Chapter 9: Bonding

Nathan Jr. and Haley were still standing by the door. Nathan went and sat down behind his desk.Finally Haley broke the silence.

''So, Nate, what are you two gonna do?'' She asked

''I don't know. Whatever he would like.'' He answered.

''Do you guys want me to stay?''

''No'' They said in unison

''Well, I guess I know when I'm not wanted. Anyway I should get home and talk to Holly. Nathan, you'll drop him back home?" She asked

"Yeah. Of course."

''Okay, guys. Not too late Nathan. See you guys later. Have fun!"

Haley left leaving the father and son to start bonding.

"So, Nathan, um...what do you wanna do?" Nathan asked his son.

Nathan just shrugged. This is gonna be harder than I thought Nathan said to himself.

" Okay then follow me. You like basketball, right? Nathan nodded. "Good then I'll take you to where me and your uncle used to play.

"Sounds good." Nathan Jr. answered.

They left his office and went to his car they got in and started driving.

"Okay, first things first, I'm gonna call you Nate so I don't just feel like I'm talking to myself, okay?"

"Sure. You know my mom should have thought about that before she just named me after you."

"Yeah. But your mom never thought about things like that as much as tiny things that didn't really matter. Like number 4 on page 82, of the matha book when she first started tutoring me our Junior year."

" Really? Wow, that's amazing. She never told me she turtored you. Even though I just found out about you yesterday."

" Yeah. Well here we are."

They pulled up to the rivercourt and they saw Lucas, Skills, Junk, and Fergie playing on the court with Mouth doing his little announcer bit from High School.

" Come on Nate, we can go play with them. Hey it can be the "Scotts" against them.

They got out of the car and started to walk towards Lucas and the rest of them. Lucas turned around and made a basket and then saw Nathan walking toward them.

" Hey, Nate. What's going on?" Luke asked his brother.

" Not much. You?" He replied

"Nothing really. Haven't seen you around much in the last few days"

" Yeah, I know. I've had some...things to deal with. "

" So who's the kid Nate?" Skills asked from the side line.

" Oh this is Nathan. My...son."

"What?" Lucas and Skills said in unison.

" Yeah this is Nathan Scott Junior."

" But who's?"

" Who do you think Luke? Look I know you knew sixteen years ago. I just found out yesterday. But how did you not tell me for sixteen years. Sixteen years, Luke." He spoke a bit harshly but not yelling while Nate was chatting with Mouth and Skills. Nathan really didn't want to yell in front of his son.

"You mean Haley?"

"No, Peyton." He spoke sarcastically. "Of course Haley"

"Oh, right. Forgot about that. Okay, no I didn't but I never wanted to upset you. Since I never knew if she told you and anyway with you thinking she just moved on. I didn't want to say anything to change that."

"Yeah. Well, apparently she did tell me back then. I just don't remember. That was during my drinking every moment of the day time. So the next day I never remembered anything. So here I am now trying to get to know my son. And I hope I can do the same with my daughter."

"You have a daughter too. Wow, dude seriously you do well." Luke teased. "Anyway, does he play basketball? Or is he more like Haley and likes to study?"

" No he plays he's on my team. Please if he studied instead of playing basketball he just wouldn't fit into the "Scott" family.

"Your right. Anyway you guys wanna play. Three "Scott's" against the no names."

" Sure. Nate come here?" Nate ran over to his father.

"Yeah?" he asked

"Nate this is your uncle Lucas. You feel like playing some basketball?" He asked his son

" Sure. Your Luke? "

Lucas nodded

" My mom mentioned you yesterday. You were her best friend who tried to get her to come back from her tour for him, right?"

" Yeah." he responded.

" You did?" Nathan questioned his brother.

" I tried. Anyway lets get going with this game."

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Back at Haley's House

Holly was sitting on the computer sending IM's to someone when Haley walked into the room.

" Hey Hol."

" Hey." She whispered

"Okay, Holly I know your mad at me or Nathan. I'm not really sure. Just talk to me please."

"No I'm mad at both of you. How could you keep that from us? And how could he never want to be in our lives? I'm sorry but how could you possibly think we could just go and spend time with him and go like "Hey dad.What's up?" Cause I don't think I could so that and I don't think Nathan should either.

" Well your brother is with him now. Doing what is beyond me? Anyway, you shouldn't blame him. It's my fault. All of it. I left him. And when I did come back, I went to him too soon. I should have waited a few weeks at least. Until he wasn't drunk all the time. That's when I told him and I shouldn't have. So at least try to make an effort when he brings your brother back later."

"Why should I?"

" Because he never did anything wrong. And he doesn't deserve any of that."

"I don't want to."

"You sound just like him. And you don't want to spend time with him. Please you are him."

"Fine. I'll try to make an effort. No promises."

"That's all I ask. Now go back to whatever you were doing."

"Thanks."

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At the Rivercourt

" Nathan paces to Luke and then Luke over to his nephew, Nate, for the win and score. Three points to team "Scott". And the win" Mouth said into his announcer microphone.

"Yeah." They all said.

"Wow, 7:30, Nate we better get you home. Your mom said not too late. See you guys later."

They pulled up in front of Haley's house and walked to the door.

"Hey mom." Nathan said as he walked through the front door.

"Quite late you two. Where have you been?"

" The Rivercourt with Luke." Nathan said as he walked through the front door.

"Oh. Okay."

"Hey, Haley did you guys eat yet?"

"No."

"Then let me take you out."

"Oh, Nathan you don't have to."

"But I want to." Haley smiled

"Okay. Let me go get Holly. Nathan you go change. You too."

" Okay, I have a change of clothes in the car. Be right back."

They got changed and left the house. They all piled into Nathan's truck and went down the street.

"Where do you want to go?"

"Uh, where ever?"

"You want to go to Karen's to see her and probably my mom?"

" Sure. Sounds great actually."

Minutes later they pulled up in front of Karen's. All four of them got out and walked inside.

" Hey, Nathan." Deb said as she took some menus from the counter.

" Mom. Hey,you rememeber Haley, right?"

"Of course. Hows my one and only daughter-in-law?"

" Good. Thanks Mrs. Scott."

" Oh, who are these two." Deb said looking at the kids

" Um, there mine." Haley said.

" Oh."

"Actually there mine too, mom."

"What? You have two kids and you never told,wow Nathan hell of a thing to hide from your mother huh? Anyway, can I get you four something to drink?"

" Sure, mom."

They all order drinks and there meals and were starting to talk. Nathan saw a dark haired man walk in and start talking to his mother. He yelled to him quickly just barly noticing him.

"Hey Nate."

"Hey dad"

When Dan finished talking to Deb he walked over to Nathan and Haley.

" Well isn't this the perfect family, Nate."

Nathan and Haley looked at each other knowing that Dan was just gonna stir up trouble.