Nathan swore out loud as he limped on his bad ankle. He'd had trouble with it here and there dating back to his Raven's days under Whitey but it hadn't presented too big of a problem in college or the NBA. But a close game that resulting in Nathan trying to guard Allen Iverson he had taken a fall and landed slightly lopsided. It hurt but he persevered through the pain and continued to play, leading his team to victory. And after it was over, when the last autograph was signed and he had given a half dozen or so interviews to magazines, newspapers and sports shows, only then could he finally collapse in the locker room.

Jake had taken a look at it. There was slight swelling and mild tenderness to the touch but nothing to worry about. After a day or so of observation and elevation, he would be as good as new. They said the show must go on and so would the game. The team doctors had prescribed some mild painkillers for the athlete but after a few uncomfortable hours on the private plane, there was still no immediate relief. Rolling his eyes, he opened the bottle and popped a few more. Almost right away, he was feeling no pain…anywhere. In fact, Nathan felt kind of loopy. It reminded him a lot of the days when he and the guys used to smoke marijuana down by the docks. The good old days, he thought as the driver helped him in the house.

It was late morning and Haley should have been at school teaching her class but it was a pleasant surprise to see her car in the private, paved driveway. Nathan couldn't help but smile to himself. God, he loved that woman! She was his life, his everything, his very reason for breathing. Maybe the medication was taking more effect than he thought but he couldn't help but smile. Painkillers or no painkillers, he was the luckiest man alive and it was all because of his beautiful wife.

If his lower leg would have permitted, he would have climbed those damn stairs two at a time. But he had to take it slow. He remembered the times in college and when he first went pro when he would come home from a particularly tough road trip, Haley would be there in his bed. Sometimes they spent hours talking, sometimes they made love, and sometimes they just held each other and either slept or enjoyed the silence.

He missed those times. He missed her. He knew she was a great teacher and she loved her job. Between that and her friends and various charities and volunteer work, that didn't leave much spare time. If Nathan could have chosen one thing, it would have been for his wife to be waiting at home for him when he came off the road. He had gotten his wish.

He opened the door to the spacious master bedroom. It had a soft and floral décor to it, one that teetered dangerously on the feminine side but it was all Haley. And that's why he loved it. Their large bay windows allowed for plenty of sunlight to enter but she knew he liked the shades drawn when he napped during midday. Nathan smiled again. She knew him so well. They knew each other so well.

Her small frame was wrapped in the covers on her side of the bed. He smelled the sweet scent of her perfume and for a moment cursed himself for taking the over dosage of medication. More than anything, he wanted to make love to her. But he knew he would need a couple of hours before he could physically rise to the occasion. Sighing, he stripped off his clothes and climbed in bed with her. He pulled Haley close.

He rested well. His ankle was comfortable and it felt good to be in his own bed. His bed was so comfortable. The mattress was like sleeping on air and the sheets were heavenly. For years Lucas and Nathan had listened to Brooke go on and on about 1000 thread counts in sheets and they had never understood the big deal until they slept on them. The peaceful slumber was speckled with pleasant dreams every few hours.

In sleep Nathan dreamt about some of the events of their lives. Studying at the docks, her cheering him on from the stands, her cooking for him. It was like they were right back in Tree Hill. Then he would turn and stir and settle back into another dream. One put a smile on his face as he held her. He saw Haley looking absolutely radiant wearing a long, white nightgown. Her skin glowed and her hair was gorgeous and in her arms was a tiny bundle. She smiled at him and beckoned her husband to come over. Nathan did and looked down at a beautiful baby sleeping contentedly in her arms. It was their baby. It was a sure sign of their future together.

Nathan opened his eyes and smiled. It was a dream but maybe it was more. Perhaps it was some sort of sign. It was time for them to begin making a baby.

"Hales", he whispered, stroking her hair.

She didn't respond so he leaned over and gently nibbled on the backside of her neck. It was a sensitive spot that drove her wild. His hands snaked around her and he pressed his growing hardness against her bare thigh. She murmured and as he went to turn her to face him, the bedroom door opened.

It happened so fast! The bright lights. The shrill scream. Nathan opened his eyes. In front of him in the doorway were Haley and Peyton…a horrified Haley and Peyton. Nathan struggled to sit up. He rubbed his eyes and looked over, turning the covers down.

"What…what the fuck is this shit?"

Still groggy from the meds, he struggled to understand. Haley was in his arms…right? She had been there all day. But if she was standing at the door…then who was in their bed? In his arms…

The covers exposed the body of Amanda. She and Haley had a similar build and it had been dark. He had never seen the hair or her face. He had only smelled the perfume and assumed. After all, it was their marital bed.

"Nathan!" Haley gasped in sheer disbelief.

She was reeling from the shock, the surprise of coming home and finding her husband, her beloved Nathan in their bed with not just another woman, but a 15 year old girl. The same girl they had all briefly taken into their hearts and homes.

If Haley Scott was astounded, Peyton Jagielski was dealing her own bombshell. Amanda. Sweet, innocent little Amanda. The troubled girl who had never had a break, never been given a chance…until Peyton gave her one.

"Amanda…"

Amanda sat up, taking her time pulling the thin sheets to cover her tanned body.

"Peyton…Haley…" she simply said.

Nathan hopped up, grabbing a blanket from the bed to shield his nakedness.

"Hales…this, damn, this is not what it looks like", Nathan struggled to speak. "I…I can explain…"

All the color had drained from the petite auburn haired woman's face as she held onto the door frame for support. The tears were building as her entire body began to shake.

"How…how could you do this to me?" she barely whispered to him.

"Hales! Baby, I didn't do anything! I swear to you! I didn't even know she was here! I…I thought it was you! But nothing happened! I promise you!"

The women looked on at Amanda who just shrugged.

"Sorry."

Peyton shook her head. If she thought her eyes were deceiving her, her hears mush have really been playing one hell of a trick.

"Sorry? Amanda, what, what do you mean, sorry?"

"Things just kind of happened between Nate and me."

Her voice was flat, matter of fact, and void of all remorse.

"Things happened?" Peyton repeated, open mouthed.

"What things?" Nathan yelled. "She's lying! Amanda, you're fucking lying! Stop it! Tell them the truth!"

Haley shook her head. She had seen and heard just about enough. It was all her poor heart could take.

"Get out", she commanded in a shaky voice. "Both of you!"

"Hales, no! Wait", Nathan tried to plead with his distraught wife. "It wasn't me! Okay? Amanda did this, she set it all up! She's like that. Ever since she got here she's been lying and manipulating everybody! She's fucking worse than my dad…"

"Nathan…"

"You have to believe me! Peyton! Haley…Hales, you know me!"

She did know him. She knew his heart. She knew how much he loved her. She knew how happy they had been over the years. She knew what they had gone through. He was her husband. He was her Nathan. She knew him well. That's why it surprised her so. And that's why it hurt so bad.

"Nathan…" she sobbed.

"Hales, I love you. I could never hurt you…"

"Amanda", Peyton whispered, feeling sick. "What…what did you do? What happened here?"

"She did this!" Nathan pointed.

"Amanda…"

"Don't blame this all on me, Nathan. You knew what you were doing. You wanted me as much as I wanted you."

"Amanda!"

"And it's not like it's the first time. You just stepped it up a level from kissing random chicks at parties…right?"

Haley's eyes widened. She couldn't feel her legs. She couldn't find the air to breathe. She remembered that day, what was one of the worse days of her life when Nathan admitted that he had shared a kiss with another woman. A meaningless, drunken kiss he had said. She believed him but that hadn't made it hurt any less. It was still cheating and it destroyed her. The very thought made her sick. It had taken so long for her to get over what had happened. But she loved Nathan and she trusted him. And she knew he was sorry.

That incident, that minor betrayal was supposed to be a secret only known to husband and wife. Haley had never mentioned it to anyone. She figured if Nathan ever told anyone, it would be Lucas. But Amanda? He had shared something so intimate and personal with her. And she had found them in bed together.

"Get out!"

"Hales", he reached out for her.

Tearfully, she backed away and fled.

"Peyton, I didn't. You have to believe me…"

Peyton didn't know what to believe or feel or think. She stood speechless, mouth wide open as Nathan pushed past her and ran after his hysterical and heartbroken wife. She watched as Amanda stood and dressed so casually as if nothing in the last ten minutes or so had happened.

"Amanda…"

"Sorry, Peyton."

"Sorry? God, you keep saying that. Amanda, sorry doesn't cut it here. It's not gonna make whatever happened any better and by the way, I think you need to sit down and tell me exactly what the hell happened here."

Amanda took extra time buttoning the last few buttons of her shirt and then putting her hair into a bun. She sat on the rumpled bed and tucked her bare feet underneath her. She looked Peyton right in the eye.

Physically she was Amanda alright but Peyton barely recognized the cool, callous, seemingly unfeeling young woman sitting across from her. Those wide, warm, expressive green eyes that had smiled at her so many times were now looking right through her. It was like looking at a stranger.

"Fine", she finally said in a nonchalant matter. "What do you want to know?"