Okay, so I know that I have other stories that are in progress, but with losing everything on my computer, it was easier, and less frustrating to start another one that I had in the works. But don't worry, I am working on the others. I hope you enjoy this. As usual, feedback, please!

What Happens Next

Summary: Haley's been gone for over a year...what happens when she returns.

He looked at the small chair in front of him. It wasn't a chair, really. It was a car seat. Not that it mattered. It was more what was in the car seat that caught his attention.

The most beautiful little girl starred back at him. She'd only started gazing at him moments earlier, but he'd been starring at her almost non-stop since her mother had showed up two hours earlier, daughter in tow.

Her mother…to say he's been shocked to see her would be an understatement. Looking towards the bedroom where she's immediately crashed, he realized that, for some reason, the baby wasn't as big of a shock. He knew she'd been lying about sleeping with the bastard. Karma has a way of biting a person in the ass, he knew that better than anyone.

Haley stood in the doorway, watching Nathan fumble through changing the baby's soiled diaper. She knew she'd made the right decision coming to him. Nathan was a good man, and would make one hell of a father.

Not a day had gone by that she hadn't missed him. In the beginning, she'd wanted to tell him, and God how she'd tried. But their infrequent phone conversations always turned into arguments before she could.

She had only been a month into the tour, but three months pregnant, once she'd wised up to the possibility, then the reality.

Haley remembered being tickled pink when she found out. She knew this was a sign that she and Nathan were meant to be together. She'd been almost five months along when Nathan had come to see her. Visibly there had been almost no evidence of her pregnancy. Time and time again, she'd wondered if that would have made a difference. Sometimes she knew he'd have listened to her, and known it was his. But other time, she wasn't so sure. Many of their arguments had stemmed from her relationship with Chris Keller. Had Nathan known she was pregnant at the time, he may have accused her of sleeping with Chris, and she couldn't have taken that either. It didn't matter though, it had been another wasted effort to tell him. She figured they could go talk after the show, and she'd tell him then. But the stubborn ass hadn't stuck around for her to explain that due to swelling, her ring didn't fit anymore and that was the reason she wasn't wearing it.

She'd been crushed a month later when he told her not to come home after his accident. She'd left the tour anyway, not wanting that life for her baby.

Haley was shaken from her thoughts by Nathan's voice.

"Hey baby doll, looks like your mommy's finally going to join us."

"Hey," she whispered, continuing to watch the pair.

Nathan suddenly felt extremely nervous, unsure of what was happening. "So, I've been spending time with this beautiful brunette, but I can't get her to tell me her name."

Haley smiled softly, "She's named after her daddy."

Nathan eyed the baby in his arms, with a sudden sense of disgust, "She doesn't look like a Christine," feeling his blood begin to boil he added, "Where is daddy-dearest anyway?"

Haley tried her hardest to fight back tears, "It's not Christine." stepping towards him she stretched out her arms, "I'm sorry, it was a mistake coming here." now holding her daughter she whispered, "Say bye-bye Natalie," as she walked away.

Nathan reached out, stopping her, "What did you just call her?"

Avoiding his blazing blue eyes, she spoke no louder than a whisper, "Natalie."

In shock, his grip loosened and Haley slipped free. "Haley, wait, please."

"I'm sorry Nathan, I never should have come." She quickly slipped out the front door.

Nathan found himself frozen in place, unable to race after her. Once he was finally able to move, she was gone.

Minutes later, Nathan picked up the phone and dialed a now familiar number.

"Hello?"

"Lucas, have you seen Haley?"

"What?" the elder Scott brother asked.

"Haley, she's here, have you seen her?"

"Um, no," Lucas was suddenly worried, "Have you been drinking?"

"No. I need to find her," Nathan replied, frantic.

"It's been more than a year Nate. And you haven't talked to her in what, like nine months. She's not coming back."

But she did Lucas. And she had a baby with her, our baby."

"Did you talk to her?" Lucas was still unsure of his brother's story, but decided to play along.

"Only a little bit. But she got pissed when I made a comment about Chris being the daddy and left," Nathan paused, "I can't lose her again Luke."