Nathan was alive, safe and well. Haley was alive, safe and well. Tree Hill had gone back to its normal tranquility and everyone could rest easier. Especially Lucas Scott. He was looking forward to returning to Philadelphia where he would remain for three and a half more weeks until his little brother's North Carolina wedding.

On the way back up North, there was one more pit stop to make. He dropped by Megan and Nathan's Charlotte home for a one day visit just to ensure all was well. Physically, Nathan's cuts and bruises had healed and he looked considerably better but Lucas couldn't shake the feeling that there was something else. Something bigger and deeper. Nathan just looked and seemed different. Lucas wondered if Megan could tell. If she could, then she didn't let it show. She went about her daily routine, Country Club wife smile plastered on her face, like all was right with the world.

"A little one on one before I have to take off, Little Brother?" Lucas offered when Megan had left to run an errand.

The two brothers headed off to the custom built basketball court that sat between the pool and tennis court on a perfectly manicured back lawn.

"Why not?" Nathan shrugged. "I was gonna save the ass whipping until the pre season but since you're asking for it…"

"All talk", Lucas grinned as he bounced the ball. "Okay. You know the rules, man. 15 by ones. Make it, take it, win by one, feel the intensity in the air. You ready for this?"

Immediately Lucas sank a beautiful 25 footer.

"Is that all you got?"

"Nothing but net, baby."

Lucas was smiling but not for long. Nathan made shot after shot and was two points shy of a victory before the older brother decided to step up the game. In the comeback of the century, Lucas brought the score to a tie. It was do or die in an effort to get the coveted game point. Lucas was in perfect position but before his hands could release the ball, he felt the sting as Nathan's elbow shoved roughly in his nose. He could taste the blood.

"Hey dude, what's up with the foul?"

"Foul?" Nathan panted. "You want to cry about it or are you gonna play, dipshit?"

Lucas dribbled and turned until he felt the push. Nathan stole the ball, and sank the shot for the win. Lucas landed on the hard pavement with a thud as a proud and shirtless Nathan grabbed the ball and threw it directly at his brother's chest.

"Game", he announced, obviously satisfied with himself.

Lucas shook his head and cursed. He tossed the ball as far as he could before getting up and stalking off. Nathan laughed evilly.

"Sore loser. Why are you being a punk about it?"

"Man, what the hell is your problem?"

"What? It was a game. I play to win. Can't take the heat? Then stay off my court. Go back up to Philly with the rest of the sissies and whine about it, why don't you?"

Lucas wiped his bleeding nose with his shirt.

"You know, I came here to check on you because I was worried. You're my little brother and I love you. I know what you've been through and I wanted to make sure you were okay. Obviously something is wrong. Because you've been through hell and back and nearly lost your life in a freak act of Mother Nature, I'm gonna forgive the fact that you've been a sniveling, mopey, brooding, prick. Once! Do this shit again, and I'm gonna beat your scrawny ass like you stole something."

"Luke…"

"Save it, man. I mean it. Screw this and screw you! You could have broken my damned nose. I don't know what your deal is but…"

"I had sex with Haley."

Lucas stopped dead in his tracks. He thought he had maybe misheard Nathan's words. The voice was so soft and barely audible that it was quite possible.

"Dude, what did you just say?"

"You heard me, man. Haley and I…we had sex."

Nathan looked dejected as he stared at the ground before flopping down on the cool asphalt. Lucas trudged over to him and sat beside him.

"Nathan…"

"It's killing me. Eating me alive inside. I had to tell someone."

"Talk to me, dude", he said softly. "What happened?"

"I don't know. I woke up that morning and it was a morning like any other morning. I showered, got dressed, had breakfast and then went to go get my divorce. It was tension there, Luke but how could it not be? We traded cheap shots that whole day. That night, I was just glad it was over. I wanted to move on and I was just glad it was over. I was talking to Meg on the phone and that's when the first tremor came. Man, it all happened so fast. Then when the first big wave came and everyone was in the lobby, Haley was standing next to the window. I just screamed for her. The next thing I know, we're outside in the middle of the damned ocean and I'm clinging to a tree for life. I was just screaming her name and she was in the water. I reached for her and I had her and then my hand slipped. I lost her."

"You thought she was gone?" Lucas asked quietly.

"Yeah. Yeah, I did. And then, like a biblical miracle or something, I saw her again and I grabbed her. I still don't know how I did it. People were dying all around us. I don't know how we made it, how the tree held both of us all night. She was freaking out. She was so scared. I was, too. Then I saw the hut. I knew if we didn't get to higher ground, then we wouldn't make it. Haley was so weak but somehow we made the swim. It took forever it seemed like. Then we made it, it was like a huge relief but all of a sudden we were still stuck, you know? Still stranded but just somewhere else. There was no help and all you could see was water. Water everywhere. It was so strange. The only food was coconuts. It was like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. It was either die on the tree or die in the hut. Honestly, a few times, I thought it was the end."

"Did you guys at least try to talk?"

"Yeah. We were civil. Nothing like almost dying several times to ease the attention of a bitter divorce", Nathan lamely joked. "Anyway, she cleaned up the cut by my ear and we just started talking. Reminiscing about old times. It was cool for a while until she brought up the wedding wall."

"The one you demolished?" Lucas remembered.

"Exactly. But just talking about it set me off again. I didn't care that we were dying. I just got so mad. And I went off on her…about everything. And she went off on me right back. I'll give her that. She has definitely grown some balls over the years. Anyway, we were screaming at each other and she broke down and…Luke, she told me that she was still in love with me."

"What? What did you…"

"What did I do? I wanted to snap her neck. I just told her we were over and uh…well, she said we weren't. She kissed me."

"Let me guess", Lucas sighed. "You kissed her back, huh?"

"I didn't mean to. It just sort of happened. We just started going at it. Angry, hot, passionate sex."

"Damn, Lucas muttered.

"Three times."

"Three times? Damn, dude!"

"What? You try being stranded like that. You end up going stir crazy."

"Now what? I mean, you are divorced, right?"

"Yeah. Signed, sealed, delivered and totally legit."

"How do you feel about that?"

"I don't know. Glad. Relieved. Confused maybe."

"Meg", Lucas whispered.

"Exactly. I never thought I'd see her again. We end up getting rescued and I come back and she's so happy to see me. Dude, I feel like ass. I hate lying to her. I can't believe I cheated on her."

"Well, technically…is it really cheating? You did have sex with your wife."

Nathan smirked.

"This is some Jerry Springer shit, huh?"

"At least Maury", Lucas agreed with a small smile.

"I just don't know what to do now."

"Did it mean anything? You know, sex with Haley."

"No. I don't know. I don't know what I feel."

"You gonna tell Meg?"

Nathan sighed. What a question.

"I don't know. I want to. I feel like I should."

"What do you think she would do? Leave you?"

He thought for a bit before shaking his head.

"No. No, I don't. She would be pissed and she would flip out but she wouldn't leave. But it would hurt her. Lucas, it would hurt her bad. And I don't want to do that. I don't want to see her cry. I don't want to make her cry. Megan doesn't deserve that and you know it."

"I know."

"What do I do, bro?"

"I don't know. It's a tough situation. You still want to marry Megan, don't you?"

"Yeah. I love her."

"You love her…but are you in love with her?"

"Don't try that Dr. Phil shit with me, man", Nathan shook his head. "What's the difference?"

"There is a big difference and you know it."

"Yes, Luke. I am in love with Meg."

Lucas nodded.

"And why wouldn't you be? She's beautiful and sweet. She's funny and smart. She loves you and she listens to you. Everybody loves her. And she adores you. She saved you. She turned your life around when things weren't going so well."

"I know."

"Sound familiar?"

Nathan turned his head sharply.

"What the fuck does that mean?"

"Look, I like Meg, you know that. She's great. And I don't doubt you love her. But think about it. Do you really, really love her? Her. Megan Powell. Because it seems to me that Megan is carbon copy of Hales. But loving Meg is safe. You can have all the same things you had with Haley but it's safe this time around because you know no matter what, Megan will never do the one thing Haley did. Megan will never leave you."

"You're on crack", Nathan sneered.

"Am I? Or am I right?"

"I'm not having this conversation with you right now", Nathan stood up.

"Dude, I'm not trying to judge you or attack you. I'm on your side. But you have to look at it from every angle and then you have to find the truth. Too much is at stake here."

"I know what's at stake! It's my life, Lucas! Damn, man, do you think I'm blind? I'm not stupid, okay? I'm not the dumb jock everybody thinks I am."

"Nobody thinks that, Nate."

"Well screw you and your messed up philosophies, man. I swear you watch too much TV."

"I'm just trying to help."

"Help? Why don't you help yourself then? Try following your own stupid love advice and maybe you could be with Brooke before you lose her for good and end up married to the NBA with only your right hand and a bottle of cheap lotion for comfort."

Lucas bit his lip. He knew he had touched a sensitive spot. As usual, Nathan's only way of coping was to lash out and turn the situation around.

"Whatever you say, man. Look, Nate, you're still my brother and I don't want to cause problems. We cool?"

He extended his hand. Nathan stared at it before turning his back and walking away.

"You just keep your mouth shut and forget we ever had this conversation. Put some ice on the counseling and recommendations. Then we'll be okay."

"Alright, dude", Lucas sighed. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I…"

"See you in a few weeks at the wedding…Best Man."