(March 3 2011, NY)

It had been four days since Haley had returned to New York. Four days of confusion and misery. Matt and she had returned to NY on Sunday and as they were ushered towards their car, they had been mobbed by reporters and photographers.

Once she got home, Haley realised the same was happening outside her building too. Matt had come up with her but for the first time since they got together, he had slept in a different room.

Monday morning, statements from Haley, Lucas and Matt were issued denying the romance between Haley and Lucas and assuring the public that Matt and Haley were very much still together as were Lucas and Brooke. Both Haley's and Lucas's lawyers had slapped a lawsuit against TLC and were trying to have those videos banned.

After he left Monday morning, Matt had not called Haley once. George decided they needed to be seen in public together so they had had dinner on Wednesday night. As they walked in and out of the restaurant, they were photographed and again for appearances sake, Matt had spent the night but in a different room.

Haley glanced at her clock. It was 12pm. Matt had left close to four hours ago without even saying goodbye. She knew this was just part of him needing space but his attitude still stung. While in public, he was attentive and caring, the model boyfriend but the moment they were alone he became aloof and distant.

"Arrrgh" she shouted. "This is too hard"

Sunday had been hard. Haley had called to say her goodbye to everyone and her last call had been to Nathan. Their conversation had been short and awkward.

But thought of Nathan haunted her night and day. All Haley kept hearing was Nathan pleading with hr to not let go and she swearing that she would never.

"Wakey wakey Haley bub"

Haley buried her head deeper into her pillow and tried to will her sister away.

"I heard your scream. I know you're awake"

"Fine, I'm up. What do you want?" Haley asked grumpily.

"If you're gonna be like that" Taylor said and started to turn away.

"Taylor" Haley sighed, "Just spit it out"

"You are no fun" Taylor said as she came to sit next to Haley on the bed.

"Anyway, something came for you this morning and I thought you might want to see it"

"Don't tell me, another one of Lucas's crazy stalkers sent me more hate mail?" Hay asked sarcastically.

"Well, no. But this is a close second" Taylor said handing Haley a beautifully engraved ivory coloured envelope. There was no postmark, it simply said Haley Scott on the front.

"What is this?" Haley asked staring.

"I wouldn't know. I don't make it habit to read other people mail" Taylor said.

Seeing Haley roll her eyes, Taylor continued, "Okay fine, its sealed shut." Taylor then handed Haley an envelope opener.

Haley laughed. She opened it up and pulled out a thick piece of cardboard that was the same shade of ivory. In beautiful calligraphy script, there was a short message.

"Come see me here, I'll be waiting. Beware of prying eyes that are watching" Haley read out loud

"I don't get it" Haley said.

"Turn the card around." Taylor said.

Haley did, and on the back there was an address and a four digit number.

"Okay, this is freaky. Someone wants me to meet them at a random house in the Hamptons? So not gonna happen" Haley said. She grabbed the envelope and card and was about to throw it into the bin when a key fell out.

"What the-?" Haley said as she picked up the key. Attached to the key was note that said, 'Be there at 7pm tomorrow. Don't bother knocking'

"Atleast we know he's rich" Taylor said as she examined the card and note.

"He could also be a crazy psycho killer who murdered the owners and is now taking over their home" Haley said

"I should've known you'd be like this" Taylor muttered. "Look Haley-bub, this letter isn't even addressed. And it isn't marked private or confidential. You know what happens to letters like that don't you?"

Haley nodded. Her security was very tight after a stalker situation three years before. Now all mail was opened by her security first and if there was no cause for alarm, they were then sent up to Haley.

"Well, as you might have noticed, this envelope was still sealed" Taylor said.

Haley just nodded again, not getting what Taylor was getting at.

"Look all I can tell you is that you should go tomorrow"

"Oh my god, is this from Matt?" Haley asked.

"My lips are sealed" Taylor said as she got up and started to walk out the room.

"Taylor" Haley shouted.

"Yeah?"

"Will you atleast help me pick a dress"

Taylor smiled, "Now that I can do"

……………………..

(March 4 2011, Hamptons)

Haley relaxed in the backseat of her car. She had initially thought about driving up alone but the thought of being stuck at the wheel in the traffic was so unappealing that she had decided last minute to ask Rob to drive her. The car had dark tint on the windows and it was almost impossible to see inside. Haley had been careful to not mention her plans to anyone and she had only asked Rob to come because she knew she could trust him completely. Still, she had warned Rob not to mention their destination to anyone. Before leaving, Haley had tried to reach Matt but his phone had gone to voicemail again. Knowing that she would be seeing him soon, Haley had not been too cut up about it.

"So how much longer?" Haley asked

"Damn girl, driving you is like driving a ten year old only more annoying" Rob said laughing. "I told you five minutes ago that we should be there soon"

"Well I'm bored. You're not entertaining me like you promised you would" Haley pouted.

"You have a huge TV screen at the back and a bunch of DVDs. You could've watched one"

"But I wanted to talk to you. It's been ages since we've had a chat"

"Haley, we pretty much covered everything that's going on now with us both the first hour of the drive" Rob pointed out.

"Whatever, be mean" Haley said in a childish tone.

Rob laughed, "Alright, I think we're here"

Haley looked out the window and saw that Rob had pulled up in front of really high wrought iron gates.

"How do we get in?" Haley wondered. The key in her purse didn't look like it could unlock these gates.

"There's a keypad on the side. Maybe we can buzz someone inside" Rob said.

"I got it!" Haley shouted

"What?" Rob asked turning in his seat.

Haley scrambled out of the car with the card in her hand. She walked up to the keypad and punched in the 4-digit number that was next to the address and the gates promptly opened.

"YES!" Haley said making a fist. She got back into the car and looked at the grounds as Rob drove up the driveway. They were beautiful yet untouched in a way.

"So, what do you want me to do now?" Rob asked when he finally came to a stop.

For a moment Haley consider asking Rob to accompany her inside but she decided against it. After all, if Matt was waiting inside with a romantic surprise, how much of a mood kill would walking in with her bodyguard be?

"Why don't you grab some dinner? I'll give you a call in a bit and let you know what my plans are for tonight" Haley said finally dismissing the nagging doubts in her mind. Even though Taylor had refused to give her a single detail about tonight, she had assured Haley over and over that coming here would not be a mistake.

"Okay Haley. I'll be expecting your call" Rob said as he helped Haley out of the car.

Nervously Haley approached the front door. Her hand automatically went to ring the doorbell when she remembered the key. Sliding it in, she unlocked the door and stepped inside. She tugged a little at her hemline as soon as she was inside. Taylor had chosen the stunning red dress that Brooke had given her as a birthday present the previous year for Haley to wear tonight. It was a short halter dress that was completely backless. Haley had never worn it before and Taylor had to practically force her into it.

The house was extraordinary but the strangest thing was that it was completely devoid of furniture. Haley walked around before she spied a light on in a room up ahead. Walking there quickly, Haley was surprised to see the room empty as well. But in one corner sat a grand piano which Haley went up to. Resting on it was another card.

"Come upstairs. You're late" Haley read and then glanced at her watch. It was ten past seven and she was in fact late.

Haley walked out of the room and once she found the staircase she quickly climbed up. Once upstairs, Haley saw that every single door except one was shut so she walked to the one open one.

The room she entered was like most of the house, beautiful yet bare. There was a large king size bed in the middle of the room with what looked like fresh sheets but nothing else. Haley let her eyes wander before she noticed a flicker of light coming from the balcony.

Haley looked at the balcony door indecisively for a moment before squaring her shoulders and practically marching over. She slid the door open and stepped out onto the balcony and then gasped.

There were candles burning everywhere. A table for two had been set up with the food and wine already served. Standing in the middle staring straight at her with a single rose in his hand, stood the one man who had plagued her thoughts these past few days.

"Hi" he said simply handing her the rose

"Hi" Haley answered not knowing what to say as she accepted it. "What are you doing here?"

"You look beautiful" he said ignoring her question.

Haley blushed, "Thank you"

"I'm glad you came"

"What are you doing here?" Haley asked again.

"This is my house" He answered easily

"What?" Haley asked confused.

"It's a long story. Would you like some wine?" he picked up the glasses on the table and handed one to her.

Haley took a sip and just stared at the man in front of her. He was beautiful. Tall, dark and handsome, those words seemed to be written for him. He was wearing a blue dress shirt and black slacks that made him look beyond divine. But there was something wrong with this picture; he wasn't supposed to be the one waiting for her.

Haley shivered slightly when she saw the way he was looking at her. Like he was a predator and she was his prey.

"Are you cold?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you cold?" he repeated.

"No, I just, I didn't expect you" she said honestly.

"Disappointed?"

"No, just surprised"

"Good. I wasn't sure you'd be happy to see me. I haven't exactly been the nicest person lately. I hate the way we left things. I was just torn"

"I know. I understand. I don't blame you"

"Thank you"

"I still don't get what this is supposed to be" Haley said gesturing at the whole set up.

"And here I thought you would be impressed"

"I am. I just don't know why you did it"

"Can't a man do something nice for his wife?"

"Nathan" Haley sighed.

"Sorry. I just wanted; no actually I needed to see you"

"Why?"

"Because no matter how hard we try to deny it, there's still something between us. I haven't been able to get you out of my head. My girlfriend left me and instead of missing her all I can think about is how you felt in my arms" Nathan said his voice rising slightly

"Peyton broke up with you?" Haley asked shocked.

"That's all you heard?" Nathan asked wryly. "No she didn't break up with me or atleast I don't think she did. But she left to Paris on Monday. She said she needed some time away from me"

"Oh" Haley said. "Matt sort of said the same thing to me" she confided suddenly.

"Really" Nathan drawled.

"Can't say I blame him but what's worse is that I told him I'm not keeping anything else from him" Haley said

"Ah, I'm kind of with you on that one" Nathan said jokingly

"Can you imagine how they would react if they knew we are still married?" Haley asked with a laugh but stopped short. "God, Nathan, we're still married"

"Uh, yes" Nathan said with his brow furrowed. "I know that"

Haley waved her hand in front of his face, "Don't you realise how big this is?"

Nathan just stared at her.

"We're married, in the eyes of God and the law. But we haven't been a couple in like six years. Why are we still married Nathan?" Haley cried. She took a swig of her wine and then slammed it down on the table.

"What do you want me to say Haley?"

Haley looked at him, "After graduation, when I came home and saw you with her, my heart broke. Everyday after I was terrified that I would be served with divorce papers but they never came. If you didn't want me, why did you wanna stay married to me Nathan?"

Nathan didn't know how to answer. His reasons were so complicated. "I wasn't ready for it to be over" he said finally

"But we've been apart for so long. I don't know what I feel for you anymore. It's all so confusing. One minute you're all I want and the next I remember that you hooked up with my best friend months after you rejected me and it kills me" Haley said refusing to let herself cry. She had so much inside of her, and she had to get it out. Breaking down would be pointless.

"It doesn't matter how long we've been apart. Can't you feel it every time we touch? It's still there Haley" Nathan said tracing her jaw line with his finger.

"Nathan" Haley whispered as he lowered his head to hers. At the first touch of his lips, Haley knew she was lost. She kissed him back fiercely.

They broke apart when air became an issue but Nathan immediately swept her into his arms and held her close.

'I love you' Nathan thought wanting to tell her but not knowing if after all these years she would want to hear it.

'I love you' Haley thought but refused to say out loud, afraid that he may not feel the same way.

They stood like that for a bit before Nathan suddenly pulled away and led her to the table.

"We better eat before our food gets too cold" he said with a smile.

"Okay" Haley answered as she allowed him to pull her chair back for her.

"Just so you know I slogged in the kitchen for hours" Nathan said as he lifted the covers of their plates.

"Mac and cheese" Haley said delighted.

"Food of the gods, I know" Nathan said with a smirk.

"You remembered" Haley said softly

"I remember a lot more than you think Hales" Nathan smiled back.

They ate in silence for a while, just enjoying each others' presence.

"So what's the deal with this house?" Haley asked breaking the silence.

Nathan smiled, "This was the first thing I bought with the money I got when I signed my first contract with the Lakers"

"So do you come here a lot?" Haley asked. The thought of being with Nathan in a home that he shared with Peyton was something Haley could not bear.

"Actually, this is the first time I've come here since I bought it"

Haley looked surprised. "Why?"

Nathan put his fork down, "Haley, it's complicated"

"Isn't everything with you?" Haley said with a small laugh. His non-answer just intrigued her more.

"If you really wanna know, I bought this house for us. I know you loved New York for you music and all that. I wanted us to have a home though away from the bustle of the city. This is our home Haley, I couldn't come back here without you" Nathan admitted

Haley was shocked again. "But that was after graduation, you were with Peyton"

Nathan ran his hand through his hair, "Haley, I told you it's complicated. I don't really wanna get into my relationship with Peyton right now. Can we talk about something else?"

"What can we talk about Nathan?" Haley asked irritated.

"Anything, everything. Just not Peyton or Matt" Nathan answered equally irritated at her insistence.

Haley held his gaze contemplating his words.

"Alright. For tonight it'll be just you and me" Haley said finally

"Sounds good" Nathan said smiling

"You do realise we're going to have to talk about this stuff someday" Haley pointed out

"Yes I do. But today isn't someday" Nathan said. He got up and went to a corner where a cd player was sitting. He hit the play button and soft music filled the air.

"I know it isn't Haley Scott" Nathan said jokingly, "but do you wanna dance?"

"I'd love to" Haley said as she placed her hand in his.

There, between the candles, Haley allowed herself to feel all the emotions only Nathan could awake inside of her. The desperate need to belong to him started to rise and she was suddenly afraid. Nathan was the one person who had destroyed her completely once and to know that he still had that power made Haley feel defenceless.

Nathan loved how Haley fit perfectly in his arms. Just the feel of her body next to his was enough for him to go almost dizzy with joy. But loving Haley was dangerous and he knew it. She was the only person who could take his heart and crush it to smithereens like she had done once before. Nathan was suddenly afraid.

"What was all this for?" Haley asked, saying the first thing that popped into her mind.

Nathan continued to sway with Haley softly but he pulled away slightly so he could look at her face.

"I wanted to be with you Hales. We didn't get a minute alone last weekend. You haven't been answering my emails or my calls. Finally I called your home phone and Taylor answered" Nathan chuckled, "After she yelled at me for ten minutes, she agreed to help set tonight up"

"That bitch. She never once let on that it was you" Haley said laughing

"I made her promise not to. I know we didn't exactly have the best reunion last weekend but I've been trying to make it up to you. I didn't know what to do to make things better. I want you in my life Haley"

"I'm glad. This is really great Nate. I'm so sorry I've been avoiding you these past few days. I just didn't know what to say to you."

"I think you can find a way to make it up to me" Nathan said with a smirk.

He dipped Haley and kissed her neck lightly.

"I'm sure I can" Haley said breathlessly.

She pressed her body closer to his and sealed her mouth over his. One of Nathan's arms went around her waist holding her in place while the other caressed her body.

Haley entwined her arms around his neck. Just as she was starting to forget everything but the feel of Nathan's lips, she sprang back.

"Shit. I completely forgot about Rob" Haley exclaimed

"Who?" Nathan asked jealously

"My bodyguard. He drove me up here, I told him I'd call when I had decided what I was going to do tonight" Haley walked to the table where her purse lay. She took out her phone and was about to dial when Nathan's voice stopped her.

"Stay with me"

Haley looked at him mutely.

"Stay with me tonight, this weekend, for however long you can. The moment you want to leave I'll drive you back to the city just don't go now"

Haley hit the call button.

"Rob, its Haley" she turned to see Nathan's face fall.

"Change of plans. You can go back without me. I'll be staying here"

Haley had barely closed her phone before Nathan lifted her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. He laid her down on the bed and started to kiss her and undress her at the same time.

"You're being pretty presumptuous don't you think?" Haley said stilling his actions.

Haley grinned up at him, "Lucky for you, I like that" she said as she kissed him.

Nathan smiled against her lips as she hurriedly unbuttoned his shirt. He turned slightly so he could throw it aside when Haley suddenly touched his right shoulder.

"You have a tattoo" she said. "I didn't notice it last time"

"That's cos you were a little busy" Nathan laughed.

"Turn around" Haley ordered.

Nathan complied and turned so his back was facing hers. Haley traced the gothic design that Nathan had had tattooed just under his right shoulder. In the middle were three numbers.

"511" Haley whispered.

"Yeah" Nathan said

"Our anniversary"

Nathan nodded.

Haley felt like her heart would burst from love and joy. She was so touched that he had done this.

"When?"

"About four years ago" Nathan answered tensing slightly

Haley didn't know what to think so decided to just feel. She dragged her lips over the tattoo, same way her fingers had touched him. She guided him until he was facing her again and then she started to re-acquaint herself with his body. That day in the shower, they had just gone at it. Neither had taken the time to even look at the other properly.

For the next few hours Nathan and Haley explored each other and re-discovered one another over and over again.

………………..

I don't own OTH.

For all you NALEY fans, here you go! I know this seems to be coming out of no where but I'll use my trusty flashbacks next chap to fill you in if you seem lost.

A lot of you haven't picked up on all the subtle clues I've been leaving about the Nathan/Peyton relationship. That's cool. I'll spell it out for you all soon enough. I know a lot of you hated the Pathan scene last chap but it was really important. Now you know that Peyton feels really guilty about being with Nathan and you also know Nathan hasn't forgiven Haley. Not by a long shot. If you're wondering how he went from being pissed as hell to planning a romantic surprise… just wait. Lol.

I love writing Naley together. I think James Lafferty is super hot and his yummy body inspires me most of all! But I will try and write some brucas. Promise!

I finally downloaded "When the stars go blue." That's why I mentioned the song last chap. It has been playing in my head all week.

Thank you for all the reviews. I was sooo thrilled that most of you took the time to point out the particular parts of the chap that you liked (or didn't like.) Those are my favourite reviews so please keep them coming!