Okay . . . well, it seems as if there actually are some people enjoying this story, which is great. I like it when people like my stuff. So I'll keep writing.

Thank you to my reviewers – krizue, Duckygirl, Nataliegirl1214, Valencia Charmaine, boombaibe, lilmonkeygirl31, NaLeYBaBiixo. I really appreciate your comments, please keep them coming. The next three or four chapters (which are already mapped out), should answer your questions about what, exactly, happened.

About Six and a Half Years Earlier

"I'm not lying, Nathan! I came back for you! I love you! I don't want to be anywhere else, with anybody else. Nobody else, Nathan. Nobody but you. Not ever."

"I don't believe you, Haley." Nathan turned, and his blue, blue eyes were clear, and calm, and focused.

"I won't believe you."

Haley's eyes closed, her head reared back. "Please, Nathan. Please believe me. Please let me come home."

Nathan's gaze was firm, unemotional.

"No."

And he turned, beginning to walk away.

"Nathan – " there was desperation in that voice, once so beloved. "Nathan! I have nowhere to go! You are home to me!"

Nathan paused, and turned back to face his distraught wife. His face was sardonic, pitiless.

"Nowhere, huh? Why not go to the man you love, Haley. Because you obviously never loved me, not with that baby in your belly." His gaze slipped to the burgeoning waistline half hidden by the clever cut of her top.

Haley's eyes widened.

"Baby? Your baby, Nathan!"

Nathan's head shook slowly, definitely. "Not my baby, Haley. Not mine, not when you haven't told me. Not when you haven't spoken to me or touched me in five and a half months. Not when Chris Keller admits on live television that he's in love with you. Not when every time you and I have made love - " he paused " – had sex, we used protection."

"Not mine, Haley."

He turned away again, finality in every line of his body.

"Don't come back, Haley."

A sob ripped through her body, and she sank to the ground, her legs unable to support her, her hands resting on the slight swell of her abdomen.

And he was gone.

"I told you he was a dick, baby."

Haley glared at Chris.

"I told you to stop calling me that. And, for that matter, stop calling him that, too. Nathan is not a dick."

"No?"

Haley's voice wobbled. "Well, no, not really. He's just stupid, and he doesn't trust me, and he doesn't love me anymore."

"Exactly. A dick."

Haley looked up from her contemplation of her hands, resting on her swollen belly. She gave a faint smile.

"Thank you, Chris."

"What for?"

"For being there. For being here. For understanding."

Chris's eyes softened. "Look, babe, this is my fault too, you know? If I hadn't admitted in that interview – "

Haley's voice hardened. "It was a joke, Chris, and Nathan should've understood that."

Chris shook his head. "It wasn't a joke, Haley. And Nathan knew that, even if you didn't."

Haley's gaze was shocked. "You're in love with me?"

Chris smiled wryly.

"Who isn't?"

At that, Haley started sobbing. Chris leapt from his seat and enfolded her in his arms, rubbing her back soothingly.

"Oh, babe, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything - "

"I like you, Chris, but that's as far as it goes. That's as far as it'll ever go. And if Nathan couldn't trust me enough to understand that, to understand that I would never lie to him, that I would never betray him, then it doesn't matter how much I love him. Because now I can't trust him."

She looked up at Chris, determination on her face and in her eyes.

"That's it, Chris. I can't take this any more. My baby can't take this any more. We'll be fine on our own."

Chris nodded, decisively.

"No problem, baby. Who needs Nathan Scott, after all?"

Three Months Later

Haley lay in her hospital bed, exhausted. The labour had been long, and hard, and now she had a baby daughter to think about.

A daughter she had yet to name.

And a husband she had yet to inform that he was a father.

Her cell phone clutched in her hand, her gaze on the daughter lying in a bassinet next to her bed, face still red and wrinkled, and so tiny, Haley sat.

Her fingers found the number by touch, and the phone began to ring.

And ring.

"Hey, this is Nathan. I don't listen to messages, but if it's really important, I might hit you back."

Haley sighed as the beep sounded.

"Um. Nathan. Just to let you know, my baby – our baby – was born today. She's perfect, and you should meet her. Please come, Nathan. We need to talk."

Haley hung up, and waited.

And waited.

He never came.

So the story is starting to emerge. Anybody have any ideas as to what is going to happen?

Please read and review – I really appreciate any comments.