Thanks so much for the reviews and comments- I truly do take them into consideration and love to know what you guys think! I have already written the next three chapters, so the updates should be fairly quick! I hope everyone had a great holiday and new years- also for a side note, I have started writing an additional story. Of course One Tree Hill and Naley centered its called A War Between Two Hearts Soon another chapter to New Way Home will be up as well. I hope everyone takes the time to check that out. Thanks so much!!

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"I'm so glad that you arrived safely, had me worried for a while when you didn't call."

"Sorry, Whitey had us do a couple drills before we even got to the hotel. Brutal- I cant even feel my legs." Nathan groaned as he closed his eyes. He scooted his body higher on the bed, trying to find the perfect spot. The team had arrived to their destination two hours ago, right on time, yet as soon as they stepped off the bus Whitey had already set up a few drills to wake them up before their later practices in the evening. Nathan had just walked in his hotel room, though he was tired and felt dead weight, he picked up his cell and called home. He knew Haley has been worried, or at least waiting for his call, because she picked up before the first ring was finished.

"I understand, I'm sorry I know that's the whole point of you going to this little camp is to practice I just…" Haley trailed off as she started to clean up the apartment.

"I love you."

He could hear Haley smile on the other end of the phone. "I love yo-Ouch!" Haley yelled as she dropped the phone and replaced her grip to her knee. Putting pressure on her throbbing knee Haley bit down on her lower lip as she waited for the worse of the pain to pass. Less than a minute later she removed her hand and saw her knee red with the surface of her skin slightly peeled. Touching it with her forefinger she examined once more, and determined that she was fine. The luck she was having today. Picking up the phone, she curiously called Nathan's name unsure whether he was still on.

"Nathan?"

"What happened?" Nathan's voice was thick with curiosity and concern.

Feeling a bit of embarrassment, Haley tried to find a way to phrase without sounding like an idiot. "I…I ran into the dresser drawer."

Nathan was quiet on the other hand that Haley thought the call was dropped but was soon assured not when Nathan started to laugh on the other end. At first Haley wasn't sure she was hearing correctly, but when the laughter grew louder she rolled her eyes.

"Your mean you know that Scott?" Haley scoffed as she continued picking up around the apartment, having a hard time believing that she lived in a place of this type of pigsty for so long. "I injure myself and you laugh; for your information I fell out of the bath tub today, dropped a pan on my toe, and now just hit my knee on the dresser. What does my husband do? He laughs at me and the misfortunes that happen to me."

"No, I'm laughing at your clumsiness babe." Nathan stated as if that was a better reason for his sudden burst of laughter.

Haley threw the pile of clothes she had picked up and stuffed it into the laundry basket, the basket already overflowing with clothes Nathan had left hidden in the tiny corners of theirs apartment. "Sure."

"Okay, I'm sorry. You okay?" Sitting up from his position Nathan wiped his hand over his face to discard any trace of laughter. Looking down at his ring he couldn't help but smile, just a week before he left Haley had stole his wedding band while he was sleeping and had it specially engraved with her name and the day of their wedding as she did with hers as well. "Am I forgiven?"

"Maybe…we'll see when you get home." Haley flirtatiously teased and giggled when Nathan let out a low frustrated growl. She loved it when she had him like this, where he was the one begging.

"Hales."

"What?" Haley asked innocently. "Maybe this will teach you a lesson- never to laugh at me." Haley stated with pride, feeling she got him wrapped around her finger now. But Nathan was never the type of person to give in to Haley's teasing games. "Oh really? Okay Haley, we'll see how long you last without having sex."

"I can last pretty long for your information. Remember- I waited!"

"Things are different now. You now know what its like, plus how can you resist my charm." Haley grunted. Nathan was right.

"I'm sure I can manage."

"I believe you." Nathan said with defeat. "I mean you weren't the one who wanted to have sex outside by the car in the early hours of the morning with god knows who was watching. That wasn't you, right?" Nathan said sarcastically. He could hear her rolling her eyes over the phone, he got her.

"Whatever, I didn't call so you could tease me. I called to make sure your okay and for you to know that…."

"What?"

Haley sighed. "That I miss you."

Nathan smiled. He knew they weren't normal. Married at age seventeen, both living far away from their parents, Nathan was a star athlete as Haley was a girl he told himself he didn't deserve, and that they were in love. But he didn't care, because with Haley, Nathan never wanted to be normal. Not if normal would take away from what they had. "I miss you too, and-" Nathan heard a beep, recognizing the sound for his call waiting. Looking at his screen he saw it show Lucas. Letting out a frustrated sigh, Nathan hit ignore. "Sorry Hales, but its Luke. He's probably lost and needs help find the room or something."

"Its okay, I knew it wouldn't last long. I'll talk to you soon."

"You bet, I love you."

"I love you too." The phone went dead, and the dial tone was all Haley could hear now. Removing it from her ear she threw it on the bed, hearing it bounce softly.

The rest of the day consisted of Haley running around the house cleaning. Though she wanted the house to be in tip top shape before Nathan returned, it was also something she did when she had a lot on her mind. She missed her parents, hadn't spent enough time with Luke, she worried about finals, and most of all, Nathan. Dan and Deb still weren't giving up when it came to their son, Haley grunted at that. Their son, she didn't believe that they had the right to call him that. They may not have physically abandoned him, they still were unfit. With each thought and problem that Dan and Deb brought into Nathans life, the fire in Haley burned. She wasn't the type to let things like this get to her, but she was protective of Nathan. He was all she had, and she would never let anything hurt him. He was all she had, and she couldn't bare it if something happened to him. Haley hadn't told Nathan about her dreams the past few weeks. Every night they were the same, her and Nathan in their room staring at each other. Tears down both their cheeks, and though they wouldn't say anything to each other so many conversations were happening between their eyes and lack of body contact. It ended with Nathan getting up from the spot on the chair and out the door, it slamming, causing the house to shake and all the pictures falling to the floor, shattering. It was just a dream, she knew that. But it felt so real.

Taking the basket of laundry Haley made her way to the front door. Placing her hand on the door knob she jumped when someone knocked. Placing the basket back down, Haley looked through the peep hole. She saw who it was, and confusion took over her. Unlocking the door, Haley opened it as she at the man in front of her.

"Hey Haley."

"Hey…what you doing here?"

He laughed. "Just came to visit."

Nodding, Haley still stood with confusion. What was he doing here? "You know Nathans gone, he left to camp. I assumed you-"

"I know. That's why I came by today. Would it be okay if I came in?" He asked not even waiting for her response as he pushed his way in. Haley stood back and watched as he made his way to the couch, sitting down.

"Umm…can I get you anything? Coke, water, Gatorade-"

"Do you have beer?"

"No, I'm afraid that I don't have that. Is water okay?" Haley asked as she stood in the kitchen staring at the back of his head. There was something about the way he was here, the way he was acting…had Haley wondering. When he nodded, Haley opened the fridge grabbing a bottle from the lower rack. Haley handed the bottle over to him; he grabbed it looking Haley directly in the eye. "Thanks. So what have you been up to today?"

Haley sat on the other couch, keeping her distance. "I've been cleaning. That's all, picking up here and there…" Haley trailed as she watched him spin the bottle cap on the coffee table. 'Is there a real reason why you're here, was there something you had to get from Nathan or drop off?"

Ignoring her question, he said. "Nathans a lucky guy to have you, he doesn't even have to say anything to make that known. He loves you."

"I know." Haley whispered.

The bottle cap twirled on the polished coffee table, it spinned so fast that it was practically invisible. The small gush of wind was the only thing heard in the house. "He would do anything for you, you know that? Nathans this aggressive, passionate, angry guy…piss him off, touch anything that's his and you have world war three on your hands. Nothing back in the day would set him off, until," He stopped the spinning, by slamming his hand on top of the cap and used his free hand to point at Haley. "You. You Haley are what the poets and movies call, 'his everything.' And I can't blame him, you're an attractive woman. I see you around town and at the café; the way your hair bounces, the smile on your lips, and when you wear that blue denim skirt…I swear I just wish it was only me and you in that cafe."

Haley opened her mouth to say something. But it all happened so fast, the change of conversation that she didn't know where her head was at.

"I want you Haley. And I will have you; it doesn't matter to me that you're with Nathan…that's never stopped me before." He got up causing Haley to get up from her spot on the couch and practically run to the door, before she could open it he slammed it shut. "I knew this might happen…good thing I have a back up plan."

"Get out you son-" Haley was shut up as he pulled her to him planting his lips on hers. Haley pressed her hands on his chest, pushing him with all her strength. He opened his mouth and poked his town against her closed ones. Haley groaned with disgust. Bringing one of her hands up Haley smacked him on the cheek. It may not have been the best angle or right amount of strength but it was enough to stagger him backwards.

"Get out, or I will call the cops!" Haley yelled as she wiped her mouth of the unfamiliar and stale taste that he left on her lips.

With a smile spread across his lips, he just laughed. Haley could feel the tears spring in her eyes as she came to realization; she had to run. He sprung at her but tripped over the laundry basket Haley had earlier placed on the ground.

"Shit!" He groaned but got up in record time. Haley had ran to the kitchen, opening the draws to find something to use. Barely touching the tip of the knife handle, Haley screamed as she was tackled to the ground hitting her head on the tile floor. She moaned as the pain surged throughout her head. Haley grabbed her head, feeling something cold and wet. Bringing her shaking hand to her face, she opened her eyes and saw the red. He pinned her hands back as he straddled her tiny waste. Haley fought with him; she tried to break free her wrists as well as trying to kick her way out from underneath him. "Let…go…of me!" Haley groaned as she tossed and fought underneath him.

"If you keep fighting I'll only make this worse." He threatened.

Haley broke her knee free and kicked with as much strength to his groin. He hissed in pain, and Haley opened her eyes to watch him in pain. She wanted to enjoy him fall to pieces, but succeeding wasn't as easy as she thought. Haley saw the anger swirl in his eyes, and his jaw clench as he lifted his fist in the air. Knowing what was going to happen next, Haley closed her eyes and waited for it. His clenched fit plowed with Haley's left cheek. Before she could react to the pain, he hit her again with as much force to her stomach. Haley tried to comprehend what was going on; her mind was not fogged with pain she had never experienced. She could feel something wet and cold running down the side of her face. Haley's muscles twisted and clenched as she tried to stop the pain in her stomach. She had to leave. She had to try.

She turned her body, until she was on her stomach. She felt the coolness of the tile press against her stomach. Doing her best to see through her blurred vision, she saw her shirt was off.

Haley no longer felt his body weight on her, was he done? Was this all he wanted, to get this rise from her? Haley managed to crawl a few inches before she felt to hands drag her back. His grip was hard and desperate. She screamed as she felt him pinch her with his rough hands.

"Where do you think your going? Just need to get my bottoms of." He said with a laugh, his voice hoarse and breathing ragged.

"Stop…" Haley croaked as she pushed at his chest once more, but little that did for her. He grabbed Haley by the shoulders and dragged her limped body to the wall, slamming her into it. The cold and wet liquid that still flowed from her head wasn't the only thing streaming down her face. It was being mixed with a warm, salty liquid, Haley taste the mixture in her mouth. She didn't know when she started crying, or when this all began to happen, but it was too late. That realization alone, made Haley cry harder. She pushed his hands away as he began to undo her jeans, but as much as she fought the more pain he caused her.

"Quit being like that. I swear it'll be over before you know it." He whispered in her ear as he pulled down her jeans and underwear.

"NO!" Haley screamed as loud as she could, but it hurt, she felt sore and tired already. The fight wasn't over, and yet she already knew she lost. He again grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her body to the wall with force, his touch feeling like flames against her skin. "Stop…please." Haley begged as her clothes were now no longer a barrier, without opening her eyes she gasped at the weird and wrong touch of his skin on hers. Kissing her on the shoulder, and trailing his way up her neck to her lips, Haley pushed Haley back to the living room, throwing her on the couch. Haley's vision was blurred, distorted; she couldn't tell what was real and what her this nightmare come to life.

She felt herself slipping away from reality. Haley almost smiled, it was better this way. To experience this in a place she couldn't remember or feel it. She had to think of anything but what was happening.

Nathan.

Haley saw his face in her head. Different versions of Nathan flashed before her; the first tutoring session, their first date, Nathan playing basketball, when he waited for her on the beach before they wed, their wedding night….their wedding night. Haley shut her eyes tight as she tried to lose herself in that special moment she had with her husband. The one man she ever opened her heart and body to. And now…she felt numb. Cold. Worthless. Used.

Once he finished, she felt his heavy, tainted body move off of her. "Don't worry Haley, I used protection." He bent down and kissed her on the cheek. Haley laid on the couch motionless, she couldn't a thing, feel anything, see what was happening. Her mind completely shut off. He dressed quickly, and without a word left shutting the door with a bang.

That was it. Haley screamed as loud as she could, the volume putting strain on her throat. She buried her face in her hands, crying and screaming with frustration and anger. How did this happen? Why did this happen?

Curling up into a ball, Haley pulled the blanket from the couch and wrapped it around her naked body. It ached, but she didn't move. She couldn't. Haley cried until the tears on her face dried, until her eyes couldn't produce anymore, and until the blood on her body dried up like a rose in the heat. What was she going to do, how would she face everyone looking like this? How would she face Nathan? Curling herself tighter, Haley drowned herself in memories of her and the man she loved.