Disclaimer: OTH and its characters do not belong to me. Neither does the song quoted in this chapter. Its 'You Could Be Happy' by Snow Patrol.

Please take the time to let me know what you think. This story will contain multiple flashbacks which will be in italics! Xx

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This Wasn't Supposed to Happen

Chapter Eight – You Could Be Happy

Suddenly, light waded into the darkness in Nathan Scott's mind. He couldn't think where he was, or how he'd gotten there. Fighting to move, open his eyes, he couldn't. Confusion began to rush through his mind, confusion and pain. Where was he? Where was Haley? Suddenly, he was scared.

"He squeezed my hand!" He could hear Haley scream, frustration lacing her words.

"Miss James" another voice began "Miss James, please. Calm down."

Nathan could hear pain and tears in Haley's voice, he battled harder to open his eyes, reach out his hand. Nothing.

"But you aren't listening" Haley's voice was broken and shaky.

"Miss James, I'm sorry. Nathan's vitals show no sign of change. It's possible you imagined him squeezing your hand. Sometimes, in desperation we imagine what we need to…"

Haley cut the voice off. "No!" she screamed so loudly, making Nathan's heart ache.

"Miss James, go home. Look after your son; we'll call you if anything changes"

Haley's sobs resonated through Nathan's head. Was he dreaming?

Nathan tried to rationalize the thoughts in his brain, searching for answers to his questions; he could see Haley, Tyler, Lucas, his life in pictures, photographed in his mind, but nothing to explain where he was, how he got there.

Then he felt it, the softest touch on his lips, as Haley's mouth kissed him, and the sweetest sound in his ear.

You could be happy and I won't know
But you weren't happy the day I watched you go

"Fight for me" she whispered, choked with fear.

Fight for her? Nathan didn't understand. Why would he have to fight for her, wasn't she his already?

And all the things that I wish I had not said
Are played in loops 'till it's madness in my head

"Nathan, you're being totally unreasonable"

"What?" Nathan screamed back at Haley, as he paced the hallway of their Duke apartment.

Haley sighed, running her hands through her hair in frustration.

"I'm being unreasonable? I walk into the bar, expecting to see you there, waiting for me, and instead all I see is you, all over some guy." Nathan's voice was raised and full of anger.

Haley screamed in frustration. "Nathan" she began, trying to calm him down. "I was just sitting next to him."

"Oh right" Nathan was in no mood to calm down. "Am I supposed to believe that?" He exhaled before continuing. "You, there, with another guy, dressed like that"

Haley couldn't believe her ears. "Dressed like what?!" She responded, her own voice heightening with anger.

Nathan regretted his comment. "I just meant… I…" Nathan tried, but failed, to undo the damage.

Something inside Haley snapped. "Dressed like what?" She stepped closer to Nathan. "Dressed like every other girl my age? I'm sick of this Nathan. You're so over protective, nothing was going on with that guy. Or any of the five guys you accused me of cheating with last week."

Nathan didn't respond.

Haley's anger only grew. "Nathan!" she shouted. "What's going on with you?"

Nathan looked from the floor, to deep into Haley's eyes.

"I'm scared" he whispered, his words barely audible.

"What?" Haley asked.

"I'm scared" Nathan repeated, as his face blushed with embarrassment.

Haley's face softened, as did her tone. "What? Why?"

Nathan tripped over his words, barely able to admit his emotions. "I'm scared of how much I love you" he finally admitted.

Haley was stunned by his comment, rendered speechless. "I…" she began, unable to finish a sentence.

"Yeah" Nathan spoke, still fighting his embarrassment. "I'm scared, scared because I've never loved someone like this before. So much it makes my stomach ache when I'm not with you. And I couldn't bear to lose you."

Haley stood, staring into Nathan's eyes. Finally, she spoke. "You'll never lose me" she began, her voice full of emotion. Stepping forward, she walked to Nathan, allowing no more words to be spoken. Taking his face in her hands, she pulled him to her, passionately kissing him, as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Finally pulling apart, Haley smiled at Nathan, as he nervously smiled back. Letting her arms go from around his neck, she ran to the window, quickly pulling it open.

"What are you doing?" Nathan laughed.

Haley smiled, deviously at him, her face full of love and lust.

"I LOVE NATHAN SCOTT" she screamed out the window, as passers by stopped to stare up at her.

Nathan's face grew red again as embarrassment consumed him. "What are you doing?"

"I LOVE NATHAN SCOTT" she repeated, giggling so innocently. Turning to look at Nathan, she winked at him. "Nathan Scott, I love you. I always will. And I want the whole world to know it."

Is it too late to remind you how we were
But not our last days of silent, screaming, blur

Nathan's confusion only grew as he could hear Haley's sobs and feel her touch, as she traced her fingers over every inch of his face. Still unable to open his eyes, take her in his arms or even wipe her face free of tears, memories flooded through his mind. Why couldn't he reach his girl?

"Hales?" Nathan entered their Duke apartment, having just finished training for the night. "Haley?" he repeated, as he turned to see the apartment empty and quiet.

"Hey" Haley appeared leaning against the doorway to their bedroom.

Nathan jumped. "God, Hales" he laughed, dropping his training bag to the floor. "You gave me a fright."

"How was practice?" Haley asked.

"Hard" he laughed "Who'd have thought I'd actually miss Whitey's training sessions?" Nathan collapsed on the couch, continuing to laugh. "What have you been doing baby?"

"Well" Haley laughed. "I thought you'd never ask"

"Oh yeah?" Nathan raised his eyebrows and laughed, as Haley bounced over and sat next to him on the couch.

"Hey" Nathan winced as she crashed into him. "Careful baby I'm sore from practice."

Haley's face dropped. "Oh. Ok then." She stated breezily, rising to her feet.

"Hey!" Nathan called after her, dragging her by the arm back to him. "That didn't mean go away" he continued, as he sat her on his lap. "Tell me about your day."

"I went shopping" Haley responded.

"Oh yeah?" Nathan enquired. "Tell me what you bought"

Haley laughed.

"Hey?" Nathan was unimpressed. "Tell me!" he cooed.

"Well" Haley began, as she stood up to leave again. "I was going to show you, But if you're too tired"

As Haley began to walk away, Nathan rose to his feet to drag her back again.

Most of what I remember makes me sure
I should have stopped you from walking out the door

"Hey" Nathan sat down again, with Haley sat on his knees, facing him. "Show me what you bought"

Haley pouted. "I don't want to anymore" She knew she was behaving like a child. She also knew it would have the desired effect.

Nathan leant forward, brushing his lips against hers. "Can I look myself?" he asked as he took both her hands.

Haley made no verbal response, but her eyes said yes. Beginning at her hands, Nathan began to trace every inch of his girl's body, making small circles over her skin until he reached her neck. Pulling her closer to him, he began to trace small kisses on her neck as she softly began to moan.

"Come here" he whispered as he kissed her mouth, with lust and love. Tracing her lips with his tongue, he begged for entry but was refused.

"Hey" he protested.

"Find your present" Haley teased.

Nathan smirked, as he began to unbutton her shirt, slowly kissing the skin above each button, welcoming each new piece of bare skin, eventually revealing a laced black corset.

Nathan sat back in his seat, and stared at his beautiful woman before him.

"You like?" Haley asked

Nathan sat speechless.

"Hey" Haley drew her hands up to cover herself. "You're making me all shy"

Nathan remained speechless, as he thrust his body toward her taking her by surprise, as he kissed her with so much force and passion. This time there was no hesitation. Granting him access to her mouth, the two became intertwined, as their tongues clashed. Wrapping her legs tightly around his waist, Nathan got to his feet, carrying Haley with him. Pushing her hard against the wall, Haley could feel just how much he liked his present.

Nathan's memory faded to black.

You could be happy, I hope you are
You made me happier than I'd been by far

Suddenly fear flashed through Nathan's mind. He could see a car, coming toward him. The accident. He began to remember. "Haley!" he screamed, but no sound surfaced.


Somehow everything I own smells of you
And for the tiniest moment it's all not true

He could hear her, smell her, feel her skin against his. But he couldn't reach her.


Do the things that you always wanted to
Without me there to hold you back, don't think, just do

"Fight for me" he heard, as she spoke the words into his ear.

"Fight for me" Over and over again, the words resonated through his mind.

More than anything I want to see you grow
Take a glorious bite out of the whole world

Nathan's mind rushed with images, over and over again.

Haley.

Tyler.

The accident.

Haley.

He chose to fight.

And he opened his eyes.

We could be happy

Opening his eyes, Nathan saw his girl, standing before him, her hair pulled back, her face red and tear stained. Blinking, Nathan adjusted his vision, taking in each and every detail of the woman before him. Her eyes, her hands, the way she constantly bit her bottom lip. Fear and pain laced every inch of her body.

He had chosen to fight for her, and in that moment, he made a promise, to never stop.

"Hales"

Haley turned immediately, as Nathan spoke her name.

"Nathan?"