TransLife

Air. The space that surrounds everything but seems to disappear when you need it most. Its presence is life and its absence death; no one ever warns you about in between.

In between, you're on your own.

Nathan couldn't believe what was happening. Everything else didn't exist; and what did exist was perfect. He lovingly stared timidly at his wife and son. It was a perfect moment and image that he would always carry.

Haley looked at her son and at her husband. She was beyond tired but wanted to hold her son for as long as she could. She wanted to cherish all the time she had left, whether it ended because of the tumor or later because of natural causes. She cooed her new baby even though she felt uncomfortable moving.

Tossing the pain aside, she smiled at her husband. She knew he was afraid to hold their son. Sure, he wanted to and was excited before he was born; it was another thing to actually witness a birth and then hold the tiny being you helped create.

"Babe, you should hold him."

Nathan nervously smiled and ran a hand through Haley's sweat-ridden hair. "No, it's okay. You can hold him a little while longer."

Haley chuckled, "Nate, hold your son. You're not going to break him."

Haley stared at Nathan and suddenly realized that wasn't the only thing her was scared about.

"Oh."

Nathan shifted uncomfortably as he held her hand. "It's just, you know…"

"I know. Don't worry, this won't be the last time I hold him. I promise."

Nathan let a smile slowly creep across his features as he saw a glimpse of her resolve to stay alive. He nodded and reached for the baby, carefully taking him from his mother's arms.

The baby snuggled against his father and let out a satisfied sigh. Haley observed with tears in her eyes. She was never so sure of how much she loved Nathan like in this moment. The love and adoration in his eyes reflected her own.

Haley wiped the tears away and swept the hair that repeatedly fell in her face. "So, babe, what shall we name him?"

"Well, what names did we decide on for a boy?"

Haley thought for a moment as she recalled. "Hmm..Lucas."

"No."

Haley chuckled. "That was quick."

"I love my brother but that name sounds too gross for a first name."

"So…what about a second name?" Haley meekly inquired.

Nathan thought about it and answered, "Okay."

Haley nodded approvingly, "Okay, something Lucas. What about Kaden?"

Nathan was about to reply when Haley cut in. "No, don't like it enough. Hmm… Daniel?"

"He could be teased."

"What?"

"Sounds too much like Danielle. Not a pretty image on the playground."

Haley looked pensive. "Yeah, you're right. Okay, there was Kyle, Matthew, Adrian, T-"

"Aiden!"

Haley looked at her son who had fallen asleep. Nathan smiled triumphantly as the baby slightly raised his right hand in his sleep at the name.

"Okay, Aiden it is."

Nathan placed the baby in the basinet. "Yup, he looks like an Aiden. Aiden Lucas Scott. I think I like it," Nathan responded as he made his way back to Haley, planting a kiss on her forehead. "We make good babies."

Haley laughed. "Yes, we do. But let's just stick with the one first. The aftermath of that C-Section is killing me."

After Nathan delivered the good news to the family, he made his way to his brother's room; a visit long over due. He entered quietly, not wanting to disrupt his brother's rest. He made it half way through the room when he bumped into the chair.

"You know, some of us are trying to sleep here."

Nathan smirked at his brother as he took a seat beside him. "You weren't even sleeping."

"No, I wasn't it, but that's not the point. You thought I was sleeping but you were making a lot of noise. You're inconsiderate."

The two brothers shared a smile and a few moments of silence.

"So, am I an uncle or what?"

The smile Nathan couldn't contain answered for him. "Yup, as of about an hour ago, you're officially an uncle."

Lucas caught the contagious grin. "How's Hales?"

"She's good. Really tired you know? She's sleeping. I haven't told her about you yet," Nathan guiltily answered. "She just needs to get a little stronger."

Lucas nodded, not wanting to know what the delivery meant for her health just yet. "I completely understand and agree. So, does this 'it' have a name or distinct private parts?"

Nathan looked at his brother like he was crazy and laughed it off. "Yes, the 'it' is a boy. His name is Aiden Lucas Scott."

Lucas' smile grew wider as his eyes watered. "I, uh," Lucas choked, "uh, thanks man."

Nathan squeezed his leg and offered a smile. "No worries. Plus, it was Haley's idea. You sure you guys aren't sleeping together?"

Lucas made a face, "Dude, come one, that's just, gross."

Nathan laughed and sat back in his chair. "So."

"So…"

"How are you?"

Lucas leaned back as well, "Oh you know, still need a transplant and all of that."

Nathan was silent for a moment. "When are you getting a new heart?"

"When one becomes available. There's an operation going on right now in New York. They can fly the organ here, if it's compatible. They're looking into it as we speak, but it'll take some time."

"That's great Luke," Nathan beamed. He noticed that Lucas didn't look as happy as one would be in that situation. "Luke?"

Luke offered a sad smile.

"You haven't told anyone, have you?"

Luke nodded. "No. I just don't want to get their hopes up yet until it's for sure, you know?"

Nathan looked empathetically, "And you don't want to get your hopes up yet either, right?"

Lucas shook his head in response. "I just want to be sure first, you know? Don't want to give or have false hope."

"False or not," Nathan replied somberly, "sometimes hope is all we have."

"Ssh.."

"You sush! Your sushing is louder than my walking!"

"Brooke, just-"

"If this room was a foreign country and you were spies, you'd be dead."

"Haley!" Brooke put her hand over her mouth, momentarily forgetting the baby's presence.

Peyton nudged her as they huddled near Haley. "Hey Tutor Mom."

Haley smiled at her friends and held each of their hands. She was beaming. "Did you see my baby?" Haley groggily asked.

The two nodded. "He's beautiful Hales."

"Thanks Peyton."

"What's his name?" asked Brooke. Haley smiled.

"Aiden Lucas Scott."

Peyton and Brooke gave her hand a squeeze.

Brooke was the first to lose composure. "You scared us pretty bad Tutor Mom," she quietly sobbed.

Peyton didn't want to get Haley too worked up, now that all of them were crying. "And you did a number in Brooke's backseat. She won't be using that for---"

"Okay, keep it G rated Sawyer. Baby Scott is a few feet away."

The girls laughed. "Baby Scott." Haley said. "I like it. Not as much as Aiden, but it'll do."

Peyton and Brooke got up when Aiden started to cry a little. They gave him the bottle that was beside him. They returned to Haley and found her head down.

"Hales," Peyton quietly inquired, "What's wrong?"

Haley sniffled and looked up, "It's just, I can't even move to get him. Even if I could, I can't breast feed."

Brooke spoke up, "Oh, the medication."

Haley nodded as the girls hugged her.

"It's okay Hales," Brooke replied. "As soon as you're all better you'll get to breast feed, and then you won't want to."

"Plus it'll make your boobs sag."

Haley smiled. "No it will not!"

"I know," Peyton responded, "But it got you to smile."

Haley returned one and slowly propped herself up a bit. "Okay, so not that I don't appreciate and love you all and all of that, where is my so called best friend? I named my kid after him for Pete's sake!"

Peyton and Brooke looked at each other uncomfortably. Nathan obviously hadn't told her.

Peyton cleared her throat. "Uh, Hales? He's uh, he had a heart attack."

Haley gasped and slowly lied back down. "Is he, is he, please let him-"

"He's fine Hales," Brooke assuaged her. "He's in ICU, and he's doing pretty good for what's expected. He's waiting on the list."

Haley, still in shock, thought for a moment as she collected herself. "But he's okay, he just needs that heart fast right?"

A tear slid down Brooke's face. "Right, he needs the transplant pretty soon."

Peyton looked at Haley and Brooke. "Sorry Hales, we thought you knew."

Hales shook her head hazily. "No, no I didn't know. Does Nathan?"

Peyton nodded, "Yes, he's with him now."

Haley sat back up a little again, ignoring the pain. "I would physically harm Nathan if I wasn't unable to move and if I didn't understand why he did it. I don't like it, but I would've done the same thing in his position."

Peyton smiled while Brooke looked bewildered. Haley took note.

"What?"

"You guys don't really fight anymore, do you?"

Haley smiled, "I think we did all our fighting when we were married in high school. Must be out of our system."

Brooke and Peyton chuckled until they saw Haley. They knew that look.

"Hales?" Peyton asked.

"Take me to him."

"Who?" Brooke inquired.

"Lucas. Take me to his room."

"I don't think that's such a good-" Brooke tried to reason.

"No. We said we'd do this together. So, you guys are going to arrange for Aiden and I to share a room with Lucas."

Brooke looked uncertain while Peyton smiled.

"What?"

"You're back."

Courtneylovejason: There's your C-Section!

Naley: Glad you enjoy the humor! Yup, all are awake…stay tuned!

Daymiracle: Trying to stay positive!

Ell6ange: Thanks for the review!

Vampiregurl, TutorGal23: Here's to future happy endings!