Eeee! Sorry that this took longer than a week. I forgot how crazy my schedule gets this time of year. I'm going to think ahead and fit in writing time whenever I can from now on. Happy Belated Thanksgiving!
Chapter 22: Turkey For Dinner, Hostility For Dessert
"Momma! Momma, come here fast, fast, fast!" A curly head of brown hair danced around the couch, her eyes focused on the high-kicking dancers and flashy costumes in the Thanksgiving Day parade that was spread across the television. A sleepy and unhappy looking man appeared in the doorway, clad in just plaid pajama pants.
"Owen," Haley scoffed, "Put on a shirt." She scolded and slapped his stomach playfully. Her jovial smile widened at the sight of her prancing four year old. She scooped her up and plopped them both down onto the couch, "What mischief are you causing now, Megan Rose?"
"Nothing, Momma!" A toothy, but serious grin overtook Megan's sweet little face. She pointed to the Radio City Rockettes tapping and posing in perfect precision. "I wanna be one of dem!"
Owen chuckled at the girl's newest plan, and Haley shot him a death glare. So what if Megan inherited Haley's klutziness? "Baby, you can be whatever you want to be." Haley reassured her by kissing her small temple. "Do you want to help mommy in the kitchen?"
Megan's face screwed up in disgust, "No, mommy, ew. When's daddy comin'?"
Haley bit in her lip and looked over at her brother for help; he barely blinked. She glanced over at the clock and then back down at her daughter. "He should be here soon, baby."
"Yay! Den we go to Grandma Deb's and eat food!" Megan jumped out of Haley's arms and broke out in another jig. Haley sat staring at her adoringly.
"Gosh, she's cute isn't she? I am so lucky to have her, huh Owen?" Haley grinned happily.
Owen grunted in the affirmative, "Something's burning, Haley."
"Oh, my green bean casserole!" Haley shrieked and jogged back into the kitchen. Over her shoulder, Haley pleaded, "Owen, can you give her a bath, please? Her outfit for today in hanging on her closet door."
Knowing Megan's fear of the bathtub drain, he stared down the wild little girl. "It's on, Meg. It's so on." An hour later, Megan was fully dressed in her Thanksgiving wear and clean from head to toe with Owen sporting a similar look. Both contrasted Haley, who was wearing smeared flour for makeup and pajamas and an apron for attire. "You heard from N-A-T-H-A-N yet?" He asked.
She let out a long sigh as she happily took her daughter from Owen's arms. "No, I'm so worried, O. What if something happened to him? It's not like him not to call; he always calls."
Calm and collected Owen merely shrugged and shook his head dismissively , "He's fine."
"How? How on earth do you know that? He could be anywhere! He could be lying in a ditch somewhere, dying!" Her voice rose with emotion.
"Haley, pull yourself together, get ready for the day, get the food, and let's leave. Stop being such a girl." He gripped, sweeping his index finger through the sweet potatoes.
Haley made an angry mocking face to her daughter, who laughed delightedly. "Owen's a meanie!" Megan, who experienced his short patience earlier in the bathtub gave her an agreeing smile.
-.-.
"Here's my contribution to this fabulous dinner, as always!" Brooke smiled and showed off her pies when she found Haley, Deb, Karen, and Peyton in the kitchen. Deb and Peyton were heatedly discussing the proper way to open an expensive bottle of red wine while Karen and Haley were over the stove and sink, peeling and mashing the potatoes. Another chorus of "Happy Thanksgiving"'s and "Oh, we're so glad you two are finally here"'s filled the room. "Sorry Lucas wouldn't come in and say "Hi," first; the men trapped him with Dan's new flashy television."
"We aren't surprised." Karen snorted and the rest of the women nodded in agreement. "Keith nearly knocked me over when Dan announced that he finally got it. They even coerced Megan and Jenny to stay with them and watch football."
"Dan bribed them with cookies, actually." Deb rolled her eyes playfully. "I told him that it would take much more than cookies for me to sit down and watch football with those dumb goofs."
"Agreed." Peyton smiled wholeheartedly.
"So, tutormomma, where's your Scott at?" Brooke shifted the conversation lightly, but quickly wished she hadn't when the warning looks on the other girls' faces registered in Brooke's mind.
Haley cleared her throat and put on her brave face, "I'm not sure. He said his flight came in early today, but he did'nt show up, nor did he call."
"I'm sure he's okay, Haley." Karen reasoned after a pause from the women that said they thought otherwise.
Haley smiled tightly and nodded away the tears, "Yeah, me too... So, did anyone hear on Martha Stewart what kind of wine you are supposed to serve with a turkey dinner?"
The group exchanged nervous glances before diving headfirst into the new conversation. Meanwhile, the men that were gathered around the television were exemplifying their previous expressions.
"So he didn't show up or call yet?" Jake asked of their informant, Owen. The rest of the men temporarily discarded their interest with the television to focus on the pressing issue at hand.
"Nope." Owen answered simply, popping a handful of chips into his mouth.
"Why would Nathan do this?" Lucas wondered aloud. He got blank stares and shrugs in reply. He turned to Owen, "How's Haley handling this?"
"She was going freaking crazy earlier." He replied with a slightly amused smile. He got confused and even angry looks back at him for being so callous to Haley's feelings. He reminded them, "I don't do emotion."
They glared at him but dropped the issue. Dan let a half-smile creep onto his face, "I suppose this is just adding to the tradition of the dramatic Scott holidays."
As if on some universal cue, the doorbell rang and Dan and Deb met at the door to answer it. Lucas moved out into the hallway, ready to berate Nathan for being late. Deb swung the door open and was surprised by the woman in front of her. Brooke shuffled into the hallway with a sheepish grin on her face and a soothing hand on her expanding belly. She cringed at the bemused looks on everyone's faces, "Did I forget to tell everyone I invited her?"
"Yes, Brooke. It looks as if you did." Peyton answered as she too stepped into the front hallway, following her nearly seven month pregnant best friend. She stood next to Lucas who looked disappointed to see a stranger on the other side of the large wood door.
Brooke brushed off her blunder, and took the woman's hand, "Everyone, this is Meredith. Meredith, this is my husband's father, Dan Scott, his wife, Deb, my best friend, Peyton, and my perfect husband, Lucas."
Dan answered first to the introductions, slapping on his charming smile, "Welcome, Meredith. Happy Thanksgiving."
"Thank you, Mr. Scott. I brought a pie and some chili cheese dip." Meredith shifted uncomfortably. It had been a while since she attended a holiday that wasn't her own.
"Please, call me Dan. You can put the dip in here with us," he told her, directing her into the new television's lair. "My wife will happily take the pie from you." Lucas, Brooke, and Peyton followed Dan and Meredith; Peyton and Lucas were still lost as to why Brooke had invited her, but it seemed Brooke was not picking up their signals well, as instead of giving information she winked seductively at Lucas. Peyton coughed to cover up her laughter at his following confused look.
"That was a blatant holding by number 31!" Jake stands up and yells at the football game, nearly choking on the chip in his mouth. Owen wordlessly hands Jake his beer, which Jake takes a healthy chug out of, regaining his airflow.
Dan clears his throat to announce the newcomer. Immediately, Meredith's eyes widen when they make contact with Owen's. Dan does not see this and continues on, "Meredith, this is my brother, Keith, Peyton's husband, Jake, and my daughter-in-law's brother, Owen."
Owen looks her square in the eyes, gives her a nod for an acknowledgment and mimics Jake, taking a long pull of his beer. Meredith's lips pursed and she turns her attention away from him, instead greeting the room. Brooke, Peyton, and Meredith leave the smoky, alcohol smelling den and return to the kitchen.
"Dude, is that your Meredith?" Lucas asks of Owen eagerly, slapping his arm like a fourteen year old.
Owen swallows more alcohol, "Yeah, that's her."
"Are you going to go talk to her?"
"Nope."
Lucas shook his head at the older man and scoffed, "Great plan, idiot."
"What an idiot!" Brooke exclaimed. Meredith had just informed them of her relationship with Owen and the fight they had gotten into, and apparently it infuriated Brooke that she had been hanging around a jerk that hurt her newfound friend.
Haley chuckled, "I'm not sure whether to be offended for my brother or tell you what I think."
"Enlighten us, tutorgirl. I'm sure tortured trustfund kid would like to hear it, too." Brooke internally cringed. She wasn't sure if it was the pregnancy hormones or not but something was definitely off, as she showed with Meredith's horrid new nickname.
Haley frowned at the use of the nicknames but continued on regardless, "I think he's just looking for an excuse to end it with you, so that you don't hurt each other again."
"Haley would know, too. In high school, Nathan would always do stupid things like that and try to sabotage their relationship. But that's probably just because he was an ass before Haley." Peyton chimed in, but realized her mistake. "Sorry, Deb. But he really was an ass."
Deb threw a worried look at Haley who fell silent again at the mention of her son, "It's okay, Peyton. He was."
"Speaking of Nathan," Karen spoke tentatively. "Maybe we should call him? We're almost ready to eat, if he's on his way, then we'll wait-"
"Good idea, Karen." Deb cut her off. "I'll go call his cell right now."
Haley continued staring a hole in the lettuce she was cutting for the salad. Brooke shuffled over and stood next to her. "I'm sorry he ruined today for you."
Haley shrugged, "He didn't. I just worry about him, and Megan keeps asking about him, and I just love him, Brooke..."
"Shh, girlie." Brooke pulled her into a hug. "I bet you he's trying to get here, or he got tied up with basketball. Things happen. It's okay."
Except it wasn't okay. "Uh, Haley." Deb's meek voice came from the doorway. "I got his voicemail. Do you think we should start dinner without him?"
Haley nodded, hastily swiping at stray tears on her cheeks. Brooke gave her a kiss on the cheek and a rub on the back before leaving the kitchen to join the rest of the gang in the dining room. Haley added the lettuce to the rest of the salad and began to toss it. Her anger was taken out on the innocent caesar as she thought about how badly this day had turned out to be. When it was supposed to have been Nathan's first Thanksgiving with Megan and their family, it had become a tension filled mess. She peeked in the dining room table to see Nathan's seat occupied by a stiff looking Meredith who was sitting to the left of Owen, Deb and Dan exchanging sad looks, probably for their son's screw up, Lucas and Brooke having a silent argument over who was to check on Haley, and Peyton and Jake trying to wrestle Megan and Jenny into the smaller table set up for them. Haley let out a sigh and shrank back into the kitchen. She picked up her salad bowl and started toward the dining room.
"Haley?" A desperate voice called from the front hallway. Haley froze in her place. Quick and heavy footsteps were heard coming into the kitchen. "Hales." The voice sighed, relieved.
Haley turns slowly toward him, silent tears streaming down her face. He gives her a tentative smile, which she returns. He takes a step toward her and she runs into his arms, letting the salad crash loudly to the floor. He bends his neck and collides his lips with hers.
"Oh, for heaven sakes." Deb sighs from the doorway, her hand hitting her chest in comfort. She calls over her shoulder to the dining room, "It's okay. Nathan's here. The noise was just the salad falling."
Oblivious to the surprised crowd forming at the door, Haley whispers, "I was worried about you."
"My flight was delayed leaving L.A. because of fog, so we missed the layover plane in Dallas. Then we had to argue with these annoying customer service reps, who looked more than miserable, and then they flew us to Durham two and a half hours later, where I was able to get a limo to take me here. And to top it off, my cell died and by the time I found a pay phone, it was time to go, so I didn't get to hear your pretty voice all day." He explained, leaving a reassuring kiss on her temple and tucking a stray hair behind her ear.
"I love you." She said almost inaudibly.
He beamed, "Always and Forever, Hales."
"Sorry to break up this little lovefest, but I'm starving." Lucas grouched, earning a pop on the head from Brooke. Nathan glared playfully at his brother and wrapped one arm around Haley's waist so she was pressed into him. He picked up a chattering Megan, and the three walked into the dining room together. Keith pulled up a chair for Nathan, who was introduced to Meredith and bombarded with questions.
He smirked down at Haley, "So when you said, "Nice Thanksgiving together," you meant chaotic?"
She shrugged, unable to keep the smile off of her face. "I didn't want to scare you."
More than two hours and several bottles of wine later, the drama that Nathan thought had already happened, unfolded.
"So, Peyton, how is that new job coming?" Brooke asked of her best friend. Peyton's eyes flew open in alert.
"New job?" Jake's brow furrowed and his jaw clenched. "What new job, Peyton?"
Brooke tried to divert the situation, "Oh, haha, did I say job? I meant bob. She was thinking of getting her hair cut into a bob, it's all the rage in-"
Peyton's temper rose. "It pays good money, Jake. I didn't think I needed to ask your permission."
"I would have liked to have known! What are you doing at this new job that you couldn't tell me? Working on a corner, Peyton?" He spat, downing the rest of his whiskey.
A resounding silence fell over the table. Peyton's jaw fell open. "I just may have to, to support you and your kid!"
"Oh, so Jenny's just my kid now? She isn't just my kid when you spend all that money on clothes she will grow out of in a week!"
"Look what you started, Brooke." Lucas sighed as the two next to him continued to throw insults back and forth.
Brooke glared, "Lucas. Don't even start on me."
"What!?" Lucas's eyes bulged. "I'm not the one who invites people to dinner and forgets to tell anyone!"
"No, you're the one that leaves the toilet seat up, and complains when I do my hair." Brooke stated as a shriek was heard from the children's table.
"Jenny! Dat's my juice!" Megan sounded, earning a refute from the accused.
Jenny scoffed, "Nuh, uh! Mine was the green cup!"
Back at the adult table, another battle arose, "You didn't even call me afterwards, Owen! What was I supposed to think?"
Owen took a great swing of his drink, "That she was my ex!"
"She didn't look like it!" Meredith shouted in a whisper.
Owen rolled his eyes, "She was glaring at me. Usually that's a sign that two people aren't together."
"I'm glaring at you right now. So I guess that means we're through?" Meredith's tone lowered and she spat at him.
He shrugged, showing indifference. "Maybe it does!"
"Keith," Karen cried. "Stop it, I'm not going bowling with your friends!"
"Come on, Kar. It's one night; I went with you to that fruity candle party! Why can't we do this one thing?" Keith argued back.
Karen shook her head, "You said you wouldn't mind going to that party and I have been hearing about it ever since!"
Nathan looked over at Haley and grinned, "Thanks for inviting me, Hales. This Thanksgiving beats the one when I was twelve and my Grandpa almost punched Dad."
Haley laughed and bent in for a kiss. She pulled away and leaned her forehead on his. She whispered above the yelling, "You fit here, Nathan. You're part of our family again."
Maybe they were words of reassurance from her to him, but for Nathan, they meant the world after five long years.
UP NEXT: The aftermath... including Nathan&Haley shopping.
Shout Outs:
HaleynNathan23: Thanks, as always for you wonderfully long review. I put some drama, as expected in this chapter. I mean, it was a Scott Thanksgiving, you can't not have drama, right? Haha. I loved your plead for more NH. I heard it loud and clear, but there's a reason it's been so limited, it supports a storyline that will be resolved completely next chapter. As for Peyton's storyline, it's going to start getting good next chapter. This entire chapter was Thanksgiving so it didn't resolve much, but it was a fun chapter to write, so I really hope you enjoy it.
Deli41321: Sorry about the long wait on the last chapter. I've been working harder to find time to write, even if it is just one or two sentances at a time. It's hard to get into writing for me when I remember what other things I need to do. Anyways, I hope this chapter was entertaining for you. Thanks for taking the time to review!!
Naleyluv: Thanks for the review, it's appreciated. Owen and Meredith's "can of worms" as you put it, will be more fully opened in the next chapter, however I hope you liked this one. Peyton-Matt's relationship will be shown more in depth in the next chapter, I hope you read that.
wwjennaww: Thanks for the review. Nathan's "fishyness" will be shown more in depth in the next chapter and completed in the chapter after. You're right, it has been crazy to keep up with the updates, but I can't complain when you guys let me have such long breaks when I need them.
xSmile: Haha. Thanks for the review, and yes, it was the same Meredith that Owen is dating. They had a fight when Owen's ex came back, if you don't remember. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Thanks everyone! Review and be merry!