Love Will Prevail
Chapter 1
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these OTH characters, even though I'd like to.
3 Years later…
Nathan stood outside of his advisor's office, waiting to talk to her about his options. He was struggling to finish his third year of college. Even though he'd been back to class for three weeks now, he was still trying to catch-up from the two he'd missed.
Professor Kimball opened the door, "Nathan, I'm glad to see you."
He followed her into the office and sat down nervously, afraid of what she was going to tell him, "Look Professor…"
"Don't worry about it Nathan. Everything is going to be fine. Now, how's Haley doing?"
"She's doing really well. She's been a little cold and standoffish, but she's coming around."
"That's good to hear. And what about Harrison?" She always loved hearing about the latest antics of the boy who was just about to turn three.
"Awesome, as usual. And, while he doesn't understand what happened, he does recognize that mommy and daddy are happier than we have been."
"He's a smart one, that child of yours."
"That he is," Nathan couldn't help but feel a sense of pride, "Now, about my classes."
"I've talked to your teachers, and they all understand. They've given you extensions through July. And as long as you still do your internship, you'll be able to graduate next year, just as planned."
"That's good to hear. Thank you so much for your help, and concern."
"Anything for you Nathan."
Nathan walked through campus, thinking about everything they'd been through in the past four and a half months. They'd all been sick in January. Little did they know at the time, but the illness threw off the birth control pills for the next month. They discovered in late March that she was almost 2 months pregnant. Even though the baby was once again unplanned, Nathan was ecstatic. Haley had hoped to wait another year, but was warming up to the idea. Then the unimaginable happened. Haley had a miscarriage. They'd both been devastated.
Haley was managing to move one. Nathan knew that silently, she was just the tiniest bit relieved. Harrison was a handful at three, and another baby would mean missing a good part of the fall semester, which would probably mean postponing graduation.
Nathan was still struggling. He felt that a small part of him had died inside. He hoped it would get easier over time. It also meant that he was fighting with his wife. The tension was so thick, it could be cut with a knife.
Haley sat cross-legged on the sofa watching Harrison play with his Rescue Hero toys. While he could be a handful sometimes, he was a wonderful kid. Placing her hands in her stomach, she thought about the baby she'd lost. It had ripped her apart inside. A baby was the last thing she thought she wanted right now. But after losing the baby, she realized that the most important part of her life was Nathan and their family, which she hoped would one day include many more children. And she wanted someday to start today. The doctor's designated wait time was over. Now she just needed to make amends with her hurting husband.
Nathan walked into the apartment after work to the most wonderful aroma, "Haley?"
"In the kitchen."
Nathan walked in to find his wife pulling out a lasagna and his son helping butter garlic bread.
"You're just in time."
"I see that. What is all of this?"
"Pecil dinner daddy," Harrison held out his arms.
Nathan picked up his son and was embraced in a bear hug, "What's the occasion?"
Haley kissed him, "Things have been rough. I just want to get our lives back on track." She kissed him again, deeper this time.
"Mmmmmm," Nathan moaned, wondering what had happened to his wife. Whatever it was, he was thankful.