Author note: Hey. I'm posting a new chapter today. I know it's earlier than expected but I won't have my own internet provider before 3 weeks from today so, I went to a friend house in order to post this chapter. I hope you're going like it. Thanks for the comments. Take care ;-)
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Lucas was in his office preparing the strategy for the next match when someone knocked at the door.
" Come in." Said Lucas raising his head. He expected a team player or Skillz. He never expected to see Brooke opening the door.
" Brooke Davis in my office!" Said Lucas surprised. " What were the odds?" Added Lucas with a smile. " Please come in!"
" Hey Lucky Luke!" Said Brooke sitting down. " I know I haven't been around for a while but…I had plenty of work."
" Lucky Luke?" Said Lucas in mock hurt. He laughed. "I'll forget about that if you don't call me like that EVER again!"
" Why?" Said Brooke with a baby voice. " You're a poor lonesome cowboy right?" She started to laugh when she saw Lucas' face changed. " Oh okay! I won't do it anymore! Do you know where is tutor mum? I went to your house but she was not there."
Lucas frowned. How did she know that Haley was staying with him? He decided not ask because he did not want to act like a detective.
" Well…" He said looking at his watch. " She'll be in this office in about 15 minutes. She had class today."
" Oh yeah! That's right." Said Brooke hitting her forehead with her palm. " I should have think!"
" Er…Everybody knows that it's not something you're really good at." Said Lucas joking.
" Don't start!" Said Brooke pretending to be angry. " Or…Or I'll –"
" Or you're going back to New York for the next two years?" Said Lucas seriously.
Brooke stopped smiling. It was like she just received some icy water all over her. " You're mad?" She asked incredulously. " You know why I left!" She sighed. " Tell me how was I supposed to look straight into Peyton's eyes after what happened! I had to go."
Lucas turned his sit around to look at the window. " I understand why you left Brooke." He said calmly. " But you could have kept in touch. What happened was just a terrible mistake made in…in horrific circumstances. I haven't heard from you for about two years and I've to confess that it hurt me. Well…It did." He cleared his throat. " I guessed you kept in touch with the other though."
" Why are you saying that?" Asked Brooke curious.
Lucas turned to look at her. " Oh I don't know! Maybe because you didn't ask me how Peyton is doing. You know we decided to call off the wedding and…"
" You did, not Peyton!" Said Brooke cutting him off. She blushed and felt angry against herself. She should think before speaking.
" Well…I guess you're even better informed than I thought!" Said Lucas sarcastically. Brooke seemed embarrassed.
" Don't worry Davis, I don't mind you getting info! I just mind you don't staying in touch that's all. Anyway…How are you doing?"
" I'm fine…At least the NY B. Davis is fine. I…"
Brooke was cut off by Haley walking into the office.
" Luke I'm ready…" Haley stopped to talk when she recognized Brooke. She screamed. " Ahh!! Brooke! What are you doing here?!" Haley added hugging Brooke. " I'm so happy to see you! You can't even imagine!"
" I'm so glad to see you too tutor mum!" Said Brooke with a big smile. " I missed you so much."
" I did too Brooke. I so want to catch up but I have to pick Jamie from school." She said with a sad voice.
" You're going to pick up my godson?! Can I come?" Asked Brooke.
Haley turned to Lucas.
" Yeah, go you two." Said Lucas with a smile. " I'm a bit late on the paper work and I really need to get it done by tonight. I'll see you at home."
" Okay!" Said Haley " Come on Brooke, I don't want to be late." She looked at Lucas. " See ya tonight."
" Take care Luke." Added Brooke " I'll see you soon."
---------------------------James' School-------------------------------------------
Haley parked the car in front of James' school while explaining her situation to Brooke. She stopped talking and stared at the school gate.
" What is he doing here"? Haley said talking to herself. She was so pale like if she just saw a ghost.
Brooke looked at the school gate too. Nathan was there with crutches.
" I need to have a word with him." Said Haley opening the car door.
Brooke retained her by the arms. Haley looked at her surprised.
" What's going on?" Said Haley.
" I…I think you should let him see the kid." Said Brooke. " I know the guy is not the best father right now and apparently he is not a good one since a long time but look…" Brooke took a deep breath. " You just told me that Nathan didn't go out for almost a year now and he is here just for his son."
Haley sighed " I don't know Brooke."
" Okay he screwed up big time but let's face it the kid needs his dad. Just give him a chance. You don't have much to loose anymore. If there is still a chance for Nathan to heal, only you and Jamie can do it."
Haley frowned.
' You know I'm right.' Said Brooke with a calm voice. ' Nathan would give his life for you and the kid in a heartbeat. You're the only persons that really matter for him."
Haley nodded. " I hope you're right Brooke."
" I'm right!" Added Brooke trying to sound sure. However, deep down she was just praying to be right. " Take all the time you need." Added Brooke with a smile. " I'll just walk back to the hotel. I'll visit you tonight okay?"
Haley hugged Brooke. " Thanks Honey. I'll see you later."
Haley hurried at Nathan's side.
" Hey." Said Haley trying to sound detached but her heart was beating so fast that she feared a heart attack.
" Haley…" Said Nathan in a whisper. He couldn't turn around. He could not look at her. The pain would be unbearable.
Haley walked around to face Nathan. She could see so much pain in his eyes. She didn't know what to say.
" I'm sorry to come here without asking you first but I needed to see Jamie." Said Nathan with a broken voice.
" You don't need to ask me to see your son Nate." Said Haley with a nice smile. " We can go to the park if you want." She added, pointing to the Park beside the school. "Don't worry I'll give you two some intimacy."
Nathan nodded. He was about to add something when he heard his son voice.
" Daddy! Daddy!" Shouted James running toward Nathan. He stopped in front of Nathan and hugged him carefully.
This tender contact made Nathan's heart stop for a second.
Haley could see the emotions on Nathan's face and decided to step in.
" Hey Angel!" She said kissing her son. " Do you want to go to the park with daddy and me?" She asked with a smile.
" Yeah!!" Shouted James, jumping around.
" I guess it means yes." Said Nathan with a smile. " Let's go then."
Haley took James hand and walked slowly to be at Nathan's side. She unconsciously put her hand on his back to help him. And, for the first time in ages, he did not reject her. He accepted this help without complaining.
When they arrived in the park, Nathan sat on a bench with James. Haley looked at them and decided to let them alone for a moment.
" Don't you think it's a bit cold?" She said with a smile. " I'm going to take a coffee from the shop across the road. Do you want something?" She asked to Nathan and James.
Nathan shook his head negatively.
" Mummy, can you bring me back a hot chocolate?" Asked James with a cheeky smile.
" Of Course I can honey. I'll be back soon." She said walking to the shop.
James stood up and stood in front of Nathan. He smiled and strongly kissed him on the chick. " I missed you daddy." James said nicely.
Nathan put a hand on James' cheek. " I missed you too son."
" You're not ill anymore? Mummy told me you were ill but now you're better right? We can come home no?" Asked James with the eyes full of hope.
Nathan's eyes filled up with tears. Seeing so much hope into his son's eyes made him feel terrible. Usually, He was too drunk to notice anything. " No, you can't come home just yet sweetie. Daddy is not healed yet but he will soon." Nathan said trying to hide his pain.
" But…But" Said James about to cry. " You look like my daddy again! You don't want me anymore?"
" Of course I want you!" Said Nathan, taking his son into his arms. " I never stopped loving you. You're my angel!" Added Nathan while tears started to fall on his cheeks. " Please don't ever… EVER think that I don't love you or care for you. You're one of the most important things in my life."
James sat beside Nathan and put his little hand on his. This contact made Nathan shiver. He could not understand how he did to ignore his son for about two years.
" So you don't love mummy anymore." Said James, like if he was stating the evidence.
Nathan was surprised. " Why do you say that?"
" Julia in my class is living with her mum because her dad left them. He didn't love her mum anymore." Said James simply.
" I love your mum." Said Nathan, looking at the coffee across the road. " I love her a bit more everyday. She is my soul mate." Said Nathan with a broken voice
" So if you love me and mummy why don't you live with us?" James asked confused.
" I was not a good dad honey." Nathan said with sadness on the voice. " And I was not good for your mum either. I need to get better and to learn how to be good to you and mummy again. You'll come home after that."
" You were maybe not a good dad but you're MY dad." Said James seriously. " You're sad?" Asked Jam honestly. " You're sad not to be with us?"
" Of Course I'm sad!" Said Nathan. " I miss you two everyday. That's why I decided to get better." Said Nathan hoping it was not too late for him and Haley.
" Mummy is sad too." James sighed. " She thinks I don't know it but I can hear her cry at night." Said James sadly. " She is crying every night on her bed but the morning she pretends to be okay." He said looking at Nathan. " I'm a child but I'm smart."
Nathan smiled to James latest remark but felt even worst than before. Haley was sadder than before and it was his entire fault.
" Mum will be fine soon" Said Nathan. " We'll be together again pretty soon."
" Really?" Said James the eyes full of hope.
" Sure." Said Nathan trying to sound convincing because he didn't know what to believe anymore.
Haley was coming back. Seeing Nathan and James together just increased the pain she was feeling. She tried to print this picture directly into her brain because it was giving her some hope. She needed this hope to keep her sanity.
When she arrived beside them, Nathan looked at her. His eyes were red as if he has been crying.
Nathan stood up. " I need to go son. But I'll see you soon okay?"
" Okay daddy." Said James, hugging him again.
Nathan looked straight into Haley's eyes. " I need to get better soon. Can I give you a call this week to see our baby?" He asked with a smile.
" Of course you can!" Said Haley, putting a hand on his shoulder. " You can see him whenever you want."
" Can I see you whenever I want too?" Nathan asked embarrassed.
Haley looked at her shoes. She blushed.
" You don't need to answer just now Hales." Nathan said nicely. " You've got time."
He was about to walk away when he bent over and whisperer in her hear. " I love you Haley James-Scott. You're my wife, my best friend, my soul mate. We'll be together again."
Nathan turned around and left the park. Haley just stood there as petrified. She could not believe what she just heard. A small voice brought her back to reality.
" Mummy? Can I have my hot chocolate now?" Asked Jamie.
" Hum? Oh yes sorry honey!" Haley handed him the beaker.
She felt different, it was like she was starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. This new hope was scaring her because she could not bear to be crushed again.