A/N: Hey Lovely Readers! I've been a bit behind on updates lately I'm so sorry! I've been really sick so I haven't had much time to write. It is currently my school holidays so this story will be my main focus, as well as starting the new Naley in College story requested by Thibbs65 that I'm going to be writing, it will be up tomorrow night :)

PS: this chapter has a slight M rated section at the end, which was requested to me in a PM. It's kind of rushed as I wanted to get this chapter up ASAP.

Enjoy!

28. I didn't think it'd be this hard

*NOVEMBER 20th, 2007*

Haley sighed as she shut the door to her and Nathan's apartment, gently placing her son in his play crib in the living room. They had been at Duke for two months now. Ryan was now eight months old. She was keeping up with her studies, and Nathan was doing fantastic playing for the Duke Blue Devils with Lucas and Jake. There was just one problem.

She hadn't seen her fiancee in a week and a half.

It seemed crazy right? How do you live with a man, and not see him? Her and Nathan had been on completely opposite schedules the past two weeks. When she was out at class, Nathan was looking after Ryan. When she was looking after Ryan, Nathan had been at Basketball practice.

They had barely seen each other, except for at games on Friday when Haley watched Nathan play, but the team had always dragged him out to celebrate and she would go home with Ryan. They had barely kissed one another, let alone anything else. And it left for a very frustrated Nathan and Haley.

On top of that, they had barely gotten the chance to plan anything for their wedding, which they had finally set a date for. After rescheduling many times due to games and exams, they were finally getting married. In seven months.

June 12th.

They were getting married in seven months and they had barely planned. Haley was freaking out. Thank god for her Mum and Deb. Even though they were in Europe, they had been helping out. They sent out wedding invitations, spoke to the caterers, and even made a seating chart. Haley and Nathan now only had to organise the finer details.

Haley slumped onto the couch, she didn't have any energy tonight to do anything. Brooke and Peyton had gone to a party, and Lucas, Jake and Nathan were at an away game.
Haley looked at her watch, 7:15.

The game would be starting soon. Haley turned on the TV to the college sports channel and walked to the kitchen. They had set up the living room so that you could see the TV while standing at the island bench. Haley warmed up the leftovers from last night's Chinese takeout and looked at the screen. She smiled seeing Nathan's face as he talked to the interviewer.

"So, how does it feel to be able to play your first year at Duke? Some players never get the opportunity to play their entire college career" The interviewer asked.
"It's such an honour to play for Duke, and especially to be able to play with my brother Lucas and our best friend Jake, as well as all the other amazing players we have on our team" Nathan smiled in response.
"So tell us, you're one of our cheerleaders favourite players. You got a special someone or do they have a chance?" The interviewer smirked

Haley sucked in a breath. Why did she feel nervous? I'm being ridiculous she though rolling her eyes.
Nathan chuckled as he fixed his tie "Well, unfortunately the girls don't really stand a chance" he smirked "I have a beautiful fiancee and son" Nathan's smile widened as he talked about Haley and Ryan.
The interviewer looked at Nathan slightly shocked "You know, we'd heard some rumours about that but we didn't know if that was true. how long you two been together?" He asked.
"We've been best friends all our lives, but we only got together about a year ago" Nathan explained

Haley smiled seeing Nathan talk about his and Haley's relationship. Ryan giggled and clapped excitedly as he saw Nathan on the screen. Haley chuckled as she walked towards her son, crouching down to rest her arms on the crib she smiled at her son
"Yeah, that's daddy" she whispered excitedly

"Well then, anything you'd like to say to your girl?" the interviewer asked as they wrapped up.
Nathan smiled and took a deep breath turning to look into the camera. Haley felt her heart skip a beat as she looked into his piercing blue eyes. How do they still have an effect on me when he's across the country? she thought damn, I'm whipped
"Haley" Nathan started "Hey hales, I miss you and Ryan so much. I love you, Bye"

Haley smiled as she felt the tears start to roll down her cheek. "I love you too Nathan" she whispered

...

Nathan let out a sigh as he flopped down onto his bed. He was exhausted. And cranky. he missed his son, his friends.
His girl.
They had won their game, 60-45. Nathan had scored 16 points, and had 12 assists. He was so tired.
Nathan let out a deep breath as he felt himself falling asleep, his eyes slowly drooping shut as he felt his body relax.
He was on the verge of sleep when he heard it. The faint buzzing of his phone.

He groaned as he blindly reached around for his phone, he looked up at the screen and smiled.
Haley. A cute photo of Haley and Ryan in their backyard lit up the screen behind her name
He quickly touched the 'answer' icon and brought the phone to his ear.

"Hey" he whispered
"Hey Baby, did I wake you?" she asked.
"No!" Nathan exclaimed sarcastically "Well, maybe" he chuckled.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to say you played great" he could see the smile on her face "I miss you so much baby"
"I miss you too Hales" he whispered "my flight's in two days though"
Haley groaned dramatically through the phone "Thank god, I don't know if I could survive any longer"
Nathan chuckled "Me neither baby. I'm going crazy without you"
"Me too" Haley whispered as she sniffled.

Nathan sat up in his bed, worry seizing him instantly. "Hales, baby? What's wrong"
"I'm sorry" she sniffled "I just...I didn't think it'd be this hard"
"What would be sweetie?" He gently coaxed her.
"The whole long distance thing. I know you're only gone for a few days, weeks tops. It's just hard when you're gone. Especially when we're trying to plan a wedding, and school, and Ryan" she took a deep breath "It's just hard, and I miss you" she whispers down the line.

"Hales" Nathan whispered, guilt setting in his veins "I'm so sorry"
"No. No, no, no. Please don't be sorry. It's not your fault" she interjected "I just, I really miss you that's all. come home soon okay?"
"I'll be there as soon as I can. There's no where else I'd rather be. I love you, you know that right?" He pressed
"I know. I love you too, I'll see you in two days baby"
"Night Hales"
"Goodnight Nathan"

Nathan sighed as he put down the phone. He flopped back in bed and sighed. This distance thing was killing them both.

...

Haley sighed as she heard her son cry. She looked at her clock, 4:15 am. She stopped for a moment and stretched her arms, her body aching and crying out against her attempt to get up. She stopped short when she heard Ryan's crying cease, and instead reduce to little gurgles. She smiled and flopped back down, sighing contently. Her eyes shot back open in realisation. Her son never just settled back down like that. She and Nathan had been trying to let him self-soothe to get back to sleep, but he never wanted to, he was incredibly dependent on his parents to try and get back to sleep.

Haley jumped out of bed, and raced down the hall. She stopped short as she saw the sight in her son's room.
Nathan.
"Shhh, it's ok buddy. Daddy's home" she heard him whisper.

"Hi" she said walking further into the room
Nathan looked up, shocked for a second. "Hey baby" he said placing Ryan back in his crib.
"I thought you weren't coming home until tomorrow?"
"I talked to the coach. He let me off early" he explained.
"Why?" Haley looked at him confused.
Nathan shrugged "You needed me" he whispered, a nervous-shy emotion covering his face.

Haley smiled as she felt tears flood her eyes. She crossed the floor and catapulted herself towards Nathan. She wrapped her arms around him, burying her head in the crook of his neck. He held her tight as she finally relaxed in his arms.
"I missed you so much" she whispered as she continued to cry.
Nathan pulled away, resting one hand on the small of her back, and using the other one to brush away her fallen tears.

"hey" he soother "enough crying" he kissed her forehead.
Haley softly chuckled, nodding her head and wiping her nose with the back of her hand, not caring about how 'ladylike' she was in the moment.
"Sorry" she whispered as Nathan let out a little laugh
"It's ok" he said "come on, let's get out of here"

Haley nodded as she grasped Nathan's hand in hers and led him back to their bedroom.
She closed the door behind her and immediately attacked Nathan's lips, linking her hand together behind his neck.
Nathan was shocked for a second, before he wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her back with equal fervour.
"I missed you so much" Haley whispered as she hurriedly pulled his shirt up his chest.
Nathan smiled against her lips as she moved quickly, not wanting to waste any time. Nathan however, had other plans.
"Whoa, slow down Hales" he said grasping her hands once more.
Haley pouted as Nathan halted her attempts "Nathan, I haven't seen you in over a week!" she whined "it's been long enough as it is, I need you" she whispered attempting to kiss him again.

Nathan ducked back to avoid her, smiling down at his suddenly lascivious fiancee.
"I know baby, I know" he kissed her forehead "but I want to savour this. Let's just take this slow" he whispered, leaning down again to kiss her.

Nathan ran his tongue against her bottom lip seeking entrance, which Haley immediately allowed. Nathan moved towards the bed, pushing Haley with him until her knees gently hit the edge of the mattress. Haley gently tugged at his shirt as Nathan lifted his arms, their lips detaching for her to pull his shirt over her head. Nathan discarded Haley's sleeping shirt as well before gently laying them both down on the bed.

Haley grasped the sides of Nathan's face, pulling her lips back up to meet his. Nathan's hand ran up the side of her waist. He kissed down the side of her neck, his lips travelled down her chest peppering light kisses all over her body. Haley let out a contented moan. Her fingers came to rake through his hair, pulling slightly as he sucked on her skin determined to leave his mark. He groaned at her actions.

"Nathan" she whispered "please, I need more" she pleaded.
Nathan gently moved one hand from its position on her waist up to her right breast while his mouth moved down from her neck to her left. His mouth enveloped her nipple while he used his other hand to massage her other breast.

Haley audibly moaned at the sensations Nathan was creating within her. She could feel the surge of heat rush through her body and up her legs. She wrapped her legs around Nathan's waist and dug her toes into the waistband of his sweats, trying to push them down. Nathan smirked at her attempts and, reluctantly, removed his body from hers and stood up, pulling down his sweats and boxers before quickly removing her shorts and underwear, throwing the clothing haphazardly behind him.

He lay back down, his body half on top of hers as his lips joined with hers once more. Haley rolled them both so that she was now straddling his waist, wanting to take control and speed things up a little. Haley stroked his cock, positioning him at her entrance silently begging him. Nathan wasn't one to deny her. He thrust his hips up towards her, joining his body with hers.

Haley frantically ground her body against him, trying to gain some friction between the two, but Nathan grabbed her hips, slowing her down."Relax baby" he whispered bringing his body up so that his chest was against her stomach "We have time" he whispered before slowly rocking his hips against hers, and taking her breast back into his mouth.

Haley's mouth opened wide, her head tipped back as she held Nathan's head to her chest. It had been too long since they had been together and she was enjoying every moment of their love making. "Nathan" she moaned as he gently rolled her nipple between his teeth "I'm close babe" she let out in a breathy sigh. Nathan doubled his efforts, quickening his pace and soon Haley was screaming his name as she hit her climax, Nathan following a moment later.

They both collapsed breathless onto the bed. Nathan withdrew from within her and lay on his back, pulling her with him so she lay on her left side, her head laying on his chest her right leg stretched across both of his, with her arm wrapped around his waist.
"Well" Nathan spoke regaining his breath "That's one hell of a welcome home"
Haley giggled at his statement as she moved her hand to lay on his chest gently drawing patterns along his chest with her fingers.
"What can I say? I really missed you" she said leaning up to kiss her cheek

Nathan smiled "I'm sorry I've been away so long, but I have good news" he spoke looking down at her "Coach K said I can have a few weeks off"
Haley lifted her head, her smile brightening her whole face "Seriously?"
"Yeah" he told her "Apparently, there's a rule that each player has to take a certain amount of games off each semester. So he said that I can miss next game, which means I don't have to leave for eight weeks" he smiled

"That's the best news I've heard all week" she said kissing him once more "I love you"
Nathan smiled, he would never tire of hearing those words "I love you too" he whispered before planting his lips on hers again and gearing up for round two.

A/N: So, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'm sorry I've been so slow with updates school's killing me even in the holidays! I will definitely have Thibbs65's college story up tonight and I will try and update my other stories in the next couple of days. PLEASE REVIEW AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THOUGHT!

- Maddie :)