And He's Just Paper

And These Mistakes We Make

Brooke walked into school and saw Felix running up to her. She walked past him quickly, "Not now Felix," she said.

"I heard about Nathan," Felix said sincerely, "How's Taylor taking it?"

"Not too well," Brooke said, "But not that you should care," she spat.

Felix sighed and looked around the school, "I need to tell you something," he said regretfully.

"Fine," Brooke said as she and Felix walked outside; Brooke sat down at the lunch table outside, and Felix stood in front of her.

"I came back because Haley wanted me to get Taylor out the picture so that she could get Nathan back," Felix confessed.

Brooke looked at him in disbelief, "So you were just a trap for Taylor?"

"I wouldn't have done this if I would've known that this was going to turn out so ugly," he said as he dug his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth nervously on his heels.

Brooke stood up and pushed Felix back making him stumble, "You are an ass!"

"Haley must really love him…" Felix stated, "Kind of like I loved you."

Brooke snorted, "Don't bring up that shit with me," she said, "You were the biggest mistake."

"So this is how it's going to be between us?" Felix asked, "I make one mistake and you throw me out to dry, but Lucas cheated on you and now he's your little fuck buddy?"

Brooke glared at Felix, "See that's where you have it all wrong! Lucas and I are more than just fuck buddies…With you, it was just friends-with-benefits; nothing more!" She screamed, "And Lucas never raped a girl…And he would never think of doing that to somebody!"

"I was young, I was stupid," Felix said defending himself.

Brooke rolled her eyes, "I don't need you Felix…Maybe before I did, but now…Now that I see you here, trying to ruin people's lives it just reminds me of…"

Felix cut her off, "Reminds you of the 'old you', right?"

"You son of a bitch!" Brooke said coldly, and then walked towards her car.

xxx

Taylor tucked Nathan in and kissed him softly on the forehead, "Open up your eyes baby…" She cooed and then stroked Nathan's head. Taylor turned and saw Haley walking into the hospital room, "What do you want?" Taylor asked smugly.

"I want you and Nathan to be happy," Haley said with an exasperated breath.

Taylor looked at her in confusion, "What are you on?"

"Maybe everyone's right," Haley began, "Maybe I am just stirring up trouble…Maybe you and Nathan are in love…"

"We are," Taylor said as she looked down at Nathan. She then looked up at Haley, "The day I met you I saw a beautiful, innocent, sweet girl…What happened?"

Haley laughed softly and then looked down at the ground nervously, "People make mistakes," she said softly and then looked up at Taylor, "Just like you did with Chris…And Felix."

"Chris was a choice…Felix was a nightmare," Taylor said as she held on Nathan's hand, and sat back down beside him, "Why'd you come?" She asked, "To tear me down, and blame me for your mistakes?"

Haley looked at Nathan and sighed, "Don't let him go," she said; ignoring Taylor's question.

"I don't plan on letting him go," Taylor said as she smiled at her Nathan, "But…" Taylor began but stopped herself.

"What?" Haley asked.

Taylor sighed, "I told him we were over before the accident…"

"Did you mean it?" Haley asked.

Taylor shook her head and felt a lone tear roll down her cheek, "No," she said softly. Haley nodded and walked out of the hospital room; Taylor laid her head down and closed her eyes.

Taylor woke up and saw Lucas sitting beside her; with a comforting hand on her back, "Hey," he said softly as Taylor opened her eyes.

Taylor smiled, "Hey," she said; her voice weak and raspy from the lack of sleep and the nights of crying, "What time is it?" She asked.

"11:00," Lucas said and then handed Taylor a cup of coffee.

Taylor yawned and rubbed her eyes, "I've been sleeping for hours," she groaned.

"You need the sleep," Lucas said and then laughed softly, "No offence…"

Taylor laughed, "None taken…I probably look like hell," she said as she ran her hands through her hair.

"How are you feeling?" Lucas asked.

Taylor shrugged, "I love him," she said with a grin, "I just wish all this Haley stuff never would've happened…"

"You know that he loves you," Lucas said.

Taylor rested her head in her hands, "The last thing I told him was that it was over," she said regretfully as she felt the tears startup again, "How could I have said that?" She sobbed.

"Hey," Lucas said; comforting her, "When Nathan wakes up everything is going to okay…" He said.

Taylor shook her head, "He kissed her," she said softly as Lucas looked at her sympathetically.

"I'm sorry," Lucas said as he took Taylor's hand and then pulled her in for a hug.

The hug broke and Taylor wiped her eyes quickly, "I'll be right back," she said, "Watch him for me…"

"I will," Lucas said with a comforting smile as he watched Taylor walk out of the room.

xxx

Taylor walked into Chris's studio and saw Haley playing softly on the piano. Taylor walked into the booth and looked around the room as she got the chills. Haley stopped playing the piano and looked at Taylor, "I wasn't expecting you here…"

"Life's full of surprises right?" Taylor shot back, "Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?" Haley asked.

Taylor rolled her eyes, "Turning into the nice guy…You told me back at the hospital that you wanted to see me and Nathan happy."

"I heard what you said to him," Haley began, "And I know that you love him…You love him more than I ever could."

Taylor bit her bottom lip, "He told me about the kiss."

"I'm not going to apologize for that," Haley said, "I wanted to kiss him…I wanted to be with him again."

"You can't," Taylor said.

Chris walked in and put his arm around Haley's waist; Haley looked up at him and smiled, and then looked back to Taylor, "I know I can't…"

"What's this?" Taylor asked as she motioned between the couple in front of her.

Haley showed Taylor a diamond ring, "Chris and I are getting married…"

xxx

Taylor walked into Nathan's hospital room and saw Lucas and Brooke sleeping on two chairs set up near the window. Taylor smiled to herself and stood beside Nathan's bed, "I love you," she whispered and then bent down and kissed Nathan on the lips.

Nathan stirred in his sleep, and then opened his eyes slowly, "Taylor?" He asked.

"Hey baby," Taylor said as she sat on Nathan's bed beside him, "How are you doing?"

Nathan shrugged, "Better now that you're here," he said sweetly, and then kissed Taylor's hand.

"I'm sor—"Taylor began.

Nathan cut her off, "I know," he said with a soft smile, "You don't have to say anything…I love you too."

Taylor kissed him passionately and ran her fingers through his brown hair, "I didn't think you were going to wake up," she said teary-eyed.

"And miss this?" Nathan teased.

Lucas woke up and saw Taylor and Nathan kissing, "Get a room," he joked and then got up from the chair slowly, "How are you doing man?" Lucas asked his younger brother.

"Been better," Nathan said with a shrug, "Thanks for being here…"

Lucas smiled, "We're family."

Brooke walked over and hugged Taylor and then hugged Nathan, "I'm glad you're awake, Nate," she said sincerely and then put her arm around Taylor's waist, "Or else Tay here would've been a complete mess!"

"I was a mess," Taylor said as she rested her head on Brooke's shoulder.

Brooke smiled at her best and friend and walked over to Lucas, "We're going to hit the sack…" Lucas said as he hugged Taylor goodbye.

Brooke winked at Taylor, "We're going to be hittin' something," she said suggestively and blew Nathan and Taylor kisses.

Taylor and Nathan laughed as the couple left. Taylor looked down at Nathan and rested her hand on his cheek, "Did you hear everything I said while you were in your, um, deep rest?"

Nathan smiled mischievously, "I think I heard something about wanting to start a family…But I could've misunderstood."

"You are such an ass!" Taylor laughed.

Nathan pretended to be hurt, "Hey!"

"But I still love you," Taylor said and rested her head on Nathan's shoulder, "I have some things to tell you…"

Nathan looked down at her, "Tell me now."

"Are you sure?" Taylor asked.

"Yeah."

Taylor sighed, "Well, Haley and Chris are getting married," she said; expecting to hear Nathan flip out and say Haley was too good for Chris. He didn't.

"Should we send a card?" Nathan asked as Taylor giggled and snuggled closer to him.

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A/N: Two more chapters left!

Next On One Tree Hill (Chapter 9)

(Nathan and Taylor's Apartment):

Taylor: Are you feeling okay?

Nathan: Yeah, this car wreck just did a number on me…

(Brooke's House):

Brooke: Haley basically hired him to get you out of Nathan's life.

Taylor: Well Haley's now out of out life.

(River Court):

Taylor: You told me to meet you all the way down here?

Brooke: (Crying softly) I'm late…

(Karen's Café):

Taylor: (Singing) Here in town you can tell he's been down for while

But my God it's so beautiful when the boy smiles

Wanna hold him maybe I'll just sing about it.