Chapter Ninety-Two: Breaking Tradition

Author's note: This chapter takes place in September 2011. Just in case anyone is confused, Nathan is 29, Lucas is 27, Brooke, Jake and Haley are 23, Ryan is 22. Of the kids, Devon is 4, Hayden is 3, Eve is 2 and Nina is almost 1. And sorry, this is one of my least favourite chapters that I've written in a while, so it's not that great.
On the morning of September fourth, Nathan walked into their bedroom to find Haley nursing a whimpering Nina. He smiled, not having seen either of them all day.

"Happy anniversary," he said, smiling slightly.

"You too. Where's Eve?" she asked.

"Parked in front of a Wiggles DVD. Basically in heaven. She okay?" he asked.

"Bit of a fever. You haven't planned a romantic getaway, have you?" she asked. He walked over and pecked her on the lips.

"Not a one. We're old and boring now," he said, chuckling to himself as he walked from the room.

Haley managed to put Nina down for a nap before running to watch TV with Eve, who she constantly worried about ignoring. Eve settled in her lap and relaxed as Haley began to comb through her dark curls.

As Nathan entered the room with Nina in his arms, Haley registered with surprise that she was surprised to see him there. He had been working in all his spare time for months. She didn't suspect him of any extra-curricular activities, but she missed him. She missed his presence, his guidance and his touch. On their anniversary in particular.

She allowed her mind to flow backward. Back to three years previously. It had been that long now, since she'd left Seamus to come to Nathan, to beg money and accept his binding terms.

When he came to sit beside her, she rested her head on his shoulder, sighing softly. In her heart, this anniversary wasn't important. Other things were. The first time he'd told her he loved her. The first time she'd told him she loved him. These were infinitely closer to her heart.

"I love you," she whispered. To his ears, it was still a gift. The impact had never lessened.

"I love you too," he said. His words would never mean as much to her as hers did to him.

As she combed through Eve's hair and slowly braided it in to two braids, she snuggled up to him. He put his arm around her.

The next morning, Haley was disenheartened to watch Nathan go off to work as he always did in the mornings. She missed him. She didn't know how to tell him how.

"Nathan?" said Lucas in surprise, as his brother walked past his office.

"Hey Luke," he said.

"What are you doing here? Wasn't your honeymoon yesterday? I thought you'd be coming in late," said Lucas.

"Nina was sick. She ended up in bed with us. It wasn't exactly honeymoon material," he said awkwardly.

"Well, that's a first," said Lucas, chuckling.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You guys go at it a lot," he said simply, walking past him to the photocopy room.

Nathan leaned back in his own leather chair in front of his desk, reluctant to let his thoughts wander to Lucas' comment. He was right, for most of their married lives. Until he'd started to be a total dick and start blowing her off all the time in order to work at a job he hated.

"Mr. Scott?" came a voice. Nathan forced a smile as his secretary walked in.

"Deb, how are you this morning?" he asked.

"Quite well, and you?"

"Just dandy," he muttered.

"I couldn't help but overhear what Lucas was saying..."

"Help yourself, next time. Lucas doesn't know what he's talking about?" said Nathan stubbornly.

"You two growing apart?" asked Deb Lee sympathetically.

"There hasn't been any significant period of time that we were particularly close," he muttered.

"There were rumours... when you married..."

"That it was merely a mutually benefitial business arrangment? Legalized prostitution?" he said cynically.

"I thought you loved her," said Deb in amazement. Nathan looked up, his eyes flashing dangerously.

"I do. More than anything, except our two girls. I've always loved her," he swore.

"She doesn't love you?"

"She does. For a long time she didn't, or thought she didn't. She got over it. Pretty lately, actually," he said. His hands grasped a photograph off the desk. Deb glanced at it: Haley, looking youthful, blonde and beautiful, holding Eve by the hand and Nina or her hip, grinning at the photographer.

"She's a beautiful girl," said Deb.

"That she is. You think I hadn't noticed? I notice every day," he said.

"You think you love her more than she loves you. More than she's capable of. You think she's biding her time before leaving you. You think she regrets your children."

"If we're being frank, why do we have to talk about me? Let's talk about you, Miss Lee. About my father, maybe. Did you love him?" he asked. Deb gasped in surprise.

"How on Earth do you know that?"

"What, that you screwed around with him? When he was married to my mother? Everyone knew. I just pitied you when I got your application," he said cruelly.

"No, I didn't love him. I've never regretted anything so much. But you have no cause for regret, Nathan. You love Haley and did what you had to to get her. She doesn't regret it, either. I've seen you two together. So for God's sake, stop moping and go home to the woman you love." Deb left, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"So. Apparently the brunette was just a one off for Jagielski." It took a moment for Ryan's eyes to adjust to the dark of the apartment, and register the owner of the voice.

"Davis?"

"Because in general, he prefers blondes. Are you even old enough to have a lover, kid?" she asked sceptically.

"I don't have one," she said coolly.

"Right, you're just the platonic kind of roommates," she said.

"Just like you and Peyton?" asked Ryan.

"Give it up. He'll never love you the way he loved her."

"True. And she'll never love you the way she loves him," said Ryan. Davis slapped her hard across the face. Ryan looked down at her, glad of her extra inches.

"There's a state for what you're going through. It's called denial. Look it up," she said.

"There's also something to describe what you're going through. It's called "Never Going To Happen."

Ryan tossed her hair over her shoulder and stalked to her bedroom. Davis idly picked up a photograph from the side table.

Haley, Nathan, Brooke and Lucas were posing with their four collective children. Davis shook her head in amazement. Nothing had turned out the way she'd planned.

"And so yeah. It's all better now," said Brooke happily. Chris Keller turned toward her.

"If it was really all better, what are you doing here?" he asked.

"Complicated."

"Humour me."

Brooke cracked a smile. She glanced down at her wedding band, and caught sight of her reflection.

"Bite me, Keller."

Chris glanced toward her and smirked.

"Baby, save it for tonight."

Brooke grabbed her purse from a side table and flounced out. Not that he cared. She'd be back. She wasn't ready to be happy.