Hey :D

So personally hated this chapter, its not at all how i wanted it to turn out but as i really wnated to post an u/d as i dont think i'm going to have chance tomorrow and since i didnt do it yesterday i thought i really had to do it tonight. So here it is...

"Haaaley" Brooke sing sang down the phone the next day. "I know you secretly want to come, just think about it you me and Luke at the rink, it will be fun." Brooke said excitedly, trying to convince Haley to tag along. Since Haley had been in a better mood the last few days she was going to take full advantage of that, also she wanted more details on the yummy new hunk in her best friend's life. After Haley admitted yesterday that she did in fact like him, which is a complete shocker in its self, Luke took Haley off of her saying her needed her opinion on something urgently, so she didn't have a chance to question her!

"Ahh sorry Brooke, I have plans today," Haley said trying her hardest to sound disappointed. As much fun watching Luke propose to Brooke at the local ice rink sounded, she thought she would pass. And besides this would be one of the most important moments in their life, it really should be just then. But of course Brooke didn't know he was planning to propose that night, hell neither did Haley when Luke told her the night before. It all sounded so romantic. The way Luke had planned it all was perfect. He wanted to do it at the scene of the crime, the place they had their first date, which of course would make any girl go aww. He had even hired the whole rink for the night.

"Oh really?" Brooke said suggestively, grinning.

"Yeah so you have fun…" Haley tried to end their conversation short, because otherwise she would just end up blurting out that she was about to get engaged that night. Also she was trying to avoid the subject of Nathan, she hadn't lied the night before when she said she might have feelings for her, but she knew Nathan wouldn't return them, because hey they are just friends. And of course there was still that nagging voice going through her head saying she wasn't ready to jump into another relationship. She had only just, and only just, accepted the end of her last one. Also today really wasn't the day to be thinking about a new love, today was CHRISTMAS EVE after all, and Christmas was always going to be a hard day.

"Oh no missy you don't get to get away that easily we need to talk about your little confession last night, details Hales, I need details, are you sure your ready to jump back into…."

"Hey!" Haley cut in "No one said anything about jumping into anything, okay?"

Brooke sighed "Okay if you say so Hales, but if you're not going to think about jumping back into another relationship, why admit you like him huh? Is it because you feel he doest feel the same way? Because I can guarantee you Hales that boy is crazy about you, I mean duh…have you seen the way he smiles at you? " Brooke laughed before getting serious "Or is it because you feel it wouldn't be what Mark wanted?"

Haley sat there silent for a moment which clarified Brooke's suspicions.

"Hale's Mark wouldn't have wanted you to grow an old spinster and to never fall in love again, and you know that! We all know Mark was a complete pansy for all the love fate stuff, and Nathan is a great guy, this is what Mark would have wanted."

"Yeah but what about Zoë huh?" Haley couldn't help but say.
"What?" Brooke asked confused. "What about Zoë?"

"Well you know with Chloe, what if she's watching from heaven or wherever she is and feels her mum is replacing her?" Haley asked, "Because I don't think I would be able to cope with my little girl thinking I could ever replace her Brooke."

"Haley" Brooke sighed, not really knowing what to say. "If Mark and Zoë are watching they would have been all year witnessing you become a whole complete and utter person Haley, do you really think they would be watching you and actually resent you for trying to move on with your life Hales?"

"I err I dunno Brooke, can we please just leave it yeah? I know Nathan is a great guy, and I know I'm feeling feelings that maybe go beyond friendship but I honestly can't say if I'm ready to jump into anything to soon okay? But hey I don't know what's going to happen in the future, so can we please just see what 'fate' has in store for me…please?" Haley begged down the phone. This conversation was beginning to get her down, and as from yesterday she had made a pact with herself that she was not going to purposely ruin her Christmas with upsetting thoughts.

"Hales, I really think you need to talk…"

"Brooke I'm sorry that was the door, I have to go bye?" And then she hung up.

Brooke couldn't believe Haley had just hung up on her. She was obviously more hung up on Nathan than she had thought, because she was looking into matters way to seriously. Maybe she should have a chat to Nathan and ask him to talk to her, or get Lucas to. She had to do something, but right now she couldn't worry about that. Her and Luke were about to leave.

"Brooke honey we really need to leave, Haley not coming?" Luke asked knowing she wasn't.

"Nope, Luke I'm worried about her, maybe she isn't quite coping the way she was letting on last night." Brooke said as they got in the car ready to get on their way.

"Well Brooke today is the day that they died, of course she isn't going to be feeling so great, she need's time Brooke."

Brooke suddenly felt sick. Of course today was the day. Here she was rambling onto Haley about another man on the anniversary of her husband's death. No wonder she hung up.

………..

Haley wasn't lying when she told Brooke someone was at the door because they were, but she really didn't need to just hang up like that, Brooke was just trying to help her. Knowing she had done something that might have hurt Brooke Haley felt a whole wave of guilt, 'gosh all she was doing was trying to help me and I act like a bit'.

When Haley had made it to the door she didn't have to guess who it was, she could tell by the giggling that it was Nathan and Chloe. Putting a smile on her face she opened the door wide.

"Whoa…" Haley gasped when she opened the door. As soon as it opened a fraction she felt Chloe pounce on her almost flying her backwards.

"Haaaaley." Chloe squealed.

"Guess someone's excited to see you." Nathan laughed walking in through the door. He almost lost his breath when he saw her. She had her long wavy hair down flowing all the way down her back, just like she used to in high school. She never looked so beautiful.

Ergh this was not helping him right now, she just had to look so damn pretty didn't she. All night he had tried to get the feeling of her soft lips on his cheek out of his head, but it was like mission impossible. He couldn't help but wish it was somewhere other than his cheek though. That was the damn problem. He needed to push these feelings away or at least burry them. Haley didn't feel the same way, and even is she did she wouldn't be ready to go into anything with him, so what would be the point of even thinking about it?

Well that was what he told himself when he was lying in bed thinking about her, but standing there now watching her with Chloe looking exceptionally gorgeous, pushing away his feelings was pretty much impossible.

"Oh and what your not?" Haley joked, untangling herself from Chloe, who had now run into the living room.

"Oh of course I am Haley, I could hardly contain my excitement, I needed to come and see you." Nathan smiled. Haley wasn't sure if he was joking or not, deciding to no think about it she asked him the obvious question.

"So don't mean to sound rude or anything by why you here Nate?"

"Well…" Nathan started but Chloe ran back into the room answering for him.

"Daddy wanted to ask you to come over tonight to watch a chrisimas movie with us, so pleeeeease" Chloe begged holding tight onto her legs.

"Oh your daddy wanted to ask huh?" Haley smirked towards Nathan, noticing he looked rather embarrassed.

"No actually WE wanted to ask." Nathan said gritting his teeth at his daughter. Not in a mean way of course. He should have known he shouldn't have asked Chloe to ask.

Thinking about it quickly Haley decided why not? It's better than spending tonight on her own. This was THE day that it happened, and she really needed someone, even if she was trying her hardest not to show it.

"Yeah that would be great, thanks for the invitation."

"YAY" Chloe giggled letting go of Haley's leg and jumping into her arms.
Nathan just smiled at Haley loving the interaction between the girls. He knew Chloe was truly happy to have a woman in her life, that mother figure she had so desperately been craving.

……………..

"Does this mean Haley will be there when I wake up and open my presents?" Chloe asked a few hours later when they were in the video store picking out their film.

"Ooh umm…" Nathan stuttered looking at Haley, who seemed to not know the answer either.

"Do you want me to?" Haley found herself asking crouching down to look at her carefully. Christmas morning is a big deal to some children and little Chloe deserved to have what she wanted, for one morning at least.

"Yeah, that would be fun me you and daddy."

Haley looked at Nathan silently asking if he didn't mind, he seemed not to so before she found herself thinking too much into the situation she decided to just follow her heart.

"Then I will be there honey." She smiled before standing up again, the walking over to Nathan.

"You don't mind right?" She asked just to make sure. He might have just have wanted to spend that morning with his daughter.

"No I don't mind," Nathan said immediately "I'm actually happy you are, but are you sure you want to? I mean that would mean spending the night and everything?"

"Yeah I'm sure, besides it makes her happy," Haley smiled pointing over at Chloe talking to the grumpy video store worker telling him all about Santa coming to her house that night.

"Also I don't feel like being alone tonight." She said quietly. Nathan nodded in understanding, before wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

"So this is going to be a crazy Christmas huh?" He laughed.

So i think this is really not what a person would be acting like on the anniversary of their familys death that's why i dont like this chapter it really isnt realistic at all but i hope the next chapter makes up for it ;)

Soo please tell me what you think

Jade.x.x.x.x.x