Author's Note: This is the 2nd update of the day! Please make sure you received chapter 103 (the chapter following the "weekend cliffhanger") as some readers didn't get the alert.

Haley stirred from her position on the couch. For whatever reason, sleep had been impossible in her own normally comfortable bed. So she had found solace in the living room. Chris had slept over and they had ended up staying up to late jamming on their respective guitars. The unexpected entertainment had been just the cure for her insomnia. Chris Keller wasn't so bad after all. She had really gotten to know him over the years. Sure the brash, brutally honest, and slightly cocky rock star persona was still there but underneath it all, was a very sweet man…and a really good friend.

They had played music and munched on snacks, finally ending with falling asleep side by side on the couch in front of the television. They had been awakened shortly after dawn when the key turned in the lock and Taylor had come stumbling in from either a night of hard working or serious partying and considering what she did for a living, probably both. The two had frowned and grumbled sleepily as she had teasingly sang something like, "Haley and Keller, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Haley bub with a baby carriage…whoops! Wrong order and wrong father, but what the hell?"

Chris had thrown a pillow at her and she had giggled all the way to her bedroom, leaving the two to drift back into a somewhat restful slumber. Both were dead exhausted but Haley had been awakened when she felt a sharp pain in the side of her abdomen. She sat up and leaned forward, noticing Chris' sock covered feet were pointing in that direction.

"Damn!" she yelled.

"You okay?"

"No! That hurt. Damn, Chris, did you just kick me in your sleep?"

He shook his head as he sat.

"No but I felt it."

She put her hand on her belly and realized that he indeed had not been the culprit. In a series of sometimes forceful flutters, the baby was moving up a storm inside her.

"Ouch", she muttered.

"Does it hurt?"

"No…well kind of but not really. I guess it just feels weird. I don't even like sharing a bathroom so it still is taking a bit of getting used to actually sharing my body with someone else."

Chris stared at her in awe.

"It's amazing", he whispered.

"Yeah", she rolled her eyes.

"Can I…do you mind if I feel?"

She looked at him and in his eyes she saw an intense sincerity.

"Okay", she said, taking his hand and putting it on the area where she felt the most activity.

Chris grinned broadly. He could feel the movements and it was beyond incredible. He pushed gently into her stomach and after a few seconds, the baby would push back, almost as if they were playing a game.

"Wow", he said stunned. "That's pretty cool."

"I guess", she shrugged and looked away.

Chris was more excited than she was. In fact, Haley hardly showed any happiness or enthusiasm about her pregnancy and impending motherhood. Another sign that her depression was deepening. Gently he had tried to confront her and convince her to seek help but the meeting had ended up with her catching a major attitude and storming off so for the moment, he had decided to let it just be.

"Haley…"

"Chris, whatever it is, whatever you're gonna say, just don't okay? Please. I'm not in the mood."

He nodded as he sighed.

"Fine."

"Fine?"

"Yeah. I'll spare you the lectures or the latest article I read in the baby magazines."

"Thank you."

"But can I just say this?"

Haley rolled her eyes.

"Chris…"

"Oh come on, James. Throw me a bone, hot stuff", he smirked.

"I'd rather neuter you…slowly but okay. Go ahead."

"Seriously, I'm here for you. I mean that. I know I've said it before but whatever you need…"

"I know. I appreciate it."

"Remember when the music thing took off? Your first show on the tour?"

"How could I forget? Washington D.C."

"Remember how scared you were?"

"Petrified."

"Yeah. It was like a cycle. At first you only sang for yourself or your family. Then for your friends, then it slowly built up to Tric but when it came to playing bigger clubs and arenas, you were scared to death."

"Hell yes, I was."

"And what did I tell you? What did I say to you?"

She smiled faintly at the distant memory.

"You told me not to be scared. You told me I had a great voice and that Michelle obviously believed in my talent and that's why she wanted me on the tour in the first place."

"And what else?"

"You said…you said if I got scared or if it got to be too much, to just look over on my right and you would be there for me just like an angel on my shoulder. You said you believed in me…and I knew you did."

"That's right. And it still stands, Haley. I know this must be rough. I know you're doing the best you can. No one expects you to be perfect or have all the answers and if you don't, then that's more than okay. And just like before, if you get overwhelmed…then I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. I'll be here for you and the kid and whatever you need."

"Why?" she asked, water clouding her eyes.

"Because that's how much I love you", he stated simply and quietly.

"Oh Chris…" Haley moved away.

That was the last thing she needed or wanted to hear.

"Haley", he pulled her arm back towards him.

"No", she whimpered.

"It's okay, Haley", he breathed huskily. "It's okay."

His lips captured hers. God, she was so soft and she tasted so good. He loved kissing her, although he hadn't in years. It didn't matter. He'd wait for her forever…if he had to.

She kissed him back, caught up in the rapture of the moment. His tongue softly probing hers as his hands warmed her back. It felt so good to be wanted, to have that intimate human contact. Like she had twice before once upon a time, Haley James gave in and allowed herself to get lost and kiss him back. Then pure logic would take over and she instantly pulled away.

"No!"

"Haley…"

"Chris, I can't…"

"It's okay."

She pushed him.

"No! No, it's not okay, Chris! God! Quit saying that! Look, I'm not trying to be ungrateful because I do appreciate everything you've done for me. Musically, I wouldn't be where I am without your guidance and your connections. And you've been an awesome friend when I really didn't have anyone else. I love you for that but I love you as my friend. Chris, I'm sorry but we've been over all this before. There could never be anything more between us…not then and not now. Especially not now."

"I just want to help you…"

"I know. I know that and I'm so thankful for it because I need you but please, please don't read into this for something it's not. I thank you for reading all the baby books and helping Tay with the nursery and going with me to my OB appointments. And I could never repay you for sticking by me through all this paparazzi shit because so many times you could have said 'screw it' and had your publicist publicly deny the child or worse, you could have ratted me out but you didn't."

"And I never will. You know that."

She bit her lip.

"Yeah…I do. But you're not the baby's father, Chris."

"But I could be. I mean, damn, Haley. What is a father anyway? Simple biology? Or someone who actually gives a fuck and who will be there no matter what?"

"I'm sorry…" she closed her eyes.

Chris hung his head.

"Yeah…me, too."

He stood and reached for his jacket and keys.

"Are you leaving?" she asked.

"Do I have a reason to stay?" he responded. "Besides, I really think you need to be alone right now, you know, think some stuff out."

She nodded but at the same time she didn't want him to walk out that door. Gosh, why did everything have to be so damned complicated? Her thoughts and his exit were interrupted by the sound of the TV.

"…In other news from North Carolina, Charlotte Bobcats Point Guard and Badboy, Nathan Scott was involved I a serious vehicle accident last evening. According to published reports, his luxury SUV spiraled out of control, stroking a bicyclist before crashing into a nearby embankment. Scott was treated and released for minor injuries as was his mother, a passenger in his car, who suffered a broken arm. The cyclist, 21 year old, Michael Sanchez, is currently listed in critical condition. No word yet on whether alcohol was a contributing factor. The Charlotte Bobcats could not be reached for comment and Mr. Scott's people have yet to release a statement. In other entertainment news…"

Haley's chest heaved as she stared at the TV. Accident? Her mind reeled back to the game the week before in Texas to an obviously emotionally tortured and drunken Nathan. She had known then that he was in trouble but what could she do? They had decided to keep their lives separate, that made more than crystal clear when he had married Megan and turned his back on her when she showed up at the reception.

But how could they remain separate now? He was the father of the child she was carrying. And obviously no one else had been able to reach him. That's because no one knew him like she did. God, he must be so afraid. What had happened? And whether it was public knowledge or not, Haley had the sinking feeling that alcohol had more than a little bit to do with the incident.

Chris smirked and shook his head.

"Congratulations, kid", he said towards her stomach. "There's Daddy."

"Chris…"

"You both must be so proud", he said, slamming the door behind him.

She jumped at the noise, pulling her fuzzy, old robe closer to her trembling form.

"What the hell is with all the noise?" Taylor grunted as she emerged from the bedroom, headed to raid the kitchen.

Haley couldn't answer. All she could do was put her head in her hands and sob.