Chapter Four

It was late in the afternoon by the time Haley finally left the Café and Karen still hadn't spoken a word to her. The whole situation was making her ill and she didn't know how this new alliance between the former lovers could mean anything good for the people involved. The thought of Dan and Karen getting back together and having another child was turning out to be more then she could handle so she could only imagine how the news was going to affect her best friend.

With a heavy sigh Haley opened her car door and eased herself behind the wheel. Once she was as comfortable as possible the young mother to be thought about how lucky she was. She was in a loving, caring, happy marriage with the man of her dreams and there was no third party involved. It was going to be just her, Nathan and their precious baby boy. However her smile faded when she thought about Karen. She had been young and in love once too, just as she was now. That was before her perfect little world came crashing down around her.

Haley couldn't even begin to imagine what it was like for Karen to have the love of her life walk out on her and their child to be with another woman and their son. She knew that Karen harbored feelings of anger and resentment towards Dan for these reasons for years which was why it was so hard for her to imagine them together, happy and preparing to become parents for a second time. Then again Haley also knew that there was a very thin line between love and hate.

She tried putting herself in Karen's shoes to better understand what could have possibly made the woman change her mind about the monster who had crushed her all those years ago.

What if Nathan did something like that to me? She wondered.

She instantly tried to shake away the feeling, knowing that Nathan loved her and their baby more then anything in the world and that he would never do anything like that to hurt her. No, he loved her. He loved them too much to ever even think about doing something so heinous.

Didn't he?

She then remembered an old saying that her grandmother used to recite all of the time.

"An apple never falls too far from the tree"

They young woman couldn't stop her mind from wondering as images of what life would be like if Nathan were to go off to college without her only to show up a few years later with a new wife and child.

Her face was now red with anger as murderous thoughts crossed her mind but then again she would have to be smart, just like Karen had been, knowing that there would be no one around to care for her child if she were to act on such thoughts. Although Haley would do whatever it took to give her son the best life possible she knew that she would resent Nathan for abandoning them.

But what if he tried to come back to her after years of living a life that he hated? Just as his father was now apparently doing.

Would she be strong enough to push him away and turn her back on him just as he had turned his back on her all those years ago? Or would old feelings resurface, sending her running back into his awaiting arms?

No. In fact hell no! She was Haley James (Scott for now) and there was no way in hell she would let that bastard back in, not after leaving her and their son for another woman. No, she was no Karen Roe. She wouldn't allow herself to be his second choice.

Or would she?

Suddenly pictures of the young man displaying that perfect smile of his flashed before her eyes followed by images of their first kiss, the first time he told her that he loved her, promising her always and forever and anything else she could ever dream of.

It was then in that moment, Haley was brave enough to answer her own questions with complete and total honesty. She would do exactly what Karen had done and forgive the man who, through everything, owned her heart and soul.

As she pulled into the parking lot she thought about ways to break the news to her husband. Then once everything set in, within his mind, together, they would both figure out how to tell Lucas.

She climbed the stairs as quickly as her pregnant belly would allow her to as she made her way towards the apartment. She took a second to catch her breath and was ready to stick the key into the lock when the door opened suddenly revealing a smiling Nathan, obviously having heard her approaching. However the smile disappeared when he saw the look on her face.

"Are you okay Hales? You look all flushed. It's not the baby is it?"

Haley shook her head.

"No honey, we're fine" she said walking past him and placed her keys and purse on the counter.

"Okay then what is it?"

"What makes you think there's something wrong?"

"Because you have that look" he said giving her a kiss on the cheek and taking her into his arms "What's up baby"

"I have to talk to you…" she trailed off "Nathan, what happened to your lip?"

"Long story besides what is it that you need to tell me?"

The girl bit her lower lip before taking her husband by the hand and guiding him into the living room.

"Ok, umm you're not going to believe this Nathan"

Nathan gave her a sideways glance.

"Go on"

"Alright here goes. Karen and Dan are back together and"

"Oh, ok, Haley I think you should…"

"Nathan, stop interrupting me because that's not the worse of it. Karen is six months pregnant not seven like we all thought. She's been lying to us and to Lucas"

Nathan didn't say anything. He just continued staring over his wife's shoulder at the blond male positioned directly behind her, terrified of what he knew she was going to say next.

"And the baby isn't Keith's Nathan. I'm sorry but its Dan's"

That's when Nathan refocused his attention back on Haley.

"What?!" he asked wide eyed.

"You heard me Nathan. Karen is pregnant by Dan which means this baby isn't going to be your cousin. It's your little brother or sister"

Off of Nathan's silence Haley continued.

"Baby, are you ok? I know this is a lot to take in but we have to keep it together for Lucas. He doesn't know any of this yet, well the part about the baby anyway" she spoke softly

But when Nathan only continued to stare straight ahead she furrowed her brow in concern.

"Oh Nathan, sweetie, are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine. But unfortunately I don't think he is" the dark haired boy spoke softly while pointing to the spot behind her left shoulder.

Haley slowly turned around to see where Nathan was pointing and gasped when she saw the angry look on her best friends' face just before he stormed out of the apartment. No doubt in search of Dan Scott.

Turning back to her husband tears with tear filled eyes Haley's lips began to quiver.

"Oh God Nathan, what have I done?"