Oh my god – I feel horrible. It's been close to six months since I've updated this, and it's not as if I haven't had this chapter ready for pretty much all of that time. I apologise, and will try to start getting back into posting.

I finally wanted people to get a little bit back to real life now, so I'm starting with Nathan. He's been away from his team for a while, so it's time to get back.

Please forgive me any errors in basketball terminology etc in this chapter. I am not a follower of any kind of sport, and although I did some research into this to try to get everything straight, I would by no means guarantee that I have managed to do so.

This is actually a pretty cool chapter, so I hope it makes up in some small way for my laxness in posting.

Nathan's expression was impassive as he waved to the security guard wandering the halls of the Staples Centre, finding his way to his first practice in three weeks. He felt someone approaching him, and turned, grunting at Lucas as his half-brother fell into step with him.

He was not looking forward to today.

Lucas finally spoke.

"You realise that Brooke is really bugging me about you and Haley, right?"

The question had to be rhetorical. Nathan directed a quizzical look at his older brother, who laughed.

"Yeah, I suppose it would be obvious. But, really, Nate, you guys need to talk – about Faith, and about the two of you. Brooke's got this idea – you know Brooke – that there's this whole doomed love story playing out right in front of her eyes, and that if she doesn't force you both to talk about it now, you'll wither away or something."

Nathan grunted. Uh huh.

Lucas rolled his eyes. "Yeah, man, I realise you don't want to talk about it –"

You think?

"- but she's pushy, Brooke. And she's here for the long haul, now that Faith's back, not to mention she's hanging out a lot with my mom. So, at least think about it, ok?"

Nathan remained silent, but gave a small shrug as Lucas directed a piercing stare at him.

They came to the door of the locker room, and Nathan locked gazes with Lucas.

Nathan spoke for the first time since he got to the stadium.

"Well, here goes nothing."

Haley was nervous about what was going to happen that night.

She was taking Faith to a basketball game. More specifically, to a basketball game in which Faith's father and uncle was playing, within a week of tabloid rumours about her own fidelity and within a month of her daughter being recovered from being kidnapped, basically by her own grandfather.

It could be a little awkward. Still, Faith had wanted to go, and Nate had convinced Haley that she would actually need a bodyguard – possibly two – and Brooke and Peyton and Jake were coming with them. So she was sure it should be fine.

She convinced herself that she was right as she grabbed the denim jacket that went well with her cream jersey and brown pants, sighed, and snatched up her purse on the way out the door.

Faith was waiting. She looked happy, and impatient, and very pretty, in her yellow outfit with the pretty ruffly skirt and pink flower details. Her auburn hair was in pigtails, with little butterfly clips in pink and yellow scattered for artistic effect.

She looked perfect, and for a second Haley found it difficult to breathe.

Smiling at her daughter, Haley calmed herself, and spoke.

"You look very pretty, Faith. Are you ready?"

Faith nodded emphatically. "Yes! And daddy and Uncle Lucas said that we had to be there on time so that we could cheer properly for them the whole game. We're going to be late, mommy! Have to go now!"

Haley couldn't help but smirk at her daughter's concern.

"Okay then, baby. Let's go."

Filing into the crowded stadium about forty minutes later, Haley still felt nervous, but was at least comfortable bulwarked by Brooke – chattering away – and Peyton and Jake nodding along. Holding on to her daughter's hand tightly, Haley was also thankful – although she would never admit it to Nathan – for the large bodies firmly stationed in front of and behind their little group. She could still feel eyes on her, but at least Faith was safe.

The group made their way to the VIP seats set aside for them by Nathan and Lucas, and sat. In front of them, the team was warming up, and Lucas, who'd obviously been keeping an eye out for them, waved and smiled, jogging over to Nathan, shooting baskets at the other end of the court, and clapping him on the back.

Nathan turned, and his eyes locked with Haley's. His expression was impassive, and she smiled uncertainly at him. He nodded back, and his gaze shifted to Faith. Haley could see the visible softening as he smiled at his daughter, and she grinned back, and gave a little wave.

Just at that moment, the coach called out to the guys, and Lucas and Nathan jogged over to join the rest of the team in a huddle.

On the court, Nathan could barely believe that his wife and his daughter had really come. He'd known that Haley intended to bring Faith to his game – his first since his return to L.A. – but had been almost positive that she'd back out at the last minute. He'd done everything possible to prevent that possibility – asking Jake and Brooke and Peyton to keep an eye on her, arranging for bodyguards – but in the end, it was Haley who had to decide whether to face the world.

She'd been avoiding things since the pictures had come out. She'd made no statements, issued no denials, and had refused to allow Nathan to do so.

People really believed that Haley had cheated on him.

His team-mates had been sympathetic – about the kidnapping and marriage break-up – but he could see that they thought that Haley had been at fault. It was a huge change. Everybody who knew him, and knew Haley, had always known that he was the one to mess up, that he was the one to break up the marriage.

And he'd let them think that, because he didn't want to ruin Haley's life, even though he'd thought she'd ruined his.

Of course, then he had discovered the truth, and realised that it had been his fault, for not believing in her, and that his secret heroism had really almost been cowardice. Sure, he hadn't told anyone about her betrayal because he hadn't wanted her to be hated. And maybe that had been his central reason, but there'd been another: he hadn't told anyone because it would have meant admitting that she'd cheated on him. That he wasn't enough for her.

Nathan wouldn't have ever wanted anyone to know that. Hatred was better than pity.

And, as it had turned out, he'd deserved the hatred, the anger, the disappointment. Because Haley hadn't cheated on him, he'd just believed that she had.

So seeing her now, after so many years, and so much pain, was unreal to Nathan. He'd imagined seeing her at so many games, over so many years, that knowing she was actually there – and with their daughter – didn't seem possible.

He had to confirm it for himself.

So, breaking away from the last minute team discussion, Nathan shot a pleading look at Lucas. Shocked at first, his brother sighed and rolled his eyes, drawing their coach's attention.

"Lucas Scott! Are you daydreaming –"

Nathan turned away from his coach, and from the game, due to start in mere seconds. The coach, haranguing Lucas, was diverted, and only noticed Nathan's actions when the crowd started roaring, and Lucas grinned at him unrepentantly. Turning to see what had caught the crowd's attention, the coach saw what everyone else in the crowd was seeing.

Nathan Scott, heedless of all else, jogging up into the stands to where his newly claimed wife and long lost daughter were sitting. Haley James, lately vilified by a press unconcerned with truth or fact, and whose only interest was selling a story, perching there, blushing. Nate, tall and strong in the Lakers uniform he had worked so hard to attain, approaching, ignoring all around him.

Nathan couldn't hear the noise.

All he could see was Faith. And Haley. His family.

And so he did what he needed to do. What he had ached to do for years.

Weaving through the crowd, past the bodyguards and their friends, Nathan stopped stock still in front of Haley. All he could see was her face, and it was as if nothing around them existed. It was silent: his world in a vacuum. Laying his hand on Faith's head, drawing her small body into his leg, he reached out with his other hand, and caught Haley around the waist. He drew her body, unresisting, towards him, sliding his arm around her waist to draw her close. Breathing in the scent of her hair – vanilla – his eyes closed for a second. And then he removed his arm from her waist and cupped her chin with his hand. As their mouths neared, his eyes remained open, staring directly into hers as their breath mingled, their breathing thickened and, as if by compulsion, their lips met.

It had been six and a half years, but Haley's kiss still felt like home to him.

Please comment. And feel free to harangue me about how late this is.