Hello once again everyone – I'm sorry that this has taken so long I have re-written these chapters so many times and still am no that sure about them but I guess no one is perfect so you guys should just get the chance to read them.

xoxo

Chapter 16

Nathan's POV

I drove home tried to sleep but couldn't so I wandered around the house pointlessly for hours then got in the car and drove to the rivercourt and was taking shots from anywhere, nothing was going in. I couldn't believe that she didn't say anything. Was she just caught up in the moment when decided to kiss me? Did she even love me at all? Did she not want me back in that house?

I turned and threw the ball into the river

"What did that ball ever do to you?" Peyton asked walking onto the court

"Peyt, I'm not in the mood"

"I know, I have just come from your wife's. I thought you could use a friend"

"So she told you everything?" I asked and she nodded at me "Did she tell you that she doesn't love me?"

"No she didn't because to say those words wouldn't be true for either you or Haley"

"Yet she can't tell me that" I respond bitterly

"She is worried Nate, She needs to make sure for your kids that the same thing doesn't happen again"

"So I've heard before, but Peyton I thought that is why we were going to have that talk last night. I haven't even slept"

"Oh Nate" she said as she wrapped her arm around my shoulder "I believe in my heart that you two will work this out and you have to believe it too"

"I thought I did, but now I'm not so sure." I sighed "It all seems just too hard" Peyton punched me as hard as she could in the arm "What was that for?"

"Ok I'm telling you this because I love you Nate and a little because Luke and I need to be selfish, you and Haley are the couple everybody knows can make it through anything, we have seen it before because in the time you guys have been together you have stood by each other through everything, the tour, high flyers, Chris, Taylor, Carrie, Dan. She loves you Nate and I know deep down you know that, and just because she can't say it just yet doesn't make it any less true."

"That wasn't selfish Peyt"

"I haven't finished yet, we need for you to give it a shot, to try at least because I can't have my child's god-parents fighting"

"Oh Peyton, are you serious?"

"Of course we are Nate, you guys have been through so much with us and it's the perfect choice to have our kids grow up with their cousins if anything was to happen to us"

I pull her into a hug "nothing is going to happen to you guys"

"I know that, but we can't not think about providing a future for our family, you know because you did it with Jamie and Soph"

"Well I'm honored and I'm going to spoil this kid so much"

"Well then Uncle Nate, let me buy you a coffee at Karen's" she says laughing as she leads us off the court

Haley's POV

Standing in the kitchen I was watching Jamie read Sophie a book at the table as I cooked dinner when the phone rang.

"Hello this is Haley" I say as I wedge the phone between my ear and my shoulder

"Hales, it's Brooke I'm just calling to let you know we got home safe and the we are booking in Christmas flights as we speak, we arrive on the 21st"

"Oh Brooke that's awesome, you will stay here wont you?"

"That's the plan unless you have changed you mind since this afternoon"

"No I haven't, we can't wait to have you back for a visit, at least it's only two months now to wait to see you guys again and that makes me happy"

"I know what you mean" Brooke says sighing "I forget sometimes how much I love it there with all you guys, with me and Chase being the only ones not living there I feel like I miss out on so much"

"I know it's hard for you but you are here every chance you get and I'm only a phone call away, remember that" I tell her

"Thanks Hales. Same goes here you know that. Wasn't life just so much easier when we were in school and living together?"

"Well either way I'm separated from Nathan in those choices"

"True but at least in the present time you have Jamie and Soph and they are great kids"

"You are right – but I do think about what it would be like sometimes to go back and do things again, it still confuses me as to how you got me to sign up to be a cheerleader"

"Because I'm brilliant plus it totally worked it got you and Nathan back together"

"Pity you can't put us back together now"

"I might not be able to but you can, you are just scared but Hales that boy loves you and you need to let go of your fear and let him back in, because if you are not careful you could lose him altogether"

"I know that you are right Brooke but for some reason I just get stuck every time I try to talk to him about us"

"Stop thinking with your head and start thinking with your heart"

"Since when did you become so wise?"

"Well I had this amazing roommate in high school who got me through a lot of hard times"

"Peyton is amazing"

"Yes she is but I was talking about you Hales, you don't understand how you got us all through on days we didn't think we could make it and I know Nathan thinks that too, there is no way he would have graduated if it wasn't for you" She tells me "So what are you going to do about this problem you have?"

"Well I'm going to take some time and then I'll try and talk to him again"

"Good for you Hales, keep me in the loop okay"

"Sure thing Brooke, but I must go I've got to get these kids dinner"

"Ok sweetie, just remember what I said and I'll talk to you soon. I love you Tutor-mum"

"I love you too Brookie, chat soon" I said hanging up the phone and calling the kids to the table as I serve out their dinner

"So good news guys, Uncle Chase and Auntie Brooke are coming for Christmas this year and they are going to stay with us" I tell them

"Really?" Jamie asked

"Yep, they will get here on the 21st of December"

"Can we do a countdown mummy?" Sophie questioned smiling up at me

"We sure can" I said as I stood and went to retrieve the calendar

Sitting back down at the table I flipped to December, the kids and I marked the date on the calendar and a countdown until Chase and Brooke would arrive before finishing off dinner.

Jamie and Sophie seemed pretty tired so after dinner they both went straight to bed.

But of course that left me alone with my thoughts. Had I done the right thing? Why couldn't I move past this? I forgave Taylor and Carrie and I stuck by him through everything with Renee, but this why?

I couldn't be selfish anymore, sure I ended up back with Nathan all those times but Jamie had been through so much already. When he had picked up that magazine with Nathan and Renee that claimed 'Love Child' I knew in that moment that, that situation was bigger than we realized and that my son was going to grow up fast learning things he didn't need to know.

So I guess thinking about it, all I want is for Jamie and Sophie to be able to be kids for as long as possible – sparing them from all the heartache that I went through over the years.

I sat on the sofa in the family room flipping through a catalogue but not really looking at it and once again I fell asleep on the sofa.