Nathan and Haley both kneeled on the bed. The two continued kissing. Haley had unbuttoned Nathan's entire shirt. Haley couldn't believe what was happening. One second she was trying to keep Nathan from thinking about Mrs. Silva and the next they were kissing. And God, he was a good kisser. Nathan began kissing down Haley's neck. Haley was having a hard time keeping her eyes open. It felt so good.

Nathan pulled back and began unbuttoning her blouse. He would kiss her every few seconds. "You ok?" he asked.

"Mmmhmm."

Nathan leaned down and kissed her again. When he had unbuttoned her blouse he pulled it off of her and left her in her camisole. He kissed down her neck again and then the top of her exposed chest. Haley pushed his shirt off of his shoulders as they continued to kiss. He moaned in her mouth when she raked her nails across his shoulder blades.

Nathan slowly brought them down to the bed. He was on top of Haley as they continued kissing. Suddenly Haley stopped. She couldn't do it. "Wait." She said, slightly pushing him off of her.

"What?" Nathan looked at Haley. "Damn it!" Nathan sat up and looked at her confused "I thought you were ready to be my wife."

"I am." Haley said, trying to pull him back down.

"No, you don't want me."

"Yes I do." Haley sat up and tried to pull him back down.

"Stop. You're just pretending. Don't lie to me." Nathan pushed her away from him and stood up. "Stop lying to me. Don't lie to me anymore. This is…I'm sorry. This is me. It's my fault. It's me. We almost did something that you don't really want to do." Nathan picked up his shirt and put it on. "And it's turning me into something that I swore I would never become."

Nathan didn't give her a chance to respond. He walked away from her and out the door.

The next morning Haley was sitting in the living room drinking coffee. Yesterday had been a complete disaster. First she was almost caught by Chase and Nathan about giving money to Mrs. Silva and then the thing with her and Nathan. The thing. What had that been? Haley couldn't believe how easy it was to let go and kiss him like that. Everything about her relationship with Nathan was becoming easier and more comfortable. And the scared her a little bit. She didn't want it to be easy because that meant it would become easier to have feelings for him. And that was something she didn't want to happen.

Nathan hadn't come back in the room the rest of the night. Haley wondered where he slept. She didn't want to admit it to herself, but she didn't sleep well with him not there.

Haley heard footsteps approaching and Nathan walked in with a bouquet of little purple flowers in his hands. "Hey. There you are. I've been looking all over for you."

Haley stood up when he approached her. "Hi."

"Hi. Look, I wanted to apologize for last night for taking off like that."

Haley looked at the flowers. "Are those for me?"

"What these? Yea. Look, I'm sorry." He handed her the flowers. "I don't want you to think that I would ever force myself on you, because I wouldn't. Are you ok about what happened?"

"Thank you for these and I am fine. I just want to tell you that, it's not all your fault. And I sort of led you on, not intentionally, but…"

"Look, this situation is difficult for both of us. I know that. And being trapped in a marriage that is far from perfect is…you said it yourself. We barely know each other, right? I guess I just think we should try to make something worthwhile out of this."

"Yea, so do I. I just think that the thing that's drawing the wedge between us is the fact that we're not trusting each other. We really need to start doing that."

"I know. Trust is just a tough one for me. Especially coming from this family."

"Yea. But it's really the only thing that's gonna make this work."

"You're right. You're absolutely right. If I can't trust my own wife then…well, things are just never gonna work with us, right?"

"Come here." Haley pulled him into a hug.

Nathan didn't want to have to do this, but he knew he had to. He pulled away and went to sit on one of the couches. Haley followed him.

"Ok so if we're gonna start trusting each other then I guess I have to tell you who I really am. What I really do." Nathan looked at Haley. "You know, I'm trusting you with my life if I tell you what I'm about to tell you. Kind of like how you trusted me with your life when you married me."

"Yea I realize that."

"Good. I know you think that what I do, what the family does is nothing to be proud of, but we do a lot of good things for the community. Did you know that we fund a shelter for homeless kids to keep them off the street?"

"No, I didn't. That's great."

"Yea we just built another shelter over on 8th street."

"But that's not your real business, is it?"

"No. You know, I really didn't want to get into that before. Not just to protect my family, but to protect you. I told you that the less you know the safer you are."

"I know what you told me. But, Nathan, I'm your wife."

"Ok, so I'm stalling."

"Yes, you're stalling. Come on." Nathan smiled at her. "I can handle this. I just need to know the truth."

"Ok, the truth. Well, we're diversified. Like many companies, we have our hands in many things. We have a hand in the waste management business, we have a hand in the track, the import business, stuff like that. So on and so forth."

"So on and so forth means?" Haley pressed. She wasn't about to let up on this conversation.

"Ok. Take the import business. For example, we've got a shipment coming in tomorrow of goods. It's clothing. But also hidden in that shipment will be about several thousand Cuban cigars. Now, importing Cuban cigars is illegal. Did you know that?"

"Yea. Yea, right."

"Not that smoking cigars is illegal, but it has to do with politics basically. And I'm telling you, one day the situation will change and you'll be able to get a Cuban cigar at any neighborhood store. So tomorrow, although we're technically committing a federal crime, we're really just dancing around today's political climate bringing to our customers what they want, when they want it."

"Oh I see."

"Some people think of us a entrepreneurs. Really, it's very innovative. Others choose to call us criminals. Do you understand?"

"Sure."

"You do? Really?"

"Yea, yea. Of course I understand."

"Good." Nathan noticed that she was still in her robe. "Do you want to get dressed? I mean would you feel more comfortable talking…dressed?" Nathan smiled.

"Yea, if you wouldn't mind."

"No, not at all. We'll continue this later." Nathan leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

Nathan stood up and walked out, heading for Deb's office. Once he was in there, he checked to make sure Deb wasn't around.

When he saw he was alone, he picked up the phone and dialed a number.

He waited a few seconds and the person on the other line picked up. "Hey, it's Nathan. Listen, that shipment coming in tomorrow, you make sure it is totally legal. You understand? It better be completely clean or you're through…ok."

Nathan sat at his mother's desk doing some paperwork. He was waiting for Haley to get back from getting ready. When he heard the office door open he looked up. "Hey. You look nice."

"Thank you." She said, walking to stand across from him.

"What's up?"

"Well, you were telling me about the family business."

"Right. About that shipment coming in tomorrow." Nathan played dumb. "Sit down." Haley sat. "Listen, like I said, the family doesn't consider importing cigars to be a criminal act, but obviously the government sees it a little differently. And they're looking for every opportunity to bring this family down anyway they can. So…I could go to prison for something that's really not hurting anyone. Doesn't really make a whole lot of sense, does it?"

"No, you're right."

"About what?"

"It doesn't make any sense, at all."

"Good. I'm glad you can see that."

"Listen, I'm really glad we had this talk." Haley said.

"Me too. I feel closer to you." Nathan stood up and came around to the other side of the desk. Haley stood up as well. "Listen, what we did talk about, try to erase it from your memory. And try to keep it between us, ok."

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"For confiding in me. Thank you." Haley said, pulling him into a hug.

"Just try to forget and keep it between us. Promise me you'll do that." He waited for her to answer. "Haley?"

"Yea, yea. Of course, I promise."

"Ok." Nathan pulled away. "I've gotta take off and take care of some things. Ok?"

"Sure. See you later."

Nathan smiled at her as he left the room.

When he was out the door, Haley let out a breath. "You have to do it. You have to call the FBI, Haley. You have to do this."

Outside the room Nathan let out a breath as well. "Oh God, Haley. Please don't betray me."

Nathan and Haley walked into Tric together. Haley spotted Peyton behind the bar, setting up for the night and headed over to her. Peyton smiled when she saw the two walking over. "Hello, newlyweds." Peyton said.

"Nathan was nice enough to drive me over." Haley said, taking off her jacket and sitting down in one of the chairs by the bar.

"Yea, I know Haley isn't too crazy about being chauffeured around by Bear." Nathan said, checking his phone. "Listen, I gotta make a phone call. But then can we get some breakfast? I'm starving." Nathan leaned in a kissed Haley before he walked away to make his phone call.

Haley made sure Nathan was outside and then looked at Peyton. "Ok, so Nathan told me about some illegal imports coming into the country tonight."

"Drugs?"

"No, Cuban cigars."

"Those aren't illegal."

"Yes, they are."

"They are?"

"They are. But it doesn't matter because anything, even if it's small, is something the FBI can use to pressure people to talk about bigger crimes they've committed."

"Yea, like holding you hostage."

"And murder, and extortion and anything else that Deb Scott can get her hands on."

"And Nathan too." Peyton added.

"What?"

"Nathan. You know, she goes down, he goes down with her?"

Nathan walked up behind them, done with his phone call. "Hey, you guys talking about me?" he joked.

"Of course." Haley said, playing along.

Nathan kissed the side of Haley's head and looked at her. "Listen, something's come up and I gotta take off. You want me to take you home first?"

"No, I'm gonna hang out with Peyton for a little bit."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure she takes a cab." Peyton chuckled.

"Is that ok?" Haley asked.

"Yea, of course. You're not my prisoner. You know that. So I'll just see you later. Ok?" Nathan kissed the side of her head again and walked away from them.

Once Nathan was out of the door, Peyton looked at Haley. "Ok, are you sure you wanna do this, Haley?"

"Yes, I have to. I am a prisoner in that house."

"Yea, you are. But you're starting to have feelings for your jailer, aren't you?"

"Nathan…Nathan is…"

"What?"

"You know what? This is an act. You know that. You know that I'm just pretending to like him so that he'll talk to me and trust me." Haley argued.

"Right. You don't feel guilty at all? You don't feel bad about sending him to jail?"

"Why are you giving me a hard time about this, Peyton?" Peyton didn't answer her. "Oh, I get it. You think this is about Nathan and Lucas. You think that once I leave Nathan, I'm gonna go back to Lucas."

"Oh, come on! Give me some credit here. I am worried about you, ok."

"You're worried about me?"

"Yes. Because I know I'm right about what I see with you and Nathan. I know it."

"Peyton-"

"This is not a great act, ok. I've seen the two of you together. I saw the way you reacted when he kissed you, Haley. I've seen that stupid, ridiculous smile you have on your face every time you're with him. He is getting to you. Why can't you admit that?"

Haley sighed. "You're right. I mean he definitely has his moments when I forget who he is and I forget his family. And when we're alone, I definitely feel guilty about what I'm doing. But the truth is that he is no different than his brother Damien. He just happens to be better at hiding it. Ok, he is different than his brother. Or at least he could be if he got rid of his mother. She's driving me…Peyton, I don't know. I don't know how to do this, because it's not like he can choose or he can decide where he's from or who his family is. But it's not like I can live like this for the rest of my life. It's him or me, Peyton. It really is."

"Ok. I will call the FBI under one condition."

"What?"

"That you be careful. Because if he finds out what you're doing, he is gonna come after you. It's like you said, Haley. He can't help who he is."

Nathan sat next to his grandmother in the living room. He had stopped off at the store to get her something before coming home. "Now these are for you, but not a word to anyone. Not a soul." Nathan opened the bag in his hands and pulled out a box of chocolates. "Especially with you-know-who. I'm in enough trouble with my mother as it is."

"Your mother doesn't like your new wife, does she?" Mae asked.

"How'd you know?"

"I watch and I listen."

"I didn't realize it was that obvious."

"Actually, Bear told me."

"It's all because of Damien. I don't know what you know, grandma, but it was an accident. Damien was attacking her and she was just defending herself."

"I know that, but your mother is a proud and stubborn woman."

"And she wants to hurt Haley because of it."

"We won't let that happen." Mae assured him.

"I don't know. My mother can be pretty ruthless when it comes to family."

"Family." Mae laughed. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Yea."

"Thirty years ago, your father came to me and announced that he wanted to marry this loud-mouthed girl from the neighborhood. Deb was her name. You know, I was furious."

"You didn't like her?"

"Well, she was too ambitious, too aggressive and I didn't think she could make a good wife."

"Yea, but you've come to accept her, haven't you?"

"Your father loved her very much and we made peace. If Haley treats you right, your mother will come around too. You'll see."

Nathan sighed. "You know about the FBI raiding the house on my wedding night, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Well, my mom blames Haley. She's convinced that she's betraying the family."

"What do you think?" Mae asked.

"I don't know."

"That's not a way to start a marriage, mistrusting like that."

"I know. I set up a little test for her. I gave her some false information to see if the feds act on it."

"And if they do?"

"Then my mother has been right. Haley has been betraying me."

"And if they don't?"

"Well, then I just set a trap for my own wife. And I put the business and the family before my marriage."

"You are not doing this for the business or for your mother. You are doing this for you, because you care about her. I see the way you look at her. I may be old, but I haven't forgotten what that look means."

"What? You don't think I should be testing her? Do you think I should trust Haley?"

"No, you have to know. No matter how much it hurts, you have to know. Look, Nathan, I know all these problems you've had with this marriage, your mother's vendetta and Damien. But I have a feeling that something strong can come out of this."

"Like your parents?"

"Theirs was an arranged marriage. They hardly knew each other, but they learned to trust and they learned to love."

Haley started to walk into the room, hearing Nathan's voice. But she stopped when she heard him and his grandmother talking. She was about to leave, but she heard his grandmother say the word love. She hid behind the door listening.

"I just don't think Haley and I are going to get that chance." Nathan said, honestly. "I mean, ours was not an arranged marriage. We were forced together by circumstance. I knew that she didn't love me. She didn't even like me."

"That has changed. I promise you."

"I don't know."

"And what do you think? How do you feel about her?"

"Me? I have mixed feelings."

"Don't lie to your grandmother. You are in love with this girl."

Nathan smiled sadly. "I wish I wasn't. I wish I didn't, but you're right. I'm in love with her. I love her."

Haley's eyes went wide and she covered her mouth to keep her from gasping out loud. This was bad. This was very bad.