Chapter Twenty-One – Midnight Train To Georgia

'I'd rather live in his world,

Than live without him, in mine' – Gladys Knight and the Pips

March 15, 2011

"Nathan, I feel like I'm going to pop," I whine into the phone. Just my luck, it is unseasonably warm this week, and so not only am I almost nine months pregnant, I'm hot and sweaty and completely miserable. "This kid needs to come out now."

"Hey, all in good time, baby," he assures me, "It'll all be worth it in the end. You can't rush our little guy!"

"Nathan, I know that," I respond, "But you need to not say that, seeing as how you've done absolutely none of the work with this pregnancy."

"Hey, I did my part," he argues, actually having the audacity to sound offended, "I was there, doing the most important part!"

"You might want to shut up right now," I warn, growing more irritated with him by the second, "Because even though you are three fucking thousand miles away right now, I will find some way to make your life miserable."

"Geez, Haley J, there's no need for that kind of language. This kid will be exposed to plenty of that, do you really need to start him off with it now?"

"Nathan," I begin, seething, "Perhaps you do not understand that I am nine months pregnant. I am so huge right now that I look like I swallowed two of your precious basketballs!"

"Is that it?" he asks, sighing, "Are you pissed about basketball again? Because Haley J, you know I'd rather be there with you, I just don't have a choice right now. You know that."

"It isn't about that, Nathan! I know you can't be here! I just – I'm huge, and I'm alone here, and I miss you, and I just wish the baby would come already. And then I'm scared that you won't be here when it does."

"Everything in my power, baby," he promises, repeating the mantra he's developed in terms of this. "I will do anything and everything I can to be there, you know that, right?"

"Yeah, I know," I sigh, "And I'm sorry I'm sucking the fun out of everything, out of all of this pregnancy stuff. It's just hot here this week, and Brooke and Tim have both been staying at that apartment Tim got in Durham for the last two weeks so they don't have to travel back and forth, and Lucas started correspondence classes at Duke to get his teacher's certificate. All I've been able to do is work, and the duck waddle I'm doing makes a two minute task take ten!"

"I'm sorry I can't be there with you, baby. You know that if I could, I would, and I'd take good care of you, baby."

"I know," I sigh, "And I'm sorry I'm taking this out on you, I really am, Nathan. I'm just so frustrated and bored, and I hurt."

"Baby, if you hurt, maybe you should go see the doctor," he says worriedly, "Maybe that means the baby is coming!"

I rub my eyes tiredly. "I don't think so, Nathan. I'm not having contractions or anything, I'm just sore and tired. Really tired."

"I'm sorry, I wish I could fix it for you, sweetie."

I know this, I do. It just doesn't really make it better right now when I feel so awful. Plus, it's not like saying it actually changes anything or makes me feel even slightly better right now.

"I know, Nathan. Hey, it'll be soon, right? So, I'm okay, maybe I'll call Karen or your mom and see if they can hang out with me for a little while."

"That's a good idea," he decides, probably relieved that I'll have someone else to bitch at and gripe to rather than him.

"Okay, then, I'll let you go now," I tell him, knowing he's probably got a billion better things to do than listen to me bitch, the least of which is finish setting up furniture for the nursery he's planned for the baby. Of all the times he's cheaping out now, it's when it came down to putting the furniture together himself or having someone else do it for him. Safely.

"Hey, call me later okay?" he asks, "Let me know how you're feeling, and if you feel worse, please promise me you'll go to the hospital?"

I nod wearily, even though he can't see me. "I promise," I sigh.

"Good girl," and I can hear the smile in his voice. God, I miss him so much, and I just wish he were here. I know he'll be on the first plane here once my water breaks and he'll hopefully make it for the birth, but I just wish he were here for the lead-up. I just feel better when he's around, and this would be a good time to feel better about things.

"I love you," I tell him, trying not to let my emotions get the best of me and start crying. "And I miss you."

"Same here, baby," he sighs raggedly, and I know that he's hurting over not being with me, and he probably feels a little guilty, too.

We hang up, and I let myself sink lower into the plump cushions of the couch, trying to relax. I groan when someone knocks on the door a second later, and by the grace of God, I manage to propel myself to my feet, and waddle out to answer.

"Luke!" I exclaim, throwing my arms around one of his arms because I know my fat stomach isn't conducive to hugging these days. "I'm so glad you're here," I say, bursting into tears of exhaustion, frustration, and other emotions I can't name.

"Hey, Hales, what's wrong?" he asks, looking down at me worriedly. "Are you okay? The baby, is the baby okay?"

"I don't know what's wrong with me," I wail, still clutching at his arm, "I'm tired, and hot, and this damn kid won't come out, and my back hurts!"

"Sounds like you know exactly what's wrong," he laughs, and I pinch him on the shoulder for laughing at me.

"You know, ragging on me might not be the way to go right now," I warn him, "I'm not very happy, and I'm really quite miserable."

"Okay, okay," he sighs, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you or something."

"I know," I respond, shaking my head, "Look, can you just go ahead and give me a ride to the café? I need hang out with your mom and Deb for awhile. If I don't get some company soon, I'm going to go insane."

"Geez, thanks, Hales, good to see that I don't rank as company anymore."

"Oh, get over it," I snap. Feeling bad at his stricken expression, I soften. "I'm sorry, Luke, it's just that I want to be around people who actually understand how I'm feeling and get what I'm going through. You just can't be that person in this situation," I reason.

He chuckles a little, and I think both of us feel a little more normal, like us for a minute. I feel bad for all the stress I've caused everyone around me this last month, and I know saying my hormones are out of whack is a cop-out, but I have no other explanation for it.

"You're going to go back to normal soon, right?" he only half-jokes as he puts an arm around my shoulder.

"Why? Do you not like being tortured?" I ask, teasing.

He looks at me disgustedly. "Not especially, Hales, not even by a cute pregnant girl like yourself," he winks.

"Yeah, flattery will get you everywhere," I smile, "Now take me to the diner, please, buddy." I appeal to him with puppy dog eyes, which I know Luke can never resist.

"You sure you want to leave the house?" he questions, looking at me doubtfully, "And I don't mean this disrespectfully, I swear, but you might be more comfortable here."

I roll my eyes at him, "That is a distinct possibility, but Luke, I was about to die of boredom. You don't want me to die, do you?"

He snorts. "Yeah, sounds like a really dire situation you got there, Hales. Totally life or death."

"Leave me alone," I grumble, shoving him out the front door. I grab my keys and purse and follow him out, locking the door behind us. "Come on, let's just go. Maybe your mom will make us some mac and cheese."

"Aw, I bet she would," he smiles, "That sounds great right about now, I'm starving. This whole garage work thing takes up a lot of my energy."

"Okay, first of all, I meant 'we' as in the baby and I, and second, you worked in the garage in high school, you should already know how much energy it takes. Why you're marveling about that now is beyond me."

"Oh, you wound me," he laughs sarcastically, "In regards to both aspects of your previous statement. Geez, when exactly did you get so harsh towards me? Me, Lucas, your buddy, your pal, your best friend."

I roll my eyes at him, but can't help laughing. "Since always? I don't know, can we chalk it up to the hormones?"

He shakes his head. "No, because you've been like this way before pregnancy hormones kicked in," he reasons.

"Oh, you're cruising for a bruising," I threaten as he helps me into the car.

"'Cruising for a bruising'?" he repeats, crinkling his nose in disgust at my 'tough talk', "What are you, twelve?"

"Maybe," I reply, sticking my tongue out at him. He shakes his head and jogs around the car and climbs into the driver's seat. "I miss Nathan," I sigh as he turns the key in the ignition.

He glances over at me, his expression unreadable. "You're going to move to Seattle, aren't you?" he asks, glancing away from me as he pulls out of the driveway.

I'm surprised he's figured it out, but at the same time, it is so typical that he would. Hell, I'm sure Brooke and Tim have, too. "How'd you know?" I ask quietly.

"You love him. He loves you, and now you're having a baby that you both are going to love to pieces. It just seems like the thing you'd do, you know?"

"When did you realize it?" I ask, skirting the issue of actually telling him with my own words I'll be leaving in a month or so.

He shrugs. "I don't know, awhile ago. Month or so, even. I just figured this is what would happen, and then Brooke, Tim and I talked about it."

This is news to me. That they're even talking, I mean. "You're talking to Tim and Brooke? I mean, at all?" I ask, confused.

"It's no big deal," he sighs, "And besides, we're all adults, right?"

"How come no one tells me anything anymore?" I ask, still confused that they've managed to be at least friendly now.

"I guess it didn't seem like it warranted telling," he suggests, glancing out the window, "I don't know, Hales, out of all the things you have to worry about, I think none of us wanted to stress you out more by adding our shit to it."

"This – this isn't shit, though, Luke! If you and Brooke can be friendly, and eventually maybe more than just going through the friendly motions, then that's a good thing, not a shit thing. I don't see where that's so hard to get."

"Well, I guess you're right. But it's nothing huge, really, don't get too excited about it," he warns, "I mean, it's me and Brooke, right? Things could go from okay to hell on earth in three seconds flat."

I can't help the chuckle that escapes – he's right on this one. If ever there were two people more capable of wrecking their own good thing, it is Luke and Brooke. Of course, maybe it was just an illusion and it was never all that good to begin with, but that's not my judgment call to make. All I can do is be happy that they can even try to work out a cordiality if nothing else.

"You two are great," I tell him, rolling my head to the side to smile at him, "I adore and love you both, and I would have hated it if things ended up where you wouldn't come around at the same time or something. Some weird custody arrangement."

"I'm really going to miss you," he sighs, "I can't believe you are going to be leaving here. I don't mean this in a bad way, Hales, but I always thought you'd be the one who stuck around Tree Hill, you know?"

"Gee, thanks," I mutter sarcastically, a little unsure of just what the hell that means. I throw in a glare for good measure.

He laughs, patting me on the knee. "Chill, Hales, I don't mean it in a bad way. I guess it's more a selfish thing, anyways – I can't picture being here without you," he shrugs, his gaze firmly fixed on the road in front of us.

"Aw, Lukie, you're gonna miss me," I joke in a sing-song voice.

"Not just you," he points out, "But Nathan and that baby, too. Seattle is a long ways away. You sure you want to go there?"

"Luke," I sigh, "I can't live without Nathan. That's what I've learned the last five years, that I don't want a life that he isn't a part of. And let's face it, he has more to lose by altering his life than I do, so it's time for me to make the effort. And that effort means I have to move to Seattle. To be with him, to show him I want this as much as he does."

He sighs, too, shaking his head. "I know all that, Hales, and I even respect it. But I also think it sucks that you're leaving, and that you and my brother will be raising my niece or nephew three thousand miles away from home. That's crap, Hales."

I shrug. "It's not crap, its life. And sure, it's not ideal, and it's not perfect, and maybe it kind of sucks, but it's still just life."

He sighs again, but this time I can sense the resignation behind it. "You're right, it isn't crap. And I'm sorry I said it was." I glance at him, a little surprised by the 180. "What? Don't look at me like that. I'm a fairly reasonable and rational adult when I need to be."

I snort my laughter. "Please, reasonable and rational like getting married on a whim in Vegas? And then not telling your family about it? Right," I drawl out.

"I didn't say I was all the time," he shrugs defensively, "I said when I need to be. Anyways, it isn't fair of me to castigate you for doing what you have to."

"You're right, it isn't," I laugh, "But I don't really think that's what you're doing. Look, Luke, I know that now isn't the best time for me to leave, and I know that there are people here who need me, too. And I wish I could be everything to everyone, but I can't. But at the same time, that doesn't mean I love you guys any less."

He nods, staring straight ahead. "Yeah, I know. And you know, it's unfair that a part of me still wishes it were otherwise."

"Well, life ain't fair, dork," I smile.

"No, it isn't," he agrees, "I know that. I'm just really going to miss you, Hales. You know that even more than Nathan, and sometimes more than Mom and Keith, you're the one for me, you're the one that keeps me sane, keeps me grounded. Maybe I rely on you too much."

"Is that possible?" I wonder aloud, "Isn't that exactly what friends do?"

"Yeah, but sometimes I feel like I need or ask for too much from you, and that's not right. I shouldn't do that."

I roll my eyes in his direction. "Luke, if you mean the Brooke crap, it's fine, it wasn't as tough as I thought it was going to be."

He shakes his head, smiling wryly. "Clearly, this is a lot harder on me than it is on you, but I think a part of me has always felt a little proprietary towards you. Like, even though there were other people in your life of equal or more importance, I still had some seniority thing that I could invoke, and get you to be my friend, my support."

"That doesn't have to go away, Luke."

"Hales, you'll be across the country raising a baby and this kid you're about to birth." I smack him on the arm for his crack at Nathan's expense. "I know, I know," he laughs, "They're better to make when he's around to actually appreciate them."

"You're a brat," I bitch, shoving him a little. I still when I feel a little twinge – a different twinge than the many I've had the last few months, but it is gone so quickly that I just ignore it. As if I'm lucky enough to have this kid today or tomorrow, or maybe even next week.

"Yeah, well, you should have accepted that a long time ago," he points out.

"I thought I did," I laugh, "But every once in awhile, you get so bratty that it all comes rushing back that maybe, just maybe, you aren't normal."

"No one ever said I was normal," he grins, "So, I don't know where you got that impression. Besides, you of all people know my torrid past, so you should know better than anyone just how abnormal things get around here."

I laugh as we pull up in front of the café. Luke double parks, explaining that he is going to go visit Keith and Eric as he helps me through the doors and into a chair. He waves, laughing over his shoulder at me as both Karen and Deb rush over to fawn over me.

They fawn over me, and it isn't as fun as I assumed it would be. I think the only thing that will make me happy is giving birth now. It's pathetic how focused on this I am. Well, I suppose it really isn't, considering I'm as big as a whale pregnant, but still.

Deb heads to the kitchen to get some tea for all of us, and Karen sits down at the table with me. "How are you holding up, honey?"

I shake my head at her. "I'm miserable, but I'm sure it will all be worth it in a couple days, right?"

"That's generally the case," she smiles.

"I'm just ready to not be fat, and to not waddle, and you know, to hold the baby. I can't wait to hold it."

Her smile widens. "Have you two settled on names yet?"

I shrug. "Nathan is so convinced it will be a boy that he won't even entertain girl names, so we're empty on that one. Of course, I think that means if it is a girl, I automatically get to choose. But for a boy, we're still in discussions. He likes Robert or Anthony," I tell her, crinkling my nose.

"And clearly you don't," she chuckles.

"I don't know, they're just so common. There should be something to be said for originality, right?"

"Maybe," she concedes, "But maybe there is something to be said for traditionalism." I shrug. "Well, you'll figure it out, and hey, maybe it'll be a girl, and it won't matter anyway. You can name her Rain or Sunshine or something equally different," she teases.

"Oh, God," I groan, smothering a laugh, "Nathan would flip out, Kare. Could you imagine him having a daughter named something like Fichus or something." She gives me a funny look. "What, if you want to call her Rain or Sunshine, I think I can name her after a plant."

"A fruit maybe, but I don't know if a plant would be acceptable. Besides, I think Fichus is better for a little boy."

"You're awful," I laugh. "Besides, you shouldn't be encouraging me – you named both of your sons rather common names!"

"Well, in my defense, Lucas wasn't that common back then." I give her a 'yeah, right' look, and she laughs. "Okay, fine, so I went with safe names, but that doesn't mean I think you should. Go with what you and Nathan likes, and maybe wait until the baby is born, and see what you think suits him or her."

"At this rate, the kid will never be born, and all this name talk will be a moot point!" I joke. "So maybe we should forget about it for now."

"Aw, honey, the baby will come in his or her own good time."

"Karen," I say worriedly, "It has been in here a really, really long time. I mean, what if – what if it doesn't come out? What if something is wrong?"

"Now, Haley, you know that nothing is wrong with the baby or how long you've been carrying it."

I shake my head wearily. "I guess; that's what the doctor keeps saying anyways. But what if they're wrong? I mean, hello, I'm huge. It isn't natural to be this huge."

Karen snorts at me, her eyebrows raised in disbelief. "Do you not remember that I had trouble fitting through doorways when I was pregnant with Eric? Come on, Haley, you aren't really all that big. I promise."

I nod, tired as hell again all of a sudden. "I just want this to be over. I want to have this baby, and I want to be with Nathan," I blurt out, unthinking.

"Be with Nathan?" Karen asks, her eyes blinking in surprise, "Are you leaving Tree Hill and moving to Seattle?"

"Yeah, are you?" Deb echoes from behind us.

Oh, I knew I'd have to tell them at some point, but it wasn't supposed to be now, and it wasn't supposed to just be me. It was supposed to be Nathan and I, doing this together, telling them together in a thoughtful, planned out way. Not me, blurting it out, in the middle of the café, that's for sure.

"Oh, you guys, I'm sorry, I wasn't supposed to say it like this. Nathan and I, well, we wanted to tell everyone together, both of us, in a better way. Not me being an idiot and forgetting myself."

Deb moves over and sits down, a look of slight shock and maybe hurt etched across her face. "You – you're really going to take the baby and leave? When? How soon?"

I shake my head, shrugging. "A month or two after the baby is born probably. We'd originally figured three, but it seems best to just do it. I, um, I really don't want to be away from Nathan, and I won't want him to be away from the baby, either."

I wince as her hands rush up to cradle her. "Well, so now it isn't enough that Nathan is three thousand miles away, but now you're taking my grandchild and moving him or her across the country, too. That's fantastic," she bites out snidely when she raises her head. This is a side of Deb I haven't seen since she first found out that Nathan and I had married in high school.

"Deb, it – it isn't like that," I manage to stutter out, "It isn't like we don't wish things were different, and that everyone we love could see us and the baby every day. You know I wish things were different."

"Well, they aren't," she sighs, leaving her head down, not looking at me. Karen glances at me, shrugging slightly as if to motion that she doesn't know where this is coming from, but it will be alright. "Dammit, things just got to a point where they made sense again, and now you're taking my grandchild away."

And with those lovely words that every nine month pregnant girl wants to hear, she storms out. I shake my head, shrugging at Karen. I don't even know what to say about that.

"She'll get over it. She's just, I don't know," she pauses, searching for the right word, "Sad to know that her family is dwindling. She won't have anyone to coddle."

"She has Dan," I reason.

Karen gives me a look. "I don't know about that, she's been mentioning the d-word as well as their problems lately. Said she's thinking things have finally caught up with them. I almost wonder if she isn't trying to prepare me. Keith says Dan has been doing the same thing to him and Lucas."

"What?" I gasp, my mouth dropping open to gape at her, "You think they're going to get divorced?"

She blushes, "I shouldn't be gossiping, and this is really not my place to tell. But I don't know, Haley, it's just what she's been saying."

I lean back in my chair. "You know, I wasn't surprised about Luke and Brooke – in a way, I knew it would happen. But Deb and Dan, they've been through so much, and made such an effort to get things back that I just would never have even guessed they were having problems."

"Looks can be deceiving, honey."

I nod, agreeing. "Yeah, they can. Well, maybe they're just being over-reactive right now, and they'll work things out," I suggest.

She manages a small smile. "Yeah, maybe," she agrees softly, "We'll see. But anyways, I just mentioned it mainly so that you would know Deb didn't really mean anything by it."

I nod. "Yeah, I knew that. It sucks she said it, but hey, that's life." I make my way to my feet. "Can I use your phone? I need to get Brooke and Tim here so that I can tell them about me moving before someone else does. I think they'd be really upset if they didn't hear it from me."

She nods. "Of course."

She stands, too, and I reach over to give her a hug. "You know I'm not moving to be selfish, right? That it's just because Nathan is the baby's father, and they need each other. And that I need Nathan, too, and he needs me."

"Oh, honey, of course I do. That doesn't mean I'm not sad, and that I won't miss you, but of course I do."

"Thanks, Kare."

When I get outside, I stupidly realize that Luke drove me, hence, I'm carless. Shrugging to myself, I sit down on a bench and pull out my phone, calling Brooke. Who knew this unseasonably warm weather that has been making me miserable would now come in handy?

"Hey Tutor Girl," she answers, and I smile, hearing the smile in her voice.

"Hey yourself, Tigger, where are you?"

"Five minutes from Tree Hill, where the hell are you?"

I laugh delightedly. "I'm sitting on a bench about a block away from Karen's in front of the ice cream shop waiting for you to come pick me up."

"It's your lucky day, I was lookin' for a hooker," she jokes.

"Perv," I giggle, "Hurry up, I'm bored."

"Yeah, yeah, Queen Haley, I'm on my way. Hey, what are you doing sitting on a bench on the side of the road anyways?"

I sigh, probably blushing, too. "Oh, Luke dropped me off at the café, and I left, not thinking that I had no ride. So instead of going back there like an idiot, I'm calling you like an idiot. Cuz you're so sweet and beautiful."

She snorts. "Please, do keep flattering me. You might mean it as sarcasm, but I? Love it. Even if it's a joke. So keep on."

"You're weird," I assure her with a laugh, lumbering to my feet as her car flies around the corner, screeching to a halt in front of me. "Hey, I gotta go," I say into the phone, "My afternoon hooking job is here."

She flips me off as I get in the car. "Is that all I am to you? A job? Your earlier flattery has been forgotten and you'll need to start over to regain my good favor."

"You're a tough nut to crack," I laugh.

She shrugs. "Maybe. And please never compare me to a nut – or any other food for that matter – again."

"Deal."

We drive the rest of the way home in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. Once we get in the house, though, and are settled in on the couch, all bets are off.

"This like my first time home in forever, and by the grace of God – or Buddha or whomever, Tim will be in town, too. It's one of his brother's birthday, or something, so he's going to stay the night at the house."

"Wow, that's perfect. I was just about to ask where he was, and suggest we go find him. I need to talk to you two."

"Sounds ominous," she comments idly, not really paying attention.

I shrug. "Just a little announcement."

"Aw, shit, don't tell me your latest ultrasound has shown that kid will be inflicted with the Scott family devil horns," she deadpans.

"Well, that was only part of it," I laugh.

"Well, what's the rest?" she prods, only semi-joking about me telling her now, "You know I have the patience of – well, of something that has very little in the way of patience."

"No, really?" I roll my eyes at her. "I'd never noticed that about you, Brooke. Go on, tell me another."

"So, what's with all this?" she asks again, gesturing towards me with a swooping wave of her hand, "Seriously, I mean, Haley, I know you, I know something big is up."

"Brooke, please," I plead, startling both of us with use of her given name, "Please just let this go for now, until Tim gets here, okay? I need to tell you both at the same time."

I'm beginning to get nervous now, and judging by the suspicious look that she's giving me, she's noticed it as well. She turns away, though, instead of pressing me, and I watch sadly as her shoulders slump in defeat. She knows. She knows what I'm going to announce once Tim arrives. I guess over the last five years, we really have forged that bond, that strong, unwavering bond that gives you that uncanny, seemingly inherent ability to know what the person you are so attuned to is thinking.

I want to admit everything to her. I want to lay it all out on the table, let her get mad and cry or whatever it is that she'll do in this particular situation, but I can't. It isn't fair to Tim to play it that way. But still, I want to admit all of this to her. I want her to know that I know she's figured it out. I just have to tell them together, admittedly not for entirely unselfish reasons.

She turns around now, looking slightly more composed. "Well, who knows when he'll show up," she says with a cheeriness that is belied by her eyes.

"I'm sorry I have to wait, Tigger," I say softly.

She nods. "Yeah, I know, it's just – not easy, Tutor Girl. It is really not easy."

"Tell me something I don't know," I sigh, "Because that is just about the only thought I can keep in my head – how hard it all is."

She's about to reply when Tim comes barreling through the door, yelling our names loud enough that I'm pretty sure we could've heard him from Durham.

"Hey, how's my girls?" he grins as he practically skids into the room. "Uh, what's going on?" he asks when he sees the depressed looks on our faces.

"Haley has an announcement to make," Brooke says tonelessly. Tim's face drops, and his look mirrors Brooke's. Why do I get the feeling they've been expecting this, waiting for it?

He sits next to Brooke on the couch, and I struggle to my feet and stand in front of them. "Look, if you guys have both figured it out, maybe I just don't need to say it," I mutter tiredly.

"No, say it," Tim demands. Brooke nods her agreement with his request. "I want to hear you say it, Haley."

Rip the bandaid off quickly, right? "I'm moving to Seattle to live with Nathan in a month or so after the baby is born."

"So soon?" Tim asks, his voice hollow and emotionless.

"I guess it is soon in some ways, but in others, I think it is a long time coming."

"Right," he says slowly, not looking at me still. Brooke sits there unmoving, staring at her hands.

"Right?" I echo dully, "That's all there is to say? Right? Wow, I wasn't expecting Scarlet O'Hara dramatics or anything, but I figured I could inspire a little more than 'right'."

"What do you want us to say, Haley?" Tim asks. "Nothing we say now is going to – to – I don't know, really make sense of anything. You're our best friend; you're also leaving. Leaving us behind. Which is funny, since that's what bonded us in the first place."

His words strike true immediately – it is what bound us together in the first place. And I'm doing to them what was so hard for me to deal with when my friends did it to me. When they put it that way, I feel even worse now than I did before, which is really saying something.

I waddle over and sit down on the couch with them. "I'm sorry," I tell them quietly, "I'm so sorry that I'm leaving you, and I'm so sorry that I'm making you feel that way again."

"We know that," Brooke speaks up, finally contributing to the conversation, "But you know that it doesn't make it any easier. You're – you're leaving, Tutor Girl. And you're taking the baby, and you're leaving. For Seattle! That's so far away!"

I nod, at a loss for words. I don't even realize I've started crying until I feel Tim brushing tears off my cheek. I mouth a 'thank you' to him, smiling sadly.

"We're just going to miss you, Haley," Tim sighs, shaking his head, "And you know, it's not like you're just a half hour away. Hell, Brooke and I are in the same city now most of the time, and we hardly see each other, let alone you, who is only a half hour away from us. Let's face it, we'll never see you now."

"Of course you will!" I exclaim, "God, I haven't spent the last five years being best friends with the two of you to throw it all away just because we're growing up and getting lives and doing whatever it is grown ups do! Maybe you all have, but I haven't! This relationship means something to me, and I'm not about to throw it away! I don't care how many kids I have, and how many states I move away to, you two are part of my world!"

Tim sighs, but puts his arm around my shoulder, pulling me to him. "We know, James, but it doesn't change that things are, well, changing."

"And not all change is for the better," Brooke pipes up, looking around Tim towards me. "Not all change makes it possible for bonds to stay strong."

I push away from Tim, away from the back of the couch so I can stare her down. "So what are you saying? That this friendship is not worth preserving to you? Because that's a lie, and all three of us know it."

She shrugs. "I don't know anything anymore, maybe. I don't know why you think things can remain rosy and peachy when you move across the country. I don't know why you think they'll stay the same. And honestly, I don't even know why you think it is a good idea for you to even move period."

"Come on, Brooke," Tim sighs, and I know he sees where this is going – Brooke on one side, and me on the other, screaming and saying things we don't really mean, but wouldn't really take back, either.

She shakes off the warning, restraining hand he put on her leg. "No, Tim, I won't 'come on'. It's bullshit you even suggest I do," she says hotly, clearly warming up to giving me, him, whoever is in her way a verbal lashing, "It's bullshit that she thinks moving across the country, away from her friends and her family, people who actually love her, to live with Nathan!"

I jump to my feet a lot faster than any of us figured I could. "Screw you, Brooke!" I yell, pissed that she's undermining my relationship with Nathan like this when she knows how much it means to me, how hard it was for me when I didn't have him, and how much I need him now. "This is Nathan's baby that has me about to fall forward on my face! His baby! His baby that he is going to want to see on a regular basis. His baby that is going to want to see him on that same regular basis! And dammit, I don't care how selfish it is, I want to see both of them on a regular basis, too."

"Yeah, at the expense of the people who have stood by you when he left. That's great, a totally fair trade." She jumps up, folding her arms across her chest. "Just leave, see if we care."

"Knock it off," Tim mutters tiredly before I can say anything. And boy, do I have some things to say. "You two are acting ridiculous, and I know you've both said things you regret, and I also know you are both about to say things you'll regret even more. If you're going to do that, even though I'm asking you to stop, I'll leave. I'm not watching you wreck everything we've built here in the last five years. FIVE years. Think about it," he pleads.

We're both silent for a few minutes until I speak up, breaking it. "It isn't supposed to be at anyone's expense, Tigger. That's not what this is about."

"Then what exactly is it about, Haley, because I'm not getting it from anything you're saying here."

"It's about creating a family with Nathan. It's about raising our baby together, and it's about sharing our lives. That doesn't mean that everything else in either of our lives become excluded."

"You can't say for sure that it won't," she argues, starting to look more sad than angry, so I know she's starting to come around.

"Yes, I can," I counter, "Tigger, you are my friends. Besides that, you're my family. You have been for so long now, and I wouldn't know who I was without the two of you in my life. I'm not about to let that go. I hope you know that."

My heart breaks as she reaches up to brush off a tear. "Everything is changing," she whispers, "You're leaving – not just you, but the baby, too. Tim is getting all big and powerful at his company, and I'm still just me, just going to college. You're both moving on, moving away."

"Is that what this is about?" Tim asks, glancing at me in surprise, "You think both of us are leaving you? Come on, Davis, you know we'll always be here for you. Even if 'here' is Seattle or Durham or wherever."

"Tigger, look at everything we've shared," I chime in, "Look at everything we have been through. The odds were, in the beginning at least, probably that we wouldn't last as friends. We were too different, had too much awkward history, all that. And here we are. Even better friends than I could've hoped for."

"Me, too," Tim agrees, "I don't know what I expected when I first latched onto you two, but it probably wasn't this. No, it definitely wasn't this." Brooke and I both laugh at that. "But you know, this is so much better than anything I could've even figured I'd want, you know?"

"I agree," I smile, "Tigger, when you came up to me that first day at THCC, and we found out we had, God, was it English, together, I was a little nervous. You hated half of my friends, and I kind of thought that was extended to me, too. But you persisted, practically stalking me around campus, and then we hooked up with Tim, and I guess the rest is history."

She sits back down on the couch, but at least there is a small smile on her face now. "I don't know who I am without you guys, though. I don't know how to have fun, or how to even live, I guess."

"That's not true," Tim laughs, "You're the one always telling us how to live, how to have fun, who we are. You know who you are, and you sure as shit can live on your own."

"You're tough, Tigger, you're strong," I tell her passionately. I want her to believe this as much as I do. "You're one of the strongest people I know, and if I do say so myself, I'm lucky enough to know some pretty damn strong women."

"Like Karen?" she asks in her small voice.

"Yeah, like Karen. I see Karen in you Brooke, and I know you'll be okay. I know that no matter what, you will find the strength to get through whatever the day throws at you. And you're smart, too, and compassionate, and so caring! People don't know that, you don't let them see that, but you've let us see that, and you are one of the most generous people I know!"

"She's right, Brooke," Tim grins, "And you're pretty damn hot, too."

"Perv," she laughs, smacking him on the leg. "But I really am." She winks at me.

I wink back. "You've done everything you've ever said you would, and I just have no doubts that you'll do whatever it is you set out to do in the future."

"Like Vet School?"

"Exactly like that!" Tim exclaims, "Hell, even I thought you were crazy for doing that, and I guess I even underestimated you a little, because I wasn't sure if you'd make it. I figured you'd go for the pretty job, and James would go for the one involving animal shit."

We both smack him this time. "Uh, thanks, I think," Brooke laughs, rolling her eyes. "I'm sorry I was such a down bitch about this, but it's hard. I can't believe I'm not going to see you whenever I want. God, I can't believe I'm going to miss watching this one grow up," she sighs as she pats my stomach. "I'm really going to miss that part of it."

"Me, too," I sigh, "I wish more than anything you both would see him or her daily, but I guess even if we were here, that would be unrealistic."

"Me, three," Tim smiles, "I know you're going to be a great baby mama, and Nathan will be a good dad, but what kid doesn't need an Uncle Tim?"

"One that wants to grow up normal," Brooke teases, and I crack up as Tim rolls his eyes good-naturedly.

"Okay, so I might not miss the ganging up quite so much as everything else," Tim says.

"Oh, don't worry, we'll three-way, and Brooke and I will do plenty of ganging up on you, still. You know we would miss that for anything," I smile.

"Mmm, three-way," he pretends to drool in his Homer Simpson voice, receiving another smack on the leg from Brooke and a pinch on the arm from me.

"Told you he was a perv," Brooke comments lightly.

"Tell me something I don't know next time," I laugh.

"Ha. Ha ha ha, I didn't get the memo that it was Pick On Tim night again. Wasn't that just last week?" he mutters, scowling at us.

"Oh, but Tim, every night is Pick On Tim night," Brooke grins, "And you know you love it. I don't know why you pretend otherwise."

"Yeah, yeah, you two are mean."

"Such a pouter," I comment to Brooke, dropping my heavy weight down on the couch. I lay down, putting my head on her lap, letting her play my hair. There is so much comfort to be here with these two, doing the things we've always done, just being normal. It's very jarring to realize that in a month or so, I won't have instant access to them anymore. I won't be able to lay on a couch with them, teasing Tim. And that's hard.

"A week overdue," Dan sighs, shaking his head at me, "You have one determined kid in there, Haley."

"Clearly a Scott, and probably, like Nathan has been saying, a male Scott, at that. Who else would be so stubborn as to go against the wishes of like everyone in the whole world?"

He chuckles. "Well, I can't argue with you on that one. Nathan wants a boy, does he?"

I shrug. "I don't know if he necessarily wants a boy, but more that's what he's guessing this monster is," I explain, touching my enormous belly reverently.

"Did he tell you that Deb and I called him? That we're going to go ahead with a trial separation, see how things go, and take it from there?"

I nod, not needing him to elaborate on who 'him' is. "Yeah, he did. He just wants the best for both of you."

Dan smiles slightly. "Well, I wish I could say I always had that in mind for him, but I'm not that big of a liar anymore."

"Things change, people change, right?"

"Yeah, absolutely. I think sometimes we have to, or else you just lose everything. Maybe it goes against the grain to think this, but change is good. Personal change is best."

"Take it from someone who knows?" I ask, joking.

"Yeah, definitely," he says in all seriousness, "I do know. If I hadn't realized what I was doing to everyone I loved, I would've lost it all."

"You didn't, so that's really something. If you don't mind my saying, you were really close to losing it all."

I wonder if I have overstepped my bounds as a dark shadow crosses over his face, but it passes as quickly as it arrived. "Yeah, I was really close. Closer than I like to think about even now," he acknowledges, "It's scary to think what I would've lost: Lucas, Nathan. That's more than a lot of people ever have, and I almost threw it all away. Hell, for all intents and purposes, I did throw it all away. I just got lucky, and my sons are better men than I ever was, ever could be."

"Well, they wouldn't be who they are without you," I point out, "So maybe more good came out of things than you think."

He smirks somewhat self-deprecatingly. "Yeah, maybe, but not really in the good. I think that all the great things they've been done were to prove they were better than me, or to do what they thought was sticking it to me."

"It turned out okay in the end, though. I guess that is my main point. You figured things out with both of them when not very many people thought you could."

"Yeah, that's true. And hey, I have the knowledge that both of them are better than I ever was. And I know Nathan will be such a wonderful father to your child. After all, I taught him everything not to do."

"You've taught him some right things, too," I point out, "Look at how you've repaired things with Lucas. I know that was a tough time for Nathan, but at the same time, it really showed him a lot about what relationships can be, what they are."

He leans over and gives me a hug. "Thank you, Haley. I don't know if I've ever said this before, but welcome to the family. I think we are very lucky to have you."

"I'm lucky to have you all," I return, waving as he wanders off, not before winking at me, though. "Who knew I'd be here?" I wonder aloud.

"Haley, come on, you're missing your own party!" Brooke exclaims from the doorway, "And if you were talking to yourself, like I think you were, then I think we should've dedicated this party to something else."

"Like what? As if having a "Hey, your baby is never coming, isn't that exciting?" party isn't out there enough for you?"

"Oh, come on, you love it! This is fun, and if that kid is going to set up permanent residence in there, well, then I say we have a little fun with it at least!" she laughs.

"Fun for who?" I whine, tired of being pregnant.

"Everyone, mostly you. And if you keep pretending otherwise, I will tell everyone to take back their presents."

"Presents?" I perk up, that being the magic word, apparently, "Presents for me and the baby?"

"No, just for you," she smiles, "But like I said, they can be taken back! So shape up, or ship out." She crinkles her nose at her words. "God, did I just say that? I don't know where I picked it up."

"Colloquialisms do not become you, Tigger," I smile.

"Yeah, I know. Seriously, it just slipped out. Not even sure what it means." I roll my eyes at her. "Really, I don't know, freak thing. Anyways, come on, let's get you back to the party!"

She starts to tug on my arm, but I place my hand over hers, stopping her. She turns to look at me, and I smile at her. "Thank you, for all of this. Thank you for everything."

"You're welcome," she smiles, blushing a little.

"No, I mean it. I know that my little announcement was hard to swallow, and I just – thank you for moving past it. I love you, Tigger."

"I love you, too, Tutor Girl," she says tearily, moving to hug me. "I can't believe you'll be leaving."

"Me either," I agree, "Isn't it funny that a few years ago, I was afraid of being stuck here. And now? Now here I am lamenting that I'm leaving."

"I guess this place kind of grows on you," she agrees.

"You going to stay here?"

"If Tim does, probably."

"Yeah? You'd base a decision like that on Tim? I mean, you know I love Tim dearly, but I don't know if I'd base any kind of life decision around him." We both dissolve into giggles.

"Yeah, well, I need some form of familiarity, and Tim is the best around. He's my rock, in some ways."

"We're both lucky to have him," I smile, "And I know you'll take good care of each other. That's why I know its okay for me to leave. You have each other to rely on."

"It'd be better if you were still here, too, though," she argues, "But it is better than nothing. A lot better."

I link arms with her. "Come on, let's get back before they send Tim or Luke out here for us. Or both."

"Did you know they're planning on having a beer drinking contest?" she tells me, rolling her eyes, "How lame and juvenile is that?"

"You want in, don't you?" I laugh, "And I believe the friendship really got underway post-marriage, pre-divorce Brooke and Luke. You know, just for reference."

"Thanks for pointing that out to me, Obi Wan Haley," she glowers, "And let the record show, I could kick both their asses blindfolded with one arm tied behind my back! But they think I'm some wilting flower who can't do stuff like that!"

"I think they know better than that," I assure her, "In fact, they're both big babies, and probably know that you would win, and they're keeping you out of the game on purpose."

Her mouth falls open in surprise. "You know, for two morons, they can both be really calculating. Excuse me, I have a contest to crash," she says, dropping my arm to run off.

I wander back into the room, sitting down beside Keith and Eric on the couch. Eric immediately crawls over Keith to my side.

"Hey kid, how are you?" I ask, leaning over to give him a hug.

"Hi Hales," he says brightly, "Are you ever going to have that baby? It has been in there a long, long, looong time!"

Everyone in the room laughs, except for me. I groan, and poke him gently in the sky. "Did they tell you to say that?" I ask, pulling him tight against my side.

"No," he says slowly, seriously, "It's true. It must be a real big baby!"

"Thanks for that encouraging thought, Eric," I laugh, all the while picturing a baby the size of an elephant. Or me the size of an elephant with the elephant baby still inside me.

"You're welcome," he smiles sweetly. Keith grins at me over his head, shrugging.

"How are you holding up?" Keith asks.

I smile. "Oh, I could be a lot worse. I am ready for this part to be over, though. The next part seems so wonderful, and it won't involve me having quite this big of a belly."

Karen laughs. "That's about the only good part of it," she jokes, winking at Keith. Lucas comes in that moment, Brooke and Tim behind him, and frowns.

"Don't let her talk to you like that, Eric!"

Karen laughs harder, "I meant you, Lucas, not Eric."

"Oh, oka – hey! Geez, Mom, a little love would be nice here!"

"You get plenty of love," Karen smiles, patting him on the shoulder. "So you can just quit with the poor me whining now."

"Tough crowd," Luke mutters.

The little party goes on like this for awhile, everyone bantering and joking around with each other as we eat cake and drink punch. I'm starting to get tired, but when I mention that I might go home, everyone freaks out and demands I stay and open presents. I don't think much of it, though, because hey, who doesn't love presents. But it is weird.

"Okay, and there is one last one," Karen grins, almost looking a little teary eyed. "But you have to go into the kitchen to get it."

"The kitchen?" I echo, perplexed, "Y'all are acting so weird and you are totally beginning to freak me out."

"Just go," Luke orders, smiling lazily from his spot between Brooke and Tim. It's nice to see the three of them figuring out a way to be friends.

Glancing around the room, I see that everyone has the same smile plastered to their face, except Eric, who looks as confused as I feel.

"Mommy?" he asks, tugging on Karen's sleeve as Keith helps me up out of my chair, "What's in the kitchen?"

"Haley's last present," she explains.

"But we gave her the presents already," he argues.

"Shush, just let her go get the present." She pulls him onto her lap, and I glance around one more time before shrugging and heading for the kitchen.

I waddle towards the kitchen, taking a deep breath before pushing the door open. I am seriously happy that I'm not carrying anything, because I absolutely would've dropped it.

"It's Nathan," I gasp, spinning around to point accusingly at them all, "You got me Nathan!"

Everyone laughs, and when his arms encircle me from behind, I turn back to him, throwing my arms around him as best I can. "Hey there, Haley J," he whispers into my ear, kissing my neck. "I missed you two."

"We missed you, too," I reply, tears filling my eyes, "I can't believe you're really here!"

"We had a couple of days off. You know that. Anyways, when I cleared missing practice, I called them up, and asked them to help me surprise you. Uncle Keith suggested a party, and here we are."

"It's perfect," I laugh, "You're all perfect! God, Nathan, I can't believe you're here! I just – how?"

"I told you that," he smiles, leaning down to kiss me sweetly, "So, this is a nice surprise then?"

"Nice? It is so far beyond nice that I don't even know where to begin, Nate! This is like a dream come true!"

I can't stop smiling, cheesy as that is. I glance behind me, and see everyone else smiling too as Karen tries to herd them out of the room.

"Alone at last," Nathan grins once they're gone, "God, Haley, I've missed you. You have no idea how good it feels to have you in my arms again."

"Oh, I think I do," I correct him, letting him turn me in his arms so my back is to him. I have to admit, it really is the only safe way for him to put his arms around me. "I am still half convinced this is just a really great, really realistic dream," I murmur.

"No dream, I am really here. So, you think we can talk this kid into making an appearance today or tomorrow?" he asks in a joking tone, but I know he isn't really joking. I can't decide if I should be glad he wants to be here for it, or if I should turn around and brain him for reminding me he or she is obviously never coming.

"Nathan, I don't think it will ever leave this huge house it has made for itself," I sigh, choosing to ignore his comments. "I'm going to be pregnant forever."

He laughs, "You are not, Haley. Come on, sit down." He pulls me over to the couch, making me not only sit, but put my feet up and lean back. "There you go. Now, I'm going to talk to the kid, give it the what for, and let him know who is in charge here."

I groan as he positions his face close to my stomach. Of course, being in the same room puts a person's face near my stomach, it's so huge. But he's right there. "Nathan, I don't know about this."

"Haley, you talk to him all the time. You hold the phone to your belly so I can talk to him. Why can't I talk to him now?" he asks, sounding completely practical and making me feel like a complete ass.

"I'm sorry, it'd be wonderful if you talked to it. I'm just really stressed about everything, Nathan," I try and explain.

"Why?" he asks, looking at me with concern, "Luke and I stopped by Brooke's before we came over here, and it looked like you have everything. Do you need more diapers or something?"

I smile at him. He looks so sweetly earnest about everything that I can't help but respond positively to him. "No, I have everything. It's just – scary, in some ways. I'm scared you won't be here for the birth, and I know I joke about it, but I'm scared that since the baby isn't coming yet, that means something is wrong. I don't know, I just feel like I'm in limbo waiting right now."

"He'll come soon, Haley, I promise. And everything is just fine with him, you know? The doctor said – "

"I know!" I exclaim, cutting him off, "I know what the doctor said! 'It's perfectly natural to go up to two or three weeks past your due date', I get that, Nathan, I do. But it doesn't make it any easier to sit around and accept."

"I'm sorry," he sighs, resting his chin on my knee, "I didn't mean to upset you. I don't have to talk to the baby right now. You want to take a walk or something? I know the doctor said that might help induce."

"No," I say, grabbing his arm as he moves to stand, "I'm the one should be sorry. I am sorry, actually. I know you mean well."

He smiles ruefully. "Yeah, but if you don't like it, I don't have to do it. I promise, it won't hurt my feelings."

"Please," I smile quietly, "Please talk to our baby? It's really nice when you do it over the phone, and I think it would be incredible for you to do it now."

He smiles gratefully at me before leaning back down and arranging himself. "Hi little baby, my son. I know you're a boy, I just have a feeling, and like you're going to find out soon, Daddy is always right." He looks up, winking at me.

"Oh, I've already filled the kid on the truth of that matter," I tease him, brushing his hair off his forehead. It's not just nice that he's doing this, it is kind of sexy, too, to see how much he cares, how much he loves this baby.

"Don't listen to your mommy," he instructs the baby, "She's bossy, but she isn't always right. Don't tell her I said that, though." I roll my eyes at him, pretending to pout. "But she's still the smartest person I know," he continues, "And she's going to be the best mommy in the world. When I mess up, she's going to be there to fix and make it okay, even though it isn't her job to do so."

His words are so sweet I'm afraid I'm going to start crying. "Maybe you won't need me to clean up for you," I tell him softly, "Maybe you'll fix things on your own. I know you can."

"Yeah, maybe I can. Or maybe I'll just continue to be so perfect," he winks, "That'll I never make a mistake to begin with."

"Oh, I'm not holding my breath," I laugh, grimacing when I feel another little twinge. God, if his talking to the baby thing works, and I have it today, I am never going to hear the end of it.

"What? What's wrong?" he asks worriedly.

"No, nothing. Just a – well, twinge, I guess. I had one earlier, too, but I also had one last week, so I don't think it means anything," I sigh.

"He's gonna come, Haley J, I promise. Any day now, okay?"

I nod. "I know, and it won't be a second too soon, I'll tell you that right now." He laughs with me. "I'm serious, Nathan, look how huge I am! This is starting to get ridiculous!"

"You look gorgeous," he says seriously, "I mean it, all glowy and stuff. It's really nice. Maybe I'll have to knock you up again soon."

"Nathan!" I exclaim, smacking his arm, "You better be completely, one hundred percent joking about that!"

He holds his hands up in mock surrender. "Just kidding, I promise. We can wait six or so months, give you a chance to recuperate," he winks.

"Brat," I mutter, laughing with him. I gasp, louder this time, when I feel another twinge. "Oh, my God, Nathan, that one was stronger."

"Do you – do you think this is it?" he grins, excited, "Because this is so perfect! I am the man!"

"I don't know," I mutter as he helps me to my feet, "Go – go get Karen. Maybe she'll know! Or your mom."

His face grows cloudy at the mention of his mom, and I know he's still angry with her for getting mad at me for deciding to move to Seattle. He nods, though, and heads out of the room to find them. I walk into the kitchen, thinking that while I wait, I might as well get a snack.

I'm rummaging through the cupboards looking for something that could possibly manage to be both salty and sweet when my water breaks. Right in the kitchen. It's funny, but even though I knew what to expect, I sort of expected – I don't know, more. It's kind of disappointing.

Luckily, Karen has some chocolate covered pretzels on hand, so I get my salty sweet wish. This day really does keep getting better and better. Nathan comes home, my water breaks, and quite possibly best of all, I have chocolate covered pretzels to nosh on. Awesome.

He comes running back in, Karen behind him with everyone else behind her. "God, Nathan, you said she was like, in labor or something," Brooke bitches, "She looks pretty pregnant to me still!"

Nathan stares at me, confused. "But I thought you had a twinge?" he asks, rubbing a hand over his face.

"I did," I say cheerfully, "A couple of them. And then my water broke. And I found chocolate pretzels. How awesome is that?"

Everyone just kind of stares at me. Tim and Luke both look perplexed, Brooke looks a little grossed out, Karen and Deb are smiling widely, and Dan and Keith look like they want to run for the hills. Nathan just gapes at me.

"Does that mean now?" he whispers, stepping closer to me. I nod, reaching out to take his hand.

"Soon, I guess. I mean, all the books say it can take a really long time after your water breaks," I explain. Karen and Deb nod in agreement.

"Twenty-one hours with Lucas," Karen points out, "But only five with Eric. It just depends, really."

"Twenty-nine with Nathan," Deb sighs, shuddering at the memory.

I shiver a little involuntarily. Like now is really the time to get me thinking about the horrors of labor. Nathan steps closer, wrapping his arms around me.

"Um, you're going to have the baby," Tim states, "Shouldn't you go to the hospital? This isn't 'Little House on the Prairie', is it? Because I'm not tearing up sheets or boiling water or cutting umbilical cords."

Everyone looks at him, transfixed by the things that come out of his mouth. Brooke, having been exposed to it more than anyone else, snaps out of it first, smacking him on the back of the head.

"Geez, Tim, I knew you were odd, but that just confirms it. Anyways, what can we do for you, Tutor Girl?"

I shake my head. "Nothing, I don't think. I mean, I feel good, and nothing is really happening yet. I guess we wait?"

Nathan grabs the bag of pretzels from me, and grabs my hand. "No way, we're going to the hospital. I don't care if it's embarrassing, and they send us home, we're getting you checked out." He starts pulling me towards the door as everyone stands there trying to keep the smiles off their faces. "Come on, Haley J, move it."

"Nathan, the baby isn't coming right this second," I reason, trying to get him to slow down, "I don't really see a point of rushing off the hospital right now."

"Haley, what's my motto?" he asks, still tugging me along with him.

"Uh, shoot first and ask questions later?"

"Ha, funny. I never should've told you that," he sighs, "But it's really better safe than sorry. I want to be safe with you and this baby. That means taking no chances. Look, you're a week past due, and it wouldn't hurt – "

"Okay," I agree, speeding up to keep pace with him, "You're right."

"I'm….right?" he asks, confused, "I mean, yeah, I'm right. And it's about time you realized that."

I laugh. I don't really see the need to race to the hospital, but if it is this important and he feels this strongly about it, then it isn't a big deal for me to play along. "Don't let it go to your head. This may be the only time you get that admission out of me."

He smiles a little, opening the car door. "Okay, let's go. Where's your hospital bag? You have a hospital bag, right? Oh, God, Haley, I don't even know what's going on? I never should've been away, I should've been here with you so I knew what was going on."

"Nathan," I laugh, putting a hand on his arm, "Its okay. Everything is going to be just fine. Calm down, okay?" He nods, taking a deep breath. "Look, my bag is over at Brooke's house, where I live. So, we'll just stop there, and throw it in the car."

He nods, relaxing some as he helps me in. He actually buckles my seat belt for me. I look at him funny, but he ignores it, and once he has me settled, runs around and jumps in.

"Please don't drive like a maniac," I implore him, laughing, "I'm serious, Nathan! We need to get there in one piece, not as soon as possible, okay?"

"Okay, we'll go the speed limit. Or close to it." I roll my eyes. "Haley, I know you think it's dumb to rush to the hospital, and I know you're just humoring me, but come on. This is important."

"I know, Nathan. But this is just giving birth. It's going to be okay. How many women go through this every year? A lot. I'll be fine, the baby will be fine."

"Yeah, everything will be great," he smiles.

"Oh, my God," I scream, panting through the pain, "Get this kid out of me! I mean it, it has been forever, and I'm done. Done!"

"Just a little longer, Haley," the doctor comments. If Brooke and Karen weren't holding my legs, I would so kick him right now. Nathan smirks at me, knowing what I'm thinking.

"It kinda hurts, though," I whine, "This needs to be done soon, I'm tired!"

"We know, Haley," Karen says, smiling reassuringly, "And you're doing a great job, honey. Really, really great."

"She's right, baby, you're doing so wonderful," Nathan whispers into my ear. I grip his hand tighter in response, and manage to smile up at him.

I've been in labor for twenty-two hours now. The longest day of my life. When we first arrived at the hospital, they sent us home immediately, and said to come back when the contractions, which were mostly just the twinges at first, started coming closer together. We came back five hours after that, and I've been here ever since.

"Okay, Haley," the doctor says, "We can see the head. The baby is crowning! So, let's get you pushing next contraction, okay?"

I nod, taking a deep breath to prepare myself. When the contraction hits, I bear down, pushing with all my might.

"You're doing great, Haley!" Karen cheers. Brooke has been mostly quiet, and I think she's a little grossed out by everything, which I would laugh about if I wasn't pushing.

"Come on, one more big push!" the doctor encourages, "Push, Haley, push!"

I do, and when it's over, I allow myself to collapse against Nathan as the doctor prepares the baby.

"It's a girl," the doctor announces, and the nurse places her on my chest. Nathan squeezes me tight, "Mr. Scott, if you'd like to cut the cord, we're ready for you now."

He presses a kiss to my forehead before moving down to cut the cord. I lay back, weary, my eyes never leaving the face of our daughter.

"Finally," Karen laughs, "A girl in this family. Can we go tell everyone?"

"Yeah, please, go," Nathan grins, staring at our daughter in awe. He smiles at me briefly before turning his attention back to her. "We have a daughter. I wanted a daughter," he admits in a whisper.

"You wanted a daughter?" I ask, confused, as the nurse takes the baby to clean her up, "But you kept saying over and over you thought it was a boy, so I figured that's what you wanted."

"No, I just didn't want to get my hopes up for a girl, and I didn't wanted to be disappointed if it wasn't."

"Why'd you want a girl?" I ask him, both of our attention still on the baby as she's getting cleaned and diapered and put into the little cap and onesie they have for the newborns.

"I knew she'd grow up to be like you," he explains, serious. "I thought that would be a really good thing for her. I couldn't want more."

"You know, you've cursed her now," I tease tiredly, "She's going to be a Scott through and through. Just like your dad and I decided."

"You decided that with Dad?"

"Yeah, yesterday, at the party. We decided that only a true Scott would stay in a week past their due date. I thought it was going to be a male Scott, though."

He laughs a little, his eyes lighting up as the nurse returns the baby to us, placing her in Nathan's arms. He looks a little scared, which is sweet, but he relaxes quickly, and leans down so that I can see her, too.

"She's beautiful," he sighs, "Look at her. She's tiny, for a baby that's been in there so long. What does she weigh?"

"Nine pounds eight ounces," the nurse answers, smiling, "That's a pretty big baby these days."

"Big," he echoes, "But she's light."

I laugh and the nurse winks at me over his head, "Nathan, nine and a half pounds is pretty big when it has to come out – "

"Yeah, yeah, I get the picture. We get the picture, don't we?" he asks the baby, grinning at her. I could stay in this moment with these two forever, I realize suddenly. It's weird, but in this moment, everything crystallized for me. These are the people I belong with, and any doubts about moving are erased. I have to be with these two, forever.

"Can we come in?" Brooke asks from the door, "I mean, only if you're all cleaned up and everything."

Nathan looks at me, and I nod. "Yeah, you can come in."

And they all do. Brooke, Luke, Tim, Karen, Keith, Eric, Deb, and Dan. They all crowd around the bed, trying to get a good look at the newest addition to the family.

"She's so beautiful," Brooke smiles, wiping tears out of her eyes, "Oh, my God, I can't believe I'm crying over a baby!"

Luke grins at her and puts an arm around her shoulder. "Well, it isn't every day that we become aunts and uncles, now is it?"

"No, I guess not. Look at how tiny her hand is!" she gushes.

I'm so tired still, that I really don't participate much in the conversations buzzing around me. Instead, I just lay back and enjoy listening to everyone say how gorgeous my daughter is. There's something really sweet in this moment.

"What will you name her?" Deb asks, the first thing she's said since she's been in the room. I don't know if she's still upset that I'm moving with the baby, or if she's just overwhelmed that she's a grandmother, but she's been so quiet it makes me a little nervous.

"We haven't decided," Nathan tells everyone, which leads to name after name being thrown out for consideration. "You know, I'm convinced she is only here now because I told her she had to come when I was in town. She's already Daddy's little girl." Everyone in the room groans and roll their eyes at him.

"Well, we know the latter part of that is true," Luke points out, "That kid is going to have you jumping through hoops for her."

"Okay," says a nurse from the doorway, "It's time for everyone to get out and let mom and baby sleep for awhile."

"Me too?" asks Nathan, disappointed.

"Everyone except you," she clarifies, smiling.

"Thanks," he grins as everyone else says goodbye and shuffles out of the room. "So, I guess we need a name for that one," he says, motioning to the bed they've put her in.

"Yeah, I hear that's a good idea," I agree, smiling, "Do you have any suggestions?"

"I don't know, I was so convinced it'd be a boy that I didn't really think about it too much. It should be special, though, not something common that a lot of girls have."

"I like that idea," I agree, "What about Cadence? Cady for short?"

"No," he vetoes, "What about Dakota?"

"Too popular these days. Devon?"

"I kind of like that one. Here, I'll write ones we like down." He pulls out a piece of paper and a pen. "What else?"

"Estella?" I suggest, mentally going in alphabetical order, just trying to throw out suggestions.

"I don't know if I like that one," he sighs, "What about Adella?" I frown at the suggestion. "Okay, not that one. Who knew this would be so hard?"

"We'll get it right," I assure him, "I know we will. And then we'll end up with the perfect name for our perfect baby that she will probably hate when she's a hell raising teenager."

"Yeah, can't wait for that," he mutters sarcastically, "What about Genevive or Hope or Holly?"

"Genevive, maybe. Hope is too, I don't know, contrived or something, you know what I mean?" He nods. "What about Janae?"

"Sounds like the name of some girly girl who is afraid of dirt and only likes shopping and talking on the phone."

"So that's a no," I smile. "Jenna?"

"Too much like Jennifer," he points out, "And that's about the most common name there is out there. What about Jolene?"

"Isn't there a song out there about a Jolene? And she's like, a husband stealer or something?"

"I don't know," he laughs, "Sounds kinda lame, though."

"I think it's a country song."

"I rest my case," he announces smugly.

"You're very narrow-minded sometimes," I admonish, shaking my head at him, "It's a good thing you're cute enough to make up for it."

"Yeah, well, not everyone can be as perfect as me. So, what about Kamilla?"

"Eh. And you keep saying you're perfect, but where's the evidence of that? I still haven't seen any." He takes his eyes off the baby for a second to glare at me. "What about Kyra?" I ask.

"Kyra, Kyra, I kind of like that. Kyra," he says again, testing it out. He gently lays a finger on her cheek. "Are you a Kyra?"

"Oh! Or Lola, what about Lola?"

"Lola? And Jolene, which you think might've been a name in a song but aren't sure, isn't good enough, but Lola, which even I know was a name in a song, is? I don't think so."

"It was just a suggestion, calm down. It's a cute name."

"Cute isn't what you want in a name, is it?" he sighs. "We should've done this earlier," he points out.

"Hindsight is always 20/20."

"Yeah. Well, what about Meredith?"

"Meredith? That's pretty."

"Yeah, and we could call her Mere or Merry for short. I like that name."

"Okay, write it down." He looks disappointed that we aren't going with it, but it's kind of fun to torture him by not giving in right away. I do love that name, though, and I don't see us coming up with anything better. "What about Ryan? I know it's usually a boy name, but it's pretty as a girl's name, don't you think?"

"I guess it isn't horrible," he pouts, "I still like Meredith better. She likes it, too. She moves her mouth when I say it."

"She's probably hungry," I tell him, "Maybe I could, um, try feeding her now. God, I hope it doesn't hurt."

"You want me to hand her to you?" I nod. He lifts her out of the bassinet and hands her to me, helping me to arrange her. "She's so gorgeous, Haley J."

"Yeah, she is," I agree as she begins to nurse. It's an odd sensation, and I'm not really sure if I like it at all, but she's sucking away so furiously that I'm not about to complain.

"What about Regan?" he suggests.

"I like it, but I really do like Meredith better. Now we just need a middle name." He smiles hugely at me, leaning over to kiss my cheek.

"How about Ryan?" he asks. I grin back at him.

"Really? I know you hated it."

"No, I only hated it as a first name, but Meredith Ryan, that doesn't sound bad at all."

"Meredith Ryan Scott," I grin, trying out her full name for the first time, "Meredith Ryan Scott. I love the sound of that."

"Me, too," he agrees.

"You got everything?" Luke asks, glancing around the room. Everything is packed and in boxes for the movers to take or packed in the suitcases that will be flying to Seattle with Mere and I.

"I think so," I say tiredly. All the emotions that I'm going through right now are kind of overwhelming. I'm sad and scared about leaving, but I'm excited and happy to begin life with Nathan and Mere in Seattle.

"I can't believe your plane leaves in less than three hours. Hell, we need to get going to the airport in about five minutes."

"I know. And I can't believe it either. Pretty strange, huh?"

"In a good way, I think," he smiles, "I mean, not that you're leaving, but that you and Merry will be with Nathan. I know that will make all of you really happy, and that's what is important."

"Thanks, Lucas, that means a lot to me that you would say that. I really appreciate it."

"Well, it's true. I'm really going to miss you all, though."

"We'll be here during the off-season," I remind him, "I know it isn't the longest off-season in the world, but we'll be here for it, all three of us. And Mere and I are going to visit a lot during Nathan's long road trips. I want her to know everyone I love as well as I do, and how else can I do that beside bringing her here?"

"You got me," he grins, "And you better hold true to that, because if you don't, I will hunt you down and bring you back myself. That's a promise."

"Thanks, Luke. For everything. You've always been a great friend, even when I didn't want to let you be one."

"Hey, ditto." Deb and Dan are in the doorway. "I'll take these last few bags out to the car," Luke says, smiling at them as he leaves.

"So, this is it," Dan smiles, "We decided it'd be easier to say goodbye here since we won't be able to go to the gate with you anyways. It'll be better this way."

I hand Mere to him, and he and Deb both coo and fawn over her, which you can already tell the little attention hog loves.

"If there is ever anything – anything – that any of you need, please let us know," Deb tells me as she lifts Mere into her arms.

"Thanks, that means a lot to me, and I know it means a whole lot to Nathan."

"Well, the three of you mean the world to us, and we're always here for anything that you need. If you need a babysitter, we'd be on the next plane to Seattle," Dan grins.

I laugh with Deb. "I'll keep that in mind. Nathan is already talking about getting a nanny, but since I'm jobless, I think I might stay that way for awhile, and just be a mom. See how that goes."

"I'm sure it'll go great," Deb smiles. Her expression turns wistful as she gazes down at the baby. "Well, I sure am going to miss you both."

"I know, and we'll miss you. But I promise that we are going to visit all the time, and you are both welcome as often as you can make it."

"We'll take you up on that," Dan agrees, "And all of you are welcome to stay with us whenever you need it."

"And we'll take you up on that," I reciprocate, "In fact, next month, Nathan has a week and a half long road trip. I thought that'd be a great time to make our first trip back."

"Good, we'll be looking forward to it," Deb says as they both grin. "Okay, well, we know you have a lot of goodbyes to say, so we're going to go. Call and let us know how things are in Seattle soon, okay?"

"Yeah, I absolutely will. Thank you for everything you've done over the years. You both have been really great to me."

"And you've been great to our son, so it was the least we could do."

I brush a few tears away after they leave, having kissed and hugged Mere sufficiently before handing her back to me. "Well, kid, it only gets harder from here."

To prove me right, Karen, Keith, and Eric step inside next. "Well, hi y'all," I try and grin, going for cheerfulness, but failing miserably. "It's funny," I say to Karen, "I knew all along how hard this would be, but it's even worse. Go figure, huh?"

"I want to hold the baby," Eric announces, "But only if she's not stinky this time." I laugh with Karen and Keith as he settles himself on the couch holding his arms out for her. I pass her to Keith, who sits with Eric, making sure he's got a good grip on Mere.

"I'm going to miss that," Karen sighs, watching the two of them, "I feel like she's my granddaughter, too."

"She is," I tell her, "In every single way that matters, you are a mother to me, and she's a granddaughter to you. I will tell her every day about 'Grandma Karen' and 'Grandpa Keith'. She'll love and appreciate you both as much as I do."

"Thank you, Haley," Karen sniffles, pulling me into a hug. "You have always been like a daughter to me, and it honors me more than you'll ever know that you think of me as a mother."

She steps away from me, and lifts Mere into her arms. "I love you, little girl, just as much as I love your mommy. And that is a whole lot."

Keith puts one arm around me and the other around Karen. "We all love you both a whole lot."

"Are you really leaving, Hales?" Eric asks from his spot on the couch. He looks so earnest and sad that my heart about breaks. Leaving him hurts as much as anyone.

"Yeah, I'm really leaving, kiddo. I'm going to go live with Nathan in Seattle."

"And Mere, too?" he asks, pouting.

"Yeah, Mere, too."

"I don't want you to go, though. I want you to stay."

"I know, sweetie, and I'm going to miss you so much every day. But you know what? Me and Mere and Nathan will visit you lots, and maybe you can talk your mom and dad to visiting us, too."

"Okay," he sighs loudly. I sit down beside him and hug him, trying not to cry. We've been such a big part of each other's lives since he was born, and I'm really going to miss this kid. Everything I learned about babies I learned from him.

"Okay," I agree, "It'll all be okay."

He nods. I stand up, and give Keith a hug. "I'm going to miss you," he tells me, "But I know you're going to be so great in Seattle. And I know you are going to be an even greater mom, and someday wife."

"Thanks, Keith, that means the world to me."

"I hope your family makes you as happy as you've made mine," he says, kissing my forehead. He kisses Mere again before taking Eric by the hand and leading him out of the room.

Karen sets Mere in the baby carrier and turns to me. "Well, I guess this is it."

"I can't believe I'm not going to see you all the time," I sniffle, on the verge of full-out tears.

"I'm always a phone call away, Haley," she says, and I can tell she's nearing tears, too. She pulls me into a hug, and I cling tightly to her, wishing fervently that she really was my mother, but I guess it doesn't matter since she in all the ways that count.

"I love you, Karen."

"I love you, too." She pulls away. "I think Brooke, Tim, and Luke are ready to drive you now."

I nod. "Yeah, I guess we should go." I wipe the tears that had escaped off my cheeks. "I can't believe I'm leaving here. I'm kind of scared now."

"Don't be, you're going to be fine. You will all be fine. Just stick with what you believe in, Haley."

"Thank you."

She nods, picking up the baby carrier for me, and taking her to the car. I look around the house one last time. I'm really going to miss this place; some of my best memories over the last five years have been created here. I grab the diaper and my big purse, and follow her out the door. Deb and Dan have already left, but Karen, Keith, and Eric are standing on the porch, and I hug each of them on my way by.

The three that will be the hardest to say goodbye to are all standing against the car, waiting for us. Brooke has a pair of dark sunglasses on, and I know she's just trying to hide the tears. Tim and Luke both look like they could use a pair. For the first time since I made decision to leave Tree Hill for Nathan, I almost, but not quite, question my decision. It's just very hard to leave these people, to leave my family.

We get into Luke's big SUV silently, none of us really able to formulate words right now. Once we get to the airport, we get out just as silently.

Brooke carries Mere and the rest of us grab bags as we make our way to check in. "I can't believe you're leaving," Tim says for about the fifteen hundredth time today.

"I know," I sigh, "Sometimes I can't either."

We go through the line, and the necessary bags get checked. We stand in a circle, no one really wanting to be the first to say goodbye. Luke clears his throat.

"Okay, I've known you the longest, so I'll say goodbye first." I nod and follow him a slight way away from the group. "God, Hales, you're my best friend. You know that. Look, this isn't forever, and I know I'm going to see you tons, so I won't make a big deal out of it. Just know that I'll always be your best friend, and that at most, I'm a phone call away."

"Thanks, Luke. I love you, too. And ditto on that phone call thing. If you ever need me, I'll be here."

"I know." He hugs me one last time and goes over, taking Mere from Tim who comes over next.

"So this is it, I guess."

"For now," I shrug, "Not forever, though. I'll be around. You'll be wishing I'd just stay in Seattle I'll be here so often."

"Never," he grins, pulling me into a hug. "I'm really going to miss you, James. I've learned a lot from you and because of you."

"Hey, same here. You're so wonderful, Tim, and I hope you never forget that. Don't let people think you aren't smart, because I know you are."

"Yeah, I'll do my best," he smiles. "Okay, Brooke's turn. You two going to be okay?"

"Yeah, we'll be fine." I don't know for sure, though. She's been a good friend, but I know she resents that I'm leaving. He nods, and walks over to Lucas while Brooke comes over here.

"I'm sorry I've been a bitch lately," she mumbles, "I know I could've been more supportive, and I could've helped you pack and stuff. I should've, actually."

"No, you didn't have to," I assure her, "I understand."

"No, you don't. You and Tim are the only real friends I've ever had who didn't screw me over some way. And I guess a part of me always figured you would at some point, and so I decided to make this that point. Which isn't fair to anyone, and I should've known better. I guess everything isn't always about me, is it?"

"That's the rumor on the street," I laugh, hugging her tight. I don't care about the tears falling down my face right now.

"I'm really going to miss you. But I know this isn't really goodbye, just so long. So, so long." She smiles widely through the tears, and I do the same for her.

"I might miss you most of all," I tell her quietly, "You are the best, Tigger. I – these last years, they would've been impossible without you. I couldn't have done it. I'm only here because of you. Just know that."

She nods. "Thank you for that."

"Anytime," I agree, and we hug again as Tim and Luke join us.

"So, you'd better get going, Hales," Luke states flatly. I nod, hugging Tim and then Brooke, and then Luke once Brooke has taken Mere from him.

"God, you guys, I know I'll see y'all soon, but I'm really going to miss you all," I say as Brooke puts Mere in her seat. "I can't believe I won't see you whenever I want."

"Yeah, but you'll see us all soon," Tim reminds me.

"I know. I will. I'll call when we get there."

"Good, you better. And you better get your ass out here soon and see us. Nathan has all that money now, you damn well better make the most of it," Brooke commands.

Luke laughs, nodding his head. "I agree with my ex-wife," he says, winking at her. Maybe those two really will be okay as friends. "Get back here soon, Hales."

"Be good," Tim smirks.

I nod, slinging the diaper bag over my shoulder, and bend down to pick up Mere. I back away from them, smiling one last time before resolutely turning my back and heading for the gate. I don't look back – there is no reason to.

My whole life is in front of me now. Mere, Nathan, they are my future, and I'm ready for it. For them. And I'm happy, I know I am. It has taken so long for me to get to a place where everything has really fallen into place, but here I am.

The plane ride passes quickly. Mere is fussy at first, but once she settles down, I manage to fall asleep, something I've been short on lately. The next thing I know, the fasten seatbelt like dings on, and the pilot is telling us to buckle up for the landing.

"We're almost here, Mere." I glance out the window, transfixed by the bright blue sky that looks just like it does in North Carolina. The landscape below it looks different, but the similarity in the color of the sky – something as simple as that – is reassuring. "You get to see Daddy now."

Nathan is waiting there for us. He has the biggest smile on his face, and I can tell he isn't sure which of us to hug first, so he puts his arms around me and the carrier that Mere is squawking to be let out of.

"I missed you," he whispers into my ear.

"It's only been three weeks," I remind him.

"Feels like forever. Look how big she's getting."

"Yeah, she's really growing. More every day. I'm so glad you'll get to see it now. I know it's been hard on you, Nate. Thanks for giving me time to get things together and say goodbye to everyone."

"Hey, speaking of, how are you? I know leaving was hard, are you okay?"

"I'm just really happy to be here with you," I tell him honestly, "It's going to take a little getting used to, being here, I mean, but this is where I'm supposed to be, and I'm glad I am. I love you, Nathan. You and Mere, you're my family."

"And you're mine. God, this is a beautiful baby. Like her mommy."

"Stop," I laugh, "You're making me blush. But she is beautiful, isn't she?" And I don't think we're being too proud parent to think so. She's got gorgeous dark hair, bright blue eyes that are actually closer in shade to Lucas's, and adorable chubby cheeks. She's beautiful.

"Was it hard to leave?" he asks quietly as he carries Mere and the bags and we head towards baggage claim.

"Yeah, but in some ways, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."

"You were supposed to say how awful it was," he grumbles. I look at him questioningly. "So I could've pointed out that was how I felt when I had to leave you to go to college."

I lay a hand on his arm. "I always knew how hard that was for you. I think I understand it more now than ever, though. When you left, Luke, Peyton, and Jake were all leaving, too, and I felt like I was being left behind. And while I knew, rationally, that you hated leaving me, I was still more focused on how I felt. Now, I know how Brooke and Tim and Luke are feeling. That's the worst part of it."

"I'm sorry," he sighs.

"No, don't be, Nathan. This is life. I mean, you can't please everyone, right? And you know what? They will all be okay. We were growing up, anyways. Tim has an awesome job, Brooke is about to graduate. Luke is taking classes. They'll all be great."

"I know, but I know you worry about them."

"Yeah, and they worry about me. And I worry about you. And your parents worry about you. But you can't always worry about who is worrying about you, right?"

"Right. Well, you ready to go home?"

"Yeah, I'm more than ready to go to our home." I laugh a little. "I've wanted to share a home with you since we were sophomores in high school. It's kind of funny that it took us so long to get here, isn't it?"

"Funny? Not really," he grins, "It's been frustrating and long and depressing, but I don't think I'd use funny."

"What about rewarding?" I ask.

"More than rewarding," he smiles, "I got what I wanted in the long run, and even though a good portion of the journey sucked for me, it is all worth it."

"That's how I feel, too."

"I love you, Haley J."

"I love you, too, Nathan."