Author's Note: Thanks for all the continued reviews. I'm still reading them and you guys are still cracking me up (Kumary) : ) Just wanted to say real quick to my fellow OTH Senior Citizens (Jess, Cathy, Lindsay and Beth), I love you guys! And to Bluster for a really sweet, amazing and in depth review that was so enjoyable to read and made me feel good...

The next chapter will immediately follow this one. The site was down earlier, hence the double post.

Nathan sighed as he sat on the concrete floor of the jail cell. What a way to end the morning! Never in his wildest dreams had he envisioned that he would be spending his day behind bars. It had started with a glorious few hours with Haley on the beach. Then they'd had the anticipated but slightly dreaded "talk". He had blurted out his feelings, the true feelings he had been harboring since forever. He was still in love with her…he had never stopped. Granted the ending wasn't one he was necessarily hoping for but at least he had been honest about it all. And at least he'd had the privilege of holding her in his arms. It had been a special and private moment up until the trespassing, greedy son of a bitch had the nerve to take their picture.

Nathan didn't give a damn that the man was just trying to do his job. He didn't see it that way. All he saw was a crude invasion of privacy, a blatant act of disrespect that would whore his most intimate minutes to the world. As far as he was concerned, the bastard had gotten what he deserved.

"Cigarette?"

Nathan looked up. A towering man with massive tattoo covered muscles was hovering over him, offering a tattered pack of smokes.

"No thanks, dude."

Great! Now he was being approached by some steroid pumping wise guy who was probably named Bubba. Nathan took a deep breath. He wanted out. He could certainly afford to post his own bail, what was the hold up?

"Scott", the guard approached almost by magical cue.

"Yeah?"

He opened the bars.

"Bail has been posted. You're free to go for now."

Nathan didn't have to be told twice but his curiosity was getting the best of him. He hadn't even had time to give them his financial information for release. That meant someone would have had to post his bail. Who could it be? Haley? Brooke? God, he hoped it wasn't Dan.

Nathan was led from the cell and was relieved to see Lucas standing in front of him. As always, it was the big brother who had come to his rescue.

"Nice of you to show up", he quipped. "I was almost beginning to feel right at home. They put me in the same cell you and I got thrown into that night of Felix's party. Go figure."

Lucas shook his head.

"This is no time for jokes or taking a trip down memory lane."

"I know. Don't lecture me."

"Maybe I should. Nate, what the hell were you thinking?"

"You don't know what it's like, man. Every damned time I step outside, I have some asshole with a lens chasing me down. It's annoying, it's frustrating and it pisses me off."

"That's part of being a celebrity. It's what we signed up for."

"No", Nathan adamantly shook his head. "It's not what I signed up for. Not at all. I just wanted to play ball, man. I go out there and do my job. I try to give the fans their money's worth. I sign sometimes 50 to 100 autographs a night. People come up to my dinner table in restaurants, interrupting me and begging me to take a photo with their kid or leave a message on their dad or son or brother's voice mail. I always oblige. I donate and volunteer for charities. I do more than my share but sometimes enough is enough."

"I feel you, man but what about that guy's rights?"

"What about my rights?" Nathan spat. "Look, thanks for getting me out. I'll pay you back but I don't need to hear shit from you right now. Whose side are you on anyway?"

"The side I'm always on…yours", Lucas answered quietly.

Nathan softened a bit.

"Sorry, bro. I didn't mean to go off on you like that. It's just that it has been a crazy day. And I'm still waiting to see whether or not this jerkoff is going to press charges."

"He won't."

"What?" Nathan asked.

"He's not going to press charges. I called your lawyer. Apparently the guy's camera was spared so he can still sell the pictures, which he is going to do of course. As far as the assault, he's willing to settle out of court for 100 grand."

"Are you fucking hosing me?"

"No and I think you should do it."

"Luke…"

"Morally and ethically he might be wrong. He did violate you but you can't beat up everybody that does you wrong, Nathan. Unfortunately there are more laws protecting him. You just have to suck it up, pay the piper and after this douche bag has his 15 minutes of fame whining on Inside Edition and A Current Affair, this thing will go away. No use in antagonizing a law suit."

Nathan sighed. Lucas was right. It killed him but his brother did have a point. Unfortunately, it was the way of the world…their world at least.

"So you handled this for me with my attorneys?"

"Yeah."

"And Dad wasn't involved?"

"No. I don't even think he knows about it or I'm sure he would have been here by now."

"Alright", Nathan nodded. "I guess I'll have to do what I have to do. Thanks."

"Man, I know they practically ask for it but you've got to exercise some sort of self control. Don't let them get the best of you. This idiot will probably make half a mil off not only the photos of you and Haley but also the ones when you were coming after him. People love that kind of stuff. You can't give them what you want."

"I know but…"

"But what?"

"You weren't there. Haley and I were talking, actually talking about the important stuff. I told her, Lucas. I told her how I felt. She said she loved me, too. It was our moment, man. I know that may sound corny but it was something between us. Something that should have happened eight years ago and I've been waiting on it ever since. He ruined it with his stupid camera. Maybe I did lose control but I don't regret it. I couldn't let him have that. Not that. You understand that?"

Of course Lucas could. After all, he had been there through all the years of questions, heartbreak and loneliness.

"I do understand, Nate. Believe it or not, I really do", Lucas patted him on the shoulder sympathetically. "Now let's get you out of here before the reporters close in. Jake and Peyton said you can stay with them."

"What about the beach house?"

Lucas looked away.

"Man, I…I don't think that's a good idea."

Nathan already knew what he was talking about.

"You mean Haley doesn't think it's a good idea?"

"She's upset, Nate."

Perfect! They had come so far and now one little incident had set months of progress way behind.

"Could you just talk to her for me?"

"I will when she calms down. I promise."

"Just let her know that I'm sorry. I'm not sorry for what I did to that fool but I'm sorry for her getting hit and I'm sorry she's upset and had to see and go through all that. I was just trying to protect her."

Lucas looked his brother in the eye.

"Yeah, man. I know you were. Listen, why don't you go to Jake and Peyton's and clean up? I'll see what's going on back at the beach house. I'll try to hook up with you later."

"That's cool but this whole thing was a bad idea. Big surprise, huh? Another disastrous visit to Tree Hill", he rolled his eyes.

"Well, at least you tried, Nate. At least you tried."

"Yeah. A lot of good that did", he rolled his eyes. "Look, I think I'm just gonna call my mom and see if I can hang out with her without Dad. I feel bad coming down for her birthday and all this drama happened. So I'll spend some time with her and I think I should probably head back to New York."

"Then what?"

Nathan shrugged.

"I don't know, Luke. Honestly, I don't know. I guess I'll have to wait it out and see what happens with everything…Haley, my career…"

"It will all work out, little brother."

Nathan nodded and sighed heavily, running his hand through his dark hair.

"I hope so."

"It will. You just have to keep the faith. One day at a time, man. One day at a time."

Nathan climbed into the car with his brother, staring out the window as the city jail and other familiar sights of Tree Hill passed them by.

"Yeah", he repeated softly. "One day at a time."