Author's Note: As always, I enjoyed reading the numerous, wonderful reviews. I thank you all and ask that you keep the feedback coming. With that being said, as long as you're somewhat articulate about it, I don't care if it is negative or positive. Feel free to discuss what happened in the chapters and what you did or did not like. It's cool to rant about the characters. BUT if I hear one more complaint about someone "being sick of waiting for Naley to get back together", I am going to scream! First of all, I know how this ends...the rest of you will have to wait until I write it. And if you're sick of it at 107 chapters, then you just wasted your time reading and my time reading your review. Be freaking patient! This thing is llloooonnnnggg and I think I warned you guys about that 40 or so chapters back. So here's a "spoiler"...it ain't ending anytime soon and it might not end the way you want or expect it to. So why do we have to CONSTANTLY go through this? I always give you guys a chance to rant so here's mine! I am in MAJOR bitch mode right now so today is not the day...

Now onto the story... (Flashback sequence written in Italics)

Megan stared straight ahead, wondering where she had gone wrong, where life had gone wrong. Maybe it was karma. Even though she had always been a great person, maybe she'd had too many good days in her life. Maybe she had been too happy and God was punishing her, taking away all the nice so other people could have a turn for once. Was that how it worked? If so, what a punishment it was!

She looked over at a picture of she and Nathan, taken the night of the NBA draft. It was one of the greatest nights of his life, one he had worked for years to make a dream come true. He had been so happy. And she looked and saw two, vibrant, smiling faces and wondered where those people had gone and what had happened to them? She barely recognized them anymore.

Closing her eyes, she let her mind drift back to a time when things were simple and happy and…normal…

The handsome, young athlete with the piercing blue eyes nervously approached the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority house. He wore neatly pressed khaki pants, a blue shirt and tie. The tie was almost yellowish in color but his older brother had insisted that it was cool. Nathan had his doubts though. He thought he looked like someone had just dumped a jar of mustard on him and that blue…what the hell? How did he ever let Lucas pick out his clothes? The outfit looked like something his mother, Deb, would have dressed him in for a family photo opp when he was four! And the blue was too light anyway and his face turned crimson when he felt a dampness under his pits.

"At least I smell good", he said aloud with a cocky grin.

He knocked on the door, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a fresh bouquet of flowers. It opened, the other side filled with giggling sorority girls. Some of them were pretty hot and Nathan cringed, hoping he hadn't slept with any of them.

"Hi", they swooned in unison.

"Um, hey. Is…is Megan around?"

They parted like the red sea and a vision of loveliness in a red dress and black strappy heels walked towards him. She was more tanned than he remembered and her eyes, bluer than his, were gorgeous and sparkly. It was also the first time he had seen her hair straight but he loved it. She was beautiful.

"Hi", she smiled.

He was awkwardly silent for a moment, tongue tied as he realized he hadn't been on a real date since…oh it didn't matter. He closed his eyes. The last thing he wanted to think of was "her".

"Hey. Uh, these are for you."

More giggles from the peanut gallery.

"Thank you", she smiled sincerely, sniffing the bundle. "I love fresh flowers. They're beautiful."

He waited for her to put them in water, then he walked out to his car, remembering to open the door like Lucas had drilled him about. He remembered to keep the stereo at the minimum and drive the speed limit to the Italian restaurant he had planned to take her to. They had reservations and he pulled the chair out for her.

They talked about school and sports and music. She wasn't into a lot of things he liked but for the first time, he didn't find himself bored listening to her. She was actually pretty interesting. And when it was his turn to talk, she listened attentively. She didn't give him the goo goo eyes and hang onto his every word like the rest of the Scott boy groupies. Instead she gave him her full attention and added to the conversation when appropriate. She had a big smile and an even greater laugh. On a scale of 1 to 10, the date was already at a 20 but there was one more "test" she had to pass and Nathan was waiting anxiously.

There was nothing sexier than a girl who took care of her body. Nobody was more into the hourglass figure than Nathan Scott but his biggest pet peeve was when girls went out and only ordered a salad and water for the meal. Nathan was a big eater and when it came down to it, he could dig a chick who could hang with him at the dinner table.

"May I take your order, sir?" the waiter asked.

"Uh, yeah…I'll have Portobello, Asparagus, Lasagna, Risotto Pescatore, Chocolate Raspberry Cake for dessert and whatever beer you have on tap", Nathan said before handing over the menu.

He waited to see what Megan would do.

"And for you, madam?"

"Wow, everything looks so delicious but I think I'll go with Bruschetta, Caprese, Linguini, Risotto ai Funghi…oh with Pollo Teran and Lemon Sorbet for dessert. Red wine, please, the oldest Merlot you have, thanks."

Nathan smiled to himself. Score!

They enjoyed dinner and he found himself not wanting the evening to end. There was something mildly fascinating about the pretty blue eyed blonde with the dynamite grin who carried herself with the ultimate touch of Southern bred class and sophistication but wasn't above guzzling Budweiser straight out of the can or laughing at the latest dirty joke.

The two drove around aimlessly for hours before ending up at a nearby karaoke bar where they sang a few duets badly. Finally it was late enough to call it a night and he drove her home. He pulled up to the sorority house, butterflies swirling inside his stomach. It was almost funny. He had never been that nervous before. Usually it was a keg and a few shots at a party or a club, ending in a few sweaty hours with some random hot chick. Sex was no big deal. He loved it, the girls wanted him and it was just one more thing he was good at. Now here he was terrified over a few idle moments alone in the car.

"I had a good time tonight", she smiled.

"Yeah…me, too."

He tapped his fingers anxiously on the steering wheel. He wanted to kiss her. Was it okay? Was it the right moment? Did she want to? Would she like it? Was she ready? Or was it too soon? Oh God! What if she slapped his face? What if…

His thoughts were interrupted by the shocking but sweet feel of Megan pressing her lips onto his. It took him a few seconds to comprehend what was going on but once he did, he totally reciprocated gently of course with just the right hint of passion. They pulled away breathless. Nathan was at a loss for words.

"Good night", she grinned. "I'll call you."

He watched her walk up the steps and disappear inside. "I'll call you". Damn, that was usually his line. Sometimes he meant it, sometimes he didn't. God, he hoped she sure did…

The annoying jingle of some dog food commercial brought her back to the present tense. The local news was on. Meg watched the weather and the consumer report, then a photo of Nathan flashed on the screen behind the lead anchor. More breaking news, she thought as she rolled her eyes. "Breaking news" wasn't good news and it was her life on display for whole the world to see.

It was pathetic, really as she looked on the screen and saw herself walking with her husband. She had known better. They already had photographers hiding in the bushes, staking out their private property and digging through their trash. It was obvious the moment they set foot outside, the story hungry media would be all over them. And that's just what Dan Scott wanted.

A staged opportunity, he called it. For Megan, it was sickening. She looked at herself, blonde hair blowing into her face hidden by sunglasses. A large coat protected her huge belly. Her gloved hand was placed in Nathan's.

"Mr. Scott…Nathan…Nathan, over here! Any comment on the accident?"

"No."

"Do you have anything to say regarding Michael Sanchez's condition?"

"Just that uh…what happened was, was a terrible tragedy. And I, um, I mean we…my family is praying for his recovery and his family", Nathan stammered, struggling to remember the words he had been told to say.

"Nathan, what about the rumors of a possible investigation and suspension by the NBA?"

"I can't speak for them but I know I am innocent of any wrongdoing in this situation and I know, uh…um, my name will be cleared…soon. I, I don't expect this unfortunate incident to have any affect on my career."

"Nathan! Over here! Look this way! Megan! Mrs. Scott!"

The reporters were relentless as a cool looking Dan made a space for the married couple to walk. Then the shot cut back to the studio. Megan laughed bitterly. Once again, it had come down to image. Save the Scott name. Save the Powell name. Save the election. Keep that façade of perfection always going. She shook her head. She was disgusted with her parents, her father in law and her husband. The only thing that disgusted her more was herself…and that she had allowed them to manipulate her into being nothing more than a pawn in their selfish, twisted game.