The Mourning After

Chapter 13

Summary: The morning after ….

Thank you guys for the reviews, please keep them coming !

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Haley woke up with the morning sun beaming through the windows. She couldn't remember the last time she had such a pleasant night's sleep, although last night was anything but pleasant, well at least a parts of it were. The feeling of joy and bliss she felt being with Nathan was now completely replaced with doubt and fear as she realized that she was naked and alone in bed. She looked around and saw no trace of Nathan. Her heart raced and doubt plagued her mind. Did he leave me again? Where'd he go?! The feeling lasted a moment as she smelled something from the kitchen. Wrapping a bedsheet around her body, she peeked through the door and saw a glimpse of Nathan in the kitchen, obviously cooking something. She sighed in relief and wondered, when did he become such a cook?

Nathan heard the door open and turned around to see Haley. He smiled at the site, she looked absolutely beautiful and incredibly sexy, just wearing that over sized shitrt, his shirt. But his smile quickly turned upside down as he realized that she looked upset. She came straight up to him and gave him a hug, she pressed her face against his bare chest, her hands roamed through the muscles of his back and then she playfully jabbed his shoulder.

"Don't ever do that to me again!" She pouted.

"Do what? … please tell me what's wrong, I promise I'll make it better." He had never been so concerned, seeing that look on her face, he wanted nothing more than to take her pain away.

"Leave me alone in bed.. I thought.. I thought you left." She admitted as she buried her head back onto his chest. He held her tight, never wanting to ever let her go. She felt so silly, she even started to tear.

"Aww baby, I'm so sorry.. I'm never going to leave you." He held her tight, he couldn't bear to think that he would be the cause of anymore tears in Haley's life.

"I'm sorry.. I'm being silly."

"No, you're not, I will never leave you."

"Promise." She tried to smile.

"Promise." He kissed the top of her head. ".. you looked so peaceful while you were sleeping, I didn't want to wake up.. I actually wanted to bring you breakfast in bed."

"Aww Nate, that's so sweet."

"So do you forgive me?" Nathan asked, relieved that Haley seemed to be in better spirits

She nodded her head and smiled and tiptoed up to give him a peck on the lips and then another one and pretty soon, their lips were locked. Neither wanted them to stop, but the smell of oil and smoke broke their lips apart.

"Crap." Nathan muttered as he turned off the burner. I hope she likes burnt bacon.

"Don't worry about it.. it's okay."

"No it isn't, I wanted to do something nice for you, like make you breakfast." Now it was his turn to pout.

"Aww baby, it's okay.. I was actually in the mood for sausage."

"Shoot, I don't have sau.." Nathan stopped mid-sentence as he saw the seductive look in his wife's eyes. She knew that he understood what she meant and he gave a sly grin. Their lips automatically attacked each other and they started to make their way back to the bedroom.

A while later, Nathan and Haley lied down and took a minute to catch their breath.

"I think that was the best breakfast, I ever had."

"Wait til lunch." Nathan smirked and two embraced each other once more and their lips met. They stared at each other and Nathan started to stroke her hair. "God you're beautiful." He muttered breathlessly. Haley turned red, completely embarrassed, only Nathan could make her feel like that. She reached out and started to stroke his cheek and traced the outline of his jaw.

"I'm so sorry for everything." She said softly. "Those things I said.."

"Shh!" Nathan answered back, putting his finger over her lips. "You have nothing to be sorry about .. it's me.."

"Nathan.." she said in a more serious tone.

"No, Hales.. if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have even been at school that early.. if it wasn't for me you wouldn't have gotten shot.."

"You're wrong Nathan, if I hadn't left to go on tour…"

"If I hadn't pushed you away.." Now it was her turn to put her lips over his mouth.

"Ok, I have a feeling that we're going to argue over who's fault it is."

"There won't be one when you just accept that it's my fault."

She smiled and gently slapped him. "Nate.. it's my fault, too.. it was our fault… now I forgive you, do you forgive me?"

"Of course I do." He said kissing her.

"Now, we just have to forgive ourselves." Nathan nodded and smiled, though his wife had a point. He knew that deep down it was all his fault, but he didn't care anymore because he has his second chance with his wife. He was going to spend the rest of his life making it up to her. He kissed her once more.

"So what now, Nate?"

"I don't know.. all I know is that whatever happens, we'll face it together.. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, that's never changed despite everything that's happened.. I was just so scared of getting hurt again and …" He looked down not wanting to look at her.

"And what?"

"Letting you down.. I told you I would be there for you but I wasn't.. you deserved better than that.. I mean my life was already a mess but you .. you were fine before me, ever since we got together ... look what happened to you.. you'd have your parents still here, you'd prolly be on tour and be some big star by now.. you'd have a much better life with out me in it."

"Hey.. don't you dare think for a second my life wouldn't have been better with out you .. before I met you, I didn't know what life was .. sure my parents took off but they were going to leave once I graduated before you came along, I never sang for anyone.. if it wasn't for you, no one would've heard me.. you gave me a voice a Nathan." His gaze intensified and she wondered what was he thinking behind those blue eyes. "What? What's that look?"

"Nothing, I just .. I just love you so much.. I don't know what I did to deserve someone like you."

"I could say the same thing about you ..you make me so happy.. you make me feel alive.. you once told me that I was your family.. well.. you're my life… and I leave my life in your hands." She said the last part a little more seriously. He gave her that, 'what's that supposed to mean' look.

"My bag, front pocket." She stated.

Nathan looked at her for a moment then got up to go see what was there. She couldn't help but smile when he got out of bed without putting clothes back on. He opened her bag and, sure enough pulled out a bottle with a couple of pills inside. He looked up at her and she sat up from the bed.

"Like you said, I don't need them.. I have you." She stated simply and his heart melted once more. He smiled and went over to his bag and pulled out what looked to be a photobook. He hopped back onto bed and handed Haley the book.

"What is this?" She asked as she opened the book and saw that it was a scapbook, of her. Her eyes started to water as she flipped through the book and saw various newspaper and magazine clippings, even some printed stories from the internet. "Nathan…" She was speechless.

"I was hurt when you left but I still loved you and I wished I was there to experience it with you.. so everything I could find on you, I kept it."

"This is wow.. I can't even put into words.. thank you … but you were wrong Nate.. you never left me .. you were always here." She grabbed his hand and placed it over her hear.

She closed the book, figuring she'd look through it more in detail later and kissed Nathan. "I could just lay here all day with you." She said as she snuggled up to him.

"I couldn't agree more." He said hugging her tighter "But it's a beautiful day outside and there's something I want to show you."

She sat up. "Ohh what is it?" She asked eagerly.

"You'll see.. so what do you say?"

"Ok, let's go." She sounded excited. "Let me just take a shower first.. care to join me?" She asked seductively.

"If I do that, then we'll never leave."

"Exactly." She grinned and he laughed.

"Well, no need for a shower.. with how dirty we're going to get .. we won't need one until we get back."

"Nathan!!!" She started to go completely red and he couldn't help but laugh hard.

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"God that was incredible!" Haley exclaimed as her and Nathan both stopped.

She took off her helmet and let her hair fall down. "I think I scared the hell out of those cows."

Nathan laughed as he took off his helmet. "You were very good baby.. I'm glad you're enjoying the ATV."

""Enjoy it .. I love it." She leaned over and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Race you back to the cabin."

"You're on James."

"It's Scott by the way."

Nathan smiled. "Game on Scott."

--

Brooke checked her watch and her cell phone for what seemed like the millionth time. Lucas sighed, "Don't worry Brooke, I'm sure they're okay."

"We haven't heard from them all day yesterday and today.. what if something's wrong!?"

Lucas didn't want to admit it but he was worried for Nathan and Haley, probably more so than Brooke, but she was freaking out about more than he was and if he started to freak out, then both of them would lose it.

"Nathan will call."

"But he hasn't and both their phones are off! Nathan was supposed to talk to Haley.. what if it went badly.. oh my God.. Haley probably murdered Nathan."

"Relax Brooke.. you know, but you're right.. it has been a while.. maybe it won't hurt if we go by their cabin and check up on them."

"You two worry too much." Rachel said as she entered the living room. "Their probably in bed doing lord know what to each other."

"Eww Rachel." Lucas stated, he didn't need to have that image in his mind.

"Gross Rachel, our friends are in trouble.. you think you can keep your mind off the gutter."

"You guys are overreacting .. if I was stuck alone in a cabin with Nathan, hmm the things I'd do to him." She licked her lips and smiled seductively.

"Ew Gross.. you're not helping Rachel, come on Lucas let's go."

A short time later, Brooke, Peyton and Lucas headed off to Nathan's cabin. They didn't want to overwhelm them by bringing everyone over. They arrived at the cabin and saw that Nathan's car was still there. The three of them got out and started walking over to the door.

"What's that?" Lucas asked as he saw Brooke carrying a white box.

"A first aid kit, just in case Haley attacked Nathan." Brooke responded. Lucas shook his head and then to turned to Peyton. "Do I even want to know?"

She held out the bottle of whip cream and hot fudge syrup that Rachel handed to her before they left. "In case Nathan attacks Haley."

Gross. Lucas thought as he knocked on the door. The three of them waited breathlessly as they heard someone turn the knob.

Nathan opened the door and the three of them didn't know whether or not to be relieved or weirded out. He stood there, only wearing his boxers and Brooke already counted 5 hickie marks across his torso.

"Oh hey guys." Nathan greeted.

"We just wanted to make sure you guys are ok." Lucas asked a little uncomfortable.

"Yeah.. we're good.. sorry we haven't called.. we've been up.. busy."

"I could tell." Brooke gave him a wink.

"Oh hey guys!" Haley said as she made her way to the front. She was wearing one of Nathan's shirts but tugged it a little further down to try to cover herself up more. She stood next to Nathan and he immediately put his arm around her. The three friends, relieved to know that everything was okay.

"Thanks for stopping by guys.. but umm.. we're good." Nathan said looking down at Haley.

"We're more than good." She smirked back at him.

"What's this?" Nathan asked, looking at what Brooke and Peyton were holding.

"In case things went bad.. or really good." Peyton smirked.

"Well thanks for checking up on us guys." Nathan said.

"Yeah.. we're going out to dinner later.."

"Oh yeah .. sounds good." Haley responded. "We'll try to get out of bed." Instantly Haley tensed up and bit her lip. She wished she hadn't said that. She could almost hear Nathan holding back the laughter. "We'll give you guys a call… k see you later." Haley wanted to go back inside and continue what her and Nathan were up to. She started to close the door, but Nathan opened it back up and grabbed the first aid kit from Brooke's hand.

"Haley's nails are too long." He shurgged and started to close the door once more, but Haley opened it again and gave a weird look to Peyton before taking the whip cream and hotfudge and closing the door behind her.

The three of them just stood there for a moment, taking in what they just saw.

"I think that's going to scar me for life." Lucas stated.

"That was.. pretty hot." Brooke said as she turned to Peyton.

To Be Continued . . . .

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I didn't want to make it very dramatic, after what Nathan and Haley went through, I really just wanted them to relax and have a little fun in this chapter. So no flashbacks and all that stuff, there's going to be plenty of drama still ahead. I really enjoyed writing the last chapter and I've been waiting for so long to put it out there, thank you guys for the comments and please keep them coming !