Nathan watched her as she slept. It was another morning and they had survived their second night. She was okay, despite the circumstances. They had been through a lot. She looked so tiny and fragile huddled up on the floor.

He used to watch her sleep all the time. How funny it was that such a simple act was one of his favorite past times. There was always a bit of a rush the nights he used to sneak in her window at her parents'. Mr. and Mrs. James were cool and it was proven later they knew what was up but still the last thing Nathan wanted was to get busted by her mom and dad. He remembered the first time he had watched her sleep. Really watched her…

His eyes opened up slowly and it took a few seconds to realize where he was. But then he did…all the memories of the day before came flooding back and Nathan couldn't help but smile. It had happened, it had really happened. And all the proof he really needed was lying curled up beside him. He stroked the side of Haley's face as she slept peacefully. Sure they had shared the same bed before on all those nights when he snuck through her window at her parents' house but this was different. Everything was different now. They were married now. As corny as it sounded, Nathan could have laid there forever just watching her sleep.

"Hey you", she smiled as she stretched and yawned. "How long have you been awake?"

"A few minutes", he shrugged. "You sleep okay?"

"I slept great but I had the strangest dream."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. I dreamt we actually got married yesterday", she grinned.

"Really? Well that is weird because I had the exact same dream. Oh…wait, we did get married yesterday."

"We sure did", she laughed.

"We sure did."

"How do you feel?" she asked, taking on a more serious tone.

"I feel great", Nathan answered honestly. "Happy. Safe. Like we made the best decision ever and everything is going to be okay."

"Yeah…me too."

He took her smaller left hand in his and let their ring fingers entangle.

"I love you, Hales. Right here, right now let's just always be like this."

"Promise? I mean, I hope you…I just hope you never get tired of me."

She was dead serious and it almost made him laugh out loud.

"Get tired of you? I'll never get tired of you, Hales. I just hope you don't get tired of me. You're never getting rid of my ass. We are always going to be just like we are right here, right now."

"Always", she sighed as he rolled on top of her and they began to kiss.

Nathan loved the feeling of going to sleep beside her every night and waking up next to her every morning. He loved the feel of her in his arms and how natural and incredible it was lying naked side by side.

"Always", he said again as the kissing grew more passionate.

"Nate?"

"Yeah?"

"Make love to me", she said in an almost pleading voice that my made his heart melt.

Haley's eyes fluttered but she dared not open them. Not just yet. He was already awake and he was staring at her. She could feel his gaze. It had been a crazy 36 hours and they had barely survived something out of a bad action film. Now they were alone just waiting to be rescued. Sure he had saved her life but that was in the heat of the moment. She had no idea when she opened her eyes which Nathan Scott she would wake up to me.

So she lay completely still. She dared not move. Instead she let her mind wander to that strange place between sleep and consciousness. That was her happy place, the one place she could go and remember the good times before everything changed and life got so complicated…

They sat quietly on the bench waiting for the city bus to come. It had been a tense few days. First he had discovered the "secret" tattoo on her lower back of his jersey number. Then they had argued about sex and whether or not he was trying to pressure her into it. They were hanging on but just barely.

"Nathan, I know I'm driving you crazy", she finally nervously blurted out.

"No you're not."

"Do you think that I'm a tease?"

"Stop it", he told her.

"Well what do you think?"

Nathan sighed.

"I think that you're my girlfriend, and I like to spend time with you. Look I just don't want to push you."

"You're not", she replied in a quiet voice.

"But I am. Haley, you got a tattoo for God's sake. It just freaks me out a little bit because obviously this whole thing with us means a lot to you. I just don't want to do anything to pressure you. Or drive you away. Even though sometimes I can't help it. Just like I can't help that I fell in love with you. Because I did. I love you, Haley. And it scares me, a little bit…but, there it is."

Haley couldn't believe it. It was what she had been feeling all along and what she had secretly yearned to hear him say. Just three simple words. Words that sent her into a tailspin. Words that made her feel happier than she ever could have imagined.

"Wow. There it is", she smiled as she softly kissed his lips. "I love you too."

It was the moment that defined them. The moment that changed everything. Over the months and eventually years, there would be other defining moments. As she lay still on the cold, damp floor of the abandoned little hut, she realized they were experiencing yet another one.