Author's Note: Thanks for catching the mistakes in the previous chapter. I reformatted it...

It had been a good day…or as good as one could get despite the unusual circumstances. The mood was tense and awkward, often silent as the two desperately tried not to make it the honeymoon from hell. Three days into it, they had moved from Spain to London and Rome was the next stop. The day had been spent doing all the things that tourists do. Megan was having a good time on the trip she had so looked forward to despite the nausea and the fact that her new husband's ex wife had shown up at their reception.

After a day of sightseeing, the two returned to their hotel. They had dinner and she had dozed off while he watched television. She woke up alone but he wasn't far. The balcony door was open and he was outside, leaning over the rail taking in a view of the city.

Megan stared at him for a while. His handsome face was pensive and thoughtful. Quickly and for the second time, he drained the glass that contained his Gin. Without a second thought, Megan walked out to him and refilled it.

"Thanks", he mumbled.

"You okay?"

"Just thinking."

About what, she wondered? About every disastrous thing that had mysteriously befuddled them the last few months? Was he thinking about Haley?

"About?"

"Ball. The pre season starts soon."

She breathed a sigh of relief, hoping he was being completely truthful with her.

"You nervous?"

He shook his head as he took another gulp.

"No. I never get nervous about basketball."

The conversation was strained. She hated what they had become but there was so much to get past.

"Look, about Haley…"

"You don't have to bring that up", he cut her off. "We've been over it a hundred times, Meg."

"I know. I'm sorry I freaked out but I can't help it. Look, Nathan I know there have been questions and problems and doubts recently. I just need to know we didn't make a mistake. I need to know you love me and this is what you want."

"It is."

Why did his face, his eyes, tell another story altogether?

"Okay", she said in a shaky voice.

He closed his eyes. He felt horrible. More than anything he wanted to get close to her again but it was so hard. He had made a choice and he knew he had to stick with it. If he was going to be with Megan for the rest of his life, he better start getting used to it…and liking it.

"It's cool, okay? Really, Meg. Listen, let's not talk about all this heavy stuff. What's done is done. Haley had no right to do what she did. I don't know what the hell she was thinking. But it's all over now. From now on, it's just you and me and our little family. I know I've been messing up lately but I'm trying to fix it. And me and you…well, we're gonna be okay. I love you and I am where I want to be."

She managed a small smile and let his smooth words ease some of her fears and insecurities. Megan walked up to him and hugged him, her small hands kneading his massive shoulders.

"That feels good", he moaned.

His voice was deep and throaty, the way it used to be when she touched him back before all the ex wife drama. She hoped it would be the night, the moment where he would make love to her. Really make love to her. Not like that day where he called out Haley's name or the previous few days of their honeymoon where with his mechanical moves, it seemed more like a formality than passionate newlywed sex.

"Know what I want?" she asked.

"What?"

"Let's order room service and then get in the Jacuzzi."

"Jacuzzi, huh?" he smiled.

"Yeah. I bought this really hot little black bikini I think you might appreciate so I may as well put it on while it still fits."

"You plan on gaining a lot of weight?" he teased.

"Of course. I refuse to exercise from this moment on and I am going to lie around and be lazy and eat whole pizzas and gallons of ice cream by myself."

"You are, are you?"

"Yes sir", she grinned. "I am going to get very, very fat with the biggest Buddha belly ever and you are going to love it, Mr. Scott."

She put his hand on her tummy and he flinched before relaxing a bit. An instant smile came to his face as he realized that inside her at that very moment, his child was living, breathing and growing.

"That sounds good."

"Me getting fat?" she laughed.

"No…well, that too but I meant about dinner and the Jacuzzi."

"I'm glad you approve."

"Why don't you order for us?"

"Where are you going?"

"I'll be back. Um, I'm just gonna take a quick walk and all. Call Room Service and I'll be back before they get here."

"What do you want?"

"You know my tastes. Just order whatever."

He gave her a quick kiss, then disappeared. For a minute she wanted to protest but decided against it. They had just shared their first real and comfortable moments together in what seemed like forever. She didn't want to make him mad or ruin it. So she sucked it up and picked up the phone.

"Yes please. Room Service for two in the Penthouse suite. I'll have Shrimp Cocktail, Egg Marie Rose, Chicken Devonne, Pineapple Salad, the bread and soup of the day with English Trifles for dessert. Also please send up your finest bottles of imported wine and mineral water."

She hung up and collapsed bored on the bed, grabbing the remote and flipping through channels. A half hour later, Room Service had arrived but her husband hadn't. She waited as long as she could but her hunger for two got the best of her and she succumbed. The food was good and she was tired and before she knew it, Megan was falling asleep on the couch.

What seemed like minutes but actually turned out to be hours later, she awoke alone with a start. Still no sign of Nathan. Not only was she lonely but she was concerned about him as well. She feared the worst…that something awful had happened to him. It had. Nothing of the physical nature but he was still trying to put to rest dangerous and relentless inner demons. The voices in his head followed him everywhere.

He could see, still hear the desperation as she pleaded for him. Haley on the floor, clinging her tiny frame to his larger one, anything that would keep him with her. The tears, the love…God, make it go away! It killed him to see and hear it. It killed him to walk away from it. To leave her there sobbing. God, make it stop! Make her go away…

Megan stared at the clock. It was almost ten. The sky was dark and television had long ago lost her interest. She sighed as she slipped on her shoes and grabbed her key. The elevator took her to the main floor where guests mingled about. She walked around aimlessly, her blue eyes searching. Finally, so close to just giving up, she spotted him.

The lounge was nearly empty except a few drunken patrons. He sat alone at a table near the piano bar. In his hand was a glass of whatever watered down liquor he was nursing. But his eyes were fixed on the piano or rather the ravishing beauty that sat in front of it. Petite, long auburn hair, soft good looks. And she played like an angel. Nathan, expression blank, just stared at her while his wife stared at him.

Finally she just shook her head. What else could she do? Solemnly, she returned to their suite. Things had gotten better and she was confident they would continue to. After all, he had made his choice and he had declared his love. They were fine. Nathan just needed more. More time to adjust. She loved him. She'd give him time or whatever else he needed. He'd come around…eventually. Until then she would just have to be patient. She'd have to take what she could get and at that moment, that was as good as it was going to get.