Haley moaned as she bit into a cupcake. The catered treats from the hotel were to die for. There was nothing she liked better than curling up with a good book and enjoying a yummy dessert. The only thing missing was her guitar. She regretted not brining it partly because she hardly traveled anywhere without it. And with the impending finalization of her D I V O R C E, there would certainly be a surplus of new songwriting material available.

Dozing off, she felt the jerk. It was a quick shake at first then it was as if the entire floor began to tremble.

"What the hell?" she muttered?

MEANWHILE…

"Say it", Meg giggled.

"Hell no."

"Nathan, I am not getting off this phone until you say the words. Come on. Say it. 'I love you, Binky Bear'."

"No", he laughed. "That is the gayest thing I've ever heard of."

"Nathan!"

His smile faded as he felt the room shake. The glassware at the mini bar rattled and the bed jumped beneath his weight.

"Oh shit!"

"What's wrong, baby?" she asked.

"Let me call you back, Meg. I…I think we're having an earthquake or something."

"Oh God! Are you okay? Nate…"

"It's cool, babe. I'm fine. Let me call you back."

He got up to investigate but cursed as another jolt threw him back down.

MEANWHILE…

What was thought to be a routine and slight tremor turned into rumbling. The earth was literally moving. It was prolonged and harsh, causing the people to panic. Even in digs as nice as the Ritz, the rich, famous, and pampered were not beyond fear.

"Is everything okay?" Haley asked, poking her head out of her door.

"It's just a small earthquake, ma'am. Everything is fine. Go back to your room. I can bring you some hot tea if you'd like?"

"No thank you", she said, the worry not subsiding especially when the employee was sounding like the guy from Titanic right before the ship split in half and sank.

Haley shut her door and tried to calm her nerves as she climbed back in bed. For a few moments it was quiet and peaceful, then she felt another round of solid tremors. Fighting back tears and panic, it was a battle she ultimately lost when she heard what sounded like a fright train barreling straight towards her.

Haley's heart pounded. Then she heard some sort of alarm sound throughout the entire hotel. Little red lights began to flash in her room and someone came over the loudspeaker in a terrified voice that spoke quickly and in Spanish.

"What's happening?" she whispered out loud.

Walking to her bay window, Haley's eyes widened. It looked like a special effect from a Hollywood action movie. She could see a huge tidal wave in the darkness, water as high and far as she could see.

"Oh my God!"

"Ma'am!" said a voice from outside that banged on her door.

Haley ran to open it.

"What's happening?" she asked in a horrified tone.

"Earthquake! Tsunami! Everybody must evacuate! Now!"

Tsunami? Haley had heard about those on TV. She had seen their path of devastation. She had prayed for its victims and survivors. Now she was caught up in the dubious fury of Mother Nature.

Leaving shoes and everything else behind, Haley ran into the hall, pressing the elevator call button furiously. With the alarms going haywire she realized in an emergency type situation, the elevators were not in service. The only way out was the stairs! Stairs! She was 49 floors up! Was it possible to make it out in time?

Haley opened the door, stunned by the rushed, panicked mass of people filing out from every floor. All she could do was join the crowd and hope not to get trampled, pray the case wouldn't collapse underneath all the weight.

It was unreal, like a movie. There was no air. People were everywhere and they were screaming and crying. It was mass pandemonium. Somehow, someway, she made it to the first floor, which wasn't much better. Ankle deep water had started to seep in and an employee was unsuccessfully trying to give instruction and comfort to the thousands of people.

Haley closed her eyes and mouthed a silent prayer as tears spilled down her cheek. She couldn't remember a time when she had been so afraid. She had never been that afraid. Several times she pinched her arm, hoping to wake up from a terrifying and surreal nightmare but each time her eyes fluttered open, she was still in that same spot standing barefoot in water in the midst of the shocked and frightened people.

"Please God…please let it be okay", she whispered.

Too late. She heard that brutal and loud rumble and her eyes widened at the huge wave headed inbound, a thin spread of glass the only thing separating her from sudden and sure death.

MEANWHILE…

"What the hell is going on here?" Nathan made his way through the crowd. "How do we get out? What do we do?"

He cursed and looked down at the water soaking through his sneakers and socks. For a second it was eerily silent, then there was a thunderous sound like an airplane taking off. Nathan looked up, his blue eyes as big as saucers as he saw the wave. It was huge, 30 or 40 feet maybe and it was coming straight towards them.

His mouth opened but he couldn't speak or scream. His muscles were paralyzed by fear. Then he saw her standing next to the window. She was so close! Too close! So tiny, the wave would surely wash her away.

"No!" he tried to scream but it the sound remained trapped in his throat.

He could feel his heart about to beat itself right out of his chest. He tried to run for her but the people were in his way. So many people. They were panicking and screaming and bunching up. He didn't want to hurt anyone but he had to get to her. He had to protect her. Seven years ago, he had promised to protect her always.

In slow motion the water callously barreled toward them. Then his voice came. Just like that, it was back. And the word, one word he hadn't been physically able to utter and one word that made him sick with rage when he heard other people use it, escaped his lips.

"Haley!"

She turned but it was too late. The water shattered through the glass. It went black and Nathan felt himself engulfed in the freezing liquid. He kicked to the surface somehow, finding himself alive and unhurt except for a few cuts and bruises. He was outside, although he didn't know where. It was pitch black and he was so cold it felt like a thousand hot daggers searing through every inch of his body. His arms felt like lead and just when there was no hope, he saw it. A tree. The broken path of moonlight led the way.

Just a little more…just a few feet away…don't fucking give up now, Scott!

He screamed as he made it, touching it with his nearly frozen fingertips. He grabbed it and climbed to the top, cold, relieved, scared and confused all at once. His whole body ached and so did his heart as he saw the mass of screaming people being carried out to sea around him. He tried to reach, tried to help but he couldn't. They were gone.

"Haley! Haley! Haley!"

For years he couldn't speak her name and now he couldn't stop. Oh God, she had to be out there, somewhere in the night.

"Haley! Haley!"

No answer except for a mass of inaudible screams.

"Haley!"

And then he heard it. He didn't know if it was a miracle or if he was delusional. He heard the voice.

"Nathan!"

"Haley! Haley!"

"Nathan, help me!"

He followed the sound and saw her struggling to keep her head above water.

"Haley! Swim to me! Don't stop kicking! You're almost here!"

"I can't!" she cried.

"Haley, don't stop swimming!"

Gasping for air and fighting the pain, she struggled over to him. In total darkness she could see his hand reaching out for her, his final act to protect her.

"Nathan!"

"Hales!"

She reached out and their fingertips brushed. He had her.

"Nathan!" she sobbed.

"You're okay, Hales! I've got you."

"Nathan…"

"It's okay", he said softly.

Then another small but nevertheless powerful wave swept by. And in an instant , he lost his grip. She was going under…fast!

"Haley!" he yelled out to silence and darkness.

No answer. No sight from where she had vanished.

"Haley!"

Still nothing.

"Haley!"

She was gone. He had been robbed of that final opportunity to make good on his promise and protect her. He had lost her again. This time it was for good.