The Mourning After

Part II Chapter IX

Thank you all for the reviews, I'm so glad to see so many people still interested in this story, it means a lot! I know this has been a long time coming, so I'm hoping I won't disappoint. I want to say more but I don't want to give anything away. Just a quick recap, Nathan faked his death and is now living in New York City under an alias, James Lafferty. He grew out his hair and grew a mustache (think of Nathan in early season 5). Haley went to NY to visit schools, where she saw "James" but never had a good look at him, so she eventually followed him and now they are face to face with each other once again. Lucas is still in Tree Hill, helping out with Jamie, but it also led to a deterioration of his friendship with Haley. Recently, the two have started to become close again. Lucas and Dan had gotten closer in the wake of Nathan's death and how they both have HCM. Lucas' relationship with Brooke also suffered by him remaining in Tree Hill and the two broke up. Brooke continued on with her fashion and is now trying to devote more of her time in NY than in LA. In NY, she recently caught up with Rachel who also lives there. Peyton is in Savannah, going to school and has reunited with Jake.

So thanks again, your response helps me write so please review and I'll try to update sometime this week. Thanks!

. . . . .

All rhyme or reason went out the window as soon as he felt her touch, the last two years didn't matter, the fact that she thought he was dead didn't matter, all that mattered was that she was here, now. The whole world was tuned out and it was once again just him and her. He did the only thing he could think of, the only thing his heart and mind would allow him to do.

He kissed her.

What was more surprising, she kissed him back. His tongue begged for entrance and she easily granted it. Their tongues clashed in a battle where both would come out a winner. It was as if the world was black and white and now was full of color and meaning. All the pain of the last two years melted away as soon as Nathan felt her lips, these lips that he'd dream of for so long.

This wasn't how he expected his reunion with Haley would go but at the moment, he didn't care. It was all about just being with her. At the end of the day, that's all that mattered. He deepened the kiss and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her even closer to him. Her hands landed on his broad chest and instead of trying to push him off, she let her hands roam all over his torso and then finally hugging him back.

His body was on fire and nothing else mattered. He had to have her. He took a step back, leading them both back into his apartment, never parting their lips. Nathan slammed the door shut and then pressed Haley up against it. Her hands wandered to the hem of his shirt and then under it.

He moaned slightly when he felt her bare hands grazing over the taunt skin of his back, her nails lightly digging in, fueled him on even further. His hands instantly reacted, grabbing a tight hold of her firm ass. He pressed his groin into her, letting her know exactly how much he wanted her. Feeling his hard on press onto her, excited her beyond imagination, it had been far too long for both of them.

Their lips reluctantly broke apart and they stared at each other for a second before Nathan took a small step back and quickly removed his shirt. Haley's eyes immediately wandered over to his chiseled chest and rock hard abs. Then she looked up and saw the heated look in his eyes and she literally felt weak in the knees. Before she could even react, his lips crashed onto hers and if he wasn't holding her so tightly, she would've surely have fallen.

He led her to the couch, laying her down as gently as he could. He was on top of her, his lips remained connected to hers as he tried his best to unbutton her blouse. He managed to unbutton most of it and thought that was good enough before practically ripping the shirt off of her, along with some other buttons he missed. He immediately cupped both her breasts, squeezing them tightly and Haley arched her back and moaned into his mouth.

He practically tore the bra off of her next, tossing it haphazardly across the room. His lips kissed her chin and down on her neck, sucking on a particular sensitive area that elicited yet another sexy moan from Haley. His lips continued down until they found her breasts. He instantly sucked on her left breast and then quickly moving over to her right one. The way his lips worked and the way she felt the hairs of his mustache graze across her bare flesh had her moaning his name.

Haley squirmed in delight, this was too good to be true. This isn't real she told herself, but wow it felt amazing. Nothing this amazing could ever be real but she didn't care. She'd had several dreams of Nathan over the years but nothing was this heated, but she didn't care. Real or not, she was going enjoy the hell out of this. She reached in between them and her small hands trailed down his abs and then onto the top button of his jeans.

Nathan pulled back, taking her cue, her stood up and yanked his jeans and boxer off in one swoop, releasing his painfully hard erection from its confines. Haley sucked in her breath at the site of all of him. If it was even possible, he seemed even bigger than she remembered. She also reached for her jeans, pulling them down as fast as she could.

Nathan stepped out of his jeans and helped Haley remove hers. He licked his lips at the site of her sprawled out for him to take. His hand reached in between her thighs as he lay back on top of her. He smirked as he felt her so wet. His hands grazed her velvety folds and Haley clenched her eyes shut.

"Nathan.." She moaned, trying her best not to scream. He leaned forward, claiming her mouth once again and he positioned himself at her entrance, while he held onto her shoulders. He pressed his forehead against hers and the two stopped locking lips and stared into each other. Nothing but love and desire could be seen in their eyes and the reality of the situation didn't matter to them.

"Nathan." Haley moaned softly as she pressed her hips upward against Nathan, needing to quench the throbbing in between her legs. She felt the head of Nathan's erection graze over her and she sucked in her breath, wanting, needing him inside of her. That was all Nathan needed, his self control was already gone the moment Haley had touched him in the hallway and he grabbed tightly onto her shoulders as he slammed himself inside her.

They both screamed in pleasure, the feeling of both of them connected once again was too much for either of them to take. Haley's moans turned into full screams as Nathan pounded his hips against hers. Her nails dug into his back and it only spurred him on. She kissed his neck, biting so hard, there would probably be a mark later on but she needed something to help stifle her moans.

She was so tight and her insides wrapped around his cock like a velvet glove. So many nights he dreamt of this, leaving him a mess the next morning. No matter how many times he'd jacked off at the image of her, it would never be enough.

Their bodies worked in a frenzy as their lips found each other once more. How either of them was able to live this long with out each other was beyond them. Nathan knew that they should talk, she would surely have questions, but she wasn't asking and he wasn't going to answer, at least not yet.

Haley felt the burning in her groin grow hotter and she surrendered herself to Nathan as he continued to ravage her.

"AHH!" She screamed his name, not able to hold back a second longer. Feeling her muscles tighten around him had finally sent him over the edge too. He spasmed uncontrollably, as he emptied himself into her.

. . . . . .

Carrying a sleeping James Lucas Scott, Lucas quietly opened the back door that led into the kitchen. He was surprised to see his father there, getting a bottle of water out of the fridge.

"Luke." Dan smiled at the sight of his son and grandson. Dan popped his HCM medication into his mouth and took a sip of his water.

"Hey Dad." Lucas smiled back. "I thought you were away on business?"

"I was." Dan said softly as he approached them, gently running his hand through his grandson's blond hair. He pulled a bottle of medicine from his jacket pocket. "I also picked up your HCM meds."

"Oh thanks." Lucas accepted the bottle.

"You remember you have to take.."

"Yes, Dad I know." Lucas playfully rolled his eyes. "Between you and mom reminding me every day, I got it okay." Lucas chuckled. Of all the things to share with his Dad, a heart condition, he wasn't expecting but in spite of their past, they managed to grow closer following Nathan's death.

"Okay." Dan chuckled in defeat.

"How was the trip?"

"Good. I managed to come back early but I have to leave again."

"The governor must really be interested in you, you know I was at my mom's café and there was talk that you're being pegged to run for congressman." Lucas grinned.

Dan laughed lightly. "I wouldn't go that far." Dan clarified.

"I was hoping to spend sometime with this little guy but he's knocked out."

"Yeah, we had a busy day." Lucas smiled. "We ran some errands, went to the park and went to the cemetery."

"The cemetery?"

"Yeah." Lucas sighed. "It's hard for Haley to go there and even harder to bring Jamie to see his dad. He may not be here but he's still very much a part of Jamie's life and I don't want him to think that his daddy didn't love him."

Dan's smiled faltered. "Like how I was with you?"

"I didn't mean anything.. I .. I just want Jamie to know his dad."

"Luke, it's okay. I wasn't a very nice father to you.. I wasn't a father to you at all … or to Nathan."

"Dad." Lucas interrupted him. "It's okay. We moved on. The past will always be there but you apologized and I've forgiven you." Lucas paused. "One bright spot in all this was that we finally grew closer to each other." Lucas gave a sad smile.

"Yeah." Dan nodded his head. Dan could only imagine what everyone would think of him if they knew the truth, that he had helped Nathan fake his own death, he wondered if his wife and son would be so forgiving. Clearing his throat, Dan changed topics.

"Is Haley here, I thought she was out with you?"

"Nah, she went back to New York."

"Back?"

"Yeah, when Jamie got sick, she didn't get a chance to visit all the schools she wanted." Just then, he felt Jamie stir in his arms. "I'm going to put him in his room so he can nap."

Dan nodded, a feeling over dread washing over him.

. . . . .

Nathan's eyes remained transfixed on the sleeping beauty before him. His mind drifted back to earlier, they had done it on the couch and then found their way into the bedroom, where they went at it again and again until neither could take another ounce of pleasure. They both eventually drifted asleep in each other's arms. Nathan woke up not too long ago thinking this was a dream but happy and sad it wasn't. Now that the edge had been taken off, reality sunk in.

There were so many questions going on in his head. The more pressing question was how did she find him. But when he opened the door, she looked surprised to see him. Nothing made sense anymore but one thing was for certain, he would have to come clean about everything. There were so many questions swirling in his head but at least for the moment, he could relax and find comfort once again in being together with his wife.

A few minutes later, Haley's eyes fluttered open. The first thought she had was that she wasn't sleeping on a pillow. She looked down and saw her hand resting on someone's chiseled abs and she felt a hard body pressing warmly against her. She looked up and saw Nathan looking down on him, he still carried the same blue eyes, although she could see some dark spots around him, his hair was much longer and he grew out his facial hair. He still looked handsome though.

"I don't understand this whole Jesus look you got going on." She teased and Nathan raised his eyebrow, this wasn't what he was expecting from Haley.

"Huh?"

Haley shrugged. "Eh, it's okay."

"Haley, I.."

"Shh.." She put her hand against his lips. "Don't, I just want to enjoy this moment with you before I wake up and find myself alone again." She said with a heavy heart.

Nathan looked at her curiously until he realized what was happening. She must think that this is a dream or some hallucination. Shoot, he thought the same thing not too long ago. Now, he started to wonder for a whole different set of reasons.

"Hales, you are awake." Nathan said softly. Now it was her turn to look at him funny.

"Haley, this isn't dream." Nathan said more firmly.

It took her a minute to comprehend but then everything over the past few days came rushing back to her, how she followed some random stranger that sort of looked like her dead husband but never got a chance to see him up close to verify, until now.

No, no no, Haley started to panic as she started to realize that this was most definitely not a dream. She sat up and clutched the sheets against her bare form.

"No.. you're dead." Haley shook her head as tears started to form. "You're supposed to be dead."

"Haley." He reached out to touch her but she jumped off the bed.

"You're supposed to be dead!" She screamed. "Because there is no way in hell that my husband, my Nathan would ever leave me or my son behind." Haley shook her head again as the tears flowed. "No, you just look like him, your just some guy .. James.. James Lafferty .. Nathan Scott is dead!" She was crying harder now.

Nathan stood up and wrapped his arms around her, not caring that she was fighting to be released from his grasp. He wasn't letting go, not this time. "Hales, it's me. I'm James Lafferty. I faked my death, Hales. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." Nathan held her tightly.

"I don't.. I don't understand." Haley was losing her breath and she felt herself going weak in the knees. Nathan guided her back to the bed so she could sit down.

"There's something I need to tell you, something you're probably not going to like." Haley looked at him confused, nothing about this was right.

"You remember Daunte?"

Haley nodded, trying to get her emotions in check.

"Remember how my dad help take care of everything?"

Haley nodded, remembering how pissed Daunte was and how he ran Nathan over which eventually led to his death.

"When Dan confronted Daunte, he offered Daunte an out."

"An out?" Haley mumbled.

"Daunte worked for this guy Bear, everyone thought Bear worked for Daunte but it was the other way around, it was his cover. Instead of going after Daunte for selling drugs, Dan offered protection for Daunte if he gave him more info on Bear. Apparently, the police have been after Bear for years, but Bear found out about Daunte and me, so he was going to go after us."

"But why you?" Haley shook her head, not believing this. "I was the one who got involved with Daunte."

"Bear only knew that Daunte got involved with a Scott and when Dan worked out a deal, I told Dan to say me, that I had the pills not you, I wanted to protect you so that's what Daunte told Bear."

Haley put her hands over her mouth.

"Bear found out that Daunte was dealing with me and was pissed off that Daunte could be so careless as to get involved with the mayor's son, so he was going to arrange a hit on me and Daunte, but Daunte found out and felt that Dan betrayed him that my dad couldn't protect him so he went after us and well you know what happened." Nathan looked down.

"Bear's a bad guy but with me and Daunte dead, there would be no reason for Bear to go after anyone else in my family."

Haley was loosing her breath. "I can't.. I can't believe this."

"I did this for you.. to protect you and our son."

"Jamie." Haley whispered as the tears flowed. "You were alive this whole time."

"Yes." Nathan said softly to hug her, his own tears waiting to spill but she stood back up in anger. He knew he had a lot more explaining to do, especially about how he was there for Jamie's birth. He just turned her world upside down, he needed her to calm down first before going any further.

"NO!" Haley yelled. "I can't.. I can't believe this."

"I know this is a lot to take in, but it was the only way. My dad…"

"You're dad?" Haley questioned, her tears stopped as anger and realization took over. Nathan didn't just disappear on his own, he had help. "Dan knew this whole time."

"He helped set everything up." Nathan couldn't look at her in the eye.

Haley stood there, not knowing what to believe anymore.

Just then, they heard the door fly open.

"Honey I'm home!" A familiar voice called out.

Nathan looked at Haley in a panic.

"You got to hide." He said softly as he opened up one of the doors of his closet and pushed her inside.

Nathan quickly reached for his boxers and a pair of shorts.

"What're you doing?" Nathan questioned from his doorway.

"I'm looking for my jacket. I think it's in the closet." The female voice called out.

"Wait don't!" Nathan called out but it was too late.

She opened the other door of the closet and pulled out a jacket. Nathan was relieved to see that she didn't see Haley, she must've hidden herself inside there.

She smacked his cheek lightly. "You really need to shave." She teased and kissed his cheek. "I'll see you later. I'm running late." She said quickly before rushing out the door.

. . . . .

"You're late?" Brooke stated. "Which I find impossible since I'm the one who just came back from LA and rushed my ass from airport to be here. This better be good." Brooke warned playfully.

"Oh it is." Rachel said sitting down in the booth next to Brooke.

Brooke rolled her eyes and yawned, she was still in west coast time.

"Cute jacket by the way."

"Thanks." Rachel responded. "Anyways, tall dark and dreamy is behind the counter." Rachel nodded over to the bar.

"That's Owen?" Brooke asked.

"Yeah."

Brooke shrugged. "He's okay, I guess."

"Okay? He's totally hot. Unless you're still pining over Lucas." Rachel teased.

"I didn't say that." Brooke fired back. "And if you think you he's so hot, why don't you go for Owen?"

"Well remembered that guy I told you about?"

"Yeah? The one that was hung up on his ex?"

"That one. It's serious now, we actually just moved in together!" Rachel smiled proudly.

. . . . .

When the front door closed, Haley emerged from the closet, tears running down her face.

When she heard the voice, she knew it sounded familiar but Haley caught a glimpse of her when she grabbed her jacket from the closet, confirming her suspicions.

"You're.. you're with Rachel." Haley's voice trembled.

"It's not what you think." Nathan put his hands up and walked closer to her, but she took countered, taking a step back.

"Don't.. stay away from me!"

To Be Continued . . . .