Author note: Hey guys!! Here is chapter 18 I know you're going to hate me for ending it there but…well I'm pure evil lmao. I hope you're going to enjoy. Don't forget to review and I'll try to update over the week end.
So what about yesterday episode?? I won't comment on Naley because it just breaks my heart but what about Owen? He is such a sweet heart….He makes me melt J
Take care.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Haley woke up and widened her eyes. Where Am I? She thought for a second sitting on the bed. After a while she sighed and lied down again. I' m in Tree Hill she thought finally recalling where she was.
She arrived in Tree Hill three days ago and was still as confused as before. She was staying with Keith, Karen and Lily and they were just wonderful with her and Natey.
They didn't ask questions or judge her for leaving town and taking Lucas with her. They acted like she left town yesterday and she was thankful for that.
Natey was really happy to be in the town where his dad and mom were born.
As for Lily and Natey, it was like they grew up together. Lily was happy to have a cousin the same age that since they got off the plane they were stuck together like conjoined twins.
Haley phoned Nathan everyday because she knew that ,even if he wasn't ready to admit it , he had the fear that they wouldn't come back.
Haley finally stood up and walked into the kitchen.
"Hey." She said surprised to see Karen all by herself in the kitchen.
"Hey Mrs. James-Scott" Said Karen smiling. "It looks like you overslept".
"I kinda did… didn't I?" Said Haley smiling looking at the kitchen clock. It was 9.30 Am. "But…" She looked around. "Where is everybody?" She asked confused.
"Oh well Keith thought you needed a day for yourself so he took Lily and Natey to the beach." Said Karen pouring a cup of coffee for Haley. "Natey was so thrilled!" She added laughing.
"I bet he was!" said Haley laughing. "We can't say he saw the beach often in Texas." She added sitting down. "Plus he is going to spend the day with Lily and it's a plus for him." Said Haley winking.
"I know! They're really getting along aren't they?" Said Karen sitting down in front of Haley. "When I look at them together it reminds me of you and Lucas." Added Karen lost in her memories.
"I'm sorry…" Said Haley sincerely shaking her head. "I…I took him from you for so long."
"Don't be sorry" said Karen gently. "You were lost and confused and Lucas was more than happy to follow you." Added Karen gently. "You shouldn't feel sorry! You did what you thought was right at the time. There's no place for regrets in life sweetie. Remember that." Said Karen gently putting her hand on top of Haley's.
Haley nodded.
"But…why did you come back?" Asked Karen looking deep into Haley's eyes. "You said you were looking for answers but I'm looking at you now and I'm not even sure you know what the questions are… " She added smiling nicely.
Haley opened her mouth to answer but closed it again. What could she say? She sighed. "Actually there's only one question…" She finally admitted. "Is love enough?" She asked her voice broken with emotion.
"Enough for what Hales?" Asked Karen arching her eyebrows. So young and already so disappointed with life. She sadly added to herself.
"Enough to overcome 5 years of pain…of changes…of metamorphose." Said Haley with tears in her eyes. "We both changed Karen and not for the better." Added Haley honestly. "I'm not sure that what we had 5 years ago is enough to build a relationship today. And what if the girl Nathan loves is the old Haley and what if the Nathan he is today…isn't my soul mate anymore?" Asked Haley to Karen. Putting words on her concerns did actually make her feel better.
"You're the only one able to answer those questions Haley but…but I'm not sure Tree Hill is the right place to find these answers and I know that somewhere deep down you know that. Are you scared to find out?" Finally asked Karen.
"Well…" Haley ran her hands trough her face and hair. "Yeah…a part of me is afraid to find the answer to that. I held this « perfect couple » so dear in my heart for so long… I was dreaming of a second chance without really reaching for it. I'm scared to find out that we're not meant to be and that we were just like any other couple you know…I…" Haley took a deep breath. "Do I even make sense?" She asked Karen.
"You do make sense Haley and I know you're scared but fear made you make a mistake once…don't let history repeat herself."
Karen stood up and stood beside Haley putting a hand on Haley's shoulder. "I knew Haley James « Lucas' best friend », I knew Haley James « the chatty bubbly girl », I knew Haley James-Scott « the wife » and I just met Haley James-Scott « the mother and woman » but just so you know..." Karen smiled "they're all the same."
Haley looked at Karen with surprise.
Karen squeezed Haley's shoulder and decided to explain herself. "You're maybe less naïve, more broken, delusional but in your eyes and deep in your heart you're all the same…You will always be the big hearted, forgiven, funny, sarcastic girl you ever were and it's not a wedding, an escape, a child, Time or a broken heart that's going to change that because let's face it Hales." She winked "We never really change. We are what we are. Maybe it's hidden deep inside but it's still there..." added Karen leaving the room.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Haley left the house to take a little Naley tour. What Karen told her shook her quite deeply and being alone for some time would be good for her. She needed some time on her own. She needed to make a decision and she needed to make it fast.
Haley was on the docks; she was sat at the exact same spot she was sitting when she gave Nathan his first tutoring lesson.
Don't say I never gave you anything. She recalled that day as if it were yesterday and even if it happened 7 years ago it felt like another lifetime.
Haley sighed and touched the table at the exact spot where she came and engraved HJ NS - 4ever. She came to the docks the day after they declared their love to each other and she engraved that. She knew it was a bit childish, but she wanted their love to be known and to stay…Haley smiled. She didn't know that day that she was about to become Mrs. Scott. Her eyes filled up with tears as her heart almost burst with all the love she felt for Nathan at this moment.
Karen's right no matter how long we were separate for I'm still the Haley I always was when Nathan's near me. Thought Haley. She smiled and looked for her phone.
She dialed Nathan's number but it went directly to the answering machine.
"Hey Nate it' me. I…I'm a bit disappointed not to reach you but anyways…" Haley cleared her throat. "I'm going to come home because let's face it I need to be with you. You were right…going away was not the solution, but being away from you a second time clearly showed me that I didn't want to be away from you again. I love you Nathan… I always have and always will. I want us to be a family." She added nicely. "Please give me a call when you get my message I've got trouble with declaring my love to a machine." She added laughing.
Haley sighed with relief. Everything seemed clearer now, like it was logic…the reason for the world to go round.
She was about to leave the docks when she heard a voice behind her.
"Well…Well… Well…if it isn't Haley James the rock star." Said the voice behind her.
Haley rolled her eyes and turned around. She looked at him with a big smile. "Well…Well…Well…if it isn't Dan Scott…Tree Hill's devil." Said Haley with sarcasm.
"Touché!" Said Dan winking." How's my ugly ex daughter in law doing?" He asked to hurt her
"I don't know." Said Haley shrugging pretending not to know who he was talking about "but me…I'm just fine". She replied with a smile. She was surprised but for once Dan Scott words were not hurting her anymore. They were sliding off her.
"How's my grandson doing?" Asked Dan genuinely.
"He…Wait." Said Haley frowning. "How do you know I had a boy?" She asked suspiciously.
"Come on girl! I'm the major of this town! I know everything." Said Dan pleased to surprise her.
"Yeah…about that I never thought the people of this town would be stupid enough to elect you twice, but I guess it's not that hard when you don't have any competition is it?" Said Haley laughing to her own comment.
"Wow…you learned how to kick right on the nuts! Life made you bitter…" Said Dan "you sound more and more like my ex wife." Said Dan somehow impressed by Haley's repartee.
"Well…you can say you're gifted to make the women around you bitter. But…" Haley brushed off his comment. "How did you know about my son?" She asked a bit aggressively.
"Chill out Miss James! I'll tell you... I saw my good-for-nothing brother walking into town with his daughter and a little boy who's the exact portray of my son. You don't need to be smart to find out who the kid was." Said Dan with a small laugh.
"Aww I'm sure you're a bit disappointed that my son look so much like his dad I mean…you can't say someone else fathered him. I feel bad for you actually." Said Haley sarcastically.
Dan laughed. "You know me too well Miss James."
"You bet!" Said Haley walking past him. "I need to go, I'm sorry to cut this nice conversation but I've got a life." She turned around. "By the way…my name is Mrs. James-Scott you know…. since I share your sons' life... He's doing just fine by the way...They are both fine" She said before turning her back to him.
She walked to Keith's house with a big smile on her face. She would have paid to see that much shock on Dan's face. She had the last word in an argument with him and it was priceless.
Haley arrived at the house to find Keith with his eyes redden by tears sitting on the porch.
He looked at her with sadness and despair.
"I…what happened?" Shouted Haley running to him with an uncontrollable fear taking over her. "Where's Natey?" She added wanted to pass through him to walk in the house.
Keith stopped her.
"Don't worry Haley Natey's fine…He's inside with Lily and Karen." Said Keith his voice broken with emotion.
"What happened?" Haley repeated her eyes widening with worry. She knew that something terrible just happened.
"It's Nathan…" Said Keith with tears falling down his cheeks. "It's bad Haley...it's really bad." Added Keith holding Haley tight in his arms.
Karen was in the house keeping the kids occupied and trying to hold in her tears. However, they started to fall down her cheeks when she heard Haley scream…it was a scream full of pain, fury and despair.
Please god…you've got to help us...help her!! Asked Karen in a last plead.