I'm concerned that I've made Haley pretty….well….weak (I guess that's the right term) in this story. I just want you to know that soon ass-kicking Haley will be on the way. :)

Thank you so much for the reviews for the last chapter! 11 is the most I've gotten for one chapter and it made me smile, especially since I know I didn't deserve them and I still don't for how long it's been since I've updated. (This chapter isn't nearly as edited as I wanted but I don't have enough time before I leave to get it as good as I wanted) I wish I could promise the next update would be tomorrow or something, however, I'm going "home" to Wilmington for two weeks. I'm taking my flashdrive and will work whenever I can, but I don't know how often that will be.

Thank you all so much for sticking with this story. There really aren't that many chapters left and this one is my best attempt at fluff, it's my "calm before the storm" chapter, so there isn't that much drama. I'm sorry if you like the drama chapters.

As always, please Read and Review, your opinions mean the world to me and I'm really sorry for yet another delay in updating.

By the way, who do you guys think Lucas called in the finale and why? I'm honestly just curious.

Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of the characters and such.

Bold face is reality with Haley in a coma, Normal is the dream world, and Italics are the thoughts and memories.

The next installment of the story shall now begin in a gym so full of happiness, it may prove too good to be true….

Living in the moment

"God I've missed you," Nathan whispered after several minutes when the pair broke from their passionate kiss for air. Nathan placed his head against Haley's, simply enjoying the moment.

Haley was scared. She didn't know what was going to happen now and couldn't meet Nathan's eyes. She wasn't sure if Nathan would leave, if she would leave, if she and Nathan would fall apart and the tour would no longer be an option for her because she chose Nathan. Her face reflected this as she avoided Nathan's very close, very blue, eyes.

"Hey," Nathan breathed. He could sense the worry coming off of Haley in waves. "Everything will be alright Hales, no matter what."

Haley finally looked into his deep eyes. She felt herself being pulled into them. After merely a few seconds they were back at it, making out on the basketball court. Nathan picked Haley up and started swinging her around the court without breaking their connection.

Brooke pulled away from Lucas and started cheering, "Naley!!"

However a second later, the pain in Nathan's chest began to intensify. He set Haley down and pulled back. Haley noticed he was sweatier than he had been at the end of the game.

Her voice full of concern, she asked, "Nathan?"

Nathan simply gave Haley his famous smirk. "Hales, I'm fine and really happy."

Haley smiled and once again pressed her lips against Nathan's. They couldn't keep away from one another for very long and neither cared who saw.

"They're like a couple of jackrabbits in the springtime," Brooke commented with an intrigued expression as she stared at the two while she stood next to Lucas. "I bet they'll be at it all night, being really loud too. Do you mind if I stay at your place tonight to avoid the moaning—"

"Aw Brooke!" Lucas exclaimed with a grossed out expression. "That's my little sis and little bro you're talking about!"

"Well we could always have some fun of our own to get rid of those scarring thoughts."

Suddenly, Nathan stopped kissing Haley back. She pulled away only to see his eyes roll up right before he fell backwards onto the hard wooden floor.

"Nathan!" She exclaimed. He didn't move. "NATHAN!" She found herself screaming. Without realizing it, she fell to her knees.

Haley heard a pair of feet run over as quick as they could. Haley lifted her concerned face to see Lucas pulling off the jersey of his younger brother while a medic ran towards them.

"Shit!" Lucas shouted.

Meanwhile, Brooke appeared at Haley's side and wrapped her arms around her friend.

Running down Nathan's chest was blood and a hell of a lot of it. It was coming from a wound on his chest.

"Where did he get that?" Haley asked in her shock.

Lucas was in a panic and had no patience for questions. He snapped at Haley without thinking, "When he tried to kill himself last year but you were too busy to come home!"

"Lucas!" Brooke exclaimed with a glare. To Haley she mumbled, "He didn't mean it like that Haley, he didn't."

The medic came over, "We need to close this up as soon as possible," he said after a quick examination.

In horror, Haley watched as Lucas, Jake, Tim, and the medic carefully placed Nathan onto a stretcher and led him to the locker room. The only thought in Haley's mind was My fault. This is all my fault.

"Nathan you need to go home. You need to get some rest, eat, shower, finally change your clothes," Lucas prodded gently the next day.

"I'm fine," Nathan replied shortly.

Lucas sighed, "Please Nathan. You aren't doing Haley any favors by sitting here and not taking care of yourself. You have to be on the brink of exhaustion."

"We'll call you if anything happens from her breathing funny to her sneezing to her waking up. I promise," Brooke said sincerely.

Nathan met her eyes and realized she was telling the truth and he knew he really did need to go.

"Fine. But if ANYTHING happens, you're telling Haley why I'm not by her side."

Brooke and Lucas nodded while Nathan stood.

He bent down and kissed Haley's cheek. He mouth went by her ear and he whispered, "I'm not abandoning you Haley James. I'll be back, I swear it."

When Nathan moved towards the door Brooke added, "I'll get Karen to give you a ride home. She's in the waiting room, she'll meet you at the service exit."

Avoiding the waiting room and the main entrance with the press and other people, Nathan Scott left the hospital to find bright sunlight shining down on him.

"Nathan is fine….you know that right?" Brooke asked Haley the next day in their apartment. Haley did what she had done since they had returned to the apartment the night before, stared at the pain stain with a blank expression.

Brooke slowly walked over to the couch where Haley was sitting and placed a comforting arm around Haley. Unlike how Brooke planned however, Haley didn't lean into her, grateful for support.

"What's wrong Haley?" Brooke asked pleadingly.

To Brooke's surprise, Haley finally answered her, except she replied with a question. "How did Nathan get that scar in the first place?"

Brooke blinked. She wasn't expecting this. "He was in a car accident last year Tutor-Girl…I thought you knew that."

"How did he get in the wreck Brooke?" Haley asked coldly.

Brooke looked at Haley's face and then to the pain stain. I know she does. Why would she want me to say it out loud? "We think he tried to kill himself."

Tears began to spill out of Haley's eyes. "Don't you see Brooke?!" She exclaimed. "It's my fault Nathan is like this. If it wasn't for me he wouldn't have had stitches! He wouldn't have started bleeding in the middle of his game! Nathan wouldn't be the cold guy he is! This whole town would've been better if I never existed!" Haley didn't realize how loud her voice had gotten or how much it pained her to admit that everything was her fault. She ran a frustrated hand through her hand. She quietly added with her voice full of pain, "I don't know how to fix my mistakes Brooke."

It was then that Haley leaned into Brooke and Brooke began to hold her and soothingly stroke her hair. Just as she was about to say something sympathetic and comforting, there was an urgent knock at the door.

Without really wanting to, Brooke stood and made her way to the door. Haley, on the other hand, rubbed at her eyes while walking to the bedroom to hide her shame.

Brooke opened the door with a bored expression which promptly turned into shock, "Nathan Scott. What a pleasant surprise.'

She smirked before Nathan could say anything and yelled to where Haley had disappeared, "Tutor-Girl! You have a visitor!"

"I don't feel like seeing anyone," Haley replied from the bedroom.

Nathan made a gesture asking Brooke's permission to simply go in after Haley. Brooke shrugged and went to start making mac and cheese. She figured Haley would want her favorite food for comfort or to celebrate after this conversation with Nathan.

The strong Nathan Scott walked into his old bedroom and quietly closed the door behind him. When he turned around his breath stopped. Right in front of him, the love of his life was in the middle of changing her clothes into a new pain of sweats and was only in a pair of his old shorts and a bra.

"Brooke! I'm changing!" Haley exclaimed while she turned only to see Nathan ogling her.

"Na-Nathan," Haley stammered feeling the red creep up into her face while Nathan's blue eyes continued to stare intently at her chest.

Look away. Just look away. You've seen it all before. You've felt it all before under your hands. You've felt that smooth skin running under your fingers. You know what it is, nothing left to the imagination…Am I kidding? It's Haley, the creamy skin. The way she feels under my hands. The way she touches me. The longing in Nathan suddenly increased while Haley simply stood in front of him. She was in a trance herself.

Nathan took a step forward towards Haley, his hands feeling the need to roam all over Haley's perfect body. His eyes were no longer simply staring at her lacy bra, but looking all over her body and remembering what was under her clothes.

Haley took a step backwards, snapping out of her trance and wondering where in the world she had put her shirt.

"Hales," Nathan said quietly in a husky tone. Once again he had her undivided attention, she kept moving backwards however.

She hit her dresser painfully and Nathan closed the distance between them creating a sort of cage around her. Her soft brown eyes met his piercing blue ones, she heard his ragged breathing, she saw the muscles in his arms that surrounded her.

"Nathan…what are you doing?" Haley asked raggedly.

"Something I should've done ages ago." And without another pause, Nathan placed his lips against Haley's.

Their mouths began to work together in a rusty manner; a way that had been very familiar, but hadn't been used in a long time. Haley felt herself begin to smile against Nathan's lips, how I've missed this.

Nathan placed his strong hands on Haley's bare stomach sending an electric jolt through the pair. He let his hands roam over her stomach before he reached down to her basketball short-cladded thighs and picked her up.

"Nathan!" She exclaimed quietly while he swiftly knocked whatever was on top of the dresser onto the ground. Nathan then set Haley down onto the dresser and she was actually taller than him then. Nathan smirked and Haley lowered her head to capture Nathan's lips.

After a few more minutes, Nathan's roaming hands reached Haley's chest where he let a thumb slowly massage the inside of her lacy black bra.

A fire sparked inside of Haley as she released a slight moan. She moved her own hands to Nathan's waist line where the bottom of his shirt was and pulled on his blue polo. Nathan pulled back for a split second so Haley could remove his shirt. Immediately, Nathan returned to the position he had been in, except now he placed his mouth upon her neck.

Another small moan escaped Haley when Nathan hit her sensitive spot. She felt Nathan smirk again as he continued his work on her neck. He loved it when Haley let go a little and just gave into her passions.

Haley moved her head to allow Nathan better access to her throat. One of her hands started running through Nathan's short hair while the other started to run over Nathan's toned chest. That is until she felt something odd.

There was stitching. Suddenly, Haley stopped responding to Nathan's mouth, to his strong hands that were now working on her bra's latch, to Nathan. All she could think about was the pain she had caused him, of how uncertain their future was. How she could easily regret what they were doing in a day.

Nathan noticed she wasn't moving and pulled back, worry in his eyes. His hands left her bra, but they could not leave her completely so they came to a rest on her waist.

Haley placed a hand on the scar and she felt a tear start to well up. She felt guilty for being the cause of Nathan's intense pain and she felt even guiltier knowing that she may once again bring it.

"I'm fine Hales," Nathan whispered in a soothing tone. "It was simply that punk Damien, that's why it reopened."

"I'm sorry it was there in the first place Nathan," Haley said quietly while a single tear slid down her cheek.

Nathan lifted one of his hands and brushed the tear away. "Hey, all that matters is you're back now. Let bygones be bygones right?"

Haley smiled sadly. "Nathan, this isn't going to end well. I'll go back on tour and it will be just like before."

"We don't know that Haley." Nathan placed a hand under Haley's chin so she was staring right into his eyes. "Things could be different this time around, but maybe they won't be. Who knows? It's the future, for all we know, we might not have futures. So that's why today, the time we do have control over, is important."

Haley shook her head. She wasn't much for not planning for the long term.

"Remember back when we were dating and we were talking about living in the moment?" Haley slowly nodded, fondly remembering what Nathan had told her. "I still mean it Hales. Yesterday made me remember that if I'm going to live in the moment, I just want to live in it with you. Do you want to live in the moment with me?"

Haley smiled in response. Maybe their worries weren't anything as long as they enjoyed what they had when they could. Time to live in the moment Haley James…Scott.

Their lips collided in a slow and loving, yet still passionate kiss.

Nathan's hands once again began to slide up Haley's smooth back until they reached her bra.

Nathan's hands started to fiddle with the clasp. He was an expert at this, he could've gotten it off in a second, but he wanted to give Haley the chance to stop if she wanted. He knew if the bra came off his shorts on her would be off a minute later and then his khaki shorts would be off. Once that happened, there would be no opportunity to stop him after missing her for so long.

Haley didn't stop him.

Nathan finally unlatched the bra and began to move it slowly off.

"Tutor-Girl, Lucas wants to—" Brooke had walked in the room without knocking. "YES!—I mean, I'm sorry!" She exclaimed as she covered her wide eyes and hastily ran out of the room with a smile on her face, shutting the door behind her.

Haley's face went bright red. She was sure she had never been more embarrassed in her life.

Nathan put his head down in disappointment. He knew Brooke's entrance had killed the mood. He backed away from Haley and did not look at her, knowing the temptation would be too much.

"I'm sorry Hales. If it means anything, I didn't hear the door open."

Haley didn't answer. She simply hopped off the dresser and grabbed her shirt that she now discovered laying right next to where she had been standing. She quickly exited the room and went to the bathroom to cool off.

Nathan found his own polo and put it back on himself. He walked to what he assumed to be Haley's bed and sat down on it. He ran a hand through his hair thinking about what Haley had said to Brooke before he came into the apartment when he could hear them through the wall and what she had said to him. He realized he hadn't done enough to relieve her of her guilt, to express how he really felt about her.

When Haley returned Nathan stood and grabbed her hand. "Haley." She didn't look at him. "Haley, please look at me." Haley slowly lifted her eyes to once again stare into Nathan's.

He loved her deep brown eyes, he always felt as if they could pull him in. "Your goodness and your kindness are overwhelming Haley James. My pain is my own Haley, what happened last year is my fault, not yours. I shut everybody out; you didn't make me to do that or anything else I've done. You have caused all the good things I've done though. Haley, you always do your best even if you don't think it's worth it or something. You're a much better person than I, or anyone else, could ever be and what you do matters to everyone around you."

Without meaning to Haley blurted out her own doubt, "What if my best isn't good enough?"

"It is Haley. You saved my life, never forget that Haley James."

"Scott. You forgot the Scott."

Nathan smiled sincerely. "Haley James Scott."

Haley softly smiled herself, "I like the sound of that."

She stood on her tiptoes while Nathan leaned down and met in a tender kiss.

"By the way," Nathan mumbled against her lips, "This town would suck even more if you had never existed."

The couple walked out of the bedroom hand-in-hand to find Brooke sitting on the couch talking on her cell phone. "I know! It's much more intense than before! I mean they aren't so careful about people seeing them. Like last night at the championship and then today I walked in on the two of them practically having sex, on my dresser no less! Do you think that makes up for me having sex with Foolix in her bed?"

"Brooke!" Haley shouted, her eyes wide in fear of who she was talking to.

"Uh-oh I have to go. It seems Tutor-Girl and Boytoy are done with their session."

"Who have you called?" Haley demanded, fire in her eyes.

Brooke looked a little nervous. "Um. Just Peyton." Haley continued to stare fiercely at Brooke. She knew there were more. "And Lucas." Brooke walked over to the kitchen with Haley's watchful eyes on her. "And well Karen because she picked up and I was just so excited that I had to tell her."

Haley immediately started to run after Brooke, but Nathan swiftly grabbed her hand again. "Hales it's alright. I'm sure Lucas and Karen will still be able to look at you without wanting to gouge their eyes out."

Brooke hastily picked up a big blue bowl. "I made macaroni to celebrate Haley so now you can't kill me. Besides it's not my fault you didn't put the scrunchie on the door!"

Haley's eyes moved away from Brooke, "I kind of got distracted and didn't remember."

"Really? Doing what?" Brooke replied with a teasing smile as a small blush crept up Haley's face. "Anyway, what I was going to tell you when I got to see you two getting it on like a couple of jackrabbits in the springtime is that Lucas wants to know if you two want to hang out with us, Peyton, and Jake."

Haley looked up at Nathan and he nodded signaling he was fine with it, but it was her decision. "Why not? It's been ages since we've all hung out together."

"Yes!" Brooke exclaimed. "We should meet at Karen's in an hour. But for now, let's eat this delicious mac and cheese!"

Brooke walked into Karen's Café first. Nathan and Haley took a second outside the door.

"Nathan…" Haley said quietly.

"What's wrong Hales?"

Haley looked away trying to figure out how to word what she wanted to say. "What are we? I mean are we just friends with benefits? Are we married again? Are we 'dating?' You know they're going to grill us inside and I want our stories straight."

Nathan sighed, he was dreading this conversation. "Why does it matter what they think Hales?"

Haley didn't answer. She could see in Nathan's eyes that he already knew the answer that they were her friends and their opinions would always matter to Haley. Nathan simply couldn't help asking.

"We'll tell them we're living in the moment and seeing where life takes us. If they don't accept it, then they'll just have to get over it. Is that okay?"

Haley wasn't sure she was down with this plan. She absolutely hated not planning for the future and putting off facing the problems, but she didn't want to know what would happen with Nathan once they discussed their future and she was happy now. "Yeah sure."

Nathan grabbed Haley's hand and pulled her closer to him. He could tell she was only saying that to please him and he didn't like that. She had to agree because she wanted to, not because he wanted her to agree. "Haley…I don't want to mess things up. I don't want to pressure you and then scare you off back to the tour so we lose touch again. I'm here for you, I mean it this time, and I need to show you that. I know you're not much for living in the moment, but I also know it takes time to gain your trust back. That's my goal, to not pressure you and gain your trust so you know what to do at graduation and that I'll be behind you."

Haley's heart swelled with affection for Nathan and how well he really did know her. She was still slightly afraid that he would go back to the cruel Nathan that only wanted to hurt her like she hurt him, but that fear wasn't going to stop her from enjoying the Nathan she missed.

With a smile, Nathan pulled back and walked into Karen's Café, Haley's hand still in his. They entered the small café and everything stopped moving. Anyone eating dropped their food and silverware. All conversation came to a halt. Everyone stared at Nathan Scott with Haley James.

You can do this. You can do it. Haley reminded herself as she took in a calming breath. She took a step from out behind Nathan and led him to the table where Peyton and Jake were sitting with Brooke pinching Lucas as if to remind him that it wasn't a dream, what they were seeing was real.

"Hey Lucas," Haley said with as much confidence that she could handle.

"Hales. Hey Nate," Lucas greeted with a confused expression, yet genuine smile.

Lucas eyed the pair suspiciously and Haley felt her face turn a slight red as she remembered who Brooke had told after walking in earlier.

"So what excitement is planned for today?" Haley asked, trying to fill the awkward silence that she despised.

"Well," Brooke began as she took control of the situation. "We thought maybe we should go to a movie and then to the River Court. You two up for it?"

"Yeah I'm in," Nathan said.

Haley flashed a grateful smile as she felt the awkwardness slip away to be replaced with a comfortable feeling between the group. The rest of the people in the café began to resume what they had been doing before the Naley entrance.

"I'm in too," Haley said.

"Prince Caspian?" Lucas asked in a disappointed tone while Brooke handed out everyone's ticket. She had insisted on buying, they had all assumed she was being nice, now they knew it was so she could go against their pick and buy tickets for something else. "Why not Ironman?"

"Or even Indiana Jones?" Jake joined in.

Brooke smirked. "It looks like it will be a good movie." To Peyton and Haley, Brooke whispered, "With some major eye candy!"

Haley and Peyton looked at each other and rolled their eyes. "Let's get this over with B. Davis," Peyton said while she grabbed one of Brooke's arms and Haley grabbed the other.

Haley discovered she couldn't pay attention to the movie or the actors playing Peter or Caspian, she was much too distracted with her own tall, handsome guy sitting next to her with his arm casually around her. Haley felt like she was in junior high again, getting so excited to have a guy's arm simply across her shoulders, but she couldn't help it. The warmth from Nathan's arm was seeping through her clothes and giving her a warm feeling inside her gut. It didn't help matters when Nathan casually placed a knee against her own.

She couldn't help it. She turned her face slightly to look at Nathan's perfect one only to discover he was staring at her own face. Embarrassment immediately began to seep into Haley. Get a grip Haley, she commanded herself, to no avail. Nathan Scott made her act in irrational ways that nobody else ever could.

Meanwhile, Nathan smirked. He absolutely loved the effect he had on Haley. He loved how she would get embarrassed if he looked at her for too long or in a certain way, the best reaction came when he combined those elements. She didn't know about the effect she had on him though. He didn't think it was necessary to tell her that their simple contact caused his arm to want to pull off her shirt and the rest of her clothes so they could have their way with each other.

While Haley tried to firmly concentrate on the movie, Brooke's elbow ran into her. When Brooke didn't apologize Haley looked over at her. Right next to Haley, Lucas and Brooke were making out. Brooke, the one who had wanted to stare at the eye candy, was making out with her boyfriend like they had a private room.

Haley tried to get the attention of Peyton, who had Jake between her and Lucas, but she failed. Risking it, Haley tapped Nathan on the arm. She pointed at Brooke and Lucas with a mischievous smile.

Nathan smirked again. "I love the way you think," he whispered into her ear. Haley smiled genuinely up at him while he passed her the popcorn. Right before she was to go through with her plan, Jake looked over. He grinned and picked up his just refilled monster-sized drink.

He held up his fingers and when he held up the third Haley dumped her popcorn on Brooke while Jake poured his drink out on Lucas. Brooke shrieked and Lucas, mouth wide open in shock, shook his wet head while Nathan, Haley, Jake, and Peyton all broke down into fits of laughter.

All around them shushes came, but it was too late for peace to ever be restored; nobody got Brooke Davis without a price. Lucas stood up to go to the bathroom and try to dry off. Brooke, on the other hand, pulled out a water bottle from her purse. With a pen that was also in her purse, she poked a hole in the side of the bottle. With a devilish grin she started spraying the laughing Scott couple.

Nathan yelled while Haley screamed, yet both still had good humor in their tones.

"Psst," Peyton said across Jake to the laughing group. The trio turned to have malt

balls thrown in their faces. Once again they all broke out into fits of laughter and once again everyone in the theater shushed and glared at them.

The five couldn't stop laughing though. Suddenly, Nathan was tapped on the shoulder. "If you can't quiet down I'm going to have to ask you to leave," A boy of about fifteen in a theater worker's uniform said quietly yet firmly.

Nathan looked at the kid and smiled good-naturedly, "How about we just leave now and save you the trouble?"

The rest of the group all laughed and stood with Nathan. They walked past the stunned worker with broad smiles.

When the group walked outside, Jake turned and looked around. "We forgot Lucas!" He exclaimed. They all turned to re-enter the theater.

"No you didn't," Once again they all turned around to see Lucas in the deserted street with a smirk and a large water gun in his hands. "There's a dollar store right across the street. Time for a little revenge! Say hello to my little friend!" Immediately, the five were shot.

Haley laughed when she realized Lucas had filled the gun with very cold milk, their favorite ingredient in water balloons.

The happy shrieks from the group filled the air as they ran around the empty block.

At one point Haley grabbed Nathan and brought him into a passionate kiss. What Nathan didn't know was that she was waving at Lucas. Lucas ran over and hit Nathan right in the back of the head.

"Ah man!" Nathan shouted while Lucas and Haley high-fived each other.

Nathan laughed, "You're gonna get it James!"

"Just try to get me Scott!" Haley shouted as she ran behind a car. A group of teenagers simply having fun, that's all we are right now. That thought alone made Haley smile broadly. Maybe this living in the moment thing isn't so bad.