Nathan sat at the table romantically lit by the four candles he had strategically placed. He sighed, waiting nervously to hear her key turn in the lock. It had been a stressful two weeks. Any set time under Dan and Deb's roof was stress in itself but the other events had taken their toll. Megan had been a trooper but Nathan wanted to forget.

They were back in Charlotte for a few days but returning to Tree Hill soon was imminent. Meg had needed to get back to work and Nathan had needed some time to himself. She had been agitated lately and rightfully so. He wanted to make it up to her.

Nathan first called Laurie, his future mother in law to find out his fiancée's dream meal. After being supplied with the important information, he had called in Anton Davidson, Charlotte's most expensive and famous chef. With the toss of quite a few hundred dollar bills, Anton had agreed to come to the couple's home and prepare dinner.

The table was set and the candles were lit. Nathan looked handsome in pressed khakis and a collared shirt. He waited, tapping his fingers impatiently. Baked French Onion Soup and Stuffed Shrimp were the appetizers. Vegetable Penne was the main course with a side of Cheese Fondue. Crème Brulee was dessert and a bottle of Pinot Noir, Megan's favorite wine sat by the centerpiece.

Finally he heard her pull up. The car parked and the click of her heels reverberated up the cobble stoned sidewalk. She unlocked the door and entered their home.

"Hi."

"Hey", he said softly.

"Nathan, what's all this?"

"I wanted to do something nice for you. I wanted to apologize for all the crap that's been going on lately and I wanted to thank you for standing by me and being so great about everything even though I've been a real ass lately."

"Yeah? Well, you can be a real sweetheart when you want to be, you know that?"

"I love you, Meg. I know we're in a real mess right now with all this divorce stuff but I promise I'm gonna take care of it."

"I know, sweetie", she smiled, taking his hand. "I love you, too."

They sat and ate in sweet silence just enjoying the food and each other's company. Afterwards, Megan began clearing the dishes.

"No, no. I'm sure your day at the office was hard enough, babe. You don't have to come home and work, too. Just relax. Don't worry about cleaning up. Tonight is your night to relax."

He led her by the hand upstairs to the master bathroom where her bubble bath was waiting. Scented candles and rose petals lined the room.

"Nathan, this is too much, babe. I love it but you didn't have to go through so much trouble…"

"It was no trouble at all", he grinned.

"Thank you", she smiled as he helped her undress and climb into their garden tub.

The water felt heavenly and it was like soaking all her troubles away. She could hear Nathan bumbling about in their room and after giving her some alone time to enjoy her bath, he returned with her favorite pink, silk robe and helped her out of the tub. She followed him quietly to bed.

"I love you, Meg", he whispered in the darkness. "God, you're so beautiful. I just want to make love to you."

He kissed the side of her neck, letting his lips brush across the smooth, sensitive skin. She moaned and he began to loosen the straps around her waist that secured the robe.

"Nathan, wait…", Megan protested as he laid her down.

"What's wrong?" he whispered.

"I…I can't."

"Why? What's the matter?"

Meg sighed, sitting up and clutching the robe closed as she turned on the bedside lamp.

"Nathan…"

"You okay? Talk to me, Meg."

"I just can't. I can't make love to you now."

He sighed, obviously disappointed.

"Okay. It's fine. We have the rest of our lives to make love, right?" he smiled. "Maybe tomorrow night when you're in a better mood. We can just lie here and hold each other for now."

"No", she whispered, stroking the masculine jaw line of his face. "You don't understand, baby."

"Megan…"

"I can't tonight. Not tomorrow night either or the night after that, Nathan."

"Why?"

She sighed, looking away.

"I've been thinking about it. I try not to but I can't help it. It's all I think about."

"What?"

"I know it's not your fault and I'm not blaming you but Nathan, for God's sake, you're a married man."

"Meg…"

"Honey, you are. Whether you hate her or you don't want to admit it, that is reality."

"I know, Megan. Damn! Trust me, I know."

"I'm sorry."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

She laughed in spite of herself.

"It has to do with everything. Don't you see that, sweetie? It changes everything."

"How? I'm still the same guy from last week before we knew any of this, Megan. Nothing has changed."

"Everything has changed because now we know and it bothers me. I'm sorry. I feel…dirty, like I'm sleeping with another woman's husband."

"Oh Megan for Christ's sake", Nathan angrily threw his hands up in the air.

"I can't help it."

"Fine. What am I supposed to do?"

"I know you have your lawyers on it and hopefully it will all be resolved soon. Until then…"

"Until then what?"

"Nathan, I don't want fight, okay?"

"We're not fighting. Just tell me what happens until then."

"I'm sorry…"

He smirked bitterly.

"I guess I better start downloading the porno and greasing up my right hand, huh?"

"Nathan!"

"Just don't, okay?"

"Can we at least talk?"

"About what, Meg? Sounds like your mind is made up anyway."

"Are you mad?"

"Damn right."

"I can't believe you're getting so pissed off about sex", she stated.

"I'm angry about the sex but it's more than that. You're being ridiculous!"

"Oh really? Well, I beg to differ, Mr. Scott."

"Whatever. This is just fucking peachy! I can't get rid of that bitch! She continues to ruin my life! I swear, she's like herpes! The gift that keeps on giving!"

"Nathan, stop it. Please…"

"Why? I wake up this morning and turn on MTV and they're playing one of her videos? What the fuck? MTV never plays videos anymore and the one day at the one moment I wake up and flip to that channel, guess who is there?"

"Nate…"

"Wait, Meg it gets better. I hop in my truck to go to the gym and who is on the radio? How is that for a nice little coincidence? Then I stop by the 7-11 for a Gatorade and whose face is on a magazine cover? Now, my fiancée refuses to have sex with me because of her!"

"Nathan…

He ran over to their window and opened it, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"Thanks a lot, you bitch!"

"Nathan Daniel Scott", Megan yelled pulling him away from the window and shutting it. "You are going to wake the dead! God, the neighbors must think you're crazy because I know I do."

"What? Just thanking the bitch…"

"Stop! Stop calling her that!"

"Why? Are you having dinner with her later? Are you two going shopping this weekend? I mean, what the hell, Meg?"

She shook her head.

"I can't deal with you when you're like this", she said, grabbing her pillow.

"Where are you going?"

"Away from you."

"Meg!"

"What? Leave me alone, Nathan. I'm sleeping in the guest bedroom tonight."

Nathan sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He hated losing control like that but he couldn't help it. Anger got the best of him sometimes.

"Megan, I'm sorry, okay? Look, I…"

"I don't want to hear it."

"Meg!"

His response was a slamming door. Cursing to himself, he collapsed on the bed. Nathan was at his wit's end and he didn't know if he could take much more. Something had to give…soon.