Chapter 17

"How can she be yours if she isn't even mine…"

A silence enveloped the room as all eyes moved to Haley who stared dead centre at Nathan as tears streamed down her cheeks. She lifted her hands to stop them moving closer as she kept staring at Nathan.

"You want to know why I left here, Nathan?" she asked rhetorically and he kept his eyes on her but his face visibly softened at her crying.

"None of you knew Taylor was here… all you heard was when Karen called you to the hospital. She told you what I told her to tell you – that Taylor was in the hospital and had passed away. But didn't you ever wonder why?" she cried as she started to explain to them what happened.

"You're screwing up your life! Don't you realize that! You're fucking it all up!" Haley yelled as she grabbed her head in frustration. Taylor sighed heavily as tears were flowing out of both their eyes. Haley's eyes travelled down to Taylor's expanded stomach and sighed as she looked back up at her older sister.

"Taylor…he won't marry you just because you are having his child. He just used you for sex." She commented and Taylor nodded her head.

"I know…don't you think I know that Haley-Bop? But I can't get rid of my child…"

"I never said you had to!"

"You insinuated it!" Taylor yelled and suddenly she screamed out in pain as she collapsed on the floor.

oOoOoOoOoOo

"Miss James?" the doctor asked as he neared Haley who immediately jumped up to meet him.

"Yes? Is the baby okay?"

"Yes yes your sister had a beautiful baby girl… but I'm sorry to have to be the one to tell you this…"

"Oh my god…" she cried as her hands flew to her mouth. Haley ran as fast as her legs could take her to her sister's room. A sob escaped her lips as she fell to the ground next to Taylor's lifeless body. She grabbed her sister's hand – ignoring the nurses who urged her to go out – and sobbed.

"Tay…oh god please Tay. Wake up Taylor! You can't leave me! You can't leave your beautiful baby daughter!" her sobs continued until Karen was at her side – prying her away from her place and grabbed her into a hug.

"You will be okay… it's all going to be okay honey." She urged as she kissed her temple and Haley struggled against her.

"I killed her…I killed my sister…"

"Honey…it's not your fault. You have to stop blaming yourself. What happened had nothing to do with you…"

oOoOoOoOoOo

Her eyes were dark with emotion as she sat across from the lawyers. Karen held her hand tightly but it didn't even register in Haley's mind.

"Miss Taylor James stated that Miss Haley James and Mister Nathan Scott would be her child's legal guardians in case of her death…"

"After that I pretty much knew what I had to do. I blamed myself and I couldn't face any of you anymore. And telling any of you of Taylor Junior was out of the question…partly because of Taylor's death…mostly because I knew that you Nate…you didn't want to become an instant parent. You always told me that children weren't in the plan until much later in your life and I always agreed with you. But suddenly we were instant parents and I didn't want to force you into anything. So a few weeks later I left."

The whole room stared tearfully at the broken Haley as she let her arms drop to her side. Brooke and Peyton were sobbing softly as they stared at her. Lucas was looking down – unable to look at her – but in his mind he realized that Karen had been right. He and Nathan had fussed for so long over her reasons to leave…when all they had to do was to give her time. They all stood like stone as Haley let out one final scared sob.

"My sister is dead and all I have left of her is her daughter. Please don't take her away from me."

Within seconds Nathan stepped closer and enveloped her in a tight embrace as she broke down in his arms. He squeezed her securely as he whispered to her words to calm her.

"Nobody is going to take her away from you…and nobody hates you. This wasn't your fault. Oh god I love you so much…"