You could pull that off in a heartbeat, and when you consider what Brooke and I are wearing, you'll feel even more out of place if you don't have something absolutely positively stellar to go with it," Peyton added, a little more cheerfully than usual.
"What's the deal with you?" Haley asked, hoping to draw attention away from herself and the sticky subject at hand. "Nothing's different, or in any way worse or better. Everything's the same. I'm just happy to be out with my girls for a night is all. Besides, you're just trying to shift the focus, Hales. It isn't gonna work." Brooke giggled joyously as she shoved the dress at Haley and the two of them shoved her into the dressing room, suddenly remembering another time they'd done exactly the same thing....
"If you don't come out, we're coming in there with you!" Brooke exclaimed, obviously meaning her threat. "Okay, okay. Fine," came the muffled response from Haley. She emerged from the dressing room in a black and grey negligee, her hair in lopsided pigtails. "Guys, I really can't pull this off," she said desperately, and Brooke smiled with her reply. "Let's leave that one up to Nathan." She and Peyton turned towards one another and laughed, awaiting their next stop. Pole dancing would be... interesting at the least...
Brooke and Peyton snapped back into the present when Haley emerged from the dressing room. "Well, here I am, in all of my glory," she said sarcastically, striking a mock pose next to Peyton. "That definitely is you in your glory, Hales. You look amazing!" Peyton remarked as she gave her a playful shove. Seeing Haley James Scott decked out in a black even gown with practically no back, a low-cut front, and high heels was practically a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. "I have to give you props, Tutor Girl. I'm not sure if even I could beat that. Then again, I wouldn't try to steal your fire, so I guess that makes us even," she said with a wink. "Whatever you're talking about, I can't figure out for the life of me, but I guess it's safe to assume we're getting the dress, then?" Haley surmised with her eyebrows lifting. Brooke and Peyton shook their heads, replying in unison, "That's safe to assume, Tutor Girl."
This dinner is exactly what I needed, Haley thought as she slid into the chair. When the man had tried to give them a four-person table, they'd literally pushed the fourth chair out of the way so that "Conversation would flow more easily," according to Brooke. Haley and Peyton both knew that Brooke was just using it as an excuse wreak a little bit of havoc.
"So, Tutor Girl, besides the fact that you were about to order in for food stamps before you came here, what's happening?" Brooke asked somewhere between the breadsticks and the salad. "Don't over-dramatize it so much. We're okay now, and thank you both so, so much for everything. This has been the best experience of my life. Well, except for Dillon breaking his leg of course. Nathan showing up didn't help it either," she muttered, her mood darkening. "Are you so sure about that?" Peyton questioned softly. Tears pooled in Haley's eyes as she looked up. "I'm sure. We're finalizing the divorce when we get back to the States, and all I can do is hope that he doesn't corrupt Dillon." "Nathan may be a lot of things, Haley, but for some reason I'm not inclined to believe a bad father is one of them," Peyton said, a little stronger than before. "Yeah, I know. That's why it's so hard to keep myself from loving him all over again," Haley replied dolefully, not realizing what had tumbled out of her mouth until it was too late to take it all back. Brooke finally spoke up again. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you already have fallen in love with him." "Maybe you're right. It doesn't matter now, though," Haley replied. Just then the waiter appeared. "So, what will your order be tonight?"
Jake, Lucas, Nathan, and Jenny were all at the hospital. Instead of opting to stay in the baby-sitting care, Jenny had adamantly refused, along with a plea to "visit Uncle Nathan." It was amazing how quickly she'd taken to calling him that, even though he wasn't related to her in any way, shape, or form. After awhile she'd fallen asleep next to Dillon on the hospital bed, and the three men were left to talk among themselves.
"So you're really divorcing, huh?" Jake was the first to come out with. "Yeah. I mean, it isn't my choice, but it's what Haley wants, and that's the only thing that I care about. It's what's best for her, and she's letting me be part of Dillon's life. That means that in some small way I'll always be in her life, too, right? I guess that's all I can hope for right now." "How are you sure she wants a divorce? I mean, she was always so happy with you before, and you just about lit up from head to toe whenever she entered the room. You still do bro," Lucas put in. "I can't picture ever divorcing Brooke. I mean, it sounds stupid because no one would've ever pictured us together in high school, but some things are meant to be, you know?" "You're one lucky guy," Lucas replied, adding in, "but I sure wouldn't want to be you. A free spirit like her isn't just feisty. It's more like..." he struggled for a polite way to phrase what he was thinking. "insane," Jake finished for him. They all laughed.
"You know what? I'm happy that things turned out this way. I mean, if they hadn't then I might still be wondering why Haley wanted a divorce so many years ago, and she might still be thinking I'm dead. However you look at it, it's really a win-win situation now, because she's getting the extra financial boost she needs, and I get to be near Dillon." The young father gently gave his son a rub on the back. "Man, we've really changed a lot. It's amazing we can still be in the same room without strained conversations," Jake mused, and they all agreed. "Maybe it's just something about our group. I mean, look at Haley, Brooke, and Peyt. Those three have an amazing bond, and I have a feeling hoe's over bro's will never fall," Lucas responded. "Peyt? Since when did we stop calling her Peyton?" Nathan teased, and Lucas got a little-boy blush flooding his cheeks. They all laughed, and Jake gave him a playful punch on the arm.
"You know what? This place is so dull. I think that we need something a little bit more exciting to make this night worth remembering," Brooke commented innocently during dessert. "Brooke! This is the only time we are every going to get to experience the astounding wonder of Italian chocolate! Can't I at least finish this? It's sooo good!" Haley begged. "I'm inclined to agree with Haley. I mean, let's face it Brooke, out topless days in the middle of a bar are long past," Peyton said with a smirk. "Oh, give me a break; nothing like that. I was thinking more along the lines of some karaoke. The restaurant owner already gave me the go-ahead this morning, and there's a piano, some split tracks, and Haley James!" "You guys know I haven't sung in front of people for forever! I'll get way too nervous!" "Just play one of the songs you wrote, Hales. You've got to know at least one by heart, and this crowd will be blown away regardless," Peyton reasoned. "She's right, you know. You're young, beautiful, and ready to wow all single and available guys out there!" Brooke added enthusiastically. "Fine, but just this once," Haley gave in. "Yes! I knew the cave was coming sooner or later!" Brooke said with a smile as she high-fived Peyton.
Haley seated herself at the piano. The buzz of the restaurant didn't quiet down, and she look to Peyton and Brooke for reassurance, which she got. Then, quietly and intently, she began. "Every night I watch you sleeping/ Dreaming silently at night..." everyone stopped what they were doing. A hush fell over her audience, and they were held captive by the gentle, melodic notes. When it was finally over she stifled a sob. "Oh Nathan," she whispered, hating that his face kept reappearing in her thoughts, and hating that no matter how many times she tried to deny it, she would always love him more than anyone else and in a way no one else would ever know. Everyone clapped, and a large man near the back whistled. "Encore, encore!" he shouted. She smiled, and decided to indulge herself just one more time... or maybe more... tonight would be her night to get out the music that had been so despairingly locked up inside her for so long, and tonight would be the night she remembered, and then made a desperate effort to forget, Nathan Scott.
The next morning, Dillon was scheduled for surgery. Big, fat tears rolled down his chubby little face. "I don't want them to put a needle into my arm mommy!" he exclaimed desperately when the anesthesiologist came up. "Oh, honey, it'll be okay. The doctor's just need to fix something in your leg, and this'll make sure you don't feel anything. It'll be like taking a long, happy nap," Haley said, trying desperately to convince her son, as well as herself. "Daddy, why can't I be with you and mommy during the surgery?" Dillon inquired, redirecting his line of questions. "Well, chomp, the doctors know that mommy and I would be too upset to let them do their job if we were in their. We love you more than anything, and we'd be overprotective," Nathan answered awkwardly, fumbling for an answer that would make sense to the anxious little mite.
After another two or three pointed and tearful question, the anesthesia started kicking in. With the exception of the strangers in the waiting room, there was no one but each other to talk to. Jake, Brooke, and Jenny had had to leave that morning to continue on their honeymoon trip through Europe, Peyton had been paged back to New York to do a series of comic strips for a commentary on New York's governor, and Lucas had decided to go with her (surprise, surprise). Of course, they'd all offered to stay if Haley and Nathan wanted them to, but were shooed away with promises that everything would be fine.
"So... have you given any more thought to the custody arrangement?" Nathan finally broke the silence with. "No. I'd actually kind of been hoping the whole situation would go away..." Haley drifted off, looking down at the floor. "It's okay to be sad, you know. We were married for so long, and even though we were out of contact for years, we still didn't get a chance at any closure. It's just that I think it would be better to get things worked out now, instead of waiting until later on. It'll just hurt more that way." "I thought the whole point of this was to get as far away from me as possible so that you don't get hurt," Haley blurted out, raising her voice.
"I wouldn't ever try to get away from you! You're the one who's hurt me more times than I can count! How many times was I supposed to say sorry without accepting that you aren't planning on forgiving me any time soon, and just giving in and accepting that I'm not what you want anymore?!" "What I want and what I wanted aren't that different. You're what I wanted every night that dreams of you kept me up for the last five years, giving me nightmares and making me cry in my sleep! You're what I wanted when selling my wedding ring was the only way to survive! You're what I wanted every night I went to bed empty, waking up from a bad dream without anyone there to hold me and make me feel safe! You're what I wanted when I needed someone to protect me, and to kiss all the hurts and worries away! You were never there, though, so I got used to it. Now I'm so used to it I hardly even notice the pain anymore. Go ahead and walk away, Nathan Scott, because you will never, ever be the same man as I married if you're willing to give up this easily."
Instead of walking away, Nathan grabbed her shoulders and gave her a slight shake. "I'm not going anywhere Hales. You're it for me; you and Dillon. Don't you understand that? I loved you the first time I kissed you, and I love you now. I don't care what I said before. I love you, and this is reality. I'm touching your shoulders, and this is reality. I'm here now, which is what you just said you wanted, and this is reality. Now I'm going to kiss you, and it's going to be reality, and you're going to be happy with it." They did just that, in front of a waiting room full of people. Nathan and Haley didn't mind, though; they were out there, reality, for the whole world to see.
Two Months Later
"Mommy, look at what I found in the yard!" Dillon squealed. He pulled a slimy, wet little frog out of his back pants pocket. "Dillon! Go put that back outside! What have I told you about getting frogs from the backyard?" "If God wanted frogs to be indoor pets, he would've made them soft and furry, not slimy and creepy," Dillon said with a sigh. "What's going on here, young man?" a deep, booming voice said. Dillon giggled. "I know it's you Uncle Lucas! Do you know when daddy's getting home?" Lucas scooped the little boy up. "He'll be here any time. Didn't your doctor tell you to stop going outside with your crutches and cast?" "I can walk fine. Those doctors are just stupid," Dillon muttered, and Lucas and Haley laughed at the trademark Scott cockiness.
A pair of strong arms slipped around Haley's waist. "Hey there, stranger," she greeted him, a smile in her voice. "I get the impression we've met before," Nathan replied, and they laughed softly. They were both vaguely aware of Lucas ushering Dillon out of the room, but they didn't make any comments. Nathan laced their left hands' fingers together, stopping to look at Haley's ring and rub it with his thumb, a habit he'd picked up. "I still don't know how you found it," she whispered. "It's was really easy. I have friends in high places." "We'll have to be quick, because my husband's coming home soon," she murmured, her smile still in place. "Just so long as he's not big and strong," Nathan replied playfully. "Oh, he's better than that. He could beat the living daylights out of you. That's not important, though. We won't get caught, I'm sure out it." They laughed a little, and Nathan shifted until he was in front of her. "It's good to be home," he asserted decidedly. "It's never felt more like home," his wife said decidedly. They leaned in for a kiss.
THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY UNLESS YOU WANT IT TO BE!!!! Meaning, Read, Review, and Request! Please tell me if this chapter was bad. I really like it, but that might be just me. Haha. OnTheOutsideLookingIn