Chapter 14:

Lucas was sitting staring at Haley who had a very confused look on her face.

" Lucas, how could you just ask me something like this?"

" It's just cause of...well Nathan. I think...actually... I know...he still loves you."

"Wow...Uh...Luke...look...things are just complicated right now. With the kids and all. And I guess...I don't know. I might need to think about it, okay?"

" Sure, Hales. Look, I understand. But Nate, he's been hurting for sixteen years. I mean ten years ago he might have started to move on from you coming home. But you could still see all that hurt in his eyes everyday. And now that you're home. Nobody sees it anymore. I guess...that in a way...all those years ago...he still always believed...maybe...just maybe you'd come back. He may not have remembered that morning, Hales, but he cares. So...maybe you need to give him a second chance. And I know he'll give you one too. But, Hales, if you do...don't hurt him again. Just give him all your heart...and he'll give you his. If he's convident you won't break it again. Because he's just started to realize now that when your heart breaks...that you have to make sure your still alive. Cause you are. So... just think about, Haley. Look, I gotta go. But, I'll call you later, okay?"

" Okay, bye, Luke."

" Bye, Hales. Just think about it."

" I will." Lucas starts to leave as he steps outside when Haley speaks again." hey, thank you, Lucas."

After Lucas left Haley went back and sat on her couch thinking. Hard. Did she still love him? Did he still love her? There were so many questions.

At Tree Hill High

Practice had just ended and Nathan just headed to his office and sat down when his son came to the door.

" Hey coach. Dad. Sorry."

" Yeah. Hey, what's up, Nate?"

" I just wanted to thank you. For telling my mom and all. I'm sure it's still hard for you and all."

" With what?"

" My mom. What happened between you two. How she left."

" Yeah. But it's okay. Actually, it's kind of good to see her...again. Especially when I think of how we were in High School." He smiled as he said this to his son.

" You guys really had something special, huh?"

" Yeah. Yeah, we did. And it was great."

" Sounds it."

" Yeah. It really was."

" Until my sister and I came along,huh?"

" No. Nathan, don't think that anything that happened between me and your mom was your fault or you sisters."

" Yeah. But if we didn't come along my mom probably would have come home after the tour ended like she said she would and you guys would be happy now."

" Nathan,listen, this is not your fault. None of it. She may never had come back either way. But the truth is she did. Because of you. And maybe...if I had listened to her...we'd be happy right now too. And as for you and your sister coming along...well that's all on both your mom and me, right? (chuckles lightly) So it's our fault, okay?"

" Yeah."

" So, you okay now."

" Yeah. But can I ask you something?"

" Sure, Nate. Anything you want."

" Okay. Um..do you still...love...my mom?"

" Wow, you sound like Lucas. Well, to tell you the truth, Nathan, yes. I guess I do. Never stopped. But can we just keep that between us. Not a word. To your mom. Or Lucas. Anybody. Kind of a Father-son secret."

" Sure."

" Now lets go. I'll give you a ride."

" Thanks...dad."

At Haley's House

Nathan walked through the front door and his mom and sister were talking in the kitchen.

" Nate? How'd you get home." Haley asked her son

" Oh, dad gave me a ride. Hey, Hol, can you give me and mom a second."

" Sure, Nate." Holly said and went to her room.

" What's up, Nate?

" Okay, so I was talking to dad and he told me how you guys were in High School."

" Yeah. It was great."

" Yeah. Well, I wanted to ask you something. You loved him,right?"

" With all my heart."

" Well, do you still?"

" Love him?"

" Yeah."

" Wow, you sound like just like Lucas. But...yeah...I guess...I do. Even after sixteen years. But can we just keep that between the two of us. Kind of a Mother-son secret. Anyway, why do you ask?"

" Just wondering. And don't worry,mom. I won't say a word. I'm gonna go do some homework. See you in a while."

Haley just stood there confused. She did still love him. And she just told her son that. The son who had become so Buddy-Buddy with the love of her life. His father. She wondered if Nathan said anything to Nate today. Does he really still love her? Nah. He's over it. She just knew it. No matter what Luke said,right?

At Nathan's House

Nathan was sitting in his living room looking at these pictures he had in this small box. Of him and Haley. He picked up another picture. It was him and Haley on their wedding day. On that beautiful spring day. On the beach. With the wind in their hair. He smiled as he looked at how happy they were. With all his heart he wished he could get it back. Maybe someday he would. He thought to himself.

Back at Haley's

Nathan was sitting in his room thinking. Then he got up and walked down to his sister's room. He knocked lightly on her door.

" Come in." Holly yelled. Nathan enters. " Oh, Nate. Hey, what's up?"

" Hol, you wanna help me with something?"

" Sure. What is it?"

"Well..."

What he was planning was going to be difficult. And it was gonna take more than just him to get this plan to work.