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Find Our Way Back

Chapter 19

That's the Beat of a Heart

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these OTH characters, as much as I'd like to. And none of these songs are mine. The song in this chapter is "That's the Beat of a Heart" performed by the Warren Brothers and Sara Evans.

Sometimes it's hard to don't wanna look over your shoulder
'Cause you don't want to remember where you've been
There'll come a time you die,
If you could only hold her
'Cause I know that's where I am

Nathan stepped off the airplane and was immediately embraced around the legs.

"Daddy!"

Nathan scooped jimmy up into his arms, "I've missed you buddy," he looked for Haley, but found his brother instead.

"Me too," the little boy responded.

Lucas approached the duo, "Hey baby bro."

"Good to see you," the brothers clapped hands and hugged. "No offense," Nathan paused, "but where's Haley?"

"Mommy's sick."

Nathan looked worriedly at his brother, "Is she okay Luke?"

Lucas glared at his nephew, "She'll be fine. She just has some bug that's been going around."

"I stayed with Uncle Luke," Jimmy added.

"Yes, he spent the past two nights with us. Haley asked if you'd watch him tonight, since it's late already." Luke then leaned in to whisper, "She promises to give you a proper homecoming tomorrow."

"I like the sound of that."

"She knew you would."

Nathan tried to hide his disappointment that Haley didn't want to see him at all his first night back. He looked at Jimmy, "Wanna stay with me tonight?"

"Yep. Uncle Luke already said so."

So listen with all your heart
Hold it inside forever
You may find all your dreams have already come true
Look inside and find the part that's leading you
'Cause that's the beat of a heart

Nathan and Jimmy waved to Lucas as he drove away. Taking Jimmy's hand and grabbing his suitcase, Nathan led them into the apartment. "Let's get you ready for bed."

"Do I hafta?"

"Yeah, buddy, it's late," he looked around the apartment. It was almost home. The only thing missing was Haley. Looking back at his son, "Race ya."

Jimmy giggled and took off for the bedroom.

Nathan picked up the little suitcase left abandoned in the entry way and chased after him.

"I beat you daddy!"

"Yes, you did," Nathan pretended to be out of breath. "Your prize will be one bedtime story."

"YAY!"

"But not until after you put on your pajamas and brush your teeth."

"Okay."

Nathan sighed as he shut the book. It had taken two readings of There's a Monster At the End of This Book, before Jimmy finally fell asleep. He set the book on the dresser, flipped of the lights, and headed for his own bedroom. Sleep was sounding really good right now. He contemplated calling Haley, but it was late and if she was sick, she needed her rest. Opening the door, he was surprised at what he found.

Haley sat on the bed, pretending to read a magazine. She looked up and smiled, "Is he finally asleep?"

"Yeah."

"I was beginning to wonder if I was going to be all alone in here tonight."

Nathan walked over to the bed and kissed her softly, "Lucas said you were home sick."

"Yeah, I was, but I wanted to surprise you. I couldn't go any longer not seeing you."

"It's a wonderful surprise. I have to admit, I was disappointed when you weren't at the airport. But this might be even better," he smirked and crawled into bed next to her.

"Hold it mister. I'm not your surprise," she grabbed a basket from the night stand, "This is."

Nathan took the basket from her, "What is it?"

"Open it and find out."

Carefully he peeled away the tissue paper. He surveyed the items in the basket, and picking up a blanket he said, "It's nice, but not really my size." He pretended to wrap it over his shoulders.

Haley shook her head, he was so dense sometimes. Picking up the book in the basket, she thrust it into his hands, "Maybe this will help."

Nathan looked at the book, "The Expectant Father...," he looked up at Haley, and suddenly, it clicked, "Are you, are we? Ohmigod," he enveloped Haley in a hug, "I love you so much."

"I love you too."

"Are you okay with this?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"It's just that, well, back in Chicago…"

"I felt we should wait. But obviously, someone higher up didn't agree."

"So you didn't have some bug that's going around?"

"No," Haley got serious, "but I have been sick."

"Something with the baby?" Nathan asked worried.

Haley thought before speaking, "No, just killer morning sickness," she decided it was best to not tell him about the birth control thing. He'd just worry too much.

Nathan got the sense that she was keeping something from him, "You're sure you're going to be okay."

She kissed him softly, "Yes. We have an appointment next week though."

"Can I come?"

"Of course."

Nathan smiled, "Jimmy doesn't know yet, does he?"

"Nope. He would've spilled the beans. We can tell him in the morning."

Sometimes you'll drown it out with all your rage and thunder
Sometimes you'll drown it out with all your tears
There'll come a time when you hear it and you'll wonder
"Where in the world have I been?"

"Mommy!" Jimmy ran into the kitchen and gave her a big hug.

"Hey kiddo. Sleep good?"

"Yep, daddy read me my Grover book."

"Ahh, he's a good daddy, huh?"

"Yep. Is he going to come live at our house now?"

"Not right yet. But soon," she looked towards the bedroom, "Is daddy awake?"

"Yep," Jimmy smiled devilishly.

"Did you jump on him?"

he nodded his head.

Nathan walked into the room, "Did you teach him that trick mommy?"

"Nope!" Jimmy was obviously proud of himself, "Aunt Brooke taught me to wake up Uncle Luke like that."

Nathan laughed, "Luke's going to have his hands full, isn't he."

"You know it. Brooke Davis was capable of corrupting anyone."

"We should tell him," Nathan said quietly.

"Tell me what?" Jimmy asked.

"Well you know that mommy's been sick."

"Duh. That's why I stayed with Uncle Luke and Aunt Brooke. It was so cool! She let me feel her tummy. She said once the baby gets bigger, it will start kicking. She's going to let me feel that too!"

"You think that's pretty neat, huh?" Haley asked.

"Yeah!"

"What if you were able to feel mommy's tummy?" Nathan inquired.

Jimmy's eyes lit up, "Really? Honest for goodness, you're going to have a baby?"

"Yep," Haley smiled and held Nathan's hand.

"See, my wish did come true."

Haley hugged her son and kissed him, "That it did."

Nathan looked at them, "What would you say if I said I'd like to move in with you guys now, instead of waiting?"

"Yipee!" Jimmy started jumping up and down.

Haley pretended to think about it, "I don't know. You were wanting to wait…" seeing Nathan's shocked face, and Jimmy's disappointed one, she finished with, but I'd love it." Then her eyes got big and she smiled, "Now you can take Jimmy to school. And I can sleep in once in a while."

"Anything for you," Nathan kissed her softly.

So listen with all your heart
Hold it inside forever
You may find all your dreams have already come true
Look inside and find the part that's leading you,
'Cause that's the beat of a heart
No one can tell you how to get there
It's a road you take all by yourself
(All by yourself)
All by yourself

Jimmy was still jumping around when there was a knock at the door. He ran to answer it, "I got it!" He pulled open the door, expecting Brooke or Lucas. Instead he saw a pretty woman he didn't recognize.

"Hi. Is your daddy home?"

Jimmy shut the door on her. Then he walked towards the couch, frowning.

"Who is it Jimmy?" Haley asked.

"Some lady for daddy," he mumbled.

Haley's eyebrows rose, "Did you ask her name?"

"No. I shut the door on her."

"James Nathaniel! Was that very nice?" She headed towards the door.

"No."

"Then why did you do it?"

"Because he's pretty. You're the only pretty lady he needs."

Haley had a hard time staying mad at her son, "I'm going to open this door, and you need to apologize. Got it?"

"Yeah," he mumbled.

Haley opened the door to find a beautiful blonde woman, "Peyton!" she squealed and hugged her.

"Haley! How are you?"

"Engaged!"

"Duh! How'd he find you?"

"Brooke, she sent him my CD."

"You have a CD out?"

"Not yet I don't. Just a single."

"I heard it. Beautiful, but the way."

"Thanks. Brooke had an advanced copy and sent it to him. And from there, well, he found us," Haley paused when she saw a man in the doorway, "Jake!" she looked back at Peyton, "You guys haven't wasted any time." She laughed as Jake toddled in with four children.

He set down the infant carrier while a shy little boy let go of his big sister Jenny's hand and hid behind his daddy. A boy Haley could only figure to be baby Jacob held Jenny's other hand.

Jimmy peaked over the couch at the four children. Spying the baby, he raced to Peyton's side, "I'm sorry I shut the door on you. Can I hold the baby? My aunt's having a baby, and son's my mommy. What's his name?"

Haley smiled, "Slow down Jimmy."

Nathan emerged from the bathroom, "What's all the noise out here?"

"Uncle Nathan!" Jacob ran towards Nathan who scooped him up.

"How's my favorite nephew?"

"Good."

"Are you helping your mom and dad like you promised?"

"Yep," the six-year-old stated proudly, "I help feed baby James and I read to Johnny." Jacob leaned in close to Nathan and whispered, "Who's that boy?"

"Your cousin Jimmy," seeing Jacob's confused expression he added, "that's my little boy."

"Oh. Is his mommy the lady that you're going to remarry?"

Nathan chuckled, "Where'd you hear that from?"

"I heard mommy talking to Aunt Brooke on the loud phone."

Brooke, of course. Nathan looked at his friends, Jake and Peyton were two of the happiest people he knew, and with four kids, they were also the busiest. But, he knew for a fact that they were happy. He'd always been jealous during his frequent visits to Charlotte. He wanted that too, and now he'd have it, with Haley, Jimmy, and the new baby. "So Jake, what brings the Jagelski clan to Nashville?"

"The rumor that one of my best friends was hiding here."

"And Elvis," Peyton added. Everyone laughed. "As soon as he heard you and Haley were back together and living in Nashville, he knew this was his chance to go to Memphis."

Jake furrowed his brow at Peyton, "The wife won't go. I don't get it. But I was hoping I could coerce yours into taking me," he looked at Haley with pleading eyes.

She laughed, "How could I say no to those eyes?" Looking at Peyton, "How do you?"

"Lots of practice and will power, but it's not easy."

"Uncle Nathan?" Jenny interrupted the adult's conversation.

"Yeah Jen?"

"Now that you have a kid, do you finally have toys at your house?"

"Of course, but his basketball hoop got moved to his mom's."

Haley saw her frown, "You know what Jenny, why don't we all go over to my house. I've got a big backyard, and lots of toys."

Nathan whispered, "And a dog."

"Let's go mom," Jenny started pulling Peyton towards the door.

"Jennifer, we've gotta round up your brothers," Peyton reminded her.

"Fine," Jenny crossed her arms and pouted.

Nathan nodded his head towards the door, "Why don't you ladies go ahead. I'll help Jake with the boys and we'll be over."

Haley kissed him briefly, "Thanks. Why don't you call your brother and invite them over."

"Sounds great. We'll pick up some food too."

"Why don't you drop off the kids first. Then you can meet Lucas at the house, and the three of you can go together."

"Okay, see you soon."

So listen with all your heart
Hold it inside forever
You may find all your dreams have already come true
Look inside and find the part that's leading you
'Cause that's the beat of
Oh it's the sweetest sound,
'Cause that's the beat of a heart