The next morning, Nathan lazily cracked an eye open. His arm was numb. He blinked and realized that a warm body was nested on top of him. Last nights events resurfaced in his memory and he had to stifle a laugh. Once upon a time, Nathan had woken up every morning to having Haley beside him and now he had been so accustomed to being alone that it actually took a second for him to realize who it was sharing his bed. Gazing down at his wife's sleeping figure caused a smile to play against his lips. This really wasn't a dream. Haley was truly sleeping next to him again. Nathan nodded off again after a few more seconds of soaking in her beauty.

A loud, obnoxious knock followed by an annoyingly noisy crack of the door opening pierced through the air a short while later.

"James, we've got to hit the road in a half hour, and Branch said we've got another interview lined up, and yeah we're together and don't mention Scott…I'm sure he'll get the picture sooner or later. Anyways, get your ass up, I'm coming in so if your naked-well, actually, I don't think I'd complain…but I think you might." The painfully raucous voice of Chris rasped, getting louder with each word.

Nathan's eyes shot up and he saw that the singer was stopped at the doorway of the bedroom. This certainly was not the way Nathan wanted to be awoken.

"…Hey, Scott, so you're here," Chris stated, mildly surprised. Haley frowned at the noise, her eyes fluttering open as his words sunk in.

Haley struggled to sit up and threw Chris a glare. "Get out! God, normally people knock and wait for an invitation! Nate, I'm so sorry, don't think that this happens every morning, ugh- don't listen to anything Chris went on about, Chris-" " Nathan waved his hand, indicating her to stop talking. Haley complied and hesitantly waited for Nathan's reaction. She was clearly expecting anger.

"Haley, stop, it's fine." Nathan reassured. "Chris is a horny ass hole." He turned to Chris and made a flicking motion with his hand. "Okay, you've delivered your message, now go away, she's up. She'll be there." Chris was still lingering in the doorway so both Nathan and Haley turned and gave him a very pointed look. He finally slipped out.

"Nate, I don't have to keep going, I can go home with you-" Haley shook her head and took his hand.

Again, Nathan stopped her. He shook his head and told her, "No, Hales, you don't have to do that. You shouldn't have to do that. It's fine with me. I know that this is important to you and I'm not going to let you give all this up for me." Nate continued softly, "I was a selfish jealous jerk before. I never should have given you such a ridiculous ultimatum."

"I'm sorry I hurt you," Haley muttered quietly, "I know that I did. And I never want to do that to you again. Really, you are so much more important to me than this, none of it matters without you. Chris is an ass, and you are the only thing in this world that has kept me going, you are the most important thing in my life."

"I know. Stay on tour." Nathan said simply with a smile. "That was all I really wanted from you. All I wanted was for you to say those words… I never wanted you to give up your dream or anything like that. I just wanted to know that you did care. You just said all I've been needing to hear."

"Nathan Scott, insecure?" Haley laughed.

"Yeah. I am. Whenever it comes to anything related to you, yeah, I'm insecure as hell." He admitted openly.

Haley smiled and playfully hit his arm. "You're so moronic! You've got nothing to be insecure about, you silly twit! I've always felt this way about you, always. I can't believe you've ever doubted that!"

Nathan wrapped his arms around her and kissed her ear. "I guess you just have that effect on me. I've never loved anything so much…I've never been so scared of losing anything in my entire life. I'm terrified of breaking it, of crushing it, of screwing up…"

"I don't think you've ever openly said that you were scared, Mr Confident Big shot Basketball Protégé," Haley grinned lightly, holding on tighter to his hands. Her face serious again, she told him, "Nate. You don't have to be scared about us. I'm not going anywhere. I love you too."

Nathan exhaled heavily, "I know that, Hales, but I can't help it. I came so close to losing you… God, I thought I would die!" His face crumpled.

"I promise you, I will never leave you. I'll be here for you, Nate; you don't have to be scared. I promise you," Haley let out, pulling Nathan's head to her chest; she rocked him and kissed his forehead. "I promise you."

"Come on, you've only got like fifteen minutes," Nathan pulled away, his confident demeanour restored. He dragging Haley up and giving her a gentle push to the washroom.

"I'm not leaving this room until we're fine," Haley protested.

"And we are. Now get your ass in that shower so we can have a proper goodbye!" Nathan laughed, pointing to the washroom.

"I love you, you know that?" Haley beamed, giving him a quick kiss.

Nate laughed and nodded, "Hurry!"

Haley opened the door to the washroom ten minutes later. Her hair was hastily arranged in a still-wet ponytail and her makeup was barely applied.

"I'm done, I'm amazing, there's no time, oh shit where the hell did I put my-" Haley stammered.

Nathan chuckled and held out her purse. "Here."

"Oh! Thank you, thank you, now my luggage-"

"Bell boy came and put it in the bus." Nate supplied. "Your jacket's right there, your novel is in your purse, your cell in your jacket pocket, and everything else is in the bus already. Now come on, you've got to get out there."

"Oh my God, thanks so much, Nate! You're incredible; I don't know how I'd survive without you-" Haley gushed.

"No time!" Nathan reminded with a laugh, guiding her to the door.

"Screw time. I am not leaving you two times in a row without a proper farewell!" Haley loudly objected. She turned around and faced her husband and laid her hands on his arms. "I love you." Haley kissed him tenderly. "Come with me?"

Nathan knew that it was a sincere suggestion. He grinned and felt touched that she would genuinely mention it. "No, Hales, my tutor-girl, you've got to do this on your own. Thanks for suggesting it, though. I know this is your dream. Have fun and wow them all, I know you'll come back with a record deal!"

"Are you sure?" Haley asked.

"I'm sure." Nathan nodded, kissing her again.

"I'm gonna call you, like, ten times a day, I'm totally making you sit there and listen to at least one of my openings, and you better IM me constantly!" Haley told him.

"Yeah, yeah, go, before they yell at you for being so late!" Nathan said.

"God, I don't want to leave you." Haley sighed.

"Tree Hill will still be there when you're done," Nathan reminded her. "And it'll always hold a place for you. Now go, be a superstar, Haley James."

"Scott." Haley interjected, giving him one last kiss. She cupped his face and said, "Don't let this ever happen again, you hear? No more serious fighting!"

"Go!" he urged again.

"Okay, okay, I love you, I'll see you soon, tell Luke how much I miss him-" Haley answered.

The two embraced warmly and Nathan smiled as the love of his love ran down the hall, wet hair and all.