Chapter 16

"What do you mean by 'allowed to come home' Haley?"

Haley froze, she knew the question was coming, Lucas and Peyton avoided asking her why she left and didn't come back, they understood that she felt Nathan had to hear it from her first. But no matter how hard she had tried since she had been back, Nathan still wouldn't listen or even give her a chance to explain. Maybe it really was best to just come clean to someone, anyone. And right now, it was Brooke that was asking.

She braced herself and began, her voice was quiet as she started to talk and Brooke was hanging onto her every word waiting to finally hear Haley's excuses.

"Well it was the end of senior year..."

Haley watched as Nathan threw for the net and sunk yet another shot. He was fully back on his game from the last few, just in time for state championships. She knew about the point shaving and why he had to do it and she was thrilled that he had seen the light and decided to help the team win this game for the team, for Lucas, for Whitey and for their unborn daughter.

Being pregnant and this close to birth she couldn't cheer down n the floor with the rest of the cheerleaders, so she sat in the crowd watching the game intently. Dragging her gaze from the game she glanced up around the spectators, Daunte was nowhere to be seen, nor were any of his thugs. For that she thanked god. Daunte's presence was one she most definitely hadn't missed, especially with the baby on the way. Nobody had seen him in Tree Hill since the last game which the Ravens almost lost due to Nathan purposely playing terribly to try and pay back their debts. She just hoped he wouldn't return anytime soon.

The Ravens continued to pull ahead in the game as it approached the final buzzer. When it sounded, great applause and insane cheering broke out among the crowd in the gym. Looking over at Whitey she saw tears of joy in his eyes and Lucas slapping him on the back before running to join the rest of the ecstatic team who were jumping and cheering, embracing each other and the people pouring off the bleachers.

Then Nathan stood right in front of her a massive grin covering his face and a victorious glint in his eye. She grinned back up at him, his happiness radiating onto her. He leaned into her and she rose onto her tiptoes. Their lips crashed into each others both forgetting they were in the gym and feeling alone in this perfect moment together. They broke apart, their gaze lingering on each other before joining their friends who were all equally as stoked as they were. Lucas and Peyton were caught up in each other, finally getting their act together and showing their feelings for each other. Brooke was excitedly jumping up and down hugging everyone that neared her and screaming ecstatically. Bevin and Skillz, Mouth and Rachel, everyone was so happy in their victory...

Haley paused for a second at the end of the joyful memory from so long ago, she noticed Brooke smiling slightly at the memory too.

Still with a slight smile, Brooke said a little lost, "I don't really see what his has to do with anything Haley. I remember the game too; nothing happened to make you need to leave."

"Let me finish, please."

Brooke nodded as a signal for her to go ahead.

Graduation had gone perfectly. All their friends graduated and Haley as valedictorian had said her speech just as her water broke. Nathan had called the ambulance and they rushed to hospital to welcome their beautiful baby girl into the world.

Exhausted she lay in the bed, the doctors had taken the little baby to do a check up to make sure everything was okay with her before they could be allowed to take her home. Nathan sat on the side of her bed softly stroking her hair.

"Go to sleep baby, your tired. You did so good. I'll wake you up when they bring her back." He whispered to her lovingly.

"Promise?"

He kissed her softly on the forehead, "Promise."

Closing her eyes she let the rhythm of Nathans stroking hand lull her contentedly into a light sleep.

"Haley? Baby?" She woke with a start, fretting immediately wondering where the baby was and if it was ok.

She looked up to where Nathan had been gently nudging her awake, the baby was in his arms wrapped in a pink blanket with her eyes tightly closed. Nathan bent down and placed the baby in Haley's arms, letting her down very softly.

"The doctors just brought her back. They said everything's perfect." He told Haley who let out a sigh of happiness and relief that there were no complications.

"Good. We did it Nate," Then to the baby she said in a babyish voice while rocking her. "We're going home tomorrow bubs."

Nathan grinned at the though of taking them home, speaking of which, "Hales, I have to go get the nursery ready for tomorrow." He said, not wanting to leave

"Will you come back when you're done?" She asked hoping he would say yes and stay in the hospital with them.

"Of course, I'll be right back" He smiled down at her before bending and planting a soft kiss on her lips and then one on his daughter's forehead. Then reluctantly he left the room not wanting to miss anything.

"That was daddy baby." She cooed down at the little girl who gurgled a little.

Everyone had rushed into the room just after she had been delivered. The babies god parents Lucas and Brooke, along with Peyton, Deb, Lydia, Jimmy and Karen , everybody had seen her, so Haley was somewhat surprised when the door to her room swung open. The person was wearing a hood and at first she couldn't see who it was until he drew back the fabric covering his face. Fearfully she drew her daughter closer to her chest, knowing that she had to protect her from the man.

"Ms Scott." He said in a cold greeting. His evil eyes staring at her baby.

"Daunte",Her voice broke a bit out of fear and she tried to reach for the button to call the nurse.

"I don't think that's such a good idea Ms Scott." She snapped her hand back and wrapped the arm tighter around the baby knowing that Daunte knew she had been reaching for the button.

"Why are you here?" she asked.

He smirked, "Well, I'm sure you know by now about the little deal I had with your husband."

She nodded.

"Well, he hasn't exactly kept up his end of it and I don't take well to being cheated." Daunte's voice was icily evil.

"Yes he did, he shaved the points in the semi final game." Her voice was shaking, she didn't feel safe with him here.

Daunte chuckled dark and sarcastically, "That came up a little short for my liking, if count interest, which I of course do.

"We paid you back. There's no more we can give you."

His eyes narrowed, "Now that's where I have to disagree Ms Scott. Because you see, I came here with a little generous offer for you."

"I don't want anything you have to give." Haley spat.

"You don't really have much of a choice." He ran a finger menacingly over the babies cheek. "Wouldn't it be horrible for something to happen to such a sweet little baby or your hotshot husband for that matter Ms Scott?"

"Stay away from them." She cried, her voice shaking from the shock of what he was proposing.

"I think that's up to you."

She tried to comprehend what he was saying, find a way out of everything he was saying. She couldn't see anything but to ask weakly, "What do you want from me?"

"Simple," he smirked knowing she was under his control."I have connections at a record company and I believe the world wouldn't be opposed to a Haley James comeback. The tour money should cover your debt"

"I can't," she faltered. "I won't leave them."

"It's only three years, then I will consider your debts paid. Some might even say I'm doing you a favour offering you this opportunity."

"But.."

He cut her off, "you have three days to decide, thats enough to recover from the birth, there will be a car to pick you up that night." He pulled his hood back on so no one would see him in the hospital corridor and headed toward the door. "oh, and I trust you have the sense to keep this just between us."

With that he threw a disdainful look toward the baby and swept out of the room.

Everything he had said had terrified her. There was no way she could let Daunte hurt the two people who meant the world to her, but that meant she had to leave the, and if she did that, how could she ever come back for knowing they would hate her. But she knew she didn't have a choice. Staring down at her and Nathans tiny little girl, she got lost, knowing to make the best of the short time she had left with them.

She had no idea how long she sat there just staring with so much love at the baby and before she knew it Nathan returned with a disposable camera in tow, without a clue of what had gone on while he was gone.

"Brooke, I left because Daunte was going to hurt them, and I didn't come back three years later because I would have hurt them even more." Haley finished passionately tears lacing her eyes and horrible pain in her heart.