Chapter Fifty-Five: Someday You Will Be Loved

Nathan had his laptop with him, fully prepared to take advantage of the long flight to California. But once he'd settled into his seat, he'd found that the blonde woman on his right provided far too much distraction for this to be possible.

He still couldn't believe that after all their time apart, she was finally there. Near enough to touch, to prove to himself that she was actually real and not a figment of his imagination. Near enough to smell, to see, to hear. To taste.

Eventually she fell asleep against Ryan. He watched with a smile as they slept with their heads nestled together, arms loosely draped around their bodies. It was an endearing image, as much as he wished that she was sleeping on his shoulder, and that she still trusted him.

As the plane landed, his mind jolted back to why they'd just flown across the country. He smiled as he pictured his young nephew, Devon, who was now over a year old. As he glanced sideways at the still sleeping Haley, he wondered if their own children would look anything like Brooke and Lucas'.

"God, we're here already? What should we tell them?" asked Haley.

"That we're together. I can't stay long, I have to be back in New York for a conference on Wednesday," said Nathan, standing up as the plane stopped moving.

"Where are Peyton and Jake?" she asked. Leigh and Ryan slowly awoke and began to listen to their conversation.

"They can't make it up until next week. We probably won't see them."

Haley frowned as she followed Nathan off the private jet.

Lucas Scott was waiting in the private hospital, holding a sleeping child in his arms. With one glance, Haley knew that it was the elder, and not the one that was being born.

"How's she doing?" asked Nathan nervously, running up to his brother. In the first moment, Lucas didn't notice Haley, standing amongst Ryan and Leigh.

"She had to have a cesarean. She should be coming out soon," said Lucas, sounding nervous. Nathan glanced down at the sleeping baby.

"You couldn't get a sitter?"

"Didn't want one. Hey Ryan, Leigh." Lucas looked up at his sisters and smiled. The smile lingered until his eyes fell, irrevocably, to Haley.

"Hey Luke," she said, her smile tight.

"Brooke's going to be happy to see you," he said eventually. Haley smiled, appreciating his words, even if they were a lie. She knelt and stroked his son's smooth forehead.

"This is Devon. He's about one and a half," said Lucas proudly.

"He's gorgeous," said Haley softly. For a moment, she imagined the role she'd have had in the child's life, had she not exiled herself from her best friend's.

"You guys are really pumping 'em out. Have a goal in mind?" asked Leigh. Nathan lightly smacked the back of her head in reproach, and she giggled.

Over her shoulder, Haley caught Nathan's eyes and almost smiled. Seeing the beauty of her best friend's son almost made her see hope for their future.

Haley squealed as she saw a nurse approach, past Nathan's own shoulder. Devon awoke with a yell as the four other heads swiveled to the direction she was facing.

Lucas dropped his elder son in Haley's arms as he hurried toward the nurse and accepted the child she carried. Slowly he walked back toward them.

"It's a guy. Eight pounds, seven ounces," said Lucas proudly. Nathan smiled at his new nephew.

"Nice. Definitely a Scott," he said proudly. Haley remembered how much of a worry this had been, the first time around.

"What's his name?" asked Haley, curling her inexperienced hands around Devon's wriggling body.

"Hayden Lucas Scott. I would have gone for Nathan, but Brooke insisted," said Lucas, shrugging.

"Dude, you're so whipped…" said Leigh, rolling her eyes.

"Hales…" Nathan saw how Haley was struggling with Devon, and took him from her. Her hands fell to her sides, suddenly feeling empty.

"Can I hold the new one?" she asked eagerly. Carefully, Lucas handed Hayden to Haley.

And suddenly, all else ceased to exist.

Haley peered cautiously through the blinds at Brooke sleeping in her hospital bed. Besides looking exhausted and sleep deprived, Brooke was basically the same Brooke she'd been at eighteen. Taking a deep breath, Haley pushed open the door and silently stepped inside.

."Luke?" said Brooke immediately, not opening her eyes.

"Hey Tigger," said Haley softly, looking down at her friend.

"Haley." Brooke's voice instantly drew her to her. Haley sped to the chair by the bed and took her hand.

"He's beautiful," said Haley.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I came to see you. I missed you, so much. I missed so much. I'm sorry," she said. Haley kissed the hand she held, and waited for her friend to speak.

"It's okay. I was being kind of a bitch, anyway," said Brooke comfortingly.

"We broke up. I came with Nathan," announced Haley, wishing desperately that she could tell the real, honest truth.

"Are you together?" she asked.

"We were going to elope, in New York," admitted Haley. Finally Brooke opened her eyes, and craned her neck to look at her.

"Trust me to stick my foot in it," she joked.

"Yeah."

"Haley, that's incredible. You have to stay here to do it. As soon as I can actually move we'll ship Jake and Peyton out here and have a real wedding. We can go shopping tomorrow, it's been hard what with me having babies all the time and getting huge," lamented Brooke.

"Do you like being a Mom?" asked Haley cautiously.

"Wouldn't give it up for anything. But you have to go, else Lucas is going to come in and kick your ass," said Brooke. Haley stood, leaned over her best friend, and kissed her forehead.

"I love you," she said.

"I love you too. And I missed you," promised Brooke, speaking to Haley's retreating back.

By the time the sun set that evening, when Nathan had checked the four of them in to the hotel, Haley knew what she had to do. Or rather, she knew what she couldn't possibly let herself do.

Hoisting her bag over her shoulder, and crept out of the room and ran for the elevator. Her heart sank when it opened to Nathan, preparing to embark on their floor.

"Going somewhere?" he asked.

"I was planning on it. But I guess I can't, can I Nathan?"

"You signed," he reminded her.

"Yeah, yeah I did. But that's not why. And it's not because of Taylor. This is destiny, isn't it? There's no getting around it, is there? No way out? No detour? This is just us, plain and simple, like we always will be, as much as we might hate it," she said desperately. As she began to shiver, he gently wrapped his arms around her.

"We could have done worse," he said consolingly.

"I don't love you. You've never loved me. I don't see how this could be worse."

"Come on. Let's go home," he said, taking her hand and leading her back in to the elevator.

In the end, they left it all behind. Without saying a word to their loved ones, Haley and Nathan left LA and the new baby to travel back to New York, where they could be alone.

Because in the coming days, they would certainly need it.