Disclaimer: I do not own OTH or any of it characters places or such. I am simply borrowing them
AN/ Here is the next update! I am extremely sorry for the lack of updates, but life has been throwing me quite a few curves lately. Please read and review
As always suggestions are welcome!
No one moved from his or her spots nor said a word. Nathan sat with his head hanging in his hands between the two headstones in the spot that was meant for him one day. Lucas had walked around the group and sat down beside Brooke who was sitting directly in front of the headstone that read 'Bevin Marie Scott'. After a few minutes, the silence was broke by sobs. Sobs coming from Nathan Scott, his back moving and his head still hanging. Finally after so many years, the truth about what had happened that October night was out. He knew who had taken his family from him and he was letting all the built up tears out.
He had promised Bevin that he would move on. He just didn't know how. However, there was one person that could help him move on.
Haley sat there with the rest of her friends and watched as the man that she loved sob. Ever since they were kids, she had liked Nathan as more than a friend. When they were younger and Peyton used to say that Nathan and her were going to get married. She had secretly hoped that it would happen. She had never told anyone of her feelings for Nathan until the fateful day their junior year of high school.
Flashback
The sun began rising over the water of the river that September morning as two friends walked towards the docks. They met there three times a week first thing in the morning before school to work on math and science.
"Good Morning" Haley said sat her math book down on the table.
"Hales, how can you be so chipper so early?" Nathan asked as they sat down on opposite sides of the table.
"Because it is Friday"
"Yea and it is 7 o'clock in the morning"
"And it is Friday. It is almost the weekend, Nate"
"Okay. Whatever you say"
"So, did you get the math quiz back from Wednesday?" Haley asked
"Yea"
"And?"
"96, baby" Nathan said with a grin
"Awesome" Haley said with a smile, "See I told you, you could it"
"Yea, thanks Haley"
"Your welcome. So, what do you want to go over today?"
"I really don't feel like going over anything today"
"Okay. I guess we could take a day off. You don't have any tests or quizzes coming up"
"Thanks slave driver"
Haley playfully hit him in the arm as she smiled
"So-"Nathan said
"Nate, Can-" Haley said at the same time
"What are you going to say?"
"No, you first"
"Ladies first"
"Okay" Haley took a deep breath as she started to speak, "Do you remember when we were younger and Peyton used to say that you and I were going to get married one day?"
"Yea, she was going to marry Lucas and you two wanted to be sisters"
"Yea, did you ever think about that?" Haley asked
"Us getting married?"
"Yea"
"I don't know. Why are you asking?"
"Nathan" Haley stopped and looked out at the river reflecting the sun, "Nathan, I love you"
"Haley" Nathan laughed, " I love you too"
"No, Nathan. I mean I love you. More than a friendship love" Haley said turning to look Nathan in the eye
Nathan sat there looking at Haley stunned. He didn't see that one coming and he didn't know what to say. Did he feel the same way? He knew he did, but….
"Hales" Nathan said looking into her hazel eyes, "I don't feel the same way"
Nathan watched as hurt flooded into those same eyes as he continued to look at her. He felt like an idiot.
"Oh, well…um…that is okay" Haley said
"Haley"
"No really it is okay. I will see you at school" Haley said as she got up from the table and started walking away
End of Flashback
They had never spoken of that fateful September morning. And things between Nathan and Haley had never been the same. There had been distance there. Haley had sat on the sidelines and watched as Nathan and Bevin began to grow closer later that same school year. Bevin and Haley had also grown close in that school year. She could remember Bevin sitting on her bed in her room hoping that her friendship with Nathan would turn into something more. She watched that very thing happen the summer between junior and senior year. She had been a bridesmaid in their wedding. She had been there when Michael was born and watched the new father's face light up whenever he spoke of his son. She had been there in college as the young married couple struggled with a young son and classes. And she had been at that very church burying her friend and nephew five years ago. She had been there through it all.
Haley remembered those times as she sat still listening to Nathan's sobs. She broke her gaze away and looked towards the headstone that marked the Bevin's grave. It was at that moment that Haley remembered a conversation that she had had with Bevin almost two months before she was killed
Flashback
Haley stopped to check the mailbox on the bottom floor of the apartment building that she lived in along with most of her childhood and high school friends. She flipped through the mail as she began to make the climb up the stairs.
'Bill…bill…for Peyton…bill…junk…junk…oh magazine'
Haley stopped on the second floor and walked towards apartment B. She didn't live here, but she didn't knock either. She opened the front door and walked in.
"Hey Hales" Bevin called from the kitchen
"Hey" Haley replied. On Wednesdays after Haley's morning class she would spend the afternoon with Bevin. They were the only two who didn't have Wednesday afternoon classes
"Anything good?" Bevin asked as she walked into the living room spotting the mail still in Haley's hand
"Bills and more bills. The new college life is here though"
"Yea, I got mine too. There is not really anything good in this issue"
"Well, that sucks. I was looking forwards to curling up with a good magazine this evening" Haley said as she sat her mail down on the end table and placed her keys and cell phone on top.
Bevin laughed as Haley pretended to look disappointed
"So, where is my little nephew?" Haley asked
"He just went down for a nap"
"He always does. I think it is a conspiracy against me" Haley said and then started laughing.
Bevin sat down on the couch and leaned her head back against the cushions, "Haley, Can I talk to you?"
"Bev, of course you can" Haley said as she moved to seat down beside Bevin, "What's up?"
"I have a question to ask you"
"Okay shoot"
"If something happens to me. Will you step up and take care of Nathan and Michael?"
"Bevin, nothing is going to happen to you"
"You never know, but I want you to take care of them if something does"
"Okay, if something happens. You know we will all be there for them"
"Haley" Bevin stopped and took a breath, "I mean, will you step up and raise my son and help Nathan love again"
Haley was stunned. "You want Nathan to fall in love with me?"
"He already does love you" Bevin said as she turned her head towards Haley
"I know he loves me, but he could never love me like that"
"I think he does. Deep down inside I think Nathan loves you more than just as a friend"
"What! I don't think so," Haley said remembering a conversation at the docks their junior year
"Haley, he does. I know Nathan. Better than he thinks I do. I can see it. I also know that if something happens to me he is going to ball up into a shell. I think you may be the only one who will be able to reach him."
Haley let out a sigh as she looked at her hands, "Why me?"
"Because you love him"
Haley looked up at Bevin and didn't say a word
"I know you love him Haley." Bevin continued, "I saw the way that you looked at him when we were in high school. I also know that you never said anything"
"I did" Haley said in a soft voice
"What?"
"Okay, this is really weird saying this to you because you are his wife. But I did tell Nathan. I did tell him that I loved him and he told me that he didn't feel the same way."
"You never told me that"
"I never told anyone."
"He lied to you though"
"Bev, even if Nathan did love me then. He doesn't now. You are his wife and you two have a child together."
"Yes, I am his wife and I have no doubt that he loves me. I also know what it is like to also love someone else deep down inside"
"What are you talking about?"
"Chris"
"Chris Keller? Your old high school boyfriend?"
"Yea, Chris Keller. I still love Chris and I probably always will"
"There is a difference though. You and Chris were together for 3 years. Nathan and I have never dated"
"You may have never dated, but you have been together your whole lives. I know this is extremely weird, Hales, but promise me if something happens to me that you will take care of him."
Haley looked at her friend and sighed, "If something happens to you. I will take care of Nathan and Michael, I promise"
"Thank you Haley" Bevin said as she gave her a hug, "I know you will"
"Okay, that was a really uncomfortable conversation. I just told you that I love your husband."
"You didn't tell my anything that I didn't already know" Bevin said
End of Flashback
Haley until that moment had forgotten about that promise and that conversation. She knew though that had to keep her promise to Bevin. Just as Nathan need to keep his promise to move on. Haley stood from her spot and walked behind the rest of her friends, around other headstones and up behind Nathan. She sat down behind him and pulled him to her in a hug.
"It is okay Nathan. I am going to take care of you," She said softly in his ear