Holy crap...is anyone still out there? I can't believe how the time has gone by so fast and here we are. It took some time for me to get anything worth reading down and saved. I hope this little bit is ok and enjoyable.

Thanks for reading

~~~ "I'm Never Alone, I'm Alone All the Time" ~~~

* Chapter Fifty*

Haley saw Nathan's body instantly stiffen at the mere mention of Dan Scott.

"I don't have a father anymore! Do not call this number again! Leave me the hell alone!" He yelled and then hung up the call. He gripped the steering wheel tight and felt he was holding on for dear life. He held on so tight his knuckles turned white as a ghost. He hadn't realized his foot had gotten heavy on the gas until Haley's meek voice was heard minutes later.

"Nathan, please slow down." She said timidly and watched him flinch at the sound of her voice.

He glanced down and instantly let off the accelerator. He hadn't intended to speed and it was clear from the sound of voice Haley had used that she was indeed afraid. The last thing he wanted to do was scare or harm his wife. But one thing was clear. He was mad as hell that Dan Scott could still affect him.

The car ride remained silent on the way home. Once they pulled into the garage, Nathan was out of the car quickly. Haley followed behind him but several paces back not knowing what to do. He stopped at the kitchen counter and set down his wallet and keys. She walked up and stopped behind him. She slowly reached out to touch his back to offer sympathy and support.

"You ok?" she finally asked hesitantly.

"No I'm not!" He snapped back at her. The second her hand retreated from his back he was instantly filled with regret.

"I just need some time." Nathan said and then walked away towards the backyard. He patted his leg for Brutus to follow him.

Haley stood still and watched his retreating form for a moment before she headed upstairs. She changed her clothes, brushed her teeth and washed the evening's make up off her face. She brushed and wrapped her hair into a bun on top of her head. Haley crawled into bed and left only the lamp beside the bed on. Everything in her wanted to run downstairs and out back to her husband. She wanted to fix this for him and make all the pain and anger he felt go away. She flipped through her phone for a bit to review the headlines before plugging it in to charge it. She turned the phone off not wanting to have any more interruptions or distractions.

Haley looked at the clock before she grabbed the book by her bedside and tried to take her mind to another place while she waited. That lasted a whole two minutes before she tossed it aside. She gave up and turned the light off to watch TV.

'Mindless TV or a movie will help side track me.' She thought to herself.

Nearly 20 minutes later, she was correct. She'd focused on a remodel show until Nathan came into their bedroom. He went right into their attached bathroom and shut the door. Haley felt better having him near her but still knew everything wasn't ok. She studied the closed door and felt it in her bones that he was still hurting.

Nathan shed his clothes and stood at the sink in just his boxers. He looked in the mirror as he brushed his teeth with dark eyes looking back at him. He'd spent time out back throwing the ball for Brutus which helped calm him down. He took a few more minutes to make sure he was indeed good and calm before he left the bathroom. After spitting the last of the tooth paste out, he turned off the light and headed out.

Haley was on her back tucked in under the sheet with her eyes on the screen. When he walked past and crawled into bed she snuck a peek at him. He instantly moved over and reached out for her body coming in contact with her stomach.

"I'm so sorry Hales. I didn't mean to scare you when I was driving us tonight. I shouldn't have let it affect me that way. I just wasn't expecting that call and ..…"

She looked back at him and could see the struggle he was going through.

"I know you didn't mean to Nathan. I just wish I could get him to stop messing with you and hurting you still." Haley quietly admitted.

Nathan leaned forward and kissed her lips with fury. She returned his kiss and pulled him closer. After a few moments, he pulled away from her.

"He's poison Hales and I don't want it to infect us or our marriage anymore. I need to shield you from him and protect you. He's tried calling before and I keep blocking his number but I should change it my number again I think." He declared with certainty in his voice.

She nodded in agreement and then said, "We are fine Nathan. You and me…we're good. Please don't spend one more second worrying about us."

"Thank God I have you. I love you so much." He said and pulled her close again. Haley picked up on the signals he was sending and knew he needed to be loved and care for tonight. As only his wife could do. She pushed him gently onto his back and quickly found herself straddling his waist. His hands found her hips naturally and instinctually Haley's hips responded by pressing into him. Slowly her lips left his and left a trail of kisses along his jawline up to his ear.

"I love you!" She breathed softly into his ear but taking the lobe in her mouth briefly. Once she seemed satisfied with the taste it'd left in her mouth she released it and moved down his neck. He let out a low moan once he felt her tongue circle around his nipple. His hips bucked forward on instinct and thrust up against hers. Haley continued to work his chest over leaving a mixture of kisses and slight nip marks on his skin. Nathan found his hands had moved to the bed as he gripped the bed trying to control himself and pace himself. Once her lips had found their way down to the waistband of his boxers, she lifted her head up and looked up. Her eyes instantly met his and a sexy smile spread across her face.

"God, I want you so bad right now." Nathan declared in a rush. His hands moved to the bottom of her top and pulled it over her head urgently. In one swift movement, he'd managed to flip Haley onto her backside and pressed his bare chest into hers. He lips devoured hers first and then he returned the favor as he kissed his way down her neck and chest. The feeling of her fingers running through his hair and occasionally tugging on strains turned him on even more. He didn't think it was possible but his want and need to make love to his wife consumed him. He felt Haley try to gently push him onto his back again but he didn't move. After she tried once more this time with more force she finally spoke.

"Nathan, I wanted to take care of you tonight and I can't do that this way." She nearly gasped as she tried her best to keep her wits about her while he continued his ministrations on her body.

He crawled back up her body and stopped once he was directly in front of her face. He gently stroked the side of her cheek and then said, "Hales you're already taking care of me tonight. This is exactly what I want."

She studied his eyes for a moment as she took in what he'd just said. Nathan knew she agreed once she pulled his lips back to hers again with fury. He had every intention of spending the next few hours feeling love and making love to his wife.

The next few weeks seemed to fly by quickly for the married couple. Nathan continued his work balancing his obligations with the NBA as well as with his new bride. Haley found herself busier than expected as she worked to balance spending time with Logan and Quinn as well as heading up their search for a new home. Haley quickly developed a close relationship with Nathan's realtor as they worked to find just the right home that matched all their requirements. A great sense of relief came over them when they finally settled on a house. It only took two days before their offer had been accepted. Nathan tried to help with the packing as much as he could but his game schedule didn't allow for much before their moving day. Sure enough the last day they were allowed in Nathan's old home fell right after a week long stretch of Nathan being on the road. Haley had a lot of work to do while he was away. It helped her pass the time and gave her something to focus on.

The night before Nathan left the topic of starting a family had come up. They instantly agreed they didn't want to wait and were open to taking the stance of "if it happens it happens." Haley hadn't made any major decisions about a career venture to take and was truthfully enjoying the freedom to try many things. The need and desire for a project was ingrained in her but the fact she was in charge and could decide what was next made it all worth it. Keeping with superstition, their opportunities to "try" for a baby had to be worked around game days for fear of upsetting Nathan's game. Haley had thought he was joking at first but knew her giggles in response were not appreciated by the look on his face when he insisted they refrain from making love on those days. The things you do for love.

Life on the road kept Nathan busy between work outs, travel days and game days. He took advantage of any chance he could to call Haley to check in on how the packing process was going. He'd been happy when she reported Chris had come over one day to help out for a few hours. Nathan had been scheduled for a long stretch of away games and he was anxious to know that he'd see his wife by the end of the day. The team had a charity event they were scheduled to appear at and then he'd be one flight away from having his wife in his arms.

Haley had spent most of the morning keeping herself busy and working hard to finish packing up items in the kitchen. She had left items they would need to do basic cooking out but took care of packing entertaining dishes in boxes. She moved two more completed boxes to the formal dining room and lined them up next to the previously labeled ones against the wall. The outer perimeter of the room was completely lined with stacks of boxes. She quickly snapped a picture with her phone and sent it to Nathan. She tucked her phone back into her back pocket and headed back into the kitchen again to start on prep for Nathan's homecoming meal. She had brought a handful of potatoes to the sink to wash and peel just as a ringing sound came from her pocket. She quickly dried her hands and pulled it from her pocket to answer using speaker phone.

"Hey Baby!"

"Please tell me you didn't move all those boxes by yourself Hales! You said you only packed a few of them and that certainly didn't look like just a few."

Haley cringed inside a bit now remembering how Nathan didn't want her to do anything too strenuous or heavy duty lifting. He'd been concerned for her and didn't want her to overdue it while they were trying to get pregnant.

"It's not that bad and I'm fine to do it like I already told you before you left. I'm fully capable to lift heavy stuff. You worry too much!" Haley said with a smile on her face.

Nathan let a sigh out, "I worry because my wife is working by herself to pack up an entire house while her good for nothing husband is out of town and not helping at all."

Haley couldn't miss the change in the tone of Nathan's voice and knew how guilty he felt about it all. "Don't be so hard on yourself. I'm really ok doing it and it's gotten get done some so.. besides you aren't doing nothing. You have a job and need to work."

"I know it's just I don't want you to hurt yourself or the baby if or when we do end up getting pregnant." He said tenderly.

Haley sat down on the couch and pulled a couch pillow close to her body for comfort.

"I'm fine Nathan and I'll be just fine. I'm not a china doll and can handle it. Working women get pregnant every day and they deal with it just fine. We don't even know if I am yet anyhow so I think you're worrying for nothing."

Nathan let a deep breath out before he spoke again, "I know you're right angel. I just miss you so much! This road trip has been extremely hard to be away this time."

Haley glanced down at her wedding ring as butter flies fluttered in her stomach.

"It has been harder this time around for me too. Packing the house has kept me busy so I don't think about it so much during the day. But then the night comes around and I can't help myself… I miss you too!" Haley admitted.

Nathan glanced up as he watched the team bus pulled up to the tarmac for their flight home set to depart in a few minutes.

"You aren't letting Brutus sleep on the bed are you?" He asked. Haley's eyes widened and then answered back.

"Why would you asked me that?"

Nathan chuckled and replied, "Because I know my wife and am guessing that Brutus has been snuggled up next to you every night I've been away right?"

Silence on the other end of the line caused Nathan to speak again.

"Hales….you still there?"

"When does your flight leave?" Haley asked out of the blue trying to shift her husband's focus.

Nathan laughed out loud and said, "Oh no you don't! You're letting the dog sleep on my side of the bed admit it!"

Haley sighed and finally said, "Fine! Yes he's been sleeping with me while you're gone but he's been such a good boy and I can't resist those eyes he gives me."

He continued to laugh as he spoke, "I figured as much as long as he knows his place when I get back home then I guess I'm ok with it."

She smiled to herself as she pictured Nathan's matching grin while he laughed in her ear.

"I'll tell you what…I'll have a talk with Brutus after I hang up with you and make sure he knows he's been demoted to the dog bed tonight I promise!"

"That's my girl. I should get going the plane is boarding. I should be home in about 4 hours or so depending on the traffic from LAX. I love you." Nathan said as the guys began to get off the bus.

"Love you too! See you soon…oh and I have a surprise for you when you get home." Haley replied with a grin.

"Give me a hint please.."

"Not a chance Mister!"

"Ok fine be that way. Bye Hales."

"Bye Baby." Haley added before she ended the call.

She set her phone on the table and looked down at the dog that had curled up on the floor next to the couch where she'd been sitting.

"Well Brutus…we've been busted. Back to the dog bed for you tonight once Dad gets home." She said casually and he looked back at her as if he understood.

Haley went back to work and finished up her meal prep for Nathan's homecoming dinner. She knew all too well how good a home cooked meal tasted after being away for a long time.

Meanwhile Nathan settled into his seat and kept his ear buds in as the plane took off. His knee had been acting up a bit more than usual after the game that night and it look him a little longer before he got comfortable enough to doze off to sleep. Surprisingly enough, now whenever he slept away from his wife he found he tossed and turned the entire night long. He would wake himself after he'd stretch his arm out to pull her body close to his and only to find cold empty bed sheet beside him. It was official. He was hopeless in love with his wife.

A well dressed man in a suit and tie slide effortlessly behind the wheel of a black BMW with tinted windows. A devilish grin came to his lips as he pressed the start engine button. He double checked the envelope of cash in his inside sports coat pocket one last time before he headed out. Nothing was going to get in Dan Scott's way this time even if he had to do all the work himself.

"Here we go." Dan mumbled to himself as he shifted the car into drive and began his journey across town. He checked the time again and noted he was still ahead of schedule.

Hours later Haley took off on a run down the stairs from their bedroom towards the kitchen and the beeping grew louder.

"Oh shit!" She exclaimed as she got closer and fear set in.

"No no no please don't be burnt!" She pleaded to herself before she opened the oven door. She breathed a sigh of relief when she was greeted with perfectly browned pot roast and tender potatoes. She poked the carrots with a fork and let out a sigh.

Brutus had taken off after her when she'd run down the stairs and was happily standing next to the oven hopefully waiting for a treat. His nose was up in the air as they aromas filled his nostrils.

"Smells good huh buddy?" She said to the dog. She carefully pulled off a few pieces of meat to taste. She blew on the piece a few seconds and then turned to the chocolate brown eyes that had been staring her down.

"Brutus, you want to try some…. Ok sit!"

Immediately the dog obeyed and was ready for the next command.

"Good boy!" Haley said softly and gave him a pat on the head. She checked the time on the stove before heading back upstairs to finish getting ready. Haley put the finishing touches on her make up and changed into a summer sundress she knew Nathan loved. She headed back downstairs to finish setting plates out for dinner. Brutus let out a bark startling Haley and she glanced at the back door.

"Do you want to go out?" Haley called to him as if he would answer back. He spun circles and wagged his tail before heading towards the back door. Haley was right behind him to open the door. She watched through the cracked door as Brutus sniffed around the backyard. A knock on the front door shifted her focus and she looked back towards the sound. A puzzled look fell on her face as she hadn't gotten a call from the security gate alerting her of any company. She pulled the door closed leaving Brutus outside alone before she headed towards the door.

Haley glanced at the security screen monitor but for some reason the footage looked like snow was blowing around. She was unable to make anything out in the picture. She went to the door and peeked out the window but again saw darkness. Haley reached back and touched her back side where her phone had rested all day but cursed herself when she realized she was now wearing a dress and had left her phone on the kitchen counter.

"Stop you're being ridiculous. Everything is fine." Haley reassured herself out loud and then unlocked the door and pulled it open.

"Good Evening Mrs. Scott."

Please leave me a review to let me know if you're still out there and if I should keep writing to finish this story.

Thanks again for reading :)