Disclaimer:SURPRISE GUYS! i own nothing.

Summary: AU. She had always dwelt alone in solitude...until he came along and showed her what it meant to live. Naley.


Chapter 1: Every rose has its thorn

Haley sighed, sitting alone on the beach watching the waves rush by her. Some would say she had a perfect life, seeing a husband that cared so deeply about her. She had wealth, and great acquaintances, but that's where it ended. Her life was about outward appearances; only her thoughts were about love. What she once believed to be a perfect fairytale life was now the farthest thing from it. She had an inside and an outside, and she knew how not to mix them. On the outside, she was the perfect wife, the perfect mother that gave up everything for her family. On the inside, she dreamed of a better and bigger life, hoping for expectancy, and trepidation. Waking up to a day where she wouldn't know exactly what to expect. A day she wouldn't have to pretend to be someone everyone expected her to be.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Haley walked back into the house, needing to finish cooking pasta and chicken before her husband returned home. Her 6-year-old daughter, Marissa, was fast asleep, probably until the next morning. She grabbed a pot out of the oven, and poured a good amount of pasta in it to cook. Laying out the chicken on a pan, she grabbed the cordless phone and dialed the number of her best friend and sister.

"How you doin' girly?" Brooke James answered at the other end of the line.

Haley cringed at the cheerfulness of her sister's voice. "As well as can be expected", She answered cynically, walking over and taking a seat on the kitchen table, propping her legs up on a chair.

"Sister dear, there will be none of that moany groany stuff when talking to me. I say we try to cheer you up, even though you like always need it. How does shopping sound tomorrow?" Brooke said, talking about a mile a minute.

"Brooke, shopping cheers YOU up, not me." Haley said, knowing she'd come home with at least 50 bags if she went shopping with Brooke, not to mention her husband's bank account cleared. She knew he would have no problem with it, but she'd rather not have something else for him to yell at her about.

"Whatever", Brooke brushed her off. "We're going anyway. I need a new dress for Peyton's party, and I know you do too, cause might I mention your husband is very picky about your clothes."

Haley groaned. "I'll make you a deal. We'll go shopping if we don't mention him."

"Deal. Even if I know we're going to anyways."

"Whatever you say Brookie. Pick me up around noon." Haley told her, finalizing the plans and then hanging up the phone.

"Honey I'm home!"

Honey I'm home, Haley mimicked in her head rolling her eyes. This was usually the message for "Bring me my tea and newspaper." She pulled her hair up into a bun and made herself presentable before taking them to Lucas.

"Here you go", She said placing the newspaper on the table, and handing him the tea as she took a place next to him on the sofa.

He put his arm around her and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "How was your day?" He asked.

Haley sighed. "It was okay, I talked to Brooke, we're going shopping tomorrow," She said twirling a piece of her hair. "How was work?"

"Fine. We got some new business deals. I'm going to be gone the next month and a half for the Australia deal", Lucas started to explain to her.

Haley dozed off into her own thoughts after awhile. This was nothing new to her; he would be gone for months at a time during the year. He would always write letters filled with formal words, a bunch of emptiness. Most likely done by his secretary. He would send her tons of gifts, and bring back even more. But none of it compared to the loneliness she endured for months at a time. She knew better then to expect a phone call, or even know anything of his welfare. She usually spent her days with Brooke and Peyton, cruising the malls or spending time at the beach. She was the perfect trophy wife for everyone to admire, her unhappiness going unnoticed by everyone except her two best friends. But they all had the same life. Day after day, the same routine. It got old, but there wasn't a thing she could do about it.

Lucas stirred, taking his arm out from her shoulder, and Haley turned her attention back to him.

"I'm going to take a quick shower", He told her unbuttoning his shirt.

"Mmkay", she said. "Dinner should be ready in 15 minutes or so."

"I'll be down by then."

"Marissa's sick, can you check on her after dinner?" Lucas asked Haley while they were seated at the table, eating dinner.

"She's fine, I've been with her all day, and I just checked on her an hour ago."

"I just went into her bedroom, she seems to be running a fever. You should've realized it with all the sleeping she's been doing lately. Go check on her after dinner", He said in a final, commanding tone.

"Of course I will," Haley said obligingly. What choice did she have? She had lost her courage to stand up for herself, and speak up years ago.

Truth be told, it hadn't always been like this. When she had first met Lucas their relationship had been filled with passion, lust, and love. She had met him shortly after her first tour at 18, when she had been singing at one of their away games. He had caught her eye when making his final basket and immediately introduced himself right after the game. They went to dinner right after and fell for each other so hard, so quick. He proposed 6 months later, and Haley was only happy to oblige. They had a perfect marriage until their 2-nd anniversary, shortly after Marissa was born. Soon, they began having arguments almost everyday, reaching a very unstable marriage. Lucas refused to divorce her, afraid to ruin his reputation. So it had come down to this. In return for being his wife, she would get money. It wasn't the money she cared about, but the fact that she would have nowhere to go even if she did leave him.

The sex had left their marriage a long time ago, except for rare moments of intimacy that Lucas showed. In those moments, she would have no choice but to cooperate, too scared to see what would happen if she didn't. She knew he had multiple affairs when he was away on business, though he tried his best to hide it from her. There was no way for her to miss the perfume, she knew his smell by heart and knew when he didn't come home with it.

At the young age of 26, Haley James had the rest of her life written out for her. She had everything she needed, but nothing that she wanted. She was lonely, and craving for love.


A/N: I already have chapters 2 and 3 written, so all you need to do is click the little review button, and youll have some naley coming your way. Also a special shoutout to christina angeldylan628 for beta-ing this for me...