Thanks for all the awesome reviews, you guys. I'm so sorry my update took way too long. I know how frustrating it is waiting for the next chapter of a story to be updated, and I'm sorry I had to make you go through that. School has been really hectic for me lately. Anyway, I'm back, with the long-overdue update.

If you guys haven't checked out my new story yet, I'd really appreciate it if you do. I'm still pretty unsure of it right now.

Enjoy!

--Sera

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. If I did, things would be a whole lot different on the show, let me tell you.

"Anybody home?" A voice called from the hallway.

Haley was in the bedroom when she heard Lucas' voice and immediately went out to greet him. She smiled as he walked over and gave her a tight hug. "Hey, Luke. Didn't Nathan tell you that he wouldn't be home right now?"

"I know that. I just came to pick up some papers," he gave her a little nudge. "And of course, I came to see how my buddy is doing."

"Oh, so we're 'buddies' now?" Haley asked him, one of brows raised in amusement.

"So we aren't friends? I'm hurt, Haley. I really am," he said, pretending to be offended. "Well, it was either that, or sister-in-law, and you'd probably smack me on the head if I called you that. There's no rushing it, by the way." Lucas quickly added.

"Trust me; marriage is the last thing on our minds. It's practically the least of our problems." Haley said as they walked into the kitchen.

Lucas frowned at her. "Am I missing something here? I thought things between you and Nathan was fine."

"It is. It's actually more than fine – it's just …"

"Just what?"

Haley was silent for a few moments as they both sat on the tall stools by the kitchen counter. When she spoke up, her voice was slightly hysterical. "Doesn't he feel cursed or something? I mean, he's only twenty-four years old, and he's already lost two babies to circumstances he couldn't control. I just – I feel so bad just thinking about it, and it's like he isn't even affected by any of this. I feel like I'm standing in the middle of a raging war, caught in the crossfire and conflict, and he's just sitting at the sidelines, waiting for something cool to happen. I don't understand how he can seem to be so – fine with this!"

Lucas smiled, placing a hand on her shoulder. "He may not show it to you, but he thinks about it – he thinks about you, and your baby, and most of all, what could have been. He thinks about it every day."

"Then why won't he show it to me so I don't have to feel like I'm the only one who's worried about all of this? I know we said that everything was fine, and everything was going to be okay, but you can't deny the fact that it happened. I remember it every time we talk, and it just hovers above everything like a disaster waiting to happen."

"Haley, Nathan is the kind of guy who would rather wallow in his own pain and misery instead of voicing it out to someone. Forget that it would gnaw him from the inside and he is torturing himself by keeping it all in, but Nathan is the last person to be completely open to anything, much less to something like that. Of all things he hates, on top of his list is probably the feeling of being vulnerable. Nathan's been through a lot in his life, and he's built a strong wall to hide behind in. If there's anything he hates to do, it's to be vulnerable, because he thinks that whenever that happens, someone is always bound to get hurt. He's never let anyone in completely in his entire life."

Haley was just about to say something when Lucas added, "Except for you."

She fell silent. It was funny how she and Nathan could have such opposing personalities, but when it came to the most important stuff – the stuff that really mattered – they were in sync the most.

"Hey, I'm leaving," announced Nathan as he walked into the living room. He went over to Haley, who was seated on the couch and planted a kiss on her cheek. The Lakers' big championship game was in a few weeks, and the team had been practicing religiously every early morning for days. Nathan didn't even need to be forced to wake up early. "Thanks." He told her, smiling slightly as he did.

Haley looked up from the magazine she was reading, her heart missing a beat when she gazed into those mesmerizing eyes of his. She had always wondered how it would be to have someone look at her that way – full of undeniable love. And now that she knew, it was even better than she ever imagined it could be. "For what? I didn't do anything."

Nathan shook his head as he buried his face into her neck, breathing in her intoxicating scent. He couldn't help but smirk when he heard a low moan elicit from her throat when his lips began to play with her bare skin. "Oh baby, you did everything. You've been nothing but supportive of me – especially with all these early morning practices. You wake up at least an hour ahead of me every day, and wait for me to come home, even if it's way too late. And that's nothing compared to the other stuff you've done."

Haley gently tucked a finger beneath his chin and lifted his head up, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "I'd do anything for you, Nathan. You know that. Besides, that's what the hot girlfriend is supposed to do – support her man."

"I agree with you on two things there; one is that you are really, really hot," he grinned at her slyly, his eyes surveying her from head to toe appreciatively. He loved how she was dressed this morning; one of his polo shirts hastily buttoned over a pair of black, lacy undergarments. It didn't leave much to the imagination - and with his overactive imagination, it was just the way he liked it. He smoothly maneuvered himself on the couch so she was lying comfortably on the couch, his entire body covering hers. "And two, is that I love how you 'support' me."

Haley rolled her eyes at him. "I thought you were just about to leave."

"How can I leave – with you sitting there and looking so hot that it's impossible to ignore?" Nathan asked, his voice a notch deeper as his lips began to nuzzle the side of her face. His fingers were deftly unbuttoning the polo shirt, practically itching to touch her soft, warm skin. When his gaze fell on her breasts and how they were heaving beneath the lacy black bra cups, he immediately felt his pants tighten. "You're so beautiful, Haley."

"Stop talking and kiss me," she ordered, as she impatiently yanked on the collars of his shirt to bring his face closer to hers. Her entire body was already on fire with just the way he hungrily looked at her. Just the ravenous glint in his eyes, and the obvious bulge in the fly of his pants drove her insane, just wondering what could possibly be running through his mind. All she knew was, it was not too far from what she was thinking of now.

Chuckling at her impatience, Nathan kissed her, his tongue expertly parting her lips and slipping inside. He felt himself harden even some more when his tongue found hers, and he could've sworn that he felt a crackle of electricity when they touched. He explored every hot inch and crevice of her mouth, air becoming lesser and lesser of an issue. He cradled her nape in one hand, his other hand intertwining with hers as they kissed. She breathed raggedly with every short, quick gasp of air between kisses so intense that it rocked both of them to the core. His heart was hammering against his chest, in tune with hers and he felt his love for her grow with every heartbeat. The kisses were noticeably gentler this time, but there was no denying the raw, burning desire underneath it all.

Haley's fingernails were digging deep into his shoulders as she pulled him closer to him, so her body was pressed against his. The feel of her body on his, even fully clothed was staggering. He wanted more – his entire body was yearning for more than feather-light touches over fabric. His fingers were itching to move lower to where her legs met, already knowing that if he did touch her there, the fabric would be soaking wet. She was practically writhing beneath him as they shared one hot, open-mouthed kiss after another.

Nathan knew that if they didn't stop any sooner, things would get out of the hand, and it was something they both weren't ready for just yet. He reluctantly pulled away, immediately regretting it when he saw disappointment on her beautiful features. "I'm sorry, Haley – it's just – I want to respect your decision."

"It's hard to keep decisions like that when you're one hell of an amazing kisser," muttered Haley, pouting. "Nathan, I know that we both want to wait for the right time for us to make love again, but if you keep kissing me that way and turning me on, I don't think the waiting would be that long."

Nathan laughed as he helped her sit up. He gave her a lingering kiss while he slowly buttoned the polo shirt again. "I love our make-out sessions, Haley. It's like a preview of what it'll be like on the night we make love, and hell – I'm looking forward to it even more."

Haley sighed. "Nathan, I love the fact that we're taking things slow and waiting for the right time, but really – you being hot, and all this long 'previews' – I'm not going to last long. I mean, how do we even know it'll be the right time?"

"We'll know it." He assured her.

"Nathan, I don't need roses or scented candles or a penthouse in London. What's important is that it's with you."

"I just want it to be memorable, Hales. Actually, the sex will be so mind-blowing that it's more than memorable, but I love you too much to just let it be like any other 'first night.' I want that night to be more than any other night. I want it to be more than all the other nights with other women. You deserve roses, scented candles, a penthouse in London and so much more." Nathan told her.

Despite the sweetness in Nathan's words, it was overshadowed by Haley's stubborn and simple nature. "Nathan, I don't want anything lavish." She admonished.

"Who said anything about being lavish?" He was just about to say something else, but was interrupted by the faint vibrations of his cell phone in his jeans pocket. Nathan sighed when he saw the name blinking on the screen. "I guess that's my cue to leave. I'll see you when I get back."

Haley nodded, moving up to give him a kiss good-bye. "Good luck today, and remember – nothing lavish. I love you, Nathan."

"I love you, too." He was just about to leave when he turned around and grinned at her, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "Have you watched the weather channel lately? I heard there's a rainstorm coming."