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Chapter 23

Rachel was pretty quiet throughout dinner. I think she was getting used to the idea of me again. I mean, lets face it. She knew Nathan and I were in love. She witnessed it first hand. She may get suspicious if we're alone together. New rule, Nate and I can never be left alone. Just to be safe.

Everyone was chatting and laughing. We were all finished eating, but we remained at the table. It would be a great Christmas, that's for sure. It's supposed to be my first Christmas with Nate, but it looks that that'll be taken from me. I just wish there was some way to know for sure with Rachel. I just wanted this over with now. I wanted to be with my Nathan.

"Haley, are you alright?" I was broken from my thoughts by Deb.

I gave her a small smile. "I'm actually not feeling too well. I'm just going to head up to bed, if that's alright with everyone," I said. They all nodded and said their goodnights.

"Haley? Do you mind if I come talk to you for a few minutes?" Surprisingly this came from Rachel.

"Sure, come on up," I replied. Everyone gave me worried expressions but I waved them off. We waddled into my room and sat on the bed. "So, what's up?"

"Listen, I don't mean to be the bitch here, but what exactly are you trying to pull?" she crossed her arms.

"Excuse me? I don't know what you're talking about," I replied.

She rolled her eyes. "Cut the crap, Haley. I know what you're trying to do! You're trying to split Nate and I up again! That's not going to happen! You're being all nice to me, trying to get on my good side in the hopes that Nathan will notice. Well, it's not going to happen! Nathan loves me! He's marrying me! I'm having his child!" She finished, screaming.

I held up my hand, showing her an engagement ring. "I'm engaged to the man I love, Rachel. I'm engaged to the father of my child. I'm not trying to take anything away from you. You're just paranoid. The reason I'm being nice to you is because I've realized how childish we've been to each other and over some guy! This is stupid! We might as well become friends now, you know?"

She nodded. "Maybe you're right. I just need to learn to trust you, I'm sorry," she said and then took my hand in hers, still looking at the ring. "This is some engagement ring! Where did he get it?"

I smiled at the thought, going back to the weekend Nate visited me…

"Hales, I love being here with you," Nathan said as we were cuddled up watching a movie.

I snuggled in closer. "I love you being here, Nate. I've missed you," I replied, looking up at him.

"I could do this forever, Hales. I would do this forever."

I was confused. "What are you saying, Nate?"

He smiled and stood up, going over to his bag. He came back over with something in his hand. "I love you, Haley Elizabeth Roe," he said, taking my hands into one of his.

"I love you, too, Nathan Daniel Scott," I replied.

"I'm going to love you for the rest of my life, Hales. Always and forever," he said and then opened his other hand, revealing a ring. "I want you to be my wife, Haley. Marry me?"

I gasped. It was absolutely beautiful. "Nathan," I started.

"Will you?" he interrupted.

He seemed very nervous and jumpy. I smiled at him. "Yes, of course, Nathan! I'll marry you!" I said and he slipped the ring on my finger.

"You've just made me the happiest man alive, Hales. I promise that I'll always be there for you. Once this whole thing with Rachel is over we're going to get married. I love you."

I smiled and kissed him. "I love you, too. Nathan this ring is gorgeous! Where did you get it?"

He grinned. "It was my mom's engagement ring and she gave it to me in the hopes I'd give it to you one day," he replied.

I squealed. "I love your mom!"

"Haley? Hello?"

I came back to reality and smiled at her. "It was his mother's engagement ring," I said and she smiled. "Well, Rachel, I'm really tired, so if you don't mind…"

"Say no more, Haley. I'll let you sleep. I'll see you in the morning, okay?" I nodded and she left the room.

I grinned to myself. "Haley Elizabeth Roe you are one evil genius! I don't know how you do it, you sly devil!" I said to myself. I stood to do a little victory dance before lying down. I wasn't ready to sleep yet. I still had a lot of scheming to do.

Now that Rachel was starting to 'trust' me, I could move sooner. See, I know she really doesn't trust me yet. It's too soon for that, but I've given her no reason not to. She'd fall for my act eventually and that's when I would make my move. That's when she'll confess. That's when she'll go down!

I woke the next morning with a smile on my face. I had good dreams about a very naked Nathan. Let's just say dreams are sooo much better when you're pregnant! All I've been having are sex dreams with Nathan!

I stood up and got dressed. As soon as I pulled my shirt over my head, my phone rang. I answered with a cheerful, "Hello!"

"Did you forget to do something?"

I hit my head. "Sorry, Chris! I totally forgot to call you! How are you doing?" I asked. I decided to walk downstairs as I was talking to him. I just hope Rachel is downstairs so she could hear the conversation.

"I'm doing good now that I've heard from you. How about you? How's the baby doing?"

Deb, mom, dad, Dan, Nathan, Rachel and Brooke were all up, talking. "The baby and I are fine. We definitely miss you!" I said. Everyone looked over to me after that statement, some smiles, others glaring. "How's your family? How's your Christmas break going so far?"

"Pretty good so far," he replied. I took a seat next to Brooke who gave me a hug. "I do miss having you around, Hales, but why are you acting like I'm the father of that kid?"

I laughed. "Chris, you're too funny!" I said. I had totally forgotten that I hadn't told him yet! He didn't know he was supposed to pretend. "Well, I hate to cut this short, sweetie-"

"Sweetie?"

"-but I've got to go. Tell you parents I say hello! Bye!" I said and hung up. I looked at everyone. "Good morning!" I said and walked to the fridge, grabbing the milk. I tried to grab a cup as well but the cupboards were too high up.

"Here, let me," Nathan said, grabbing one for me. "Don't want you hurting yourself."

I nodded. "Thanks," I replied and the poured my glass of milk. I put it back in the fridge and then sat back down.

"How did you sleep, sweetheart?" dad asked.

I smiled. "Great! I went to bed feeling terribly and woke up feeling like a million bucks!" I exclaimed and he laughed.

"That's good, sweetie. Glad you aren't getting the terrible morning sickness your mother would get. It was just awful!"

I groaned. "Oh, I get it, but its not necessarily in the mornings. It's all the time!"

"I haven't seen you get sick once since you've been here, Haley," mom said.

I rolled my eyes. "Sorry, mom, next time I'll let you know when I'm puking my guts out."

"Haley!" both my parents scolded and I shrugged.

"Brookie, can we talk for a minute?" I asked.

"Sure, Tutorgirl, let's go up to your room," she replied and we walked upstairs. "What's up?"

I shut the door and smiled. "Guess what!"

"What?"

"Rachel's starting to trust me, well sort of, but it's a start!"

She perked up. "Oh, yeah, you guys talked last night! How did that go? What did you say? What did she say?"

I relayed the entire story to her. She grabbed my hand to see the ring. "Wow, girlie! I can't believe you kept this a secret from me! This is one beautiful rock! I'll have to tell Dan he has good taste!"

I laughed. "I'm sure he let Deb pick it out. Either way they both have great taste!" I replied. "Listen, I was thinking all us girls should go shopping."

"Definitely! It'll be just like old times!" she started rambling on about shoes, clothes and accessories.

I stopped her. "I mean Rachel, too. She's got to feel included right now in order for this all to work," I said.

She nodded. "Right, it's perfect. I'll call Peyton and Bevin while you go downstairs and invite Rachel, okay?"

"Sure, I'll be back in a few," I said, heading downstairs. I walked right up to Rachel. "Hey, I have a question for you."

"I just might have an answer," she replied, crossing her arms.

I laughed slightly. "How about you come with me and the girls shopping? You and I can get some baby shopping done while they try on clothes we can't fit into! It'll be great!"

She laughed. "Okay, sounds good. When are we leaving?"

I shrugged. "Pretty soon, I think. Brooke's calling Peyton and Bevin so as soon as they get here we'll go, sound okay?"

She nodded. "Yeah, let me go get changed. I'll be right back," she said and left to the guest room.

I kept smiling at her back as she went out of sight. I turned to face Nathan. "Okay, so you and I aren't allowed to be alone anymore, okay? She's starting to trust me and I'm just using this as a precaution, okay?"

He groaned. "Fine, but I'll only agree to that if you don't talk all lovey-dovey to your little boyfriend in front of me, okay?"

I laughed. "Deal," I replied and kissed him lightly. "I don't think we're going to be able to do that for a while."

He pulled me into a long hug. "I love you," he whispered.

"I pulled back. "I love you, too," I replied and then backed away. I didn't want Rachel to catch us; it would ruin everything. "So, Deb and Dan, Brooke wanted you two to know she loves your taste in rings." They looked at me confused. I held up my hand and Deb squealed.

"I knew it! I knew it!" she gave me a hug. "It was that weekend, wasn't it? I knew you sounded more happy on the phone talking to me after that weekend!"

I laughed. "Yes, it was. Thank you, Deb. This is the best thing that's ever happened to me and it's even more special since it used to be yours," I said, hugging her again.

"I wanted you to have that. I hope you pass it on to your son when you have one so he can give it to the girl he loves and so on," she replied and then pulled back.

"Okay, I'm ready!" Rachel emerged.

I gave her a smile. "You look nice!" I said.

"Okay, Tutorgirl, Bevin and Peyton are on their way! Hey, Rachel, ready to go shopping?" Brooke asked.

She nodded. "Yeah, let's go!" she replied.

It was so perfect how she was falling into my plan. Nothing could possibly go wrong with it. She would be confessing in no time.

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