I own nothing. Everything in this story belongs to the creator of One Tree Hill and the CW

Nathan felt like a jackass hedidn't mean anything that he said. Sure he wanted space but he wasn't leaving the house. It was the first time he had actually been home in weeks and he wasn't about to leave his family. He loved them all more than anything and it was the only true thing he had. He just didn't want him and Haley screaming at each other. So he was just walking around the outside of the house. It had been years since they have had a fight this big. Sure they still argued and had minor disagreements but nothing this big. Nothing that constituted a walk out or a slap to the face in fact that actually still hurt. He was sure her hand print was there because it sure burned like it.

He walked around the house and near the garden he started to walk towards the basketball court he had built. He wanted to shoot around a little it helped him think. As he got to the court something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. He turned to find Jamie sitting on the ground under a large tree near the court. As he looked he seen that Jamie was crying and seeing his tear stained face broke Nathans heart. Nathan ran over to Jamie and scooped him up into his arms in a bone crushing hug.

"What's wrong Jamie?" Nathan asked as he swiped the tear tracks off Jamie's face.

Jamie trying to catch his breath hiccupped and looked at his dad with sadness in his eyes

"It's my fault dad. I shouldn't have told Chuck. You and mom are fighting again like before. I seen her slap you. I'm so sorry." Jamie sobbed out in between hiccups.

Nathan felt bad it wasn't Jamie's fault. It was his he never should have kept that from Haley in the first place. He knew that but Quinn and Brooke talked him into waiting because they felt she didn't need the extra stress. He knew better but went along with it because Haley was still getting over her depression from losing her mother, the shooting, and then almost losing Jamie in that accident he just didn't want to take the chance of her falling back into her depression.

"Jamie this is not your fault okay! I am not mad at you. I should have told your mom myself and I didn't." Nathan finished hugging Jaime again.

"But dad…" Jamie started but was cut off by Nathan

"Jamie it's not your fault. I'm not mad. I love you. Now what do you say to a game of horse?" Nathan finished with a hopeful smile.

This is why Jamie loved his dad he could be having the worst day and he just washes all his worries away. With a small smile Jaime nods yes.

They begin to play laughing and joking with each other.

Haley was in the house tending to Lydia. She gave Lydia a bath after she woke up from her nap and was now getting her bottle ready. She couldn't stop thinking about Nathan's walk out. She knew she overreacted a little but she couldn't help it her hormones are still out of whack. She still couldn't get over the fact that she slapped Nathan he didn't deserve that. She knew he was telling the truth she could see it in his eyes. She wondered where he was. She was definitely going to have to have a talk with Brooke and Quinn. As she finished getting Lydia's bottle ready she heard a basketball bouncing and happen to look out towards the court. She smiled as she seen that Nathan hadn't actually left the house and that he was in the backyard playing with Jamie. The old Nathan would have left without a second thought. He had changed there was no questioning that.

She walked over to Lydia who she left within vision distance sitting in her swing.

"Here baby girl." Haley said as she picked her up and started feeding her, her bottle. She walked back over to the window and watched the two men she loved most in her life continue to play basketball. From where she was standing it looked like Jaime was winning because of the huge smile that was on his face. She noticed as Nathan missed another shot which was unlike him as he did this he watched Jamie giggle hysterically.

She then turned and walked with Lydia in her arms into the living room and sat on the couch. She waited until Lydia finished her bottle and then after burping her they played for a while. Haley turned the TV on and was watching some sappy chick flick while she rocked Lydia to sleep.

After playing a few games of horse both Nathan and Jamie where coming inside. It was getting pretty late and they still hadn't had dinner so they had ordered a pizza while outside and where coming in now because it was due to arrive anytime now.

"Jamie you go wash up and I will wait for the pizza." Nathan said as he reached for his wallet. "I am going to wait on the porch. Come join me when you are ready."

"Okay dad!" with that Jamie took off running to get ready.

Nathan wanted to look for Haley but he didn't want to take the chance in case she was still angry he didn't want to fight so he quickly stepped out onto the porch and took a seat on the front steps waiting for the pizza delivery guy to show.

A few minutes later Jamie walked outside to find his dad sitting on the porch. "Hey! Are you hiding from mom?" Jamie asked with a small smile know that his father already was.

"guilty" Nathan said with a chuckle. "I just don't want to fight with her again and most certainly don't want to be on the wrong side of that slap again."

Jamie nodded "yeah I saw the slap. I can also still see the hand mark you might want to put ice on that later dad."

"I will. So… did you see your mom?" Nathan asked

"Yes. She is watching TV with a sleeping Lydia in her arms. I couldn't tell but it kind of looks like she's crying."

That news made Nathan feel, 100 times worse then he already did. He hated it when he was the cause of her crying. Just as he was about to respond the pizza guy came rolling up on his scooter. The pizza guy got off his scooter walked over and handed Nathan the pizza and bread stick box. Okay that will be 15 dollars even. Nathan pulled out his wallet and handed the guy a 20. "You're all set man thanks and have a good night."

"Alright J-man lets eat some pizza." Nathan said as he held the door so Jaime could walk in, in front of him. As they made it to the kitchen Nathan put the food down on the counter and turned to grab plates and napkins. "Jamie let mom know that we got dinner please." Nathan said over his shoulder. "Sure thing daddy" Jaime said as he raced off to tell Haley.

"Mama, daddy wanted me to let you know we got dinner. Pizza! He wants you to join us please." Jamie said running into the living room.

Haley looked at her son with a smile and said I will be right in. with that Jaime ran back into the kitchen.

Haley wasn't hungry she was still too upset and she still wasn't ready to face Nathan. She was tired so she decided to put Lydia down and go to bed herself. Once she got Lydia down she went to her room locking the door behind herself.

It had been twenty minutes and Haley still wasn't in the kitchen for dinner. He and Jaime had finished. He was cleaning up there mess and put the leftovers away. He finally walked up the steps and checked Lydia's room. Lydia was sound asleep in the crib and Haley wasn't in the room. So he moved on to there room where he found the door locked. That broke is heart even more. "I guess I deserve that Hales. I'm sorry. I love you!" he said to a closed door.

Haley just lay in bed. She had heard him but she wasn't about to open the door. So she turned over and cried herself to sleep.

Nathan walked to Jamie's room and told him it was bedtime. Jamie shut his computer off and climbed into bed. Nathan tucked him in.

"Daddy you and mommy are going to be okay right?" Jamie asked. "I noticed that she didn't come in for dinner and that she locked herself in your room."

Nathan let out a long breath "Yes Jamie. We will. Daddy is just on another time out right now. I crossed a line today. I deserve this."

Jaime nodded his head and said "good night. I love you dad!"

"I love you too Jamie. Sweet dreams buddy."

After he said good night to Jamie he made his way into the spare bedroom and into the bathroom. He brushed his teeth and washed his face and hissed when he hit his sore cheek. Looking in the mirror he noticed a small bruise forming probably from where her ring had hit his skin. He dried his face careful not to hit the spot again. He walked downstairs to turn off some lights and to grab the other baby monitor in case Lydia woke during the night. He would tend to her tonight. He then climbed into the bed and stared at the ceiling.

Two o'clock in the morning rolled around Nathan still hadn't fallen asleep when Lydia's cry broke through on the baby monitor. Bouncing out of bed a moment later he was walking towards his daughter's bedroom. When he got there he scooped her up in his arms and was rocking her. "Hey baby girl!" he cooed kissing her cheeks and tears away. "What's got you all in a fuss huh? Let's find out!" with that he was checking her diaper and making a face when he found it dirty "alright baby girl lets get you changed."

After he finished changing her he found her wide wake. "Hmm someone's not tired." he exclaimed as she looked up at him with bright eyes and a gummy smile to match. "Lets get you a bottle and watch some TV." With that he picked her up and walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. he made Lydia a bottle with her still in his arms before he walked into the living room he grabbed himself a bottle of water from the fridge.

Once in the living room he sat down on the couch and situated Lydia so he could feed her. He then turned on the TV and flipped through the channels he smiled when he found that ESPN was showing a classic game. "Perfect!" he exclaimed. Lydia soon finished the bottle Nathan burped her and he then tried putting her in the bouncy seat but she just cried she seemed determined on being held. Nathan giggled when she stopped crying right when he picked her up from the bouncy seat.

"You're just like your mama fussy and stubborn until you get your way." He said to her as he tickled her stomach lightly. She cooed as if she agreed and made him chuckle. He rocked her in his arms and rubbed her back as he got settled into the couch himself. Lydia soon after drifted back off to sleep in her daddy's arms. Nathan nodded off into a deep sleep on the couch with Lydia safely wrapped in his arms.

The next morning Haley woke 4:30 having to be at the café to open. Her and Brooke decided to reopen Karen's Café a few months ago and things where going great. Haley walked into the bathroom and looked into the mirror and cringed. Her eyes where still red and puffy from having cried last night she had a lot of time to think last night and she decided that she had overreacted a smidge… okay who was she kidding a whole lot. She never really did give Nathan a chance to explain. Once he was able to actually get her to listen she was told to ask Quinn and Brooke what really happen so that is what she was planning on doing today.

She looked at the time and decided that she had time for a quick shower. So she turned on the shower and walked back out into her room to set out clothes that she would wear today. She then went to shower, showering quickly so she wouldn't be late. Once she was finished getting ready she came down stairs and was met with the most precious site she had seen in a while. Nathan lying with his back on the couch his arms wrapped around Lydia and both sleeping peacefully. She smiled at the site as she walked up to pick up Lydia. As she got closer she noticed Nathans face. He had a small bruise on the cheek where she slapped him. This made her feel worse then she already did. As she picked up Lydia she kissed Nathans bruised cheek and told him she was taking Lydia for the day. She giggled when he mumbled an okay an I love you and I will see ya later. She then walked to the front door taking the diaper bag she had packed the night before and left for the café.

Once at the café she put Lydia in the crib she had put there and started with opening duties. She put on a pot of coffee and started prepping everything else. The café had been pretty steady this morning. She was glad she had her helpers this morning. It was now 10 o clock in the morning and it had died down. The busy time is between 7 and 930. Now that she finally had a few moments she took out her cell and dialed the first number she wanted to call since Nathan's statement last night.

After a few rings the person picked up. "Hello." said the voice on the other end.

"Quinny, it's me Haley. Do you think you can come by the café today around 3 when Brooke comes in? I need to have a talk with both of you."

"Sure girly! I was going to stop by the café today anyway. So I will see you at 3 and Hales is everything alright?" Quinn asked

Haley pondered this for a moment. "Yes… or at least I think it will be I will talk with you more about it at 3."

"Oh alright see ya later girly."

"Bye" Haley finished as she hung up the phone. She then looked to the clock it was only five after ten she was in for a long day.

3 o'clock had to get here and get here fast. She needed answers and apparently Quinn and Brooke had those answers.

AN: Okay so i had sometime to write while waiting at the hospital...lol. The Next Chapter won't be posted until mid next week. Thank you readers and as always review please.