Author's Note: Must mention BrookenLucas12 for leaving one of the most fantabulous reviews ever submitted in the history of feedback. A)She rocks. B)She has killer enthusiasm. C)I love her attention to detail. D)Long reviews kick ass! E)She really "gets" my work. So thanks to her and everyone else, lurkers, readers, non reviewers and reviewers alike...

Haley James was on top of the world. She hadn't felt that good in a long time. She felt liberated. Jubilant. Independent. There were no words to describe it. She had woken up that morning with a plan in mind and ever since had been a woman on a mission. Once she had her brain set to something, fierce determination added with a hint of stubbornness wouldn't let anything stand in her way.

She got up and had made herself a veggie omelet for breakfast. After that, came a shower, then it was time to get dressed. She adorned herself in an old tattered coat, just right for the brutal winter chill in the air but the last thing anyone would expect to see a rich and famous singer wearing. That was exactly the point, more or less. By the time Haley was fully clothed, her attire resembled something one would expect to see a homeless person wearing. Adding to the long, blonde synthetic wig, large, Jackie Kennedy like sunglasses, bright red lipstick and old hat, Haley James looked anything like…well, Haley James.

Satisfied with the transformed reflection in the mirror, she left her three bedroom loft and slipped downstairs. She made it past security, the doorman and the beefy bodyguard hired for her own protection. Once outside, she blended in with the hustle and bustle crowd of diverse people that defined what was New York City.

The day was hers and she was free to do what she wanted. She window shopped and people watched. She rode the subway and enjoyed her newfound anonymity. The peace of being left alone was something other people took for granted, a freedom Haley would never again. Privacy was the one thing she cherished and missed the most.

After a day on the town, feeling the cold wind against her face, she headed down to Rockefeller Center. How she loved that place. She had visited there many times. She loved to go and see the huge, beautifully decorated tree at Christmas time. One January her parents had visited and they'd had a blast skating at the infamous ice rink. She had gone there on her guest appearances to Saturday Night Live and one summer she and John Mayer had even given a free concert there for an environmental benefit.

Haley enjoyed a delicious, hearty, late lunch before finally fatigue set in again and it was time to head home. Although she wished she could have stayed longer, she had no complaints or regrets. She did what she set out to do and even if she couldn't do it again, she'd always have that memory. That one sweet day of victory when the paparrazzi's most wanted target had done the unthinkable.

"Spare change?" a beggar in a wheelchair asked, holding out his tin coffee cup. "Oh. Never mind. You look like one of us."

Haley smiled.

"I…"

"Sorry lady, but this is my corner. There's a vacancy two blocks up. Try that corner."

She reached into her deep pockets and pulled out a handful of bills that included a ten and some stray ones.

"Here you go, sir. Have a nice day."

He looked surprised at the money and at the person who was giving it to him but he took it anyway.

"God bless you, child."

"Yeah", she nodded. "Bless you, back."

She made the short walk back to her apartment with a renewed sense of peace.

"Sorry, ma'am. I can't let you up…"

"It's me, Alvin."

"Ms. James?" he asked, in total shock.

"How do I look?"

He put his hands on his hips.

"Now how in the world did you get past me and how long have you been gone? You know it isn't safe to leave this building without your security."

She kissed his cheek.

"I'm fine, Alvin", she said as she headed towards the elevator.

"Girl, you're gonna cost me my job."

"It'll be our little secret", she winked as the elevator doors closed.

She rode to her floor, a pep in her step as she unlocked the door. Leaving the kitchen was her sister.

"Hey, Tay."

Taylor screamed.

"Oh my God…Hay, is that you?"

Before she could answer, Chris emerged from the back.

"Whoa! Didn't Halloween just past?"

"Ha, ha", Haley rolled her eyes as she peeled off her ensemble. "You two make all the fun you want to. While you two were off sleeping, pissing a gorgeous day away or doing God knows what in Taylor's bedroom, I was out taking in the sights of our wonderful city. And I did it in absolute peace. Not one stare or autograph request or one stupid camera shoved in my face. Thanks to my handy disguise, I did it all by myself."

Taylor smirked.

"You look like a weirdo. Then again, this city is just full or weirdoes, hence the reason I love it here so whatever floats your boat, baby sis. Congrats on dodging the National Enquirer."

"Thank you."

"And for your information, we weren't do anything in Taylor's bedroom", Chris rolled his eyes.

"Well, you better not have been in my room."

"Ye have little faith", he shook his head. "Taylor actually woke up before noon and called me over and we've spent the entire day working on a surprise for you."

Haley raised an eyebrow. "Taylor" and "surprise" were two words that just didn't bode well in the same sentence. The last time Taylor had decided to spring a "surprise", it had ended up costing Haley over a thousand bucks and a pretty stern warning from the Atlantic City Police Department.

"Uh oh. Taylor, what did you do? And Chris what did you let her talk you into doing?"

"Sis, you're going to love it!"

"How much is it going to cost me?" Haley asked, arms folded.

"Close your eyes", Chris grinned.

"Oh God", Haley groaned as she did what she was told.

He led her into the hallway going towards the bedrooms. He turned her body left.

"Okay. Now you can open them."

Haley did.

"What do you think?" Taylor squealed.

Haley didn't know what to think. The walls of the spare bedroom had been freshly painted a dark blue color. Over the blue, bright yellow stars had been added as well as glow in the dark magnetic stars pasted to the ceiling. Little white musical notes had been mixed in among the countless stars. In the corner was a changing table and a white crib sat in the center of the floor. Stuffed animals and toys lined the entire room. She was speechless.

"Listen to this", Chris said proudly as he turned on the baby mobile that hung over the crib. "These things usually play something gay like Rock A Bye Baby or Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Listen. This one plays Glad from my CD. The unedited, limited edition acoustic version. How cool is that?"

"And look at this", Taylor piped in, not to be outdone. "Baby's first guitar. How cool is that? You're totally gonna have a little Jimi Hendrix…or a Janis Joplin…or whatever. Anyway, my little niece or nephew is going to be the coolest kid like ever born. And it's all thanks to Auntie Tay and Uncle Chris. Now what do you think? Come on. Tell us."

Haley tried to speak. Physically, the room did look nice. She'd even give the pair major points for originality and creativity. And she was certainly blown away by the early rising, major thought and humongous effort and labor it must have taken, especially from Taylor, who hardly ever got off her lazy butt.

She appreciated the gesture. It was a sweet thing but it didn't make her happy. Far from it. In fact, it was like having ice cold water splashed on your face right when you're in the middle of a good drunken buzz. It had killed her high. It had brought her back to the reality she had so enjoyed escaping all day. It reminded her of all her woes and problems and the painfully real existence of the tiny creature developing inside her womb.

"Um…it's…it…God, I don't know what to say…"

"You love it? You have to! We love it!"

"I…yeah, I do", she forced a smile from somewhere deep. "This is really cool. Thanks, guys."

"We got some really neat toys and…"

"Yeah. Um, I'm sure you did and I'll check them out later. Right now I'm just really tired and I had a big day and…I don't know. I'm just gonna lie down."

"Okay", Taylor said. "You need anything, just holler at our resident little 'do boy', Chris, here."

"I'm okay. Uh, I'll see you guys later."

Haley retreated to the quietness of her room and the warmth of her bed and the security of her blankets where she could turn down the shades and bury her head in her pillow and her own inner darkness.

"You know, Stud, I really think I'm getting the hang of this aunt stuff. Could be fun."

"Yeah…" Chris sighed.

"What's your deal?"

"Nothing, just did you see how Haley acted? How she's been acting about anything when it comes to the baby?"

"She's not exactly the poster child for a happy pregnancy but who the hell could blame her, right?"

He shook his head.

"It's more than that. She's depressed."

"Medical doctor by day, rock star by night. I'm impressed."

"I'm being serious, Taylor. She displays all the classic symptoms. I did some research online. Stressful life events, anxiety, pregnancy complications…they're all there. It's a text book case."

Taylor rolled her eyes.

"Okay. Let's say she is depressed. What do we do about it? What will help her?"

"First of all, she has to want to help herself. But there are some suggested treatments. Like stress management, professional counseling, monitored doses of light medication…but the two things she probably needs most are, rest and…"

"And what?"

Chris took a deep breath.

"All the books say it's best for the woman to talk it out with her partner, you know, the baby's father. They're supposed to spend time together and bond over the pregnancy."

"That's nice. Shall I call Nathan up or do you want to? What would we say? I know, 'Hey come up to New York and take care of your depressed, demoralized, mopey, ex wife/baby mama'. Oh wait, we can't do that. Superstar would have to work that around his other baby's mother, which happens to be his wife. If he can fit all that in between chasing strippers and fouling out of games. He is a busy man, you know."

"Screw Nathan Scott. He got himself into this mess. I've never been a fan of his anyway. I don't know what Haley ever saw in him. The dude is a moron. But his problems don't concern me right now. I'm worried about Haley."

Taylor followed Chris' gaze down the hall to the closed door of the master bedroom.

"Yeah…me too."