This was written at ZuzuBlack's request and is a prequel to Can't Let Go. Please read and review. Enjoy!
It was her husband's whimpers that woke Haley up.
He spoke and she leaned close to hear. Nathan's breath tickled her ear as he mumbled, "Fuck you, Chris."
Haley rolled over and rubbed his back gently. He moaned softly, leaning back into her caresses. "It hurts, please, it hurts," he muttered in his sleep. Haley leaned back, concerned. Nathan was obviously in pain; she could tell by the way his brow was creased and how he winced when she touched his arm.
"No, no, no, don't," he groaned. His pajamas were damp with sweat.
"Nathan," she murmured. "Nate, honey, wake up."
Nathan stumbled home, drunk, from the bar to find Chris sitting on the apartment stairs.
"What do you want, Chris?" he asked, annoyed.
"Haley misses you. I know you had a fight, but her music isn't the same without you, Nathan."
"Yeah, well, weren't you the one who took her away from me in the first place?"Angrily, accusing.
"You pushed her away, man. She was the one who kissed me."Offended, obstinate.
"Fuck you, Chris."
"Seriously?" There was too much curiosity to Chris' response; it made Nathan pause with his retort.
"Um, what?"Shocked if he weren't so disbelieving.
"Seriously, do you want to?"Very curious now; almost begging?
Nathan stared at Chris, unsure as to what exactly Chris was suggesting. He wouldn't…would he?
Twenty minutes later both boys were on Nathan's bed, taking out their anxieties and frustrations on each other. "It hurts, please, it hurts," whimpered Nathan as Chris took him.
"Shhh…I've got you," said Chris. "The Keller's got you, man. Did you need me to stop?"
"No, no, no, don't," replied Nathan. He growled low in his throat as Chris ran his lips lightly up Nathan's spine, leaving soft, butterfly kisses.
"Nathan. Nate, honey, wake up." Nathan opened his eyes to see Chris leaning over him.
"Dreaming about me?" asked Chris, gleefully. He sat up and the sheets fell to his waist, displaying a skinny, but tight, chiseled chest. "Didn't know I was that good."
"Shut up, Chris." Nathan sighed, and snuggled back under the covers. Chris scooted closer and Nathan didn't push him away when Chris wrapped his arms around Nathan's waist.
"Hey Nate?"
"Yeah?"Nathan tilted his head back on Chris' chest so he could see Chris watching him.
"Promise that you won't forget me, about us? That even if this never happens again, you won't regret it?"
"Yeah, Chris, I promise," Nate answered sleepily.
"Good," murmured Chris, and soon soft, rhythmic snores filled the room.
"Nathan. Come on, Nate. Wake up." Nathan continued to toss and turn for a moment before slowly opening his eyes. "Haley?" he whispered as the blurry image leaning over him focused.
"Hey. You were having a bad dream. It's okay now." Haley rubbed his back for a minute, soothingly, before rolling back over and snuggling against Nathan's warmth.
Sleepily, he wrapped his arms around her and settled his chin on her shoulder, pondering the dream he had just had.
When the doorbell rang he got up to answer it in his boxers, not imagining that the subject of his nightmare, or suppressed memory, was standing on the other side of the door.