Splish Splash
Title: Splish Splash
Author: Diane
Fandom: One Tree Hill
Characters: Nathan/Haley
Prompt: 10 - Bath
Rating: Teen Rated
Disclaimer: I don’t own a thing!
Spoilers/Warnings: Set post-Season 4 but before Season 5.
Summary: The toddler’s shrieks and giggles were infectious and Nathan couldn't help joining in with his laughter.
Author’s Notes: This has been written for my fanfic table at 25fluffyfics and is dedicated to Doreen as an early birthday gift. I hope you have an absolutely lovely day tomorrow and that you enjoy this little something from me. *hugs*
Nathan couldn't help grinning at Jamie who was playing in the bubble-filled bath; his pudgy little hands throwing down the mini orange basketball he was holding which caused the water to splash up and soak them both. The toddler’s shrieks and giggles were infectious and Nathan couldn't help joining in with his laughter.
"You think that’s funny, huh?"
The little boy nodded eagerly, the smile on his face stretching from ear to ear as he scooted forward in the bath to find his ball which was bobbing just out of his reach. "Ball!"
Reaching out, Nathan retrieved it for him and handed it over, bracing himself for yet another soaking. "Okay, buddy," he said a moment later, grabbing a towel and rubbing it over his face and arms to try and get rid of some of the excess water. “Let's get you all dried and dressed in your pj’s for when Momma comes home."
The smile left Jamie’s face. “No! Wanna play!” To emphasise his point, he grabbed one of his bath toys - a plastic yellow duck - and held it out to his father, a pout gracing his features.
“You look just like your Momma when she wants to get her own way,” Nathan told him, his lips curved up in a half smirk. “C’mon, don’t you want her to read you a bedtime story when she gets home?”
Jamie’s face lit up at his Daddy’s words and holding onto the sides, he managed to pull himself up so he was standing in the bath. “Book!”
“That’s right, buddy." Placing his hands under his son’s arms, Nathan gently picked him up and lifted him out, setting his little feet down on the rug for a moment while he reached out to grab Jamie’s towel off of the heated rail.
The little boy took that as his cue and raced out of the room, the sound of his laughter filling the air as he ran for freedom.
“Hey! Where’d you go?” Nathan called out, his voice giving away his amusement, as he realised what had happened and he set off after him. towel in hand.
Haley had literally just closed the front door of the apartment when her pride and joy, who she was fast coming to realise loved being naked almost as much as his father did, came into view and she burst out laughing as she made a grab for him. “Woah there, Jimmy-Jam!”
“Momma!” Jamie exclaimed happily, his little arms wrapping around his mother’s neck and hugging her as she lifted him up, his wet body sticking to her clothes.
Peppering his chubby cheeks with butterfly kisses, she cuddled him close as she carried him further into the apartment and upon meeting her husband’s gaze, she couldn’t help saying, “He got away from you again, huh?”
Nathan smirked at her and when he had closed the short distance between them, he lowered his head to hers and kissed her softly. “I tell ya, Hales, the kid seems to know the exact moment you’re about to arrive home. As soon as I had him out of the bath, he was off like a shot.”
“Aww, did you miss me, baby?”
“Yes,” Nathan replied before Jamie had a chance to. His palm cupped her cheek, holding her steady as he moved in for another kiss. Drawing back from her a moment later, he pressed a kiss to the top of their son’s head. “We both did.”
“I missed you both, too.”
Shaking out the towel he was holding, Nathan wrapped it around Jamie and taking him from Haley’s arms, he sat down on the couch and began carefully patting him dry. He watched as Haley removed her bag from her shoulder and then shrugged out of her jacket. “Did you manage to get your paper finished?” he asked.
“Yep, it’s all done,” she told him, smiling at the way he was bouncing Jamie on his lap. “Which means we have a completely assignment and basketball-free weekend on our hands.”
“Not to mention that Luke is off visiting Peyton so we’ve got the whole place to ourselves.”
Raising one eyebrow, she tilted her head to the side. “I know, although a certain little person will no doubt keep us nice and busy.”
“True but if we wear him out enough, there’s a good chance he’ll sleep right through the night for us.” Turning his son in his arms, Nathan tucked the towel around him and held him up in front of him. “How about it, buddy? You want to give me and your Mom a break for one night and let us get some sleep?”
“Sleep, huh? And there was me thinking you had something else in mind entirely.”
“Oh, believe me, I do.” Leaning into her, he traced the tip of his tongue around Haley’s full lips before suckling the bottom one into his mouth and grazing it with his teeth.
“Momma...book!”
Nathan groaned against Haley’s mouth at the sudden interruption which earned him a giggle from her. “Your son has perfect timing.”
“C’mon, baby... Let’s get you all ready for bed and then we’ll read some more of your book.”
Getting up from the couch, she took Jamie from Nathan’s arms and headed towards the toddler’s bedroom which was just off of their own room.
“Dinner won’t be long, Hales,” he told her as he watched them leave; gazing lustfully at the way his wife’s hips swayed enticingly from side to side which was making him even more eager to get their weekend started.
Looking at him over her shoulder, she blushed when she saw the look on his face, knowing only too well where his thoughts had gone. “I won’t be long,” she whispered before she disappeared around the corner.
Twenty minutes later when she hadn’t reappeared, Nathan went to find her and entering their son’s toy and book adorned bedroom, he smiled when he saw her sitting in the rocking chair by the window with Jamie fast asleep in her arms, dressed in his Finding Nemo pyjamas.
“I could watch him day,” Haley said quietly, her eyes lifting to meet her husband’s gaze. Dropping a kiss onto Jamie’s forehead, she breathed in the clean scent of his skin before carefully getting up from the chair and settling him into his cot.
“I could, too.” Coming to stand behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and gently pulled her back to lean against him. “He’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” he whispered into her ear, holding her that little bit tighter.
Haley turned in his arms, her fingers lightly stroking over the back of his neck. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He nuzzled his nose against hers before finding her lips and kissing her soft and slow. “So, you ‘bout ready to make a start on our weekend?” he teasingly asked several moments later when the kiss had eventually ended.
“Mmm, lead the way, husband.”
Interlacing their fingers, Nathan smirked as he led her towards the door where they both paused and took another look at Jamie who was sleeping soundly before finally leaving, making sure that the door wasn’t closed all the way.
“You do realise that Luke isn’t leaving until tomorrow?” Haley pointed out.
“Yeah, but maybe we can encourage him to leave a bit earlier,” he teased, pressing another kiss to her smiling lips before pulling her into their own bedroom.
Fin