Thank you guys for reading. So from now on I think I'll stick to cute mushy stuff. Here's what I think how it should have happened.

CHZPTER 21

Knock knock knock. Haley was brought out of her thoughts by someone knocking on the door. She had been cooped up in her room all day sulking over what happened in the morning. She cried her eyes out as soon as Nathan left. She knew that she was overreacting but her hormones seem to have a mind of their own. Now it was half past six and someone was very determined to knock down her door. She was debating whether to ignore the person at her door or attend it when the knocking turned to banging and she was forced to get out of her room and open the door. As she looked into the peephole she was surprised to see Nathan standing there. He told her that he would come back but she didn't expect him to come over the same day they had a fight. She wanted to lock him out but knew that would be a childish move.

Nathan breathed out in relief when the door opened but that went down the drain when he tried to push it open. "Hey", he said as he tried to rattle it but she had put on the chain lock allowing the door to open only a few inches, "Haley open up. This is ridiculous!"

"Nope", she said as she leaned against the wall beside the door so he could see her side profile, "you can say whatever you have to say from here".

"Seriously? Can we just behave like grownups here?", he asked and he got a blank look in response, "fine! I'm sorry about what happened with Peyton. It shouldn't have happened and I stopped it immediately. And she knows it was a mistake too. I swear I didn't do anything with her".

"What about other girls?"

"What about them?" he asked with a smirk to which she tried to stare him down. "No there were no other girls Haley. It's just you, it's always been you", he responded softly, "Now can you please tell me why you were so upset this morning. I know it's not just about Peyton".

Haley was almost taken back by the sincerity in his voice when he said she was the only one. "You still haven't forgiven me for leaving", she said in a small voice, "and no don't try to deny it", she rushed out when he opened his mouth to speak, "I could see it in your eyes today morning".

Nathan took a deep breath desperately wanting to hug her. "Look ", he tried to start, "what do you want me to say Haley? I was depressed and I was a mess and it was all because you left. You were my family Haley and overnight that was gone. And I know that we still have a long way to go but I'm ready to work on that. I'll do anything to get back what we lost because I just realised I will never be completely happy until I have you by my side". By this time Haley's tears were in full flow. "So can you lease open the door?"

She wiped off her tears and opened the door and started walking into the living room. "Okay but there are some rules to be-" she was quickly cut off when he pulled her arm to turn her around and his lips landed on hers. He kissed her with all he had and if he wasn't holding her, Haley would have fallen to the floor because her legs felt like jelly. They pulled apart completely breathless and Nathan rested his forehead against hers.

"I love you", he said with the most adorable smile on his face. How could someone resist that?

"I love you too", she said with a matching smile of her own.

...

"Is it weird that I just now thought about school", she asked with a slight chuckle.

"No it isn't", he said with a smile. They were lying on her bed. She was on her back with her head resting on her pillow and he was lying low on her body with his head resting next to her belly and his arm draped over it protectively. "What happened in there?" he asked and immediately felt her body tense. "It's okay if you don't want to rehash it", he quickly let out.

She took a deep breath. She knew this was coming but the memory just served to hurt her even more. "I was going to get some of my old stuff from the locker room", she started out softly, "when I slipped on something wet and fell. I thought it was water at first... haha", she tried to laugh but ended up like a sob, "there was blood everywhere. I just couldn't understand what was happening... and then there was Paige... Oh God Paige...", she couldn't finish what she was saying as her sobs went uncontrollable.

"Shh... I'm so sorry you had to go through that", he whispered softly as he shifted his body a little higher on the bed so that they were face to face. He knew it was selfish but he was still thankful to God that Haley is alright. But that doesn't make the fact that two people who walked the halls of tree hill are dead any easier. "School is cancelled for two more weeks. Peyton told me when...", his voice trailed off when she gave him a murderous look at the mention of Peyton's name, "Please don't kick me out", he rushed out with wide eyes.

Haley smiled at his innocence. He couldn't get more adorable at that moment. "I love you", and she meant every word.

Nathan smiled back at her. He took her hand in his and kissed the back of her hand, "I love you too Haley. I never wanna lose you".

"You wont", she said a little confused and a little panicked. Is he going to break up with me? But that seems so ridiculous right now!

Nathan just kept staring at her not saying anything. With the intense look he was giving her she would have turned into a puddle but the silence was keeping her on edge. Before she could even open her mouth to speak he rushed out "Marry me".

Her body shot up from the bed as she looked at the guy lying down next to her on the bed. Did he just ask me to marry him? "What?" she asked.

"Marry me", he said it again but this time with a smile and more surety.

"What?", she squeaked out again.

"Can you say something other than what?" he slightly laughed.

"I don't know. Can you say something other than 'Marry me'?" she retorted.

"I just did", he said with that infamous smirk of his.

Haley gave him a withering look. "Stop playing smart with me", she said, "Now what is this marriage business I hear about?" she asked in a sceptical tone.

"Haley", he started as he tried to ease her back onto the bed but she was still sitting upright. Finally giving up he sat up too to face her, "I love you and I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you". And he said this like it is the simplest thing on earth.

"Nathan this is not something so simple that you can just decide whenever you want. We need to think things through. We can't just jump into something like this. We just got back together and..." she was talking really fast now.

"Haley-", Nathan tried to interrupt but she wasn't having any of it.

"We are still in high school and then there's college and there's your professional basketball career and nobody knows what's going to happen in the future or even right now. We could even get hit by a meteor or something", she rambled on.

Nathan had had enough. He grabbed both her shoulders and shook her slightly to bring her out of her rambling state. "Haley", he said, "Calm down. Just relax and think things through".

"I am calm", she said immediately to which Nathan just glared at her. She took a deep breath to get her mind together. "This is a big decision Nathan", she said.

"I know but I also know that I want to have this with you and only you", he said in all sincerity, "You know that I've been with many girls right?" he said sheepishly to which Haley shifted uncomfortably, "But none of those girls ever made me feel this way. I've never cared for anyone so much. I'm sorry for sounding like a pansy right now but you make me feel safe. I have never had a proper family atmosphere growing up but ever since you came into my life I'm starting to understand what it really feels like to have a family", his voice was thick with emotion.

By this time, Haley's eyes were filled with tears. She took a moment as she tried to control her emotions. "That's a lot to handle for one single girl", she whispered.

"Maybe so but she is one hell of a girl and totally worth it".

"Nathan", she said with watery eyes, "Marriage is a big step and I don't think I'm ready for this". It was painful to get these words out especially after his wonderful speech. It was even more painful to watch his face fall. "Plus I don't think we can do it given our age", she said hesitantly.

"We don't have to get married immediately. Maybe in a few years but the law doesn't stop us from getting engaged right now. And I'm ready to work through all our issues as long as I get to have you and our little boy by my side", he knew he was sounding desperate but what could he do? Nobody wants to be let down by the person they love.

Haley hesitated for a moment. "I'll think about it", she softly agreed to which the most beautiful smile appeared on his face. He quickly got off the bed and picked up his wallet that he left on the table. "Where are you going?" she said slightly confused.

"I'm going to get you a ring. This setting.." he gestured to her room, "Doesn't sit well with me" he shook his head with a disappointed face.

Haley laughed out loud at his antics. "But I haven't said yes yet", she called out as he was leaving.

"Doesn't matter. You will someday", he shouted back as he made his way out of the door.

Haley laughed again and lay back down on the bed again. She had a smile on her face long after Nathan left. My very first marriage proposal. She couldn't believe it. He had actually proposed and she had some serious thinking to do. They were way too young for this and they had so much to go through but somehow her mind started fluttering whenever she thought about her and Nathan living together and raising their son together.

And what do you think? So that's it. Let me know what you think. I always felt the decision for them to get married was made too easily in the show. This is what I think should have happened.