Thanks to my reviewers: 101naley101, iftheyonlyknewthetruth, mistydm, nemo123489, LiZ457, and itsDMFkids. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 15

I took a few deep breaths before I was able to say anything. "She's what?"

A few tears fell down his cheeks. "Hales, I'm so sorry! I-"

"How can it be yours?" I interupted.

"She said that she thought she was for a while, but she was too scared to get it checked out knowing I wouldn't be there for her anymore. So, I went with her to get a test and she took it and its positive."

I turned away from him. I walked further inside the room, not really paying attention to Brooke, Peyton or Bevin. Once I was sure I could hold my tears in, I faced him. "What are you gonna do, Nate?" I asked, my voice small.

He sighed. "Can you not be so far from me right now, Hales? I really need you," his voice cracked as he spoke.

My heart broke and I went back into his arms. Rachel sure did have a way of ruining my perfect world. "We're gonna go somewhere else. Call me if you need me, Haley," Brooke said and the girls left, closing the door behind them.

I looked up at him. He looked broken, beaten, and distraught. I grabbed his hand and led him to my bed. "What are you gonna do?" I repeated.

He sighed. "I'm not going to abandon my child," he started and I nodded. "But I'm not giving up on being with you, Haley. I love you more than anything! You're the only person I have ever honestly loved that wasn't a family member." Tears started to fall from my eyes and they continued from his. "I am not going to let her take the best thing I have going for me away!"

I pulled him into my arms, allowing him to cry on my shoulder. I wanted to keep crying along with him, but one of us needed to be strong. A short while later, he pulled back. I gave him a small smile and grabbed both of his hands in my own. I brought them to my lips and kissed them. "Nathan, you know I love you and that you mean more to me than anything in this world," I started. I paused for a deep, shaky breath. "But you know we can't be together anymore. You-"

He stood up. "NO! This isn't fair, Haley! You know I love you! Why are you doing this to me?" he screamed at me.

I stood up and tried to hug him, but he wouldn't respond. I pulled back and looked straight into his eyes. "It's not about what I want anymore. It's not about what you want anymore. It is about what is good and right for your child, Nathan. A child that is not mine! You are going to be with Rachel and you are going to help her with this baby!" I said and went to open the door. "I can't be the one to tell you what to do, really, but I did tell you what I think you should do. You may not want to be with Rachel, but it's for the best. You need to go and think about this on your own."

He stared at me for a while, like he was debating what to do. Suddenly, he started walking towards me. He leaned down and kissed me. I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't have any of it. I stopped fighting and allowed myself to have this, after all it would be the last time I did this with him. The last time I kissed the love of my life.

He pulled back and rested his forehead on mine. "Please, don't do this, Haley. I need you more than anything," he whispered.

I stepped back. "I can't be who you want me to be, Nate. I won't do that to your child. I can only be your friend now," I replied and motioned for him to leave.

He sighed and walked out. I began to close the door, but his hand stopped me. I looked at him expectantly and he spoke. "I'll always love you, Haley Elizabeth Roe. Always and forever."

He continued out this time and I closed the door behind him. I looked up, trying to avoid the tears I knew were coming. I just ran onto my bed, stuck my head in my pillow, and sobbed. This couldn't be happening! It had to be a dream! Nathan and I were going to be together forever! How could things get so terrible after being so perfect? I sobbed and sobbed until I fell asleep.

I woke up hours later, feeling terrible. I stood up and walked over to my mirror. My eyes were swollen from crying, my face was blotchy and I felt horrible. I sighed and walked out of my room and across the hall. Lucas was in his room with Brooke, Peyton and Jake. I closed the door behind me and they all looked at me with sad faces.

Brooke and Peyton stood and came over to hug me. I instantly began crying again. "Oh, sweetie! I'm so sorry!" Brooke said.

"Me, too, Haley! Rachel has a way of ruining everything," Peyton added.

I shook my head. "No, don't blame it on her," I said and they looked at me like I was crazy. "Okay, so maybe I do. I just don't feel right doing it. I mean, there's a child involved and I can't help but think about how scared she must be right now. I know, I know. I'm crazy to be worried about her when I know I'll never be with Nathan again."

"Wait, what do you mean you'll never be with Nate again?" Jake asked.

"I broke it off with him," I said simply and sat on Luke's bed.

"Why would you go and do that?" Brooke exclaimed.

"It's not fair for the child to have to split their time inbetween parents! It would be much easier for everyone with Rachel and Nathan back together," I said. I rested my head on Luke's shoulder, who had yet to say anything. "Luke, I trust your judgement. Do you think I'm being stupid?"

He kissed my forehead and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "I think you're doing a good thing, Hales. It might not be good for you, but you're doing it for someone else. A child that your boyfriend is having with another girl. I think you are very brave," he said and I just nodded.

I didn't stay there much longer. I had other people that I wanted to see. I made my way to Deb's Diner. It was closed by now, but the door was still open. "We're closed!" I heard as I entered. She looked over to the door and instantly had a different look on her face.

"Closed to everyone or can you spare a few minutes for me?" I asked softly.

"Oh, Haley. My door is always open for you and you know it. Please, come have a seat," she said and lead me to a booth. "Nathan told me everything, Haley, and I must say that you are doing a very noble thing, but I have to ask you to reconsider. Now, before you start to protest, hear me out. Nathan has never been as happy as he is with you. You've made him a better person, Haley. Leaving him may not be the right answer. I understand where you're coming from when you say that you want whats best for this child. You are right in saying that having both parents together would make it easier on the child's development. But you deserve to be happy, too, as does Nathan. Hell, I'm not even sure if Rachel's telling the truth that it is Nathan's baby! I need to make sure that you are sure, Haley, because you might not be able to get him back after this."

I let her words sink in. She was right about many things, but I have to follow my gut. "I'm sorry, Deb, but I can't do that to this child. I hope you don't hate me for this, but it's hard on me, too!" I said and she hugged me.

"Haley, I could never hate you. You've become like a daughter to me," she replied.

I sat back. "I don't think you're going to like me very much after what I'm about to say," I started.

"Haley, don't be silly. Just tell me. I know I won't hate you," she said.

I took a deep breath. "I don't think I can handle going to duke with Nathan going as well. It will just be too hard. I'm going to ask my dad if he could send a letter to Stanford so I can go there. It was always my dream school, next to duke. Please understand, Deb," I said.

She had tears in her eyes. "I think that if you believe you're doing whats best for you, then you should do it. I'm going to miss you a lot, Haley."

"I'll write you an e-mail everyday if you promise to tell me how things are going with the whole situation here."

She nodded and hugged me one last time. I stood up and walked out, planning on heading straight home. "So, were you gonna tell me you weren't going to duke anymore or was I just supposed to notice that you wouldn't be there?"

I turned to see Nathan. He was waiting outside the diner and had obviously heard my confession to Deb. "Nathan, I was going to tell you. It's just too complicated right now and I'm not even sure if my dad can get me into Stanford."

He sighed and walked closer to me. "Haley, I don't even know if this baby is mine and you are willing to just throw away what we have for it! You can't do this to me; to us!"

"Nathan, if this baby ends up not being yours, you give me a call. If it is, well then I hope you have a good life with Rachel, cause I can only be your friend. Please don't think I blame you. I just know it will all be easier this way," I said and he just nodded.

"So, this is goodbye?" he asked softly.

I laughed a little. "I'm not going anywhere yet, Nate. I'll make sure you're the first to know when I leave if I do," I replied and then reached up to kiss him, but stopped myself halfway. "Sorry. Force of habit."

He pulled me into his arms for a hug. "I meant what I said, Haley. I will love you, always and forever. Even if Rachel has my child, that's all she'll be; the mother of my child." He pulled back and walked away.

Sighing, I went into my car. As soon as I got home I walked into my father's office. "Daddy? I need a favor..."

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