A.N You guys never cease to amaze me with the amount of reviews I've been getting for this story lately and it works. This chapter definitely came about quicker because of them. So I hope its one that you really enjoy. Who knows if I can stop spending all my time on MSN I might even manage to get the next one out even quicker. Isn't that right Cathy? LOL. I just hope you're ready for some more surprises. Oh and a special mention must go to Cathy for part of this chapter. The comments about the name of Brooke's baby completely came from her. This chapter is dedicated to Kat. Hope things improve at work for you.

Chapter Forty

"I still can't believe it," Nathan said, "he's finally awake and talking to us. I was starting to wonder if it was ever going to happen and he seemed good don't you think? I mean I know that he's still going to be in hospital for a while and have to have a lot of rehab and stuff but he's going to be ok. Man this is like the best news I've had in ages."

Haley smiled at him "yeah I know it's wonderful and he certainly seemed like he's on the mend. He seemed fairly with it despite everything that's happened. He was obviously still in a lot of pain but he was so happy to see Cory and even managed to hold him. Now if Brooke would just wake up then things would be just about perfect, at least with them." She said sadly.

"I know you're still worried about Brooke, Hales but after today I can't shake the feeling that everything is going to be ok."

Haley had to hide the smile that automatically came to her lips hearing him call her Hales. That was the first time he had called her that in a long time and she couldn't help but hope that maybe it meant things were going to be ok between them. She wanted to ask him if his confidence in the future extended to their possible future too but she was terrified of ruining the moment that had him in such high spirits.

"Little Cory is going to have both his parents back before we know it." Nathan continued confidently. Stopping for a moment he looked at Haley. "Hales how could you be so sure that that was the name that they wanted their son called? I mean my mom told me how Lucas told you when he woke up briefly, but he'd been unconscious for ages and he must have been pretty disoriented. I guess I just don't understand why you automatically assumed that it was the right name. Did you and Brooke ever talk about it?"

Haley looked at him and wondered what he would think of the real story "yeah we did" she said smiling sadly. The smile on her face grew as she remembered how it had all come about.

Flashback

Haley sat at Brooke's kitchen table with her head in her hands. "Oh Brooke what am I going to do? I'm so confused. Nathan and I had such an amazing time in Barbados and it really felt like it used to between us, but then when we came back here we found Josh is here and I just don't know what to do anymore."

"Tutor Girl I can't believe you. How can you even be questioning what you and Nathan had and could have again in the future? He's all you've ever wanted and now you've got a second chance with him and you're throwing it all away."

"Tigger you don't understand Josh has really been there for me the last few years. He has been there for me totally in some really tough times. I can't just walk away from that."

"That's bullshit Tutor Girl and you know it." Flinching slightly she clutched her stomach and with a small smile muttered to herself "I guess Cory agrees with me."

Haley looked puzzled for a moment, "Who's Cory?"

Brooke looked at her stunned. "You weren't supposed to hear that. Promise me you won't tell Lucas that you know."

"Know what Tigger? Wait is that what you and Lucas are planning to call your baby? Cory." She said experimentally allowing the name to roll off her tongue. I like it. Does this mean that you two actually know that you're having a boy?"

Brooke smiled conspiratorially, "well technically no but I just have this feeling. Can't you just picture it in sixteen years time the captain of the Tree Hill Ravens Cory Davis-Scott?"

End Flashback

Haley smiled at the memory, "yeah she did mention something once. But I wasn't sure if they still intended to call him that. You know Brooke she's forever changing her mind."

"To be honest," Nathan said "knowing Brooke the way I do. I'm surprised she didn't allow her love of all things celebrity to influence her decision. After Gwyneth and Chris naming their baby Apple I half expected this one to be named Orange or Grape or something."

Haley couldn't help but laugh at the idea. It did sound like a Brooke sort of thing to do although she had a feeling Lucas wouldn't have been too keen on the idea. "Well I guess that little baby should be very grateful to the higher powers that somehow he ended up with a fairly common name like Cory."

"Yeah," Nathan said with a smirk "I guess that's definitely something he should be grateful for."

They both laughed for a moment until the thought of just what that poor little baby had already had to contend with in his short life once again reared its ugly head.

"Do you think it's going to affect him Nathan?"

Nathan looked at her quizzically in response to her question.

"I mean the fact that for at least a few weeks we're going to be the ones raising him do you think it will affect the way he bonds with Brooke and Lucas? They say that the first few weeks of a baby's life are the most important in forming what sort of person they're going to be. What if we mess things up? It's a huge responsibility and I'll never forgive myself if we mess this up."

"Haley you've got to stop worrying about this stuff. Brooke and Lucas would never have chosen us to care for their child if they didn't believe that we could do it. They had faith in us and you need to do the same. All we can do is our best and I'm sure that that is all they would ever expect from us. We're doing fine Hales trust me."

Haley allowed herself to be reassured by his words knowing that he sincerely believed everything he was telling her. Nathan had never been one to say something just because he thought it would make the other person feel better, he believed in saying what he felt.

"Thanks Nathan I needed to hear that. Now I need to go do some laundry. Considering that he doesn't even eat yet he sure goes through a lot of clothes." Walking out of the kitchen where they had been talking she went through to the laundry room and set about completing the tasks that needed to be done. She was already learning that if she wanted to get anything done with a new baby in the house then she had to take advantage of every moment that he was asleep.

Hearing the doorbell ring she sighed impatiently wondering who on earth it could be. She moved quickly to answer it not wanting the repeated ringing to wake up Cory. Opening the door she was slightly surprised to see Deb standing there.

"Hello Haley, I hope you don't mind me just stopping by like this but I was really hoping that I could maybe see Cory. It's so quiet over in that big house all on my own and I could do with the company. I know that technically I'm no relation to him but I kind of feel like his grandmother." Her spiel came to an end as she saw Haley still standing in the doorway just staring at her.

"Of course its fine if you want to see him Deb, he's sleeping right now but he's due to wake up soon. I just don't understand why you would be feeling so lonely now that Dan's back. Surely you two must have been enjoying the chance to spend some time together after he'd been away for so long," Haley continued completely unaware of the fact that Dan's trip had long been exposed as not being a business trip. Looking up she saw a strange pallor to Deb's skin and immediately ushered her inside. "Deb are you ok? What's wrong? Was it something I said?" Haley asked as she silently reviewed their conversation looking for something that might have led to Deb looking that way. She could think of nothing she had said however that would cause Deb to react in that fashion. "Do you want a glass of water?"

Deb finally seemed to hear the concern in Haley's voice and focused her attention back onto the young woman in front of her. "No Haley I'm fine. It's just… Did you say Dan is back?"

Now Haley was really confused she couldn't understand how it could be that she would know this but Deb could be so clueless to her own husband's whereabouts. "Uh yeah I did. I mean he is. He came by here earlier today wanting to see Cory. You didn't know this?" she asked the question despite the fact that it was more than obvious that Deb had been completely in the dark.

"Uh no…. No I didn't. Did he uh say anything about me?"

"No," Haley said cautiously wondering what was going on. She had the horrible feeling that she was walking blindfolded through a mine field but she still didn't know why. Rushing to reassure the older woman she spoke hastily. "I'm sure he just wanted to get to the hospital as soon as he could once he heard that Lucas was awake."

Once again Deb regarded her with surprise. "Lucas is awake?" she asked clearly astounded.

Haley was getting more uncomfortable by the second there was obviously something going on here that she didn't know about and she wished Nathan would come in to the room. Maybe he would know what was going on but Nathan for some reason had not come to see who was at the door at least as far as Haley was aware. The truth was that even as they spoke Nathan was loitering in the kitchen doorway listening to every word spoken between the women.

Haley could see that Deb was making a concerted effort to compose herself and so pretended interest in the pattern of the woodwork of the coffee table giving the older woman time to gather her errant thoughts and feelings before they continued their conversation. Hearing Deb clear her throat she looked up relieved as she saw Deb once again wore the serene expression that most often adorned her face.

"So how are things going here?" Deb asked inquisitively looking around the room although for what Haley couldn't be sure.

"Everything's been fine," she said. "It's taken a bit of getting used to looking after a newborn but I think we're doing ok."

Deb had been watching Haley as she spoke. "So Nathan is here with you?"

"Yeah," Haley responded "he's around here somewhere."

"And it's going ok, with you two I mean?" Deb asked.

"It's not perfect but we're making the best of it. I just have to hope that someday we might be able to move past all the pain of the past if for no other reason then for the sake of this baby."

"So you are pregnant again?" Deb asked "I wondered the other day when you were at my house and I saw you rubbing your stomach at one stage. You looked to be really deep in thought. Well maybe this will be just what the two of you need to bring you closer together again."

"I hope so," Haley said wistfully.

Nathan listened to their words and was overcome with doubts about the way he'd been treating Haley. She was carrying his child and by the sounds of it she did still love him. Shaking his head he pushed those thoughts aside it didn't matter if she still loved him the fact of the matter was she had lied to him on numerous occasions and he had no way of knowing that if she felt she was being backed into a corner that she wouldn't do it again.

Not wanting to hear anymore of what was being said between the two women he started to turn away but was halted by the sound of the doorbell yet again. "Man its like Grand Central Station around here today." He muttered.

Haley stood and walked to the door. Opening it up she was once again shocked by the presence of the person on the other side of it. "Karen, oh my God I thought you were in Italy. Lucas said you and Keith were having an extended honeymoon."

She could hardly believe her eyes as another figure moved to stand behind Karen placing a loving arm around her waist. "Yeah well why would she settle for the substitute when she could have the real thing?"

Karen blushed slightly. "Dan," she admonished him but there was an underlying note of amusement in her voice.

Haley could hear Deb's footsteps as she approached from the living room and felt as if she was watching a train wreck just waiting to happen but powerless to do anything to prevent it.

She heard the gasp of shock behind her as Deb was confronted with the sight of her husband with his arms wrapped knowingly around his former love's waist.

Karen winced as she saw Deb's face and tried to move out of Dan's grasp but she was too late as Deb whirled around and ran towards the kitchen a shriek of despair echoing from her lips.

Haley looked at the two still standing in the doorway. Dan was as usual giving away little of his true thoughts but she could see that Karen was obviously distressed by the way things had just gone. Before Haley could speak though another voice entered the fray from behind her and she closed her mouth allowing Nathan to address his father.

"Wow Dad you really know how to kick someone when they're down don't you? Nice work dad. Really nice."