Chapter 8:
I hope that you guys have enjoyed the pass few chapters. This one picks up the same night that Haley went back home from leaving Nathan at the base Another thing…. I said in Chapter 7 that Haley was a week away from her 6th month mark, but I have no idea how I messed up the timing in here. It was perfect, but it got a little screwed up. When Nathan leaves-now- it is Beginning October and she's 26 weeks along. So she's six and a half months along! Thanks and sorry again!
BAM!
BAM! BAM!
BAM! BAM! BAM!
After getting checked into his room, and finding out his schedule for tomorrow, Nathan had made his way to the gym, and over to the punching bag. He really didn't realize how much this was hurting him, until he found himself crying after they had left. Since he and Haley had gotten married nearly six years ago, they hadn't been apart for longer than a few days, and the same with Jay. Even when he had his two weeks trainings, Haley and Jay would tag along and stay with his parents and he was able to see them at least two nights a week. Since his boy was born, the proud father hadn't been away from him for longer than a couple days, and that was when he was too young to remember really.
He knew that the drive back for them would be longer than coming up, so after about an hour and a half, he made his way back to his room. After texting Haley to let her know that he'd call her once he was out of the shower, Nathan got in, and was out within eight minutes.
He had no reason to stay in long seeing as though this shower was nothing like the one he shared at home with his wife. The saying was true; you never realize how much you'll miss something until it's gone. He would give anything to have his son come running in without knocking just because he wanted to play. Or to hear Haley yelling at him for using all the hot water again.
Once he was dried off and dressed, he stretched out on the bed and dialed his home number. After letting it ring a few times, he hung up, and turned to the clock on his nightstand. Oooh… it's Jay's bedtime, he thought to himself. As much as Jay might need his momma tonight, Nathan really hoped that she didn't cave in and allow him to sleep with her. Their son was too much of a wild sleeper to share a bed with his pregnant mother.
After a few minutes of sitting patiently, Nathan's cell phone began to vibrate and ring on the nightstand beside his bed. Knowing that ringer was the one chosen for 'home', he picked it up quickly, picturing his family on the other end.
"Hello"
"Hey, sorry I didn't answer before. I was getting Jay to sleep." She knew he'd be upset that he was in bed with her, but how could he blame her. Their son was the closes thing that she had to her husband at the moment, next to the baby growing inside her.
"Where is he?" he didn't know why he asked seeing as though he already knew the answer.
"In our bed with me. But you don't have to worry I put him near the bottom, so I'm fine."
Hearing her 'innocent' voice instantly allowed him to picture the look on his wife's face at that moment. Damn he missed her.
"How was the ride back" he asked changing the subject, "did he cry?"
"Not much, but some. He was better than I was" she said in all honesty.
"Don't cry anymore Hales" he hated knowing that she was sad and hurt. There was literally nothing that he could really do.
"How were you? I'm not the only one away from someone I love."
Haley knew this had to be hard on her husband.
Her best friend.
He was her best friend, and they had been torn apart for who knows how long.
He was also taken away from their family.
Their kids.
His kids.
His babies.
"I found a punching bag" was his simple, yet honest reply. "How's my baby doing?"
Hearing his wife barely get out that 'she' was okay, was enough to make Nathan worry.
"What's wrong Hales, and don't lie. No lies remember"
Haley was quiet for a minute dreading the happy, but sad news she had for her husband.
"Throughout the car ride, she was calm and sleeping, but as soon as we got home, she kicked. And it wasn't just the flutters only I can feel, Jay felt her kicking."
Ironically, she laughed quietly to herself. They had to stop calling the baby a girl until they found out for sure that it was a girl. There was probably a little boy in there having identity issues already.
"She kicked? Did it hurt?" He was so sad that he missed it.
He had promised he wouldn't miss anything
He'd been waiting for the very moment when his baby kicked. He and Haley had been very concerned as to why he couldn't feel the baby kicking yet. With Jay he felt him kick as early as nineteen weeks. When they finally voiced their fears with Haley's doctor, she simply told them, the baby's weight was a little low, and their little offspring simply wasn't strong enough to kick that hard yet and not to worry. It was obviously normal. Another low weight baby had the parents on alert, but they promised to stay in good spirits about this baby's health as opposed to how scared they'd been with Jay.
"Not really, it felt nice"
"I wish I was there to feel it"
She could hear the disappointment in his voice.
Disappointment in himself.
"Just make sure you can come back home and be with us, we miss you so much already"
He didn't even need to say that he missed them. She could tell by his silence. Her husband is what most people call the strong silent type. He guarded himself so well around most people, and was always the designated 'strong one'. Even sometimes around her.
"So what's your schedule like? Do you know yet?" She wanted to desperately change the topic before they both ended up crying together on the phone.
It wouldn't have been the fist time.
"Yea, I do. We got PT (physical training) at four-thirty, come back, start in on some brake actuators and starter motors for a few hours, get my hands dirty. Five-thirty we take some test on paper to see who's up to speed. Then start the day all over again with PT again at for-thirty, then whatever until we get assignments. What about you baby?"
He knew what she had planned for the day, but he wanted to hear her say it.
"Taking Jay to school, then stopping pass Tanya's maybe and talk to her. Laundry, pick Jay up, hopefully talk to you, and that's about it."
"What else Hales?" he urged.
"I don't wanna find out without you Nathan" she wiped the lone tear that fell down her cheek, and buried her face in her free hand.
"Baby, don't cry, you need to go to your appointment. We gotta make sure everything's okay with the baby." He knew they couldn't live in their pretend world any longer regarding their baby's health, especially with him gone, and her alone. "Hales, they're gonna check her weight again, and make sure your fluids aren't low. You know how important these checkups are, no running scared, you're going."
"But I don't want to find out the sex without you knowing at the same time. I want you here so bad." There were other things that she was afraid of finding out without Nathan present. The glucose reading was especially frightening for Haley. Her mother had gestational diabetes with her siblings and although she hadn't had it while pregnant with Jay, it was a big fear for her.
"Well how about you have the doctor write it down and then when I talk to you tomorrow night, we can both find out when you read it off to me?"
He knew that was a long shot, but he prayed his wife would agree. They always went to their appointments making sure their babies were growing strong and healthy.
Hearing her sniffing, and sighing he could tell that he had gotten through to her. "Okay, that sounds good" After a few minutes of getting herself together she continued. "I can't believe we get to find out the sex tomorrow"
"Yea, but you know what I just realized?" he asked in all seriousness.
He waited a minute before he continued. "This is the first time I've slept alone in years. I've always had you, or Jay, or the both of you next to me." She could hear the emotions building in her husbands' voice. "So that means no holding you while you sleep, or helping you tuck Jay in, talking to the baby and rubbing your stomach while you fall asleep. FUCK! I don't know if I can be here Hales. I'm not that guy anymore! I'm not strong enough for that."
Haley had been waiting for this reaction. She'd witnessed his resentment of the army when he'd have to leave her every Sunday afternoon in San Antonio years ago. As much as he'd wanted to get out, you couldn't until you were released. She'd remembered one particular visit when she'd been sick and he'd taken care of her. He'd called in to tell his commanding officer that his fiancé was sick, and really needed him, but was immediately denied extra time off.
He'd punched a hole in her wall that day out of rage, before breaking down and crying while he held her. As much as he used to love the Army, it was slowly becoming a puppet master, and Nathan Scott was the puppet.
The unhappy puppet.
"So PT at four-thirty? Just like when we first started talking." She said into the phone.
"You remember all those years ago?" he asked surprised.
"Every single detail. Like the first time you called me, you made fun of me."
He laughed out loud, remembering that conversation. "Why, what did you say?"
"Nathan, you know what I said" she said clearly not wanting to repeat it.
"But I still want to hear you say it" he loves to tease her.
"Fine. Hi Nathan, this is Haley, well… you know from that night in San Antonio. Anyway, I know you're on your way to jump school and I hope that you have a really good flight. I umm, just wanted to talk to you… I don't know. I just really wanted to hear your voice, and know your voice. That might sound dumb and really weird and if it is then I'm sorry, but anyway, just call me back on this number. Bye Nathan."
"You just wanted to hear my voice"
"And you called me"
"I love you so much Hales"
"I love you too Nathan"
"Thanks for the distraction Mrs. Scott."
Wasn't his wife amazing?
"Anytime. You want to go to bed? You gotta get used to getting up that early again."
"I should be fine. I doubt I'll be able to sleep without hearing you snore and holding you."
"I do NOT snore Nathan Royal Scott!"
"Nathan Royal Scott!" He mimicked her. "I love it when you talk dirty Hales!" he said teasing her.
"Whatever you perv" she said enjoying the fact that he was laughing once again.
"But you love me though right? Even though I have perverted, dirty thoughts about you, every hour of the day? Even though I'm gone once again, and you're there alone taking care of Jay while you're pregnant? Even though neither of us has any idea on when I'll be able to come home? You still love me right?" he asked in all earnestness, which nearly brought tears to his wife's eyes.
"Always and Forever Nathan. I love you so much, and it's my hormones that are making me cry so much, so don't pay any attention to me" she said wiping at the tears on her face.
"No yodes Hales"
He knew he'd get a laugh out of her from that.
"I won't cry, but baby, I told you to stop trying to talk in Spanish to me. It's just not your thing. Only Jay Hernandez can say that and sound sexy. Or at least someone that can actually speak Spanish."
"Whatever Haley. Do you want to go to bed; you've had a long day."
He knew how tired his wife could get when she was pregnant.
"I'm okay, not tired you all"
"Yet you say all this while you're yawning. You're a terrible liar Hales."
Suddenly her mood changed as she felt the small kicks from inside her. "Only three more months left" her delicate tone made him think as well.
"I'm sorry Haley."
She of course didn't know what for, but was very curious.
"Not being there with you and Jay to put up the tree, or to finish Christmas shopping, not to mention that you're getting close to your due date. Everything Hales."
"But it's not your fault, you have orders to stay"
"Well… if I'm not.."
"Don't" she interrupted him "Don't say it, you'll be here."
"Haley if I'm not there for Christmas, I already got you and Jay's stuff. But for you to see the baby's you'll have to have to wait until Christmas Day"
"I just want you for Christmas, you know that"
After agreeing with her, Nathan looked at the clock on his nightstand and told her to get some rest.
"I love you. Give Jay a kiss for me. I'll talk to you once I'm done with PT tomorrow"
"I love you too, and I will. Good night."
"Night"
Hey guys! Now be honest with me on this review. To me it dragged on longer than I normally would've made it, but I could see the situation of being separated like that and purposely dragging the conversation on just to talk to that person. Kinda felt right, and didn't need to be rushed. Hope you enjoyed it I had a name originally picked out for their child, but am re-thinking and coming up with a new one!