Author's Note: Thanks so much to all of you for this story breaking 2,000 reviews! I am amazed and grateful!

Also to BrennaBing who reviewed and asked what brings about the plot twists...to answer that question, one thing that gets on my nerves is predictability, especially when reading a story or watching a TV show or movie. It takes away from the fun and excitement. I love to shock you guys and even myself by taking sometimes what may first seem as an impossible or at least hard to fathom twist and somehow working it in there to juice things up. I love to surprise and shock. It's just my style.

And to another reviewer who said that this story is extremely long (which it is) and that I might want to consider cutting it down and making it into a two parter because when people see that it is so long, they might not want to read it. To answer that...not gonna happen, first of all! But I do understand this is long but at the same time I feel every single chapter has been necessary for the direction and plot. This isn't your average fan fiction but this is my style. The more people that read, the better, the more that like it...great! But I will never compromise my artistic integrity or change something to "advertise" so to speak, to get people to read or like what I'm doing. It is what it is, take it or leave. Whether 10 chapters or 1,000, I hope it is the quality of the work that gets you opposed to the quantity. And if it's too long for some people, oh well... What can you do? I'm not in the habit of trying to please everyone because I leanred a long time ago, you can't.

Haley gently stroked the smooth skin of her baby's face. The child was still sleeping and the ICU nurses had arranged for Haley to be able to hold her in the isolation room. She hummed out loud as she rocked her daughter.

"I always did like that song."

Haley looked up to see the muffled face behind the surgical mask.

"Chris, it's Mary Had A Little Lamb."

"I know but it's cool just the same. Maybe one day you and I can record the acoustic remix duet version."

She was too tired to smile.

"Chris…"

"What? You're a big rock star. You can do anything you want. And speaking of, how's my favorite little rocker?"

He cooed at Jamarah. She wasn't his daughter by nature but as far as Chris Keller was concerned biology was only a technicality. He loved the little girl. He had always loved her.

"She's hanging in there", Haley sighed. "We all are, I guess."

"Don't give up, James. It ain't over yet and this kid has a whole lot of fight left in her. I mean, look at who her mom is. You're one of the bravest, strongest women I l know."

"Then why do I feel like such a coward all the time?"

She looked at him with tears in her eyes as Chris leaned in to hug her. She relaxed her head onto his shoulder and just let him hold her. It felt good to be physically enveloped like that. Although over the years, nothing intimate had ever taken place between them, it was plenty lonely days and nights where his hugs had come to the rescue as she cried on his shoulder.

"You're not a coward, Haley. It's gonna be okay."

She sniffled and they both jumped as they heard the door open. Neither missed the steely glare of Nathan Scott.

"Nathan!" Haley exclaimed as she pulled away.

He cut his eyes at the scene before him. The mere thought of Haley and Chris all hugged up was enough to send him into a rage or at least induce vomit. It took all the self control he could muster to maintain what was left of his composure.

"I needed to talk to you…"

"Okay", she readily nodded.

"Uh, it can wait. Didn't mean to interrupt."

Sarcasm dripped from his voice as he stared hard at Chris.

"No interruption, man", Chris shrugged.

"I bet."

"It's okay", Haley stood as she kissed the baby gently and placed her down.

She nervously brushed past her friend to join her ex husband.

"Haley…"

"We were just talking, I swear."

Nathan rolled his eyes.

"Whatever. I don't care about that right now. I need to talk to you about finding a match for the baby…"

"Did they?" she asked quickly and hopefully.

"Not yet. Um, we're waiting for Keith and Jules' results to come in from North Carolina and my grandparents' too. My mom's brother and are parents are going to get tested, too."

"Good. What about…"

"They got tested."

Haley's eyes widened.

"Dan and Deb?"

"Yeah."

"Both of them?"

"Yeah."

Haley breathed a huge sigh of relief.

"Thank God. I know they must be so pissed but I figured your mom would. Dan, on the other hand…"

"Look, I know the guy is a world class jerk but he isn't that heartless, Haley."

"I don't know. I mean, we had a little run in a while back and…"

"What kind of run in?"

Haley shook her head.

"It's not important, okay? I don't want to talk about it. As long as they agree to get tested, then that's all I care about."

"Alright."

"Hopefully it won't take long for us to hear something back from Tree Hill."

"A couple of hours, I guess but um…my parents are here."

"In New York?"

"In this hospital. They just got in and I saw them for a minute but they went right down to be tested. It's been a while so we should be hearing something soon."

Haley couldn't believe it. It was a hard situation for anyone to get their head around. All of it. She couldn't believe her former in laws had agreed to be tested for a grandchild they may or may not have even knew they had. It had been such an ugly, tense, confusing situation. So many people had already been hurt. She knew it was a waste of time and precious energy to concentrate on any would be confrontations with Dan or Deb. First and foremost, her primary concern was Lillian.

"Okay."

"Look, Haley…"

She put her hand up to silence him.

"It's fine, Nathan. Really. And right now, I honestly don't care about your mother and father. I am only concerned with my daughter."

"Whatever, Haley…"

She shook her head.

"Oh and one more thing, if your parents aren't a match, please do me a favor and make sure they leave the hospital. I appreciate them showing up and all but if they can't help, the last thing I need is the two of them lingering around making stuff worse."

"You've got to be kidding me…"

"Oh yeah, I am because I'm in a real joking mood right now, Nathan", Haley said sarcastically. "I meant what I said."

"Whatever. I guess it doesn't matter that she is their grandchild."

"Nathan…"

"Or my child for that matter."

She closed her eyes.

"Why are you doing this? Look, I can't get into this right now with you. I won't."

"Haley's rules, huh? I see it's still real convenient as long as you're the one calling the shots."

"That's not fair."

"What is fair around here, Haley? Please tell me because I don't know anymore. And since you're the one with all the answers…"

"Nathan, stop it!"

"Fine. You don't want my parents here? That's cool. I'll make sure they leave and on their way out, maybe they can give your little boyfriend a ride because I don't want his ass here either."

"Oh that's real nice, Nathan. You haven't changed a bit. You're still that selfish jerk…"

"And what does that make you, Haley?"

Their voices were loud and their faces were flushed. A crowd was beginning to draw as Karen rushed to their sides.

"My God, what on earth is going on here? I heard you two all the way down the hall!"

"It's cool, Karen. Haley's just being the same selfish bitch she's always been…"

"Oh you're one to talk! Nathan, you…"

Karen stepped between them.

"Enough!"

"She started it!"

"He's trying to make a scene!"

"I don't care who started it or who is at fault but I'm about to finish it", Karen said angrily. "Both of you stop! Listen to yourselves! You ought to be ashamed! Your daughter is sick in the next room and you two can't behave like rational, civilized, mature adults for five minutes. You think this bickering is helping her? You think arguing is going to find a donor any quicker?"

"Karen…"

"No! I don't want to hear it! Like it or not, you two created a life together. And because of this unfortunate situation with Jamarah's health, you two now have to deal with each other so I suggest you suck it up and press on. This is absolutely ridiculous! Think about your child in there and quit thinking about yourselves for once!"

They knew she was right and they were wrong. Quietly, they hung their heads in obvious shame, following Karen back to the waiting area like scolded little puppies. Dan and Deb had joined the others and now all eyes were on Nathan and Haley. She carefully eyed her former in laws and the grandparents of her daughter. There was brief silence but Deb ran to her, hastily throwing her arms around the younger woman. Neither spoke words but the tears in their eyes said everything for them.

"Long time, no see", Dan glared at her.

He made her sick! Dan Scott had to be the most evil, vile, horrible, sorry excuse for a human being that had ever existed. It took everything in her not to rake out his eyeballs with her bare hands.

"Come on, sis", Taylor said, protectively draping an arm around her sister. "Let's get some coffee."

Haley followed her and they put some change in a machine in exchange for a full cup of lukewarm liquid with the grinds still at the bottom.

"Tay, I can't do this…"

"You'll be okay, Haley bub. Just calm down. You have enough to worry about without those two trolls lurking around. Just ignore their asses. Dan Scott is such a jerk. Hot, at least for an old man, but still a definite jerk."

Haley shook her head as she swallowed a large gulp of the otherwise disgusting drink her body had slowly become accustomed to. They made their way back to the waiting area and their small assembled group. The tension was thick enough to be sliced with a knife and Haley was doing all she could to maintain her sanity. Just when she felt like screaming at the top of her lungs and hitting something, a doctor and nurse joined them in the room.

"Ms. James? Mr. Scott?"

"Yes" they nervously answered in unison.

The doctor looked relieved.

"We have a match", he announced.