Author's Note: The smut begins here…

Sydney was up bright and early the following morning. She made breakfast for her live in friends and wished they'd wake up already. She had a very hard time getting back to sleep after a particularly vivid dream about John rather than Nathan. The circumstances of the dream left her frustrated, hurt and, she couldn't deny it, ready to jump in bed with the first warm body she saw. Neither body in her house was an option though, so she prayed for her cell phone to ring to distract her.

"Mmm…" Arlen's voice floated down the staircase and into the kitchen. "I love when someone can't sleep!" He walked into the kitchen and wrapped Sydney up in his arms. "What's the occasion, honey?" She looked at Arlen and he understood. "Ah, a little hot and bothered, are we?"

She shrugged. "Not like I can help it."

"Do you want me to go to the," he giggled, "adult store for you?"

Sydney went red. "Arlen!"

"What? There's no shame in taking care of yourself and what could make it more fun than a shiny new toy?"

"Who's getting a toy?" Jess asked, wiping sleep from his eyes.

"The baby," Sydney said far too quickly. "Your mom's due soon and the baby will need, uh..."

Jess cocked his head. "Ah, horny, got 'cha."

Sydney grumbled to herself, embarrassed. "Not all of us are in successful relationships."

Jess smiled, thinking of Brynn, but only for a moment – he did feel bad for Sydney. She had been more of a mother to him than his own and he hated seeing her unhappy. He cleared his throat. "Oh, um…yeah. So, omelets, huh?"

They sat around the table, eating a little too much for so early in the morning and discussing their plans for the weekend. Jess had plans with Brynn, and Arlen with David. Sydney played things off by mentioning that she may make plans with her cousin for later that night. She disguised her excitement when her cell phone rang. Apparently someone else didn't feel much like sleeping in either.

Sydney and Nathan decided that meeting at a restaurant was the best and safest course of action. They chose their place and time and wound up meeting in the parking lot of a steak house almost a half an hour away from town, which happened to be a favorite of both of theirs…and somewhere they were less likely to be seen by anyone from school.

When Sydney pulled into the lot, she could feel her stomach twisting with nerves. Since he had kissed her the day before, she hadn't gone a moment without thinking of him in some way. She did, indeed, use her cousin as a rather airtight alibi. Since they really did spend quite a bit of time together, Arlen would never question it. She realized that she needed this, whatever it was, to be hers alone. Nathan came into her view as he was exiting his car. She found a spot two spaces away, parked and tried her hardest not to smile too widely as she made her way to him.

"Hey," she said, her cheeks blushing. It was the only word she could manage.

"Hi," Nathan replied, he too lacking a larger vocabulary. He looked at her for a moment, then shook his head and smirked, not exactly at her, but at the situation. Sydney tilted her head and would have questioned him, but the opportunity vanished as his face moved closer and he claimed her lips. Gone was the innocent kiss he had given her in her classroom and in its place was one that made her heart race. His left arm wrapped around her waist, while his right hand found its way beneath her hair and gently cradled the back of her neck. She kissed him back with the same amount of enthusiasm her hands settling on either side of his face. When they finally pulled apart, they smiled at one another and Sydney giggled.

"So," Sydney began.

"I didn't see the point of waiting until the end of the night," Nathan confessed.

"Yeah, that would have been a hellish wait." She leaned into him kissing him again, her tongue quite the thrill seeker. She pulled away and asked, breathless, "Are you still…hungry?"

Nathan's eyes changed. "Funny how appetites can change so quickly, isn't it?"

Sydney smiled wickedly, her body suddenly quite warm. "It really is." Without hesitation, she added, "My house is very much not an option, I don't exactly have it to myself…"

"Good thing Susan's spending tonight with…uh…can't remember now…" His lips collided with Sydney's again. "Follow me home?" Sydney all but ran to her car.

Within twenty minutes, Nathan was fumbling with his keys to get into the front door, Sydney at his side. They entered, he shut off, then rearmed the alarm, and their coats hit the floor.

"All dressed up for me?" Nathan asked, taking in the rather low-cut gray and black dress Sydney was wearing.

"Not for long, I hope," Sydney answered, not able to believe she had just said those words. Nathan's response was to pull her into his arms and assault her neck, causing her flesh to rise. She reached for his tie, which she removed in a matter of seconds, then began on the buttons of his shirt.

"Are you sure…"

"Less thinking," Sydney whispered, not wanting either of them to think this through, analyze it, then decide it was a terrible idea. She slid his shirt off of his shoulders, happy to see another form fitting t-shirt beneath. "Still kicking some ass, I see."

Nathan chuckled, then reached for the hem of Sydney's dress. "And you?" He lifted the material up and over her head revealing matching pink unmentionables. A sound that was a cross between a gasp and a moan left his lips. Sydney had curves that were more Marilyn Monroe than current Hollywood starlet. She had always been a bit self-conscious that she didn't posses the rail thin frame that women seemed to covet. Nathan's eyes lingered on the curve of her hips, then the swell of her breasts, finally stopping on her lips, red and full with obvious excitement. "Bedroom?"

"Bedroom," Sydney agreed. Sydney did her best to stop from jumping into Nathan's bed when they reached his room. Once on it, she rose on her knees and reached for his belt. When he stood before her in his boxers, she could feel the dampness between her legs increase. She reached for his t-shirt next. Pulling it over his head she made a sound very close to mewing. She hadn't expected a defined abdomen on top of the arms that had been fueling quite a few impure thoughts. Unable to help herself, she kissed just above his navel, her tongue lingering. She felt him shiver and this pleased her immensely.

Nathan hadn't planned on this at all. He'd certainly found himself fantasizing about it on occasion, but never imagined that tonight would be the night it happened. He had always fancied himself a romantic, taking his time, making sure everything was just right – having actual dates first…but that wasn't the situation he found himself in. His current reality hit him as he removed Sydney's bra and his teeth found her right nipple. She let out a small pleasurable gasp and reached for the waistband of his boxers.

"Shit," he muttered.

"That's not very encouraging," Sydney panted

"Condom." He left Sydney and ran down the hall half naked and unable to believe he was going to have to go into his daughter's dresser. He returned a few moments later, clearly embarrassed. At least I know she's being safe.

He climbed back onto the bed, dropping a couple of the foil packets next to him, and kissed Sydney again. Their tongues slid along each other, caressing erotically. Sydney felt Nathan, hard against her thigh.

"These have just got to go," she whispered, sliding the intruding piece of clothing down his body. She didn't suppress a smile when she saw him. "Your clothing at school hides quite a bit doesn't it?" Nathan's answer was to roll her onto her back and rid her of her own last article of clothing.

"Christ," he breathed. He began kissing her flesh erratically. His breath, warm and wet against her skin, made Sydney's arousal teeter on painful. She reached for his length and was only able to stroke him once before he ripped open the packet beside him and entered his new lover without a moment of hesitation…or romance.

All lines were officially crossed.

Sydney gasped at the contact and pulled his face to hers as he sank deep within her. She couldn't get enough of his lips, his tongue… Unable to control his pace, Nathan drove himself into Sydney grunting a bit like a feral animal. She cried out, wrapping her legs around his waist. For a moment, he felt like he was hovering above his own body and was willing himself to stop, well at least to slow down, but try as he might he couldn't. The look on Sydney's face, her eyes closed and her lips parted, told him that she was certainly enjoying herself, but he couldn't help feeling almost guilty.

For Sydney's part, her hips were meeting Nathan's and her body was as close to on fire as it ever had been. She found herself reveling in the fact that she was completely there. She was in this moment only. No hollow feelings, no hurt, just flesh on flesh, ragged breath, and Nathan's warmth inside her.

Being a bit "out of practice" Nathan had a feeling that his stamina wouldn't exactly be up to par. Based on seeing John's picture a few months ago, he imagined that he had occupied Sydney's bed quite lengthily and hoped thinking about the ex-boyfriend might help prolong things, albeit in a twisted fashion. He was incorrect.

Unmistakable sounds left Sydney's lips and her legs tightened around his waist. He found himself breathing a huge sigh of relief when his name came from her mouth, bouncing off of the bedroom walls…of course that also caused him to lose track of his distracting thoughts and spill himself inside his stolen contraband…

Sydney looked up at him, her cheeks red and her forehead glistening, and smiled. "Nathan," her voice was light. "Jesus, that was…" She finished with a soft, satisfied moan.

Nathan kissed her and rolled off to her side, pulling her into his arms. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words didn't come to him.

"Or am I mistaken? You were awfully quiet…"

He snapped out of his thoughts. "No! Uh, no, I just. I was sort of worried about…" He cleared his throat, embarrassed. "…my performance and tried to distract from, well that sounds awful, I was just…you were…really really…"

Sydney laughed. "Okay, next time keep your head in the game, mister. Believe me, you have nothing to worry about." She suddenly panicked. What did she do now? Stay? Leave? What about those at school? If word ever got out… She turned and looked at Nathan and she could see the same questions in his eyes.

"I think if you leave now, I might end up feeling like a cheap whore," he said softly, winking at her.

Sydney's breath came a bit easier. "Well, we can't have that, now, can we?"

Sydney woke up around five in the morning, still very much naked and very much in Nathan's bed. She looked over at Nathan, who appeared to be asleep. She studied his face, relaxed and peaceful, and wished more than anything that she felt the way he looked.

The sex was…needed. That thought made her feel cheap and disgusting, but it was the honest truth. She had felt so terribly needy lately and she was attracted to Nathan…but didn't he deserve to be more than her "shiny new toy?" He was a good man. He had helped her through so much, been so supportive…he laughed at her awful jokes and he, in turn, made her laugh. Of course she liked him. Of course she had also intended last night to be a real date.

Confusion was not the right word for this situation.

"Do I look funny when I sleep?" Nathan asked, his eyes still closed.

Shit… "Of course not," Sydney said, feeling foolish for staring. Before her brain could tell her mouth "no" she blurted, "We're keeping this between the two of us, right?"

Nathan opened his eyes and shifted a little. "Yeah, sure. We don't need a scandal echoing through the halls of the school, right?"

"Right," Sydney said smiling nervously. "Kids, faculty, all cruel instruments of torture…"

Nathan found this to be a perfectly acceptable request. After all, he was still on "probation" and sleeping with the teacher he was assigned to mentor was probably not the smartest move. "I would like to take you on an actual date," he said, kissing her shoulder.

Sydney fought against the shivers racing down her spine. "Oh, yeah…right, sure…"

"Am I better as your gigolo?" Nathan meant this as a joke, but Sydney felt her stomach drop.

The strange, nervous laugh that left Sydney's throat concerned Nathan. "Yeah, because you're just my little secret sexual plaything…"

Nathan propped himself up on his elbow. "Are you okay?"

Honesty, it has to be honesty. I don't ever want to be like John. Sydney took a deep breath. "Nathan…I was freakishly horny, I have been for a little while, and you're so damned cute and a really good kisser and…" She exhaled sharply. "I kinda wanted to fuck the shit out of you." I just said that…I can't believe I just said that.

Nathan's eyes went wide and his face was rather blank. "I…think I might be flattered, but I'm not sure."

"Nathan, I'm a terrible relationship person, you know this. They get away from me and…ugh…I've spilled my guts to you about everything and I…"

Nathan put a finger to her lips. "Shhh…it's just you and me here, right?" Sydney nodded, her tongue flicking against his finger. "…and relationships are based on two people, not one…" She nodded again, now taking his finger into her mouth and sucking. "You think you're going to get out of this conversation, don't you?" She nodded again, her hand going to his evident arousal. Nathan pulled away from her and rolled onto his back. "Well, then…you'd sure as hell better fuck the shit out of me." Now he was the one who couldn't believe his words.

The double-edged sword, indeed. Sydney gladly complied, first grinding against him, then crying out as she impaled herself on the history teacher, words she'd never use in any classroom leaving both sets of lips. She rode him, her body needing the pleasure to try and quiet her mind. It was just sex, it had to be. Anything more and things would get messy. Nathan pulled her body down, flush against his, kissing her and running his fingers along her spine. We've fucked everything up already…

A few hours later, Sydney was sneaking into her own house, relieved to find it empty. She knew she had to reek of sex and look like quite the confused mess. What did Nathan want? Was it only sex for him too, or did he only act like that to try and give her what she wanted? The questions were endless and the feeling – despite the immense sexual gratification – terrible. She went straight to the shower and tried to think of anything but the night before…she failed miserably. As she toweled off and grabbed her robe, she heard someone run in through the front door downstairs.

Footsteps came into the bathroom, followed by David's voice. "She's in labor, the baby's in trouble!"

"David, what the hell?" Sydney yelled, not really hearing his words.

"Arlen needs you, Syd, we've got to go."

Suddenly things clicked. "Baby's not due for…"

"Exactly!"

Sydney rinsed and dried and quickly as she could. She didn't flinch when David walked back into the bathroom, while she was stark naked, and handed her what she needed to get dressed. Her hair sopping, she threw on her clothes and followed him out the door. They sped off to the hospital. On the way, David filled her in.

"She started using again," he spat, the words sharp. "How many times have we all tried…and pregnant! She's lucky she didn't kill…" Tears fell from David's eyes. "She can't keep her, you know. Travis left her after he found out the baby belonged to, well, who knows and…"

"David, slow down…and I mean the car, not the talking." He did as she asked, not realizing how fast he was going. She didn't need this, not today. She had her own drama to deal with, adding Arlen's sister into the mix was the worst idea possible. David continued to talk, but she could only half listen. She didn't mean for her thoughts to keep drifting to Nathan's eyes…chest…and…

"I think we should take the baby and…Syd, are you listening?" They pulled into the parking lot of the hospital.

"Uh…yeah…that's a big, messy legal step and…" Why today?