Part II Chapter XI
Thank you all for the reviews, of course I wouldn't put Nathan with Rachel but Rachel will have her part to play. I would've actually posted this chapter sooner but got sick, still sick actually so hopefully you can drop a line and make me feel better, hehe.
All I have to say about last night's episode was that I liked it, didn't love it, wished we could've had a nice goodbye moment with Lucas like how Skills did with Jamie and it did bother me how Nathan was so willing to spend time away from his family, hopefully the tour isn't that long.
Anyways, enjoy and please review!!
. . . . .
Haley shot up from bed, her heart racing and sweat pouring from her brow. She was gasping for breath and felt like she couldn't breathe. It was then that she felt someone stir next to her and warm strong hands wrapping around her.
"Hales, you okay?" A groggy Nathan asked, concern in his tired voice.
"Oh thank God!" Haley sighed in relief as she threw herself into Nathan's embrace, hugging him tight. He held her even closer and pressed a soft kiss on the top of her head.
"Did you have a bad dream?" Nathan assumed as he ran his hand up and down her bare back.
Haley nodded, her face buried at the crook of his neck.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked softly.
She shook her head no. "Just hold me, please." She whispered and he did.
It had been one month since she discovered that Nathan was alive, one long month without seeing him, touching him. It was hard at first going back to Tree Hill, but seeing Jamie again gave her renewed strength. His father was alive and although sometimes the reality of it all threatened to overwhelm her, she kept herself at bay, knowing that the good times will follow, that Jamie will get to know his father and the three of them will have their happily ever after. The question was when? That had been the biggest question of it all and unfortunately Nathan was just as clueless to the answer as she was.
The last time they saw each other, their lips finally separated long enough from each other so they could actually talk. Haley had wanted to tell him everything and anything about Jamie as well as their friends and family but he stopped her the best way he knew how, he kissed her. As much as he wanted to know everything about what was going on, he told her not to tell him. He had explained that seeing her would already be hard enough and to keep his own sanity, the less he knew the better.
Even when he talked to Dan, the few and brief times it's happened, not much information was divulged. Likewise, with Rachel, any conversation about his old life was off limits. Even though both his father and Rachel could answer all the questions he wanted to ask, he couldn't. The more he knew, the more curious he'd be and he might find himself slipping to go and reach out to his old life. All he needed to know was that his wife and son were happy and healthy. Haley understood, not fully realizing how hard this must be all for Nathan.
One thing that Nathan was happy/relieved to know about was that Haley wasn't not dating anyone. His biggest fear was that the longer he'd be in hiding, the chances of her opening her heart again to someone else would increase. Other than that, they kept conversation light, she would talk about Tree Hill but nothing about their friends or family. Before Haley left New York, they each bought pre-paid cell phones so they could keep in touch with the other. They paid in cash to make sure that neither of them could be traced. They had spent the past month with secret calls and texts. Haley at times felt like she was back at high school, when Nathan would sneak into her bedroom to sleep and she would worry about her parents catching them.
When Haley returned to Tree Hill, she wanted to scream at the top of her lungs that Nathan was alive, she knew how much that would mean to Deb and Lucas. She hated lying to them but she knew she had to. Facing Dan though was the most difficult. At one hand, she was angry at him, angry that he could lie to everyone but at the same time, she was grateful. Like Nathan, he was protecting their family and she couldn't fault him for that, even though she wanted to. She felt the same way with Nathan when she found out he was alive, her emotions were like a roller coaster, from angry, to sad to happy. But knowing that Nathan was alive and that he was doing this for them made up for all the painful memories and feelings of the past two years. His love, their love, would get them through this and that's what she tried to focus on.
Going away again had been relatively easy. She explained to Lucas and Deb how she liked the schools in New York and that she liked the idea of going somewhere new and different but at the same time, she didn't want to limit herself either. She wasn't in a rush to go back to school and when she would leave, she wanted to make sure it would be the best place for her and Jamie.
So now, her and Nathan were in Virginia, outside Washington, DC, with her excuse of seeing more colleges. She wanted to bring Jamie along so badly and although Nathan would love nothing more than to be reunited with his son, he knew it wasn't the time. Jamie was talking more now and the last thing they needed was for him to blurt out something about his dad and if Haley did introduce Nathan to Jamie as being someone else other than his daddy, then that would only confuse Jamie further. Nathan also knew his resolve was hanging by a hair. It was hard enough letting go of Haley but having both her and his son together again, he wouldn't put it pass him to have all three of them on the run, but a life on the run was no way to raise a young child. It was torture not being with his son but knowing James would be safe, that's all that mattered.
They stayed locked in each other's embrace for several minutes while Haley calmed down. Finally, Haley looked up, brown meeting blue, She cupped his cheek in her hand. He took her advice and cut his hair shorter but he still kept his mustache and beard, although that was shorter now too. At least now, he didn't look like a caveman but looked more like himself, his incredible hot handsome self.
"I dreamt that you were gone again." Haley softly whispered. "That I would never see you again." Haley let a tear fall down her cheeks. Their love she tried to focus on but that didn't mean she wasn't scared as shit. Nathan wiped it away from her cheeks and looked down on her with nothing but love and adoration.
"That's not going to happen, Hales." Nathan said softly. "I know this is hard but there will be one day when we don't have to sneak around anymore. I mean look how we found each other again, I was starting to lose hope but you gave it back to me baby. Don't lose that, just keep the faith, I know we'll get through this."
She pressed her lips onto his and whispered back. "Thank you." She rested her forehead against his and the two just lied there together. Nathan inhaled her sweet and intoxicating scent, his body reacting once again to being so close to Haley.
They met up yesterday and they hadn't left the hotel room since. They'd make love, talk, sleep, order room serve and make love some more, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, but it was a thrill to both of them getting to know each other's body all over again.
"Mm.." Haley let out a soft moan as she felt Nathan harden against her. He admitted to her about all the lonely nights he fantasized about her, his right arm getting a lot of exercise over the years. Once they finalized when and where they were meeting again, his body instantly reacted to the thought and for the past few weeks leading up to this weekend, he'd find himself needing to relieve himself often.
He started to kiss her neck as she moved her head to the side to give him better access, her hands wondering down the lines of his still impeccable body. He confessed to her that he'd sought solace working out at the gym to work out his frustrations, something Haley was very thankful for at the moment.
"Nathan." She moaned softly, telling him that she wanted him now. He held her tight and flipped them over so now he was on top of her, he was careful to prop himself on his elbows to make sure he wasn't crushing her, his hard on pressing against her stomach, making her even wetter.
Haley reached out to the nightstand and grabbed the nearly empty box of condoms. She was momentarily scared about the implications about their last encounter but she just had her period a few days ago and she just got back on birth control, but it still needed time to kick in so they still needed to protect themselves. Nathan didn't like the use of condoms, he'd much prefer the direct contact but he understood why, a box of those things and a change of clothes was all he packed.
Nathan got up off her and she opened the package and with a mischievous look in her eyes, she slowly placed the condom over his erection, something she insisted on doing. Smirking himself, he placed himself at her entrance and slowly entered her.
They both moaned as their bodies became one was again. He leaned down and kissed her as she wrapped her arms around him. He rocked and swayed his hips, pounding into her with increasing speed. He kept his mouth firmly on hers, the last thing they needed was other hotel guests complaining about the noise. Her hands dug deeper into his back and he stifled a groan as he thrusted his hips even harder.
"Nathan" she murmured against his lips as she felt her belly swell and found herself slipping over the edge. He felt her tight walls contract around him and he took his cue to finally release himself. They laid still for a minute, both of them coming off their high. He slowly pulled out from her and slid off her to her side. He removed the offensive plastic wrap and tossed it with the others in a trash can nearby. He pulled her closer to him and she instantly snuggled against him, resting her head on his chest as her eyes felt heavier.
. . . . .
"Lucas Scott, I maybe all the way in New York but I can see you squinting all the way from Tree Hill."
Lucas' head shot up and looked into the webcam. He and his editor Lindsey were currently on a webconference.
"What're you talking about?" Luke squinted towards the camera but quickly opened his eyes.
Lindsey chuckled to herself. "You hate it, admit it."
"I didn't say that."
"Lucas." Lindsey warned.
"I just think I wouldn't have phrased it like that."
"Lucas, Nathan's death is a big part of this book, it needs to be perfect."
"I know, it's just I don't think the mark up you e-mailed does it .. and why do I even need to write about the funeral. I mean, people can take the hint." Lucas said stubbornly.
Lindsey sighed. "Lucas, I know how hard it is for you to re live those memories but not only will it help the book but you'll get to touch someone. One of the reasons, I wanted to work with you was because of the pure raw emotions you wrote, I remember losing my dad and it was hard, I get it, but you can really inspire people Luke, just like you have me."
Lucas gave a small smile. "Thanks."
"And what I read wasn't even the published print." Lindsey teased.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll get to work on it.. it's not like I'm not doing much this weekend." Lucas sighed.
"You're not watching Jamie?"
"Well, he's out with his grandma and Haley's visiting schools."
"Again?"
"Yeah, this time in DC for the weekend."
"Oh."
"Yeah, well at least it's closer to Tree Hill, I'm hoping she'll eventually make her way closer to North Carolina." Lucas joked. "But I'm happy for her.. she seems to be finally moving on and as much as I hate the idea of her and Jamie going away.. I get it."
"Well, that's good for her. So Haley's doing better?"
"Actually, yeah. It's funny, she looked so excited to head out but when she had to say bye to Jamie, she seemed so sad."
"She's a mom Luke, no one likes to leave their child behind, even if it's for a quick trip."
"Yeah yeah, but like I said, she's doing better. I even heard her humming when she was making Jamie a snack last week."
"Humming?"
"Well you know that Haley can sing, right?"
Lindsey started thinking. "Oh yeah, you mentioned that in Chapter 4."
"When she was working at my mom's café, she'd always like hum you know, when she was cleaning the tables or whatever. It turns out that she could actually sing and after she started dating Nathan… well he brought it out of her but after he died.. umm..I haven't heard her sing or hum."
"Maybe she's found her voice again?"
"Maybe."
"Maybe you could too." Lindsey added. "And maybe can put it down on paper."
Lucas shook his head and laughed. "Are you ever going to stop being my editor?"
"Not a chance." Lindsey laughed back. "But fine, no more work talk."
"Thank you." Lucas sighed in relief, they'd been going at it for the past hour now.
"Now what else is new? How's Brooke?" Lindsey snickered.
"Okay, this meetings over." Lucas replied quickly.
. . . . . .
"Penny for your thoughts?" Haley asked walking into the kitchen to get a drink.
Lucas head shot. He was sitting on the counter with his laptop in deep thought.
"Oh hey, I didn't even hear you come in." Lucas closed his laptop. "How was DC?"
Haley paused. "I just got in and it was fine."
"The schools?"
"Umm.. we'll see. It's definitely a lot less busy than New York but then again, I'm surrounded by politicians." Haley scrunched her face.
Lucas laughed. "Don't tell that to Dan."
"Don't worry, I won't." Haley replied back. Avoiding Dan was something she didn't mind doing.
"What about you? What's got you so enthralled?"
"The book."
"Ah, I see. How's it going?"
"So, so.. Lindsey's making me.." Lucas stopped himself.
"Lindsey making you what?"
Lucas hesitated for a moment but figured there'd be no use in trying to cover it up, besides maybe Haley could help him with his writer's block.
"She wants me to write more about Nathan's death."
"Oh." Haley looked down and took a sip of her orange juice.
"Yeah."
"What exactly?" She asked.
"Just stuff." He shrugged. "She wants me to write about the funeral." Lucas sighed. "But how do you put in words, saying bye to your brother when .. you know." He scratched his head, he couldn't even speak the words, much less write them.
Haley closed her eyes for a second, remembering that only a few hours ago, she was locked in Nathan's embrace. She cried in his arms for a good 30 minutes before she finally calmed down enough to gather her things and another thirty minutes for them to actually say their goodbyes. The past weekend was amazing, spending time with Nathan again, but the goodbyes, the goodbyes were killing her.
"It was sunny." Haley recounted. "There was a cool chill but there wasn't a cloud in the sky."
Lucas sat back and listened intently.
"The priest was talking but I couldn't hear him. My mom was next to me, holding on to me, Deb was to my right. Everyone was crying but.."
"You didn't." Lucas pointed out. He remembered her eyes dark, heavy, sad but no tears.
Haley nodded.
"Why?" Lucas found himself asking.
"Who cries at their own funeral?" Haley asked rhetorically. "Nathan died, he took a part of me with him." She said in a monotone voice.
Lucas nodded in understanding. He actually didn't see her finally break down until the delivery room when Jamie was born.
"And now?"
"I'm trying to get it back." She gave him a small smile.
She started heading out back towards the living room but stopped. "You know, for the longest time, I was in a dark place. When Nathan died, he took a piece of me.. a big piece of me.. but I'm starting to realize that also he left a piece of him with me."
Just then, the front door could be heard opening and closing and Jamie's booming voice calling out for his mama.
"And speak of the devil." Haley smiled. "Don't worry Luke, you'll find your voice."
"Thanks, Hales." Lucas mumbled as Haley went to greet her son. He opened back up his laptop and looked at the empty screen.
"I think Hales, you found yours." Luke whispered to himself as he started to type.
To Be Continued . . . .