The Risk

Rating: M

This is an au fiction.

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.Desmond Tutu

Chapter 1

Nathan Scott braced himself as the taxi hit another pothole. The bump agitated the tender area of his abdomen where reluctant stitches had been removed only days prior. While taking pictures of Sudanese refugees fleeing from Dafur, he had been caught in the crossfire of rival factions. The error had nearly cost him his life. He was lucky enough to have gotten out of Africa with only a pair of bullets in his gut.

An exchange of gunfire wasn't uncommon during his work, especially in the war torn country. A NPPA award winning photojournalist, Nathan's free-lance career has taken him around the world several times over. His work has been seen in newspapers worldwide, many award winning documentaries, and leading news magazines, gracing the covers often.

It had taken eight months to compile the photos, accurate paperwork, background information, and required documents demanded for his current project, a coffee table book citing the devastation, hunger, and despair of the Sudan's genocide. Whether the Dafur Liberation Front, the Justice and Equality movement, or the Janjuweed militia would ever live peacefully was a subject Nathan wanted to keep at the forefront of the worlds minds.

Looking out the back side window of the cab, he watched the tall pines and bare dogwoods sway in in the breeze as the car zipped down US-17. He left his window down absorbing the mild temperatures he had rarely felt on the dark continent.

Home is where the heart is. That's what was leading Nathan to his destination, Haley. It seemed like forever since the last time he had laid eyes on her and even longer since he had allowed the heaven of being close to her.

He yelped as a sharp pain ripped through his side.

"Yes, young man?" The elderly dark skinned man caught a vexing glimpse of his fare in the rearview mirror.

A rare smile pulled at Nathan's lips. He had made some quick getaways in his line of work, from the way this senior citizen raced down the highway this might not be any different.

"Nice day." Nathan commented more as idle chatter than a true testament to the weather.

The old man's salt-n-pepper whiskers twitched on his beard as his bowlike full lips drew into juvenile grin. "Yes, Sir. Can't believe we just had a bad storm on Tu…."

Nathan spent a month in the hospital. The coastal scenery was a welcome sight from the hospital room decorum he had grown accustom to. Although the first week was spent in a medically induced coma that more than likely saved his life.

It had been less than forty eight hours since his release from a Bethesda Maryland hospital, but it felt too soon. He was exhausted and felt older than his thirty-one years. After a first class flight to his home in Manhattan for necessities and a very unpleasant nights sleep, he returned to LaGuardia and hopped the first flight to Wilmington, North Carolina.

Lying back in the vehicle, he spread his long legs further apart and brushed his short cropped raven hand with his right palm. For the bazillionth time that day , he wondered if visiting Haley was a wise decision. He had been careful over the years to steer her from the danger associated with his career. She had created a new life for herself-one without agonizing reminders of the family she left buried in Florida. Nathan was the exception.

He was only staying until he recovered. That's it, a week at the most. He shouldn't be going. The smart thing to do would be to turn his ss right back around and head back to New York or anywhere far from Haley…….. Far from temptation.

"Damn! He needed to be in her presence, needed to spend quality time with her. "Only a short stay with Beautiful. I promise." He vowed to himself.

When Haley James, a peachy complexioned woman with long dark blond hair, usually left in it's natural waves and big brown eyes entered the foyer of the preschool she owned and operated, she ignored the gestures Brooke Mcfadden was giving her. The secretary hung up the telephone as Haley marched to her private office and shut the door. She went to work on something that needed her immediate attention, a cup of her private stash of herbal tea. It was good to be boss, sometimes.

Barging in, the high spirited assistant spoke. "I know you're wrapping up for the day, Hales but we have a problem." Looking at Brooke, you would never guess the sexy dark haired and dark eyed beauty was a wife and the mother of a twelve year old. Haley didn't blink when she contributed. "Goodbye, Brooke."

Brooke had been there since they opened the nursery five years ago and Haley depended on her confusing, yet sage advice, her perkiness, and her genuine love for the staff and students. Their working relationship soon became a deep seeded friendship.

"Romeo Gatina, I still can't believe his mother named her son, Romeo. Good, Lord!" Haley rolled her eyes, tapping her mug of hot liquid impatiently. "Anyway. Romeo tried to tongue kiss Jasmine Edwards right in front of me. A four year old! Jasmine isn't a whiner, so she kneed him in the stomach ……. A four year old trying to tongue kiss!" Brooke frowned with disgust. "I swear he gets that from his mama." She ranted and Haley looked shocked. "He lied about right to my face. He was crying when I put him in timeout, but that maybe from getting kicked from Jasmines cute pink paten leather shoes."

"I told you Pre-K was dangerous." Haley chuckled. "Thanks for subbing for Mrs. Marley."

Brooke shrugged. "See how grateful you are when I wash Romeo little mouth out with soap." She laughed, leaning on the door.

"After he apologizes to Jasmine, explain to him again about personal space and I'll set up a conference with his mother for some time next week. Hopefully all the teachers and students will be back from this rapid spreading virus by then. I don't know how much longer I can take Mrs. Marsh's terrible two year olds."

"Haley James, talking bad about babies! What's this world come to?" Brooke gasped and slapped her own cheek.

"Oh hush, was Romeo and Jasmine's fight the only thing you wanted to discuss?"

Snapping her fingers the energetic secretary remember her other reason for disturbing her boss. "Oh yeah, Tim Smith called again. He said this stomach virus still had him down for the count. He's sorry he didn't call earlier."

"At least we know he's alive. He's hasn't called all week! He use to be such a good worker. He needs to straighten up. ……. Bevin, Sweetie, we know you're there." She called to the eavesdropping cook and current substitute with the infants on the other side of the door. She stuck out her tongue before coming in and taking a seat.

"I would love to stay and help you take the little ones home, but I've been doing the teacher/secretary thing for the last two weeks. I haven't made it home before seven once. Mouth said if I'm not at tonights hospital function, I was going to receive a divorce decree! Haley, he's way too good in bed for that! I can't stay." She performed emotionally.

"That was wayyy too much information, but I understand. I'm grateful for all the hard work you already put in. I don't know what I would have done without you or Bevin these last few weeks. I'm going to have to look into hiring some more staff."

Haley wouldn't confess her admiration of Brooke and Marvin's (Mouth) McFadden's healthy marriage, but she envied them. In the last six months, Brooke Mcfadden and Bevin Taylor had tried to play matchmaker with Haley and every single man in the tri-state area either of their husbands knew. They were sure the last choice had been a love connection.

"You, rock! It's about time we got some help around here. I told you to do it last month. I'm worn out by the time I leave this place every day. That means Skills doesn't get worn out at night. Hubby don't like that and I don't either!" Bevin revealed giving Haley a wink and Brooke a high five. Haley was starting to hate women with wonderful husbands, or anyone with somebody to go home to, bitches!

"It's just that I like the small, family unit we have here. I really like to know my employees. I don't want to loose that, but Tree Hill is growing and we have to expand soon." Haley sighed.

"You've done a great job creating this facility, Boss. Every preschool parent in town wants their kids to attend Mr. Waffles Learning Tree. It's hot, Hales. Expansion is inevitable." Brooke preached and Bevin nodded in agreement.

"I know, but we'll talk about it later. I doubt we have more than fifteen more minutes and Mr. Johnson and Ms. Mosinov are got to have a break down stuck in there alone with the bus riders."

"I'll round up the troops." Bevin offered on that way out the door. "Tell that adorable man of yours I said hi, Brooke. We can make the suggestions for the upgrades next week, when everyone should be back. See in a few, Hales." She left.

"We can have the work done by the time the kids return from the Winter holiday." Haley thought out loud.

"Don't you mean summer break?" Brooked said dryly before they booth laughed. She knew Haley needed that extra push and she was perfect person for the job.

Haley checked her watch, almost time to go. "T G I F!" She smile rinsing her tea cup.

"You're going out with Marcus Cortez this weekend, right? Somewhere romantic?" Brooke gushed dreamily.

"I have paperwork to catch up on, Brooke. I don't have time for him." Haley quickly stuffed a few files in her computer bag, along with her laptop."

"Could you block this place out of your mind for a few hours and have some fun …. Preferably the hot, sweaty, sex kind of fun?" The brunette suggested.

Haley ignored her friend.

"Come with me and Marvin to the mixer at the hospital tonight. I've introduce you to some many of his co-workers, you should feel right at home. Marcus with be there." Brook enticed.

"Thanks for the offer, but I'll take a rain check."

"Why not?" Brooke pouted with dimpled cheeks.

"Maybe Marvin wants to be alone with his wife since I've been hogging all her time lately. Ever thought of that Mrs. McFadden?"

"Oh, please. You know he would be into a threesome. Especially with hot chicks like us."

"Brooke!" Haley blushed. "It's definitely no now!"

"Oh my God! You dropped Marcus. It's all over your face." Brooke accused.

"We didn't want the same things out of our relationships, so what was the point of continuing to see him?"

"You could have tried . Maybe things would have changed." She urged, really wanting a special man in Haley's life. She deserved it more than anyone she knew.

"He wants to be loved and I'm not able to give him that." She didn't eye the photo on the third tier of her bookshelf. It wasn't necessary. She knew its place, just like Nathan Scotts was in her heart.

"But.."

"Goodnight, Brooke. Kiss Jersey for me." Haley thought of her friends twelve year old, who did odd jobs around the preschool.

"Okay! I'm leaving. Later, Hales"

The yellow taxi turned off a state road and onto a rural pass. After five minutes of being toss like a salad, pain ridden Nathan was near tears. His thoughts went to how he evaded kidnapping in Iraq, survived thirty days of prison in Siberia and a foot march across part of the Gobi desert during a sand storm only to possibly die in a car crash in rural North Carolina. Unbelievable!

"Are we almost there yet?" Nathan quizzed, focusing on his surroundings as if they were familiar. "Just a little ways yonder." The man smiled. "I'll get you home to the little lady before supper is on the table." He promised with twinkling eyes in the rearview. Nathan ignored his assumption, although his mind was certainly on a little lady.

Ten minutes later, they paddle up the long driveway to Haley's compound. It was a couple of miles from the shore of Siren Beach and consisted of a renovated commercial barn that had been turned into Mr. Waffle's Learning Tree. To the left, a playground, fenced in and currently covered pool and a flower garden, still stunning in winter. The previous owner's servants quarters now served as a gorgeous four bedroom Tudor styled home with a courtyard in the middle. Nathan wondered if Haley ever dreamed of filling it with a family of her own.

"We're here!" The driver informed him as they came to a complete stop. Nathan couldn't get out of the car fast enough, paying the drive a sizable tip and removing his own luggage from the trunk with great difficultly. He just couldn't let the old man struggle with his heavy suitcase and camera equipment.

Taking in the view across the long stretch of parking lot to a shiny red school bus with brown bears doing cartwheels across it's sides, Nathan watched two women hold the barn doors open as a bushel of children skipped out to the school's side of the drive way. The shorter of the two grabbed his interest as he sat his items down and took a breather on the trunk of Haley's Cranberry Mercedes. Nice wheels, Beautiful. His eyes locked on her and didn't falter.

Haley's face was expressive as she and the other woman lead the bubbly preschoolers to the bus. Nathan watched, waiting for her amazing smile to light up his world. His wish was granted in a matter of seconds, taking away what little breath the ill man held on to.

He examined her girly movements, just as he had eight months ago. She had not been aware of his presence then either. He had taken every precaution to prevent that.

Some men were addicted to gambling, strip clubs or narcotics. Nathan Scott's poison, Haley James. Every blue moon he had to see her, bask in her beauty and sweetness. Unfortunately, his need today was overbearing. He couldn't remember a time when he was so desperate for all that was uniquely Haley.

"Jeffrey, pleas stop trying to jump over Sharon's head. I'm sorry honey, but you're not really a stunt man. You could hurt her, young man." She tenderly warned the grey eyed blond as he dropped his head and followed Sharon's long red pigtail onto the bus. "They've been a handful today." She whispered to Bevin. "I can't wait to go home and have a long bubble bath and curl up with a good book. I'm going to sleep like a baby."

"You can't do every job the nursery needs! You're overextending yourself again, honey!" Bevin made sure each child was secured in their own safety seat. If she wasn't so busy she would shake a finger at her friend. Instead she reprimanded her with flashing dark brown eyes.

"I'm just tired and irritated with Smith. I'm going to have to give him some kind of discipline action soon."

Neither woman caught the man easing himself off the trunk of Haley's car in front of the parallel parking garage. Three hundred feet from where they were preparing to drive away.

Bevin was already belted in when three year old Carmen started crying and trying to get out of her seat, suddenly aware her favorite toy was missing. " Poppy! I left Poppy Pig." She screamed. "Shhh, Carmen. It's okay" Haley soothed her hand over the child's forehead as she settled down. "I'll go get her. I'm sure she doesn't want to stay here all weekend by herself." She teased and the toddler nodded with her mitten covered left hand stuck in her mouth, only the tiny thumb sticking out.

Haley had just made it back to the entry of the preschool and unlocked the door when Nathan rounded the school bus. Intuitively, she felt someone watching her. She turned to check the area around her.

The petite woman froze. Emotions swirled through her body, swarming her mind and making her heady. She didn't think. She charged back down the steps and down the drive way, strapping her legs around his middle and flinging her arms around his neck.

"Nathan!" She squealed. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming? How long have you been here? When did you get back in the states?"

The enamored man buried his tan face in the crook of her neck, letting blond waves shower his face and inhaling her intoxicating scent. His weakened six foot two frame seem to gain strength as he held on to her as long as possible.

"I see you're still rambling, Beautiful." His gravelly voice hummed softly along her neck as his fingers traveled her satiny golden locks. He loved her hair. He fought to ignore the way her breast pushed against his chest or how his other arm cupped her firm round bottom. He refused to recognize the immense love and primal passion he harbored for enchanting mistress. Under the circumstances, he was firmly aware of the fact they could never be together. He couldn't give her the stability and safety she required. Besides, he lost the privilege to even wish for a love affair with her years ago.

"And you're always the same, never a real answer to my questions. I need to stop asking, period. ……. Oh, Nate. I'm so relieved you're back here safe and sound." Her voice soft, yet heavy with love and sincerity. Unwrapping her legs from his waist, the little female stood on her own two feet, but resting her body as close to him, not quite ready to leave the warmth and masculine scent of the man she loved for many years.

Nathan managed to keep his ever present pain under control as Ms. James held him and snuggled into his chest. "Is there room at the inn for a couple of nights, Beautiful?"

She took a few steps back to get a good look at him with those big brown eyes. He returned her gaze as his heart rate accelerated and his body tightened. She was so beautiful.

"For my favorite guy, there's always room." She gave him a brilliant smile before it fell from her face and she threw her hands up. "Oh! I forgot about the children!" waving at the cute little faces peeking from the bus load. Her students were usually the center of her world. "I really don't want to hear them tell their parents why Ms. James was late when I bring them home late. Tree Hill is a small town. ….. One moment, I'll be right back."

At breakneck speed, Haley tore the door open and sprinted down two hallways until she reached Carmen's classroom. She grabbed the pink pig with purple polka dots and from her resting place in the girl's cubby.

She was out of breath when she rejoined him. Her cheeks were ruddy from the chilly weather and her wavy hair bounced around her like a halo.

"I thought you wrote that you hired a bus driver? Where is he?" Nathan didn't want her out of his sight for a moment and he knew it would take much longer than that to drop off all the those kids.

"Tim had been dependable until a few weeks ago. He's skipped the last couple of Fridays, all of this week and disappears for large periods of time when he does show." She panted. Haley saw the frown his brows were forming and stroked her fingers over his large hand. "I'll handle it. Don't worry." She reached into her pocket, then place a set of keys in his palm tilting her head in the direction of the house. "Go inside and relax. You're welcome to anything you want. The guestroom is upstairs, first room on the left. I won't be long. We can catch up as soon as I get back." She gave him a quick kiss on his broad nose and ran backwards to the doors of the bus. "Welcome home, Nathan!" He gave her a killer smile. With a skip and a hair swing, Haley was gone…….

Pamela