Title: When A Song Stirs A Memory
Author: Diane
Pairing: Nathan/Haley
Rating: Teen Rated
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing!
Spoilers/Warnings: This takes place after the final NH scene in episode 822 'This Is My House, This Is My Home'. Story includes some light sexual references/innuendo.
Summary: Looking at Haley as she played her guitar in the now empty café transported Nathan back to another time when she had performed for him here and he smiled at the memory.
Author's Notes: A huge thank you goes to Kristen and Molly for helping and reassuring me with this ficlet. You girls rock! *hugs*
I just realised I didn't post this fic on here when I wrote it last month so I'm rectifying that now.
Looking at Haley as she played her guitar in the now empty café transported Nathan back to another time when she had performed for him here and he smiled at the memory. Her voice had always had a calming effect on him, helping to ease whatever was troubling him, and the same was as true now as it was then. He couldn't believe how far they'd come since that very first tutoring session down at the docks. If someone had told him that day that he'd be married at sixteen and a father at eighteen... well, he would've laughed in their face. But here they were... still completely head-over-heels in love and with two beautiful children.
"Hey, why'd you stop?" he asked when he saw her get up from the stool she'd been sitting on and wander over to the stage where her guitar case was situated.
"I thought you weren't listening," Haley teased, glancing at him over her shoulder.
"I always listen to you."
Smiling, she ambled back over to him as he came around the counter to meet her. "You, Mister, were a million miles away. Where'd you go?"
"I was just thinking about the very first time you played for me," he replied, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Remember how nervous you were?"
She nodded. "Uh huh. I'd never sung in front of anyone before and I... I guess I was worried you wouldn't like it."
Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, Nathan cupped her cheek. "Are you kidding? I loved it, Hales, and I still do. That memory is one of my favourites of us."
His words, coupled with the intensity of his stare as he looked deep into her eyes, caused Haley's heart to race and covering the back of his hand with her palm, she leaned further into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed. A second later she felt his mouth on hers, a tiny sigh escaping when she parted her lips.
"I loved that night, too," she told him, her voice a gentle whisper. Her hand moved to the back of his neck and she lightly caressed his skin, liking the way he shivered at her touch.
Nuzzling his nose against hers, he kissed her again before retreating, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"What's with the smirk?" Haley asked, cocking her head to the side.
"Nothing."
"Right! You're forgetting just how well I know you, Nathan Scott, so c'mon, out with it."
"Just thinking that this is one place we never got to cross off our list," he told her, laughing at the shocked look on her face.
"You're terrible, you know that?"
"I think you've might've mentioned it once or twice."
Linking her fingers behind his neck, Haley pushed herself up onto her toes. Even with her high heels on he still towered over her. She bit back her smile at the way his eyes lingered on her cleavage which was pressing into his chest. "So, uh, why did we never christen this place? It's not like we didn't have the opportunity on the nights I locked up and you came to meet me."
Nathan hesitated before admitting, "Uh, it might've had something to do with knowing I wouldn't have been able to look Karen in the eyes whenever I saw her afterwards." When she giggled, he felt his face heat up.
"Aww, that's so cute. But, to be honest, I would've been exactly the same. I'm sure I would have blushed to the roots of my hair every time I looked at her. God, I can feel myself blushing just thinking about it," she said, burying her face against the sculpted planes of his chest.
It was his turn to laugh and he ran the flat of his hand over her soft, silky hair before gently coaxing her back so he could see her face. "Well, Karen's not the owner now so..."
"So?"
"So, I don't think the new owner is going to mind."
"Hmm, what about her co-owner?"
Nathan's smirk was back in full effect. "Oh, she knows what we're like and probably expects us to do it."
"Is that right?"
"Oh, yeah." Lowering his head, he seized her lips in a long, leisurely kiss. His tongue tangled playfully with hers and her breathy moans were turning him on even more than he was already.
"Nathan..." Pausing to catch her breath, Haley's fingers combed through his hair before gently pressing down on the back of his head, encouraging him to kiss her again which, it would seem by the eager way he fused their mouths together, he was more than happy to do.
"God, I love you," he said, his voice thick with lust. "And I'm so proud of you, baby."
Not for the first time that evening, she felt herself blush at his declarations. "I love you, too... so much," she told him. Her heart was hammering against her ribcage and if it wasn't for their precious bundle sleeping in the playpen they'd set up in the back room, she'd be dragging him behind the counter and christening the café right now.
Watching her face and taking in the way she was biting her bottom lip, Nathan had a pretty good idea of where Haley's thoughts had gone. "How 'bout we lock up and go home?"
"Okay," she said. "Junk and Fergie should be dropping Jamie back home soon."
Rubbing her cheekbone with his thumb, he said, "Gotta say, Hales, that was kind of sneaky... getting them to show up at the Rivercourt this afternoon."
"Don't tell me you haven't been tempted to do the same thing?"
"Okay, fine, you've got me. Before you told me what you'd done, I'd been about to give Skills a call and see if he could drop by and check on the boy."
Haley laughed. "You know Jamie's bound to know we're behind the guys showing up."
"Yeah," he agreed, kissing her again before releasing her from his embrace. "Come on, let's go get Lydia," Taking Haley's hand, he led the way into the back of the café and looking at their baby girl who was still fast asleep, he smiled and then leaned over to carefully scoop her up. The little girl fussed a little but didn't wake up and after pressing a kiss onto the top of her head, he passed her over to Haley who had just finished pulling on her jacket.
After making sure the place was safe and secure for the night and that their daughter was wrapped up warmly, they headed back into the café, hitting the lights on the way. Once the front door was locked, it was a short walk to where their car was parked and after Nathan had strapped Lydia into her car seat, he took Haley's hands in his again.
"You know, we should invite my mom to stay with us one weekend. I know she'd love to see the new café and—"
"And you're thinking she could babysit for us while we, uh, take our time closing up?"
The corner of his mouth quirked upwards. "You know me too well, babe."
Laughing, Haley swatted his shoulder. "Yeah, I really do."
"So, what do you think?"
"I think it's a great idea..." Pushing herself up onto her toes so that her mouth was by his ear, she continued, "... and one we should talk about in a lot more detail at home."
If Nathan was in any way uncertain of her meaning, she made it crystal clear when she nibbled his earlobe. Coughing to clear his throat, he said, "Yeah... we definitely should." Turning his head, he found her lips and kissed her hotly, drawing back a few moments later as he all but bundled her into the passenger seat as he hurried to get them home. The sound of her laughter followed him as he quickly walked around the front of the car and then climbed into the vehicle.
"In a hurry, are we?" Haley teased as he started the engine. The look he shot her made her laugh again and she quickly placed her hand over her mouth to muffle the sound.
"You complaining?"
Even in the fading light, she could see the darkening of his eyes and she felt tingles shoot up and down her spine.
"That's what I thought," he quipped when she didn't reply, smirking before he checked his mirrors and then pulled out onto the street. Lacing their fingers together, he rested their joined hands on his thigh as they drove home in comfortable silence.
"You think Jamie will be exhausted after spending most of the afternoon at the Rivercourt?" Haley asked, her thumb rubbing along the back of Nathan's hand.
"Hopefully," he replied, his answer causing both of them to start laughing again.
Fin