My Baby

Lucas and Haley decided to tell Karen and Keith their news together. Needless to say, it didn't go over too well; especially with the two insisting that they were going to leave the next day to get back to school. They reluctantly said their goodbyes and left a weeping Karen and teary-eyed Keith. Tyler was crying because everyone else was.

The stop before Haley's new home was Duke. Skills, Mouth, and Bevin were excited to see Haley again, even though it was only a week since they had last seen each other. Half of the excitement stemmed from the fact that Lucas accompanied her.

Their joy quickly dissipated once they learned the nature of the visit. They promised to be there every step of the way and all agreed to spend the summer in Tree Hill. Vacations could wait until next year when they all graduated.

Hours later they were just outside of the apartments in NYC. Lucas was driving.

"You know, I can drive. I'm pregnant; not an invalid."

Lucas looked over at his very pregnant best friend. "Nathan and Brooke would both kill me if you were driving. You don't need the stress."

Haley didn't want to be treated with kid-gloves. "You could have a heart attack," she shot back. The tone was of sadness and not of spite.

Lucas smiled sadly. "It's okay you know. I know we didn't give each other much time to process things."

Haley turned from the window to face Lucas as the car stopped. "I don't know; I thought it would be easier to focus on you rather than me, but how is it easier to think of my best friend dying rather than me?"

Lucas pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. "We both have a lot to deal with. Let's just take it slowly and see how it goes, kay?"

They pulled apart and Haley nodded. "Sounds logical." She grabbed her purse and had her hand on the door handle. "Ready?"

"I think the hard part's over for me. It's you that should be prepared."

"Oh Tutor Wife! We'll help you, anything you need."

Jake and Lucas were sitting on the floor while Peyton and Brooke hugged Haley as if she were going to disappear. All the girls were crying with the exception of Rachel. She was sitting on the bar stool, not saying a word.

Haley noticed this from the corner of her eye, which was a miracle within itself considering Peyton and Brooke surrounded her and impeded her view of almost everything else. She gently unraveled herself as the two collected themselves and returned next to their boyfriends.

"Rach, you okay?"

Rachel looked up and stared at Haley. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

"I'm kind of getting tired of that phrase." An awkward silence ensued for a few seconds.

"I'm not good at this."

Haley smiled. "Who is?"

"So, you'll let me know if you need any thing?"

"I'll hold you to it." The two shared a quick hug; although it was longer than any they shared before.

Haley yawned and stretched. "Okay guys. I'm gonna go take a nap. This was emotionally draining. I think I need to regain some strength before I tell Nathan."

The group nodded as Lucas walked with her toward the door. "What are you doing?"

"Walking you to your apartment," Lucas answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"My apartment is across the hall Luke. I think I'm fully capable of walking there myself."

Sensing that she needed space he returned her jovial sarcastic smirk. "Fine, I'll watch you."

She playfully hit him, gave him a kiss and walked across the hall.

Haley flopped on her bed and cuddled with her favorite blanket. She didn't even bother to take her shoes off as she quickly succumbed to sleep.

Nathan was beyond excited to see his wife. It had only been a couple of days, but he wasn't used to not seeing his wife for more than twelve hours at a time. He hurriedly got his keys out and opened the door to his apartment. He stopped all the noise he was making when he saw Haley asleep in their bedroom. He quietly but his stuff down in the family room and made his way to the bed. He scooped behind her as she stirred in her sleep.

Haley felt his heart beating against her back. She was awake but didn't want to move from the warmth and comfort he brought. She waited until his heartbeat evened out until she returned to her slumber. I'll tell you when we wake up.

She wanted to revel in the next few peaceful hours.

Nathan woke up before Haley. Instead of getting up and he left his arm around her waist and propped himself up with the other. A few moments later Haley woke up and noticed Nathan's heartbeat seemed distant.

"You're up," Haley said groggily.

Nathan chuckled. "How did you know?"

"Your heart."

"What?"

Haley faced Nathan. "Your heart. I didn't feel it next to mine anymore. Plus the weight of your arm around my waist is lighter. You're conscious."

"You're very observant."

"Yes, I am." Haley sat up and panicked. "You're up!"

Nathan wore an amused smile. "We've already established that."

"No. You're up. We have to talk." Haley's sleepy contentment began to dwindle at the realization of what she was about to do to the love of her life.

Nathan's smile slightly faltered. Intrigued, he prodded, "What do we have to talk about?"

Haley stood up and paced. "You should sit."

"I'm already sitting, laying down, whatever."

"Oh." Haley stopped pacing.

Nathan propped himself up against the headboard. "Okay Haley. What's going on?"

"I…I…we…I need…" Haley was almost at the point of hyperventilating.

Nathan got up and guided her back to the foot of the bed where he sat her down.

"Breathe. Just breathe."

Haley let out a nervous chuckle. "I think we have a couple of months before you need to start saying that."

Nathan knew she was nervous. "Honey, just say what's on your mind. It's not good for the baby to keep it in."

That's not all that's not good for the baby.

Haley looked into Nathan's eyes. He loved her so much. She had to tell him.

Sensing her composure returning, he continued, "You can never tell me anything that would make me stop loving you." He paused for a moment. "The baby's mine right?" he asked indifferently.

This did the trick and alerted Haley. "Yes, it's yours!" she shouted as she hit him.

"Ow! I was joking!"

Haley realized what he was trying to do and apologized sheepishly. "Sorry."

"It's okay." Nathan's smile of concern returned. "So, what do you need to tell me?"

Haley began playing with her hands. "Well, it's about the baby."

Nathan began to panic, "Is it alright? Is it sick? Is he or she going…"

Haley interrupted, deciding she was taking the wrong approach. She untangled her hands and placed them over Nathan's. "The baby is fine. It's my body."

She felt his hands ease and then tense up at the mention of her.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Do you remember the headaches and how I sleep a lot?"

Nathan nodded, "Yes, but I thought that was normal."

Haley let out a bitter sigh. "We all did. Turns out it was little more serious than that."

Nathan gave a light squeeze to urge her to continue. She gently released her hands from their grip and stood up.

"They can fix what's wrong with me but it will hurt the baby. I told them to wait until after the birth."

Nathan joined Haley in standing up. "Haley, what's wrong with you?" he pleaded.

She took a deep breathe and placed one hand on her stomach, the other on her back. "I have a tumor."

Nathan's face fell and Haley's heart broke. She knew it was hard, but she had to continue so that she wouldn't have to repeat or expand her explanation. Nathan was looking through her.

"I'm on medication to shrink it; it won't hurt the baby. They want to do chemo and surgery, but I said not until after he or she is born."

She grabbed Nathan's hands and then cupped his face. "Nathan, Nathan look at me."

He complied with tears in his eyes.

"I can't lose another baby."

After wait seemed like an eternity, Nathan responded. "I can't lose you."

Haley hugged Nathan tightly and felt him speak on top of her head. "Could you die?"

Haley choked out a response. "Yes."

Nathan let out a sob he was stifling. "Are you sure you shouldn't do the chemo?"

Haley slowly released her hold on him and looked into his eyes. "Yes. I want to wait. There are no guarantees except one: I don't plan on leaving you or our child. I'm going to fight Nathan. I'm going to fight for you and our baby. I'm going to fight to live. I refuse to die."

Nathan couldn't take it anymore. He broke down and Haley followed his body to the floor. She held him while he sobbed and clung to her. He cried himself to sleep. She sat awake and willed herself to believe the words she spoke.

Daymiracle: Hope it was up to par!

Sweetchristie03: Glad you stumbled upon it! How did it end on the show? Wink, wink. Don't worry, I already know how I'm ending it, just curious.

HJS-NS-23: What you expected?
Scott-Bruthr-Luvr3-23: He didn't exactly flip out I hope. Glad you like the Laley!

Ell6ange: Did you like the 'girly goo?' I did it just for you!

Krizue: Did you like his response?

Naley: Thanks a bunch! Hope you liked Nathan's reaction. Wanted to keep it in 'au character.'