Ticking Clock
Title: Ticking Clock
Author: Diane
Prompt: 088 - Time
Pairing: Nathan/Haley
Rating: Teen Rated
Disclaimer: I don’t own a thing!
Spoilers/Warnings: This is set post Season 5 so everything up to and including it. It’s a sequel to ‘Something for the Weekend’ so it’d probably help if you’ve read that one first and it’s also a part of my ‘Baby Talk’ series.
Summary: He seemed to be feeling even more nervous than she was judging by the way his knee was jiggling up and down and, if anything, it was making the waiting that much worse.
Author’s Notes: This has been written for theechochorus, a multi-fandom drabble community.
Nibbling on a fingernail, Haley paced the length of the bathroom as she waited nervously for the time to pass. It wasn’t like this was the first time she’d done this but… she still found herself feeling anxious, butterflies flapping like crazy in her stomach.
“How much longer?”
His voice broke the silence and pausing in her pacing, she glanced at her wristwatch before looking over at him sitting on the corner of the bathtub. “Two minutes,” she replied quietly.
Right now she wasn’t sure whether having Nathan in there with her was a good or bad thing. He seemed to be feeling even more nervous than she was judging by the way his knee was jiggling up and down and, if anything, it was making the waiting that much worse.
“C’mere,” he said, getting up and crossing the tiled floor until he stood in front of her. Pulling her into his arms, he wrapped them around her, resting his chin on top of her head as she leaned her head against his chest. “Whatever happens, it’s going to be okay.”
“I know,” she sighed, “It’s just… I really want this, Nathan.”
“I know you do, Hales. I want this, too but if it doesn’t happen this time, it just means we keep trying.” Threading his fingers through her hair, he gently directed her to look up at him and in an attempt to lessen the tension they were both feeling, he teased, “You know I won’t mind that.”
Chuckling, she swatted him on the arm. “Yeah, as if I didn’t already know that.”
Lowering his head, he pressed his mouth against hers and kissed her softly, slipping his tongue inside when she parted her lips. When the kiss broke several moments later, they rested their foreheads together as they each caught their breath.
“How much longer now?”
Looking at her watch again, Haley’s breath hitched in her throat and the butterflies which had ceased their flapping, suddenly picked up speed again. “I-It’s time.”
Intertwining their fingers, Nathan led them over to the counter and he watched as she slowly picked up the white stick and looked down at it. “What does it say?” he asked, his voice practically a whisper.
Her eyes had filled with tears and raising her face to meet his, she beamed at him. “It’s positive,” she stated, holding out the pregnancy test so he could see the result for himself.
Smiling back at her, his heart raced wildly in his chest as he leaned in to kiss her again. Banding his arms around her waist, he lifted her off of the ground and twirled her around. “We did it, Hales! And on the first try, too,” he joked as he lowered her back down.
She laughed at that and cupping his face between her palms, she kissed him harder, pouring everything she felt for him into it. “Thank you for being here with me,” she told him when the kiss had eventually ended.
“You don’t have to thank me, baby, but you’re welcome. I just wish I’d been there when you found out you were expecting Jamie. You know I hate th—”
Covering his lips with her fingers to stop him talking, she shook her head. “No, we’re not doing that. It’s in the past and this… this is our future and we need to just focus on that otherwise we’ll end up driving ourselves nuts with regrets and what ifs.”
Nuzzling their noses in a soft Eskimo kiss, he smiled against her lips. “Have I told you lately how amazing you are?”
Blushing, she lowered her gaze before meeting his beautiful blue eyes again. “Nathan…”
“‘Cause you are and I’m so lucky to have you…”
“I’m lucky, too,” she whispered, running her fingers through his hair.
“Well, that goes without saying,” he said, smirking at her and stealing another kiss before she could say anything. “Hey, how about we go celebrate and—”
“No, I don’t want to celebrate yet. It’s too early and besides, when we celebrate I want Jamie with us.”
“Yeah, I do as well,” he agreed.
“I also want to make a doctor’s appointment and get it confirmed before we get carried away.”
Nathan nodded. “Okay. I’ll come with you.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to.”
Haley kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
Turning his face to the side, he met her lips again and they shared a soft, lingering kiss; their smiles infectious as they looked at each other a moment later.
“I know I said we shouldn’t celebrate but I guess there’s no harm in a, uh, private pre-celebration…” she said, her fingers trailing over his cheek, liking the way his stubble tickled her skin.
“No harm at all,” he agreed, his smile turning into another smirk as he took her hands in his and began leading her out of the bathroom and towards their bedroom.
Let the pre-celebrations begin.
Next : Tears Into Laughter