Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill

Chapter Four

On Friday, Nathan attended the funeral. Mary had been staying at Peyton's during the week, but when he saw her again that day, he couldn't wait to take her with him and start being her father.

When he returned to his apartement that evening, he found Haley in the bedroom, looking through a stash of papers.

"What are you doing?" he asked.
"We need to find a new apartement"
"You don't like this one?" he wondered.
"I do, but we need a bigger one. With another room, Mary'not gonna sleep on the couch." she replied.
He smiled. It was becoming real. And he was glad that Haley reacted the way she did. She seemed eager to meet Mary and to have her in her life.
"Maybe we could get a house, with a lawn, so she could play." she added still looking at her papers.
His smile grew bigger.

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The next day, Nathan went to Peyton's, he wanted to get Mary as soon as possible.
When he came back home, he looked devastated. Haley stared at him with worry, wondering what had happened, but unable to say anything. He slowly made his way to the couch where she was sitting.

"Peyton wants to keep Mary, she wants to get custody of her." He managed to choke. Haley couldn't believe her ears; this was a dream right. She watched his eyes widen with tears. The first fell down his cheek and they kept flowing. She pulled him in her arms and sat there, rocking back and forth as time goes on as slowly as possible.

Nathan eventually fell asleep, worn out. Haley however could do nothing near sleeping. She put her head in her hands, unable to control her tears anymore.

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Mary was missing her mom more and more. She wanted her to come back.

Peyton, Jake, Jenny and Mary were having diner in silence.

"When mommy come back? She's been gone long. Her trip must be finished now. I made a drawing for her, she need to come back so I can give it to her." Mary suddenly said.

Everyone stared at her, unable to say anything. Finally Peyton said: "Sweetie, your mommy isn't coming back. She was very sick and she died."

"No, when mommy is sick she goes to the doctor and he makes it all better."

"Not this time, sweetie. Your mommy was too sick, even the doctor couldn't heal her." Jake responded sadly.

"But my miss her. She never coming back?" the little girl's eyes started to water. She wanted her mom. "Why she left me?"

"Oh, sweetie she didn't want to leave you. But she can't come back. You are going to stay with us for now on." Peyton explained to her now sobbing niece.

"I want my mommy" Mary cried. Peyton pulled her in her arms in a tight embrace. There was nothing she could say to make the little girl feel better. She couldn't bring her mother back and that was all Mary needed and wanted at the moment.

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Spoiler for next chapter: a confrontation between Nathan and Peyton.