We Belong Together Chapter 6: I Love You Always AND Forever, an one tree hill fanfic

Chapter 7: I Love You, Always AND Forever

November 2003

"I still don't understand why I have to go to Rachel's party," Haley groaned. "I assumed it was for basketball players and cheerleaders."

"She invited you too!" Nathan said. "Besides, Rachel isn't that bad."

"She didn't invite me. She was patronizing me! 'Oh, Nate, you'd better be at my party tonight. You can come too Haley, if you want," Haley mocked in a high voice.

"Hales, I thought you were going to try," Nathan said.

"Ugh, she just bugs me. All of a sudden you're super best friends after one summer together?" Haley couldn't help her insecurity. Something about Rachel's behavior towards her and Nathan bugged her.

"Hales, I do believe that is exactly what happened with you and Tim," Nathan pointed out.

"Well I don't have feelings for Tim and Tim doesn't have feelings for me. It was a totally different situation. Neither Tim nor I are slutty whores." She didn't mean to come out sounding so petty and jealous, but she was jealous... and Rachel was a slutty whore.

"Are you jealous?" Nathan smirked.

"YES! Damn it Nathan, you come back after being away for the whole summer and you and Rachel are like attached at the hip!" So they weren't really attached at the hip, but it seemed like lately everywhere she and Nathan were, Rachel would "coincidentally" be in the same place and weasel her way into hanging out with them.

Last week, Nathan and Haley's movie date was ruined by Rachel being at the theater and inviting herself on their date.

"And does she have to have parties every damn weekend? And do you have to go to every single one?" Haley continued to complain.

"Hales I've asked you to come, but you've always said no and told me to go! Did you not want me to go? Cuz all you have to do is say the word," Nathan declared.

"No." Haley sighed. She didn't want him to not go. She just wanted him to want to spend time with her instead. "It's just... it's like you're meant for that scene. That typical high school jock scene and I'm just... not."

Nathan sighed. Those were Haley's insecurity about their relationship - that they were too different to make it work. He too, had his insecurities. He thought Haley deserved better than he could give her. He thought Haley deserved the world and all he could give her was a small town boy who dreamed too big. He was afraid that one day she would see him as just that.

"Haley, look at me," Nathan paused to find the right words. He wanted desperately to tell her he loved her, but something in the back of his mind stopped him. He did love her. He was sure about that, but he was scared that she didn't love him back. "I don't want Rachel or any other cheerleader or any other girl for that matter. I want you. If I wanted someone else, why would I be with you?"

"I dunno," Haley mumbled. "Maybe you're playing a big joke on the nerd girl." Haley smiled at Nathan.

Nathan kissed her forehead. "You and I both know that's not true. Besides, if it was true Tim would murder me. I mean I could probably take him, but he's fiercely protective of you and he'd probably go all Hulk on me."

Haley smiled. Tim was like a big brother to her and threatened to kick Nathan's ass if he did anything at any of Rachel's parties, which made her feel a bit better about Nathan going to them.

"Wow, 'you and I' huh? You're learning young grasshopper."

"Yeah, well it's kind of hard not to when there's this annoying buzzing type sound, always correcting my grammar." Nathan chuckled as Haley swatted his arm. He put his arm around her as they reached Rachel's front door. "You ready for this Hales?"

Haley looked at the gigantic house in front of her. It was bigger than Nathan's house, and she'd thought that Nathan's house was the biggest in Tree Hill. "No, but I'll be fine... I guess. And Tim's coming later on so I won't feel so alone."

"Hey, you've got me and I won't leave you," Nathan promised.

Two hours later Haley sat on a couch in between two people she didn't know while Nathan was off somewhere drinking. 'I won't leave you,' Haley thought. 'Thanks Nate.' But she couldn't be mad at Nathan at that moment. Even though he was drunk off his ass he looked genuinely happy, mostly due to the amount of alcohol he consumed. And even though it was an alcohol-induced euphoria, at least he wasn't unhappy.

Ever since he'd gotten back from camp he'd been holding back from Haley. She wasn't stupid. She knew something was bothering him, but every time she would try to bring it up he would brush it off. She promised that she wouldn't push the subject of his parents, but he wasn't talking to her or Tim about it so she assumed he was keeping it to himself. She wanted him to open up about everything, but he was so damn stubborn!

"Ok Hales I'm here to be your knight in shining armor," Tim announced as he walked into yet another wild Friday night party.

Haley quickly got up off the couch and ran into Tim's arms. "Oh, thank God. Please don't leave me and please tell me you're not drinking," she pleaded.

"I won't leave you and I'm definitely not drinking. It's Em's birthday party tomorrow and I have strict rules to be of 'the right frame of mind'," Tim explained. "You are coming tomorrow right?"

"Of course!" Haley smiled. She wouldn't have missed Emily's birthday. "Is Nate going?"

"Yeah, he's going to be sleeping at my house tonight so he's going to be there. By the way, where is he?" Tim asked. They were trying to find a place to sit, but the house was packed. He decided to lead Haley out to the front porch since it was hard to hear through all the music and drunken teenage rambling.

"He's... somewhere. I'm not sure. We walked into the house and he told me to sit down while he got some drinks and he never came back. So... this is fun," Haley stated dryly.

"We can leave if you want," Tim suggested.

"No, I promised Nate that I'd go so I'm staying. I just don't get the whole high school party scene," Haley said sadly.

"He loves you Hales," Tim said randomly.

"How do you know?"

"I'm very perceptive to these things. I knew my mom loved my dad before they started dating."

"Um," Haley began hesitantly. "I don't... I don't know what to say to that."

"You didn't know that Nancy's not my biological mom?" Tim asked. He figured that everyone in Tree Hill knew the Smith's history since it was a huge scandal at the time.

"Nope." Haley had honestly believed that Nancy was Tim's biological mother. There was never any reason not to believe it. Anyone with eyes could see that Nancy loved Tim and Tim loved Nancy.

"Oh yeah, you weren't in our kindergarten class!" Tim remembered that he didn't officially meet Haley until the third grade. "My biological mom, Michelle, and my dad were together since high school. Right after their graduation I was born and they got married and moved in together. Everyone in Tree Hill thought they were going to be together forever, them being the town sweethearts and all. Anyways, fast forward five years, Michelle brought me to my first day of kindergarten and was supposed to pick me up after because my dad was in school. She didn't show up, so my mom stayed with me until my dad could pick me up because she was my kindergarten teacher."

"Wait, so your dad and mom fell in love when he picked you up?" Haley asked confused.

"No, they didn't start dating until I was in the second grade, but I knew they liked each other before they did."

"Do you..." Haley was unsure how to ask her next question. "Do you miss her? Michelle, I mean. You know what? You don't have to answer that. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked you that."

"No, it's ok," Tim replied. "Um, I used to think she left because of me. I mean, all I've ever heard about was how much Michelle and Greg loved each other and that they were forever. So I figured it was because of me. But um... she chose to leave me... she chose not to love me and I'm ok with that. Besides, the way I see it, it's her loss. I am freaking fantastic."

Haley laughed. Tim was one of a kind. "Are you sure you're not hiding some hurt and anger? Because some psychologists believe that some people use humor to mask their hurt and anger," she joked.

"No, Dr. James. I'm perfectly happy. Now back to your problems because that conversation just got too deep. He loves you Hales," Tim stated once again.

"I -" Before Haley could finish her thoughts, someone opened the door and addressed Haley. "There's a guy with a microphone looking for you inside Haley."

Haley and Tim made their way into the living room to see a drunken Nathan speaking into the microphone.

"There she is!" Nathan yelled pointing at Haley, which made his voice boom through the speakers. "Everyone, this is Haley James. She's my girlfriend and I would like to sing her a song to express how I feel about her."

The crowd yelled in encouragement for Nathan, while Haley looked on in horror. "Please tell me that's not Nathan. Please tell me this is the part of the dream where I wake up in a sweat," Haley begged an amused Tim.

"Oh, this is happening Hales. And my only regret is that I don't have a camera."

"Everyone shut up!" Nathan yelled. "I'm going to sing a song for you," Nathan paused and pointed right at Haley. "Haley James."

"Does he have to draw attention to me? I mean, it's bad enough that he's yelling my name. Does he have to point?" Haley asked while trying in vain to hide her blushing face.

The music started and Nathan started dancing to the music.

"Oh please tell me he sings better than he dances," Haley pleaded.

Feels like, I'm standing in a timeless dream
Of light mists, of pale amber rose
Feels like, I'm lost in a deep cloud of heavenly scent
Touching, discovering you

Those days, of warm rains come rushing back to me
Miles of windless, summer night air
Secret moments, shared in the heat of the afternoon
Out of the stillness, soft spoken words

I love you, always forever
Near and far, closer together
Everywhere, I will be with you
Everything, I will do for you
I love you, always forever
Near and far, closer together
Everywhere, I will be with you
Everything, I will do for you

You've got, the most unbelievable
Brown eyes I've ever seen
You've got, me almost melt away
As we lay there, under a blue sky
With pure white stars
Exotic sweetness, a magical time

Say you'll love, love me forever
Never stop, not for whatever
Near and far and always and
Everywhere and everything

"I don't know what's worse: his singing or his dancing," Haley told Tim. "But then again he is drunk so I can't really judge him on anything he's doing."

"Hate to break it to you Hales, but that's how he sings and dances," Tim informed an embarrassed Haley.

"Thank you Tree Hill. You rock, don't ever change. Now I'm going to kiss my girlfriend, Haley James, because I LOVE HER!" Nathan screamed, yet again pointing at Haley.

Haley quickly walked out of the house and left Tim to help Nathan out of the house. Nathan ran to Haley, hoping to hear her reaction to his performance.

"Where are we going Hales?" Nathan asked in a small voice that mirrored a little boy's.

"We're taking you to Tim's and then I'm going home," Haley said. She looked around for Tim and noticed he was walking a few feet away from them, watching the exchange.

"Aww," Nathan whined. "I want to go home with yooooooou."

"You can't come home with me."

"Why not?" Nathan pouted.

"Because I don't think my parents would like that."

Nathan growled. "So, did you like my song?" he asked.

"It was... interesting." Haley didn't know what to say. He looked like such a little boy at the moment and she feared that she would break his drunken heart if she said she didn't like it, but at the same time she didn't want to lie to him. She did find it interesting. Especially how every time the line I love you always forever came up, he looked right at her with sincerity and as much seriousness he could muster.

"You know what's wrong about the song? Besides the 'blue eyes' part, but I corrected that for you. 'I love you always forever'. Shouldn't it be I love you always and forever? Isn't that gramastically correct?"

Haley snickered at Nathan. 'Gramastically,' she thought. 'He's so cute.' "You're right," she agreed. "It should be always and forever." Technically, he was right. And so was the song, because she was fairly sure that there was a comma between always and forever, but you obviously couldn't hear see that while singing the song.

"Like you and me," Nathan whispered.

"What's like you and me?" Haley asked.

"Stop patronizing me," Nathan said. "You're talking to me like I'm a little kid, but I'm not. I'm older than yooooou. My birthday is on Christmas."

Haley laughed. "Ok, I'm sorry for patronizing you. And are you hinting at something with this birthday talk?"

"Just that my birthday is on Christmas and that I want presents," Nathan stated.

"Anything in particular?" Haley asked.

"Just your heart." Nathan sighed. He was drunk, but he knew what he was saying and he meant everything he was saying. "Because you have my heart and I love yoooooou. Always and forever, just like the song. That's why I picked it. Like you and me. I love that you make me smarter and that you keep me in line. I love that you get along with Tim. I love that you're patient. I love that you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

"Nathan," Haley's voice came out in a soft whisper. "You don't know what you're saying. You're drunk. You're probably not going to remember this in the morning."

"Doesn't matter." Nathan shrugged. "I'll still love you in the morning."

Luckily for Haley, they reached Tim's. "We should get you inside Nate," Tim suggested.

"I'll wait out here," Haley said. Tim was going to walk Haley home after dropping Nathan off and then walk back home.

"Wait!" Nathan called out. He walked up to Haley and kissed her. "I love you, always and forever," he sang to her. He walked inside the house and left a speechless Haley.

She didn't know what to make of the night. On one hand, she could just chalk all the 'I love you' talk up to drunken confessions, but on the other hand a drunk man says what a sober man can't. She was confused. Confused about Nathan's admission and confused about her own feelings. She hoped that he wouldn't remember any of this in the morning.

When Haley arrived at the Smith's, the next day Emily's birthday party was in full swing. She walked in and was greeted by Nancy before heading over to place Emily's gift on the gift table. The party was decorated in a unicorn theme. Haley spotted Tim running around trying to make sure everything was in place and Nathan on the couch away from everybody looking like he was trying hard not to vomit. She decided to take the coward's way out and avoid Nathan as long as possible.

"Hey Tim," she greeted. "Need any help?"

"Yeah, could you just go make sure Nathan's ok?" Tim asked.

"Um, I was thinking more along the lines of... party help."

"Fine, you can call the clown service thing and ask them when their guy is supposed to get here. But you're going to have to talk to him," Tim pointed out. "And he remembers everything."

Haley's heart started beating a little bit faster. The last thing Tim said echoed in her mind and she started to have a little trouble breathing. She found the clown service number and decided to call from Tim's room, away from the noise and mostly away from Nathan.

Nathan saw Haley walking up to Tim's room. He didn't notice her walk in, but then again he was busy concentrating on not vomiting and ruining Emily's party. He wasn't sure if Haley was avoiding him because of last night or if she was on a party mission so he decided to follow her up the stairs and find out.

Nathan slowly made his way up the stairs and stood outside of Tim's room. He heard her confirming a time with the person on the other like and then the room went silent.

Haley opened the door and was surprised to find Nathan standing outside. "Nathan," she exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"I... we need to talk," Nathan stated.

"I gotta... it's... the clown. I have to go tell Nancy about the clown." Haley practically ran down the stairs.

For the rest of the party Haley did everything she could to avoid Nathan. Nathan realized quickly that she was avoiding him. He didn't tell her he loved her because he was expecting her to say it back. He told her because... well, because he was drunk and he couldn't stop himself. But it was out there now, and there was no way to take it back.

While they began cleaning up after the party, Nathan cornered Haley. "We need to talk," he demanded.

"Nathan, can we just do this later?" Haley begged. She really didn't want to deal with this right now. Not until she had more time to process her feelings. Not until she could define what she was feeling for him, because at that moment, she didn't know what she was feeling.

"No, Hales, we need to talk now," Nathan insisted. "I love you, Haley. I do. And last night probably wasn't the most ideal way to tell you, but I can't take it back. Because that's not something you can take back you know? But I meant it."

"Nathan, I -" The doorbell interrupted what Haley was about to say.

"Tim, could you get my checkbook? It's up in my room. I think it might be the clown. He forgot to get his check," Nancy called out. She wasn't prepared for the surprise that was waiting on the other side.

"Michelle," Nancy called out in shock.

Nathan and Haley looked at each other then made their way to the door. They wanted to be there for Tim when he saw his biological mother for the first time in almost ten years.

Tim ran down the stairs with Nancy's checkbook in hand and came to an immediate stop when he saw who was at the door. Everyone's eyes turned to Tim, waiting on his reaction.

"Mommy," he whispered, but he wasn't looking at Nancy. He was looking at Michelle.

Song: Donna Lewis - I Love You Always Forever