Nathan4Haley Yes well I had a bit to make up for after making you guys wait so long for me to update so I will be doing my damnedest to make sure I can update at least another few chapters this week. I'm so glad that you enjoyed it. Your reviews are always so appreciated by me. Yes Josh is a freak but it was actually a lot of fun to write. Haley definitely needed to get out of there and well what can I say if there is one person you can count on to tell Haley how it is than it would have to be Brooke. Glad you enjoyed the chapter and I'll look forward to hearing what you think of this one too.

hilaryhilary Well I'll sleep better tonight knowing that I'm back on your good side.

hesfadedme I'm blushing. Glad you're still enjoying it. You really know how to boost a girl's ego.

famousindafuture Thanx for the Fourth Of July wishes although to be perfectly honest having grown up in Australia and lived the last couple of my adult years in England I wouldn't have even known that it was a special day. Anyway I'm glad you're still enjoying the story. Poor Josh well I guess he had to have a flaw didn't he. But I guess it does release Haley from any sense of guilt she may have otherwisefelt. Not sure I can fulfil your Brooke request just yet but I can assure you that there are some shocks in store where she is concerned. By the way I want an update on your story.

RoseRows Your wait is over to find out what is happening with Nathan. Hopefully this chapter will explain exactly that. Yes we could all do with a friend like Brooke. Lucky for you that you have someone who fits the bill. Well I'll keep the updates coming as frequently as possible if you keep reviewing. How's that for a deal?

Britt Your wait is over. Hope that wasn't too long for you. Anyway this chapter should fill in the blanks on what has been going on with Nathan.

JennaThanx for the congrats and I can only hope that you are right about the 400. That would be something pretty special for me. Haley really hasn't been having any luck lately. Poor darling if only she knew what I still had planned for her. This chapter should answer some of your questions regarding Nate and Lucas.Hope you enjoy it.

TinyDancer7 Hey Amanda glad you're back. I was worried with the long hiatus that I might lose some of you and you know I'd miss your super long reviews. Nate and Haley have a lot of issues to work through although just how they manage to do that and when remains to be seen. I love how in your reviews you always try to see behind what I am writing and find the underlying messages about how they are feeling. There is a lot more of this story to come so don't expect any easy fixes for the two of them but I do promise not to let Haley stay away for too long.

nathenlover Glad that you are still enjoying it. I'm not making any promises but I think you will find it worth sticking with this one to the end for the kind of ending you are looking for. Hope you enjoy this chapter too.

A.N You guys rock. Those reviews were awesome. This chapter is dedicated to Jess who is writing the most brilliant Brucas story ever. It's called A Woman's Worth and is totally fabulous. Plus she has still been letting me know her thoughts on my chapters even when she doesn't get a chance to review. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter. It should give you a bit more of an insight into our favourite Split Personality Nathan. Well judging by some of the reviews I've been getting it would seem some of you do believe that he's completely whacked at the moment. Let's hope redemption is afoot somewhere in this story. Although after this chapter you may not be so sure. Don't forget to review and tell me what you think.

Chapter Twenty-eight

When Nathan pulled into his drive the next morning he found Lucas waiting for him. Groaning he stepped out of the car walking quickly up the path and attempting to brush past his brother not wanting to have the conversation that he knew was brewing.

"Nathan man you have to talk to me about this."

"No Luke you know what. I really don't. It's none of your damn business anyway."

"Yeah try telling that to Brooke," Lucas muttered to himself.

Nathan however had heard his words and turned back to him anger distorting his normally handsome features.

"Well you can tell Brooke to mind her own damn business this has nothing to do with her or with you for that matter so why don't you both just butt out."

Lucas opened his mouth to speak but Nathan's vitriol continued.

"Just who the hell do you two think you are acting like you're our fucking saviors or something? Riding in to save the fucking day. Well you know what Luke I don't need you saving me ok. Everything is exactly how it should be as far as I'm concerned and personally I wouldn't give a fuck if I never lay eyes on her again. Speaking of which why don't you get the hell out of here too. Run home to your perfect little life with your perfect wife. You really shouldn't be here. Just go home and be with your pregnant wife."

Lucas remained where he was waiting for the torrent of words to cease before quietly continuing.

"First off don't ever let me hear you speak about my wife like that again and secondly if everything is so fine then why the hell can't you look at me while you say it not to mention the fact that you won't even say Haley's name." Although he spoke quietly Nathan could hear the meaning behind his words and knew he had made a mistake speaking about Brooke that way to him.

Lucas saw the flash of pain shoot through Nathan's eyes at the mention of her name but he quickly masked it.At that momentNathan wished he could be anywhere but there right now. What he wouldn't give to be miles away just chilling out with a beer and a few of his buddies. Yeah they would go down the coast and go swimming, check out all the hot girls swanning around in their bikinis but the mere thought of the beach instantly conjured memories of Barbados and Haley wearing that bikini. Shaking his head to clear his mind of those images he once again focused his attention back onto Lucas.

"Look man I didn't mean that the way it sounded you know I adore Brooke and I'm really happy for you that you've been able to get such a great life going for yourself but you just have to understand that it's just not in the cards for me at the moment. Maybe it will be one day in the future but I can tell you right now that it just ain't going to happen for me and Haley." He visibly blanched again as her name spilled forth from his lips. "I really don't want to talk about it anymore man. All I want right now is to go inside and get some sleep."

He started to move past Lucas once more but was halted by his older brother's hand clamping down on his shoulder.

"Not so fast," Lucas said. "I totally understand what you're saying but I'm afraid that that just isn't good enough. Whether you want to or not you are going to tell me what the hell happened."

Nathan opened his mouth to interrupt but Lucas ignored him and continued. "You leave town, Tim gets attacked in LA whichif the media are to be believed was by someone that he knewand then Haley decides to take off. Are you honestly going to try and tell me that this is all just some sort of coincidence?"

Lucas had been watching Nathan the entire time he had been speaking and had seen the way his mouth tightened into a grim line at the mention of Tim's name.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Nathan said abruptly looking everywhere but at his brother.

"The hell you don't," Lucas exploded. "What do you think I'm blind or maybe you just doubt my intelligence because I can tell you right now that anyone with an IQ above 30 would be able to see right through you at this moment? So why don't you just quit with the act now because you aren't fooling anyone least of all me. So are you going to tell me or should I have Brooke phone Haley again or perhaps I should give Tim a call and see what the hell he has to say about this whole situation."

"Tim will keep his mouth shut if he knows what's good for him," Nathan said menacingly. Despite his apparent interest in Lucas' comment about Tim his mind had immediately latched onto the information that Brooke had spoken to Haley. He would have liked nothing better than to find out exactly what had been said between the two women but could not find the necessary courage to ask. To be honest he was scared of what Lucas might say. He knew that he had been unnecessarily harsh with Haley the day before but he just couldn't bear to even hear her voice knowing what had occurred all those years ago. Logically he knew that Haley was not to blame for what Tim's actions had beenbut the simple fact was that with everything that had happened she had never once tried to talk to him about it and because of that he had never had the chance to see or hold his daughter and now it was too late. His heart clenched as he thought of the baby daughter that he had never known. She had obviously lacked the confidence in him to tell him what had happened and allow him to help her through it.

That was what hurt him most of all the fact that the woman who had agreed to be his wife, the woman he had envisaged himself spending the rest of his life with had not had enough faith in him to come to him when she was in trouble. What did that say about him when his own fiancée didn't believe in him enough to think that he would be able to come through for her in a time of crisis? He had failed Haley and his daughter when they needed him the most and for that he could never forgive himself. Nathan hung his head staring at his feet as Lucas once again began to speak.

"Nathan just talk to me man. Tell me what the hell happened between you and Haley and what it has to do with Tim and don't bother denying that Tim is involved because I've seen the look in your eyes every time his name is mentioned. So what happened? Did Haley cheat on you with Tim?"

Nathan's head jerked up at his words and without warning he lunged towards Lucas pinning him against the wall his forearm pressed against his brother's throat "Don't say that." he said his voice coming out as nothing more than a choked whisper. "Don't ever say that again."

"Whoa man calm down I didn't mean anything by it."

Nathan backed away from Lucas shaking his head "I'm sorry man I don't know why I did that."

"I'd say it's pretty obvious that I struck a nerve," Lucas said eying him warily as he gingerly rubbed at his throat.

"You really want to know what happened man I'll tell you but trust me this ain't no fairytale. So if you're looking for a nice bedtime story I suggest you look elsewhere."

"I'm not after a fucking fairytale Nate all I want is the truth whatever that may be."

Nathan walked to the steps at the front of the house sitting down; Lucas followed sitting a few steps above him.

"You remember that night that you and Brooke were fighting and she had that party at her place just before graduation?"

"Yeah," Lucas said cautiously clearly unsure of where Nathan was heading with this conversation.

Nathan stood from his sitting position and began pacing back and forth in front of Lucas.

"Well after you and Brooke went out that night Tim was still there and Haley was left alone in the house with him. He convinced Haley to have a drink with him and he put something in her drink."

"Wait what are you talking about? Are you saying Tim raped Haley?"

"Yeah well to cut a long story short that's exactly what I'm saying."

"Why didn't Haley say something when we got back? I would have beaten his ass, she must have known that."

"I don't think she wanted anyone to know man. I guess she was scared that I might blame her or something."

Lucas was staring at Nathan incredulously almost as if he could not believe his own ears. He opened his mouth to speak but then closed it again as there were simply no words for that moment. Nathan paused in his pacing coming to a stop in front of his brother. He looked Lucas square in the eye.

"There's more Lucas."

Lucas looked up at him and a sliver of dread entered his eyes as the possibilities of what may have happened flashed one after another through his mind.

"What do you mean more, what else could possibly have happened?" Lucas' voice had a tremulous note as if even though he was asking the question he was not totally certain that it was one that he wanted the answer to.

Nathan's voice lowered an octave and Lucas had to strain to catch his words.

"She was pregnant man. She left because she was pregnant and she didn't know who the father was and apparently I was such a failure as a fiancé that she couldn't even come to me and talk to me about it. Instead she ran away and did it all alone."

Lucas' gasp was audible as the first words left Nathan's mouth. He madly searched his mind for any words that could possibly be used in this situation. But none would come. This was hardly an everyday occurrence, having your brother explain that his ex had been raped and had left town as a result of pregnancy.

As he absorbed everything his younger brother had just told him it occurred to him that he was still missing a vital piece of information.

"Nate man what happened to the baby?"

Nathan emitted a sound that seemed much like a sob before once again bringing himself under control.

"She died Luke, my baby girl died and I never even knew she existed."

"You mean she was…"

"Yeah Luke the baby was mine but because of Haley's selfishness and my own failings as a boyfriend and fiancé I never even knew she existed. What sort of a chump does that make me huh?"

"Nate you are not seriously going to blame yourself for this are you? You had no way of knowing."

"You're damn right I didn't know but the simple fact is that I should have tried harder to find her when she disappeared man but instead I sat around wallowing in my own misery but I sure as hell know that it isn't all my fault either. She chose the selfish way and for that I will never forgive her."

"Nate," Luke tried to intervene.

"Don't you even think about trying to defend her man. Yeah I know she was probably terrified but she knew how much I loved her and not once did she try to come to me and tell me what was going on. Instead she took the cowards way out and took off without a word, not even a measly note and during all those years she never once called to let me know that she was ok or even to see how I was and you want to know why because she didn't give a fuck not about me and sure as hell not about us and the life we had planned. All she ever cared about was herself."

Another voice interjected from behind and Nathan looked up to see his mother standing in the doorway.

"That's not strictly the truth Nathan, Haley has been calling me several times a year ever since she left wanting to know if you were ok."

Nathan's face creased in confusion.

"You mean you knew about all this and you never told me."

"No Nathan, what you just told Lucas came as much of a surprise to me as it did to Lucas. Like I said Haley has called over the years and asked about you but she would never tell me anything about what was happening in her life or where she was."

"What and you didn't think that that was information that I might have wanted to know. I mean my fiancée disappears without a trace, you see me almost going insane looking for her and then one day you get a phone call from her and you don't even think to tell me. Well thanks for nothing Mom."

Deb shifted uncomfortably under her only son's murderous gaze.

"Nathan, I wanted to tell you sweetheart you have no idea how much I wanted to tell you but your father thought it was best for you to just move on with your life and forget about her."

Lucas snorted derisively "Of course, why doesn't that surprise me, sounds like just what we could expect from dear old Dad."

Nathan stood back from them and started clapping his hands loudly.

"Well Bravo it seems that just about everyone has been keeping secrets from me. Are you sure there isn't anything that you want to add Lucas, you know some deep dark secret that you decided I was better off not knowing because apparently everyone knows what's best for me, it's just that no-one actually feels the need to discuss it with me first. So Lucas what have you got for me? Let me guess you're not actually my brother. This whole thing has just been one big farce."

Lucas tried to place a consoling hand onto Nathan's shoulder but Nathan wasn't having any of it. Shrugging him off he stalked away.

"Just leave me alone man,"

"Nathan please," Deb called after him "We only did what we thought was best for you."

"Great Mom, that makes me feel so much better," he threw back sarcastically over his shoulder as he walked to the door, opening it up he stepped inside and slammed it behind him, before opening it again almost immediately "By the way mom I think its about time you went home. So you might want to get your stuff together."

Deb looked at him dumbfounded not quite believing her ears. Was her son actually kicking her out of his house?

"But Nate the house is still being renovated." she protested softly.

"That would be your problem mom, not mine." and with that said he once again slammed the door leaving his shell shocked mother and brother still standing on the front stoop.

Spoilers:- Brooke has asurprise visitor. Nathan gets a wake up call from an unexpected source. Brooke continues to pressure Haley.

A.N One last note if there are any of you out there who are not reading When It Comes can I just say shame on you. LOL. Trust me you are missing out big time. Its by far the best story I've ever read that is not actually published as a novel. Do not be put off by the number of chapters. Read one and I will almost guarantee that you will be as hooked as the rest of us.