Haley awoke first and couldn't help but stare at Nathan as he slept. This is what she had missed the most, just simply lying in bed with her husband. It gave her a sense of belonging and security, something he had always brought her while they were together. As she watched him sleep the smell of bacon and eggs wafted into the room and in turn woke Nathan from his slumber.
"Hey." Haley smiled from her place beside him.
Nathan groaned, he didn't want to wake up yet. He wanted to stay sleeping with his wife beside him because when he slept only his heart had a choice in the Haley situation and nothing else matter except her and himself and the love they shared.
"Nathan, it's noon." Haley explained, assuming the groan meant he was still tired.
"Your point?" Nathan asked sarcastically.
"You smell that?" Haley asked, hoping the smell of breakfast being made would wake him up.
"Ugh Haley! Gross!" Nathan laughed.
"Shut up! I meant breakfast, or lunch, whatever you want to consider it." Haley stated, hitting him playfully on the arm.
They both paused, this was the way it should be, laying in bed until noon together only to wake up and have a nice breakfast before starting the day.
"So we should probably head downstairs." Haley broke the silence, lifting her gaze to look at Nathan.
"Yea, sounds good." He replied sadly, faking a smile.
The two made their way downstairs to find Chris cooking and Peyton looking bored at the kitchen table.
"Haley thank god!" Peyton jumped up at the sight of her friend and embraced her tightly.
"Hey Peyton, good to see you too." Haley replied to her friends loving attitude.
"What did we say about me being alone with him?" Peyton asked, only Nathan and Haley hearing.
"I didn't know you were here." Haley laughed at Peyton's uneasiness around Chris.
"And I didn't know you were here." Peyton directed to Nathan.
"Alright guys, dig in." Chris announced, setting the last plate on the table.
"Shall we?" Haley asked, leading the way to a spot at the table.
Peyton and Nathan quickly followed and Chris soon after. The seating was awkward with Peyton and Haley sitting next to Chris and Nathan, who were situated across from one another at the small round table.
"So, Haley what did I say about bringing home strange guys in the wee hours of the morning?" Chris joked, trying to break the silence.
"Chris." Haley scorned.
"Alright, too soon." Chris muttered as everyone began eating their food.
"So, Nate, that sucks about the accident, you still able to play basketball?" Chris asked, again trying to break the silence. Both Peyton and Haley momentarily paused and looked at Nathan, awaiting his response.
"Uh, yea I can. It's taking some time, but for the most part." Nathan answered honestly, confused as to why Chris was being so…nice.
"That's good. Haley here had a wicked cold for a bit on the tour but she was still able to push through and get up on stage. That's what you gotta do right, never give up." Chris voiced, trying to keep up a conversation, but only leading to an even more uncomfortable silence.
"So Chris. When are you leaving?" Peyton asked bluntly.
"Why you wanna come with?" Chris asked sarcastically, not realizing what he had really said.
"Chris. Uh, thanks for the breakfast. You uh need any help cleaning up?" Haley stood up quickly, grabbing hers and Nathan's plate and putting them on the counter.
"No, it's cool. I got it." Chris replied, dumbfounded by the sudden actions.
"Alright. I'll be back later." Haley announced as she and Nathan quickly left the house.
"Okay, it was good seeing ya Nate." Chris called after them, but the door shut and they didn't hear.
"I'm really sorry about him, he was just trying to make nice." Haley apologized as the two walked along the street.
Yea. So are you-" Nathan paused, not wanting to say it.
"Am I what?" Haley asked curiously.
"Going back to the tour, with Chris?"
"No. I. (sigh) I needed to come back. I want to fix things with you and I know you have High Fliers, which is something you totally deserve. You need something to get away from all the drama here, take your mind off of everything. But know that I will be here for you when you come back. Okay?"
"Okay. But what about the annulment papers?"
"Did you not look at them. I didn't sign them. When Dan brought them to me and showed me your signature I knew-" Haley started to confess before being interrupted.
"Wait. What? I didn't sign the papers."
"Yes you did."
"No, I didn't."
"Well then who. Ugh how could I have been so stupid?" Haley cursed herself. Taking a seat on a bench.
"About?" Nathan asked, there were a couple of answers running through his head.
"Well if you didn't sign the papers, but your signature was there, and Dan brought them to me without you even knowing…" Haley trailed, hoping she wouldn't actually have to say it.
"He forged it. God, you know it's like everyday it gets easier to accept that he's dead." Nathan yelled, frustrated that he couldn't take his anger out on the person who created it.
"Nathan, at least we both know now." Haley tried to sooth as she grabbed his hand and pulled him down to sit beside her.
"No, how can you be so calm about this?" Nathan tore his hand away and stood up.
"Because Nathan. There's nothing we can do about it." Haley raised her voice, which made Nathan paused, it wasn't often that he heard Haley yell.
"Yea there is, there has to be." Nathan mumbled.
"What. Are you not going to show up at his funeral?" Haley laughed.
"After this. Hell no."
"Nathan, he was your father."
"He was an asshole, who got what he deserved."
"Nathan."
"No Haley! You're acting like you wanted me to have signed the papers." Nathan started yelling again.
"Of course not Nathan how could you even think that?" Haley questioned, her voice reaching the same volume as his.
"Well maybe because your defending him after everything he's done to us." Nathan bit back.
"No Nathan, I'm not defending him and if I wanted you to have signed the papers why the hell would I even be here right now? Don't you think it would have been easier for me to just have stayed on the tour and hope for the best." Haley replied sarcastically with a hint of anger.
"I don't know, maybe the best part was wanting to see the look on my face when you handed them to me signed and ready to go!"
"I didn't even sign them, god Nathan, listen to what you're saying right now!"
"Whatever, I don't need this." Nathan scoffed before turning and walking away.
"Nathan!" Haley called after him, she wasn't finished.
"I have a call to make to the camp to tell them I don't have a funeral to go to so I can be there for the regular start." Nathan yelled back before continuing his way home, pissed off and confused.