Disclaimer: I do not own OTH or any of it characters places or such. I am simply borrowing them.
AN/ Here is the next chapter. There will be either be one or two more chapters before the story ends. I am not sure yet. However, I will start the sequel hopefully in the next couple of days. Thanks for reading and please leave some reviews!
Three hours after they closed their memory box, a phone call from Sam, and two phone calls from Brooke later. The group was ready to leave the solitude of the clubhouse. The only problem, how to get Nathan down. The group was currently trying to find a solution.
"I think we should just put Nathan on the seat and all go down and hold the rope to guide him down" Lucas said
"I am not sure that will work." Peyton said
"How about if you two go down and guide the rope and I will make sure that Nate gets off the platform." Haley said.
"That might work Hales" Nathan replied
"Lets try it" Lucas replied as he moved from the floor and over to help his brother up.
The group slowly walked out the door and towards the seat sitting on the platform, Lucas helping Nathan again.
Haley moved the seat so it was under Nathan as Lucas sat him down on it.
"This going to be interesting" Peyton said as she looked over the edge towards the ground. She, however, could not see the bottom through the dark night. "I think we are going to need a flashlight"
"I think there is one in the clubhouse," Haley said as she moved back towards the clubhouse
"I am not sure about that Haley. Brooke and I used one the other night to get back to Peyton's house" Lucas added
"I think we had more than one up here," Haley said as she opened the door and used the moonlight to search the clubhouse. She looked through the bookcase by the door and found another flashlight. She clicked the on switch as the light came on. "Found one," She said as she walked back out of the clubhouse and closed the door behind her.
"Okay, we are going to go down. We will yell when we are ready" Lucas said as he and Peyton started down the ladder
"Pretty night, isn't it?" Nathan asked as he and Haley sat by themselves for the first time all day
"Yes, it sure is. I feel like I can reach up and touch the sky" Haley replied
"Yea, I am glad that we got to see one more night together," Nathan said
"Me too" Haley replied quietly, "There for a while in the hospital, I thought we would never get to spend another night together"
"I know. I am sorry for scaring you Hales"
"It made me realize, as we sat in that waiting room, how much I really love you. How much you mean to me and how I am not sure what I would do if something ever happened to you. There are so many things that I want to say, do and be with you. It sounds crazy, doesn't it?"
"No, not at all. I feel the same way" Nathan replied before leaning in to kiss Haley slowly at first and then he slowly deepened the kiss before pulling back, "I love you, Hales"
"I love you too, Nate"
"Haley" Nathan said quietly and wait till Haley was looking at him, "Don't worry. We will make this work. I am not letting you go. Not now, not ever."
"I know" Haley said as she smiled slightly and then leaned in to kiss Nathan once more.
The moment was broken by Lucas's voice, "Okay, lets do this"
"You ready?" Haley asked as they pulled away
"Yea" Nathan replied as Haley moved to push him over the edge
"Okay, here he comes" Haley replied as she made the last movement and than Nathan was swinging in the air. Haley leaned over the edge and shined the light at Nathan so that Peyton and Lucas could see him as he began to slowly be lowered to the ground.
"Man he is heavy" Peyton grunted as she and Lucas slowly let the rope slide through their hands.
"Yea, this is easier than getting him up there though" Lucas replied as his brother reached the point were they did not have to tilt their heads to see him. Peyton and Lucas lowered him right into the wheelchair that had not been moved from its spot.
"He is down, Haley" Lucas called up
"Okay, be right there" Came Haley's reply
"You okay, Nate?" Peyton asked
"Yea, that was a little on the uncomfortable side, but yea I am good. Can we please get this board out from under me though?" Nathan replied
"Yea, sure" Lucas said as he moved to help Nathan stand as Peyton pulled the board out and set it back in its original spot under the trees. Lucas placed Nathan back in the chair.
"Well, that was fun" Haley said as she joined the group, flashlight still in her hand
"Well, guys I guess it is time to say good night" Peyton said
"Yea, are you going to stop by tomorrow morning?" Lucas asked
"Yea, I will be there before you leave for the airport" Peyton replied, "Haley, are you stay here or with them?"
"I haven't thought about it honestly" Haley replied, "My parents probably feel neglected"
"I am sure they understand" Peyton replied
"Yea, I guess I should go in and at least talk to them" Haley said
"How about this, we will walk Peyton home and then come back by here and see what you have decided" Nathan said
"Sounds like a plan" Haley replied as the group began walking back through the woods
When they reached Haley's backyard, she stopped and sighed, "You know, I still look out my bedroom window thinking I will see the clubhouse out in the woods or that there will be a note on the com line waiting for me"
"Old habits die hard," Lucas said as he looked back towards where they had just been
"Yea, sure do" Peyton replied, "Well, Hales, I will see you tomorrow before you leave" Peyton said as she leaned in to hug her
"Okay, tomorrow" Haley replied before looking towards Nathan, "Come back this way and I will let you know what I am doing"
"Okay, we will be back shortly" Nathan replied
"Okay, be careful guys" Haley said as she walked towards the backdoor of her parents' home. The other three silently walked around the side of the house and towards the sidewalk heading towards Peyton's house.
Lydia James turned from her spot on the couch in the living room as the back door opened. She sat down the romance novel she was reading as her daughter walked into the room
"Hey mom"
"Hey Haley"
"Did I scare you?" Haley said as she sat down on the couch also
"No, I figured you would be coming in soon. I saw you guys out there"
"Yea, we have been out there for hours" Haley replied, "Just talking about old times. We found our very first memory box"
Lydia laughed, "I bet that had some funny stuff in it"
"It did. Our when I grow up I want to be list was in there. A picture of us the day the clubhouse was finished, a couple of other candid shots including me and in a pink bikini modeling for the camera"
"Oh, I remember that picture. Deb took it. She thought you were just so cute with your modeling poses."
"So that is who took that picture. We couldn't figure it out"
"Yea, it was Deb. She thought so highly of you, Haley. When you guys were all little, she used to say to me, that she thought you and Nathan would grow up to be a great couple one day. We would laugh about it of course because you guys were young. However, now I see, Deb was right. Nathan makes you happy, Haley. Happier than I have seen you in a long time."
"Thanks Mom" Haley replied before leaning to hug her mother.
"So, what are your plans for this evening?" Lydia asked as they pulled away from the hug
"I am not sure actually. I feel like I have neglected you and dad these last couple of days"
"Oh, Haley. We don't feel neglected. We know that they are just as much your family as we are."
"I know, but I leave tomorrow"
"Yea, you do leave tomorrow which is why I think you should go upstairs get your stuff together, say goodbye to your dad and go stay with Nathan. You two should spend as much time together as you can"
"Are you sure, mom?" Haley asked
"Positive. Now, go get your stuff together. Your father is in the office"
"Thanks Mom" Haley said as she hugged her mom once more, "I love you"
"I love you too sweetheart" Lydia said as she hugged her daughter back, "Now, go"
Haley leapt off the couch and headed up the stairs to get her stuff together.
"See ya tomorrow guys" Peyton said they reached her house and she started up the front walk
"Okay. Good night, Peyt" Nathan replied
"Night" Peyton said as she opened the front door and walked in
Lucas swung Nathan's wheelchair around and started walking back towards Haley's house
"Hey Luke" Nathan said after a few minutes of silence
"Yea?"
"Thanks"
"For what?"
"For doing all of this stuff for me. I appreciate it"
"What are brothers for?"
"I know, but thanks anyway"
"You are welcome, bro. Just don't get shot again because I don't want to go through that again"
"I won't. I am sorry about that too"
"Nothing to be sorry about Nate. You were protecting mom. I guess I should be the one thanking you. I am not sure what I would have done if Andy had shot mom"
"Me either. I am not sure I can stand to lose another parent"
"Yea. This week has just been crazy"
"Very crazy. I can't believe it has only been a week though. It feels more like years, so much has happened"
"Yea. We made it through though"
"Yea, we did" Nathan replied as they reached Haley's house. Lucas left Nathan by the steps and walked up them to knock on the door. Lydia answered it a few seconds later
"Hey guys. Haley is saying goodbye to her dad. She will be down in a minute"
"Okay" Lucas replied
Lydia walked out the doorway and down the steps to Nathan. She leaned down to hug him. These boys had always been more like sons to her than just her friend's sons.
"I am going to miss you guys," Lydia said as she pulled back from Nathan and moved to hug Lucas who had come down the stairs also
"We will miss you too" Lucas replied as they pulled away
"We will be back soon" Nathan replied as Haley and John appeared in the doorway with Haley's bags
"Guys, it was great seeing you again" John said as he shook hands with Lucas and than Nathan, "Come home soon"
"We will Uncle John" Lucas replied
"You know you can drop the Uncle now" John replied laughing
"Nah. You will always be Uncle John and Aunt Lydia to us" Nathan replied
John and Lydia laughed.
"I guess so." Lydia replied before she moved to hug her daughter, "I will miss you Haley bub"
"I will miss you too, mom" Haley replied hugging her mom back, "I will be home soon"
"I know. Be careful tomorrow and call us when you get back to Montana"
"I will. Love you, mom"
"Love you too" Lydia replied
"Bye dad. Love you" Haley, said as she moved to hug her dad
"Bye honey. Love you too" John said as he hugged his daughter back. Haley released her dad and walked towards Lucas and Nathan.
"Let's go guys"
"Bye" Nathan and Lucas said as the three took off towards their house
"I am glad they finally found their way to each other," Lydia said as her husband placed his right arm across her shoulders
"We knew they would eventually." John replied before turning his wife towards the steps.
When the three reached the Scott's house a few minutes later they were quiet. They did not want to wake Karen or Meredith. It was late and they would probably be sleeping. Lucas unlocked the house and opened the door. The living room light was on, but Karen and Meredith were nowhere to be seen.
"Just take me to the bedroom" Nathan replied quietly to Haley, who was currently pushing his chair.
"Okay" Haley said as she wheeled him into the house and down the hallway towards his bedroom. Lucas was silently following carrying Haley's two bags. Nathan's door was open as Haley pushed him in and moved the chair to beside the bed.
"Do you want me to help you get to the bed?" Lucas asked as he sat Haley's bag by the closet door
"Yea, if you would" Nathan replied as Lucas helped his younger brother from the wheelchair to the bed, "Thanks Lucas"
"Welcome. Well, I am going to bed. I am tired. I will see you guys tomorrow," Lucas said
"Night Luke" Haley said as she moved towards her bags to get her night clothes
"Night man" Nathan said
"Night' Lucas replied as he walked out the door and closed it behind him.
"What do you want to wear to bed?" Haley asked as she began to change her own clothes
"I just need to get out of these jeans and this shirt. I will be okay with just my boxers" Nathan replied as he tried not to watch Haley.
Haley laughed as she turned around and walked towards Nathan. He was looking everywhere, but at her, "You are so funny sometimes." Haley said as Nathan finally looked at her with a confused look, "trying not to look"
"Yea...well…" Nathan said as he just laughed. He pulled off his shirt and threw it towards his open suitcase in the corner, unbuttoned his jeans and began to maneuver out of them. Once he was done he swing his legs up on the bed and pulled the covers up over top of him before laying back. He reached for the remote for the TV on the side table as Haley walked around and climbed in the other side of the bed also getting under the covers. Nathan found the local news station as Haley moved to place her head on his chest.
"And now the latest on local NBA star Nathan Scott" the newscaster said"Here we go again," Nathan said as Haley laughed a little
"We go to Sandra Patterson, Sandra?" the older female newscaster said
"Thanks, Maria. I am standing here at the river court, a place that has become a local legend. This is the place where the love of basketball was born for NBA star Nathan Scott. Scott played here as a young boy and as a teenager along with his brother fellow NBA star, Lucas Scott. As we reported, earlier this week, Nathan Scott was hospitalized at Tree Hill General for a gunshot wound. New information regarding the shooting has been released. The shooting we have been told, took place Thursday afternoon at Karen's Café, a local café owned by the Scott brother's mother, Karen Scott. A man by the name of Andy Hargrove held Karen Scott at gunpoint demanding that she talk to him concerning an old friend of both parties. Nathan Scott leapt for the gun and two shots were fired, one hit Scott in the lower abdomen and the other hitting Hargrove. Andy Hargrove was pronounced dead at the scene. Yesterday, Scott checked himself out of Tree Hill General against medical advice and has been staying at his parent's home. We are told by security guards stationed outside of the home that Scott is recovering well and will be returning to Orlando in the next few days to begin his rehabilitation. It is unsure of when or if, Scott will ever return to the NBA, but one thing is for sure. If he never returns to the NBA, we will always consider him our hometown hero. Reporting live, Sandra Patterson. Back to you, Marie"
Nathan muted the TV as Haley lifted her head to look at him; "You are a hero, Nate"
"I don't feel like one. I was just a son protecting his mother" Nathan replied
"You are still a hero" Haley replied as she reached up and kissed Nathan, "You always were to me"
Nathan laughed, "Thanks Hales. We had better get some sleep. It is going to be a long day tomorrow"
"Yea, I can't believe we are leaving already," Haley said as she moved to place her head back on Nathan's chest as Nathan turned out the bedside light and cut off the TV.
"We will be back together soon, I promise" Nathan replied, "I love you, Haley" as he put his right arm protectively around Haley.
:"I love you too," Haley said quietly as her eyes began to close as the sound of Nathan's heartbeat quickly put her to sleep.
"I promise we will be together soon," Nathan said quietly as he too drifted off to sleep