"Shh," Haley held her fingers up to her lips when she opened her brown orbs to see little blue ones looking back at her. Both of their heads were pillowed on the strong chest of one Nathan Scott and both had enjoyed a wonderful night's sleep. Haley carefully extracted herself from Nathan's arm before gently lifting the hand he had on Tommy's back.
She carried the lively little boy with her down stairs and placed him in the highchair she'd pulled from the hall closet the night before. She turned the radio on low, before turning to open the pantry and look for some form of breakfast. Placing a handful of cheerios on the tray for Tommy she turned to the refrigerator pulling out the egg carton.
He stood leaning against the wooden frame of the door just admiring the view of his son playing with his cheerios while his girlfriend went about making breakfast, dancing around the kitchen with the spatula as her microphone and both were giggling at her antics. He didn't think he'd ever enjoyed a morning at home as much as he was this morning.
"How long have you been standing there?" Haley's questioned startled his quiet daze, and he focused on her, grinning at the blush that covered her cheeks.
"Long enough to know you can dance and cook at the same time," he chuckled pushing off the doorframe and stepping toward her wrapping his arms around her waist. "Good morning," he mumbled before kissing her softly, only breaking the kiss when Tommy shrieked, he wanted his father's attention too. "Hey buddy," Nathan placed a kiss on his head before turning back to Haley, "so what are you cooking?"
"Just some eggs and bacon," she replied turning back to the stove, "you may want to put some more clothes on I don't know when my parents will be back."
"You don't think they'd appreciate this hard-earned body?" he flexed his arms and pecks for her.
"Not really, no," she giggled at his pout.
"Alright I'll be right back then," he huffed turning to jog back up the stairs.
"Haley…" she startled burning her finger and turned to find her mother occupying the spot Nathan had been moments ago.
"Mom," she sighed clutching her heart, pulling the eggs of the stove and grabbing slices of bacon, "you're back early."
"Yes your sister was ready to get rid of us," she nodded, "so…what's going on?"
"Oh um, this is Tommy," Haley nodded to the baby, "where's dad?"
"Getting the luggage in," Lydia grinned at her daughter, they both knew there was too much luggage for one trip but he would be determined to do it in one trip anyway.
"Mrs. James," Nathan spoke stepping back into the kitchen, "pulling his shirt over his head?"
"Nathan," Lydia seemed to conclude, her eyes roving over him, the basketball warm-ups and t-shirt, with socks and no shoes, condemning the boy.
"Thanks for the help," Jimmy's muffled voice floated to them and Nathan turned back to the foyer helping the older man with his load, while Haley and Lydia watched from the doorway laughing. "Nathan, what're you doing here so early in the morning?"
"Breakfast," Nathan replied quickly, "Haley's cooking," he nodded toward his girlfriend.
"Really? Those are my favorite breakfasts," Jimmy rubbed his hands together headed toward the kitchen, Nathan following him; "it sure smells good."
"So should I even ask?" Lydia questioned, when Nathan grabbed up the diaper bag from the table pulling Tommy's cup from it.
"Look, I know this is probably going to sound bad, but Tommy is my son," he spoke while filling the cup with milk.
"It doesn't sound bad," Jimmy answered, "just different, and we aren't ones to judge you and your situation."
"I just want you to know, that this in no way effects the way I feel about your daughter," he smiled when Haley placed a plate on the table next to Tommy's chair and went back for a second one.
"Please it's clear that you adore her," Lydia grinned, causing both teenagers to blush, "but I'll be happy to baby-sit, when we're in town, okay?"
"That's really not necessary but thank you," he smiled.
"So tell us about this little boy," Lydia shook the little boy's fingers.
"He'll be one in god—two weeks I didn't realize it was that close," he sighed looking over at him, "It's been a heck of a year."
"He's on the small side for a one year old," Jimmy noticed, accepting his own breakfast from Haley, "Thanks bub."
"He was two months early," Nathan supplied giving Tommy some eggs, "spent the first three months of his life in the hospital, but he was cleared and said to be on normal developmental paths by his 6 month check up. The doctors aren't sure he'll ever catch up in size though, I'll just have to settle for a point guard, I guess."
"He certainly doesn't lack in appetite," Lydia waved off the meal Haley tried to give her and pulled the diaper bag toward her, "how about breakfast for the munchkin?"
"There should be some cereal in there," Nathan answered, "it needs milk," he nodded when Lydia pulled the container from the bag.
"So how was your trip?" Haley asked finally sitting with her own meal.
"You know, our grandchildren are great and growing like weeds, otherwise our children were just ready for us to leave," Jimmy shrugged, "thanks for breakfast but we need to unpack."
"Jimmy I'm playing with the baby," Lydia replied, when he tried to pull her along.
"Fine," he pouted leaving to finish his earlier task and Lydia and Haley both laughed at his back.
"Haley, you don't need to do all this," Nathan sighed two weeks later holding one side of the banner, while she hung the other side.
"Its his first birthday, it should be special," Haley argued, "lower your side—too far—stop," she directed his hand movements.
"This looks great," Lydia smiled, observing the remodel of her dining room, "where is the birthday boy?"
"Thanks," Nathan pinned the banner up finally, "he's getting a new wardrobe courtesy of his grandmother and I should probably be leaving soon to get him."
"Okay, I've got Tommy's cake ready to go, but I need to go so I can get the one for the guests," she grabbed her jacket, pulling on his arm, leading him toward the door.
"Listen, I wanted you to know that I invited Lucas, Karen and Keith, but please don't read to much into this I'm just trying it out, okay?"
"That's all I want," she grinned.
"Explain again why he needs two cakes," he asked as they started down the driveway.
"He needs his own so he can get completely covered in it and enjoy it as only a one year old can, and then there will still be some for the rest of his, don't worry his isn't that big," she laughed at his expression, "I'll help you clean him up too."
"Okay," he shook his head opening the car door, "I'll see you in about an hour."
"Yes, and remember it's a surprise," she pointed a finger at him.
"Haley, he's one he won't even know it's a surprise."
When Nathan returned to the James home he recognized Keith's jeep along with Peyton's car in the driveway, news of his son had traveled quickly around school but no one made real mention of it in his presence even though he knew people had to be talking behind his back. Unstrapping Tommy first he placed him on the ground on slightly steady legs next to him and reached back for the few presents he had.
Haley watched from the front window, grinning as Tommy clutched tightly to Nathan's pant leg, "they're here," she turned back to the room. Deb had arrived with Karen, surprising her a little. Peyton had show up as well with Jake in tow and Jake's daughter Jenny, who was a surprise all her own. Who would've known that the shy quiet clean-cut ball player and the cocky arrogant bad-ass ball player had so much in common?
"Surprise," the room erupted, when they came through the door and Nathan once again set Tommy on his feet. He grinned when he saw Haley and toddled precariously toward her reaching up toward her when he got closer.
"Those are his first steps," Nathan grinned, checking to make sure Lucas had the camera on Tommy and Haley as he finally reached her hands.
After social time and cake, which Nathan admitted Haley had been right about, they settled around the living room, with Tommy in Nathan's lap ready to open presents. Haley was really doing all the opening but Tommy didn't seem to mind he still ended up with all the toys in the end. The best present of all was from Jimmy and Lydia James, they'd spoken to Deb and Nathan and when they'd found out that Tommy didn't have a baby book they set out to create one for him. Nathan grinned flipping through the pages and Tommy crawled over to one of his new toys, clearly not impressed with the gift.
"Thank you guys," Nathan nodded, glancing at the first picture he'd had taken of his son, he was less than two days old, but it captured the exact image of how'd he'd first seen him. He'd always remember looking at the little boy in the incubator and knowing that his heart had been stolen.
"Your welcome," Lydia smiled leaning down and giving Nathan a hug. Everyone laughed when the quiet moment was interrupted my a moo, Tommy'd found something to play with.
"Thank you Haley," he spoke softly into her ear that night, watching Tommy playing on the floor with Jimmy James, "you made this day special for him and he probably wont remember but he'll be able to look at pictures and see all the smiles and he'll know it was a good day."
"It was fun," she promised, "and watching my Dad roll around on the floor with Toms is totally worth it," all of the guests had left almost three hours earlier, but Nathan and Tommy had stayed, and Tommy was completely enthralled with Jimmy as they played with all of his new toys and Nathan had helped clean up before finding a chair to sit and watch his son play.
Haley'd joined him about twenty minutes later seating herself on the armrest wrapping an arm around his neck while on of his wrapped around her waist and they'd just enjoyed the moment, "I think it's probably time for us to go," Nathan sighed as Tommy yawned for the fourth time, "I think he's going to crash in the car before we even get home."
"He had an exciting day," Haley stood up, reaching her hands out to Tommy, he eagerly climbed into them immediately laying his head on her shoulder. Nathan handed her Tommy's pacifier, knowing it would be needed in order to assure he'd fall asleep.
Nathan and Jimmy gathered all of the toys and Haley followed them out to the car, "Happy birthday little boy," Haley whispered, placing a kiss on his cheek after she'd buckled him into his seat, "I love you." He grinned around the tool in his mouth up at her, making her heart swell.
"That's all of it," Nathan sighed closing the door, and opening the driver's to put the keys in the ignition, "I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked wrapping his arms around Haley and Jimmy went back inside.
"Yeah," she grinned pushing on her toes to kiss him before stepping back and allowing them to pull out.
"I know buddy I wish she was coming with us too," Nathan glanced in his rearview mirror when Tommy started crying reaching for Haley. The little boy just knew she was going with them but he was wrong, "I promise soon okay?"
"Nathan, where've you been?" Dan asked, when he walked through the door, Tommy was sound asleep on his shoulder, having cried himself to sleep after the first ten minutes in the car, leaving Nathan in silence those last five measly minutes.
"We were at Haley's, in case you forgot today is your grandson's first birthday," he replied quietly hoping not to wake him, "I think the better question is what are you doing here, mom kicked you out two weeks ago."
"We were supposed to work out today," Dan replied, "and I have nothing to do with that boy."
"Don't worry dad, I got that message a long time ago," Nathan shook his head leaving his father in the den as he continued to the nursery.
He settled into the rocker after changing the baby, he cradled him against his chest listening to the even breaths and he placed small kisses on his head, "Well we made a year, bud," he whispered, "didn't do too bad either. I want you to know I'm going to find you a Mommy one day, okay? I think I've already found her," he continued to murmur into the soft black hair, "I love her, you know? And she loves you, and I'm pretty sure she loves me too. We'll make Haley a part of our family one day, okay?" he finally stood up carrying Tommy to his crib, he pulled the covers up to his chin, plucking the pacifier from the baby's mouth and leaned over for one more kiss, "Happy birthday, buddy."
"Goodnight Haley-bub," Lydia leaned in her daughter's door.
"Mom?" Haley called her back, and Lydia came into the room and perched on the bed, "how did you know Dad was the one?"
"It's just something you know," she replied, wrapping an arm around her, "and you know Nathan is the one don't you?"
"I think so," Haley replied loving the feel of her mother's arms, "I know I'm too young-"
"You are never too young for love, Haley," her mother interrupted, "just take it slow okay? I'm pretty sure Nathan feels the same but he's already got a lot of responsibility so just take it nice and easy."
"I will Mom, it's not like we're getting married tomorrow I just know I wouldn't be opposed to it," she grinned.
"Well your father would," Lydia chuckled placing a kiss on her forehead, "now good night, I love you."
"Love you too Mom," Haley blew a kiss as Lydia closed the door behind her, she glanced over catching sight of her beloved childhood bear, "you too Mr. Waffles." She knew it was childish, but she reached out for the bear and brought him to her chest as she turned off the lamp, cuddling him tightly. Her eyes closed slowly as she realized the bear was a poor substitute for Nathan and Tommy.