Thank you soooo much for everyone's kind words...I know that the last chapter really was unrealistic but it didn't really fit in the story if it wasn't and ur all right...it is FANFICTION after all hehe...u guys really made me feel better after last chapter i was really worried people would say bad stuff.

I hope u like this chapter and remember its getting towards the end...but u know what i soooo cant wait to write the epilogue to this story, cos okay kind of spoiler here...it will be kind of fluffy and since fluff is what I write best and this story really hasn't had much fluff so far I'm really excited hehe...next chapter will be the last one, and then the epilogue will come ;)

Here it is...

Chapter 9

"I knew Mr. Kringle was Santa, he even looked like him he had a big belly and a white beard. Why didn't they believe him Daddy?" Chloe asked as the film credits came rolling on screen after the three of them watched 'Miracle on the 34th street'.

"Oh I don't know sweetie I guess there's just some people out there who don't get Christmas…" Nathan said taking note on Haley's silence, looking over at her he noticed she had a few tears in her eyes. Knowing she needed someone to talk to he decided it was time for Chloe to go to bed.

"But do you know what princess?" He asked as he scooped Chloe up in his arms.

"What's that daddy?" Chloe giggled.

"Those people don't get presents from Santa, who by the way is expecting you to be tucked up in bed right about now." Nathan said laughing at the pout on his daughters face.

"But daddy…."Chloe whined. "I want to stay up and see Santa, like in that Barney film when the little girl and boy did and they got to go to the North Pole and meet Mrs. Clause. "Chloe emphasized, still disbelieving that those children could get so lucky.

"Well honey, Santa told me personally he needs all the children in bed this year because he has so many presents to give out he needs all the magic he can get. " Nathan said with Chloe still in his arms. Haley still hadn't said anything but she was looking at the two with a small smile on her face, seeing Chloe still protesting against going to bed Haley decided she should really try and convince her as well.

"And do you know how Santa gets all his magic?" Haley said jumping off the couch and walking over towards the stair case Nathan was walking to.

"Na ah." Chloe said shaking her head vigorously, causing both Nathan and Haley to laugh gently.

"Well because Santa can't sleep all night," Haley said dragging out the 'all night', "As his too busy giving all the good little girls and boys presents, and you know that can be very tiring thing to do since he has to go around the whole world," She stopped for a moment to look at Nathan to see if it was alright if she took Chloe in her arms instead. When he just smiled at her she took that as no protest so she opened her arms of which Chloe automatically took hold of and slung her arms around her neck.

"So I bet your thinking how does he do that huh? I mean I know I won't be able to stay up all that late doing something as tiring as he is doing."

"How?" Chloe asked intrigued but still a big smile on his face. Nathan couldn't be happier at that moment, the look on his baby girls face when she was listening to Haley was the most beautiful look he had ever seen. Ever since Chloe had come into Nathan's life he had always wanted to make her happy, however being the only one bringing her up he always worried if she ever would be. However knowing that she probably would have been happy with just him, he knows she's happier now she has now got that female role in her life. And his just happy that person is Haley, because obviously the two had a bond between them.

"Well he gets his energy from all you sleeping kids, for every child that is asleep means he has that much more energy to stay awake for all the other houses. So honey if you don't go asleep tonight he would have fallen asleep by the time he gets here, and you know what that means don't ya?" Haley asked a nervous looking Chloe.

"It means no presents." And with that she put Chloe down on the stairs and started tickling her sides causing Chloe to run up the stairs giggling.

"Nice story." Nathan whispered as him and Haley followed Chloe up the stairs. "It seemed to work."

"Yeah…" Haley said simply trying her hardest to avoid his eyes. It was like the whole day all of a sudden caught up with her, no matter how hard she tried to forget it wasn't possible. Being there with Nathan and Chloe was beginning to get really hard, for so many reasons. One being it reminded her family life was like again. What it was like to put an excited girl to bed before Christmas, however truth be told she hadn't really done that before. Zoë had…died when she was 3 so sure she was old enough to get excited then but the last time Haley put Zoë to bed on Christmas eve was when she was two, and bless her heart she didn't exactly know what Christmas was about. So this, putting Chloe to bed telling her the story her parents use to tell her when she was younger was hard, because she never had the chance to tell Zoë.

But another reason it was hard was because of the way she was feeling watching that movie before. She actually believe it or not felt like she was part of Nathan and Haley's family, all three of them mother father and child. She finally felt happy again. Her feelings for Nathan were growing every time he would look at her, and heck she was already in love with little Chloe. However it was not right and so entirely insensitive of her to be feeling like that…on that day especially, so she was trying her hardest to wonder away from her feelings, for tonight at least!

Nathan however was not going to let her block him out. He knew what was going through that head of hers, that girl seemed to forget he was able to read her like a book. Grabbing one arm of hers with his left hand and hooking his right thumb under her chin he stopped her outside Chloe room almost begging her to look at him.

"Hales talk to me?" He pleaded speaking in a hush tone.

Still refusing to look him in the eyes, her eyes wondered to all the other features on his gorgeous face. His lips the most focus. 'Okkay Haley bad move, look somewhere else…ahh the nose, nothings dangerous about looking at his nose.' She told herself.

"Haley?" He asked again, wanting so bad to be there for her, forgetting completely about his daughter getting ready for bed in the room next door.

Finally giving in Haley slowly let her gaze find his eyes. Ahh those stupid eyes Haley sighed. Looking in them at that moment she yet again felt her feelings increase, seeing nothing but worry, caring, warm, and maybe even love reflecting from them definitely would make any lady melt into a puddle of goo. Those lips she was looking at earlier looked very appealing at that moment. She forgot completely that he wanted to know what was up with her a few minutes before. All she was concerned about was his right hand still on her chin.

Nathan too forgot that fact, as the way she was starring at his lips made him shiver. He should not be contemplating whether or not he should make this next move or not, but right at that moment that didn't seem to bother him. His left hand moved from her arm to wrap around her waist to pull her in a bit closer. Just when he was about to do the thing he had wanted to do since the moment he saw her again but was too scared too actually do it….

"Daddy, Haley, can you tell me a Christmas story before I go to bed?" Chloe yelled from inside the room.

Chloe voice brought Haley and Nathan back to reality causing Haley to step out of his arms immediately.

"We should umm…" Haley stuttered lost for words.

"Yeah." Nathan sighed, before following Haley into his daughter's room.

……….

"Finally, I thought she would never settle down, I swear that girl must be the most hyped up person ever." Nathan laughed an hour later when Chloe finally feel asleep, trying his hardest to lighten up the intense atmosphere the two seemed to have created earlier.

"Yeah, "Haley said distracted in thought.

Breathing in a deep breath Nathan figured he might as well try and clear the air and talk about their…moment earlier.

"Haley, we need to talk." Nathan said simply sitting down on the couch patting the area next to him.

Haley suddenly jarred her head towards Nathan, silently telling him she didn't feel like talking at that moment.

"Haley, we need to talk." Nathan said again.

Haley sighed not wanting to sit down. She didn't know what to say to him; she knew it would be about earlier, the action they were both going to participate in, however she didn't know what to tell him. Sure she knows that its time to move on and she knows that she might just be ready, however she was glad Chloe distracted them when she did, because otherwise she knew if she did actually…kiss Nathan she would have ended up feeling so guilty. Not because she felt bad for having feelings for someone else, she might just have got that into her head that Mark and Zoë might be happy for her. It's just the fact that it nearly happened on the day they died. And she didn't sit right with that at all!

"Nathan, please can we do this tomorrow? I just feel like tonight isn't the best time, but I promise we will talk about it tomorrow." She basically pleaded, which after a few minutes of thought Nathan nodded his head to. As long as they did talk he didn't have a problem.

"So I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" Haley said walking towards the stairs so she could make her way to the guest bedroom.

"Yeah" Nathan smiled slightly. "I'll see you tomorrow Haley."

Okay so the next chapter is the last and i promise it will be longer hehe...please tell me what you think, the last chapter should be up tomorrow, and then the epilogue might be up either Sunday or Tuesday ;)

Luv ya

Jade.x.x.x.x.x.x.