Hi guys. I know I said it would be a while before I can update but your reviews have made it impossible for me not to write. Sorry for teasing you guys about Nathan's secret. I was torn between revealing what it is in this chapter or keep you guys guessing. So read on to find out and keep the reviews coming ;)

Chapter 4

Nathan laid on his bed with his eyes closed, trying to erase the memory of tonight but the look on Haley's face still haunted him. He jumped at the sound of someone knocking on his door and reluctantly opened his eyes to see Lucas hovering over him. "Damn I should've locked the door. Should've known it was you." He closed his eyes again hoping to ignore his brother.

Lucas sighed. "So do you wanna talk about it?"

"Nope not really. And you're still here? I thought me ignoring you is a clear signal for you to leave me alone."

"Come on Nate. What happened?"

"What did you think happened? I tried to talk to her and she..." Nathan sighed, remembering Haley's face, wet with tears. "I hurt her too much Luke. Maybe me coming home was a bad idea. Maybe I should just go back to New York."

"You know that's crazy talk man. Look, what did you expect her reaction to be like? You disappeared for a year and suddenly turned up on her doorstep and expect her to take you back? Smooth, little brother, smooth." Lucas joked hoping to lighten the mood.

Nathan got up giving his brother a dirty look and said, "God I'm such a dumbass!"

"Well I'm not gonna disagree with you on that one." Another voice chimed in. "Hey dumbass, Peyton and I was thinking of going over to Karen's Cafe tomorrow morning. Wanna come?" When Nathan didn't answer Brooke continued slowly, "Haley might even join us since she doesn't have to go to school tomorrow."

"You guys still have that Saturday morning ritual going huh? I'll think about it since I'm her least favourite person in the world right now." He looked at Brooke and continued, "So she took up Turner's offer? That's great. I always thought she'd be great at teaching." Nathan smiled remembering Haley tutoring him wearing her famous poncho.

"Yeah she did." Lucas continued. "It was either that of Brooke's offer to work with her at Clothes Over Bro's. Seems like an obvious choice to me." He grinned at his girlfriend and was quickly rewarded with a smack on his arm.

"Oh my God this night is getting worse by the minute." Nathan groaned while covering his face with his hands. "You know I think I'm gonna go for a walk. And no Luke, you're not invited."

"Wow does he seem more grouchy than before? I think all the chemicals have gone to your head Nate." As soon as she said it, she wished she hadn't. Brooke's face was contrite when she saw the look on Nathan's face. "Oh God Nate I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."

"Yeah I know. Alright, I'm gonna go. You guys better be gone when I get back." He warned Lucas and Brooke before leaving.

River Court. The first place he would go to when he needs to think. But this time all he could think about is Haley. Everything in Tree Hill reminded him of her. Lucas was right. He shouldn't have sprang on Haley like that. But there was no other way. He knew he had to tell her. He wasn't sure if she would forgive him but she had the right to know. He closed his eyes and images of them dancing, her body close to him flashed before his eyes. It felt so right holding her like that. He could still smell traces of her scent on him.

"So did the walk work?" A voice startled him.

"Oh my God Lucas will you stop bothering me? Don't you have a girlfriend to maul? Geez can't a guy get some peace around here?"

"Sorry little brother. Can't do that. Look I'm just worried about you man. I've never seen you this messed up before. Anyway, we haven't really had a chance to talk since you came back. I'm glad you're back Nate."

"Yeah...sorry about that. I just keep thinking what would have happened if I hadn't left? What would that do to Haley?"

"Well there's really no point thinking about that. What's done is done. The question is what are you gonna do now? You know you have to tell her Nate." Lucas said with his eyebrows raised.

"Yeah I know. I just need to figure out how. I was thinking maybe it's not such a good idea to spring another surprise on her right now. You know how well she reacted to me showing up. Anyway, enough about me. What's been going on with you guys since I left?" Nathan asked, needing to get Haley out of his mind if only for tonight although he knew that was almost impossible.

"Well I took up the coaching job after Whitey retired. Brooke has her boutique. Peyton and Jake have their record label and Haley, well you know...So are you here to stay? Coz if you are I've got a proposition for you."

"You're not suggesting anything kinky are you? Coz I'm so out of here if you are." Nathan joked.

"You're sick Nate. No! I was thinking maybe you can help me out with the Ravens. I've got Skills helping me but we could use you in the team with us. Come on, what do you say? Anyway it's a great way for you to be closer to Haley."

The offer was tempting. It had been five years since he last played with the Ravens back in high school. He hasn't really missed basketball since he graduated but back then he's got Haley. They had been dating since their senior year and he hadn't looked at another woman since. Haley changed him. Before she came into his life, he was known as the high school hottie, a different girl on his arm every week. That all changed when he met her. He knew when she first saw her walking by his locker that she was the girl he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. And since he couldn't see Haley now without making her run away in the opposite direction, this could actually work in his favour.

"Sounds great. But I might end up taking over you as head coach." He grinned.

"No chance in hell." Lucas retorted. The two brothers laughed while enjoying each other's company, one hoping he could take away the pain of the other.

Haley groaned inwardly as she thought of breakfast at Karen's. She was pretty sure her Brooke and Peyton were going to bombard her with questions. She had no doubt in her mind that last night was a set up to make her and Nathan talk. "That worked out really well." She thought bitterly. Thinking of Nathan made her groan again. She missed being held by Nathan. She missed talking to him. She missed all of him. She picked up the phone and dialed a familiar number.

"Hey Peyton, I'm so sorry I don't think I'm up for breakfast this morning. Is it alright if you just go with Brooke? I'll make it up to you guys. Promise" She had expected Peyton to scream in her ears but surprisingly her friend relented. "Yeah I'm totally fine. Don't worry about me. I just need to finish up some homework. I'll catch you guys later." She said before hanging up. "Well that was pretty easy."

She started to make some coffee when she heard the doorbell ring. She groaned as she dragged herself to the door. "Luke if it's you it's too early to bug me!" She yelled and opened the door. "Oh..."

"Hey Haley. Could I come in? Please."

Haley reluctantly nodded as she let Nathan in. "Erm...I was just making coffee. Do you want some?" She surprised herself by asking.

"Yeah that would be great. Thanks." He said as he looked at her with his piercing eyes, making Haley blush. He loved that he still had that effect on her. "Haley, about last night..."

"Nathan can we not talk about that? At least not yet." Haley pleaded.

"Ok sure." He answered slowly. "So do you want me to whip up breakfast?" He tried to joke and was relieved to see a small smile on Haley's face.

"You? Making breakfast? The last time you made breakfast you nearly burned the house down." Nathan laughed. "I think I'll pass. How about I make your favourite chocolate pancakes? I was planning to make some anyway."

Nathan smiled, amazed that she still remembered his favourite breakfast. "How can I say no to that?" He looked at her, longing to touch her again but he didn't want to ruin the moment. "Do you need any help?" He asked as he went up to her.

"No I'm good. Well actually you could bring out the plates. They're on the..." Haley said.

"shelve above the microwave. I know where they are Hales."

Haley just smiled. "So how long are you staying?" She slowly asked.

"I'm not sure. There are a couple of things I need to sort out." He looked at Haley knowingly. She simply nodded. "Haley I know you don't wanna talk about it..."

"Ok pancakes ready." She interrupted. Nathan sighed. He knew she shouldn't push her. This was the longest he was with Haley without driving her away. They made small talks while enjoying breakfast, carefully avoiding the one topic that they knew that had to talk about. "So where've you been this past year?" Haley finally asked, holding her breath waiting for him to answer.

"Well I was in New York working on some stuff." Nathan replied vaguely, not offering any further information.

"Hang on I need to give you something." Haley said and got up from her chair. Nathan was left wondering when she came back with a little black box in her hand. "I don't think I can keep this. This doesn't belong to me anymore." She said quietly and held out her hand to him.

Nathan's heart nearly stopped when he saw the box. Her engagement ring. He stared at it and reluctantly took it from her, their fingers grazing making her heart leap.

A few minutes of uncomfortable silence passed as they continued to eat quietly. Amazingly Nathan managed to finish everything on his plate. "Wow I'm stuffed Hales." He quietly added, "I missed this. I missed us." Nathan's eyes were piercing into her soul she had to look away. Seeing her discomfort he changed the subject. "Ok do you need help cleaning up? I'm your man." He grinned. Haley couldn't help but laugh. He always knew how to work his charm around her.

"Yeah do you think you could get some towels from the cabinet above? Sorry, short legs and tall cabinets don't really go well together. " Haley asked without thinking. Only then she realised that the the towel cabinet was right above where she was standing, and the only way Nathan could get them was to reach above her head. She held her breath as Nathan came nearer and reached up, his face inches away from hers. But instead of reaching for the towels, Nathan let his hand fall to her face and gently touched her cheek, the other hand on the counter, making it impossible for her to move.

"Nathan..." She breathed. Nathan held her gaze as he slowly brought his lips down to hers, kissing her with such tenderness her legs almost gave way beneath her. Nathan's heart almost burst as he felt her kissing him back. "Hales..." He whispered, while his tongue seeked to enter. He moaned as her lips parted and gave way to his seeking tongue making Nathan pull her body closer to him. God he missed her lips, he thought as his tongue continued probing, making them both groan.

"Hey Hales! You home?" The sound of Lucas's voice made them both jump. Still Nathan's eyes didn't leave her face, as she touched her lips, swollen from the kiss. "Whoa! Hey...Sorry...I...yeah..." Lucas looked away embarrassed. "So I take it you told her?" Lucas slowly asked.

"Tell me what?" Haley asked looking at the both of them.

"Luke..." Nathan's voice trailed as he tore his gaze from her and looked at his brother.

"You didn't tell her? Nathan..."

"Tell me what?" Haley's voice rose. "What's going on?"

Nathan reluctantly turned his attention to Haley.

"Hales...I need to tell you something...I need to tell you why I left." Nathan said to her, waiting for her to react.

"Nathan, I told you I don't want to talk about it. Please." She said, afraid of what he was going to say. She turned her back on him and started to walk into the living room, with Nathan behind her.

"Haley will you just please listen to him." Lucas interrupted, making Nathan turn his head to him angrily.

"Damn it Luke, this is really none of your business. For once, could you just butt out and go?" He yelled at his brother.

Haley looked at both of them and said, her voice trembling, "No Luke, stay. Nathan, I think you should leave."

"Haley please, just hear me out." Nathan pleaded.

"Hales just listen to him." Lucas said, not backing down.

"For God's sake Luke!" Nathan yelled, frustration evident in his voice but Lucas wouldn't back down.

"He had cancer Hales!"