A.N I'm back. The week from hell has continued and if anything has actually gotten worse but hey shit happens. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter. I have a sneaking suspicion you will. Especially if Jess' comments are anything to go by when she read it a few minutes ago. Now I do have to let you know that there is an adult warning for this chapter so if for any reason you are uncomfortable reading anything of a sexual nature I would advise you to skip this chapter. I'm sure now that I've said that though its only going to make you all even more keen to read it. LOL. What can I say this chapter started off with me only going to have them kiss and things kind of escalated. Anyway enjoy and hopefully you'll all leave me lots of nice long reviews.

Chapter Forty-three

Nathan stood watching Haley from the doorway, relishing the fact that she was unaware of his presence. She sat on the sofa crooning softly to the infant in her arms. They had been caring for Cory for about two weeks now and while it still stung at times seeing her with a baby in her arms he was slowly becoming accustomed to the sight. He couldn't help though but be reminded of what or more to the point who was missing from this scenario. Schapelle would have been four years old by now and for the past weeks he had been plagued with images of an active little girl with his dark hair and Haley's sparkling eyes. Those eyes like Haley's would have been brown with flecks of gold surrounded by impossibly long lashes. In his mind he knew that she would have had her mother's inquisitive nature and insatiable curiosity about life but most often the image of her that he had in his mind came complete with a mischievous smirk which she would have undoubtedly inherited from him.

On some occasions those thoughts would bring a wistful smile to his face but more often than not they produced a pang that echoed deep within his soul and it was those times that he seriously questioned what he was doing here at all. Why did he put himself through this agony? Yet for some reason he was unable to drag himself away. At first he had told himself that he was only in the house with Haley for Cory and to fulfil the wishes of his brother and sister-in-law but although he could not put his finger on the precise moment that it had happened he knew something within him had changed. There had been a gradual softening of his attitude towards Haley.

Maybe it came about from seeing Haley with Cory, maybe the knowledge that she was once again carrying his child but he knew there was no other place he would choose to be right now. No matter how hard it was and how much had happened in their past the simple fact was that in just a few months they were going to be parents and he was determined not to miss a single moment of it. He wasn't kidding himself he knew the chances that things could ever get back to what they had once been between them were slim but he also knew that they had to make an effort for the sake of their child. If nothing else they would be friends.

As he watched Cory waving his arms around he saw his tiny fist slip inside the top of her shirt exposing the creamy flesh of her breast and his breath caught in his throat. He felt a rush of blood go straight to his groin as he heard her gentle laugh and watched as she disentangled his hand from the material of her shirt. Moving to stand she bent placing Cory on a rug on the floor and moved a mobile over him smiling down at him as his eyes fastened on the brightly coloured farm animals dangling above him. Nathan wanted nothing more than to walk into that room at that moment and join her, share in the obvious joy she felt watching the child but he couldn't force his feet to move.

He wondered sadly if this was how it would be with their child. Would he feel this sense of isolation, of being cut off from what was happening? She straightened then a protective hand covering her bulging stomach and for a moment a flash of concern appeared in her eyes before being replaced by a smile of such wonder that for a moment it paralysed him. Then almost as if his feet had a mind of their own he was walking into the room, going to stand in front of her. She looked momentarily shocked to see him and then without a single word she reached out to take his hand in hers bringing it to rest against her stomach. He stared at her stunned wondering what had led her to such a bold movement after so long with no contact between them and then he felt it, the slightest little flutter of movement against his hand.

"Whoa," he said his eyes fixing on her in stunned amazement "is that what I think it is?"

She smiled at him gently "I don't know Nathan what do you think it is?"

"Is that our baby?" he asked almost timidly.

Haley had never in her life heard him sound timid and she really didn't know what to make of it now.

She looked up at him and found his eyes staring down into hers. It was such a strange sensation to be standing so close to him once again, when just weeks ago she hadn't even been sure if they would ever be in the same room together again. She couldn't drag her gaze away from his eyes that were boring down into hers. They were such an intense blue at that moment and she felt as if she was drowning in them. She could feel the warmth of his palm through the thin material of her shirt as his hand continued to rest against her stomach. The baby had ceased its movements but Nathan's hand had remained where it was his fingers moving rhythmically against her.The feel of her warm flesh through the thin barrier of clothing was almost more than he could bare and he briefly considered jerking his hand away from her while he still had some sort of control over his senses however minor that control was, but still his hand remained.She could feel her shirt beginning to ride up with the incessant stroking motion and then came the scrape of his warm fingers against her flesh and she felt herself gasp. God what was he doing to her. He dipped his head down to speak huskily in her ear.

"You feel so good."

Her breath caught in her throat and still she continued to stare at him wordlessly. Once again he ducked his head this time bringing his mouth to her neck in a light kiss. She grabbed onto his other arm for support as a shudder passed through her and she looked up to see the smallest of smirks on his lips and knew that he was completely aware of the effect he was having on her.

Struggling for rational thought she decided that it was time to give him a taste of his own medicine. Lightly she trailed her fingers up his arm before removing her hand and bringing it to the hem of his shirt, sliding her fingers under it she traced the waistband of his jeans and was rewarded with the sound of his sharp intake of breath and a low moan spilling forth from his lips. A smile of feminine pride graced her lips as she revelled in the effect she could still have on him. Looking up at him she could see the way he was watching her mouth and she bit her bottom lip nervously, his eyes darkened at her unconscious movement before he bent his head capturing her lips with his own and tracing the outline of her lips with his tongue silently begging for entrance. She parted them obligingly and he sucked gently on her injured lower lip for a moment before taking advantage of the access to her mouth that he had been granted. His tongue entered her mouth feverishly clashing with hers in an erotic dance. He heard the groan low in her throat and removing his hand from her stomach wrapped his arm around her pulling her in closer to his body, wanting to feel every curve of her body pressed up against him as closely as possible.

Bringing both hands down to her ass he cupped it gently before lifting her slightly so she was pressed more intimately against him. Raising one leg she hooked it around the back of his thighs wanting to feel him even closer against her. She could feel the evidence of his arousal pulsating against her and it only served to excite her more. Her hands roamed his back underneath his shirt unable to get enough of the feel of his heated skin against her fingertips. Pulling back from her slightly he pulled his shirt over his head and immediately felt her mouth on his chest placing open mouthed kisses to his skin. He lifted her up so that both of her legs were now wrapped around his waist and made his way to the sofa, lying on top of her. One hand came around to her thigh sliding underneath her skirt and tracing tantalising patterns on her upper leg gradually making his way higher until he felt the silky material of her panties.He slid a finger underneath the material and groaned.

"Oh you're so wet."

She pushed herself against his hand wanting him to further the contact, wanting to feel a part of him inside of her. Obligingly he rubbed his finger against her feeling her writhe in pleasure beneath him. His finger moved to her entrance pausing for a moment as he stroked at the folds of flesh encasing her. He could feel his erection growing with every second and it was becoming almost uncomfortable for his lower half to remain clothed. As if sensing his discomfort Haley's small hands eagerly tugged at the zipper of his pants feverishly pulling them from his body.

"Whoa," he said the voice of rationality finally filtering through to his senses, "hold on I don't have anything to use."

She laughed up at him wickedly "What are you worried about Nathan? Scared I might get pregnant."

He smiled at her before bending his head to once again capture her lips in a soul destroying kiss.

She felt him moving above her positioning himself to enter her and held her breath in anticipation. Looking up at him she put a gentle hand up to his face wanting him to look at her as he entered. She wanted them to be connected not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well as he placed himself inside of her. He stared deeply into her eyes and she smiled encouragingly not sure she could wait another moment. She could feel him poised at her entrance and thrust herself slightly against him insistently wanting him right then.

"Nathan please," she begged, "I want you now. I need you."

The shrill ringing of the telephone jolted them from their moment as Nathan glared at the offending piece of technology. Haley started trying to get up but he pushed her back.

"Ignore it," he commanded her "the machine can get it."

"I can't Nathan what if it's Brooke? What if something's happened?"

He stared at her for a moment before rolling off her disappointment in having their moment interrupted blatantly displayed on his face. Reaching for the phone he hit the button that would allow him to answer.

"Yeah," he barked. "What do you want?" He listened for a moment then responded with a curt "We'll be there." Looking over at Haley who had sat up from her position on the couch and resituated her clothes he grimaced. "Lucas is being released tomorrow. They want us to pick him up."

"Oh," Haley said trying to focus on his words but all of her attention was focused on his mouth as he spoke.

Looking at the phone in his hand he sighed. "Probably just as well this rang when it did or who knows what we might have done." He walked away from her unable to remain standing there with her looking at him the way she was. He knew if she kept looking at him like that then he would be unable to take any responsibility for his actions. Entering the kitchen he stood at the bench his hands planted firmly on the counter breathing hard.

Haley stood up from the couch glancing down at Cory as she remembered his presence in the room. He had fallen asleep on the rug and she smiled down at him. "Cory Angel it's probably just as well you were asleep for that. Now can you do me a little favour and just remain asleep just a little longer?" Smiling to herself she walked to the kitchen where Nathan stood with his back to her. She could see the effort he was going through to try and regain control and felt a sense of pride that she could render him so defenceless to the cravings of his own body. This attraction between them had always been so strong it was like lightening rods unable to stay away from each other. She had seen the look in his eyes after the phone call and knew that he had wanted nothing more than to rejoin her on the couch but he was fighting it.

She smiled impishly just because he wasn't completely ready to go there again just yet that didn't mean that she couldn't have her fun. Silently she walked up behind him resting a hand on his naked back. He had wasted as little time as possible redressing and wore only a pair of jeans riding low on his hips still partially unbuttoned. He jerked at her touch turning to look at her. Still wearing the smile she traced her hand around his upper body before taking him by surprise and sliding her hand down inside his jeans stroking him gently. He jolted in shock but before he could gather himself she was gone walking out of the kitchen humming lightly to herself. He started to go after her and then heard the sound of Cory soft wails and knew that the moment had been lost.

Picking up Cory from the floor she smiled down at him. "Your uncle Nate isn't going to be able to resist much longer Cory but I'm going to have some fun playing with him in the meantime."