SO sorry for the length of time between updates! School has been kicking my butt, and since I work in retail and it's getting to be the holiday season, I've been working like crazy as well! FORGIVE ME!

Here's a quick update! Sorry for the shortness of this chapter, but it was a necessary chapter to move the story along. A longer chapter 19 will be posted ASAP!

Thanks for sticking with me, loyal readers!

"So this new song of yours," Haley began, as she sat outside the recording booth next to Chris, "It's different than your usual stuff."

"Yeah," Chris sighed, "Chris Kel…I mean, I… just wanted to get rid of all the production and show and just go back to how things started. Just me and a guitar, you know?"

"Yeah, I remember," Haley replied, "It's a good song, Chris, really."

"Thank you for helping me Haley," Chris said sincerely, "You could've sent me packing the second I got here, but you didn't."

Haley twisted her wedding ring around on her finger. It had become a habit of hers, one that she did when she nervous.

"Look, I respect you as an artist Chris," Haley sighed, "But I'm only hear because of the contract that Peyton and I signed. Me being here in no way excuses what you did to me. Is that clear?"

"Crystal," Chris answered, "Haley, I want you to know that I meant what I said earlier. I am sorry, for everything. And I really am grateful that you're working with me. We make a good team."

Haley narrowed her eyes at him, trying to figure out if he was just playing her, or if he was actually sorry.

"I've spent five years hating you," Haley stated, "And it's been exhausting. So I'm not going to do it anymore. It doesn't mean I forgive you or that what you did was okay, because I don't and it wasn't. But I don't want us tiptoeing around each other when we're supposed to be getting work done."

Haley finished her rant, running her hand through her hair. She looked over to one of the shelves on the wall. It held a photo of Peyton and Jake, and a newly added photo of Nathan, Haley, and Jamie from after one of Nathan's games. Chris noticed her gaze and what she was looking at.

"I'm really glad that you're happy," he said, smiling, "You deserve it. All of you."

"Thanks Chris," Haley answered, trying to stifle a small smile, but failing miserably "But we should really get back to work."

"Maybe you and I could jam out on this next one?" Chris suggested, pulling up his guitar, beginning to strum a familiar tune for the two of them, "Remember this?"

"How could I forget?" Haley laughed, "It got us a standing ovation every time."

Nathan walked into TRIC, headed for Red Bedroom, a bouquet of purple flowers in his hands. He had 24 hours to be at home before he had to head back to Charlotte. Most of the guys on the team were staying there, going out drinking, but he'd decided to surprise Haley and Jamie, not telling them that he was coming. He'd called his mom on the drive, finding out that Haley was at the studio for the day. He hoped Mia wouldn't mind her recording session being interrupted.

As he approached Red Bedroom, he could hear voices and laughter, but he grew concerned when one of them sounded distinctly male.

He entered the doorway of the booth and was shocked at what he saw. Haley, singing with Chris.

He tried to hold back the anger that was boiling inside him at the sight of this prick, so he simply knocked on the door, "Special delivery."

Haley turned at the sound of Nathan's voice, "Nathan!"

She jumped into his arms, "What are you doing here?"

"Coach gave us 24 hours off," Nathan smiled, "Thought I'd come see you and the boy."

"Hey Nate!" Chris waved, propping his feet up on the sound board.

Nathan sighed, wrapping his arm tightly around Haley's waist, "What is he doing here?"

"I'm working with him," Haley responded, looking up to catch Nathan's gaze, "Not by choice, I can promise you that. Peyton signed a contract, and since she can't be here, it's up to me."

"Thought I told you to stay the hell away from my family?" Nathan spewed, pulling Haley closer to him.

"Look Nate, I'm just here to finish up my album," Chris raised his hands in surrender, "After that, I'm gone. For good, I swear."

Taking a deep breath, Nathan said, "You're lucky I'm in a good mood today, Keller."

Haley looked up at Nathan, proud of how he handled the situation, but by the way he was looking at her, she could tell he was upset.

"Chris, I'll see you tomorrow," Haley stated, as she and Nathan left the studio.

"So why didn't you tell me you were working with Chris again?" Nathan asked, as they drove home.

Haley sighed, "I didn't want you to be upset. I didn't have a choice in the matter, Nathan. He's here for a few more days, and then he's going back to LA."

"You still should've told me," Nathan gruffed, gripping the steering wheel tighter, "I thought we said no more secrets."

"I'm sorry for not telling you, but I was doing this for Peyton," Haley replied, trying to make him understand, "And I know you don't like Chris and neither do I, but I'm tired of hating him. I've held this grudge for too long. It's time I let it go, and I want you to let it go too."

"After what he did to you, and to Jamie? You expect me to let him off and be nice to the guy?" Nathan questioned.

"No, of course not," Haley said, "But I think we just need to move on. Chris is in the past. I want to focus on now: you and me and Jamie and our life. Can you please do that for me?"

"I'm sorry, Hales," Nathan shook his head, as they pulled onto their street, "It's just..having him here. I didn't want him to try and see Jamie or something. I'm gone, a lot, and I know that sucks, but I didn't want him to take advantage of that."

"Nathan, you are Jamie's father, in every sense of the word," Haley reassured him, reaching to take one of his hands from the steering wheel into both of hers, "He may have Chris' DNA, unfortunately, but DNA doesn't make a family. Love does. And I know how much you love Jamie. Chris wants nothing to do with him. He told me. We are safe, I promise you."

As they got closer to their home, Haley noticed the police car sitting outside. This got both of them nervous, and they hurried inside, to find Deb and two police officers in the living room.

"What's going on?" Nathan questioned, seeing his mother looking visibly upset.

"They came to update us on the case," Deb stammered, "Go ahead officers. Tell them what you told me."

Officer Adams, who had been the one who'd called Haley and stayed with Jamie at the hospital, gulped, before speaking, "We came to inform Ms. Lee and the two of you that our CSU team finished processing the crime scene. Unfortunately, there's no physical evidence placing Dan Scott at the scene."

"But Jamie said he saw him there," Haley replied, "And the neighbors must have seen something."

"We interviewed all the neighbors," the other officer said, "None of them saw anyone enter the home, except Ms. Lee and your son."

"Dan did it," Nathan said, "Jamie is a witness. That has to count for something, right? Have you arrested Dan yet?"

"Unfortunately Mr. Scott," Officer Adams began, "There is insufficient evidence linking Dan Scott to the crime. Without a corroborating witness, there's nothing we can do."

"But Jamie," Haley started, before the other officer cut in.

"The District Attorney doesn't believe that a five year old witness is credible," he said, "Or fit to stand trial for that matter."

"So he gets away with it," Nathan stated, sounding calm, but Haley knew better.

"Mr. and Mrs. Scott, if I could talk to you in the kitchen for a moment," Officer Adams said, gesturing towards the kitchen.

"No," Haley shook her head, "Anything you want to say, you can say in front of all of us."

The two officers looked at each other, before Officer Adams spoke up again, "The sheriff wants to know if you'd like to press charges."

"Against Dan?" Haley asked, confused.

"Against Ms. Lee," the other officer clarified, "The sheriff believes that she put your son in imminent danger, but the final call is up to you."

"Are you insane?" Haley narrowed her eyes at the police, "You and I both know that Dan Scott did this. And he's going to get away with it, which is even worse. Why, in God's name, do you think we would want to send Deb to prison for something she didn't do?"

"I'm sorry, for all of this," Officer Adams said sincerely, "I wish there was something I could do, but my hands are tied. The sheriff is going to close the case then, today. It'll be ruled an accident."

"I'm sorry Mom," Nathan hugged Deb, who was crying.

"Deb, we'll figure it out," Haley assured her.

"I'm sorry I had to put you all through this," Deb sobbed.

"It isn't you, Mom," Nathan replied, "It's Dan. I didn't think he would go to this extreme, but I should have known better."

Deb straightened up, wiping the tears from her eyes, "You're right. I can't let him get to me. I can't let him win."

She looked at the clock on the wall, "Oh, I have to get to the café."

"Deb, I'm sure Karen could cover for you," Haley said, as Nathan stood next to her, his arm around her waist, "Maybe you should stay in today."

"I can't do that, Haley," Deb shook her head, "If I do that, Dan wins. He doesn't get to control me anymore. I'd rather just forget that this all happened, move past it, you know?"

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter!

Please review or PM me and let me know what YOU would like to see happen in this story! I love ideas and suggestions!