Author's Note: Hey guys! Sorry it's been such a long time since I've updated this story! I was busy with trying to get FOWB finished and on that note, I'm sad to say that The Sweetest Sin will be ending in the NEXT chapter, meaning ONE more chapter left! Won't you all be so sad? LOL I know you'll miss me! I'm starting college on Monday so I won't have as much time to write as I used to because I will be working too. I might only have time to write on weekends which really sucks but I guess you gotta take what you can get. I'll try to get some one parters or short stories out to you guys, but I don't think I will be writing any long stories right now, except for ITPOAA, which to those of you who read it, I will be trying to get a chapter out to you guys after I finish TSS. Anyways, wish me luck on my first week of classes and hope I'm not running around like a chicken with my head cut off! Lol. I hope you like this chapter! As always, please read and review!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. One Tree Hill and its characters are property of the WB.
Rating: K+ to T, some mildM at the end.
The Sweetest Sin
Chapter 20
"Come on Haley, you have to get up. You can't lie around and mope all day 24/7 for another month. Besides, you've got something to look forward to. You have your doctor's appointment today. You'll get to see the baby," Peyton tried to cheer her friend up as she sat on the edge of the bed and patted her on the hip. A small smile formed on Haley's lips as she looked down at her stomach and placed her hand on her belly, rubbing gently in a circle. "There's that smile," Peyton grinned as she touched her cheek with an index finger. "Haley, I'm hungry," Krissy whined as she entered the room. "You go with Peyton, honey, and she'll fix you something to eat," Haley responded. "But I want you to fix it. You make the best macaroni and cheese," the little girl replied. Haley sighed as she slowly sat up with help from Peyton, "Alright, I'll start making it in a minute." "Yay," Krissy cheered as she bounced up and down a few times before running off.
Once Krissy was happily eating her macaroni and cheese, Haley went back to the bedroom to lie down again and Peyton followed after her. "You aren't going to eat? Macaroni is your favorite food," Peyton stated concernedly. "I'm not hungry," Haley mumbled, her face in a pillow. "Haley, you've got to eat. Lucas has been gone for a month and you hardly eat at all. You were underweight as it is from your last doctor's visit. It's not good for you or the baby to not be eating. Please, just eat something Hales," Peyton pleaded with her, a worried look in her eyes, as she placed her hand on Haley's arm. Haley turned her head to face her and her cheeks were now red, tears falling from her eyes as she sniffled, "I miss him so much…" "I know you do sweetie," Peyton replied as she stroked her head and moved some hair out of her face. After a few minutes of Peyton rubbing her back to comfort her, Peyton asked, "How about I make you some soup? Chicken noodle? Will you eat if I make it?" Haley nodded slowly in response as she stared at the picture of her and Lucas on her nightstand, reaching for it and holding it close to her chest. Peyton rubbed her leg sympathetically before rising from the bed and heading to the kitchen to make the soup.
A few hours later, after Haley had taken her midday nap, Haley and Peyton got ready to go to the hospital for the doctor's visit. Peyton was changing Krissy's clothes while Haley got dressed herself in the bedroom. As she buttoned up her blouse, she stared longingly at the picture frame on her nightstand again. She walked over and sat on the bed, sighing as she lightly caressed his face with an index finger then rubbed her stomach. "I wish your daddy was here, baby. I know he would be here if he could, but he's up in Charleston learning to be a better basketball player, not that he isn't already. You're going to love basketball, baby, whether you're a boy or a girl. Of course Mommy can't play worth her life but your daddy is the best basketball player there ever was, at least in Mommy's book. I'll get to see you for the first time today, baby. I'm so excited. I wish Daddy was here with me so he could see you too. I wish I could share it with him. It's one of those things that should be experienced together, one of those precious moments that nothing can compare to seeing your child on that screen. I love you so much baby." A few tears fell down her cheeks as she rubbed her stomach slowly, talking to her unborn child.
"Hey Hales, you ready to go," Peyton asked as she knocked on the door and entered the room. "Yeah," she responded and Peyton helped her to her feet. Peyton gathered the bag of stuff to keep Krissy entertained while Haley had her appointment then picked up the little girl, placing Krissy on her hip. They had decided there was no point in dropping Krissy off with Karen for only an hour or two so they brought her along with them to the hospital. As they walked through the halls and used the elevator to get up to the maternity ward, Haley received a few dirty looks and people shook their heads after staring at her protruding stomach and the little girl in her arms, obviously thinking that Krissy was hers and that Haley was a teenage mother who already had two kids. Haley just held her head high and ignored them, knowing that she was in love with her best friend and he was in love with her. Lucas was there for her and would always be there for her and their children, which was more than what most teenage mothers had. Haley played and talked with Krissy while they waited and finally she was called ten minutes later.
"The doctor will be in shortly. Please put this gown on so the doctor can do her examination," the nurse said as the three girls entered the room. "Thank you," Haley replied as she took the gown from the woman and the nurse left. Haley went to go change into the gown in the bathroom and once she came out, Peyton helped her up onto the table. There was a knock on the door and then the doctor entered, smiling, "Good afternoon, Haley. It's good to see you again. Where is Lucas today?" Haley's smile faded a little as she responded, "He's up in Charleston for two months at a basketball camp. This is my friend Peyton and my sister, Krissy. Peyton's staying with me while Lucas is gone so she can help out around the house and take care of Krissy while watching me like a hawk." She grumbled this last part and the doctor laughed. "How have you been feeling lately? Morning sickness, fatigue? Aches and pains?" Dr. Carter asked. "The morning sickness comes and goes but it's not as frequent as it used to be. Of course I'm always tired, I'm carrying around thirty pounds of extra weight," Haley smiled as she touched her stomach, "No pain really, just the normal back aches and my feet hurting." "That's good," Dr. Carter nodded as she wrote down the information on her chart, "Okay Haley, I want you to come over here and get on this scale so we can weigh you." Haley did as told and the doctor frowned after a few moments, "You've gained a few pounds, but you're still underweight. You need to eat more, Haley. If you don't, your baby could be born premature and underweight as well."
"I know," Haley sighed, "I just haven't really felt like eating a lot lately. I've been kind of depressed since Lucas left…" "Have you talked to him at all? Maybe you could go see him," the doctor suggested. "We talk every night, but it's just not the same…" Haley whispered as tears started to form behind her eyes, "I don't want to distract him. I'm not sure if I'm even allowed to visit." "Well why don't you call and ask? It couldn't hurt. A visit will do you good," Dr. Carter replied then changed subjects, "So, you're here for your first ultrasound?" Haley nodded and Krissy exclaimed happily, bouncing in Peyton's arms, "We get to see the baby!" All three women chuckled softly at the little girl's excitement. "Okay Haley, lie back and unbutton your blouse for me. This gel is going to be a little cold," the doctor instructed as she put on some gloves. Haley opened her shirt up a few buttons from the bottom and pushed the material to the side, exposing her round stomach. Dr. Carter applied the gel to her stomach and Haley flinched a little at the coldness of it. "Sorry," the doctor replied then began to move the transducer over her belly, searching for the baby on the black and white screen of the ultrasound machine.
A few minutes later, Dr. Carter pointed to the screen, "There's the head…the arms…legs…Would you like to hear the heartbeat?" Haley nodded as she sniffled and wiped the tears from her eyes. The doctor flipped a switch and wonderful sound of her baby's heartbeat filled the room. More tears fell down Haley's cheeks as she listened to it. "Good strong heartbeat. Would you like to know the sex of the baby," Dr. Carter asked. Haley nodded again, too full of emotion to speak. The doctor moved the transducer over her stomach a little more, trying to find a good position to tell the sex of the baby. After a few moments, Dr. Carter smiled as she responded, "Congratulations Haley, you're having a…"
It had been a week since Haley had found out the sex of the baby but despite being happy about knowing, she was miserable without Lucas. She didn't want to tell him over the phone; it was something to be done in person, but she didn't know if she could stand waiting another three weeks until Lucas came back to tell him. While both Haley and Krissy were taking a nap, Peyton sat on the couch with the phone in her hands, dialing the number for the hotel that the camp had put Lucas and all the players up in for the duration of the training camp. Before he left, Lucas had secretly asked Peyton to give him weekly updates on Haley because he knew Haley would lie and pretend everything was okay when it wasn't. There was no answer when she called his hotel room so she tried his cell phone. After a few rings, Lucas finally answered, "Hales?" "No, it's Peyton," she answered. "Oh, hey Peyton. What's up," he asked. "I'm sorry, I'm not interrupting you from training am I," she inquired, hearing male voices and bouncing basketballs in the background, "Did I catch you at a bad time?"
"No, the guys are just doing some free throws, no biggie," Lucas responded, "Now, what's up? Is everything going okay with Haley?" Peyton sighed, she didn't want to tell him everything that had been going on since he'd been gone but for Haley and the baby's sake, she had to tell him. "She misses you Luke; she's miserable. She hardly eats and she doesn't sleep well. She doesn't really want to go out or do anything. She's depressed, Luke. We went to the doctor last week and she's still underweight. I try to get her to eat and sometimes she eats a little, but other times she says she isn't hungry. The doctor said that if she doesn't eat more and gain more weight, the baby could be born premature or underweight. I'm worried, Luke. She isn't doing too well," Peyton explained as tears formed in her eyes. Fear and sadness struck Lucas' heart as he listened to Peyton describe how bad Haley was taking the loss of him not being there. He closed his eyes as his own tears spilled onto his cheeks. "Bring her to me," he whispered. "What," Peyton asked, not quite hearing what he had said. "Bring her to me," he repeated louder, "Come up here to Charleston." "Are you sure you're allowed to," Peyton questioned uncertainly. "I don't care. I need to see her, I miss her so much, but I think she needs it more than I do. Tomorrow the coach is giving us the day off to rest since we've been working so hard. Bring her up tomorrow," Lucas replied. "Okay, tomorrow," Peyton responded. They said their goodbyes and hung up their phones a few minutes later.
The next day while Haley was taking her mid-morning nap, Peyton got everything ready for their trip and dropped Krissy off with Karen, who had agreed to take care of the little girl while they were gone. At a little after ten, Peyton went into Haley's bedroom and gently shook her awake. "Hales, come on, wake up," Peyton said quietly. "Mmm," Haley groaned as she pulled the covers further up around her body, "go away. Let me sleep…" Peyton grabbed the covers and pulled them all the way off the bed, "No, come on Haley, get up. We're going out. You need to get some fresh air." "I don't want to go out, I want to stay inside and sleep," she mumbled with her head buried in her pillow, "give me back my covers." "Haley Elizabeth James, you get your ass out of bed right now or I swear to god I will drag you out of that bed kick and screaming if I have to," Peyton shouted, frustrated with her resistance. She wanted the keep the visit a secret for as long as she could, but with the way things were looking, she might have to tell Haley just to get her out of bed. "You wouldn't," Haley mumbled as she buried her head further into her pillow. Peyton grabbed her ankles and began to pull her towards the edge of the bed. Haley shrieked in fright, not really thinking that Peyton would actually do it, "Okay, okay, I'm up!" "Good," Peyton replied as she helped her friend sit up then stand to her feet, "now go get dressed. We're leaving in twenty minutes."
Forty-five minutes later, Peyton screamed, "Haley, come on! We should have left twenty-five minutes ago!" "God, I'm coming! What's gotten up your ass today? I thought we were just going out. Where are we going that's so time-sensitive," Haley asked as she appeared from the hallway. "That's for me to know and you to find out," Peyton replied secretively. Haley let out a huff of frustration then her brows furrowed as she looked around, "Hey, where's Kris?" "She's with Karen, now come on," Peyton responded impatiently as grabbed her hand and began to lead her outside the house. "Wait, can't I get something to eat first," she inquired. "We'll stop at McDonald's or something on the way," Peyton replied. "Are you ever going to tell me where in the hell you're taking me? First you wake me from a deep sleep only to drag me out of bed then harass me for the next forty-five minutes how we're going to be late and I don't even know where we're going," Haley ranted as Peyton led her to the car. "You'll find out soon enough," the blonde replied. "What's with all this secretive mumbo jumbo crap? Why can't you just tell me," she inquired grouchily. "Because it's a surprise," Peyton responded, "now stop complaining and just enjoy the ride." "You better be careful driving. I don't want to end up in the hospital, or worse, the obituaries," Haley said sarcastically. "Don't talk like that," Peyton stated firmly. "Hey, blame my weird comments on yourself. You're the one who pulled me out of bed at ten in the morning and now I'm suffering from sleep deprivation because of it." "You can take a nap if you want. It actually might be better if you did. It would stop your mouth from running and save my sanity," Peyton chuckled as she gave Haley a lopsided grin. "Hey," Haley scoffed as she slapped her on the arm with the back of her hand, "just get in the damn car and drive."
Haley had promptly fallen back asleep fifteen minutes into the drive after they had stopped off at McDonald's for some breakfast sandwiches. Peyton became increasingly bored as she drove along the almost deserted I-90 highway towards Charleston. Haley was asleep, therefore she had no one to talk to and she couldn't turn on the radio because it would wake her. One pit stop at a convenience store for a bathroom break and gas and two hours later, Peyton arrived at the small park Lucas had told her to meet him at with Haley still fast asleep in the passenger seat. She carefully and quietly slipped out of the car and walked a few feet away so she could call Lucas to tell him that they had arrived. She dialed Luke's cell and he answered two rings later, "Hello?" "Hey Luke, it's Peyton. I just wanted to let you know we're here. Haley's still napping but I'll wake her up in a few minutes…" "I'll be there in ten minutes," Lucas replied eagerly as he smiled at the thought of seeing his girlfriend. They quickly said their goodbyes and Lucas grabbed his keys, racing outside of his hotel room to his car.
He pulled up beside the familiar black convertible and when he stopped the car, he stared over at the passenger side of Peyton's car, seeing that the seat was empty and the door open. He quickly looked up over the top of the car and saw Haley's beautiful face staring back at him, her chin and lower lip beginning to tremble. Peyton, having helped Haley out of the car, stood next to her with a soft smile on her face as she watched the two people who were very much in love reunite after a month-long separation. At the sight of his beautiful girlfriend, Lucas jumped out of his car and raced around Peyton's car, enveloping her in a strong embrace and pressing his mouth hard to hers. "I missed you so much…I just had to come…" Haley whispered, crying as she continued to kiss him. "God, I missed you too…" Lucas murmured into her ear. He placed his hand at the back of her head and she buried her head in his chest as he kissed her temple. Peyton decided to give them some time alone so she walked over to the playground and for the first time in years since she was a little girl, she sat the swings and gently began to move back and forth, pumping her legs slowly. Lucas wrapped an arm around Haley's waist as he led her over to a bench and helped lower her onto it before sitting down beside her.
"Peyton told me you haven't been eating or sleeping well and that you've been depressed, not wanting to go outside or do anything. Why didn't you tell me it was this bad," he asked concernedly as he took her hand in his, entwining their fingers, and gently stroked her cheek. "I'm sorry," she sniffled as tears came to her eyes, "I didn't want to distract you with my problems or make you come home…I didn't want to worry you…" "Honey, it's my job to worry. I'm the brooder, remember," he softly wiped the tears from her eyes with his thumb as she chuckled lightly, "Hales, I want you to tell me these things. I want you tell me if something, anything is bothering you or if you're feeling sad or depressed. I worry when you don't talk to me." He rubbed her back in slow circles and she tenderly kissed him on the lips. "I'm sorry," she responded as she wrapped her arms around him. "You've got to eat more, Hales. Peyton told me that the doctor said you're still underweight and if you don't gain some more, the baby could be born premature and underweight. I don't want anything to happen to you or the baby, Hales," Lucas responded as she brushed some hair out of her face. "I know, I'll try," she responded and Lucas gave her a stern look then she said, "I will."
"Good," Lucas' mouth softened into a smile as he kissed her forehead, "Now, don't you have something to tell me?" His grin gets even wider, waiting for her special news. "Uh, I love you," she responded uncertainly, but really joking, knowing what he really wanted. "No, I mean about a certain special appointment with the doctor last week," he placed his hand on her stomach and rubbed gently. "Ohhh, that," she replied as if it were finally dawning on her, but didn't say anything else to prolong his frustration from not getting an answer from her. She loved playing with him. "Well, what is it? Boy or girl," Lucas asked anxiously. Haley took both of his hands in hers and placed them back on her belly then hers on top of his as she smiled up at him, tears already forming in her eyes again. "It's a boy. We have a son, Lucas, a son," she whispered. Lucas engulfed her in a large hug and pulled her to him, his own tears flowing freely down his cheeks. "A son? A son!" he exclaimed as he laughed joyously then whispered in her ear, his voice choked up with emotion, "Braden…" Lucas kissed her softly for several minutes but pulled away only to place a gentle kiss on her belly, "Daddy loves you, Braden." Now Haley pulled him in for a kiss as she smiled, murmuring against his lips, "I love you." "I love you too," Lucas responded, pecking her on the nose, causing Haley to giggle.
Haley and Lucas spent the whole day together, and sometimes with Peyton, walking around Charleston and taking in the sights of the bustling city. Later that evening, they walked along the beach holding hands as the sun slowly descended from the sky. Lucas lifted their linked hands to his lips and softly kissed the back of her hand. She smiled back at him, amazed at how just that small, simple act made her heart swell with love. "I have a surprise for you," he murmured as he untangled their fingers and wrapped his arm around her waist. "Where is it? What is it," she inquired, excitement rising within her. Was it what she thought it was? She had been hoping for months now, ever since she had told Lucas she was pregnant in fact, that he would get down on one knee and pop the one question she had been waiting to hear all her life. "When I get back from the camp, I want us to go away for a weekend. Keith gave me the keys to his cabin up in the mountains and I thought we could go up there and just relax for a little bit. It will probably be the last time we'll be able to spend some quality alone time together after Braden comes," Lucas replied as he ran his free hand over her stomach. "That sounds wonderful," Haley smiled as she leaned up on her tiptoes and placed a light kiss on his lips, "I love you…" The kiss slowly became more passionate until they broke apart, both breathing heavily. "Let's go back to the hotel," Lucas replied, giving her a slow, tantalizing kiss, leaving her wanting for more.
"Luke…sh…be quiet! You're going to wake up Peyton," Haley giggled as Lucas loudly fumbled with the lock on the door while he continued to trail kissed down Haley's neck. "I can't help it," he mumbled into her neck, "you're too irresistible and this damn lock is near impossible to unlock." "Well maybe you would fare better if you pulled your face away from my chest," she responded sarcastically, laughing. "Ha ha," he responded dryly as he finally got the door unlocked, "now get into that bed!" "But Luke…Peyton…" she responded uncertainly. "We'll be quiet," he replied as he quickly made his way over to the bed, pulling her with him. "Since when have we ever been quiet," she giggled softly, a smirk playing on her lips. "We'll just have to be," he stated firmly as he pressed his hot mouth to hers, letting her know how much he wanted her right then, "besides, we shouldn't have anything to worry about. Peyton could sleep through the next world war and still wouldn't wake up." Haley giggled again as she laid down on the bed, "Okay, take me soldier." "Anything for my country," he smiled as he leaned down to kiss her. His hands quickly found the hem of her shirt and he lifted it over her head, tossing it to the floor then ran his hands over her stomach, feeling their son kicking from inside. Their son. It was so amazing knowing that they were going to have a little boy in a few months. He would be able to teach him basketball and do all the great things dads got to do with their sons...
He was brought out of his thoughts by Haley unbuttoning his jeans and tugging down the zipper. He brought his hands up to gently cup her breasts before undoing the clasp in the back. That too was thrown to the floor and Lucas gently grazed his fingers over her engorged breasts, careful not to hurt her. He placed a light kiss on top of each one before he flicked first one nipple then the other. He started to suckle one and Haley moaned sensually, causing him to further his actions. Haley moaned again as he began to suck a little harder, "Luke…" Suddenly, Peyton's voice was heard, "That's it, I'm leaving! I'll go find one of your guy friends or sleep out in the hallway, in my car or something because I don't want to hear you two having sex all night!" "Peyton," Haley replied, her breaths heavy, but before she could say anything else, Peyton interrupted her. "Don't turn on the light! I don't want to see you two naked," she shouted, shielding her eyes. "I'll see you in the morning. Don't have too much fun now, ya hear? Oh, and practice safe sex," Peyton snorted as she shook her head and left the hotel room, muttering to herself, "I should've known not to room with those two."