Well hello there :D

How are my favourite people today?

As promised here is another chapter..another longer chapter which i think ends cute hehe...

Thanks sooo much for the replies they mean soooo much i can even say lol

Chapter 7

The car journey back to Brooke's house was quite, however it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. Haley would have thought she would have felt embarrassed if she knew Nathan was listening to her conversation with Mark, but surprisingly she didn't. She felt a great deal of freeness, whether that was just because she talked to Mark, something she hadn't been able to do for awhile, or if it was the knowledge that Nathan was going to be there for her. She didn't know. She just knew she didn't want to let go of that feeling, because maybe, maybe it was the first step to moving on.

"Hale's are you okay?" Nathan's voice broke her out of her thoughts as they pulled up outside Brooke's house.

Haley looked at him and studied his face for a second. What he said back at the cemetery really meant a lot to her. He was such a great guy, not just for what he said, but for everything. The way he is with Chloe, even thought she isn't biologically his, how he adopted her still in college because he didn't want her going in care. He had really come a long way from the jock he used to be.

Smiling timidly she answered "I'm great!"

Smiling back Nathan went to open the car door, but was stopped by Haley's hand on his arm. He looked at her with curiosity he asked her what was up.

"Hale's, come on, Brooke's waiting, and she has some urgent news for you." He said to try and lighten up the situation. He smiled when he saw her smile.

"Nathan thanks." She said simply and leant up to kiss him on the cheek. "For everything." And before Nathan could figure out what was happening she had opened the car door and was walking up the steps to the party. Sitting there dumbfounded he reached up to his cheek and left his hand there for awhile. Did she really do that? But was interrupted from his thoughts by Haley telling him to hurry up from the door.

"Haley!" Brooke squalled with relief when she saw her walk through the door. "Where have you been, I've been worried sick!"

Haley laughed as soon as she said that. "Brooke I did something I needed to do, but I still would have come, you know I don't break promises." She said as she followed Brooke into the living room where she could see all her friends surrounded playing Christmas games, some getting a bit drunk. The sound of Christmas songs still made her feel like she wanted to crawl up in ball and cry but she knew she had to pass by those thoughts away, as she was there to enjoy herself.

"I can see some of you are having a good time." Haley laughed as their neighbour Paul, the 54 year old postman was going around giving everyone bear hugs. Completely drunk of course. She literally burst into a fit of laughter when he went towards Nathan. The way he was backing away from him with a scared look on his face defiantly was worth taking a picture, you could soo tell Nathan was a newbie to their Christmas parties.

"Come on, its just a hug." Paul said still walking towards Nathan.

"Err yeah man… I don't think I'd feel entirely comfortable with that, so err…oh hey Luke over their look's like he wants one." Nathan said trying to get away from this man, it is kind of scary a big drunk man, someone you hadn't meet before coming towards you with big open arms.

"No, no I already gave him one, come on get into the Christmas sprite I just want to wish you a happy holidays."

Feeling he had lost the argument Nathan stopped backing away. "Just a manly one though right, I don't really like proper hugs." He said as Paul clasped his arms around his back. He stood there still like a stick, he couldn't move. Wow this man was strong.

When he finally let go, Nathan noticed Haley laughing hysterically. It was good to see her laugh again, he had missed that.

"What ya laughing at?" He asked as he walked so he was standing next to her.

"Oh no I don't like hugs, it's just a manly one right?" She mocked deepening her voice.

"Hey! Don't mock me James." Nathan warned jokingly.

"Sorry, but your face was hilarious, and also the big macho man you are, aren't you the one who was hugging me a half hour ago? For someone who don't lie hugging your pretty good at it." She smiled.

"Yeah well that's different' Nathan said returning the smile, and hey its not like he didn't get rewarded for it. He felt like he would never want to wash that cheek again.

The party consisted of most of that, Haley joking around with her friends, mostly just having fun. But as she stood there alone she had time to think, all memories came flashing back of the last time she was at a Christmas party. But she was determined to push past those thoughts. But don't get me wrong she didn't want to forget those memories, of course she didn't. She just didn't want to feel sad when thinking about them. Deciding she needed some fresh air she walked out to the garden.

The cold air breezed around her as she tightened her jacket when she walked through the patio doors. Gosh it was so pretty, the snow, and the lights around the village. Haley shocked herself when she was able to admire the view of the Christmas surroundings, as a couple of days ago she would practically fall apart.

Walking over to the swing she sat down on it and began to swing slowly, as she got lost in her thoughts. Only this time her thoughts didn't consist on Mark and Zoë! She was thinking about the times when she was younger when Nathan was the king of the school, the star basketball player. He most definitely wasn't the person he was today, but that still didn't mean she didn't love him, because she did! Man did she love him backing high school. He might have been mean and arrogant to the teachers, or the people that didn't follow his orders, but that didn't mean he didn't have a heart. Because he did! And he showed it to Haley on many occasions, for example when his dad would pester him about the game, he would go over to Haley's and some days she would have sworn he was about to cry.

Things like that was what made her fall for him, when he would only show the real him to her. That's a reason why she didn't ever stay in contact with him after high school. Because she loved him! It hurt when she knew he wouldn't return those feelings, so she just tried her hardest to forget about him, and hopefully those feelings would flood away. Which they did! Well at least she thought they did, she wasn't quite sure now. When Nathan turned up on her doorstep the other day, things got very…confusing, because obviously having Chloe turned Nathan into the sweet sensitive guy he was only with her back then.

But do these feelings for Nathan mean she doesn't love Mark anymore? She couldn't help asking herself, because she does, but would he be watching and think she was somewhat cheating on him?

"Ahhh" Haley's thoughts were interrupted by a big sense of coldness hit her cheek. Turning around suddenly she was greeted by a laughing Nathan and Chloe, holding snow balls in their hands.

"Excuse me?" Haley laughed opening her mouth wide with shock, "That was not nice." She pouted, secretly scooping some snow from the swing next to the one she was perched on.

"It was all daddy Haley, I told him no but he said Santa wouldn't give me any presents if I didn't." Chloe said sticking her tongue out at Nathan before running over to Haley.

"Oh so it was all your idea Nathan huh?" Haley said with a mischievous look in her eyes.

"Chloe Elizabeth Scott, I did not say that!" Nathan laughed, but pointing to his daughter to try and be stern, because after all he might have had something to do with it.

"He did Haley, he did."

Haley smiled, whispering in Chloe's ear, "I think were gunna have to do something about that then aren't we?" And with that said she chucked the ball she had secretly been making, but unfortunately missed Nathan by a long shot.

"And that was supposed to be?" Nathan said laughing…hard. She sure hadn't changed in that aspect.

"Hey, don't laugh at me Scott!" Haley warned pouting, she should have known she would have missed, when did she ever hit target?

"Yeah you sucked Haley" Chloe said putting a hand up to cover her mouth as soon as she did.

"What did you just say?" Nathan and Haley said looking at Chloe, completely shocked. Since when did she know that word?

"Uncle Luke taught me it." She said sheepishly.

"Well just don't say it again; it's a bad word for a little girl like your self okay?" Nathan said tickling her.

"Daddy, stop!" Chloe let out in a fit of laughter.

"Say you won't say it again then."

"Fine I…I wont say the bad word."

Once Nathan had put Chloe back down to the floor she ran back inside, so he decided to join Haley on the swing next to her.

"You're really great with her you know, she's lucky to have you." Haley said softly, it was times like that when she missed playing around with Zoë.

Noticing her sadness, Nathan yet again picked up her hand and entwined it with his own. "Hey, I'm no better than any other parent, I'm sure you were the same with Zoë."

"Yeah…" She sighed. After a few moments of silence she said "You know she reminds me a lot of Zoë."

"What Chloe?"

"Yeah just the way she is, they would have been great little friends, if you know…well what happened didn't."

Not really knowing what to say back to that, Nathan asked a question he had been wondering all day.

"What you doing for Christmas Hales?"

"What?" Haley said confused.

"Christmas, what you doing? Are you celebrating it? Because tomorrow is Christmas Eve and you still haven't got one decoration up, I was just wondering if you were going to be celebrating it there." He said squeezing her hand a little.

"Umm, I guess not, I think I might be going to Brookes, its just I couldn't bring myself to put them up that was always Marks job you know."

Nathan nodded in understanding, but wasn't totally sure if he should ask her what he wanted to. Maybe it was a bit fast, maybe she wasn't ready, but as he kept contemplating a thought come into his head telling him to just go ahead, the worst she could say is no.

"Umm Haley…alright you can say no if you don't want to okay, don't feel like you have to say yes because you think that is what I want to hear, because it is but I wouldn't want that to be the reason you came…" He said starting to ramble a little.

Haley smiled noticing that and decided to cut him in and tell him to get to the point.

"Okay umm, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to join me and Chloe for Christmas?" He asked nervously.

When Haley remained silent, he was about to get ready to mentally kick himself. Damn him for rushing things. However when she smiled and looked into his eyes he felt his heart flutter slightly.

"That would be great, thanks Nathan"

…………….

"Haley! Brooke screeched in her ear when she had walked back into the house.

"Whoa Brooke quiet it down a bit yeah?" Haley laughed.

"Where have you been? I haven't seen you practically all night; I need to talk to you about something." Brooke said dragging her arm out into the hallway, it was much quieter in their, they could actually hear themselves think.

"I found Luke's Christmas present." Brooke grinned, "And guess what it is? Ill tell you, a ring, and very pretty ring that goes on my left hand, finger next to little."

"No way?" Haley screeched with excitement, she was so happy for Brooke she knew she had been dropping hints about this for ages, but Luke seemed to be to dumb to notice, its about time.

"You're going to say yes right?" Haley asked making sure.

Brooke looked at Haley like she had just come back from mars "Duh? Of course I'm going to say yes." Brooke squealed hugging Haley.

Once the two had calmed down a bit Haley couldn't help but take the smile of her face.

"Brooke…" She whispered. "You're getting married."

"I know." Brooke smiled.

"I'm going to be the maid of honour right?" Haley joked, knowing Brooke would have figured all this out years ago.

"Oh you bet ya honey…" Brooke smiled before looking all serious "You are alright with this though right? Because if you aren't I can put it off for a year or two."

"WHAT????" Haley screamed. "Why on earth would I want you to do that?"

"Well you know because you lost your husband not that long ago and it might be hard for ya." Brooke said sympathetically.

Haley felt tears form in her eyes again, but this time was with gratitude. She had the best friend in the world. "Brooke honey I love you so much for even considering that but there is no way in a hundred years I would even let you do that, you here me, of course it might bring back memories but they would be good memories. Its not right to think back to your wedding day and feel sad." She said before she hugged her for dear life. What did she do to deserve a best friend like Brooke she didn't know, but she felt pretty damn lucky.

"Wow Nathan's sure made a big impact on ya Hales" Brooke said as the drew apart.

"What?" Haley asked confused.

"Well its like as soon as he comes back into your life you slowly becoming the old you, and what its only been a couple of days." Brooke smiled nudging her side a bit.

"You like him don't ya?" Brooke asked.

Haley didn't know what to say. She scanned the room and saw him sitting on the couch with Chloe asleep on his lap. As of he could sense her looking at him he looked back at her and gave her the biggest smile she had ever seen.

Returning the smile she kept her eyes on his whilst answering Brooke.

"Yeah Brooke, I think I do!"

Tell me what you think

Sorry if some of this is rushed but i wrote half of it this morning before i went to the dentist and the other half when i got home and since i have a fat lip after the injection I just wanted to hurry this up hehe

Hope u liked it...tell me what you think

Much love

Jade.x.x.x.xx