Author's Note: I am SO sorry for not updating in such a long time – I should have more time now, so hopefully my update's will me more frequent! Sorry this chapter is short – the next one will probably be as well – it's all explained at the end, for now, just enjoy and REVIEW AT THE END!

10. Hopeless Romantics

"She walked out of my life a few years ago. I haven't spoken to her since I was a kid. I don't want to go back to her, but I know if I don't, I'll have to go to my dad – and I don't want that either." Seeing the confusion in Haley's eyes, he elaborated. "Her name is Deb. Deb Scott. My mother. My alienated mother. She's back in Tree Hill – for good apparently. Only she's not alone, while she left me with Satan himself, she found herself someone else. She says she wants us to be family again. How do I know she's not going to leave me this time? I don't even know this guy she's been going on about – I don't know if I even want to know." Nathan took a deep breath, trying to clear his thoughts. After moments of silence Haley spoke,

"Everyone makes mistakes Nathan. You and I both know that. Sometimes, you need to look beyond a person's mistakes. Sometimes, looking past their flaws and into their heart means having to give people chances. Give her a chance Nathan. She's your mother, she loves you." Haley advised.

"How can you be so sure?" Nathan not only sounded but also felt like small child without anyone to love him.

"Because I have faith. I have faith in you and no matter what, I'll be by your side – always and forever – remember?" She asked. He nodded in response.

"Will….Will you come with me Haley?" Nathan asked, scared she would refuse.

"Of course I will." She said firmly. And that's how they stayed all night long, lying on the floor of the living room in his beach house.

After School

"Are you ready?" Haley asked as she walked with Nathan from basketball practice to the beach where they were meeting up with Deb and her mystery man.

"I guess." Nathan replied, looking down at his shoes. Haley leaned up and gave him a kiss on the cheek as they arrived.

"You'll be fine." She whispered in his ear.

"We'll be fine." He whispered back. He couldn't help but smirk at the thought of what he had planned - despite the events that were about to be put in action.

"Hi ….mom." Nathan greeted Deb.

"Oh honey!" Deb pulled Nathan in for a long, tight hug. "This is who I was telling you about earlier." She motioned to the man next to her.

Having seen the man, Nathan stumbled backwards a bit, reaching for Haley's hand. He seemed to clutch her hand harder and harder as time went by.

"Hi, I'm Andy," he stood forward and shot his hand out gesturing towards Nathan. Haley slowly wrenched her hand out of Nathan's strong grasp and shoved it forward. The two men shook hands firmly as Nathan stared Andy down.

"Interesting accent." Nathan mumbled under his breath, reaching for Haley's hand once again.

"Actually, I'm from New Zealand." Andy clarified. Nathan raised an eyebrow at that comment.

"New Zealand?" He asked. But before Andy could get a word in, Deb interjected,

"Umm, Nathan sweetie, why don't we go for a walk and discuss some things?"

"No, whatever you have to say, say it here." He replied, his voice holding no emotion.

"Alright," Deb conformed to his request glancing nervously between her son and who she assumed to be Haley – his girlfriend. There was so much she had missed in his life, she carried around the regret of leaving her baby boy every day since she left – but what could she say for herself? All she knew was that the next few moments in her life were either going to make or break her as both a mother and a person.

"When I left you, I didn't just leave Tree Hill….I left the country." Nathan's eyes widened at the new revelation.

"Where did you go?" As he asked this question, he mentally hit himself on the head – it was obvious where she went. HE was proof enough of that.

"I went to New Zealand…..where I met Andy. I needed to get away from the life I had been living in Tree Hill, I needed to do something for me Nathan….Please understand Nathan…" But before she could complete her explanation, Nathan cut in with tears threatening to spill in his eyes.

"You needed to get away from Tree Hill? You left me mom! You left me! And with dad no less! This is unbelievable. I was here in Tree Hill this whole time wondering about you, worrying about you, being ruled by basketball and dad and you were gallivanting around New Zealand with ….with…..ANDY!" Nathan exploded, with hurt and fury.

"Now when you put it like that son…" Andy began,

"Don't you DARE call me 'son'! You have no right to even be here! I hate you. I hate all of you! Just leave me alone and let me live my life the way I want to without you ruining it. Come on Haley, let's leave." Nathan stomped off towards the basketball gym again.

"Mrs. Scott, don't worry about him, he's having a hard time right now. I'm sure you'll be able to talk to him about this some other time when he's cooled off a little. If you want to talk, you can meet at the café or Karen can give you my number – right now I should go find Nathan." And with that, she ran off in search of her boyfriend.

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She finally found him sitting at a table in the Tutoring Centre with his head in hands. She slowly opened the door, so as not to scare him away and lightly walked over to him. She placed her hands on his shoulders and he gently pulled her into his lap, looking at her with lost eyes.

"What do I do Haley?" He asked, his voice catching in his throat as he ignored the lump forming in his throat. "I'm scared."

"Shhh. We'll find I way to figure this out – together. Remember that no matter what happens, I'll always be here for you, right by your side." She smiled softly and placed a tender kiss to forehead. And they sat there for most the night, their foreheads touching, eyes closed, and lips brushing softly over the other.

Author's Note: I know it was a short update but I wanted to save the fluff for the next chapter. There's going to be drama pretty soon, but the next chapter will probably be short as well considering I want it to consist of pure Naley fluff! I might even be kind and add some Brucas if I'm in the mood ;) I should have the next chapter out pretty soon. Happy Reading – and OMG – did you SEE Wednesday's episode! Nathan! I need my weekly dose of Super Duper Hotness! ;) REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!