"Mr. Scott, we are reviewing the recorded measurements. Someone will be right out to assist you with trying on the styles of the tuxedo you and Miss Powell selected."

"Thanks", Nathan muttered.

"The specialist is almost finished with your brother, sir. Until then, relax and make yourself comfortable. Is there anything we can get you?"

"Uh…yeah, can I get a little Gin, please? Straight, on the rocks."

The attendant nodded and within a few minutes returned with beverage. It was one of the East Coast's most exclusive bridal shops and the two Scott brothers were honoring their appointments for tux fittings. Trying on various accessories would pretty much be an all day thing but as with most merchants, every wish and command of the young men was catered to in the VIP room.

For the day, it would just be Lucas and Nathan. Megan was off somewhere with Deb and though he missed his fiancée, Nathan was secretly happy that Megan wasn't with him for the fitting. She probably would have been concerned, to say the least, about his drinking but he needed something to keep him calm.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, little bro", Lucas grinned as he emerged. "Drinking before noon? What's the deal?"

"Nothing", the dark haired one answered. "Just taking the edge off."

"Taking the edge off, huh? Dude, you have this great life. You have the career you always wanted and now you're about to be married to a great girl. I'd say you're pretty lucky."

"Yeah", Nathan repeated with another swig. "I guess I am."

"Dude, I'm going to chalk up your less than cheery mood to either prenuptial jitters or the fact that you're probably going stone crazy in the house with Dad."

Nathan cringed a little bit. It was still weird to hear Lucas call Dan that even though, biologically, that's exactly what he was to the two brothers.

"Something like that…"

"What's the deal with that anyway, Nate? I was going to ask you. I didn't think you and Megan would be staying here more than a few days."

"Yeah. We didn't either. Something came up. We're just taking care of some stuff. It should be over in a few days."

"Cool but you know I have the keys to the beach house so if it gets a little crazy over there at Casa Scott, you know you two are welcome to crash with me."

"Thanks, dude, but uh, it's not too bad. Besides, Dad is helping me out with some stuff…"

Lucas stopped messing with the tie he was trying on and looked at his younger brother in the mirror. Nathan was moody and sullen and quiet. He wasn't in a talkative mood and his mind often seemed a million miles away. Something was up. Something was going on.

"Stuff?" Lucas treaded carefully. "What kind of stuff?"

"Just stuff", Nathan shrugged.

"Okay. Look, I'm not buying it. I smell a rat. Now you can tell me to go fuck myself or whatever but if you want to talk, then you know I'm here, man."

"I know but um…I don't want to talk about it."

"Alright. I'll back off but I just wanted to make sure."

"It's cool, Luke. I can handle it or at least my lawyers can."

"Lawyers, whoa! Dude…"

"My marriage license to Meg was denied by the state of North Carolina."

"Denied? Why?"

Nathan chuckled bitterly as he downed a huge gulp of his Gin. Lucas was his older brother. He may as well have known the truth.

"Well big brother it seems that I'm already married."

"Already married? Wait, you mean…"

"Yep. Guess I can't get rid of the slut after all."

"Nate, come on man…"

Lucas understood his brother's anger and he had been just as hurt when Haley left the way she did. The years had brought forth an awkwardness between two who had grown up the very best of friends. It had been hard and Lucas harbored his own feelings on the subject matter but no matter how angry he sometimes got at Haley, he still felt that odd need to defend her when anyone else insulted or spoke too ill of her. Usually that someone would be Nathan.

"What? What am I supposed to call her? Slut? Bitch? Cunt, sounds pretty nice…"

"Nate!"

"Why are you defending her?"

"I'm not. Just…I just don't like to hear you call her those names."

"Whatever", Nathan mumbled.

"Dude, it's disrespectful."

"Fine. What am I supposed to call her?"

"How about her name, man? How about Haley?"

Nathan's jaw tightened just as it did every time someone dared mention his name in his presence.

"Like I said...whatever."

"What do you mean, you're married already?" Lucas asked, ignoring his brother's hate filled sarcasm.

"Just what I said. Look, I don't know the details and my lawyers are working it all out but apparently I'm still legally married and have been all these years."

"But the annulment. I thought you had it annulled that same year she left. I mean, didn't Haley sign the papers?"

"Yep."

"Then what happened?"

"Your guess is as good as mine."

Lucas sighed.

"Does Meg know?"

"Yeah."

"Dude, she must be freaking out…"

"She's a lot calmer than I am, that's for sure", Nathan noted. "I don't know. They promised me that it should be cleared up within a few days. Whatever happened, they'll find out, let us know and then we can fix it and get it over with."

"Does…does Haley know?"

"I don't know. Honestly? I don't even care. I guess when it comes down to taking care of all of this, my attorney will contact her attorney. I shouldn't have any direct contact with her and believe me, that's the way I want it. That's how it's been for years so I don't see any point in trying to change it now. Besides, I don't have anything to say to her."

Lucas listened quietly. Yes, Nathan had been hurt. Of course he had a right to be angry but it was more than that. And anytime the sore subject of Haley was broached, it was plain to see. The tone of his voice, the tightness of his body language, the way his blue eyes would darken into an almost black color. The transformation was almost scary. He hated her.

"Well, I hope it all works out."

"It will", Nathan said confidently, finishing the last of what was in his glass.

"Look, if you need anything. I mean it, anything at all, then I'm here."

"I know", Nathan managed a half smile.

Then he changed the subject, his way of letting Lucas know that Haley, marriage, annulments and anything else related, were now strictly forbidden topics. Luke listened as Nathan went on and on about some Nascar race he had attended with Meg's parents. His temperament had evened and he had returned to his normal self, still Lucas worried.

He knew Haley's leaving years before had almost destroyed his brother. In a way, Nathan had never got over it. He never faced the pain. Instead he turned to basketball or alcohol or meaningless one night stands. But never once did he sit down and deal with his loss. Seven years later, the torment obviously was still there. Nathan's only saving grace had been Megan.

Lucas took a deep breath. He prayed everything would turn out okay. He prayed the real reason behind the annulment's denial would be revealed and quickly resolved. He prayed Nathan and Megan would marry and live happily ever after. He prayed his little brother would finally find the peace that had seemed to evade him his whole life.

And finally he prayed that there would be no confrontation between Nathan and Haley. He prayed they would never have to see each other again. For a while he had held out hope that there would be a reconciliation but time had proven otherwise. Now it was just best that the former couple remained estranged. Too much time had passed. Too many feelings had been hurt. Too many questions had not been answered. Now it was too late. Lucas wanted to avoid then inevitable opening up of the can of worms that threatened to unleash a monster and ruin the lives of the people he loved.