Thanks so much everyone for your reviews :) :)

On with the next chapter…

Chapter 14

'Yoo-hoo….anybody alive?'

Nathan groaned incoherently as he heard the screeching sound interfere with his restful sleep. He reluctantly opened his heavy eyes and glanced down at the arm that was sprawled across his chest. That's when he noticed Haley sprawled out beside him, she was lying on her chest with her arm across him and leg intertwined with his. At some stage a throw had been over them and now it was all bundled up by their legs.

Rubbing the sleep from his eyes Nathan felt Haley begin to stir in her sleep as her hand unbeknown to her trailed slowly down his chest.

He watched the same confusion settle on Haley's face as she too began to wake.

'Just keep going down.' Nathan mused now fully awake and entertained by how much she appeared to want him.

Her hand just froze and there was a moment of pure silence before Haley jumped back sitting up on her knees obviously a little disorientated from her actions. 'You pig.' She quipped disgusted.

'What…you were the one stroking me Haley.' Nathan emphasised.

His cute boyish smirk alongside his messy matted bedhead hair really wasn't helping matters. Haley decided right then and there that he just looked so bloody attractive in the morning and it wasn't fair.

'Yea well you were the one that came into my bed…' Haley retorted not so smoothly. She didn't know if it was because it was so early or the fact that he was lying there looking like that but Haley was not on par with her comebacks.

It all felt forced. And she felt highly emotive around Nathan all of a sudden, why was her heart racing so much?

'I don't remember you telling me to leave' He sent a sexy wink her way.

Haley was about to retaliate when they both jumped hearing Brooke's voice coming closer. 'Tutor-girl…..are you home? Nathan?'

'That's odd.' They both heard her mutter to herself then.

'Haley…' This time the voice was coming down the hallway and Haley glanced in panic noticing Nathan hadn't locked the door. In blind panic she shoved him roughly pointing him towards the bathroom door. 'Go…' she hushed out.

Nathan looked on bedazzled. 'Seriously. Haley it's not like we screwed each other.'

'Do you have to be so crude?' She whispered angrily.

'Haley this is…'

'Just get in Nathan' Haley shoved him in roughly then before grabbing her bathroom towel and closing the door behind her just in time to see Brooke bouncing into her room.

'There you are.' Brooke said way too excitedly for this hour of the morning.

'I didn't hear you; I was in the shower.' Haley tried to get out as casually as she could.

Brooke eyed her friend noting she seemed a little more uptight. 'Everything ok girlie?' She said then coming to sit on the edge of her bed where Nathan had been lying.

'Sure..' Haley shrugged feeling a little unsettled that Brooke was choosing to make herself comfortable.

Brooke decided to let it go knowing that Haley was going to have some rough patches in her grieving process and maybe today she just wasn't feeling her best. 'Is Nathan working?'

Haley just shook her head as she went over to her wardrobe looking for a change of clothes.

'Oh, so you killed him and hid his body?' Brooke mused.

The irony of it all wasn't lost on Haley. If Brooke for some odd reason wanted to go near her ensuite this was all going to look completely wrong. She needed to get her out of here.

'He's around somewhere, he's not in work until noon so maybe he went for a run.'

She felt relieved when Brooke seemed pleased enough with her answer and hopped off her bed. 'Well good because I've decided we are all doing a breakfast date today , we haven't in ages.'

Haley turned back to Brooke then dropping her pair of blue jeans and white cold shoulder top on the bed. 'Sound perfect, I've just a few things to sort first.' She prompted hoping it was a nice and not overly obvious hint for Brooke to leave the room.

'Sure, I'm going to drop my suitcase back anyways and meet you guys there. It will be about an hour. We're going to meet at Bills' Brooke bounced off the bed. Haley wasted no time quietly shutting the door and locking it.

It wasn't even two seconds later and Nathan was out the door. 'Little over the top don't you think?' He said to Haley as he came out from the bathroom.

'Well what would you have suggested?' Haley retorted frustratedly in a hushed angry whisper.

'Oh, I don't know…maybe just let Brooke come in and see us talking like normal people.' Nathan countered as he sat back down on Haley's bed.

'Would you like to deal with that all day?….if Brooke gets a whiff that we are even being remotely semi nice to each other she'll run with it.'

Nathan supposed Haley did have a point, Brooke had been badgering them practically since they met about the agro between them saying that none of it was real, Nathan hated that crap, how could she not see that Haley pissed him off daily to no end? Yea, maybe lately he was finding himself in uneven territory with regards their relationship but he knew he had to be a little more cautious considering what Haley was going through. That was all it was.

Haley was right, if Brooke thought for a second either of them had softened….well then it would be public knowledge. And Nathan couldn't have that. Not when he already found himself feeling differently about everything. He used to be so grounded around Haley, he knew where he stood and he knew how to behave. Now it was like walking a tightrope, trying to maintain that same balance while feeling like he could fall at any given moment.

There was just no stability between them since the accident and god was he craving it.

'Well aren't you going to get dressed?' He smirked then refusing to even fixate on those other conflicting thoughts that were arising in his head.

He could be normal around Haley. It was easy.

Haley just glowered at him then as she grabbed her clothes from the bed stomping into the ensuite. Nathan stood up then smiling after her as he placed his hands on his hips. 'See…easy.' He muttered to himself.

XXXXX

Haley was glad of the reprieve as Lucas walked with them around the corner to their favourite breakfast spot. For the last 24 hours it had just been her and Nathan and the atmosphere around them just seemed to be getting thicker and thicker.

Lucas was chatting away about the night he and Brooke had spent with Karen and Keith while Nathan walked quietly behind them. They rounded the corner then heading in the door of Bills.

'Of course, Brooke is here waiting.' Nathan said unenthusiastically.

'Can you be any cheerier in the morning?' Haley countered with an eyeroll as Lucas told the waiter about their arrangements.

Thankfully before Nathan could retaliate she ushered them down to the table where Brooke was seated.

'Hi gang.' She squealed and this time everyone couldn't help but smile at her innate over-excitedness. Haley scooted in beside Brooke while Lucas and Nathan sat down across from them.

'I was just saying to Lucas on the drive down it's been way too long and we should do breakfast.'

'You didn't say we should pretty girl, you said we are.' Lucas prompted.

Brooke just glared playfully at him.

'So, did you have a nice time in…uh…in Tree Hill?' Nathan said making conversation. He really struggled to get the words out and he wasn't sure why.

'Lovely, as always…Karen actually cooked us dinner in the café and the four of us had a really nice chilled evening.'

'That sounds lovely.' Haley said.

'God I miss Karen's food….even the whole of New York and nothing comes close.' Nathan mused.

'She did send pie.' Lucas countered.

Nathan smirked then. 'Of course, she did. She loves me.' Everyone expected it but still rolled their eyes all the same.

'Also….Jake and Peyton, possible housewarming at the end of the month?' Brooke questioned.

'Oh….did you see them? I thought they were still here in New York?' Nathan questioned.

'No but Karen said they called into the café on Saturday, the house is all ready, they've moved most of their stuff…they're just working out their notice here in New York and then they will move in.'

Nathan nodded then not really wanting to further this conversation. As selfish as it sounded the idea of going back to a housewarming in Tree Hill sounded like hell to him. Everything was still too fresh. He couldn't even imagine how Haley must be feeling. She had actually stayed at Peyton's with Quinn.

He glanced across at her then as if on cue and met her eyes. It was like they both knew exactly what was going through each other's minds in that moment. Nathan glanced down quickly then averting his eyes feeling an odd sensation from that brief moment. Get a grip….he scolded himself.

In perfect timing heir waitress came to take their order the and the conversation flowed easily after that as they stayed on general chit-chat and to Brooke and Lucas' amusement Nathan meeting Haley's parents for the first time.

'I just can't believe I missed it.' Brooke teasingly complained as she popped her knife and fork back down on her plate.

'It was fine for me. It was Haley that was in a heap.' Nathan mused.

Lucas just shook his head laughing.

'I was not in a heap.' Haley retorted. 'How many times did you rub your hands on your jeans because you were sweaty and shaking?' She goaded.

'Whatever, I was as cool as a cucumber sweetheart.' Nathan quipped back.

'I'm sure Haley's daddy loved when you called her that.' Brooke teased which received an even worse glower from the both of them.

For some reason the tone of voice he used when he called her sweetheart really bugged Haley off. It was more facetious than usual and she felt even more annoyed that she was letting that actually upset her.

'Well I've surpassed my weekly dose of you in the past 24 hours so I'm going to get going…' All of a sudden the atmosphere around the table shifted from playful to distressing, Brooke and Lucas could feel it heavily.

'You know what I'll head back with you, we could do with catching up more.' Lucas said casually. Nathan pushed out from where he was sitting then briefly meeting Haley's gaze. When he did she quickly adverted her eyes from him and he swallowed hard. Why was he feeling bad for snapping at her all of a sudden?

He slid back into the booth then across from Brooke who was giving him that look. Fucking great. 'What?' He questioned.

'What was that?' Brooke said.

'What was what Brooke? I've no time for riddles today.' Nathan could feel the agitation crawling up his skin. He usually wouldn't get like this so easily but lately everything was tipping him off.

'Between you and Haley? Did something happen?'

'You mean besides the obvious trying to be civil and then wanting to kill each other? No.' Nathan shrugged.

'Ok….chill.' Brooke conceded. 'That just seemed really sour….' She said softly to herself. 'Just give her a…'

'Give her a break…don't I know? You know I wish everyone would stop saying that.' Nathan began. 'I know Haley is dealing with Quinn's death Brooke, I know that but it's been two months since the accident and eventually things are going to go back to the way they always were.'

'You know that's not true.' Brooke interrupted.

'It is true.' Nathan said frustrated. 'All that crap about one event or accident changing your life is just that…crap Brooke.'

She sighed softly as she watched him. Brooke had those niggling thoughts for a while that Nathan wasn't doing as good as he'd portrayed he was since that horrendous night. But just the way he was responding now confirmed her thoughts were in some way right.

This was a far cry from the collected business guy who would turn up for their breakfast dates all chirpy and overly annoying but in a good way. In a buoyant way.

Now he was just overcome. Even his usually chirpy digs or teasing lacked a sense of animation, he was easily agitated and he just seemed to have this darkness within him. Brooke was afraid that if he didn't actually deal with it, it could consume him whole.

'Are you actually doing ok Nate?' She asked softly then deciding that a direct question was the only way to go about this.

He shrugged then and she felt a sense of relief that he at least wasn't just going to barricade himself off and utter he was fine. 'I will be ok Brooke. You don't need to worry about me, ok?' He knew himself that maybe the softened approach would actually get her to back off.

'We're always going to worry, you know that.' She pondered gently for a moment wondering if she should before deciding to continue. 'I couldn't help but notice how the conversation fell flat as soon as I mentioned the housewarming in Tree hill. '

Nathan groaned inwardly before answering 'It's just….Jake and Peyton said they were having a get together here before they leave, they weren't planning a housewarming.'

'I wasn't going to make a big deal of it I just thought …it would be nice you know if we surprised them.' Brooke reasoned.

'It's all still pretty fresh Brooke, I don't think Haley will be able to go back there with everyone so soon.'

'So, this is about Haley?' Brooke smiled.

'Don't give me that.' Nathan replied given her that look that signalled no more. 'To be honest I'm surprised this isn't about Haley for you.'

'What do you mean?'

'Just it seems a little insensitive Brooke, planning a get together in their house….don't you remember the last time we all went there as a group was to celebrate with Peyton and Jake…' Nathan stopped then noticing Brooke's eyes tear over a bit. Fuck. He'd really put his foot in it, god he couldn't seem to do anything right today. 'Brooke…' He started apprehensively.

'No,..' Brooke said softly shaking her head. 'I'm fine….I guess I was just hoping this might be a way for all of us to heal you know, in a strange way. It would be nice to have a happy memory fresh in our minds..'

'No Brooke, it makes sense…I'm sorry I didn't mean to snap….I just…' Nathan felt at a loss for words then but she seemed to understand.

'I know, we all carry that day with us Nate….but you and Haley more so.' She said sadly.

He swallowed hard glancing down at his plate then, he could understand how Brooke said in a way it would be healing for them to all be there together again.

But it was the last place on earth he wanted to go to right now.

He wasn't healing at all.

XXXXX

Nathan ran his hands through his hair in frustration as he took dropped down onto the seat beside the bar.

'Oh, you look like you need an ice blast!' Chase commented referring to one of his specialties.

'I think that will only add to my ever-worsening headache.' Nathan said eying his poison of choice. 'Glass of that stuff please.'

'Can you please just try my ice blast?' Chase mused as he poured the whiskey. 'The plan is to take over this place. And now I've got more competition from blondie over there.' Chase joked.

Nathan's eyes instantly glanced in Chase's direction where sure enough Haley was dropping a round of drinks to one of the high circular tables. She was dressed in black skinny jeans and a black t-shirt with 'Lafayette's' the name of the pub written in yellow writing on the right-hand side. Her curly blonde hair was tossed into a messy, natural ponytail.

He swallowed hard at the sight of her, Haley was such a natural beauty. He always knew that but lately his reactions to her just seemed heightened. He didn't want to think about where all this was coming from so he kept putting it down to lack of sleep and maybe even work stress. That can make you do and think crazy things, right?

'You into Haley?' The question was out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

'nah man, got a girlfriend. She's performing here on Friday actually. I do think our manager man might be though.' Chase goaded.

'Julian?' Nathan said with raised eyebrows. He'd not seen that one coming. Their little group had been coming to this bar almost two years now and Julian had never made a move on Haley.

Nathan got that familiar whiff of vanilla perfume then as Haley came up beside him leaving a tray of dirty glasses at the bar.

He hadn't even said a word to her and Haley seemed to have a chip on her shoulder, that much Nathan could tell. 'You serving drinks and all?'

Haley fought the urge to bite back at him but it was proving difficult. 'Like you don't know.'

'I'm not sure what you're getting at Haley.' Nathan sighed. He actually didn't want to fight right now, for once he felt he could really do with Haley just being there to calm him down and take him out of his own head for a while.

'Lucas wanted to have a little chat to me about my decision to quit nursing and become a waitress. Is that what you said to him?' Haley said crossing her eyes at him.

'Not exactly…' Nathan began only to be interrupted heatedly by Haley again.

'Because it sucks that you went behind my back like that Nathan, I wanted to tell them in my own time.'

'Well I didn't see you spitting it out at breakfast.' Nathan fired back. So much for trying to quench the fire between them.

'I was going to tonight; this is only my second shift here for god sake.'

'I told Luke because I wanted him to step in, I thought he'd be able to convince you more than I could..' Nathan admitted quietly.

'Convince me of what? That I'm in a dead-end job….like Chase?'

'I didn't say that Haley god will you stop being such a bitch.' Nathan bit out.

'Just stay away from me.' Haley said frustrated as she grabbed some more drink orders and brought them back to the table she was previously at.

For a Monday night the place had been relatively busy, Haley could feel it in her gut that this was a good decision. When she was taking orders, pacing around with food and drinks and just making small talk with people she didn't have to think about any of it. Her mind was distracted form her grief in a good way. If she was nursing now she knew emotionally it would just be too hard. This job was different, it created that separation that she needed.

She was just coming back out from the staff area when she noticed him, his head seemed to be lying down on the bar and one arm stretched out across the bar. Haley glanced around; she knew Julian had left early so Chase was locking up.

Sighing when she noticed no one else behind the bar she went over to Nathan shaking him gently. What the hell is going on? This was so unlike him. Aside from their college days, there was only one night where Haley had seen Nathan get uncharacteristically drunk and that was the night Dan had shown up taunting him at this very bar. Other than that, Nathan rarely drank like this. She thought it was odd when she seen him drinking in here tonight but she didn't want to question it, not today. She'd figured then that he had actually left early.

'Nathan…' Haley prodded gently. 'Come on…'

Nathan wearily lifted his head frowning. 'Haley…' He muttered obviously very dazed.

Chase came back around the front then. 'How much did he have?' Haley questioned.

Chase shrugged. 'He was drinking with one of the guys from work. Both of them took a cab to leave.' Chase said then. 'Here I can drop your guys back, your just around the corner right?'

'Yea, thanks Chase.' Haley said as she eyed Nathan who now had his head in his hands and both elbows on the bar.

'Come on..' Haley prodded him gently.

'Haley…' Nathan began apprehensively. 'I don't want to get a cab.'

There was something about the way he said it that made Haley realise he didn't really want to relay that information to her at all but he wasn't aware enough to realise that right now.

When she didn't say anything, Nathan made a move to get off the stool evidently wobbling.

'Woah….ok we're getting a lift with Chase, come on, it's only like 5 minutes.'

'Can't we stay here?' Nathan mumbled out.

She looked into his eyes then and she saw something different in him, there wasn't the usual vacancy that he could often portray which made it hard to read him, instead there was anguish there. Haley swallowed hard as she really looked at him the noticing how empty Nathan seemed, unlike she'd ever seen him.

Rubbing his arm gently Haley said, 'Let's get home, it won't even take 5 minutes.' He didn't put up a fight then and reluctantly came up beside her leaning into her as they left.

'Thanks Chase, see you Wednesday.' Haley said as she shut the door, Nathan was waiting at the entrance to their building with his hands in his suit pocket. The night air seemed to be sobering him up slightly, he hadn't said a word since they'd left the pub.

Haley wasn't sure what to say, she knew if she asked him about work he could possibly flip the lid and she figured at this stage neither of them had the energy for another spat today.

As she came up beside him she noticed Nathan letting out a breath, she could hear his hands jiggling with his keys in his pocket but he'd made no move to open the door.

'You alright?' Haley asked gently as she opened the door for them and pressed the lift button. 'Nathan…' She prodded when he walked in behind seemingly unfazed by their interaction.

'Huh…?' He glanced down at Haley then but he couldn't really focus on her entirely.

'Are you alright?'

The words just seemed to blur together as he stepped into the lift. Nathan nodded hoping it was enough for Haley as the doors closed. God it felt even more suffocating in there than usual. Nathan was still jiggling with his keys and Haley could see the tiny beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Feeling a slight sense of relief when the lift dinged she rushed out to open up their apartment door. Nathan was acting a little oddly and as much as he had to drink she just felt like this had nothing to do with that.

She watched as he came in the door behind her and just plonked himself on the leather couch in their living area. He was resting his head in his hands again much to Haley's concern. She grabbed a pint glass of water and filled it up. Throwing a hoodie on Haley came back over and handed the glass to Nathan. 'Here.' She said quietly noting that the whole apartment seemed to be in darkness so Lucas was either already in bed or at Brooke's.

'Thanks.' Nathan said quietly as he took the water from her and gulped it down. He shed himself of his suit jacket then and ran his hand up threw his sweaty bangs.

'Nathan…I'm sorry for getting mad at you about Lucas.' It had been on her mind when she'd thought he'd left earlier and Haley knew she acted out a little too strong. As hard as he she found it was to apologise to Nathan she figured it may be a little easier when he was like this.

'Haley I only said it because I didn't know if I was doing the right thing.' He croaked out.

'What do you mean?' Haley asked as she sat down beside him on the couch plopping her knees up under her.

'I knew Lucas would know.'

Would know what? Haley felt like asking only Nathan continued on then.

'Doesn't really matter now, it was never really our decision to make.' She watched as he stayed leaning forward, he seemed to be vacantly staring into nothing.

'Did something happen …..in work?' Haley knew she was threading on thin ice with that question but she felt she could push him a little when he was like this.

'Nothing out of the ordinary.' Nathan sighed, his voice seemed raspy and full of defeat. 'Just a long day Hales.' He muttered quietly.

She felt her heart race at his use of her nickname and the gentle whisper in which it was carried.

'I just want it all to stop. All of it.'

His words were broken and heavy and she understood the pain that they carried. This wasn't about work. Not at all.

'This is about the accident..' Haley said softly then, her thoughts had come out of her mouth before even she herself had realised.

He didn't react. He was still staring straight ahead as though he was concentrating hard on something. 'Nathan…' Haley prodded then.

'Haley. I want to be left alone.' Nathan said hoarsely. He didn't say it nastily. It just sounded empty. He glanced sideways at her briefly. His eyes couldn't fully meet hers and she could still make out the anguish that was resident in his deep blue orbs. 'Please.' He said.

It wasn't unusual for Nathan to not want her company, he often retreated into himself but this, to ask for it and the way in which he said it….she just found herself routed to the couch and she just couldn't oblige him, not this time.

'What's going on Nathan?' Haley questioned softly. 'Was it ride with Chase…' She began wondering what was conjuring up all this anxiety inside of him.

He bounded to his feet then startling Haley and began to walk away.

'Nathan. Stop, you always do this.' Haley said. She wasn't fully sure where her frustration was coming from, the fact that he showed up at her work an drank like this or the fact that he wouldn't open up to her or give her any kind of explanation for his behaviour.

'That's because I don't want you near me Haley, I want to be left alone.' He repeated turning on his heel angrily.

'Why can't you just talk to me?' I went through it too you know are you forgetting that?' Haley hurled back trying to keep her frustration in check.

That seemed to break through some of the wall he'd put up when she noticed the flash of disbelief in his eyes over the fact that Haley wasn't relenting on this topic of conversation.

'Stop Haley…' Nathan reprimanded taking a step back, he felt his thick exterior waver as the panic response began to rise in his body. He had been working so hard for the past hour to quell it but it was there threatening him just waiting to take over.

'No. You need to talk this Nathan, it's obviously bothering you. '

Nathan swallowed hard as he took another step backwards away from her. Haley was the only thing in focus right now as everything else around him just seemed to blur together. To breathe alone felt like a vigorous endeavour, his mind was a flurry of thoughts and images and he couldn't hone in on one single thing to bring himself back in control.

He needed to get out of this room.

As if reading his next move Haley paced over to the entrance to the hallway blocking his path. He towered over her petite frame and if he wanted he could easily shove past her.

But she wasn't letting him away easily, not tonight, not like this. She'd never seen Nathan like this before and maybe it was cruel to push him but it was for the best. She didn't understand where her need to do this was coming from, part of her knew deep down Nathan had helped her though her grief more than anyone, it wouldn't feel right to let him down when he'd persisted with her own stubbornness and unwavering denial in the wake of Quinn's death.

'It was the cab wasn't it…..it made you think about it? Being in that car…'

'Haley..move.' He wasn't sure how those words even left his mouth because his brain was battling with the decision to respond with what he needed to say or shutdown altogether from the overwhelming signals his body was sending him.

'I understand Nathan I watched your car go over the bridge..'

'No, no, no….I'm not doing this, I'm not.' Nathan rambled incoherently taking a few steps backs from Haley.

'Nathan I know what…'

'NO.' He imploded then. 'You don't understand Haley, stop ….please make it stop.' He uttered brokenly as he collided with the armchair of the leather couch and sunk down to the floor his back resting against it.

'Nathan it's alright.' Haley said desperately then feeling her own vision water as she watched him fall helplessly to the ground. 'It's going to be alright.' She cautiously came to her knees in font of him.

'It's not alright…..I'm not alright.' He said as his breathing laboured. He didn't say anything for a few moments.

'I was pounding against the door and it just wouldn't move….I knew it wouldn't move….and the water it was everywhere….' He struggled to form his sentences as his racing thoughts couldn't keep in line with his strained breathing. '….I didn't get out of that car…I couldn't' His utterings were turning non-sensical,

She knew he was slipping further into full-fledged panic; she'd seen strains of such attacks many times before in the ward. But with Nathan, considering the alcohol he had consumed he seemed to be more vulnerable to the attack.

'Nathan….' Haley scooted closer to him then taking his hand feeling his racing pulse point. 'You're ok. I'm here. There is no water around you just breathe.'

'I can't…...' Nathan heaved tugging on the buttons of his white shirt as if the water was hitting against his chin like it had all them weeks ago.

She pulled his free hand down clutching it too and rubbing her fingers gently over his wrist. 'Nathan, I'm here with you, at home….it's ok.'

Haley tried her best to hold back her own tears, she could practically feel the anguish seeping out of him and clinging onto the part of her that still carried all that pain and maybe always would.

'Hey….it's ok.' She said softly as she rubbed his wrists gently. 'You're ok.'

'Nathan…' Haley prodded gently. 'Look at me.'

He was too caught up in his wildly thoughts to understand her request. Haley gently tilted his head up before placing her hands back down atop of his. He was looking at her now with tear-stained eyes, he looked completely defeated. 'Just breathe….' Haley purposely breathed aloud as she looked into his eyes willing him to follow her lead.

She felt it after a few seconds, his trembling body was beginning to still and his breathing began to even out.

In that moment everything seemed to shift around them. Since his body clamed down she could really feel his close proximity to her amongst the stillness, her hands still gripped onto his and their breathing was the only sound that could be heard.

Neither could pinpoint what exactly the sudden charge in the air entailed or where it came from. But both Nathan and Haley were highly alert to their steady breathing and the feeling of their hands together.

'Haley…' She heard Nathan's broken hoarse voice, There were absolutely no barriers between them in that moment, every barricade he had blocked her off with had come crashing down. She saw nothing but vulnerability in his fearful eyes and she could have swore when he said her name he felt the same loss she let go of his hands.

She knew now whatever it was he had to have felt it too.

Without hesitation Haley leaned forward throwing her arms around Nathan's neck and pulling him close to her. She felt him slip his hands up the small of her back.

They held each other tightly as though if they did that for long enough no more of their current reality could get inside and rip them apart.