Chapter 9

It was past midnight, and Jamie was sitting on the couch. Nathan came downstairs and walked over to him.

"Jamie," Nathan said. "It's past midnight. Aren't you supposed to be in bed?"

"I'm just thinking," Jamie said.

"Well why don't you just think tomorrow," Nathan said. "Go to bed."

"I can't sleep," Jamie said.

Nathan sat down next to his son.

"Thinking about Brooke and Julian?" Nathan asked.

"It is weird that I feel sad about what happened?" Jamie asked. "I know it's none of my business."

"Jamie," Nathan said. "It's okay to feel sad about that. It is sad."

"Do you think that Aunt Brooke and Uncle Julian will be okay?" Jamie asked.

"It will take time," Nathan said. "I think they will be okay, but they'll never fully get over it."

"How can you get over losing a baby like that?" Jamie asked.

"You can't," Nathan said. "Remember when your Grandpa James and Grandma Lydia died?"

"Yes," Jamie said. "I miss them."

"I remember when you were 7 months old and they came to visit," Nathan said. "We took so many pictures."

"I don't think I've ever seen them," Jamie said.

"Here," Nathan said standing up. "I'll go get the album."

Nathan went and got the album and sat back down next to Jamie. They looked through the album for about an hour, before they both fell asleep.

Haley came downstairs at about 6:00 AM to see Nathan and Jamie asleep on the couch. Nathan had his arms wrapped around Jamie and Jamie had his head rested against Nathan's shoulder.

"How adorable," Haley said as she got out her phone and took a picture.

The sound of the click woke Nathan and Jamie up.

"Whoa," Nathan said. "I guess we fell asleep."

"Sorry to wake you up," Haley said.

"It's okay," Jamie said standing up.

"I was thinking pancakes for breakfast," Haley said.

"Okay," Jamie said. "I'll make them."

"No," Haley said. "I don't trust you to use the stove anymore ever since the grease fire at the café."

"That wasn't me," Jamie said. "It was Uncle Chris."

"It was?" Haley asked.

"Yeah," Jamie replied.

"Oh," Haley said.

Haley and Nathan sat at the kitchen table while Jamie made pancakes.

"So Jamie," Nathan said. "You never told us about the college tours yesterday."

"Oh yeah," Jamie said. "I'm hoping to get into Tree Hill State University."

"Okay," Haley said. "What do you want to study?"

"Music," Jamie replied. "I've given it a lot of thought and I'd like to be a singer/songwriter like you Mommy."

"Yes!" Haley cheered. "He's spent his whole life wanting to be just like you Nathan, and now he finally wants to be like me! Yes!"

"Are you mad Daddy?" Jamie asked.

"Of course not," Nathan replied. "I'll be proud of you no matter what you do. Now come here so I can hug you."

Jamie walked over to Nathan and Nathan hugged his son tightly. Meanwhile, Haley got up and took over cooking the pancakes.