What Happens Next

Chapter 10

Lucas smiled at the thought of Nathan and Haley being back together. It would be nice to have Nathan truly happy again. Walking into his bedroom he saw Brooke pacing back and forth, gently bouncing Natalie to sleep while Mouth read them a story. "She asleep?"

"Almost," Brooke whispered.

"I just got a phone call."

"Peyton's not bailing tonight is she? Mouth and I have a date."

"No, it wasn't Peyton. It was Nathan."

"Nathan!" she squealed, then she winced and looked down at Natalie, who was miraculously undisturbed. "What did he say?"

"He should be back tomorrow, with Haley."

Brooke kissed Lucas quickly on the cheek then looked at the sleeping baby, "Did you hear that sweetie? Your daddy is coming home, and he's bringing your mommy too. Hopefully you'll be a real family soon."

Later that night, Haley lay next to Nathan in their motel bed. She felt like a senior on prom night, lying in bed next to her boyfriend, after deciding not to have sex.

They had talked on the phone WAY too much during the trip, laughing and having fun. But Haley had felt something else. He was mad. At her. She'd been avoiding the topic all day. "Nathan," she whispered.

"Hmm?"

"We're…we're going to be okay, right?"

He turned to face her, "Of course we are. Why do you ask?"

"I just don't see it as being a good sign that you're mad at me our first day back together."

"I'm not mad at you Haley."

Rolling on her side she turned her back towards him, "Great. Not only are you mad, but you're lying too." A tear slipped down her face, this was exactly the situation she'd feared.

Nathan sighed, "I'm not lying to you, and I'm not mad."

"Then what was with the way you abruptly ended our conversation earlier? I could hear the change in your voice."

"I was frustrated I guess. I want you, and Natalie, to be living with me. But, at the same time I knew I was lucky to have you coming home at all. I knew I couldn't pressure you."

"I'm sorry Nathan," she turned back towards him, "I know this is hard on you. I want us to be together too, I really do, but I don't want to move too fast either."

Nathan opened his mouth to argue, but decided against it and moved in for a light kiss instead, "I know Haley, and I'll wait as long as I have to. There is no one in the world I would rather spend my life with."

Haley looked into his truthful eyes, "Thank you Nathan." She squiggled closer to him and wrapped her arms around him, never wanting to let go.

It was in this same position that Nathan found himself the next morning when he awoke. A small smile crept across his face, he'd always loved watching her sleep. Then, just as quickly the smile vanished. The thought of NOT waking up like this every morning scared him, and he knew he'd be back to that existence tomorrow. He silently wondered how long it would take them to get back to this.

Haley's eyes fluttered open, "Mornin'," she smiled at him then kissed him lightly on the nose. She lay there a moment longer, then sat up, "We should get moving if we're going to get home at a decent hour." She swept in for a quick kiss on the cheek then slipped out of bed.

Nathan watched as she bounded into the bathroom.

Haley sat across from Nathan at a small table in the café they had decided upon for lunch. She didn't know how she'd been able to stay away for so long. "So, I've been thinking."

Nathan eyed her, "Oh yeah, 'bout what?"

"A little bit of everything I guess. You. Me. Us. Natalie."

"So there is still an us?"

"Of course there is," Haley looked away for a moment, she hated that she'd ever given him reason to doubt that, though she also knew his fears were real. "But that's a conversation for another time. Right now, I want to talk about Natalie."

"Look Haley,"

"Please, just listen Nathan. I've decided…"

"YOU decided…"

Haley placed a finger gently over his lips, "Shhhh… I've decided that Natalie should live with you, as soon as we get back."

"Haley…"

"I think it would be best. That way, you can spend all the time you want with your daughter," she could see him getting ready to add his two cents, "That way she'll be with her things again, AND she won't be uprooted, again, when I decide to move back in."

"So you really are going to move back in?"

"Of course Nathan. I love you, and I want you in my life, always and forever."

Nathan picked up her hand and softly kissed the knuckles, "Always and forever."

Hours later, Brooke ran in from the balcony of Nathan's apartment and headed straight for the door squealing, "They're here! They're here! Nathan and Haley just pulled up!"

"Brooke!" Peyton hissed, "You're scaring the girls."

Brooke glared at her, "You are a total buzz kill." Putting her hands on her hips she continued to glare, "Darn you P. Sawyer, aren't you the least bit excited that our favorite couple is back."

"Of course I am Brooke, we all are. But I'm holding my excitement for the day they are truly back together, living under the same roof."

Brooke shrugged her shoulders and bounded down the stairs, running straight to Haley, who was barely out of the car. Embracing the girl who, 18 months ago, she never would have even looked at, a tear rolled down her face, "We've missed you so much. Damn it Tutor-Wife, promise me you'll never do this again."

"What, let you hug me?" Haley squeaked, "I can promise that, because you're crushing me."

Brooke's grip loosened, "Sorry. Promise you're never leaving again."

"I promise Brooke. I'm back to stay."

Lucas tapped Brooke on the shoulder, "There are others who'd like to hug Haley as well."

She smiled sheepishly, "Sorry." She slipped up by Nathan's side, "Things are going to work this time Nathan, I can feel it."

"I can feel it too Brooke, I can feel it too." Nathan clapped his hands together, "Now, lets get this truck unloaded before it gets dark."

Peyton kissed Jake on the lips at the door, "I'll be home in a little while. I just want to make sure he's okay his first night alone with her."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"See you when you get home."

Peyton shut the door and turned to watch Nathan. Now that ever last piece of furniture had been unloaded, whether it be here or in the storage unit he had for Haley, he was sitting on the sofa relaxing, and cradling his daughter against his chest. It brought a small tear to her eye. It was a sight she saw everyday at home with Jake, but with Nathan it was different. She could still remember when he was the arrogant jerk she dated. She was jarred from her thought by Nathan.

"Isn't she the most beautiful thing you ever saw?"

She sat down next to him and touched Natalie's tiny fingers, "She's absolutely gorgeous Nathan; the perfect combination of her mommy and daddy."

"Thanks Peyton."

She watched the pair a moment longer, "How are you doing?"

"I'm scared Peyton. What if she wakes up while I'm sleeping? What if her bath water is too hot? How do I know if she's hungry, wet, or just cranky? What if she gets sick, or is teething? God Peyton, I don't know if I can do this."

Peyton's hand rested on his knee, "You can do this Nathan. All of those things, they'll come to you in time. You're going to be a wonderful dad. And remember, you're not alone. We're all just a phone call away. You're going to be okay Nathan."

"I don't know that I am. What if she decides never to truly come home?"

Peyton knew he was no longer talking about his fears concerning Natalie, "I don't think she's going anywhere this time."

"No, neither do I. I truly believe she's staying in Tree Hill, but I don't know that she's staying with me."

"Nathan, whatever you did, YOU were the one who convinced her to come home. And I saw her this afternoon Nathan, she was glowing and so happy. That's because of you. She'll be living back in this apartment before you and Natalie know it."

Meanwhile…

"How did I collect so much shit in a year?" Haley flopped onto the bed next to Lucas. "Thanks for all of your help, and not just today. I know the last few weeks have been rough for you too. But I meant a lot to me, and to Nathan too."

Lucas rolled his head to look at her, "Anything to help my family, and my best friend." He reached for her hand, "I'm glad you're home."

"I'm glad to be back. My life is finally starting to feel right again."

"You know what would make it feel even more right, don't you?"

"Lucas…"

"Why aren't you living with your husband and daughter Haley?"

"Do you not want me here?" She say up and turned her back to him.

"You know that's not it Haley. You're always welcome here," sitting up he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"I'm scared. There, I said it. I'm scared!" She collapsed into him, her body heaving from the sobs. "I love him so much Lucas. But what if we end up resenting each other? He'll never get to play basketball, I'll never go to college. What if we moved too fast?"

"Who cares how fast the relationship progressed? You love each other, you're married, and you have a daughter you both love very much. And you have friends and family who support you. That's all that matters. And Nathan doesn't care about basketball, that was Dan's dream, not his. And you will go to college Haley. Nathan wants that for you, and he knows it's important to you, so it's important to him."

"Thanks Lucas," she kissed his cheek, "I promise I'll go home soon."

"I know you will. Goodnight Haley."

"Goodnight Lucas."