My Everything
Title: My Everything
Author: Diane
Pairing: Nathan/Haley
Rating: Teen Rated
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing!
Spoilers/Warnings: This is set at the beginning of 7.22 “Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said The Last Time I Saw You” so everything up to and including that episode.
Summary: Threading his fingers through her hair, he tipped her head up as he lowered his forehead to rest against hers. “If I lost you... I-I can't lose you.”
* * *
“Nathan?”
Haley's quiet voice brought Nathan out of his reverie. “I'm here,” he whispered from where he stood by the window in their bedroom, staring down at the pool which shimmered in the moonlight. First thing in the morning he was going to drain it. He wasn't taking any more chances. Running his knuckles under his eyes, he wiped away his tears; biting his lip when he suddenly felt Haley's palm in the center of his back. Her warmth seeped through the thin fabric of his T-shirt which caused fresh tears to blur his vision.
“I-I'm so sorry,” she said, wrapping her arms around him from behind.
His hands covered hers over his stomach and for a long moment they just stood there before he turned to face her. “Hales...” His voice broke as he looked down at her. Threading his fingers through her hair, he tipped her head up as he lowered his forehead to rest against hers. “If I lost you... I-I can't lose you.”
“You haven't,” Haley told him, her heart breaking as she looked into his glassy eyes. The pain she already carried suddenly felt even stronger.
“I nearly did.” His free hand gripped her waist. “If I'd arrived home just a little bit later...” Nathan felt a chill run through him at the mere thought of how much worse the situation could have been. “If I hadn't realized you'd been calling your mom's cell phone... God, your voice in those messages...”
“Nathan—”
“The things you were saying, Haley... You said Jamie and I deserved better.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks and she tried to avert her gaze but he wouldn't let her. “Please...”
“We deserve you and you deserve us,” he told her vehemently. His hands cupped her face as he held her in place. “We love you... always and forever.”
A sob tore from her throat and she buried her face against his chest, her arms banding around him.
Nathan held her tightly, ducking down to press a kiss onto the top of her head. Her hair was still slightly damp after the shower they'd taken once they were back inside the house and safely away from the pool.
Drawing back from her, he gently wiped away her tears with his thumbs. “Let's get you back into bed.”
“Will you get in with me?” she asked softly, her voice cracking slightly.
“If you want me to.”
Haley nodded. “I do.”
“Okay.” He led her towards her side of the bed and watched her climb in before helping pull the covers over her. Walking around to his side, he hesitated briefly before he got in and made himself comfortable. He breathed a quiet sigh of relief when Haley snuggled up next to him; something she hadn't been doing for a little while now. Raising his arm, he wrapped it around her shoulders and brought her in even closer. As he continued to hold her, he slowly felt her body relax as she succumbed to the pull of sleep; her fingers loosening their grip on his T-shirt.
Nathan knew he wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight. He was petrified that he'd wake up to find her gone so if he needed to stay up and watch over her, he'd do it in a heartbeat. The road ahead wasn't going to be easy... not by a long shot but he hoped that, as terrifying as tonight had been, it could be something of a turning point towards her recovery. She meant the world to him and their son and he would do everything in his power to make sure she got better. Haley had saved him so many times... now it was his turn to save her.
Fin