Haley stepped into the bathroom stall and couldn't stop the tears that were quickly spilling from her eyes.

That morning, she had come to work as usual and Melissa had been pretty nice although she refrained from the normal small talk...several others had passed through the office with only small requests and virtually no conversation...Haley couldn't help the overwhelming feeling that people knew what was going on and were enjoying discussing it behind her back.

Conversations would stop mid-sentence when she entered the break room and people would give her sidelong glances and smiles that were clearly displayed to cover up something.

Get a grip, you're just being paranoid, Haley had tried to convince herself.

However, by mid-morning, she knew things weren't right when Lucas asked to speak with her in his office.

He'd heard some of the word around the office of Nathan and Haley -- talk that had instigated all sorts of theories and assumptions.

"It's office politics, plain and simple," Lucas had said to her in a comforting tone. "As I'm sure you're aware, it happens everywhere to everyone at one time or another...I'm taking steps to see that its stopped immediately..."

Haley looked from the ground up at Lucas. "So what can I do? I mean, its painfully obvious now that people are aware of my private life...but instead of just asking me about it, people are choosing to act like I'm a train wreck - they want to stop and stare and make assumptions but they don't want to ask me to my face."

Lucas sighed, "I know and I'm sorry. Nathan has had problems with this too, even back when he was with Lisa and she was getting recognized."

"Well, I didn't ask for this. I shouldn't have to pay for his ex girlfriend's career choices," Haley retorted and quickly looked at Lucas. "I'm sorry...that came out much harsher than I intended..."

"It's okay...It's very frustrating, I'm sure. I've seen it from several sides and the situation sucks, completely... I wish there was something I could do to make this easier because you're right, you didn't ask for this....it just happened. All I can say is that this will die down..."

"I just don't want people forming opinions and making snap judgments about me now," Haley replied. "People are just going to think I'm some small town gold digger who came here and stole some model's boyfriend to get my name in the papers to further my PR career…and that's not how it is, not by a long shot."

"Of course that's not how it is," Lucas said. "I could kill Nate for letting that girl anywhere near him –"

Haley looked at him and he stopped, "I'm sorry, Haley. What's done is done…but you do need to know that Nathan wasn't receptive to her advances. He's been telling you the truth, from the beginning...and as for the people who make snap judgments and don't take the time to get to know the real Haley James, f^%$ 'em."

Haley managed to smile weakly and nodded.

Lucas meant well - but it just didn't change things. It didn't change what some people would inevitably think about her --

Haley had always wanted to be the person who didn't care what other people thought about her...but sadly she wasn't. Despite her strength and independence, she'd been the girl who had lost sleep at night with worries if the girl in her class didn't appear to like her.

~~~

"Hey babe," Nathan said, taking her into his arms. His flight had been delayed and he'd ended up catching an early flight the next morning and was finally back in San Francisco.

"Hey," Haley hugged him and replied in a strained voice that Nathan noticed immediately.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"I'm just dealing with some things," Haley said.

She didn't want to bother him with all of the office antics that were going on - she knew that he would feel bad about it – and there was no need to add to the things on his mind.

"Just a bad day at work," Haley said.

"Luke told me what was going on," Nathan said in a firm tone.

Damn.

"Oh yeah?" Haley asked and pulled away to look at him.

"Yeah, and I should fire all of them!" Nathan said angrily.

Haley closed her eyes. "No...don't be angry...they are just running with information-- its human nature to do that."

"That doesn't excuse it," Nathan said. "There is enough bulls&^% to deal with right now with photos and gossip, and tabloids, damned if I'm going to allow you to go through it at work too!"

"Nathan...you could fire these people and hire new ones and chances are, the same thing would happen all over again...its office politics -it sucks and its uncomfortable...but I'm an adult and I can handle it."

"It just scares me," Nathan blurted out.

"Scares you?? Why would it scare you?" Haley asked.

"...because what if it comes to a point that its just not worth it for you anymore? I mean, we've been rocky from the start...but we were finally building a real foundation and things were good…but it seems like I'm always having to apologize for something that I have screwed up and its causing all of this to happen to you...."

Haley could hear the hesitation and the fear in Nathan's tone. "This is not going to make me want to break up with you," Haley said.

"I care about you way too much to let this get in the way of what we have...."

"I hope so," Nathan said. "...because there was something I wanted to talk to you about but I wanted to wait until I came home. It's something I've been thinking about for awhile."

Nathan took a deep breath -- this was something he'd never done before. Completely unfamiliar territory that was both exhilarating and frightening.

"What is it?" Haley asked curiously.

"Luke's been planning to buy a place outside of town. So, he's going to be moving and I will have the condo all to myself," Nathan began.

"That's good, right?" Haley asked, not sure where he was going with this.

Nathan closed his eyes and opened them again, knowing he was going to say words that would change life as he knew it--

"Haley, I want you to move in with me....