Thanks again for the reviews as a thank you, here's another chapter lol :)

As always if you like it REVIEW :)

Thank you all so much, really glad you like it!

- Bethie

Haley defeatedly knocked on the door in front of her, emotionally drained of the days events. A moment passed before the door finally opened. Nathan took the phone from his ear and pulled her into the apartment, "Thank god..." He kissed the top of her head, "I thought you were lying in a ditch somewhere..." He pulled her face away to look into her brown eyes, "Are you ok?"

Almost in a daze Haley answerered, "Ya..." She broke from Nathan's grasp and collapsed on the couch, "I'm fine..."

Nathan followed her, "What-Where have you been all day? I've been calling and calling-"

"I just needed..." She brought her hands up to cover her face, "I don't know what I needed."

Nathan reached out putting his hand on her knee, "I am so sorry about this morning, if I had any idea that they were com-"

Haley cut him off, "I know Nathan...I know, besides...we had another run in about an hour ago..."

"What? Where?"

"It doesn't matter.." She moved her head to give him a light kiss, "It's over that's all that matters."

He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, "Look I was thinking..."

"Oh god..." Haley teased.

"Funny...Look with everything going on" He took a deep breath, "I was thinking...we need a break, we just need to get away...at least for a few days."

Haley lightly laughed, "Nathan that's a great idea...but an impossible one."

"How is it impossible? You don't work until Saturday...and besides you hate that job anyway..."

"Ya I may hate it but I also pretty much just started and I kind of have bills that need paid...rent, phone-"

"I'll help-"

Haley placed a finger over his lips, "We've been over this, I'm not that girl who's going to let her boyfriend-" Haley immediatly stopped.

Boyfriend. Sure they've been seeing each other every day, sure she's been sleeping in his bed, sure they act more like a married couple then either did when they were actually married, but they had yet to use those words. They had yet to commit to a title.

"Boyfriend eh?" Nathan smirked.

Haley shifted upcomfortably, "Ya sorry, just kind of-"

It was now Nathan's turn to place a finger over her lips, "Shut up..." and as he did he shut her up, with his lips, "Now I'm serious...we're going." Nathan jumped off the couch and walked towards the bedroom.

Haley still sat on the couch, "And just where is this little vacation going to be?"

Nathan yelled from the bedroom, "Tree Hill!"

Haley jumped up, "Ohhhh no, we are not doing the "home town, meet the people I went to high school with, say hi to my parents thing", I've met enough parents for one day thank you very much!" Haley leaned against the doorway watching Nathan grab a few bags from his closet.

"You don't have to worry about that..." He threw the bags on the bed, quickly walked over to plant a quick kiss on her and continued over to his dresser, "My parents are in Europe." He stated matter of factly.

Haley moved father in the room, "Nathan this is crazy...we can't just up in leave..."

"Actually that's the beauty of being the girlfriend," He smiled in amusement, "..of a very rich, successful...and can I say devishly handsome, basketball player."

"Nat-"

"Nope. Not gonna hear it. I'm packing my stuff tonight and we'll go over to your place first thing in the morning and this time tomorrow.." He stopped throwing things in one of the bags and grabbed her by the waist, pulling her close, "We'll be alone..." He placed a soft kiss on her lips, "In a beach house..." Another kiss, "...for 3 whole days."

"You are incorrigible..."

"Oh ya?" He pulled the two of them down on the bed, her blonde hair falling around her face, "I promise...you'll love it..."

"What am I gonna do with you?"

He lifted one eyebrow, "I have a few ideas..." He rolled them over so he was no hovering above her.

"This is an idea I can definitely get on board with..."

He lowered his head so their lips once again met, "Good..."

"Now be quiet...Brooke isn't exactly a morning person..." Nathan had booked a nine o'clock flight for the two of them, all they had to do was pick up a few things from Haley's apartment. Haley quietly unlocked the door and the two walked in.

Haley motioned for Nathan to take a seat in the living room and she turned to walk down the hallway, but before she reached the bedroom door it opened and Haley was met, with a very tan, very naked, Julian.

Her hands immediately went to her eyes, "Oh god!"

Julian placed his hands in the appropriate places to cover himself, "Haley!"

Haley turned her head, "I-I'm sorry, god am I sorry! I just needed ah-"

Hearing Haley's voice Nathan quickly ran to the living room and fell into a fit of laughter.

Eyes still covered Haley continued to talk, "Just put something on!"

Julian quickly retreated back to the bedroom but shortly after Brooke emerged wrapped in a bed sheet, "Hey Hales.."

Haley turned, "Hey Hales!?" She lowered her voice, "I thought you hated him!" She stated in a stern whisper.

"Well you'd be amazed at what can happen when you leave two people who hate each other in an apartment alone, with a bottle of vodka and a game of strip poker-"

"Please. Stop. I need to get some things...out of...the...ah room."

"Where ya going?" Brooke inquired, still wrapped in a sheet standing in the doorway.

"I would love to have this conversation with you Brooke, I really would...but I'll echo my words to Julian, put some clothes on!"

"Right." Like Julian had done minutes before, Brooke disappeared behind the door.

A few moments later the two walked out of the bedroom, thankfully for Haley, with clothes on. Haley left them in the living room with Nathan and went to the bedroom to pack a few things.

When Haley came back from the bedroom she found Brooke and Julian asleep on the couch and Nathan looking out one the windows, "You ready?" He asked with a smile.

Haley quietly chuckled at the site before her, "I guess they didn't get much sleep last night..."

Nathan moved over to her, "Neither did we but" He began leaving soft kisses around her neck line, "I guess we can sleep on the plane."

"Sounds perfect," She took his hand in hers, "Let's go...I'll call her and fill her in when we land."

The flight went smoothly and they landed in Tree Hill, North Carolina about three hours later. After collecting their baggage from the claim area and renting a car, they were on the road to the beach house about forty-five minutes after that.

"This is beautiful Nathan..." Haley exclaimed looking at the view from the passenger side of the car.

Nathan reached out and placed a hand on her thigh, "I thought you might like it..."

"How long until we get to the house?"

"Not long now, about a minute or so..."

Minutes later Nathan pulled up to one the most beautiful houses Haley had ever seen. It took her breath away, "This...THIS is your house?"

Nathan put the car in park and opened his door, "No. This is my parents house...well one of them."

Haley exited her side of the car, "This is amazing..."

Nathan grabbed their bags from the back and walked up the front steps, Haley followed close behind. He opened the door and gestured for her to walk in front of him, the house becoming even more beautiful when you entered it.

The main entrance was huge, with giant stairs leading to the upstairs. A big sky light illuminated over head, sending sunbeams across the marble floor. Off to the right was an even larger living room, surrounded by wall length windows showcasing the ocean view, "Nathan this is insane!"

He dropped their bags in the entrance and walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, "Good I'm glad you like it."

Haley turned to face him, "Like it? I love it." She reached up and gave him a light kiss, "So where do we sleep?"

Haley followed him up the big staircase both carrying a few bags. When they reached the end of the hall he opened the double doors that led into the biggest bedroom Haley had ever seen, "And what did you say your father did for a living?" Haley playfully asked while collapsing on the over sized bed, "This is paradise..."

Nathan followed in her actions, collapsing on top of her, "Why did you think I wanted to bring you here."

"Mmm...I can think of a few reasons..." Haley answered while pulling his t-shirt over his head. She took in the sight of him as if it were the first time she was looking at him.

Chris was an attractive man, but the complete opposite of Nathan. Nathan was...in every sense of the word a man.

She pulled him closer to her as the two christened the house she hoped she would return to often.

Later that afternoon, Haley woke in the bedroom, shadows danced off the walls as she turned to the window to see the setting sun over the ocean. An immediate smile formed on her face. She found Nathan's t-shirt on the floor and pulled it over to cover her naked body. The over sized shirt falling to her knees. She walked out of the room, "Nathan?" Her voice echoed throughout the house.

She walked down the stairs and found the man she was looking for at the stove. His shirtless frame was leaned up against the counter, his black gym shorts placed perfectly around his hips, "Hey you..."

She walked into his frame and soaked in the smell of him, "What are you doing?"

"I was hungry..." He grabbed a piece of the already cooked bacon and handed it to her.

"Breakfast at..." She looked at the clock on the microwave, "7 o'clock?" She gladly took the food and hopped up on the counter placing herself between his legs.

He too grabbed a piece, "Oh, it's the only time to eat it..." His free hand wrapped around her, "So...Ms. James what would you like to do with all this free time we have?"

"I thought we already decided that..." She seductively answered placing small kisses across his chest, "and I couldn't help but notice how many rooms were in this house..."

"Oh yea? Well I was thinking about the..." He lifted her lips to meet his and continued to speak between each kiss, "The nice...heated...pool...we have out back."

Haley jokingly raised an eyebrow, "I think I can get on board with that..."

She hopped off the counter and took a step away from him but Nathan quickly grabbed her hand, "Where do you think your going?"

"To get my suit..."

He pulled her closer, "Who said anything about suits? I told you..." He once again kissed her lips, "..it's heated."

Haley began a fit of giggles as Nathan picked her up and carried her out to the pool.

Yes. This was something she could definitely get used to.

The two of them spent the rest of the night and the early morning hours making love in every room they could find. Enjoying every inch of each other, never wanting the way they felt to end.

With everything they both had endured, it was a much needed change. Before the trip Haley was on the brink of a melt down and the fact that Nathan had realized that, even made Haley's heart fall harder. To have someone know what she wanted before she wanted it, was in a word...perfect.

The events with Rachel's parents, the memory of Chris' father...all the subdued guilt they both felt, was placed on the back burner. For at least a few days they could just be with each other, no stress, no explanations....just them.

In the living room they lay surrounded by the scattered clothing, pillows and blankets across the floor. Pops from the wood in the fireplace, joined by the sound of the waves that crashed into the shore outside filled the room.

Haley made circles across his bare chest and his fingers tangled themselves throughout her hair, "Haley..." His voice was soft and uncertain.

"Ya?" She answered without raising her head to him.

For a moment there was silence, she could only hear and feel his heart beating faster as her head lay upon his chest, "I-ah..."

"What?"

"I love you." The words finally stumbling out.

Silence. The hand that had been tracing circles, was now completely still.

"I know...it's soon. I know..it's crazy, but I do. I knew the moment you came to my house that first night. Through all the yelling.." He softly laughed, "I saw this girl. This beautiful, amazing, hurt girl...and as we were standing there...and we talked about the crash...and all the things wrong in our life...I thought to myself...even though I had no idea who you were...I could love this girl...and...I do. But I realize it's soon and if you don't-"

For the first time Haley lifted her head and smiled, "Shut up..." She moved on top of him, crashing her lips on his. His hand moved up her bare back to again get tangled in her hair. The kiss deepening still, Haley finally lifted for air, looking into his sapphire eyes, "I am-" Tears filled her eyes, "So in love you..."

Nathan couldn't control himself anymore, pulling her back to him, he held onto her like if he let go she would some how disappear.

For the first time in his life, he understood the meaning of bliss.

Let me know!!!

- Bethie