"You don't mean that, Nathan. I know what I felt", she sobbed. "It was real between us and we connected. You can't deny that. You're afraid. You're afraid of me and you're afraid of us and of letting go of her."

"Stop it!" Nathan yelled. "Just be quiet! You don't know, okay? You don't know anything."

"I know you. I know who you are. My God, I have loved you all my life, Nathan. I know that you've grown into a dependable, respectful, gentle, honest, hard working, shy and kind man."

"Don't make me in to some larger than life saint, Haley. Right now I'm none of that. I'm just the selfish, insensitive prick that took your virginity."

"No", she whispered, backing away. "No..."

Not even being able to look at her, Nathan retreated to the custom bar adjoining his dining area where he poured himself a shot of Jack Daniels. Wiping away the tears, Haley put on her shoes and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" he asked quietly.

"I can't stay here anymore."

Nathan cursed and walked over to her. "Look, Hales. I know I fucked up. I was wrong. I'm an asshole, okay? But I'm sorry. There is no reason for you to leave."

Haley laughed in spite of herself.

"How can you say that? You have helped me and taken care of me...my God, Nathan. Nobody has ever given of themselves the way you have to me. I respect that and I appreciate it. In a way you saved my life and there is no way I can ever repay you for your generosity. Ever since all that happened with Ricky, my life has been turned upside, it's like living in one fucked up nightmare. You didn't just rescue me from Ricky and that night, it was like you rescued me from my life...from my crappy little house, from the cafe...from me, everything that I am and that I have come to hate. And you let me stay here in this castle and for a minute you were like my knight in shining armor sent to rescue me from the darkness and bring me into your perfect little kingdom. And I've been living in this Wonderland ever since. The ironic thing is, none of this was ever real. The only thing real in this whole thing has been my love for you, Nathan. And what happened the other night was so beautiful to me. It's something I have dreamt about ever since I was a little girl. Maybe it didn't mean the same to you but I'll always have that special memory. I guess it's just back to real life now. My reality is so different from yours but we can't just pretend it never happened. At least I can't. That's why I can't be here anymore, I can't be around you like this. I have to go."

"No, you don't."

"Yes...I do."

"Where will you go?" Nathan sighed.

"I'll be fine."

She wiped her eyes one last time and opened the front door.

"What about your stuff? You're gonna need the rest of your clothes and everything."

"I have my things, what I need. The rest of the stuff, what you bought me, thank you but it's not mine to keep, Nate."

She gave him one last look before she left, closing the door behind her.

Haley sat at Nathan's favorite booth in the back of the cafe. It had been quite a day. Tears slid down her face as the memories came flashing back through her mind. Once again, nothing would ever be the same. She had left Nathan's house. He didn't love her and she couldn't stand to stay there out of his pity for her. In his heart he had felt that he had taken advantage of her body. In hers she felt she had taken advantage of his hospitality. She had no choice but to leave and had ended up the only place she could go, over to Karen's temporarily closed café, which she still had the keys to. More than a job it had always been the simple home away from home, the one place that had always served as some sort of safe haven. She sat quietly at the place, Nathan's special place, the one he'd had for years. As the tears silently began to flow, Haley secretly wondered if anything would ever be okay again.