AN: Hi everyone. Sorry for the delay. I had some trouble with this chapter. I wanted to go back and do some filler for the four weeks after Jamie's accident. I know a lot of you probably want Nathan in the NBA but I've always seen Nathan as Whitey's replacement not Lucas.

I also want to thank everyone for the amazing reviews. This chapter was difficult to write but that was all on me. I was tied up earlier this week so I didn't get a chance to work on it as the reviews came in. Thank you for your wonderful words AND your votes of confidence. With that said. PLEASE REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW…

Chapter 8

She Will Be Loved

Beauty queen of only eighteen
She had some trouble with herself
He was always there to help her
She always belonged to someone else

I drove for miles and miles
And wound up at your door
I've had you so many times but somehow
I want more

I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
She will be loved

Tap on my window knock on my door
I want to make you feel beautiful
I know I tend to get insecure
It doesn't matter anymore

It's not always rainbows and butterflies
It's compromise that moves us along
My heart is full and my door's always open
You can come anytime you want

I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
She will be loved

I know where you hide
Alone in your car
Know all of the things that make you who you are
I know that goodbye means nothing at all
Comes back and begs me to catch her every time she falls

Maroon 5

Nathan lies awake in bed as he watches Haley sleeping. Last night had been amazing. They had reconnected physically and emotionally after weeks of abstinence. He sighed heavily. The break through at the therapist's office over the last four weeks had really been intense and they had made it through it together. It made Nathan feel good to know they had come that far in a short time. He thought back to the conversation he and Lucas had after he had moved home.

FLASHBACK

"Nathan you need to be patient with her. Don't push her. You know that you can't do that right now."

"I know Lucas but I just…. I need her man, so much it hurts. She won't even let me hold her to comfort her right now"

"Be patient she'll come around"

"What if she doesn't? I feel so disconnected from Haley, Luke. What if we can't get past this?"

"You will man. It's just going to take time"

Nathan nodded silently praying that Lucas was right.

END FLASHBACK

Haley sighed in her sleep and a small smile crossed Nathan's face. 'God she was beautiful.' He loved her so much. There was no way Nathan could live without Haley. The four days he had stayed with Lucas had nearly killed him, not to mention Brooke and Peyton standing in line to finish him off if the separation didn't succeed. Based on the morning after the Carrie fiasco he was lucky to be alive.

FLASHBACK

Nathan woke up to someone pounding on the glass at the kitchen door of Lucas' house. "I'm coming Jeez" he shouted.

As soon as he opened the door he wished he hadn't. Brooke and Peyton came rushing in through the door and Brooke immediately turned on him.

"You are one stupid son of a bitch. Do you know that?" she asked poking her finger in his chest with every word.

"What?" Nathan smirked.

"Don't what me Nathan. Have you seen your wife this morning?"

The smirk fell from Nathan's face. "No Brooke I haven't" he quietly said.

"Well let me tell you something asshole, we just left from there. Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"No Brooke. GO ahead and be a bitch and tell me" Nathan shot back.

"Oh don't EVEN think about it. Haley is broken Nathan. Last night brought back all of the pain of losing the baby. And let's not even mention your wife seeing you in the shower with that SKANK. How could you be so fucking stupid?"

Nathan hung his head. He was afraid of this. It was what he had feared the most.

"Nathan I've known you along time but I never thought that you would do anything like this." Peyton swore. "How could you hurt her like that?"

"What? Wait a fucking minute you two. You think I wanted to be in that shower with that Psychotic Bitch?"

"Didn't you?" Brooke asked.

"Of course not Brooke. I fired her ass for trying to kiss me that afternoon. I didn't even know she was still in the fucking house."

"You better go tell your wife that. She thinks you wanted Carrie and not her" Peyton informed him while glaring at him as though he was already dead.

"How is she?" Nathan whispered.

"How do you fucking think she is Nathan?" Brooke started after him just as Lucas walked into the room and grabbed her.

"Whoa Brooke! Hold up there!" Lucas said as he held Brooke back. He was sure if Brooke reached him she'd claw his eyes out by the look on her face.

"Hold up? HOLD UP? Lucas what in the hell is the matter with you?" How can you let him stay here after what he did to Haley? She's your best friend!"

"Brooke you don't understand…" Nathan said.

"UNDERSTAND? UNDERSTAND? You have got to be fucking kidding me! You're the one that doesn't understand Nathan!"

"Brooke, Nathan told me weeks ago he didn't have a good feeling about the Nanny. You need to layoff. Nathan's hurting too."

Nathan glanced at his brother, grateful that Lucas spoke up for him. Although it was short lived, he was glad someone knew. He was thankful he told Lucas and opened up to him.

"Nathan's hurting? YOU FUCKING SCOTTS ARE UNBELIEVABLE!" Brooke screamed. "Do you have any idea where I found Haley this morning? Well let me tell you since you two clueless idiots will never guess. She was lying on the floor in the bathroom. I don't think she slept all night. Her eyes were so swollen from crying that I don't even think she could see out of them."

Nathan squeezed his eyes shut as the image Brooke described. He felt his heart shatter to a million pieces. "Brooke stop!" he said as he sat down.

"Oh now you can say stop? You dumb bastard Haley James is the best thing that's ever happened to you. She has stuck by you through thick and thin, gave up her dreams for you, and given you the most precious little boy. Yet when you lose basketball you treat her like shit for months and you want me to STOP? Go to hell Nathan!"

Brooke stormed out of the house, Peyton following closely behind. They were on their way back to Haley's.

Lucas looked at his younger brother whose eyes finally met his. "I'll go talk to her Nate"

END FLASHBACK

Nathan reached up and pulled her hair back from her eyes to place it behind her ear. It was a small endearment but one he'd always done. God he loved this woman. She'd given him so much over the years. If there were any possible justice in the world, he'd spend the rest of his life making those four months up to her.

He wrapped his arm securely around her tiny waist. The gesture caused her to stir and her eyes fluttered open. Giving a small smile, she whispered "Morning"

"Morning" Nathan said as his eyes never left hers. 'God his girl was HOTT.' They had made love the night before so many times they had lost count. Haley had a glow about her this morning that could not be mistaken.

As Nathan lay there staring at her she became nervous. "What?"

"Nothing, I was just thinking about last night"

Haley blushed. "Oh yeah?"

"Mmmm hmmm" he moved in and claimed her lips, content on continuing the passion this morning.

………….

Haley had finished cooking breakfast and was cleaning up the dishes after they ate. Nathan had gone to Lucas' to pick Jamie up who had picked him up last night from Brooke's. As she thought back over the last few weeks one conversation with Brooke stuck out in her mind.

FLASHBACK

"Haley, you know Nathan loves you. You have to get past this. Lucas says that Nathan was freaking out over Carrie for awhile. He wanted to get rid of her but he was afraid that you wouldn't be able to do the things you enjoy if she wasn't her to watch Jamie. He felt like after the four emo months he put you through that you deserved that."

"Brooke I know Nathan loves me. I don't think for a second that he was with Carrie. I just….."

"You just what Haley?"

"I'm just afraid that if we get back together I'll end up pregnant. I can't lose another baby Brooke" Haley mumbled as the sobs racked her thin body.

"Oh Haley! You can't give away the love you have with Nathan over that. You're hurting now. It's only going to get worse with time if you don't let him come home." Brooke said as she held her best friend.

END FLASHBACK

Haley smiled to herself. Brooke had been right. She couldn't live without Nathan anymore than she could live without air.

…..

Nathan got out of the SUV and walked onto the River Court.

"Well if it isn't my biggest fan" Quentin chuckled.

Nathan glared at him. "Let's get an understanding here "Q" I don't like you man. I don't like my wife tutoring you one bit either. If you so much as lay a hand on her, I'll kill you Quentin. Do we mesh?"

Quentin frowned. "Yeah man we mesh"

"Good." Nathan turned to walk away and Quentin called out to him to stop him.

"I regret it man. I shouldn't have grabbed her"

"No if you do it again, you'll regret it. You have no idea about regret now."

Nathan climbed in the SUV and drove off. He couldn't stand that kid.

As they drove towards the house, Jamie looked over at his Dad.

"Daddy?"

"Yeah buddy"

"Are you and Momma ok now?"

"Yeah Jamie we are. Why?"

"I heard you asking Uncle Lucas about coaching the Ravens."

"And you figured out me and Mommy are ok by that how?"

"You wouldn't leave Momma if you weren't ok."

Nathan smiled at his son. Jamie was a very bright kid. It amazed him sometimes that he was so smart. Nathan reached over and ruffled his hair. "You're right Jamie. I wouldn't leave her if we weren't ok"

"Daddy?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you going to try to play in the NBA again?"

"No Jamie I'm not. I'm going to work on coaching. I don't want to leave you and Momma on those road trips.

"I used to hate it when you had to leave" Jamie sighed.

"Me too Jamie. You know something? I realized that my accident might not have been all bad."

"How come?"

"It made me see I don't want to leave you and Mommy any more." Nathan smiled as he pulled the SUV into the driveway.

Nathan and Jamie walked into the house and he didn't immediately see Haley. "Haley?"

"Up here" she yelled from the second floor.

Nathan took the stairs two at a time. When he finally reached their bedroom he saw her. "Hey you" he smirked.

"Hey"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just feeling sentimental that's all"

"Sentimental? About what?" Nathan sat down beside her on the bed, placing his arm around her.

"Us. You. Everything I guess."

"Baby we're going to be ok. I promise"

"I know. Nathan?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm ready to have another baby." Haley said as she played with her wedding ring.

Nathan pulled back and smiled, then leaned back forward and kissed her forehead. "I want that too Haley. So much."

……..

Later that night as they cuddled on the couch while watching a movie with Jamie, Nathan turned as he heard someone come in the door.

"Hello?"

"Who's that?"

"That's the new Nanny Daddy hired" Jamie smiled.

"What?" Haley sat up.

"Did someone call for a Nanny?" Deb came in smiling.

"Mom" Nathan smiled and went to hug her.

"I've missed you so much" Deb smiled. As she let go, her eyes met her daughter in laws.

"Oh Haley, baby come here"

Haley walked over into Deb's waiting embrace. As Deb held her she cried. They had gotten close while Nathan and Haley were in college. Deb had been in the hospital the night of the accident. Nothing had ever made her feel more helpless than both of her kids in surgery and not knowing what was happening. Haley had become the daughter that Deb had always wanted but never had. Even though Deb was against the marriage in the beginning she could not deny the positive effects it had, had on her son.

"It's ok now. I'm going to be here for you baby girl." Deb cooed as she smoothed Haley's hair.

Nathan watched the scene in awe. He never dreamed his Mom would love Haley like she did. It made him feel good to know that Deb was capable of changing unlike his Dad. That left Nathan with hope that he inherited at least one good gene from his parents. He had nearly turned into Dan after the accident but with Haley's love and support he was far from being Dan Scott. He never wanted her to doubt that again.

PLEASE! Don't forget to hit that button…. I plan on working on the next chapter tomorrow so I can get it out no later than Wed. of this week. Enjoy the 40's epy tomorrow night. It looks to be full of amazing NH. Oh such love. I can't wait.