A/N: Hey! Chapter 6 is here! There's some Jeyton interaction here, because I miss them! Not as much as I miss fluffy Naley, but at least they're still on the show. I hope Jake comes back soon! On a more positive note – I now have 50 reviews! Unbelievable! Thanks so much to everyone who has reviewed, I love reading them! Special shout outs to TutorWife and LiasonFan2 formaking me laugh.
And, to EvenAngelsFall22: I've never actually watched Guiding Light (I don't live in the US so I've only ever heard of it in bios of BJL – you see, I'm also slightly obsessed – just not as much as I am with James Lafferty (All together now girls, 'Aah…') – but I really like little details too, so it's nice to know). Thus, the "Just peachy" line is completely coincidence. Weird.
Chapter Six
Nathan slightly rolled down the window of his car and let the cold night air in. The ride back had so far been considerably different from the journey to his parents' house, in that this time he and Haley had hardly said two words to each other since they left. On their way to the party Haley had hardly stopped talking and Nathan had teased her about it, but mostly because he thought it was cute. Now she was just staring out her window. Nathan didn't know what to do with the silence.
"Hey, so…" he struggled to find something to say. "How was your night?"
Haley turned to look at him. "Good."
"Well, don't overexcite yourself with all that enthusiasm, Hales." Haley smiled. Nathan noticed it wasn't her all-out 'happy' smile that lit up her entire face. She just looked somewhat amused, and had a slight twinkle in her eye. Nathan tore his eyes away from her face before he could start staring into her eyes and then crash his car because he wasn't paying attention to the road. "I mean…you can tell me if you were bored."
"I wasn't bored," Haley said honestly. "And it was…nice meeting your family. Your Mum and Uncle Keith and Aunt Karen are really nice. And Katie's pretty cool."
Katie. Nathan remembered how his cousin had popped out of nowhere and told Haley that he liked her. That had created a lot of tension in the room. Nathan sighed as he recollected the way Aunt Karen had glared at Katie until she stuttered, "I mean – I'm joking," at which point Haley had laughed and the whole situation dissolved.
Without allowing himself to glance over at Haley, Nathan wondered what it would be like to date Haley. And not in his 'casual dating for three months or less' way, but to seriously date her. The dates would almost always be just hanging out at her apartment, because of the kids, which they did anyway. Just without making out.
"Nathan, you in there?"
"Uh, yeah." Nathan looked over at Haley but would not allow his eyes to wander below her forehead. If he looked at her eyes he might start staring again; looking at her mouth would lead his thoughts to making out; and looking anywhere below her neck…oh boy. "Katie is pretty cool. But she gets really annoying when she beats me at basketball."
Haley laughed and, as she did she moved, bringing her whole face in Nathan's line of vision. She smiled at him and he responded by quickly turning his face back to the road and opening his window the whole way down.
As Nathan looked away, Haley turned back to her window and contemplated asking him what was really on her mind. "Nathan…" she began.
"Yeah?"
"Is…is Dan always –"
"A jackass?" Nathan glanced at her this time.
"That's not exactly the word I was going to use."
"Then it wouldn't have been accurate enough."
Haley's gaze returned to the window and she recognized the place they were driving by. "Hey, this is the docks."
"Yeah, you been here before?"
"Yeah, I love it here, it's so peaceful. I just never have the time to come that much."
"Well, let's go now."
"What?" Haley asked.
Nathan replied by bringing the car to a stop by the side of the road. "We can go now."
"No, Nathan, we don't have to. Plus, we have to pick up Michael and Annie."
"Are Peyton and Jake early sleepers?"
"No, not really," Haley said.
"Then they won't mind baby-sitting for a couple more minutes."
Haley opened her mouth, but before she could respond Nathan had already gotten out of the car and appeared at her side, opening her car door. Haley was still too surprised to say or do anything.
Nathan smirked. "I know the guy is supposed to be chivalrous and all, but do I have to undo your seat belt too?"
Haley smiled, embarrassed. She removed her seat belt and got out of the car. Nathan shut the door behind her, and the two walked to the docks in silence.
"Haley?" Nathan said finally.
"Yeah?"
"I'm really sorry about Dan. For whatever it was that he said. He's just…well, he's a jackass."
"He's also your Dad."
"Doesn't mean I have to like him."
"I guess not," Haley nodded. "Why is it that you don't?" When Nathan was silent Haley quickly added, "You don't have to answer if you –"
"No, it's okay. I guess it was mostly stuff with Lucas."
"Lucas?" Haley was now confused. "But, I thought you and Lucas got on well?"
"Yeah, we do, but that's completely in spite of Dan." Nathan sighed before continuing, "When I was growing up everything was always 'Lucas did this, why aren't you?' And the times when I did do the same stuff he had done at my age, like basketball, Dan wanted to know why I wasn't as good as Lucas."
Haley looked at Nathan sympathetically. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It's not your fault. Plus, yeah, life with Dan was terrible, but it wasn't like my entire childhood was crap. I had my mum and Lucas, and I could always go over to stay with Uncle Keith when things got too rough at home."
Haley smiled lightly. "When I was a kid I would have given anything to have had a Dad."
Both Haley and Nathan were aware that despite the past few years of friendship they had never really talked about their lives when they were younger; at least, not more than was necessary. Nathan wondered whether to go on, and decided to ask her, "How old were you when your Mum married Jake's Dad?"
"15. Jake and I were freshmen in high school then."
"What was it like? I mean, after it being just you and your mum for all those years you suddenly had to live with not just one, but two men in the house."
"Well, my Dad died before I was old enough to remember him, so I wasn't angry with my Mum for being with another guy. Paul, Jake's Dad, is really nice and I was just happy for my mother. The living with them only caused problems because Jake and I had to share the same bathroom!" Haley giggled as she remembered the way they used to race to get to the bathroom first in the mornings. "And Jake and I had been friends since junior high so it wasn't so bad."
"And I'll be meeting him tonight," Nathan commented.
It took a couple of seconds, but then Haley realized that Jake and Nathan would finally meet each other tonight when they went to pick up Michael and Annie. "Oh, yeah. Well, I'm sure you'll like Jake." Haley didn't see how anybody couldn't like Jake. But, she was more concerned about whether or not Jake would like Nathan. Not because Nathan was unlikable – far from it – but Jake tended to be overprotective of Haley.
"Yeah? Are you sure he won't beat me up for socializing with his little sister?"
"Yes!" Haley laughed. "And, I just met practically your whole family, so you better not try to weasel out of meeting my brother."
Nathan smiled. "Okay."
Haley pulled her eyes away from his and focused them back on the ocean so that she could relax a little. As she breathed in the night air the thought crossed her mind that the fact that they were talking about meeting the other's family sounded like they were dating and she felt her cheeks heat up slightly. The rest of her body remained obstinately cold, and she wrapped her arms around herself tighter.
Nathan's smile grew as he looked down at the girl beside him. The wind was blowing the side of her hair, and he was finding it very difficult to keep himself from reaching down and tucking the hair behind her ear. He saw her suddenly start to blush, as if for no reason, and he found this oddly endearing. "Hey, are you cold?" he asked when he noticed she was shivering slightly.
"Uh, just a little," she admitted.
"Here," he said, and before she could protest he had taken his jacket off and placed it on her shoulders.
She smiled her thanks and pulled the jacket closer around her.
"Do you want to head back?"
"Well…we could stay for just a few minutes," she said in a soft, almost shy, voice.
"Yeah, we could."
……………
Ding-dong
"Honey, could you get that?"
Jake grumbled – he was just about to turn the TV on – but got up from the couch and went to the door to his house, like Peyton had asked him to. He opened the front door and was greeted by his (step)sister and a tall, dark-haired man.
"Hi!" Haley said enthusiastically. "Jake, this is Nathan. Nathan, Jake."
"Hi." Nathan smiled.
"Hi," Jake nodded.
Soon, Peyton appeared behind Jake. "Hey, you guys! Nathan, it's really nice to see you again."
"Yeah, you too, Peyton."
"So, how was the party?" she asked, as Haley and Nathan walked inside.
"It was good," Haley replied. "I hope the kids were okay."
"They were fine," Jake pitched in.
"You know they always are," Peyton told her friend. "Hey, do you two want to have a drink or something…"
"Thanks, Peyt, but it's way past Michael and Annie's bedtime."
"Okay, well, they're in the guest room." Peyton moved towards the staircase.
Haley glanced at Nathan, saying she'd be back in a minute, and followed Peyton upstairs. It was during these 5 seconds, the first time Haley and Nathan had looked at each other since they arrived, that Jake realized what it was that had made him think they looked odd: Haley was wearing Nathan's jacket!
The girls left and it was just Nathan and Jake alone in the living room. Nathan stuffed his hands in his pockets. "So…"
Jake decided to get straight to the point. "Why is my sister wearing your jacket?"
Nathan was taken off-guard by this question. "She was feeling cold," he replied truthfully.
"I see. So, no funny business?"
Nathan's eyes shot up as took in Jake's full meaning. "N-no! It's nothing like that. We didn't, I mean, we're not…She was just feeling cold so I gave it to her." Nathan explained.
Jake had yet to properly observe Nathan with Haley, but he had been slightly suspicious from back in college when he noticed Haley had been mentioning Nathan more and more in her conversations. However, he knew something was definitely going on when Peyton had met Nathan and come home clearly plotting to get the two together. Jake knew his fiancée well enough to know that her invitation for them to stay a bit longer was part of that plan too. Yet, there was one thing that he didn't know; which led him to his next question. "Do you like her?"
"Uh…Haley and I…" Nathan decided to start again. "She's special."
Jake was surprised by this answer and immediately started to like the guy a bit better. But, he knew it was to his advantage if Nathan didn't know that yet. "Yeah, she is," he said sternly and gave Nathan his best glare.
Just then, Peyton and Haley came back, with Annie and Michael in tow. Both the children were asleep so the girls were carrying them downstairs. Nathan took the opportunity to get away from Jake's stare and moved towards them. "I'll take her," he told Peyton, who was carrying Annie.
"Oh, here," she said, giving the little girl to him.
"Well, we'll see you guys then. And thanks so much," Haley told Jake and Peyton.
"Oh, it's no problem at all," Peyton replied, opening the front door.
They said their goodbyes, and Jake gave Nathan a parting glance that, although unnoticed by Haley, was seen by Peyton. Once she closed the door behind them, she asked Jake, "What was that about?"
"What was what about?" Jake made his way back to the couch and turned the TV on to ESPN.
"You gave Nathan the look didn't you?"
"What look?" Jake asked innocently.
Peyton sat down next to him and crossed her arms. "The 'you better not mess with my sister' look."
"I don't have that look," Jake protested.
"Yes, you do! You've given it to every guy that's hit on Haley, before you informed them that she had two kids so if they're not in it for the long-run they better get lost."
"So what are you saying? That I've scared away all of Haley's potential boyfriends?" Jake knew it was true. That didn't mean he was going to admit it.
"It's not exactly a coincidence that she hasn't had a serious boyfriend since Riley took off."
"I'm just looking out for Haley so that she doesn't end up with another jerk like Riley."
Peyton wanted to stay mad at Jake because she thought Nathan was good for Haley, but she knew she would cave soon. She did just that as soon as Jake looked at her with puppy-dog eyes. She moved closer to him and he put his arm around her as they watched the basketball highlights. However, she didn't want Jake to think he was completely off the hook, so she said, "Just as long as she didn't give him the 'hurt my sister and I'll hurt you' speech." Peyton got worried again when her future husband didn't reply. "Well?"
He shrugged. "You and Haley came back before I could get to that part."
"Jake!"
……………
Nathan brought his car to a complete stop and turned the engine off in the parking lot of his apartment building. The rest of the journey home had been better than earlier that night, but he and Haley hadn't talked as much, so as not to wake up Annie and Michael. Wordlessly, Nathan and Haley got out of the car and opened the doors to the backseat. Annie was on Nathan's side so he picked her up and closed the door silently, but the movement was enough to wake her. Her eyes were only half-open but she recognized him. "Nathan?" she asked sleepily.
"Hey, sorry to wake you," he spoke softly, and carried her round to Haley.
"Hi Mummy," Annie was now slightly more awake.
"Hey. Sshh your brother's still sleeping," Haley gestured to the little boy in her arms.
"I can walk," Annie told Nathan in a quieter voice. He put Annie down took Michael from Haley. They then made their way into the building, Haley and Annie holding hands and leading the way, closely followed by Nathan carrying Michael. Annie was becoming more aware as her drowsiness began to fade. "So, how was your date?" she asked with a smile.
Haley flushed and looked reproachfully down at her daughter, who was still grinning madly as they neared the elevator. However, before Haley could remind her that it was not a date, Nathan said, "It was good."
Did Nathan think it was a date?
The elevator bell rang and the doors opened to let them in. Once inside, Annie pressed the right button for their floor before asking, "Does this mean you are dating properly now?"
Haley grew more embarrassed by the second. She squeezed Annie's hand again, hoping she would get the message. "Honey, I don't think that you should be asking that question," she said, not knowing what other way to respond, and slightly afraid of what Nathan would say if left to answer it.
"But you're wearing his jacket," Annie persisted.
Haley found luck to be on her side as they arrived at their floor before anything else could be added. "Here, we are," she said in a sing-song voice, that even she found irritating.
She dragged Annie out of the elevator and towards their apartment. Putting her key in the lock Haley opened the door, and practically pushed Annie inside. She turned around, intending to take Michael from Nathan, but he just said, "I can bring him in," and strode past her. Annie grinned up at Haley before skipping beside Nathan into her room.
Haley closed the front door, put her purse down on the side table and leaned her head back against the wall. She felt completely ridiculous; Annie's comments – and Nathan's reply – still ringing in her head. The possibility that she was reading too much into the situation was apparent, but it did not reduce her embarrassment. She sighed and folded her arms, hugging the jacket closer to herself.
"You know, you can keep that if you want."
Haley looked up, and saw Nathan walking towards her. "What?"
"My jacket, you can keep it." Now he was standing in front of her. "It looks better on you anyway."
Haley silently swore to herself that she was not going to fall for what was arguably one of the most clichéd lines in history. Unfortunately for Haley, when Nathan said it he was also smirking at her. Her cheeks turned red in a second.
Nathan cleared his throat before continuing, "I put Michael in his bed, and Annie went to change."
"Thanks." Haley was more thankful that she could find her voice. "And, here," she took off Nathan's jacket, albeit reluctantly, and held it out to him.
"Are you sure you don't want it?"
Haley merely nodded.
Nathan took the jacket from her, and draped it on his arm. Then, they both stood there, seemingly waiting for the other to speak. "Well…I guess I should go."
Haley silently nodded again, and began to move away from the door, when Annie came running out of the room. "Hey, aren't you going to bed?"
"I'm not sleepy anymore. I want a story."
"Okay, then," Haley relented. "I'll be there in a minute."
"But, I want Nathan to read me the story."
"Oh! Well, Annie, I –"
"Sure, I'll read you a story," Nathan said, before Haley could finish. "What story is it?"
"Let's go choose." Annie gestured to Nathan to follow her and, after glancing back at Haley and putting his jacket on the coat rack, he did.
Haley watched Nathan walk into Annie and Michael's bedroom. She remained there for a few minutes quietly processing in her mind what had just happened.
"Mummy!" Annie poked her head out the door. "Aren't you coming too?"
"Oh...Yes, of course."
……………
Nathan shut the book in his hands, and tried to get up from his chair without making a noise. On one side of him was Michael's bed; on the other was Annie's. It hadn't taken Annie long, or even the whole story, to fall asleep. Despite her energy when they arrived, he had expected her to doze off quite soon, and she did. What Nathan hadn't expected, however, was for Haley, who was lying down next to Annie on her bed, to also fall asleep.
He walked stealthily towards the bookcase and placed the book back on the shelf. Then he made his way back to Annie's bed, and crouched down beside Haley's sleeping form. Her breathing was steady and she looked so peaceful that he didn't want to do anything to wake her. But, Annie's bed was only a single, and by the looks of it either Haley or Annie would fall off if he left them both there.
Nathan took a deep breath and in one fluid motion scooped Haley into his arms. Then he stood up, and took a few moments to grow accustomed to the weight. She wasn't exactly heavy, but carrying her was not going to be as easy carrying Michael or Annie. For obvious reasons. As he held her, Haley's head shifted to rest in the side of Nathan's neck. So as not to allow himself any more time to ponder over the fact that his hands were in contact with the smooth skin of her arm and knee, or the way her hair felt soft, he moved out of the children's bedroom and made his way into Haley's as soon as possible.
He placed her gently on the double bed, and her body turned to its side, facing him. Nathan reached down and pulled the covers over Haley, up to her neck, before brushing her hair aside so that he could see her face. Her mouth was slightly parted, almost inviting him to kiss her. Well…he was only a few centimeters away. He then scolded himself for even considering it. She's asleep! It's probably illegal!
Whispering goodnight, he stood up again and looked about her bedroom. After all, he had never been here before; but he couldn't see much in the darkness and didn't want to risk awakening her by turning a light on. He did manage to spot, however, some pictures on her dressing table mirror.
As Nathan made his way out of the apartment, and back to his own, he smiled at the thought of these photographs; one in particular. It had been taken on a day he had gone with Haley, Annie and Michael to the park, when they were about two and a half. In the picture, the four of them were sitting on the grass and grinning at the camera. Nathan had the same photo up in his room.