I wrote this story as a challenge for myself but I posted it for feedback on my writing. Reviews are always appreciated. Enjoy.

It always seemed as though there was more to the story with Nathan and Chris' hate-hate relationship. So, on fanfiction there is!

"Chris, you can't keep doing this." Nate blocked the doorway with his body. Wearing nothing but boxers, his abs sculpted and tan.

"Chris Keller does as he pleases." Cocky now, almost rude.

"No, Chris Keller needs to leave." Sharp, a terse demand.

"Aw, come on, Nate, can't you just let me stay one night?" Whining, knowing he would get his way in the end.

"No. Absolutely not. Haley is in the bedroom, you idiot. Do you want us to get caught?" Nathan hissed.

"C'mon, I'll sleep on the couch. I just need somewhere to crash, man." Reduced to begging, ready to continue until Nathan gave in.

"Chris, I told you all that was over. You're not welcome here anymore."

"So you don't miss having the Keller? Around, I mean?" Pushing his way through the doorway.

"Chris." Warning now. "I'm serious. Get out."

"Nate, I have nowhere to go. I'm banned from all the hotels and everyone else said no." A downcast look, admitting that though his fans were numerous his friends were few. The sadness on his face was what broke Nathan and he stepped aside to let Chris into the kitchen.

With cold beers in hand they stood leaning against the kitchen island. Chris settled onto a stool; Nate remained standing, cautionary at this dangerous presence he had let into his apartment.

The small talk ended abruptly with the inevitable question. "So what brings you back to Tree Hill?"

Chris' answer was immediate. "You."

"No." Quick, absolute.

"C'mon, Nate, don't you remember all the fun times we had together?"

"Let's see. Do you mean when you stole my wife and kissed her or when you came back and kissed her again? Or was it the time you lost all my money, made me play poker to get it back during which you gambled away my car, and then we had to jump into the river so as not to get killed? And then you lost all the money. Again."

"To be fair, I got your car keys back. And it wasn't my fault the midget tried to beat us up. That was just a chance we took."

"A chance we took? No, Chris. You take the chances, and I get dragged into saving your ass."

"I remember one time you took a chance with me."

"Yeah, and it could have cost me my marriage. If Haley ever finds out about that, it probably will."

"You never told her, man?"

"No!" A whispered hiss, afraid to wake his sleeping wife. "Why in hell would I tell her about us?"

"Because it was hot. Because it was the greatest night of your life. Because you know you miss getting with Chris Keller."

"Could you stop saying that?" Breaking in, annoyed. He doesn't know whether it's the third person or the topic that bothers him more.

"Look, all I'm saying is, maybe we had something more, you know?"

"Haley and I'd had a fight and I was way too drunk. That's all it was. One night, that will never happen again."

"Well, I just think –"

"Nathan?" A sleepy voice from the doorway to the hall. "What's going on?" Sleepily rubbing her eyes as the late night visitor came into view. "Oh. It's you. Nathan, what is he doing here?"

"He needed a place to stay, Hales. It's okay. Go back to bed. I'll be in in a minute." Looking at Chris as Haley left. "One night. That's it. No monkey business."

"A promise is a promise, Nate. You won't regret it."

Four in the morning. Nathan lies awake, unable to get the past out of his mind. Feels Haley shift beside him, snuggle closer in her sleep. He loves her, he does. But there's a question he can't let go of, a question he's been asking himself since he opened the door that evening, or maybe since long before that.

He slips out of bed, careful not to disturb Haley. Tiptoes down the hall, feeling his way through the darkness because he's too afraid to turn a light on. Shakes the shoulder of the person slumbering on the couch. Chris rolls over, squints open one eye, smiles. "I knew you'd come back."

FIN