Okay a note to all of my readers, on fan fiction. net and talk.thewb. com, this is Chapter 20. This fic is probably going to come to a close soon. What I need from you, every last one of you is to vote. You will vote on if you want me to do a sequel. You may vote in your review, or e-mail me your vote at LHSSpartainyahoo. com (no space). I will tally up all of the votes and when this fic is completed I will tell you in the final chapter if there will be a sequel. Another thing is I am planning and hoping that all will work out to have their wedding in the final chapter. Okay, so that creates other things, such as I will need one chapter for moving, one for Nathan's birthday (that will be great, trust me, and Nate will NOT be present at this party, we also see a bit of the James side that we see in Taylor, in Haley), I want another performance at a Knicks game. Of course, once they do move to Florida, there is going to be a lot more family things going on, since I plan to move them in a small area, just being built, that like everyone they know buys up, like the old saying is something like 'It takes a whole community to raise a child' something along those lines, I don't really know.
Vote Time: Sequel or No Sequel?
Sequel
No Sequel
Okay, so about my other rant, I said an idea that popped in my little fragile head was that Haley would be pregnant, but nobody commented on this part, so now I will make it official, its either, yes I include it, no I don't, no pregnancy scared, they get old, quick.
Vote Time: Pregnant or Not Pregnant?
Pregnant
Not Pregnant
So in your reply, in whichever form, just include your answers to my poll things, I will count the replies, and keep you posted. FYI asking this is not because I am lazy and want ideas, I want to give you what you want, so by asking and you telling, I follow it and I give you what you want, or majority, but surprisingly most of the time, most everyone feels the same way about an issue, which is cool for me, cause then its easier to give everyone what they want. But polls, like the ones above, are strictly whichever one gets the most votes by the time I start writing when that occurs.
I thank you for reading my rant and participating in my polls in advance. This does mean a lot to me, and I know I can talk a lot. Patience is a virtue. Now, on with what you all have been waiting for, the chapter.
I am also concerned with the number of reviews. I love your input on my story, but it won't be included if you don't tell me. I really hope that you include your votes for the poll, as it will effect the story line, and until I get some votes I am unable to write the next chapter, because I need the answer to the poll.
Chapter 20- Dinner with Dan
"Well thank you."
"No thank you."
"For what?"
"My life back."
"Nathan, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"It's about all those awards and trophies out there-"
"Haley, don't."
"Don't what Nathan?"
"Don't go there."
"Go where?"
"You know."
"No, I don't know Nathan, enlighten me."
"Hales-"
"I just wanted to know what it felt like to be on the top, to break Dan's record you spent your whole basketball career trying to do." Haley had tears in her eyes.
"Daddy, why do you always have to go and make her cry? In Florida, you made her walk away crying, here you made her cry," Nate said giving his mother a hug to make her feel better. "Mommy, can you show me around Tree Hill?"
Haley looked down at him, "Sure baby, come on, we'll go see Grandma Deb, and Grandma Karen," Haley said, picking him up and leaving Nathan behind. Why didn't he get it? Maybe it was just guys in general that didn't get it. Haley and Nate went to the café.
Karen looked up at the sound of the bells on the door. Haley walked in, Nate trailing behind her, carrying a five year old can get tiring, and Nate could walk. "Come on bud, at the counter," Haley said to him as he was looking around.
"Okay, mommy." He ran up and climbed on the stool, Haley quickly over there to help him.
"Karen, this is my son Nate, Nate, this is Grandma Karen," Haley smiled. "Is Deb here?"
"Yea, she's in the back, I'll go get her," Karen said leaving, but quickly coming back with Deb. "This is him, this is him," Karen said excitedly to Deb.
"Deb, this is your grandson Nate, Nate, this is your Grandma Deb," Haley said, looking at them both.
"My, god, he looks like my Nathan, of course when he was younger, but just like him nonetheless. He's so handsome, and much better behaved than my Nathan, but that part's Dan's fault. Does he play ball, well of course he can, he's a Scott, and everyone knows Scotts can play ball," Deb said, starting to ramble.
"Um, yea, he does play, and he's really good, too."
"I thought you said he was with Nathan for the weekend," Karen spoke up.
"He was, Nathan is here, we just left him in the high school gym," Haley said looking at Deb.
"My baby's in Tree Hill and he didn't bother to come see me first or call me."
"I guess not, um, do you think it would be too much trouble to show him Dan, like, who not to be like?"
"I bet Dan would love to see him," Deb smirked, everyone knew Dan could care less about anything other than his dealership and his son, well sons, being great basketball players. Anything else might as well not be there.
"Hey baby, wanna go visit Grandpa Dan?" Haley said turning to Nate.
"Sure, nice meeting both of you," Nate smiled, looking at Deb and Karen and hopped off the stool and left with Haley.
Deb turned to Karen, "He's such a nice boy, and don't you think so?"
"Yes he is, Haley raised him right."
"Alls I have to say is, he looks exactly like Nathan, but Nate is like his good twin, and I had the evil twin," Deb laughed.
Haley and Nate walked into Dan's dealership. It was a lot bigger than she remembered, maybe he added on. A man walked over to them. "May I help you with something today Miss?"
"Um, yes, I'm here to see Mr. Scott. I'm his future daughter-in-law and this is his grandson," Haley said, looking at Nate.
"One moment please," the man turned and went down a hallway. He walked into the big office in the back. "Mr. Scott, there is a woman here who said something about being your daughter-in-law and says that it's your grandson out there."
"Oh Brooke and little Luke, I haven't seen them in a long time," Dan chuckled, "Send them in."
"As you wish sir," the man returned to Haley and Nate and led them down the hallway and into the office, then disappeared.
"You're not Brooke, and that's not little Luke."
"No, I'm Haley, once married to Nathan, we're giving it a shot again, and this is your grandson Nate, Nathan Scott Jr."
"How do you know it's my son's?"
"Well, Nate is Nathan's son because Nathan is the only person I've been with, if you must know. I left here, okay; he obviously got back in the game and was pretty darn good. I saw the gym, all he trophies. I could have come back, but I couldn't, I was scared. I stayed in New York, and for the record he found me, not I found him."
"Interesting, and he is Nate?"
"Yes."
"Does he play?" Dan said, eyeing the boy.
"Ask him yourself, he's five, he has no trouble speaking," Haley smiled.
"Okay, Nate do you play basketball?"
"Yes sir."
"You any good?"
"Depends sir."
"On…"
"Your definition of good."
"Interesting, continue."
"It is all in a matter of opinion. You see, sir, I could call myself good, or my mother could, but that would be our opinion, you would have to watch me play and form your own opinion on if I am good or not," Nate said, you could tell he was scared.
"Interesting, apparently you get your fine intelligence from your mother, and hopefully not your game. I would love to see you play sometime. Now if you excuse me, can I talk to your mother alone for a minute?"
Nate looked at Haley, "Okay, but if it takes to long I'll come back."
"Okay, it'll only be a minute, I promise, have I ever broken a promise to you."
"No, but I've only known you ten minutes."
"Well, then I suggest you give me a chance."
"Okay, one minute, I'll watch the clock."
"You do that," Dan said as he left and closed the door and mumbled "probably can't even tell time," after Nate left.
"Actually he can, quite well. He's just a kid. I don't want to drag him into all the family's issues. I want him to grow up leading a normal life, and I've done a great job of it so far. I taught him family values, family comes first. He has a heart, and is innocent. He's only five and trust me, with his intelligence he'll go far, but right now, he's just a kid, lay off him please."
"As you wish, now I asked for a moment alone with you so I can say thank you, I know I didn't ask you to, but you left and didn't tell him, which was good for Nathan, so why don't you all come to dinner tonight at my place. Everyone will be there. It's going to be dressy, because it's dinner, so wear something nice," Dan said, standing up.
"I guess so, okay, we will," Haley smiled.
"Great, 5:00, don't be late, and bring Nate, and Nathan, I'll do the rest."
"Okay, I'll call him and let him know."
"You do that; I'll see you at 5:00."
"Yes, 5:00," Haley said standing up and leaving.
"By the way, you look hott," Dan said smirking.
"Thanks," Haley said, mentally saying 'eww, what a perv." She grabbed her bag and walked out of the door, taking Nate by the hand. She pulled out her cell once she left.
"Nathan," Haley said when he answered the phone.
"What do you want?"
"To tell you we're going to your father's for dinner, 5:00, and be dressed up."
"Why?"
"Because, it's your dad that will be mad at you if you're a no show, he won't be anywhere near mad at me."
"Fine, I'll go, but I won't like it."
"You say that now."
"And I'll say it then too."
"Right."
"I mean it."
"Of course, baby."
"You'll see."
"That I will, suit and tie, 5:00, don't be late," Haley laughed, "Where are you, I want to drop Nate off so you can help him get ready, while I get ready myself."
"I'm at our apartment."
"Great, I'll meet you there."
"No, Hales, that's not a good idea."
"Why not?"
"It's a little messy."
"Oh, I don't mind, I'll be there in five minutes, bye," Haley closed her phone and they went to the apartment. Haley opened the door and looked inside. A little messy, that was putting it nicely; train wreck would have fit better.
"Nathan, what happened?" Haley looked around, pink walls covered with clowns, garbage all over the place; dust a mile high, clothes sprawled across the floor, the closet door busting open because of all the stuff.
"Haley, I told you not to come, I warned you."
"What possessed you to do such a thing?"
"Anger mostly."
"What made you this angry?"
"You."
"Me?"
"Yea, I thought we were going to fix things, you left."
"You told me to."
"I didn't mean it."
"How was I supposed to know?"
"I thought you loved me, which would have been clue enough."
"Well I'm sorry."
"Yea, now, that night, you didn't come home, I was angry, hence the shattered keyboard, and the poster Peyton made, a couple days later I did the walls, random parties and things the mess, and everything else over time of neglect."
"Nathan…"
"I just thought you'd want to know."
"Yea, I guess, I'm sorry Nathan."
"Me too, are you getting ready here so we can go together, or are you leaving because of what I did."
"I can, I can go get my dress and make-up and things, but you have to make an attempt to clean this place by the time I get back," Haley said leaving, giving Nate a kiss.
"What about me," Nathan asked.
"Depends on how much you clean by the time I get back." Haley smiled and left.
"Nate, you have to help me clean," Nathan looked at him.
"You wish, mom said for you to clean, not me, so you're going to clean, I think I'll watch TV."
"I think that if you don't clean, you can sit there and watch me."
"Fine by me, but you're the one wasting time arguing with me."
"Why do you always do that to me?"
"Do what?"
"Make me look bad, especially in front of your mother."
"I don't know."
"Sure you don't." Nathan started cleaning the living room, mostly picking up all the trash and throwing it in a garbage bag, it at least looked decent by the time Haley got back.
"Sorry it took so long," she smiled looking at the place, "nice work."
"Thank you."
She kissed him, "Now I have to get ready, I get the bathroom." Nathan shook his head.
"Women."
"What about women," Haley heard him.
"You can't live without them."
"Yea, yea."
Haley walked into the bathroom all her stuff. Nathan looked at Nate, "I bet we can watch the last part of the game."
"Okay," They sat down on the couch and turned on the TV, which by default is on ESPN. Haley was taking a shower, a nice warm shower, and came out in a towel.
"Nathan, do you have a robe I can borrow?" She said walking over to him. He starred at her, rather than basketball, that's a first. "Hello, earth to Nathan, come in Nathan."
"Oh, huh, what?"
"Do you have a robe I can borrow?"
"What's wrong with the towel, you look incredibly sexy in that."
"Ha, robe please."
"Okay," Nathan got up and went to get it, and returned shortly.
"Thank you, and I thought you guys were getting ready."
"It'll only take five minutes, chill."
"Okay, if you say so, but whatever you don't get done in that five minutes, don't get done, think about it," Haley said returning to the bathroom. Nathan looked at Nate.
"Finish the game?"
"Yea!"
"Dude, you're like the coolest, better than Tim, cause well you ain't drunk or hung over, or high, or stupid, it all works out."
"Thanks, I think."
Haley did her make-up, blue eye shadow to make her brown eyes stand out and a pale red/pink color for her lips, a little blush, she looked stunning. She did her hair up in a bun atop her head, putting little flower clips on it to match her blue flowered dress and shawl. She also had matching shoes. She was soon ready and grabbed her purse and walked out to Nathan and Nate trying to tie their ties. She went over to Nate, bent down and tied his in a hurry, fixed it and buttoned his suit jacket over it. He looked so handsome.
"What about me?"
"What about you?"
"You know I can't tie a tie."
"And I should be able to?"
"You can."
"I know I can, you should be able to, too."
"Please Hales."
"Ugh!" she quickly tied it, "Happy now, big baby, can't even tie his own tie, a grown man."
"Nate can't."
"Good one, comparing yourself to a five year old."
"So."
"So, you're 22, you should know how to tie a tie by 22 Nathan, I can tie one, I could tie one at thirteen."
"Well aren't you the child prodigy."
"Ha, ha, let's go," Haley smiled, pushing him out the door.
"Did I mention how nice you look?"
"No."
"Well you look great."
"Thanks, now let's move it."
"Going, I'm going…"
They were greeted promptly when they arrived by what appeared to be a maid. Dan had hired help. This could be interesting. They were escorted to the table with Dan sitting at the head with a devilish grin. Deb was next to him in a blue dress, her hair done up. Then across from Deb was a small boy, about Nate's age. Nathan leaned over to Haley, "I'll tell you later," he whispered in her ear. They were seated at the table and dinner was served. Food was delicious, but nobody was talking, just Dan taking turns at staring at Nathan, Haley, or occasionally Nate. Once the plates were cleared he talked.
"So…" Dan tapped his fingers on the table, "I think a congratulations are in order," Dan said as his maid brought glasses of champagne around, and bubbling apple cider around.