A/N: Thanks for the replies.

Disclaimer: I still own nothing!

Chapter 8: Bad Plumbing

December 23rd…

Haley and Nathan were packing for the trip to Tree Hill. Everyday it got closer to leaving she got more nervous about going. She wasn't sure how people would react to her being there. She hoped it was as good as Nathan, and she didn't know how they would react to Nathalie either.

"Where are we actually going on Christmas?" Haley asked as she walked around Nathalie's room.

"We'll be at the café on both Christmas Eve and Christmas day," Nathan answered her, trying to calm her down as she paced around the room. "Hales, it will be fine, I told you so many times already."

"I know, but I want everything to be good. What should I bring for Nathalie to wear?"

"It doesn't matter what she wears, but I think it should be the red dress that she got her picture taken in."

"Yeah, that would be good. It is such a pretty dress and she looks adorable in it."

"So there's one outfit down. I think that for Christmas Eve she should wear something blue," Nathan said.

"Why blue on Christmas eve?" Haley asked confused.

"On Christmas Eve is when they will meet her, and the blue brings out her eyes and makes her even more adorable than she already is."

"That does sound good. How about the blue dress and headband with the white shoes?"

"Good, now what will she wear on the way home?"

"I don't know what about the green outfit you bought her on your little shopping spree?"

"That's cute, pack it," Nathan said as Haley threw the clothes in the suitcase.

"Great, all done. Now we need to pack my stuff. Nathalie, we'll be in my room if you need anything," Haley told the little girl who was staring intently at her coloring book. She just nodded in response. She loved to draw, just like Peyton.

"I think you should wear this on Christmas Eve," Nathan said taking a red off the shoulder shirt and black pants from the closet.

"Why that?" she asked.

"Because I think it looks sexy on you, and it's red so it's festive enough."

"You just want me to wear it so you can tear it off at the end of the night," Haley told him. She knew she was right; they had been back together for a week but nothing more than kissing and actually sleeping together had happened. "But I think it looks good so I'll pack it."

"Good, and I know you're still nervous I can see you shaking," Nathan said and put his hands on her shoulders. "Calm down."

"Okay, I want a break from packing. Let's go lay down," Haley said leading him to the bed.

"Karen is going to be so surprised that you'll be there, and I know she'll love Nathalie."

"How do you know?"

"Because she loves you and Nathalie is a part of who you are."

"How did she take my leaving?" Haley asked. They hadn't talked about how Karen took it, only how Deb and Dan did.

"She was a wreck, almost as bad as I was, but worse than Brooke."

"Why, didn't Jake come back and take my place at the café? It shouldn't have been that hard on her," Haley said confused.

"She thinks of you as her daughter, how upset would you be if Nathalie left you?"

"Oh my god, I would be devastated. She wasn't that upset when Lucas left."

"She knew where Lucas was and who he was with and that he was safe. No one knew where you were, she kept thinking maybe something had happened, but she didn't get a call from the hospital so she figured after a while that you were okay."

"I feel so terrible, I hurt everyone too much, I never wanted that to happen. I'm so sorry," Haley said hugging Nathan. She was crying now.

"Shh, Hales. It's okay, you did what you had to do, and now you'll be able to see the rest of the people you care about too," Nathan said trying to comfort her. He had known she would break down at some point, but he didn't think it would be about Karen.

"How is Karen? Is she still with Andy? Oh and Keith, I never asked about Keith?" Haley said, now calming down a little bit.

"Karen is with Andy, they're actually engaged."

"That's so great, she deserves to be happy and he was so good to her. He has a lot of money too. At least she won't have to worry about the plumbing working again."

"When did they have bad plumbing?"

"Remember that party you had after a basketball game, the one when you crashed Peyton's car and she broke up with you?"

"Yeah, what does that have to do with it?" Nathan asked confused. Why were they talking about plumbing now?

"I remember that Lucas' plumbing was broken and Karen had had to wash his hair in the sink. When we got to that party it was our first time at the beach house and I walked in and said to him 'I bet their plumbing works'."

"That seems so random, what were we even talking about?"

"I don't know, I think we were about to talk about Keith."

"Oh yeah, he's good. He and Jules are married and have a little girl, her name is Emma and she's two years old."

"That's great. He deserves to be happy too."

"Karen had a baby too," Nathan added.

"What! Why didn't you say that before?"

"You were too busy talking about plumbing; I was going to tell you."

"Well is it a girl? Boy? Name? Age?" Haley asked quickly.

"Slow down. It's a boy, he's two, and his name is James. She named him after you."

"That's so sweet, why did she do that?"

"She missed you, she still does."

"Well she won't have to anymore. Let's finish packing and then eat dinner."

A/N: Hope you liked the new chapter, please reply. I was watching "Crash into you" today, that's where I got the plumbing thing from. I love when Haley walks in and says 'I bet their plumbing works' and when Karen is rinsing Lucas' hair in the sink. New chapter will be up soon, please reply.

Stephanie JJ