An: for those of you who were wondering I plan to make Lucas an ass for these couple of chapters. He's hurt by Nathan and so he sort of wants to return the favor.

For the law part I am making my own law!

For those of you who are worried about the Zach and Haley dating thing I just want to say that the Naley fans have nothing to worry about.

Who else totally loved One Tree Hill on Tuesday? I was a little confused with Julian's mother and Brooke's fight, I didn't get it one second they're at each other's throat, the next her future mother in law is helping create her dream wedding. Was anyone else confused? BUT I did love the Braley scene at the end.

Longest Chapter yet! Hope you guys like it!

Chapter 12

Four days later found Nathan feeling anxious. He hadn't heard from Haley since Micca's soccer game about a week ago and after Clay talked to him he couldn't help but feel nervous. He still couldn't help but think about their conversation from the night of Micca's soccer game.

Walking into his hotel room Nathan felt like he was on top of the world. He just had an honest to god conversation with Haley and their son. A conversation with no malice or heated words, a conversation where he got to know more about his beautiful five year old son. God just thinking about him he felt his heart sink. He'd missed so much and willingly no less. He'd willingly walked away from his son and his wife. He keeps thinking about all those missed moments.

Micca's first laugh.

Micca's first word.

Micca's first step.

Taking a deep breath, Nathan concentrated on the good feelings he felt at the moment. Looking around he found clay sitting on the couch with his blackberry in one hand and a beer in the other.

Looking at Nathan Clay felt his nervous from earlier rising again. He knew having this conversation with Nathan would be bad enough, but right now seeing the look on his face just made everything worse for Clay.

"Hey man!" Nathan greeted gleefully.

"Hey." Clay replied in a curt tone making Nathan frown.

"Everything okay?" Nathan asked curiously.

"No not really…. We need to talk" Clay said softly gesturing for Nathan to sit down.

"Okay….." Nathan replied nervously and sat down next to clay.

"How'd the game go?" Clay asked.

"It was fine… What's going on man?" Nathan asked cutting to the chase.

Taking a deep breath to prepare himself for Nathan's reaction Clay started to talk. "I called a family lawyer today."

"Clay." Nathan warned angrily knowing what was to come. When Nathan had first told Clay about Haley and Micca, Clay had insisted that Nathan talk to a lawyer. But Nathan had fiercely declined in fear of Haley ever finding out and thinking that he wanted a divorce or something.

"I remember asking you specifically not to do that clay!" Nathan said firmly.

"I was just protecting you Nathan!"Clay defended himself.

"The fact that can even insinuate that my WIFE is some gold digging whore is really insulting Clay."

"Come on Nathan you know damn well that that's not what I meant. All I am doing is trying to provide you with the options, so that you can know what the hell your doing."

"FINE! What did you find out?" Nathan asked.

"It's not good Nathan!" Clay started, taking a deep breath. "She can take everything!"

"Huh?" Nathan asked confused.

"Your wife if she ever files for divorce she can take every cent you've ever made if she wanted to."

"What? How does that work?" Nathan asked genuinely confused.

"According to the lawyer I called the fact that you left them for six years and made that money in that time and also the fact that you never paid for child support or the support of your spouse then she's entitled to everything."

"Huh!" Nathan said surprised and impressed.

"HUH? That's all you have to say? Nathan, what I am telling you is that Haley can literally take the cloth off your back." Clay exclaimed in agitation.

Rolling his eyes Nathan replied. "Who the fuck cares, about the money? I want to know about Micca's custody. What did the lawyer say about that?"

Taking a deep breath clay answered carefully. "I am sorry Nate but according to him you don't have any rights to your son."

"What?" Nathan asked his eyes wide and his heart tightening. "But I am his father."

"Apparently judges always go with the mother, but the fact that you aba- left, let's just say all it does is help Haley's case."

Having had enough of brooding, Nathan started walking aimlessly around town and once again found himself at the River Court. This time though he was a little lucky because he found no one else there. Taking a deep breath Nathan walked to the picnic bench and sat down staring at the river.

There was a lot on Nathans mind. He knew the possibility of Haley divorcing him was a real one and that made him very nervous. Because even now when Nathan thinks of what to say to convince Haley to take him back, he finds that he can't come up with anything and that was scaring him to no end.

But no he was not going to quit. Because he was Nathan Scott and Scotts don't quit and they sure as hell don't give up. So yes, he was going to win her back if it's the last thing he does. If he was sure of one thing, it's that he wouldn't be giving up on Haley. She was too important and so was their son.

Out of nowhere Nathan felt a basketball crash into his back.

"THE FUCK?" Nathan exclaimed turning around to come face to face with one smug looking Lucas.

"Oops I am sorry it slipped." Lucas said mockingly. "Did I hurt you?"

"Real mature Pucas." Nathan said rolling his eyes.

"Don't call me that!" Lucas said shoving Nathan's shoulder

"What the hell is your problem man?" Nathan asked annoyed.

"My problem is that you're an ass. Just. Like. DAN!" Lucas exclaimed angrily.

"Whatever, you can go straight to hell for all I care." Nathan said, taking the high road and starting to head back towards his hotel suite.

"Haley will never take you back." Lucas said venomly with convection.

Turning around to look back at Lucas, Nathan dismissed the idea. "Yea well, you don't always know what the hell you're taking about when it comes to Haley and me."

"Oh really?" Lucas asked sarcastically. "So that wasn't Haley on a date a couple of days ago."

"You're lying!" Nathan accused desperately.

"Oh am I?" Lucas started cruelly. "So that wasn't Haley and her new boyfriend hanging out with MICCA at Haley's house right now?"

"GO. TO. HELL." Nathan said and turned back around and power walked as far away from Lucas as his long legs could take him. He could feel tears prick his eyes and all he could think of was some guy taking his rightful place next to his son and wife.

After wiping the few escaped tears from his eyes, Nathan looked up to find himself right in front of Haley's door for the second time that week. Stepping up he knocked on the door, not knowing what to expect on the other side.

KNOCK KNOCK

Opening the door Haley felt her face light up as she looked at Zach.

"Hey!" Haley greeted Zach happily.

"Hello lover!" Zach greeted her. Leaning over Zach caught Haley's lips in a deep kiss.

"Sorry I am late."Zach apologized softly.

"It's okay! Brooke only just left." Haley said dismissing his apology.

"Really, she doesn't hate you for kicking you out on a Saturday?" Zach asked in mock surprise.

Laughing lightly Haley replied. "No she's actually babysitting Jenny until dinner tonight, while Jake and Peyton have a day to themselves."

"Oh okay, so where's Micca?" He asked looking around the livingroom.

"Oh he's just putting on his swimming trunks."

"So we are swimming?" he asked softly.

"Yea I hope you don't mind, Micca has been begging me to fill the pool and let him swim."

"Nah it's okay," he said dismissively. "How could I miss seeing you in a bikini?" he finished cheekily.

"Oh but I won't be wearing a bikini." Haley said blushing.

"Oh… well I'll see you later then." He said jokingly and pretended to start getting up.

Laughing Haley rolled her eyes. "Men."

"So lover, what are the rules?" he asked.

"Rules?" Haley asked him, confused.

"With Micca." When Haley gave him an even more confused expression, he went on to say. "Well we're dating now, right?"

"umm..yes?" she said hesitantly sounding unsure.

"Okay good!" he said with a goofy grin. Sobering his expression a bit he went on to his original question. "So how do you want to proceed with Micca?"

"Oh…" Haley said finally understanding what he means. "Well," she started hesitantly. "We just started dating, so I'd feel more comfortable if we gave it more time to see where it goes first, and if everything is good after a while then I'll tell Micca about us." Haley finished looking him straight in the eye watching for his reaction.

"Okay that's fine." Zach said schooling his reaction so he wouldn't show Haley the disappointment he felt.

"Are you sure?" Haley asked softly.

"Yea, I mean I am not going to lie I am a little disappointed but I understand, Micca's dad just came back into the picture the last thing he needs is more confusion." He said honestly.

Smiling Haley couldn't help but like him a little bit more. Haley leaned forward and caught Zach's lips in a soft, gentle kiss, pulling back Haley couldn't help but smile at him. "You're amazing you know that."

"Only the best for my lover." Zach replied with his signature goofy look.

"Mama?" said a soft voice coming from the stairs.

"In the kitchen baby!" Haley called out to Micca, taking a step back from Zach.

"UNCLE ZACH!" Micca exclaimed when he spotted Zach and then ran to him and threw his arms around his legs.

Chuckling lightly Zach bent down a little and picked Micca up in his arms. "Hey there little man. How are you?"

"I am good. Are you here to thwim with me and mama?" Micca asked with what could only be described as the cutest hopeful expression Zach had ever seen on a five year old.

"hmmm I don't know," Zach said with a fake thoughtful expression. "What do you think? should I?"

"Yes!" Micca said nodding eagerly making Haley and Zach chuckle softly. "Mama filled de pool and everyding."

Shortly after Haley and Brooke bought their new house (An: think the Naley house in season five.), Haley had insisted that they make sure the pool was always drained of all the water in it, after having heard all the horror stories about toddlers drowning in their family pools. At first Brooke had refused but when Haley made the whole 'do you want your Godson to drown' argument Brooke had immediately deflated all the arguments she had.

"Okay then, how about we all go change and meet near the pool?" Zach asked looking at Haley, because she wasn't wearing any swim wear.

"Okay." Haley agreed while taking Micca from Zach's arms and heading towards her bedroom, while Zach headed towards the bathroom with his duffle bag.

Three hours later found Zach, Micca, and Haley sitting in the kitchen preparing dinner. They had just finished getting changed from three straight hours in the swimming pool. All three of them had, had a pretty good time. They had played water basketball which Micca had won to Zach's 'horror' and Haley's amusement. After an hour of playing they had swam around for a while with Micca in his swimming vest much to his dismay. After a while they started splashing each other until finally having had enough and getting out of the pool.

After twenty minutes of gathering food around the kitchen, the rest of their dinner party finally arrived for their annual Saturday night dinner.

"Aunt Haley!" Jenny exclaimed, running to Haley and throwing her little arms around her aunt.

"Hey Sweetie." Haley greeted the soon to be seven year old.

"What's this munchicken don't I get a hug too?" Zach said teasingly to Jenny, making the little girl blush lightly and go over to him, giving him a hug as well.

"Where's your crazy aunt?" Haley asked Jenny, making the little girl giggle lightly.

"Yea Jenny where's Aunt Brooke?" Micca asked while looking around.

"Hey Now!" Brooke exclaimed waking into the kitchen. "Don't you guys even lie. You both know very well that I am your favorite aunt."

Looking at each other, Micca and Jenny shrugged at the same time giving Brooke their puppy dog eyes, which in return made Haley smirk and Brooke give them a fake hurt expression. Although both Jenny and Micca were both only five and six they were both very smart for their ages. And they both knew better than to comment when asked on whose your favorite.

"Can we go play Wii?" Micca asked looking at his mom.

"Sure baby," Haley said and watched as Jenny and Micca headed towards the living room.

"Where's Lucas?" Zach asked looking at Brooke.

"Well hello to you to Zach," Brooke said sarcastically making Zach groan and roll his eyes.

Brooke and Zach had a what Haley liked to call the definition of a weird friendship. Although they both liked each other very much you could never tell from their banter. They had what Haley defined as a brother/sister relationship. They annoy each other to no end but when the rare time came and one of them needed each other they were always there.

Like the time in collage when Zach's fiancé left him at the altar for his best man. That was one of the rare times where Haley had ever seen vulnerable, broken Zach. Even though she could relate to his situation Zach wouldn't talk to Haley and not Lucas or Jake or even Peyton. The one person that was able to get him out of his funk back then was Brooke.

And even when Brooke was hesitant to give Lucas a second chance Zach had been the one to talk her into it. She had refused to talk to Haley about anything to do with her and Lucas getting back together, saying she didn't want to put Haley in the middle. Haley had been hurt at the time but had understood and had given Brooke the space she needed at the time to make up her mind.

"Hey there Brooke flash anybody lately?" Zach asked mockingly refereeing to the time capsule incident where Brooke took off her shirt with every intention of flashing a video for people to see fifty years from back then.

Taking a moment to give a Haley a mincing look Brooke finally turned to Zach.

"Kiss any transsexuals lately?" (AN: I think that's how you spell it)

"HALEY!" Zach exclaimed. "I told you that in confidence."

"I am sorry it was too juicy not to tell." Haley said squirming under his gaze, making Brooke smile smugly.

"Whatever, it's not my fault the dude didn't look like a dude." Zach mumbled, making Brooke laugh.

Glaring at Brooke, Haley turned to Zach. "Awe I am sorry baby."

Looking at Haley Zach pouted. "Kiss it better lover." Zach said pointing to his lips.

"Aww Zachy," Haley mocked lightly while moving towards him and pressing her lips to his.

"Kill me now." Brooke said, pretending to gag.

Hearing someone knock Haley turned to them and ordered them to behave and then went to answer the door. Opening it Haley saw the last person she expected to see.

"Nathan?"

"Hey… can we talk?" He asked softly.

Standing in the door way Haley looked back into the house nervously and then glanced back at Nathan. Taking a deep breath Haley stepped outside and closed the door behind her.

"Is it true?" Nathan asked as soon as Haley stepped outside.

"Is what true?" Haley asked.

"Are you dating someone?"

"What?...How….what?...who told you?" she stuttered nervously, for some reason feeling genuine guilt at the hurt on his face.

"Does it matter?" He asked softly feeling his heartbreak at the answer Haley no longer needs to give him, because it was clearly written on her face.

"Yes Nathan it matters! Who told you?" Haley asked again.

"Lucas." And just like that Haley felt the anger she ignored, when Lucas tried to stop Micca and Nathan from meeting, come back and flare.

"So it's true then?" he asked again just needing the confirmation.

"Yes." She answered.

"Nathan," Haley started softly after a moment of heart breaking silence.

"It's okay Haley, you don't owe me anything." He said his voice cracking. Taking a deep breath he went on to say with convection. "I will win your trust back."

"Nathan," Haley warned sternly.

"No," he said interrupting her. "I. Will. Win. You. Back. I mean it Hales! If I have to go to the moon and back, I will prove myself to you again."

"I filled for the divorce papers." Haley said harshly not wanting to give him any false hope. Or maybe she just didn't want to give herself any false hope.

"What?" He choked out making Haley's heart shatter at the conversation she once dreamed of having just so she could hurt him. But standing right there in front of Nathan she wished she could be anywhere else.

"I am sorry but-"

"Its okay Haley," Nathan said with new found determination, interrupting her.

"I am glad you see it that way-" Haley started but was once again interrupted by Nathan.

"I won't sign the papers and if we have to go to court I'll fight for you! I am sure there's a judge out there that will sympathize with a seventeen year old making the wrong decision." Nathan said sounding confident even though he was anything but.

"….."

"I will fight for you Haley! For you and for Micca."

Upon hearing Micca's name Haley was snapped out of her silence.

"If you think for one minute that I will let you take my son away from me then you are vastly mistaken!" Haley said venomly.

"I don't want to take Micca away from you. Even if I could, I still wouldn't." Nathan said calmly.

"Good! Because, if you even try, you won't just end up losing you basketball career. I will make sure you end up in jail for what you tried to do to your father." Haley spat viciously, and then turned around and headed back towards her house.

"That won't stop me, fighting for you Haley." Nathan shouted at her retreating back.