Author's Note: Sorry for the brief and unexpected hiatus guys. I got busy with work and other stuff and the down time I did have, well let's just say my heart wasn't in it. Well, I'm back on track (for now) so I hope you guys continue to enjoy...

Someone reviewed last week and left their e-mail for me to write them. I think the addy had something like "lilangel" or something in it. Well, the message got chopped up and I was unable to get your address and I can't find the original review to look up your profile. So I promise I wasn't ignoring anyone. Just drop me another line in my private mail...

"Hey", Nathan said softly as he entered the bedroom to the beach house.

Megan didn't even bother to look up.

"Hey."

"I brought you a plate", he offered.

"I'm not very hungry", she shrugged.

"I know but you have to eat…"

"Nathan", she slightly chuckled.

He grinned sheepishly.

"I know. I sound like my mom."

"You do."

"Here. Just try to eat something, even if it's only a few bites. Karen made it so you know it's good. Her famous chicken sandwich and fries, with a side of peach cobbler."

Megan managed a smile as she took the bag from him and began nibbling at the food.

"Thanks…it is good."

"Yeah…I uh, just came up here to check on you and stuff. I know we haven't had much of a chance to talk and everything."

"I know. I was just, uh, working on these…"

She pointed to a small pile on the bed.

"What's all this?"

"Thank you cards. Everybody has been so kind…I just wanted to write a little something to let them know we appreciate everything."

"I can have my dad's secretary do all this…"

"I know but I want to. I mean, not that I want to but more like I have to."

Nathan frowned.

"That's cool. I…I just know it must be hard."

"It is but…"

Her voice trailed off sadly.

"I was just wondering Meg what you were gonna do as far as the house and stuff. Like if you planned on going back to Charlotte or to your folks in Raleigh or even staying here for a while. No rush but I just wanted to know where your head is."

She shrugged.

"I have to go back sometime. I can't hide out here forever and as much as my family means well, I really can't deal with being around them right now."

"I understand."

"So I guess I'm going back to the house in Charlotte probably in a few days."

"And from there?" he asked meekly.

Megan took a deep breath. She knew what he was getting at.

"I don't know", she answered honestly.

"Meg…"

"Nathan, I can't tell you anything about our future together right now because I don't know if we have one…or if I even want one with you anymore."

She felt tears coming on that she couldn't blink away.

"I know. Look, I can't blame you. All this is my fault, Megan. All of it. I'm sorry…"

"About which part? The fact that you cheated on me, the fact that you're an alcoholic, the fact that you treated me like shit, or the fact that our daughter is dead?"

He closed his eyes. He deserved every bit of her venomous wrath and more…and he knew it.

"All of it", he answered in a shamed, quiet voice.

Megan bit at her lip.

"I can't do this right now", she whispered.

"When?"

"I don't know, Nathan. I'm not ready yet. I can't, okay?"

He looked at her, stroking her hand and closing his eyes when she quickly pulled back from his touch.

"I know you're hurting, Meg. So am I. Yoanna was my daughter, too."

At the mention of their daughter's name, Megan began to sob. He held her despite her protests, ignoring his own tears.

"Nathan!" she wailed.

"It's okay", the tried to comfort her.

"It's not okay", she cried.

He wiped her tear away with his thumb,

"You're right…it's not okay. It sucks. It hurts. And it isn't fair. This wasn't supposed to happen. We were supposed to be happy. We were supposed to be a family, Meg."

"Before or after Haley James?"

"Megan, don't…"

"Don't what? Don't speak the truth? Don't bring her up? I can't skirt around the issue because she is the issue, Nathan. You admitted to me that you love her!"

"I know, I…"

"You do, don't you?"

"Yeah but…"

"But what? But nothing! What, are you gonna say you love me, too?"

"I do. Megan, I do love you. Look, I know I screwed things up. I know this is all my fault. I don't know if we have a marriage left but I do know we both loved Yoanna. And we're both in this together. I need you and even if you don't want to admit it, you need me, too. Meg, I don't want to go through this alone. I can't, okay?"

"You have no right to ask me anything."

"You're right. I don't but I'm gonna ask anyway. I want to come home with you. I don't deserve it and I know it's not permanent but for now, please…just until we figure some stuff out."

She looked at a man she had once loved more than life itself. Now she didn't know exactly how she felt about him.

"Why, Nathan? Why now? Here's your chance, your one out you were looking for. The baby is gone. You don't have a reason to stay anymore."

"Yes, I do."

"If you love Haley so much, then go be with her."

"I can't. Right now I don't want to. It's complicated for me to explain but I can't be with her right now. It's not right…"

"Oh okay. So you stay with your wife until the coast is clear? Thanks but no thanks, Nathan", she stood to leave.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him.

"Please don't go. I didn't mean it like that. Megan, damn. I don't know what to say here. I've been an ass and maybe my sins are unforgivable but I'm pouring my heart out to you now. This is the truth. This is me, Meg. All I can give you right now is me."

She stared at him with icy blue eyes.

"I don't know if that's good enough anymore."

"Please", he practically begged.

"I…I don't know, Nathan. I don't know how I feel about me or you or us or anything. Okay? I can't promise you anything."

"I'm not asking you, too. You don't owe me a damned thing, Meg. I'm the one that owes you."

She nodded as she looked away, the tears drying on her tired, pretty face.

"Okay", she finally conceded in a whisper.

Then she turned her back. She closed her eyes as she felt his pitiful, pained stare but she dared not speak a word. The silence itself was deafening enough. The silence that spoke a thousand words of what was left of their union.