Disclaimer: I don't Own One Tree Hill or it's character ::Insert some kind of lame joke about wanting to and road testing Nathan here::

AN: I love my beautiful reviewers! Thank you so much for your help and it honestly does inspire me to write the next chapter, even when I know I really, really shouldn't because I WILL fail my exams. Oh well…

The Con

Chapter Sixteen: Mending Bridges

Haley took a deep breath and played with her hands, waiting for Nathan to respond. She didn't take note of anyone else but only stared into the eyes of the man she loved…

No, she was going to have to get over that. The thought made her laugh bitterly. She bet that no one in the past had had to fall out of love with someone while spending time with them.

"Nathan," she repeated, when he didn't say anything, but instead just stared at her like she was the ghost of Christmas past. Finally she allowed her eyes to sweep over the two other people on the couch beside Nathan and noticed Brooke and Peyton. She gave them a shaky smile. Brooke looked to shocked to do anything, but Peyton surveyed her critically. God, she couldn't Imagine what they must think of her.

Finally Nathan seemed to realise that time was indeed passing, and he leant forward on the chair. "What are you doing here?" He asked, his blue eyes flicking from Haley to the wall behind her, like it was too painful to actually see her. If he was feeling anything like she was, then it was.

Haley looked around the room and then her eyes settled back on Nathan. "We need to talk," she repeated. "In private."

Nathan leaned back on the chair and continued to look at her as if he had been winded. She saw Brooke nudge him subtly.

"Take her into the kitchen, Nate," she muttered, her mouth barely moving. Haley could still hear her in this super-charged state though.

Finally Nathan spurred into action. "Um, well we'll go into the kitchen," he said. "To talk."

His voice was cold and stiff, and Haley visibly flinched. He got up and walked towards the kitchen. Haley's eyes swept one more time around the room. She nodded gratefully at Lucas for letting her in and then followed Nathan.

He waited for her to step in and then shut the door behind her. She leant against the countertop and watched as he paced the floor thoughtfully. She always thought that was jus a comedy thing, but the way Nathan was doing it now was anything but funny.

"Why are you here?" Nathan asked, finally stopping and looking right at her. The pure, raw emotion running through his eyes didn't match with the flat tone of his voice.

"Nathan, I understand that you're upset at the way we left things, but…" Haley started, getting ready to spout off the speech that she had composed in the car on the way over.

"I asked why you were here?" Nathan cuts in, putting my plans out of whack. "I mean, do you want your cell? Is that why you're here?"

"No," Haley whispered, looking down at the floor and realising that she was going to have to be honest about her feelings. It was the only way Nathan was going to let her get through this. Anything less and he would know. "I'm here because I screwed up."

Nathan looked down at the floor and seemed to survey the grey tile. "Yeah," he answered simply.

"I… I was so scared, and I didn't know how else to deal with it," Haley went on. "I mean…"

"Deal with what?" Nathan asked, his cerulean eyes flashing with curiosity.

"How I feel about you," I answer, the strain of all my crying causing my voice to crack.

A jaw plays up in Nathan's jaw that I never noticed before. I still don't know him. Not really. But I love him anyway. How screwed up is that?

"And… and how do you feel about me?" Nathan's voice is so small and vulnerable, and once again a stab of guilt runs through my heart. The only consolation I have is that I can be completely honest with what I say next.

"That… that I care about you. A lot," I answer, my mouth unable to form the word 'love'. Not when I'm going through with the con. "And that... When I'm around you, I feel complete. I've never felt about anybody the way I feel about you, and that scares me, because I like to be in control… and I can't do that when I'm around you."

Nathan takes a step towards me, but I don't let him speak because I'm not finished. This is the part where start lying to him, and I can't be interrupted because if I am I'll just break down.

"But I realise now that I was running away from being happy. I was running away from being with you and that's not the way I should do this. I need to face up to it because a life without control is a lot less appealing than a life without you."

I realise that tears are running down my cheek and wipe them with my wrist as I stare at Nathan through fuzzy eyes. He is looking up at the ceiling with his hands in his pockets. Anything but loo at me.

"I know I hurt you Nate," I say, my voice not as strong as I would like it to be. "And I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am, but I really, really want you to forgive me… no, I need you to forgive me."

Nathan finally looks down at me and his eyes are a marble-effect of emotion - pain, loss, regret, hope, anger, betrayal, love.

"Are you going to say something?" I ask, casting hopeful eyes upon him. He shakes his head slowly.

I go to open my mouth again - I don't know what to say, a thousand sorries, perhaps? - but Nathan completely closes the space between us and lowers his mouth onto mine, his hands cupping my cheeks. I lose myself into that kiss, letting all my guilt and heartbreak and love into it.

When Nathan pulls away, I feel physically broken, like Nathan is a part of me, and with him gone I'm incomplete. "Marry me," he whispers.

I wasn't expecting that. I was expecting to have to work twice as hard for it. In a way, I'm disappointed. Oh hell, I'm completely disappointed. I wanted to be able to go back to Robert and tell him Nathan doesn't want to marry me anymore. Game over, we'll have to get your cash another way. The only thing that's stopping me from doing that anyway is the fact that he said I'm under surveillance. I know it seems over-cautionary, but nothing about this is normal. Of course I'm on my guard.

"Nathan," I whisper, not sure what I'm going to say.

"I mean it Haley. You're right… living without you isn't something I'm willing to do. I want to show everyone how much you mean to me, so… marry me." He swallows and his adam's apple bobs up and down.

My eyes sting and I look up at him, smiling. "Yeah," I answer softly.

"Yes?" He asks, his eyes wide as if he can't believe it.

I nod. "Yes."

"Oh, Haley," he whispers, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close to him. I fall into his arms and wrap my own around his waist. "I love you," he whispers into my hair, and my heart breaks again. Suddenly he pulls away. His eyes search mine and lock. "We'll announce it at the ball," he tells me. "And… and I'll get Brooke to organise it…"

"Nathan…"

"I mean, unless you want to do it? I just thought that you'd want to rest or something, and Brooke loves that sort of thing and…"

"Nathan…"

"But if you want to do it, then that's fine. Just, do me a favour and get Brooke to design the dress, please? She'll never shut about it otherwise…"

"Nathan!" I yell, and he looks at me like it's the first time I've spoke.

"Yeah?" He asks.

"Aren't we moving a bit fast? Shouldn't we… I don't know, wait?"

"Why wait?" He asks. "I love you Haley. I want to be with you…"

I take a deep breath and nod. "Then… we'll announce it at the ball."

--- --- --- --- ---

"Brooke, contain yourself," Peyton hissed, grabbing Brooke by the sleeve of her sweater.

Brooke grinned guiltily and pulled her arm out of Peyton's grasp. "I wasn't going to eavesdrop," she insisted with little conviction. "I was just… checking that the door was shut."

"It's shut," Lucas said, earning a bitter glare from his fiancee.

"Fine," she snarled, dropping back down onto the couch. This was her fifth foiled attempt to eavesdrop and she didn't get why the ther two weren't just as curious as she was. After all, her soon-to-be-brother in law and what had to be the love of his life were just behind that door, possibly reconciling, possibly breaking up even more (was that even possible?) and they didn't even care! Honestly!

"They'll tell us when they're done," Peyton said softly, rubbing her friends back. It didn't help much because Brooke needed to know now.

"But, what if they…" she started, but was cut off as the door opened. "Nathan! Haley!" she exclaimed as soon as she saw them, a huge false smile plastered in place.

"Hey," Nathan said softly. Brooke noticed something weird about him. Oh my God! He's actually smiling. Her eyes moved down and she realised they were holding hands. Suddenly her smile wasn't so false.

"Uh… We're back together," Nathan said simply.

"Yes!" Brooke squealed, jumping up and hugging both of them

--- --- --- --- ---

Taylor pressed the off button of her cell and took a deep breath, trying to stem her tears. She couldn't believe that all her meddling had done this. Had hurt her sister rather than helped her. It devastated her when all she wanted to do was what was best for Haley. This whole experience had been one big wake up call.

She got to her feet and rubbed her eyes again. Making sure that her dressing gown was tied up, she made her way out into the hall of the hotel, going up a floor in the lift. Robert had left her a message not long after he'd left, telling her he'd got a room in the hotel. Taylor wasn't exactly buzzing about that idea.

He answered after two knocks, and Taylor walked straight in. She noticed Robert look down appreciatively at her bare legs but ignored it.

"She's done it," she spat. "She's ruining her life so that you can get your damn money."

Robert shut the door behind her and shook his head. "No, no don't you dare try that on me. You're the one who got her into this."

Taylor shut her eyes at the truth behind his words. Robert was right. She took a deep, shaky breath and opened her eyes again.

"He's asked her to marry him, and they'll announce it at the big Scott Corp. Ball. She just told me on the phone."

"The Ball?" Robert asked, picking up a pen and scribbling something on a pad of paper by the phone. "I'll get us tickets."

"Us?" Taylor asked softly.

"Yeah. Don't think that you're getting out of this so easily."

"Easily?" Taylor asked, disbelief swimming behind her eyes. "I have to seduce the guy that my sister is in love with, and you think that I'm getting out of this easily?"

Robert rolled his eyes, trying to get the mental imagery out of his head. "Don't give me the sob story sweetheart. You started this, and you can damn well deal with the consequences.

--- --- --- --- ---