A/N- So here's the next chapter. It proved to be another very challenging, very emotional chapter for me to write. But at the same time, It seemed to just flow out of me. All in all, I am very happy with this chapter, and I hope you enjoy the next part of this story. The chapter starts off with a flashback to happier times with Nathan and Haley, then flashes back to well the bittersweet present. This chapter is from from Nathan's point of view. Nathan is struggling with the fact that Dan came into their apartment and attacked Haley. In this chapter Nathan and Haley will make a decision about how they are going to spend the rest of their summer, but it's a very emotional and hard decsion, based on everything that's happened, especially after what happened with Dan. Ok so onto the reading.. Enjoy!

Please Please Review. I thrive on feedback!

Ch. 6- Bittersweet Symphony

Nathan was sitting on the couch waiting for Haley. A second later, she emerged from the bedroom wearing jeans and a rose colored tank top, her long strawberry blondish hair picked up in a ponytail. Nathan smiled to himself. It had been a long time since he saw her hair like. Her whole face lit up, and he never remembered seeing her so beautiful.

"Hey gorgeous", Nathan grinned at Haley.

Haley beamed. "Stop", she said, a light pink shade covering her face.

Nathan rose up from the couch, inching toward her. "I can't help it, Mrs. Scott".

Haley threw her arms around Nathan's upper body. "Mrs. Scott. You know I never get tired of hearing that, Mr. Scott", she laughed.

Nathan felt a permanent smile covering his face. "You know, if someone would of told me that I would be married like a few months ago, I would have told them they were crazy", Nathan admitted. "Yet here we are".

"I know. It's crazy. But all doubts we've might of had aside, when it comes down to it, Nathan, being married to you------I think it's the best decision I could have ever made", Haley told him, her eyes looking straight into his.

"Haley------meeting you, marrying you is the only thing in my life that ever made sense. I would be lost without you".

Haley looked down. "Yeah, your mom doesn't see it that way. And she made her feelings perfectly clear about me last night. I just couldn't hold back anymore. When she started yelling at my parents I sort of lost it. Never in a million years did I ever think your mom would react this way to us getting married. Dan I would have bet money on."

"Hey, it doesn't matter what my mom thinks; or Dan for that matter. And she had no right to come to our party and say those things to you or your parents. And you had every right to say what you said. And like I said last night, that was kind of sexy-------But I thought we were clear on this Haley. If my mom or Dan can't accept the fact that you're my wife now, screw em. Nobody else matters but you, Haley."

Haley leaned in, and kissed Nathan's lips sweetly yet firmly. "What did I do to deserve you?"

Nathan shook his head, in disbelief. What did she do to deserve him? What did he do to deserve her?

Haley then walked over to the kitchen table and held up a DVD in her hand. "You ready to watch the Notebook?"

Nathan sighed. "If I have to", he joked.

Haley slapped his arm playfully. "Hey, you might actually enjoy it".

Nathan put the movie in, while Haley brought the popcorn over and sat down on the couch.

The movie started to play, and Nathan, ready to pay attention, was hit with a piece of popcorn in his face.

He looked over at Haley, who was trying to contain herself.

Nathan turned his head back to the movie and pretended like he didn't know what was going on. When another piece of popcorn hit his face, Haley bursted out laughing.

"Oh, so you want to play now, Mrs. Scott", Nathan blurted, grinning.

Nathan grabbed a handful of popcorn and threw them at Haley. Haley shielded her face and tried to throw more at Nathan. Instead, he just grabbed her and threw her flat down on the couch; him right on top of her. The popcorn bowl flew off the couch, and toppled to the ground, all the popcorn spilling on the ground.

Nathan flashed back to the present. The smile he had on his face, slowly faded. He looked out the window and it looked like as if it were night. The sky was dark and the rain was coming down non stop since it started back when it down poured on them. He could hear the wind roaring up against the window, and the thunder growing louder every minute. It was really getting bad out. The more he remained in the present the angrier he got. Dan had come to their home, and attacked his wife. He still was in shock. What the hell was Dan thinking? What would ever possess Dan to do such a thing? What the hell was wrong with him? That was an image he would never get out of his mind. The more he tried the rawer and fresh it became in his mind. Dan grabbing onto Haley was something permanently burned into his mind. He would never ever forgive his father. Any slim chance that they might have had of him being in his life was gone forever; the moment he laid a hand on Haley. More than anything, what he was feeling right now scared Nathan. He felt blinding anger. Anger so strong that made him want to do something he never thought about doing. He wanted to kill Dan for hurting Haley. He looked over at Haley, who was sitting right beside him on the couch. Things were quiet for the last few minutes between them, but yet at the same time peaceful. Nathan took a hold of Haley's hand and held it firmly. Haley then leaned her head down on his shoulder and looked up at him, and shot him a smile. But he could see the pain lingering in her eyes.

"Are you okay?" Nathan whispered lightly. That was a stupid question, Nathan reminded himself. Of course she wasn't okay.

Haley shook her head. "I'm fine", she said in a reassuring voice.

Nathan wasn't buying this. He could feel her whole body shivering. She never had to keep her feelings from him.

"Haley, you don't have to lie to me. I can't imagine what you're feeling right now. I just-----I still can't believe he came here and laid his hands on you. I'll never know what he could have been possibly thinking when he came here. That son of a b-"

"Nathan-----please. You don't have to say anything. Yes, I admit, I'm a little shaken up, but mostly, I'm okay. Believe me. More than anything, I------just want to forget about it. "

"Haley----you never have to hold back with me".

"And I'm not. I'm okay Nathan------really."

Nathan paused for a minute. He never felt so much hatred for a person in his entire life. "I promise you, Haley. Dan is going to get what he deserves. Going after you was the last straw. I-----I'm never leaving your side again."

Haley was quiet, and she peered around the room, not looking Nathan in the eye.

"What?" Nathan asked.

She slowly faced him again, with a serious expression emerging on her face. "I hope this doesn't mean you're not going High Flyers."

Nathan couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Are you kidding me? You think I am going to leave you for the whole summer, alone, after today? No way!"

Nathan shot up from the couch and started pacing. Haley went after him.

"Nathan, you can't let Dan win! You can't let him get to you. High Flyers is your dream. You deserve it more than anything", Haley told him outright.

"I am not listening to this, Haley. You think I would even think about leaving you after what Dan did?"

"That's the point! We can't let Dan affect our lives. You can't let Dan affect your decisions!"

"Oh really?" Nathan said, as he held up Haley's wrist. There on the edge of her wrist, was a bruise.

Haley yanked back her hand. The air was still, and tears brimmed Haley's eyes.

"I know you want to go to that camp, Nathan. You can't stand here and lie to me."

"What I want doesn't matter. Don't you get it Haley? You're all that matters in my life."

"Yes, but don't you see? You have to go Nathan. Forget about Dan, and what happened today. The camp. You want to go Nathan. And you should go. Because--the mistake I made was thinking that we had to live our lives separately if we wanted to go after our dreams. I was wrong. We can have each other, and-----everything else we want. I think about how stupid I was all those months. Thinking that it was you or my music. When you came to see me and told me everything I ever wanted to hear, I got scared-----and I felt more selfish than I ever have in my whole life. I was telling myself that---I didn't deserve you, and you were giving up your dreams, just so I could live out mine. So---I thought I should let you go."

"Haley-"

"There's no question that music will always be a part of my life Nathan. The only thing, it wasn't the right time for me. Especially without you. But this is the right time for you. I feel it. But the thing I know now, it doesn't' have to be one or the other. And I'll be right here for you when you get back."

Nathan didn't know what to say. A big part of him did want to go to the camp. It would be a dream come true. But his mind was made up. He would never leave Haley now.

"Haley, like I told you before, I've wanted to go to the camp for a long time. But I am not leaving and that's my decision", Nathan said, while another flash of Dan grabbing Haley's wrist flashed into his mind. "No, Haley. If I am truly destined to have any kind of future in basketball, than I'm sure they'll be other opportunities."

"Not like this", Haley whispered as she grabbed his hand. "And that's why I called High Flyers and told them that you were coming."

Nathan couldn't believe what he had just heard. Had Haley just said what he thought she just said? "You what?" He shouted in utter disbelief.

"I called the airport. Most of the flights have been cancelled due to the storm, but there's one last flight leaving for Florida at ten. There were a few open seats. I booked you on the flight", she admitted.

Nathan was at a loss for words. He couldn't believe Haley had done this.

"Haley, why did you do this? When did you do this?" Nathan asked, still dumbfounded.

Haley smiled, and walked into the bedroom and came out a few seconds later with a duffle bag in tow.

"Haley—"Nathan shouted, anger rising in his voice. But at the same time, he couldn't think of one good thing to say.

Haley dropped the duffle in front of Nathan. "All that matters is that you have no excuses not to go now." She looked up at him and Nathan couldn't stay mad at her. But as much as he wanted to go, he really didn't' want to leave Haley. The thought of Dan coming here and trying to attack her again, scared him to death.

"I'll be here when you get back", Haley said, tears streaming down her face.

"Haley, I don't want to you leave you. If Dan tried to you hurt you again, and I wasn't here to protect you–"Nathan said his voice growing weak.

"Dan won't hurt me again, Nathan."

He only wished that were true. Dan was out there, and could come back at anytime. If Dan found out that he was at High fliers, he didn't even want to think about what could happen, or what Dan was capable of now.

"I'll only agree to go if you promise me one thing. When I'm gone, you have to stay with Lucas and Karen". If Nathan trusted anyone to look after Haley while he was gone, it was his brother.

Haley shook her head. "Done. As long as you go", she replied softly.

Nathan was silent, as both of them grabbed onto each other at the same time.

With the next bolt of lightening, the lights suddenly flickered off, and it was dark as they remained buried in each other's arms.

8:30 a.m.