Author's Note: Hey guys here is my chapter 4. Thank you so much for the lovely reviews. They're really putting a smile on my face!! I'll continue to update it fast as I see you guys love it.
Just so you know Nathan will make is big entrance in the next chapter. :-)
Take care ;-)
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4 years 3 months and 2 days later
Honey Groove Texas,
"Nathan Lucas James bring your tiny butt here!!" Shouted Kelly running after Nathan in Honey Grove high. "You know I can't run in heels!! At least not that fast!!" Added Kelly irritated.
Nathan laughed and stopped. "Come on Godmum!!" He added running again.
Kelly sighed. "I'll catch you, you little punk!!" She said pretending to be mad when the only thing she wanted to do was laugh. This kid is way to smart for his own sake! She thought.
Nathan continued to run but kept looking behind him as Kelly kept catching up with him. His run was stopped when he crashed into someone. He banged so hard that he fell on the floor.
"So…are you torturing your auntie Kelly again?" Asked Lucas laughing seeing Kelly arriving red and breathless.
"Uncle Eugene!!" Said Nathan jumping into his uncle's arms.
"So Kel…The kid made you exercise!" Said Lucas bursting into laugher.
"You can laugh Eugene!!" She said gently slapping his arm "but I really think the kid is on a battery or something" she said laughing and kissing Nathan's nose. "But what are you doing here anyway?" She asked curiously.
"I came to see Jess because I wanted to see how her first day went. Do you mind joining me?" he added winking to her while laughing with Nathan still in his arms.
"Are you flirting with me?" Asked Kelly pretending to be offended. "You had 3 years to do that but now you just missed your shot!" She added laughing.
"Oh don't worry I would be too scared that Greg will kick my ass!!" Added Lucas laughing. "What do you think Natie? Do you think Uncle Eugene can beat Uncle Greg?" Asked Lucas pretending to be serious.
"Not in a million years!" Said Nathan seriously.
Both Lucas and Kelly busted into laugher walking into Haley's classroom.
"Thank you Natie! I can feel the trust," said Lucas shaking his head and sitting him on the desk.
"What's so funny?!" Asked Haley with a bright smile. "What did you do to your godparents?" Asked Haley rubbing her sons head and kissing his forehead.
"He made Kelly run". Said Lucas laughing and then hugging Haley. "And he thinks that I'm not even close to being as strong as Greg is."
"Well… He isn't wrong on that one!" Said Haley laughing and hugging Kelly. "I'm sorry if he played with you." Said Haley sincerely looking at Kelly. "Thanks for today, but I really need to find a nanny." She said looking at her son. He had black hair and big, beautiful dark blue eyes. He is the picture of his dad thought Haley feeling her heart tightening.
"Don't worry about it Jess!" Said Kelly taking Nathan into her arms. "I really like taking care of my godson!! He is so special…beautiful and smart!!" She added grimacing to make Nathan laugh.
"That's really sweet Kel. You know I appreciate it but you live about 80 miles away now with your fiancé." Said Haley sincerely putting some papers away. "I can't and I won't impose Nathan on you. I'll figure something out!" Haley could see that Kelly was somehow hurt by her comment. "But you're welcome anytime!! You can replace the nanny whenever you wish!!" She added smiling. "I'm sure Nathan would prefer that!"
Kelly smiled and looked at her watch. "Anyway... How was your first day alone Jess? Did the little devil teenagers we used to be, nice to you?"
"Well…" Said Haley shaking her head. "It was not bad… they seem to enjoy literature. I'm really happy actually." Said Haley sincerely.
"I'm happy for you" said Kelly sincerely hugging Haley and kissing Nathan. "I'm sorry guys but I really need to go. There is the boring yearly party tonight in Dallas and well…as Greg's future wife I have the obligation to attend." Added Kelly grimacing. "Sometimes it actually sucks to date a NBA player," she added jokingly.
"Ohhh poor thing…" Said Lucas pretending to feel sorry for her but quickly started to laugh and hug her. "Tell him to rock the Mavericks this year like he did last year!"
"Will do!! By the way he will come with me next weekend. He actually misses lil' Natie!!" She said winking at Nathan.
"Okay that's...That's great" said Haley trying to sound happy but actually feeling really unconformable.
Lucas could see her discomfort even if Kelly couldn't. So you know! Thought Lucas frowning.
Lucas waited for Kelly to be out of earshot.
Haley took Nathan's hand and looked at Lucas. "So ready to go?" She asked with her fake smile.
"You know right?" Asked Lucas looking deep into her eyes.
"Yeah…" Said Haley looking at Nathan. "How couldn't I not know. It was all over TV."
"It was all over TV? Surely not on the channels you usually watch." Said Lucas shaking his head. "You were looking for it."
"Maybe…" Said Haley passing through Lucas and walking in the corridor.
"What do you know mama?" Asked Nathan curiously.
"Nothing special baby. Come on let's go home." She said cheerfully.
"Hurry up Uncle Eugene!!" Said Nathan shouting.
They walked to the parking like a real family; both Lucas and Haley were holding one of Nathan hands.
They were living in a pretty house near the football field. The home of the Warriors! Lucas was an English teacher at Honey Grove grade school while coaching the junior basketball league.
When they arrived at their house Lucas kneeled to look at Nathan. "Hey little man, Uncle Eugene needs to talk with mommy for a while…why don't you go in your bedroom and draw something nice to put in my classroom?" Asked Lucas with a big smile.
"Yay!" Said Nathan running to his bedroom.
Haley sat down and ran her hands through her hair. It was a lot shorter than it used to be and was now brown again.
"You never let go did you?" Asked Lucas sadly sitting in front of her at the kitchen table.
"I tried but... he was my first love". Said Haley. And somewhere I'll always love him she added to herself. "I just wanted to see if his dreams finally became a reality. It's not that bad". She added defending herself.
"I never said it was bad honey," said Lucas sincerely. "I just feel sad that you never let go."
"I know I'm pathetic." Said Haley shaking her head. "He let go a long time ago." She said remembering seeing a picture of Nathan in the Durham gazette. He was kissing a cheerleader when Duke became the NCAA champion two years ago.
"You're not pathetic and you never were. He was your first love….the father of your child." Lucas smiled." A child that is the picture of him!" He added squeezing her hand.
"I…I just can't believe he has been drafted by the Dallas mavericks" said Haley shaking her head. "What were the odds?" She added with a desperate tone.
"I know…" Said Lucas shrugging. "Maybe…maybe it's fate. Maybe you need closure."
"I'm doomed!!" Said Haley seriously. "He can't find out about our son and he will if I go to the game!"
"You don't need to go to the games…maybe we can just become Spurs fans?" He tried
Haley started to laugh. "Why not? I'm sure Kelly and Greg won't be mad!" She added rolling her eyes.
"We'll figure something out Hales." Said Lucas with a reassuring tone. "The season is not starting for awhile. We'll deal with it." He added standing up and kissing her forehead.
"Come on Natie!! Let Uncle Eugene show you how to play basketball." Said Lucas laughing.
Nathan ran to him with the basketball. "I'm going to be a great player Mama!" Said Nathan looking at Haley with a bright smile." I'm going to play in the NBA just like Greg one day!!" He added sure of himself.
"I'm sure you will". Said Haley smiling back. It's in your genes. She added to herself.
Haley started to prepare dinner, while looking at Lucas and Nathan playing basketball.
That night after putting Nathan to bed, Haley walked outside the house and sat on the bench next to Lucas.
"Thanks for everything Luke." She said taking his hand.
"Huh? What are you thanking me for?" Asked Lucas confused.
"Ummm I don't know…" Said Haley pretending to think. "For being here for me and Nathan, for raising him as if he was your own son…. for putting your all life on hold for us…. And much more" said Haley kissing Lucas' hand.
"Here we go again." Said Lucas shaking his head. "When will you stop feeling guilty huh? There is nothing to feel guilty about Hales. I don't regret the choice I made 5 years ago and never did! Not for a minute!!" Said Lucas sincerely trying to find Haley's glance.
"I…" Started Haley.
"I like being a teacher here in Honey groove. I love kids!! I've got a great life, a great house! A great sister and a great nephew! What else do I need huh?" Asked Lucas cutting her off.
"You need love and not the kind of love I'm giving you." Said Haley finally looking into Lucas' eyes.
"Right back at you!" Said Lucas looking at Haley.
"I love someone…." She said biting her lip.
"Ohhh I know that!" said Lucas shaking his head. "But it's really not healthy! You think I don't know that you keep your wedding ring on you every day? Do you think I ignore the fact that you collect all the information you can find on Nathan and have it in a box underneath your bed. You wanted a clear cut but you still live in the past. Why on earth did you call the kid Nathan huh? Because he was the first person you thought about looking at the baby's face." Said Lucas nicely.
"I… On the other hand, try to protect my heart. I don't want to feel pain anymore. But you still feel the pain of leaving Nathan." He added seeing tears falling down Haley's cheeks. "You shouldn't be sad anymore. You should rebuild your life. You deserve to be happy Hales." Added Lucas drying her tears. "You deserve to love someone who loves you back and this person is going to make you the happiest person in the world. If someone deserves that it's you. You need to open up. Don't live in the past." Said Lucas pulling her into a hug.
"Well…it's the same for you. You should open up your heart. I know that it hurts believe me. I thought I was going to die when I left Nathan. Once the anger passed there was only pain. I would be so happy to see you loved." Said Haley sincerely.
Lucas kissed her forehead. "Maybe we should both try to open our hearts." Said Lucas looking at the trees moving on the end of summer breeze. "Maybe we can coach each other!" He added smiling.
"That's the best idea you've had in years." Said Haley putting her head on Lucas' thighs.
Haley looked at the sky and saw some ravens flying together. Trouble is coming our way she thought feeling it deep into her soul.