Setting: Nathan and Haley's house
*Haley stood in front of the mirror in her bathroom, clad in a mournful black dress. She twirled her long dark hair in a curling iron, gently releasing each strand so that it draped her neck. As she opened the medicine cabinet above the sink, she bit back a smile that was tempted to wash over her when she saw the letter Nathan had wrote several weeks ago. She picked up a bottle of perfume and lightly spritzed herself with it's sent. Nathan entered the bathroom with his tie untied, but loosely hanging around his neck. He wrapped his arms around her from behind as she made eye contact with him through his reflection in the mirror. *
Nathan: Hey, you…
Haley: Hi, Baby.
* Nathan planted a kiss on the side of her forehead. *
Nathan: How are you doing?
Haley: fine… I think everyone is going to come back here after the funeral instead of going back to the hotel… I know I don't see my family that often, but it would just be good for them all to be together right now… I talked to Taylor when her plane got in. She hasn't even been to the hotel yet, so I told her she could leave her bags here until afterwards… My mom is a mess…
*Nathan cuts her off by turning her around and laying a kiss on her lips. *
Nathan: Hales, you didn't answer my question… how are you?
Haley: how did this happen, Nate? How did everything go from being great one day, to suddenly Jamie being sick, Sam's mom being dead, and Allie being gone?...
Nathan: It was an accident, baby…
Haley: I know…
Nathan: The guy didn't mean to hit her…
Haley: It still doesn't make it ok, though…
*Nathan wipes a tear that strayed down Haley's cheek and pulls her into his embrace. *
Jamie: Mama?
* Haley draws away from Nathan at the sound of the small voice. She wipes the pain from her eyes and puts on a smile for her son.*
Haley: Hey, buddy…
*Jamie holds up his tie to his mom. She flips up his collar and secures it around his neck. After she is finished, Jamie stands next to Nathan and looks into the mirror. He straightens his tie, mimicking the motions Nathan is making as he ties his own. *
Nathan: J-man, you're looking sharp.
*Haley checks herself in the mirror one more time and slips into her shoes before she heads down stairs, where she finds Lucas. When he notices his startled expression at the sight of him, he quickly interjects. *
Lucas: Hales, sorry, I let myself in…
Haley: What are you doing here? Where's Peyton?
Lucas: Peyton and Brooke are registering for Brooke's wedding with Sawyer and Sam… I just wanted to come by and check on you…
Haley: I told you I was fine, Luke… really, I appreciate the concern, but I have a lot to deal with right now…
Lucas: But, you see, you are forgetting one small thing…
Haley: *annoyed * really? What's that?
Lucas: You are forgetting that I am your best friend and I know you way too well to believe the "I'm fine" bit you are trying to pull.
*He wraps her in his arms. She feels a light tugging at the hem of her dress and looks down to see her son wrapping his arms around her legs. *
Nathan: We are ready to go when you are, baby…
Haley: ok… let me just grab my purse…
*Haley runs upstairs to grab the bag she left on her bed. *
Lucas: How's she really doing, Nate?
Nathan: Not well… but we are all here for her… I think she will be okay…
Lucas: Yeah… Haley James Scott, she's one strong girl…
*Haley returns with her bag tucked under her arm. *
Jamie: Mama?
*she kneels down to his height *
Haley: Yeah, buddy…
Jamie: Is this one going to be sad? Is it going to be sad like Q's?
*Haley lets out a worried sigh and shoots Nathan a glance. *
Haley: I don't want to lie to you, buddy… It's going to be really sad… and it's okay if you are sad… I know you only saw your Aunt Allie a few times, but she was a wonderful person… You don't have to come if you don't want to… trust me, I totally understand if you want to stay her with Uncle Lucas…
Jamie: No, I want to come.
*Haley rubs her nose against his and wraps his tiny hand in her own as she stands up. *
Haley: Ok, Buddy…
*****************************************
Setting: Department store
*Brooke and Peyton are tearing through the store, scanning everything in sight. Sam is pushing Sawyer in the stroller, desperately trying to keep up. *
Brooke: Ohh! I just love this! Don't you, P. Sawyer?
Peyton: Whatever you say, B. Davis… it's your wedding…
Brooke: *Giddy * It is my wedding!
Peyton: I take it you are excited to become B. Baker!
Sam: Trust me, she is so far past excited that excited isn't even in sight…
Brooke: I'm not so sure about the name thing, though.
Peyton: What do you mean?
Brooke: Well we can't exactly have B. Davis magazine without B. Davis…
Peyton: Well, you could always change it to B. Baker magazine.
*Brooke wrinkles her nose. *
Brooke: It just doesn't have the same ring to it…
*They continue strolling through the store. As they approach the music section of the department store, Peyton spots one of Mia's posters and her thoughts immediately go to Haley. *
Peyton: Have you heard anything from Haley?
Brooke: No, not since the other day… I've been trying to give her some space… what about you?
Peyton: No… I haven't… Luke went over there this morning, though and he said that she was surprisingly calm…
Brooke: Yeah, well Haley has never been one to bother anyone else with her problems…
Peyton: I know… I just worry about her, you know? With Nate on the road so much lately… I just hope she doesn't feel like she needs to hide it from everyone…
Brooke: I know what you mean…
Peyton: Let's go see her after she gets back from the funeral… the rest of her family will be there to, so we probably won't be able to stay long, but I want to make sure she is ok…
Brooke: Sounds like a plan.
***********************************************
Setting: Cemetery
*The funeral has just finished and people are dispersed within the cemetery… some are making small talk, some are mourning their loss, and some are visiting other graves… Slowly, the Scotts make their way to Quentin's grave. Jamie walks up to the grave and lays a Bobcats jersey down in front of the headstone. Nathan and Haley stand a few feet back, watching their son's actions. *
Jamie: Hi Q.
Haley: Hi, Quentin.
Jamie: Guess what, Q… my daddy finally made it to the NBA! Thank you for helping him… he couldn't have done it without you…
Nathan: Jamie's right… I couldn't have done it without your help…
Jamie: I've been practicing a lot… but the doctors wont let me play too much yet…
*Haley notices Kayla, Allie's daughter, standing alone in front of her mother's grave. *
Haley: Hey, Nate, I'll be right back… I just need to do something…
Nathan: Ok… we'll wait here, baby.
*She pulls him down for a kiss before she walks across the cemetery to join Kayla. As she approaches her niece, she hears a faint humming coming from her mouth. Not wanting to disturb her, Haley stands a few feet behind her; taking in the innocent sound of Kayla's voice. After a few heartbreaking moments, Haley alerts Kayla of her presence. *
Haley: She loved you, you know…
*Haley wraps her arm around Kayla's shoulder. *
Haley: You meant the world to your mom…
*Kayla nods her head, her eyes puffy from tears. She rests her head on Haley's shoulder as Haley pulls Kayla's hair off her face and re-secures it in the bobby pin that was falling out of her long, brown, locks. Kayla leaned into Haley, feeling comfort in the way that Haley was acting like her mother figure… Although she didn't vocally voice it, she knew that Haley was aware of the fact that she appreciated her presence and comfort. As Kayla lifts her head back up and Haley wipes tears from both her own eyes and Kayla's, her parents approach them. *
Lydia: Haley Bob, can your dad and I speak to you for a minute.
*Haley nods her head "yes" and follows them to a shaded area in the cemetery. *
Jim: Allie, um… she left this for you…
*Jim takes an envelope out of his suit pocket and hands it to his daughter. *
Haley: *confused * what is it?
Lydia: Haley Bob, it's her will…
Haley: Oh.
*Haley fiddles with the envelope, expecting her parents to wait for her to open it, but when she looks up they are gone. Haley tears through the envelope and examines the contents. *
Haley: Oh my god…
*Haley sits on the ground and leans against the tree that was providing her shade from the scorching sun. She raises one hand to her mouth to muffle the sobs that were threatening to escape as she read the letter enclosed in the envelope. Noticing his wife's discomfort, Nathan rushes to her. *
Nathan: Hey, Jamie, why don't you go play with Aunt Quinn for a little bit… I have to check on something…
Jamie: Ok… is Mama ok?
Nathan: Yeah… I'm sure she is… I just need to check something… go see Quinn, I'll be there in a few minutes…
Jamie: Ok…
*Nathan watches as his son runs over to Quinn and then he goes to comfort his wife. *
Nathan: Hales, are you ok?
*Haley nods her head "yes" as she looks down so that he doesn't see the tears that stained her cheeks. Knowing better than to comply with his wife's answer, he sat down beside her and cradled her in his arms. *
Nathan: *noticing the envelope in her hands * what's this?
Haley: It's um… it's… Allie's will…
Nathan: Oh…
Haley: Allie… she um… she wants us…. To take care… of… um… of Kayla…
*Suddenly understanding her fear, Nathan grasped her tighter. *
Haley: I want to… I really do… I just… I don't know if I can do it… and I don't want to put Jamie through any more… He has been through so much already…
Nathan: We'll work it out, Hales… I promise.
*Nodding her head in agreement, she glanced over at Kayla who was still standing in front of her mothers gave. *
Nathan: Kayla looks up to you, you know… She needs you right now, baby…
Haley: What if I can't do it? What if I can't help her?
Nathan: Hey, you were the one who wanted to take in Sam… maybe we didn't take her in then because we were waiting for the right time… maybe the time is now… maybe this is your chance…
Haley: You would do that for her?
Nathan: I would do it for you, because I know how much your family means to you…
Haley: How did I end up with such a great guy? I love you
Nathan: I love you too, Hales… Everything will work out… I promise…
*As Jamie approached them, the stood up. Haley held her arms open to her son as he folded into her. Releasing Jamie from her embrace, she stood up and interlaced her fingers with Nathan's. After releasing an uneasy sigh, Haley led the three of them to welcome their newest family member. *