A.N TinyDancer7 where are you? I miss your reviews. Lets face it no one else finds a way to work references to clothes they've just bought into reviews for my story.

Cap'n Keira Sparrow Thanx I'm glad you enjoyed it. So Nathan has worked out Josh's secret. Don't worry you'll be let in on it soon enough. Hope this chapter is worth the wait for you.

unfolddream Read on for the unlikely source who is about to finally help Nathan to get the truth he has been wanting for five years. Yeah well I guess we can always rely on Brooke to tell it how it is. She's not one to mess around with words if she believes something then she will not hesitate to share it. Glad you enjoyed the chapter.

Britt Ok, ok I'm updating. LOL. Hope you enjoy it and maybe you can give me your thoughts in a review at the end of this chapter. Would love to hear what you think of where the story is heading at the moment.

cherrymfzb Phew. Thank goodness for your review I was starting to worry that the story was no longer up to scratch as reviews were a bit slow coming in this time around. I know I'm greedy but what can I say reviews are sometimes the highlight of my day. I promise you will find out very soon what Nathan has figured out about Josh. I'm kind of glad that nobody has been able to guess because I was worried that I might have given it away. Anyway I actually think I'm being pretty good about updating at the moment in comparison to some of my other efforts. LOL.After reading this chapter you'll know why I never responded to one of the guesses you had about aminor plot twist. But congratulations on guessing what I had planned. No one else had a clue. I guess you know Nathan too well. Either that or you're starting to get to know how my mind works. That's a scary thought for you. LOL. Let me know how your job hunt's going too. I've been wondering whether you have managed to get things sorted out.

hilaryhilary Gee I'm so feeling the love right now. Well I guess at least my story provokes strong feelings in you. Don't know why you're so surprised I told you it was war. LOL.

famousindafuture I always love getting a new reviewer and it's so great when I find out that someone else is enjoying this little effort that I tentatively call a story. I really appreciated the way you went into speciifics of what you are enjoying about the story thus far. I hope you continue to enjoy it and that I hear more from you in the future.

MeSpikeAndAngelinA3sum Yes well I guess something good had to come out of me losing my job and place to live. Its given me plenty of incentive to update before I have to move out. Josh's secret will be revealed very soon so try not to stress I promise it is coming but I already have the next few chapters wrote so it has to come out where I've planned because otherwise I'll have to go back and do a re-write. I'm so happy that you are still enjoying reading it.

kate What can I say sometimes I think they need to actually have a break from all the sex. (Who am I kidding). No there's not a lot of positives in this chapter for Naley but it was a chapter that needed to be written and by the end of it hopefully you will understand why. Let me know what you think.

Jenna I'll let you in on a little secret. You're right Josh is definitely all that he seems. Just what that means you will have to wait and see but I promise that it won't be too much longer there are some major bombshells planned for the next few chapters. Hope you're ready for it. Job hunt is shit!. No it's just still going nowhere and I now have two days before I have to move out. So I'm a bit stressed to put it mildly.

Chapter Twenty-two.

Josh woke up the next morning and found Haley sleeping peacefully beside him. He was going to have to tell her when she woke up that there had been a change in his plans but that could wait for now he was content to let her sleep. Watching her sleep he felt a sense of satisfaction overtake him this was how things were supposed to be. At least this was how they would have to be. He needed Haley even more than she realized and perhaps not entirely for the reasons people might expect. Something in her dreams made her smile and he realized how lucky he was to have her she was going to make a wonderful wife and now more than ever he looked forward to that day.

Sliding out of bed he padded through to the kitchen to make breakfast for them both. Things hadn't quite gone as he expected when he had arrived to surprise her for the weekend but after their minor confrontation the night before he now believed things were back on track. After they had come inside he had asked her if she still wanted this marriage and she had assured him that she did. As far as he was concerned now things were once again settled and he could head back to Chicago sure in the knowledge that everything was going to work out.

Haley awoke minutes later to the smell of breakfast cooking. For a moment her stomach churned in protest before once again settling. She lay there for a little longer before walking to the kitchen where Josh had breakfast waiting for her.

"Morning Haley."

"Hi Josh,

This smells wonderful."

"Glad to hear it," he said smiling warmly "now pull up a chair and I'll fix you a plate."

Across town Nathan sat at the table with Deb lost in thought and smiled to himself. He was now more certain than ever that things were going to work out for him and Haley even if she didn't know it yet.

Deb noticed the obvious improvement in his demeanor and knew that there could only be one thing responsible for it. Things with Haley must be back on track.

When he finished his breakfast he stood up from the table.

"I've got to go see someone mom but I'll be back later ok?"

"Sure Nate I'll see you later."

Whistling to himself he walked out the front door and headed to the school. He had an appointment with Frank Logan that he really needed to keep. Walking into the office a little while later he smiled at the older man.

"Gee Frank do you ever go home?

It's a Sunday for goodness sake."

Looking up Frank greeted him with a warm handshake.

"Nathan you're back.

How was Barbados?"

"It was great Frank, worked out exactly how I was hoping it would."

Frank chuckled in a conspiratorial fashion.

"So that fake suspension did the trick huh?"

"Perfectly Frank.

Thanks for that."

"Hey it's your holiday time that got used up," the older man commented "but I guess it was about time you used some.

You've been working far too hard ever since you started here.

I was hardly going to say no to the first request you've made for some holiday time.

I just hope that it had the desired affect."

"Oh it most definitely did.

I owe you one man."

"Yeah well I'm sure I'll think of something that you can do to return the favor."

"Anytime man, anytime."

"So other than thanking me what brings you here today?" he asked Nathan.

"I actually have one more small favor to ask.

I was wondering if you could call Haley and tell her that she has to be back at work this week."

"You want me to bring you back to work early?" he asked puzzled.

"I would have thought that you would be taking advantage of your last week of freedom."

"Yeah well trust me I would love to be doing exactly that but we've encountered a bit of a problem that goes by the name of Josh."

Frank looked up in surprise.

"Josh is here?"

"Yes unfortunately he turned up on her doorstep the other night." Nathan explained.

"So now you want me to tell her that I've decided to overturn your suspensions?"

"Well yeah," Nathan said as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"I can't make any promises Nate but I'll see what I can do.

We could certainly use you back here.

The team has really struggled in the last couple of weeks."

Nathan's interest was instantly peaked and for the next twenty minutes he grilled Frank on the ins and outs of everything that had occurred in the last two weeks on and off the court.

Back at the house Josh was sitting in the living room watching the TV when Haley walked in a few minutes later.

"Josh I'm starving how about we go out to lunch?"

"That sounds great Haley." Josh agreed slightly surprised by the invitation but secretly pleased as it affirmed his belief that things were definitely going to be ok between them.

They walked out to the car and climbed in heading to the café that Brooke and Haley had gone to for lunch just a few weeks ago. It was a strange experience going in there with Josh with the memories of her lunch with Nathan, Lucas and Brooke still so fresh in her mind. She did her best to push those thoughts aside and concentrated instead on enjoying her time with Josh. She knew she had been unfair in her actions towards him since he had arrived and was determined to make more of an effort with him for his remaining time in Tree Hill.

"So what would you like to eat?" Haley asked as Josh perused the menu.

He made his selection and Haley went up to order for them both. After doing so she made her way back to the table where he sat waiting for her.

"How have things been back in Chicago?" she asked realizing she hadn't even inquired about their home since she had seen him.

"Everything has been fine but not the same without you."

He chatted on about his work and Haley listened attentively unaware of the entrance of another diner. Deb spotted the two almost immediately and gasped in surprise.

Why is Haley here with another man?

Who is he?

Picking out a booth where Haley would be unlikely to see her she sat watching with curiosity. As she watched Haley and the as yet unknown man she saw her laugh at something he said and leaned into him placing a hand on his arm. The man caught her hand in his and brought it to his lips kissing her fingertips. Deb by now was very confused. Haley was apparently very familiar with the man and yet she and Nathan had told her only a matter of weeks ago that they were giving their relationship another go.

Thinking back to that night she suddenly realized that Haley hadn't actually said anything. Nathan had been the one telling her that they were getting back together and the more she thought about it the more obvious it seemed that Haley had been extremely uncomfortable about Nathan's pronouncement. There was something going on here that obviously she had not been told about and it made her very uneasy about the situation and her son's future with the woman he truly loved.

As she watched another man approached the table and she tried to remember where she had seen his face before. She was sure she knew him but could not quite place where she knew him from.

Haley looked up as a voice called her name.

"Miss James, just the person I was looking for."

"Mr. Logan," she said surprised to see him.

"Now, now Miss James there's no need to stand on formality outside of the school. I'll call you Haley and you will call me Frank."

"Um ok Frank," Haley said uncomfortably. "So why were you looking for me?"

"I just wanted to let you know that I'll be expecting you at school tomorrow morning as usual."

Josh was looking at the other man quizzically obviously wondering why this man had felt the need to seek out Haley and tell her something that should have been already known by her.

"Tomorrow?" Haley asked puzzled "But…."

"Tomorrow Haley, don't be late. Now I'll leave you to enjoy your lunch. See you in the morning."

Haley watched the principal walk away wondering what had happened to cause his change of heart. She had a feeling that Nathan was somehow involved but couldn't understand how he could possibly be responsible for this when he himself had been suspended also. Looking back at Josh she forced her thoughts away from Nathan and back onto the man sitting opposite her..

"Who was that Haley?"

"That was Frank Logan. Tree Hill High's principal." she responded.

"Does he usually find the need to find you on a Sunday afternoon to tell you to be at work the next day?"

Haley laughed off his question she could hardly tell him that for the last two weeks she had been suspended for unprofessional behaviour especially when that behaviour involved making out with Nathan in the janitor's closet at her place of work. No she definitely couldn't tell him that.

"He's just a little demanding. He sometimes mistakes us staff for the student population and assumes we're a touch incompetent and unable to manage our own lives.It's just how he is."

She knew her excuse was hollow and was relieved that Josh seemed to have bought it at least for now. The rest of their lunch passed with the sense of easy familiarity that had always been present between them in the past. Haley had succeeded in pushing all thoughts of Nathan out of her mind at least temporarily and was remembering how much she enjoyed spending time with Josh and why.

Deb remained where she was watching them until they left and then quickly stood walking to the window where she would have a clear view of the departing pair. She wanted to witness the manner in which they farewelled each other before she jumped to any definite conclusions about the behaviour she had thus far observed between the two.

As she watched they both climbed into Haley's car with the man driving and Deb felt all her hopes plummet at the sight. To her that more than proved what she had suspected but had hoped would prove to be untrue. Haley and this man were obviously seeing each other. They had come to the café together, had acted very familiar with each other throughout their lunch including casual touching and now the final nail in the coffin he had been driving Haley's car.

Now perhaps it was old fashioned of Deb to think this way but in her experience a man only ever drove a woman's car if they were involved or the woman was somehow incapacitated to be able to drive herself. Deb knew from watching that there had been nothing that would have prevented Haley from driving herself had she so chosen. Grabbing her bag she quickly left the café and headed for home anxious to speak to her son.

Pulling into the driveway twenty minutes later with a heavy heart Deb remained where she was in the car for a moment trying to decide exactly how she should broach this news with Nathan. The last thing she ever wanted to do was upset him but he deserved to know the truth and as his mother she was the one who should break it to him.

Letting herself in the front door she found Nathan whistling to himself as he made a sandwich for lunch.

Oh God how can I do this?

He's so happy right now.

Taking a deep breath she approached the bench.

"Nate honey I uh need to talk to you.

Nathan looked up at his mother and grinned.

"Sure mom anything particular you wanted to talk about? Or is this just one of those general chat things?"

She hesitated a moment before speaking.

Nathan looked at her face and immediately became worried.

"Mom are you ok? Has something happened? Is it Dad?"

His questions came thick and fast and Deb took a moment to digest them before speaking.

"No Nathan I didn't mean to scare you it's nothing like that."

"Well then what is it?" he asked her his concern still clearly evident.

Deb wished for a moment that she didn't have to be the one to tell him but she pushed those selfish thoughts aside and instead concentrated on her son and the devastating news she was about to impart.

"Nate you have no idea how much I wish that I didn't have to tell you this but there's something you need to know. I was out for lunch today and I saw Haley."

"Yeah?" Nathan said quizzically clearly puzzled at why his mother seemed so distressed about telling him this.

Then suddenly the reason for his mother's obvious anxiety hit him and he smiled at her reassuringly.

"Wait was she there with Josh? Is that what this is all about?"

Deb was stunned.

Could it be possible that Nathan already knew about the other man in Haley's life?

"Uh I don't know the name of the man she was with but she was there with another man…. She trailed off uncertainly. "Are you saying that you already knew about this?" she asked completely thrown by the turn this conversation was taking.

She had expected to be comforting him and reassuring him that things would work out in the end and instead she found him to be acting almost blasé about the whole situation.

"Of course I knew." Nathan said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Oh," Deb replied in a small voice completely at a loss for words.

"Mom stop looking so worried everything's going to be fine."

Deb regained the use of her voice in a hurry in the face of that pronouncement.

"Nathan how can you say that? Haley is involved with another man and by the looks of it they have been seeing each other for quite some time."

A small frown of consternation crossed Nathan's face for a moment as he absorbed her words before he brightened once again.

"Mom trust me there is no way Haley and Josh are going to last."

Deb was not prepared tohave her concernsbrushedaside so easily.

"But how can you be so sure?" she pressed wanting some sort of insight into the reasons behind Nathan's confidence.

"Let's just call it intuition." Nathan said before leaving his mother still standing at the bench as he made his way into the den with his sandwich ready for an afternoon spent watching the play offs.

Across town Haley was in the kitchen cooking up a big batch of Bolognese sauce for their dinner.

Realising that Josh had been missing for a while she walked through to the bedroom. When she reached the door she was confronted with the sight of a half filled suitcase sitting on the bed.

"Josh what are you doing?"

"Packing your things," he replied airily "I think its time you came back to Chicago with me."

Haley stared at him in shock this was such an Un-Josh like thing to do.

"What….What are you talking about?" she asked uncertainly.

"Haley you don't have to look so appalled it was a joke. I actually have to leave a little earlier than anticipated. Something has come up and I need to get back to Chicago tonight."

"Oh no," Haley said sounding disappointed.

The truth was she wondered if maybe this could be for the best. Things had been so crazy lately and perhaps some time alone to sort out her feelings was just what she needed. Although she had been totally shocked at first it had actually been wonderful to have Josh here with her and had reminded her of exactly what it was that made their relationship so special. After her time in Barbados with Nathan and now having spent time with Josh she found herself at a very unusual juncture in her life and had no idea how she should possibly proceed. This time alone was going to be just what she needed.

"Well if you really have to leave early then I guess there's nothing I can do but accept it. But I hope you're going to at least stay for dinner. I've made your favourite."

Looking up from his packing Josh smiled his acceptance.

"That sounds great Haley. Just let me finish packing and I'll be right with you."

Haley went back to the kitchen to finish preparing their dinner. As she chopped up the salad she could have sworn she heard Josh's voice murmuring something from the other room. For a moment she stopped wondering if perhaps he was talking to her but the voice continued much the same as it had and Haley realized that he must be speaking to someone on his cell phone. When he joined her a few minutes later he was smiling brightly.

"This smells wonderful Haley."

He sat down at the table and began helping himself to a heaping plateful of the dinner Haley had prepared.

They ate mostly in silence interrupted only occasionally by a comment from one or the other. As the meal went on Josh became slightly withdrawn as he seemed increasingly lost in thought. When they had finished he stood up glancing at his watch.

"I really need to get going soon," he told her "but before I do you and I need to have a bit of a talk."

"Ok," Haley said giggling nervously "what about?"

"Haley I think its time you thought about moving back to Chicago."

Haley looked stunned for a moment before laughing off his comment.

"Oh I get it is this another one of your jokes like earlier with the suitcase?"

"Not exactly Haley. I really think its time that we got married. When I asked you to come back here it was because I felt you had issues that you needed to resolve before we could begin our married life together. Now having been here a few days I am fairly certain I know what those issues were and perhaps still are. But I truly believe that its time for you to lay those old demons to rest and I don't necessarily believe anymore that that is going to happen by you being here."

Haley opened her mouth to speak but Josh held up a hand to halt her.

"Maybe I'm wrong in my assessment of this situation but there is one thing that I am right about and I don't think you can argue with me on this one. It is time to resolve things once and for all. As you know I'm going back to Chicago tonight and I really hope that you will be joining me there soon."

Haley stared down at her feet unsure how she should respond to his impassioned speech.

"I'll do my best." she settled on telling him.

"That's all I can ask," He said "now how about you come and give me a kiss goodbye."

Obediently she walked to him allowing herself to be drawn into the warmth of his embrace.

Leaning down he placed a kiss on her lips.

"Hopefully I'll see you at home soon."

Haley didn't respond instead she watched as he walked to his rental car climbing behind the wheel and with one final wave pulled out of the driveway to make his return to Chicago.

Standing out on the porch she hugged herself guarding against the cold. She knew there was a lot of truth in the words Josh had just spoken and perhaps the time had come to finally exorcise the demons from her past. Entering the house she picked up the phone, pausing for a moment to search her mind for the correct number she dialed it in without any further hesitation.

Hearing the voice answer at the other end she spoke immediately.

"Nathan it's me we need to talk. Be at my house in twenty minutes ok?"

She waited only a moment to hear his affirmative answer before once again hanging up. She sat staring at the phone for a minute hardly daring to believe what she had just done. After so long of keeping it all bottled up the truth was finally about to come out.

Spoiler: Nathan begins to learn the truth about Haley's disappearance.

A.N I'm just giving you the one spoiler for the next chapter because lets face it. Haley's secret coming out is something a lot of you have been waiting for.