Chapter 3 – Your Person.
Nathan followed Grace outside and saw her sitting on the curb. Her body was overtaken by sobs and Nathan finally understood her. Her bitterness and shock when he had said that she was like Haley. It was even more obvious now. She had finally let it all out and he wanted to protect her from feeling that way, he couldn't do that but he would comfort her and do everything in his power. He still wanted to get to know Kyle but Grace needed him right now.
Grace felt someone's presence and saw Nathan standing behind her. He slowly came over and joined her on the curb. He looked at her hand but said nothing. He wrapped his arm around her. At first she was reluctant but she gave in and sobbed into his shirt.
"I just want to say goodbye" She whispered.
She caught Nathan by surprise as he thought she had fallen asleep.
"I do too" was all Nathan could say.
"Her funeral's here tomorrow. Are you going to go?"
"I didn't know that, i thought she would have been buried in New York"
"No, it was in her will that she wanted to be buried in Tree Hill"
"I'm definitely coming" he gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze.
The father and daughter sat there for a while before Lucas interrupted.
"Sorry my Mom was worried" he said
"Shhh" Nathan said "I'll take her back to mine okay and i'll meet you at the funeral in the morning if you leave the details on my answering machine"
"Okay."
Nathan lifted Grace up and placed her carefully on the back seat of his car. When he got back to his house he made his way inside and put her on one of the spare beds and covered her in the sheets. He quietly made his way down the stairs and into the kitchen.
Through all their problems Deb and Dan Scott had managed to stay together. Out of convenience more than anything else.
"Who was that girl son? She seemed a bit you for your taste and you don't seem the hero type" Dan inquired mockingly
"She's my daughter"
"What?" Dan looked up in shock
Nathan looked down sadly
"Nathan what is it?" Deb asked him
"Haley died of cancer last week, and we had two children that i didn't know about. They are 17 and they have come to live with Karen in Tree Hill."
"Oh I'm so sorry" Deb said. She had always like Haley, she may not have shown it after they got married but she could tell how much Nathan loved her by how hurt he was when she left.
"How can you be sure they're yours? And how are there two?"
"When you meet them you can see they're mine and they are twins" he answered "Now i'm going to go and get some sleep because the funeral is tomorrow."
He went upstairs and lay in bed. He couldn't get to sleep he just kept thinking of Haley, and everything that had happened. What if Haley hadn't left? What if she hadn't got too scared that time? What if he hadn't freaked out about contraception? What if they were still married? What if he had got over his pride and just called her? Eventually he fell into a restless sleep and awoke the next morning dreading the day to come.
XOXOXOXOXOX
Grace awoke and was confused by her unfamiliar surroundings, when the events of the night before poured into her mind. She remembered the fight with Kyle and the bonding with her father. Now she had to get up and get ready to bury her Mother. How could she do that? Maybe if she stayed in this spot it wouldn't happen and she wouldn't have to deal with it. She didn't know how she was going to cope. The funeral made it so much more real, this was finally the end.
"Hey" came the voice from the door
"Hi" she smiled weakly "What's the time?"
"It's eight. Karen will be hear in about half an hour with your clothes and anything else you need. I've made breakfast so you can come down when you're ready" he said kindly.
She made her way down to the smell of pancakes.
"Hmmm smells delicious" she said
"Thank you." he laughed "What do you want on it?"
"Ermm... can i have lemon and sugar?"
"Of course, that was your mom's favourite" he observed
"Yeah, she has good taste" she smiled, it was easier than she expected.
"First, here's some antiseptic and a bandage" she looked at him blankly "For your hand"
"Oh, thanks" she took it shyly and began fixing herself up.
"Do you think i should colour it black? I mean we are going to a funeral" She tried to joke but didn't quite pull it off.
He smiled but didn't say anything.
XOXOXOXOXOX
Everyone was standing but the grave as they watched Haley's coffin being lowered into the ground. There were tears in everybody's eyes and one by one people left and the only people left at the grave were Nathan and Kyle.
"You must think I'm a horrible person" Kyle said as he stared at the grave
"Why?"
"Because you obviously have a connection with Grace and-"
"I want to get to know you too. I don't think you are a horrible person, you didn't do any of those things on purpose and you obviously love Grace. She just needs time, but i think you should talk to her. I thought she would have stayed but she was one of the first to leave."
"Okay, I'll see you later?"
"Yeah"
XOXOXOXOXOX
Grace was sitting in the café alone. It was closed but she had found the spare key and had gone in. The wake was at Karen's but she didn't feel like being around everyone at the moment. The two tapes were sitting on the counter and Grace took the nearest one and began to watch.
Haley came on the screen.
"My two angels, what would I have done without you?"
"The minute you were born i fell in love with you."
"Kyle, you were the best son a woman could wish for and I love you so much. You have been my rock. Please live your life to the full, don't regret and don't give up what you love. I made that mistake and I don't want the same for you. Look after your sister, you need each other. I love you. Now leave so i can 'talk' to your sister."
"Grace, you are so special and you don't even realise it. You remind me so much of Nathan and of myself and, well of everyone in Tree Hill. I know sometimes you feel like you don't belong, like you were born at the wrong time in the wrong place and maybe you are not the person you are meant to be, but you are. I felt like that but it will get better and you will find your purpose. I promise you, i will watch over you. I know you said to Kyle once that i was his person and you didn't have yours but that isn't true. You are like Nathan there is no denying that but both you and your brother have a special place in my heart."
She took a breath.
"You have so many sides to you but you never show them. I want you to promise me that you will find someone who will love you for you, not your looks or your status in high school, but for you. You deserve nothing less. I love you so much, remember that i am always with you. Look in the back of the last diary and you will find and envelope, open it and do whatever you want with what is inside. Goodbye sweetie."
"Bye Mom" Grace smiled. Being so interested in what was on the screen Grace hadn't noticed the two people standing behind her.
"She should be fine now" Nathan whispered to Kyle "Come on, lets give her a minute."