Title: Let Me Go
Author: xScott23x
Disclaimer: I don't own anything that involves OTH. Although, heh… I wish I did own James Lafferty.
Description: It's been five years since Haley and Nathan left Tree Hill, but not together and now they have to come back... But who's really in for a rude awakening? –Naley-
Author's Note: Well… the story is almost coming to an end. I'm guessing that I will have about ten chapters not including the epilogue I plan to do at the end. I hope you guys really like this chapter! Now I know I promised the dinner for this chapter I have to hold it off till the next chapter. I'm so sorry I've changed my mind about things like a million times but trust me, it will work out loads better if I hold it off.
- Chapter Eight -
Everything Is Perfect
That morning while Nathan had taken James to the park,Haley hadspent most of it running around getting ready and starting on a lunch. She was a little shocked as she heard a knock at the door. Not many people knew where she lived in Tree Hill. Then again, it was a small town and word always traveled fast. Haley whipped her hands off and put the cloth on the sink before she walked to the door. Not bothering to look through the peep hole, she opened the door.
No sooner had she opened it, she slammed it back shut and then rolled her eyes at the faint yells.
"Haley! Open up, baby", it was Chris. When Haley kept her ground Chris saw no other way to get in then just barging in. he opened up the door and walked in, following Haley into the kitchen.
"Haley… I'm sorry, okay?", he said. "I know I got out of hand last night but I don't want to lose you", he pleaded with her.
Haley turned around and glared at him, "I've spent 5 years of my life trying to blame Nathan for the fact that I left but I can't do it anymore", she told him. "James and Nathan have a right to see each other and you had no right to talk to Nathan that way", she told him
Chris put his hands up defensively. "I know, baby", he told her. "I was just worried something was going and that he was going to take you away from me"
Haley rolled her eyes and snorted, "Now you and I both know what Nathan felt like five years ago", she shook her head and turned around. She pulled the ring off her left hand and threw it at him, "We're finished"
"You don't mean that!", Chris yelled.
"I do too", she glared. "You're a totally hypocrite and right now I can't deal with this"
"Do you realize that if you leave me, I'm the one who holds your singing career, I made you, I can break you"
Haley placed her hand on the cookbook and picked it up, she started walking toward him. "I don't really care anymore", she confessed. "I've spent five years kissing your ass and singing this and singing that and doing what you want that I'm tired of it and I don't even want this anymore"
"Again, Haley", he sighed. "You don't mean it", he told her. "You're going to wake up days from now and wish you never said that", he told her.
Haley took a deep breath and before she knew it the cookbook released from her hand. Chris had dodged it, eyes going wide as he watched it hit the wall behind him. "If you say that again, you'll know what it feels like to have that cook book shoved up your ass", she glared.
Chris glared at her, "Fine, you want it this way then go crawling back to Mr. NBA Bad Ass and watch me walk right out of your life"
Haley sighed, "Nathan was the first man that I ever loved, Chris", she told him. "I've always loved him and I don't know if this is going to work out between me and Nathan but I want to give it a fighting chance", she told him.
Chris just shook his head, "Whatever…", he said as he turned around. He walked straight to the front door and opened it. He did it, he left, slamming the door and driving off.
Haley couldn't help but feel slightly relieved as she watched him leave. Maybe now with out all the drama of Chris being there she could finally get things back on track with trying to get Nathan back in her life. Haley didn't care if she could never be romantically involved with Nathan again; she just wanted him to be a part of her and James' lives.
Nathan laughed as he watched James take off for the swings. As he finally caught up with him he helped him up in the swing and bent down to him. "So your mom told you who I was huh?", he asked him.
James grinned, "Yup, she showed me on da TV!", he told him. "Mommy says you're the best basketball player ever and sometimes when I'm mean she says I have da apatood just like my dad", he laughed harder that time and couldn't help but grin as he watched Nathan laugh.
"I think you mean attitude", he grinned and shook his head.
"I'm named after you too", he said. "That's what mommy said at least", he said as he started to swing a little and watched as Nathan got in the swing beside of him. "So are you really my daddy? What do I call you?", he asked him.
Nathan looked down at him and thought about it, "Well… yeah I'm your dad", he told him. "I guess you can call me Dad but It don't really mind what you call me, if you prefer Nathan"
James looked up at him, thoughtfully, "I think I like daddy better", he told him. "I've never had one", he said.
Nathan looked down at his face, his heart almost crushing. Nathan pulled James into his lap and looked at him, "I'm here to change that", he told him with a smile on his face. James wrapped his arms around Nathan and hugged him. Nathan was a little tense at first. This whole thing was new to him but he was starting to like it. He loosened up and wrapped his arms around him as well.
"Do you like basketball a lot?" James asked him.
Nathan nodded, "Of course I do… it's my life", he told him.
James smiled at him and leaned his head back against Nathan's chest. "Cool", he said. "I want to be a basketball player when I grow up too", he told him. "I want to be really good and be the best", he told him in a matter of fact tone.
Nathan grinned at him, "Just focus one week at a time, bud", he laughed. "Don't get too far a head of yourself… so what do you want to do now, what's your goal for the week?", he asked him.
James thought about it and looked up at him, "Play video games whenever I want", he grinned and jumped off Nathan's lap and looked up at him. "Can we go get breakfast now?", he asked him.
Nathan nodded and stood up, "Video Games? Hmm I think I can work on that", he told him with a grin. Nathan laughed when James ran over to him and taped him on the arm. "Your it", he grinned and watched as James took off.
Nathan shook his head and took off after his son, letting James have a head start. Just before they started nearing the street Nathan finally sped up and caught him, "Gotcha", he laughed as he picked the little boy up. The two of them walked across the street and Nathan opened up the door to Karen's Café.
Brooke was on shift that morning and was quiet surprised at the scene she had just witnessed across the street. Nathan sat down at the bar and put James beside of him. "We're here for breakfast", Nathan grinned.
"Oh really?", Brooke laughed. "What will it be boys?", she asked them with a grin as she got out her pen and paper.
James looked up at the menu, "I want milk and a bagel", he told Brooke and put his hands on the counter.
Nathan looked at her, "Coffee and a Bagel", he said and then glanced down at James. It was weird how the little boy was having the same exact breakfast that he had been crazy about as a child.
Just as the two had received their breakfast the chiming of the door sent both of their heads turning to see who the mid morning guest was. Nathan groaned as he saw Dan and Lucas walking in. By the looks of their faces he could tell that the two of them had been quarreling about something. Nathan gave Lucas the nod as he watched him go the back, obviously to find Brooke.
Dan lifted his eyebrow at both Nathan and James and snorted. "Well aren't we a happy family", he said as he sat down on the other side of Nathan.
"Ew, I hate Barney!" James exclaimed as he took a drink of his milk.
Nathan couldn't help but laugh and looked at Dan. "What do you want?", he asked him.
Dan glared at both of them, "What are you doing, Nathan?", he asked him.
"Spending time with my son", he said hotly.
Dan gave a loud sigh and shook his head dismissively. "Why? So you can get hurt again?", he asked him. "You know that their going to leave just as soon as it's time for little miss runaway wife to get right back on her tour bus"
Nathan just stared at him, he tired so hard not to let Dan's words sink into his head and thank god Lucas had been there or else they would have.
"Don't listen to him, he doesn't know anything about Haley", he told Nathan as he came out of the backroom with Brooke.
"I know more then you think", Dan protested. "Whatever… Like you said Nathan… it's your life but I've got news for you, when Haley hurts you this time, don't expect me to come to ready to kiss your ass and help you back on your feet", he spat at him.
Nathan sighed and looked down at James, "Ready to go back to the park, James?", he asked him.
James may have only been four but he could see that his daddy wanted to leave the Café. He nodded to his father and jumped down off the stool and watched as Nathan paid Brooke for the food. "Bye Aunt Brooke! Bye Uncle Lucas! Bye Scary Old Man!", he yelled as he departed from the café with his dad.
Nathan and James had a great time at the park after they left the Café. The played for endless hours until finally there was some rumbling in their tummies and it was time to get back to Haley's place for some lunch. As the two of them walked in the house they saw that Lunch was already set around the table for them and the house was very tidy.
Nathan smiled as he set James down and watched him run to go sit in a chair at the table. He smiled and turned around to see Haley walking out of the bedroom. "Bravo, Ms. James", he congratulated her. "You truly out done yourself", he smiled.
Haley laughed and smiled at him as she walked over to the table. She sat down at one of the places she had fixed and motioned for Nathan to come along. The three of them started to dig in to their lunch. Nathan glanced up once and stared in awe at Haley and James. It seemed so unreal but felt so real at the same time
"Is everything okay?", Haley asked him.
"Everything is perfect", Nathan said before he took a bite of his food.
Next:
Dinner Time, After Dinner, The Big Decision
