What Happens Next

Chapter 15

Friday afternoon Lucas sat in the living room with Haley watching Natalie crawl around. "Are you sure you should be out of bed?"

"I'm fine Luke. I'm still sitting, and resting, just in a different environment."

"So you're feeling better?"

She smiled, "You're just as bad as your brother. Yes, I'm feeling better, but I'm not 100 yet, I'll admit."

"Is Nathan working this weekend?"

"Yeah, he's trying to make up for me not working. I'm worried about him Luke."

"He's going to be fine. I talked to Keith last night. He's trying to give Nathan a light workload." Lucas turned his attention away from Natalie and looked at Haley, "Nathan's worried about you too. He says you won't talk about what happened."

"What's there to talk about? I was pregnant and now I'm not."

"Are you talking to him at all?"

"Of course, we talk about Natalie, and who's coming over the next day to help out, and I help him with his homework. And I ask him about work."

"You should talk to him. Tell him what you're feeling. I can tell that something is bothering you."

"He should know that too. But why would he? He's my problem."

"Hales?"

"Nathan won't touch me," Haley saw the look of disgust in her friend's eyes, "I know, but it's true. Kisses on the forehead or a pat on the hand. That's it. Did he tell you he's slept in the spare bedroom every night since it happened? It's like he thinks I'll break or something."

"No, he hadn't mentioned it. Talk to him Haley. Tell him. Maybe he doesn't realize how much it bothers you."

"I'll try."

"So do you need someone to be here with you this weekend?"

"No, Nathan said he didn't want to intrude on you guys anymore. I guess Deb's going to help out."

"So there's been no more mention of your parents?"

"No. He was smart to drop it."

"Don't you think they deserve a second chance?"

"No way in hell."

Nathan sat at a bench outside after school, and dialed a number on his phone.

"Hello."

"I'm looking for Jim or Lydia James," he knew Haley was going to be pissed.

"This is Lydia James."

"Mrs. James, this is Nathan Scott."

"Oh-my-god, Nathan! Jim, Nathan Scott is on the phone."

With a click, there was another voice on the line, "How are you Nathan?"

"I'm good Mr. James."

"We were sorry to hear about you and Haley. It came as a bit of a shock. It was almost as if she was a different person."

"When was the last time you talked to Haley?" Nathan asked, knowing full well when it had been,

There was a pause on the other end, "Um, I don't know exactly," Lydia began.

"Its okay, I know."

"Nathan…"

"Mr. James, Haley told me that you wouldn't help her when she told you about leaving me."

"She was being childish."

"That doesn't change the fact that she needed your help."

"We just thought…"

"It doesn't matter now. I didn't call to talk about the past. Haley refused to contact you, but I thought you should know."

"You've talked to her then?" Lydia questioned.

"Yes. She's been back in Tree Hill for almost two months."

"Then you've seen our grandbaby?"

"Yes. Natalie is the most beautiful baby girl. She and Haley are living with me now. We're a family again."

"That's good new Nathan."

"That's partially why I called. Haley, all of us actually, need your help."

"What can we do?"

"Come back to Tree Hill. Stay with us until Haley's better."

"What's wrong with Haley?"

"She's recovering from a miscarriage."

"Haley was pregnant again?"

"Yes. But she said you didn't deserve to know."

"But she's okay with us coming?"

"She doesn't know," Nathan ran his fingers through his hair, "I'm hoping once she sees you…"

"We'll be there by morning."

That night, after Nathan put Natalie to sleep, Haley watched as he gathered the blankets he had stacked in the corner of their bedroom. As he reached for his pillow on the bed she grasped his hand, "Stay with me Nathan."

"Haley…"

"At least sit and talk with me."

Setting down his things, he sat next to her on the bed, "What's up Hales?"

"I miss you Nathan."

"I haven't gone anywhere Haley. I'm still here."

"In the house maybe. But you've been distant with me."

"What am I supposed to do? You won't talk to me."

"You won't touch me."

"But the doctor said…"

"No sex. I know. But you haven't kissed me. You won't hold me."

"Haley,"

"I'm sick of kisses on the forehead and pats on the hand."

"I'm sorry Haley," Nathan brushed her cheek, "I was afraid of hurting you." His lips gently brushed hers. Lifting the covers he slid in next to her.

"Just hold me, please."

The next morning Haley was preparing a simple breakfast when the doorbell rand. Grateful to be off bed rest, Haley smiled, "I'll get it!" She walked slowly towards the door, still sore.

Nathan exited Natalie's room and stood at the top of the stairs. He really wished he could see her face as she opened the door. But the tone in her voice said everything.

"Mom. Dad. What are you doing here?" Haley turned to see Nathan descending down the stairs and glared at him.

"We were on our way up north to see Quinn, and decided to spend a night in Tree Hill. We stopped at the café, and Deb suggested we should stop out here."

Nathan looked at Lydia as he slipped in behind his wife and mouthed, "Thank you."

"Well, I hope you didn't waste too much gas on your little "detour" because I'm asking you to leave." Haley turned and took Natalie from Nathan as she exited the room. Pausing, she looked back at Nathan, "You can see them out, since you ARE the one who invited them."

Jim clasped Nathan on the back, "I'm sorry Nathan, we shouldn't have come."

"But she's your daughter, and you love her."

"Apparently not as much as they love their newest son-in-law."

Nathan turned to see Haley standing in the kitchen's entry way, "You have every right to be part of this conversation, but if you're going to do so, please come out here with us."

"No thank," Haley spun on the ball of her foot and retreated into the kitchen."

"She's right Nathan, we made a mistake. We turned our backs on her during her greatest time of need – in favor of a marriage we were reluctant to endorse to a man we barely knew."

"But you're here now."

"WE are, but I think it's a little too late," Jim wrapped an arm around Lydia's waist. Looking first at his wife, then back at Nathan he said, "We'll be in town for a few days. If anything changes, please call."

Lydia hugged Nathan, "Sorry we got you in trouble. Thank you for the opportunity to catch a glimpse of our daughter and granddaughter."

"I'll try to talk to her. Hopefully you'll get more time with both of them."

Haley watched through the kitchen window as her parents left. Grabbing a now soggy bowl of cereal, she sat at the table next to her daughter. "Those were NOT nice people," she whispered to Natalie.

Nathan slinked into the kitchen and grabbed his own bowl of cereal. Sitting across from Haley he looked at the flakes, "You didn't spit in this did you?"

"What?" Haley's head snapped up to look at him.

Haley watched through the kitchen window as her parents left. Grabbing a now soggy bowl of cereal, she sat at the table next to her daughter. "Those were NOT nice people," she whispered to Natalie.

Nathan slinked into the kitchen and grabbed his own bowl of cereal. Sitting across from Haley he looked at the flakes, "You didn't spit in this did you?"

"What?" Haley's head snapped up to look at him.

"I just wanted to get your attention," he smiled the smile he knew made her melt, "Look, I know you're pissed…"

Haley rolled her eyes, "Ya think."

"I was just trying to help Hales."

"Why did you do it? You knew how I felt about them."

"I know, and I'm sorry. But I just thought that if you had the chance to talk to them."

"I thought you, of all people, would understand. My parents didn't want anything to do with their daughter, the screw-up. But they didn't even try to set me back down the 'right' path – they left me to drown."

"But they're here now. And when I told them about what happened, they were worried."

Haley's eyes grew big, "You told them!" She sighed, "Whatever. I'm sure they were worried. But their concern comes a year too late."

"Please Hales. They know they made a mistake. They're here too see you because they want to make that right."

"They're not here to see me. I'm guessing they just saw this as an opportunity to see their grandchild."

"Then at least let me take her to see them."

"They turned their backs on her too. But, seeing as she's as much your daughter as she is mine, you don't have to ask my permission to take her somewhere."

"We can talk about this more later. I'm going to get Natalie ready to go see Lucas. He's going to watch her for a while, maybe take her to the park."

"I thought you were planning on my parents helping out."

"Lucas was my back-up. I called him last night."

Haley's eyes grew big once more, "HE knew about this too?"

"No. Nobody else knew." Nathan knew he had some major damage control to do.