Chapter 23: Be a Family
Haley was sitting in her living room just staring at her children. Waiting to hear their answer to her question about their father. Nathan's face suddenly lit up while Holly's expression was unreadable.
" Guys?" Haley asked again
" That sounds great Mom!" Nathan jumped up excitedly
" Yeah. Not a bad idea." Holly added
" Really? You guys are cool with this? Even you Holly?" Haley asked her daughter
" Yeah. Look, I know I've expressed hate towards him in the past. But...when I was hanging out with him the other day...he seemed pretty cool."
" Well, that's great. I guess I'll go call your father."
" Great, mom!" Nathan exclaimed
Haley got up and walked into her kitchen. She picked up her cell phone and dialed Nathan's Cell.
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Lucas' House
Nathan is still in Lucas' room. He's sitting in Luke's chair thinking about what his brother just said. He had to listen to what was in his heart. Suddenly he heard his cell phone ring, interupting his thoughts. He looked at the caller I.D. and saw that it was Haley. He wasn't sure what he was doing yet about his situation with her, so he just ignored the call and put his phone back in his pocket. His brother looked at him with a questioning look on his face.
" It was Haley." Nathan told Lucas
" Then why'd you ignore it?"
" Cause...I'm not sure what I'm doing yet and I know she probably talked to the kids and wants to talk to me about it. And...I'm not ready yet."
" Well, dude, what is your heart telling you?"
" I don't know, man."
" Well, do you love her?"
" Yeah. Of course I do."
" Then there's your answer."
Nathan just looked at Lucas knowing he was right but he was just...scared.
" Luke, I know. You're right. But...I'm scared."
" Of what, Nate? You have the love of your life back. That's what you've wanted for 16 years. And you finally have it. How can you even have to think about that?"
" Cause...that's just it. I've waited 16 years. And...she left then. What makes you think she wouldn't again?"
" Nate..."
" No, Luke. I'm serious. I mean, these kids only have another year and a half left of high school. Once they go to college and move out. What would make her not want to give music or some other dream another chance. And leave...Tree Hill again. I don't think my heart could take that again."
" Nate, I think Hales has seriously learned from the last time. She wouldn't risk that again."
" But how do you know that, Luke?"
" Well, I don't. But I know her. And she's hurt for 16 years the same way you have. So...just take a chance. And I think you'll be happy. But what do I know?"
Nate sat there staring straight ahead. Knowing he was right. He had to talk to Haley. Tell her what scares him the most.
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Haley's House
Haley is still sitting at the kitchen table after not being able to get Nathan. She placed her cell phone down on the table, when she suddenly heard the doorbell ring. She rose from her seat and headed towards the front door. Secretly hoping it was Nathan. She was surprised by who she saw standing there.
" Peyton? Jake? Oh my god. It's so good to see you." Haley said hugging Peyton.
" You too, Hales. I heard you were back and Luke told us where you lived a few weeks back, but then we went out of town and now we just got back so...we decided to stop by." Peyton told her old friend
" Oh Wow! Well, it's a great to see you two. Oh my, and is this Jenny?" Haley said pointing to the now grown girl standing with Jake and Peyton.
" Yeah. This is my little girl. She's a senior now." Jake told Haley
" Wow! Hi, Jenny! I'm Haley. I know your dad from high school. I haven't seen you since you were like 10 months old."
" Well, hi. It's nice to meet you." Jenny said back
" Well, come on in guys."
" Thanks. Hales." Peyton said entering her house
They sat down and began to catch up on their lives. Peyton was telling Haley about her life. When Haley suddenly heard her kids come running down the stairs yelling at each other.
" NATHANl!"
" What Holly?"
" NATE! I'm serious."
" NO! I'm going to find Dad!"
" NATHAN...Stop it. He's at uncle Luke's! Leave it alone!"
" Well, looks like you two had fun!"
" What are you jealous, Nathan?"
" Never. Not Nathan Scott."
" Then why do you care?"
" Cause your just being horrible. All of a sudden you love him. A few weeks ago, you hated him!"
" Well, maybe I had a change of heart!"
Haley heard them screaming as they came down the stairs.
" Excuse, me. For one second."
" NATHAN! HOLLY! STOP NOW!" Haley screamed at the two
" Mom, I'm going to find Dad!"
" No your not, Nathan." Holly yelled at her brother.
" Why? You were gonna!"
" No, I wasn't! Stop being jealous!"
" I'm not jealous!"
" Yes you are! Come here!" Holly yelled at her brother and began to run toward him when Haley grabbed her.
" YOU TWO! STOP NOW! WE HAVE COMPANY! AND YOU ARE GONNA STOP IT AND NEITHER OF YOU ARE GONNA GO AND FIND YOUR FATHER! YOU'RE GONNA COME SAY HI! BE NICE! AND THEN GO TO YOUR ROOM'S AND I WILL NOT HEAR FROM YOU AGAIN! AND WHEN YOUR FATHER COMES LATER HE WILL DEAL WITH YOU! GOT IT!" Haley said to her kids in a whispering but angry tone.
The three of them walked back to the living room. Nathan shoved Holly on his way.
" Sorry about that guys. These are my troublesome children!"
" Wow! Hales, you have kids?" Peyton asked her friend confused.
" Yeah! These two are fighters and are very much like..."
" Nathan. There Nathan's, right?"
" Yeah. Peyton, Jake, Jenny, this is Nathan Scott Jr. and Holly Scott."
" Wow! They look just like him. Well, Nathan does. Well, it's great to meet you guys. I'm Peyton!"
" I take it your friends with my mom and dad?" Nathan asked
" Yeah. From high school. Back in high school I even dated your father. Back in his jerk ass days. But yeah, he's great now. You hang out with him alot?"
" Me? Well, yeah. I'm on his basketball team and spend alot of time with him."
" That's great. He's the best player. Used to cheer for him. How about you, Holly?"
" Only once. But that's just cause there's been so much going on lately I mean with everthing with his father and stuff. But, I really haven't since. But hopefully I will again soon."
" Oh, so you met mean old Dan, huh?"
Nathan,Holly,nor Haley said anything. She looked at them with sad looks on their faces. Then Haley realized she must not have heard about Dan.
" What's wrong you guys?"
" You haven't heard about Dan have you, Peyton?"
" No. What happened?"
" Uh, Dan, died a few days ago."
" Oh my god. No way. When?"
" Um...it was...last thursday."
" Wow. So how's Nate and Luke taking it."
" Well, Nate's dealing by just...being himself and acting like it's not bothering him. Even though I know it is. But...Luke...well, he's been so distant. He was involved in the accident that killed Dan. So, he's not talking to anyone. But, Nathan's supposedly over there trying to talk to him."
" Wow! Alot has happened in just two weeks out of town. I hope Uncle Luke and Uncle Nate are okay." Jenny added
" Oh, sweetie, I'm sure the will be." Jake assured his daughter.
" You know what, Haley, I think were gonna go and see how Luke is."
" I think that's a good idea."
" But, Hales we should do something soon."
" Yeah. Sounds great."
After the three of them left Haley turned to her kids and sent them to their rooms for making a scene in front of her friends. Then sat back down for a second when the doorbell rang again. She got back up but was very happy by the person that stood there this time. It was Nathan.
" Hey, Nate. Where you been all day?"
" Oh, just been at Luke's."
" Oh, good. Did you get him to talk?
" Yeah. I did. I think he's gonna be okay."
" Good. Well, Jake and Peyton were just here. They didn't know about any of this. So, they were heading over to Lucas'."
" Oh. That's good. He needs some friends."
" Yeah."
Nathan stepped closer to Haley and leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips. And then they both pulled apart.
" So, I know you called me earlier. But...I was talking to Luke and...I just was listening and...didn't want to interupt Lucas. So, sorry. Was anything wrong?"
" No. I just...wanted to talk to you about...what we were discussing earlier."
" Oh, right."
" So...let's go in the living room."
Haley took Nathan's hand and led him to the living room. And they sat down on the love seat.
" So, after you left...I talked to Nathan and Holly...about you moving in here."
" And?"
" They love the idea. I don't know what you did to my daughter to make her feel that strongly about you."
" I just have that effect, I guess."
" Yeah, I guess so. So, are gonna do it?"
" You know, Haley, I've spent the whole afternoon with Lucas. And I heard him talk about his feelings towards Dan. And how he never had any memories of him...and now he's gone. And he can't change that. And...I just don't want that to be that way with Nathan and Holly."
" So, is that a yes?"
" Well, I guess it is time I got rid of that apartment."
" You still have that thing, huh?"
" Couldn't get rid of it."
" Why not?"
" Cause...it was our place. And...I always said that...if you ever came back...I wanted you to have your home waiting for you."
" Really?"
" Yeah. But...today...I wasn't so sure about this idea. But...Luke told me to listen to what's in my heart. And I am."
" And what's that?"
" That I wanna be with you. And be here with my children. But..."
" But what, Nate?"
" I guess, I'm just...scared."
" Scared? Of what?"
" You."
" Me?"
" Yeah. I mean, I was here in this place 16 years ago. And...then it all fell apart. And the kids will be graduating next year. So...I guess...I'm scared that there would be no reason for you not to leave again. You could start the music again once their old enough to leave home."
" Nathan. Listen to me. I've learned from my mistake once before. And I wouldn't do it again. Especially with you back in my life. Music is in my past. And it will always be there. But...it's never coming back. Cause...your here. And...a million albums I could ever release could never add up to what your worth. Your what I need, Nathan. You were in my past. And your in my present. But music and everything else isn't. It's gone. So, you need to know...I would never leave you again. And I mean that."
" I know. Thank you, Hales."
" So! You gonna move in here or what?" Nathan asked his father walking in the room
" Yeah, Dad. When you moving in here?" Holly added joining her brother.
" As soon as possible, I guess." Nathan said smiling at his children.
Haley sat there and watched as Nathan hugged his children and admired what had happened in such a short time. They were gonna be a family. And that made her really happy. Even though, she knew there was a lot of drama that would come along with this. She would be happy for the time Being.
Hi guys! So, I'll try to update soon. I think I'm gonna do a little more of just Naley and exclude the kids a little more. I don't know exactly yet. But expect alot of drama and surprises in their relationship.