Thank you to my reviewers xSmile, JeniRose, krizue, loppa, naley214, Duckygirl, Natlaiegirl1214, hybridwolf10, NaleyBop, iftheyonlyknewthetruth, NaLeYBaBiixo, and SnowWhite213.

SnowWhite213 and xSmile: I am trying to write longer chapters, actually – I like them to be reasonably meaty as well. So hopefully that'll get better as I get further into the story, although they'll probably never be long long. I hope you appreciate it!

NaleyBop – thanks for letting me know which parts you liked. Those ones were pretty sad!

And to all those of you concerned about Chris, and the Naley factor, this chapter should help a little!

And now this story is starting to pick up momentum. Maybe Nathan hasn't been with her, but he's made sure someone is. Maybe he didn't acknowledge his child, but he wants her now. And as far as Haley's concerned, it's just too late.

Does anybody else here wonder what Faith thinks?

Sarah / Faith was no longer confused. Sarah / Faith understood exactly what had happened to her, and why she was here.

Apparently, she had been kidnapped. Sarah / Faith had thought that sort of thing only ever happened to other people, but apparently she'd been wrong. Because it had happened to her.

So now her daddy was in jail (Sarah / Faith wasn't actually too upset about that), and her new parents – her real parents – were waiting to take her home. Only, apparently there was something strange happening with that.

The beautiful lady who had come to visit her two days ago (and every day since) was apparently her mother. Her name was Haley James, and apparently she was a singer, and people knew her. And the tall, dark haired man who had explained things to her while the lady cried into her friend's arms (apparently that was Uncle Luke) was her father. His name was Nathan Scott, and he played basketball.

And they both wanted her. Sarah / Faith had never been wanted so much before in her entire life, as far as she could remember.

Sarah / Faith smiled at the door, thinking of her last visit, the one from just her daddy, where he explained who he was and told her how much he loved her and how much he had wanted her back.

Apparently, when she was little, before she had been taken from her mother, he hadn't been around, and that had just made him miss Sarah / Faith more. Because he hadn't known her at all.

Sarah / Faith was looking forward to living with her real parents. Everything would be different now.

Haley held the cell phone to her ear with one hand, her other arm flailing about for emphasis as she ranted.

"He spoke to the paparazzi, Chris! He told them he was my husband, and that Faith was his! His! As if he ever had a place in her life! And, worst of all, he told her!"

Chris sighed. "I know, babe. He shouldn't have done that."

"He shouldn't have done that? You're darn right he shouldn't have done that. He's never getting anywhere near Faith now, not that I was ever going to let him. I spoke to Eli, and he figures that the abandonment is enough for me to get full custody if he tries to push it. But I doubt that he will. It's just a whim, getting involved with Faith. I don't believe for a second that he's serious about it."

"I'm not so certain, Haley." Chris said.

"What?"

"Well – I don't know, really, but we are talking about Nathan here – " Chris attempted.

"Exactly!"

"- and Nathan did love you." Chris took advantage of the shocked silence. "Look, I never told you, but he asked me to let him know if you ever needed anything. You know, after Faith was taken? He felt responsible, I think."

Haley's voice was steely. "You have been in touch with Nathan for five years, and never told me?"

Chris's attempt to explain came across to Haley, loud and clear. "Look, babe, it wasn't like you wanted to talk to him. And he didn't want to push you. And he asked me for help. I mean, I don't like him, and I hate what he did to you, but he was trying to make things better for you. Besides, it's not like I've actually 'been in touch', as such. Just, you know, now and then. When he would call me."

At the other end of the phone line, Chris winced. That hadn't exactly come out the way he had intended. He was pretty certain Haley would be at least a little pissed now.

"That's ridiculous, Chris. He hated you. He blamed you for everything."

Chris's nod, unseen by Haley, acknowledged the remark. "Yeah, but he always loved you."

Haley was silent.

"Haley?"

"Don't call me, Chris. I just can't deal with you right now."

"You had no right to tell her, Nathan!"

Nathan quirked his eyebrow at his wife. "No right, Haley? I realise you don't want it to be true, but I am her father, and I have many rights."

"You abandoned her, Nathan. My lawyer informs me that in itself that virtually severs any parental rights you may have had at one point."

Nathan nodded. "True. But apparently my change of heart since, and my willingness to step forward and support her now – as well as an explanation of why I did not acknowledge her initially – will count in front of a judge."

Fear leapt to Haley's eyes, and she gasped. "You wouldn't! You can't just do this sort of thing, Nathan! You're trying to take Faith away from me – and ruin my reputation as you do it!"

"I wouldn't need to try, Haley, if you just allowed me to be a part of her life."

His eyes softened.

"Look, Haley, I understand how you feel, and I know there's nothing I can do to convince you how sorry I am, but please, don't take Faith away from me now! For the past five years I have blamed myself for what happened. I've tried to forget, and sometimes succeeded, but it was always there, and I just need to make it right."

"You want to be a father, Nathan? Convince me you really mean it. Do it now. Because I'm not letting you anywhere near my daughter unless I know you won't hurt her. She's been hurt enough. And you know it."

Haley stared at Nathan defiantly.

He took a deep breath.

"Haley, I know I hurt you, and I know I don't deserve a second chance, but I'm begging you to give me one. I'll do anything."

His voice cracked.

"I just don't know how to convince you! I don't want to hurt you, Haley, but I can't let Faith go. Not when she's been missing for so long, not when she needs me – needs us! I won't be my father, Haley. I won't be the man who revels in his child's successes and ridicules their failures. I don't ever want to be the man who won't acknowledge his own child, and I hate the fact that, for fourteen months, I was. I will not abandon Faith, not now and not ever again. I will not be Dan. I promise you, Haley. Please believe me."

I can't let Faith go when she's all I have left of you.

Haley looked at Nathan, an arrested expression in her eyes.

"Dan . . . I never thought of it like that."

"No?" Nathan queried. "Well, I did. And I need to know that I am not like him, Haley. I need to be better. I need to be able to do whatever I can for my child."

Haley stared at Nathan in silence, a considering expression on her face.

She remembered how it used to be, before Chris, before the music. Before Faith. She had trusted Nathan. She had loved Nathan.

And yes, he had betrayed that trust, and that love, and she would never be able to forget that, but maybe he had had some cause. She had loved him, but she hadn't been as strong as she should've been. She hadn't fought as much as she could've done.

He had been cruel to her, but he loved his friends, and his brother – now, at least – and maybe he could love Faith.

This wasn't about her, it was about Faith. And maybe she needed a father. The real question was whether Haley could afford to take a chance on Nathan.

"You won't hurt her?" Her voice was uncertain.

Nathan was more earnest about this than he had ever been about anything in his entire life.

"I promise, Haley. I just want to be there."

Please review.