Ok so I got a ton of reviews this time but unfortunately I only have so long to write this before my battery dies lol. So I am just going to thank you all so much for your reviews. And I will be sure to leave specific comments for you all next time.
Nathan and the gang are now 5 just so that no one gets confused.
Disclaimer: I only own the characters that I make up along with the plot.
Chapter 6
It had now been over a year since that fateful night when Dan had caused his son to hate basketball. It wasn't that Nathan really hated the game it was more so that he hated the way that it made his dad act.
LeeAnn had now started up her daycare and it was doing really well. Many people had been reluctant at first due to her age but as word got around the kids started to pile in. She now had an average of 30 kids a day which meant that she had to have 5 works as well since you needed one adult for every 5 children.
Nathan and Haley were friends but Haley had actually taken more to Lucas. Where ever one was you were sure to find the other. LeeAnn had been surprised when all of the kids had the same kindergarden teacher. She felt bad for whoever had Peyton, Brooke, Jake, Haley, Lucas, and Nathan. Those kids could definitely be a handful.
Dan had started spending less and less time with Nathan. Now only taking him about once a month and then for the two weeks during summer. LeeAnn hated that Nathan got stuck with that monster for two weeks. She knew that Nathan wasn't happy when he was there and yet she couldn't do anything about it.
It was now 4 and Nathan should be getting home from school any minute. LeeAnn had offered to pick him up but he said that he wanted to ride the bus like a big boy.
"LeeAnn I'm home." Nathan shouted as he bounded into the house.
"Hey monster man how was school." LeeAnn asked twirling him in a circle.
"It was good. I got yelled at though." Nathan said putting his head down.
"Nathan what did you do." LeeAnn asked getting eye level with him. "Nathan you need to look at me. What did you do?"
"Well this boy was picking on Haley. He took her dolly away from her. I told him to give it back but he wouldn't. So I shoved him and got the doll back." Nathan said getting a little teary eyed. He didn't want LeeAnn to be mad at him.
"Oh Nathan. You know better then to shove people. You should have told the teacher and let her take care of it. What am I going to do with you? This is the second time that you have gotten into trouble."
"I'm really sorry. I just didn't want Haley to be upset." Nathan said trying to hold in the tears.
"Come here bud." LeeAnn said setting him on her lap in the rocking chair. "I'm not mad at you. I just don't want you to be taken away from me."
Nathan turned on her lap so that he could look at her. "Why would they take me away?" He asked scared.
"If you're always getting into trouble then they are going to think that I can't take care of you."
"But it's not your fault I was just trying to help." Nathan said letting a few tears fall.
"I know buddy. But you can't do that anymore ok. I don't know what I would do if someone took you away from me."
"I don't want to leave. I don't want to have to live with daddy." Nathan said snuggling into her as she rocked.
"I will do everything I can to make sure that you never have to live with your dad. I promise." LeeAnn whispered to him.
"Pinky promise." Nathan asked holding out his small pinky.
LeeAnn grabbed it and kissed her hand as Nathan kissed his. "I pinky promise."
With that Nathan leaned back into her and let her rock him for awhile.
LeeAnn couldn't help but think that it was nice to be able to just sit with Nathan like this. After he went into school he had decided that he was too old to sit and rock with her. However whenever he was upset or there was a storm though he was right here in this chair with her.
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It was now Sunday and Haley's 5th birthday. Haley was excited that she would now be as old as Lucas and Nathan.
Unfortunately her parents had to go away on business and weren't going to be there. This made Haley sad but she was also happy to be able to stay with LeeAnn.
"Ok bub so since today is your birthday what do you want to do." LeeAnn asked the crazy looking 5 year old.
"Umm can we go to the zoo?" Haley asked.
"Sure why not but first why don't we go to Karen's to get something to eat."
"YAY I really want a grilled cheese sandwich."
"I figured you would."
"Is Nathan coming too or is it just us." Haley asked.
"Nope Chris said that he would come and hang out with Nathan for the day so it is just going to be us girls."
"I was hoping that you would say that."
"Why I thought that you and Nathan were friends." LeeAnn asked concerned.
"We are but I never get to see you anymore. We used to always do things together." Haley said sadly.
LeeAnn looked at her little sister and couldn't help but feel terrible. Here she had been so concerned with taking care of Nathan that she had sort of put Haley on a back burner.
"Bub, I'm sorry I never meant to make you feel bad." LeeAnn said picking her up. As well as making a mental note that she was getting too big for that. "How about from now on we have a sister day once a week huh."
Haley's whole face broke out into a huge smile as she hugged her sister tight. "That would be awesome."
The two of them went to Karen's for a little while. LeeAnn and Karen had actually planned a little party for her with all of her friends. Haley was surprised and LeeAnn was glad that she had something to make her forget the fact that her parents weren't there. She knew that her parents had felt bad but at the same time she felt like they had kind of taken advantage of her. She didn't mind looking after her sister but it had become quiet the regular thing.
Haley walked over to her friends and talked to all of them but Nathan. This did not go unnoticed by him either.
"Hey Brooke I thought that you were going to the beach today." Haley asked her friend.
"Nah I was really coming here I just didn't want you to know."
"Yeah and I didn't really have to go see my grandma." Peyton said from behind her.
"And I didn't get grounded silly. I don't even know what that means." Jake said laughing.
"Umm you knew I was gonna be here." Lucas said a little embarrassed that he hadn't come up with anything.
Nathan went to speak when Haley interrupted him.
"Well good now then we can all play. Can we go on the roof and play golf do you think." Haley asked Lucas.
"I don't know we have to ask my mom." Lucas grinned.
Karen let them go up and LeeAnn agreed to check on them once in a while. They had fenced in the roof so they knew that there was no way that any of the kids could fall off or anything.
Haley was having a great time with her friends when she fell and scrapped her knee. She started to cry and Nathan ran over to her right away.
"Are you ok Haley?" Nathan asked touching her knee.
"Oww Nathan go away. I don't want you I want Lucas." She cried.
Nathan just looked at her and walked away feeling like he had just lost his best friend. Here Nathan was the one that stood up for her in school and she wanted Lucas.
Lucas was over there as soon as he heard his name.
"Haley what happened." Lucas asked sitting next to her.
Haley put her head on his shoulder. "I was running after Brooke and I fell. It stings Luke." Haley said trying to be a big girl and hold in her tears.
"I am going to go and get LeeAnn so that she can fix you." Brooke said running off."
"What do you want me to do?" Peyton asked looking around.
"You can sit with us." Lucas said moving over a little.
No one had even noticed Nathan go downstairs and out the front door.
LeeAnn looked down when she felt a hand tug at her shirt.
"Miss LeeAnn you need to come quick. Haley is hurt." Brooke said fast.
LeeAnn's stomach fell to her feet. Brooke made it sound as if Haley was in real trouble.
LeeAnn raced up the stairs and found Haley sitting and laughing with Lucas and Peyton.
"Haley what happened Brooke said that you were hurt really bad." LeeAnn said worried.
"No she just fell and scraped her knee." Peyton said scrunching up her face in confusion.
LeeAnn looked down at Brooke and couldn't help but laugh at the innocent look on her face. "Oh you are going to be a dramatic one." LeeAnn said. Not knowing just how right she was going to be.
"Ok bub lets get you a band aid." LeeAnn said looking at all the kids.
"Jake, where's Nathan." LeeAnn asked looking at the little boy who was playing golf.
"Oh he went downstairs when Haley told him to go away." Jake said as he took another swing.
That was the second time in 5 minutes that LeeAnn felt sick. She didn't remember seeing Nathan downstairs. Maybe she had just missed him.
LeeAnn ran down the stairs handing Haley to Karen and looking around for Nathan.
"Have any of you seen Nathan." LeeAnn asked desperately.
Everyone shook there head no and one woman had the nerve to speak. "See this is what happens when a child is left with a child."
"You better hold your tongue when you are in my café. I tend to remember you little one running across the street to the ice cream shop not to long ago." Karen shot back at her.
LeeAnn had barely heard any of it as she looked out the window and saw a mess of black hair sticking up over the bench.
She immediately ran outside to see if it was Nathan. Thankfully she rounded the corner and there he was sitting cross legged on the bench looking down at his feet.
"Hey kiddo what wrong." LeeAnn asked sitting next to him.
"Haley doesn't want to be my friend anymore. She likes Lucas instead." Nathan said holding back his tears.
"Oh buddy Haley loves you very much she is just mad."
"Why what did I do." Nathan asked confused.
"You didn't do anything wrong. Haley is mad at me because I spend all my time with you instead of her."
"But Haley comes over all the time." Nathan said still confused as to what was going on.
"I know but its just different then what it used to be like."
"So then it is my fault. If I had been a better boy then daddy and mommy would have wanted me and Haley could have had you." Nathan said sniffling.
"Nathan Cooper Scott you look at me." LeeAnn said forcefully.
Nathan looked up at her and could see anger in her eyes. Only it wasn't directed at him.
"None of this is your fault. You are a wonderful kid and anyone would be lucky to have you. I love you very much and so does your mommy. You were always a good boy your daddy just isn't a very nice man." LeeAnn said calming down towards the end.
She hated that Nathan felt this way but she had known that it wasn't always going to be easy. That he was going to wonder why he was living with his babysitter instead of his parents.
"Okay." Was all Nathan said as he looked out towards the road.
"Why don't we go back inside? Just because Haley is grumpy doesn't mean that you can't play with the other kids."
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It was later in the day and LeeAnn was waiting for Chris to come so that she could take Haley to the Zoo. As she watched Nathan and Haley she could tell that something wasn't right. Normally the two of them would be laughing and having fun. Instead Nathan looked sad while Haley looked angry. LeeAnn heard a knock on the door and decided to worry about it later.
"Chris hey baby. Thank you so much for doing this." LeeAnn said giving him a lingering kiss.
"Yeah well I know how much you wanted to spend the day with Haley. So I guess that I can take the little brat for now."
"Chris come on you know that I hate it when you call him that. He had enough of that with his father ok."
"Look LeeAnn I was just kidding you don't need to get all upset ok."
"Your right. Look it has just been a hard day. Come on bub." LeeAnn called into the living room.
LeeAnn went and gave Nathan a hug and kiss goodbye. "Chris is going to stay and play with you ok."
"Will you be back to tuck me in and sing songs." Nathan asked sadly.
"Of course I will sweetie." LeeAnn said kissing him once more on the head before turning to leave.
"Chris. Can you make sure that he gets a bath?"
"Yeah sure whatever." Chris said from his spot on the couch.
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Haley and LeeAnn were having a good time at the Zoo but she couldn't help but feel bad for Nathan sitting back at the apartment trying to figure out why Haley was mad at him.
"So you know bub you were pretty mean to Nathan today."
"So. It's not like you care when he's mean to me."
"Haley James I have never once seen that boy be mean to you since that day in the park."
"Yeah well he is in school. He is always telling people that they can't play with me because I'm his best friend."
"Oh. Now I get it. Nathan didn't really get into a fight because someone took something from you it was because you were playing with them wasn't it."
"Yeah and now everyone is afraid to be my friend because of him. The only people who still talk to me are Jake, Peyton, Brooke, and Lucas."
"Well I will have to make sure to talk to him about all of this ok."
"Good cause I really don't like being mad at Nathan." Haley said smiling.
LeeAnn couldn't help but laugh at how easy it really was to please her sister. The two of them stayed for a few hours walking around the zoo looking at all of the different animals. Haley had decided that her favorite was a black bird called a Raven there was something about the sound it made that was scary and brave all at the same time.
It was a little after 7 and LeeAnn could tell that Haley was getting tired. They got into the van and began to head to the ice cream place before going home.
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Nathan had been left with Chris for only an hour when he began to get bored and hungry.
"Chris can I have a snack please." Nathan asked politely.
"Hold on. I'm trying to watch this." Chris said annoyed.
Nathan sat there for almost 2 more hours when he decided to go and get it for himself. He tried to reach up to the cabinet but he was too short. He got the stool and just as he had the plate in hand the stole rocked and he tipped over dropping the plate in the process.
Chris heard the sound of breaking glass from the living room and looked up to see Nathan was no longer in the chair playing. He went into the kitchen and saw the little boy quickly trying to pick up the pieces while rubbing his head.
"What the heck is this?" Chris screamed.
"I didn't want to bother you so I tried to get my own snack." Nathan said. "I am really sorry. I fell off of the stool and the plate broke."
"That's it. Into your room now someone needs a good spanking." Chris said sharply.
Nathan looked at him wide eyed. Nathan used to get spanked all the time by his dad and that's why LeeAnn had never done it to him.
"But LeeAnn doesn't spank me. She puts me in time out." He cried.
"Well it obviously isn't working now go I want you on your bed pants down when I get there."
Chris grabbed a wooden spoon and got ready to spank the little boy the same way he had been. Only problem was he had no right to do any of this.
Nathan whimpered as he heard Chris walking towards his room. LeeAnn promised he kept thinking. She promised.
Nathan cried in pain as Chris cracked the spoon onto his bare butt. It was then that Nathan decided he didn't like Chris Keller.
LeeAnn walked into the apartment and could hear the sound of screaming and shouting.
"This is what you get for not listening you little shit." Chris bellowed.
LeeAnn's voice caught in her throat. No it couldn't be. Chris wouldn't hurt Nathan.
"Haley go to your room now." LeeAnn said shooting a glare before the little girl could protest.
"Please Stop." Nathan sobbed.
"Once you have learned your lesson." Chris said as he raised the spoon again. Only he was stopped by LeeAnn grabbing it out of his hands.
"What the hell do you think your doing?" LeeAnn shouted.
"He wasn't listening so I spanked him. What the big deal. I little pat of the bottom never hurt anyone." Chris said smoothly.
"No it didn't but what I just saw was not a little pat. And besides that I don't spank Nathan. I promised him that I never would. You need to leave." LeeAnn said as she turned towards Nathan.
"Don't do this. Is Nathan really worth losing a 4 year relationship over. We were supposed to get married and have kids of our own." Chris pleaded.
"Why so that you could beat them too. I don't think so. And yes Nathan is worth it now you need to leave." LeeAnn said walking him to the door.
LeeAnn shut the door and could feel the tears forming in her eyes. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Her and Chris were supposed to get married and he was going to be a good father figure to Nathan. That had always been the plan. At least it had been for LeeAnn.
Then suddenly LeeAnn saw the little boy peak his head out of his room.
"I didn't mean to break the plate LeeAnn I fell off the stool. Please don't spank me." He cried.
LeeAnn couldn't take it anymore she scooped him up in her arms and started to rock him. It was the only thing she knew would calm him down.
"Oh baby boy I would never spank you like that. I made you a promise and I won't break it. Now what exactly happened?" LeeAnn asked kissing the top of is head.
"I asked Chris if I could have a snack but he told me to wait because he was watching TV. I waited a long time and I didn't want to bug him again so I thought I could do it myself."
"Oh buddy he shouldn't have ignored you like that. I am so sorry this is all my fault."
LeeAnn was starting to wonder if Nathan would have been better off with Dan. At least Dan had never hit him. Or so she thought.
"I was on the stool and I got a plate when I slipped and fell. I bumped my head on the cupboard and the plate broke." Nathan said rubbing the spot on his head.
LeeAnn gently rubbed her finger over the spot and could feel a pretty nice bump there.
"Oh but I bet that hurt huh."
"Yeah but I'm tough." Nathan said flexing his muscles.
"Oh wow I guess you are." LeeAnn said starting to laugh.
"Why don't you go play with Haley while I clean up the kitchen ok."
"Is she still mad at me." Nathan asked scared.
"No bud she's not mad at you anymore."
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Nathan went into Haley's room and saw that she was playing with her Barbie dolls.
"Hi Haley." Nathan said walking in slowly.
"Nathan." Haley said running at him. "I'm sorry that I was mean earlier. You really are my best friend." She said hugging him.
"Why were you mad at me." Nathan asked.
"I don't like when you scare people away from me. I want to be friends with everyone."
"But I don't want you to forget me." Nathan said looking down.
"You're my best friend silly how could I forget about you. And you live with my sister duh." Haley said pushing him.
"Ok I guess that I could be nicer."
"So why were you screaming when we came home." Haley asked remembering the terrible sound of her best friends' pain.
"I broke a plate on accident so Chris was giving me a spanking with the wood spoon." Nathan said looking down. Embarrassed that Haley had heard that.
"Well I never liked Chris anyways. Now LeeAnn can get rid of him. He was always calling me a brat." Haley said hugging Nathan again.
"Yeah I guess."
"I'm tired." Haley said yawning.
"Me too. I'll see you in the morning Haley."
"Wait I have an idea." Haley said smiling.
Haley ran into LeeAnn's room and saw her crying on her bed.
"Don't cry LeeAnn." Haley said getting into her lap and hugging her.
"I'm sorry bub I'm just sad." LeeAnn said looking down at the little girl. She then saw Nathan standing next to the bed looking a little uneasy. "Get on up here monster man. It looks like we're having a little slumber party." LeeAnn said as Nathan curled up on the other side of her.
She looked at his cute little face and bright eyes and wondered how Chris could have done something like that to him. He was a good kid and he didn't deserve any of what life had given him. Then she looked over at Haley and wondered how her parents could be away from her for so long. Finally sleep overcame her and the two kids one on each side snuggled into her.
Remember to please review. I love to hear what you guys think. And the more reviews I get the sooner that I will put up a new chapter.