Three months later, they all were back home. Hayley was sitting on the deck looking out at the ocean. Leighanne came out and saw her. Brian was behind her.

        “Hayley, where’s Nick,” Brian said.

        “He went to the store,” Hayley said.

        “We can’t keep this secret any longer, the night after you two officially got back together, Nick slept with Willa,” Brian said.

        “What,” Hayley said sitting up.

        “It meant nothing to him, they did it to see if there were any feelings left, but there wasn’t, she’s happy with her new boyfriend, and he’s happy with you,” Brian said.

        “How long have you two known?” Hayley said.

        “Ever since that night, Nick came and told us, we were going to tell you, Leighanne was going to tell you that night you told her you were pregnant, she knew she couldn’t tell you because you would get upset and lose the baby, she knew it would kill you if you lost the baby, we had to wait until it was a safe point in your pregnancy,” Brian said.

        “Oh god, I thought he loved me!” Hayley said.

        “He does, Hayley, more than life itself,” Brian said.

        “No, he wouldn’t have even slept with anyone else if he loved me,” Hayley said. She went upstairs and packed up her stuff and went and packed up Nicky’s stuff.

        “Hayley, come on, think of the baby and Nicky, regardless of what Nick as done, he is their father, they need him, if you leave Nick, he will take Nicky away again, do you want that!” Brian said. Hayley looked at him and realized he was right.

        “Fine, I will stay, only for the children, but me and Nick are finished,” Hayley said. She unpacked everything and sat in the bedroom and stared out the window.

Brian and Leighanne went downstairs and waited for Nick. Nick came in with two bags of groceries and a bouquet of roses. He saw them.

        “Hey, what’s up,” Nick said heading into the kitchen.

        “We told Hayley, Nick, about your one night with Willa,” Brian said.

        “What!” Nick said.

        “We had to tell her,” Brian said.

        “Where is she?” Nick asked. What he didn’t know was Hayley was sitting on the stairs listening.

        “Upstairs, she was going to leave but we talked her into staying, we told her you would take Nicky away again if she left, Nick, she is only staying for Nicky and the baby she is carrying but you two are over,” Brian said.

        “Thanks for ruining my life, you know, the night didn’t mean anything so why bother telling her, but you two had to tell her, get out of my house, you two just ruined everything, I planned the perfect night, I was going to ask you guys to watch Nicky so me and Hayley could be alone, but you ruined that, thanks a lot, I can’t believe you two were my friends, friends don’t stab friends in the back, just get out,” Nick said. Brian and Leighanne left. Hayley stood at the doorway and watched Nick put the groceries away. He leaned on the counter and closed his eyes.  She watched as he fell apart.

Chapter 11

Hayley sat in the bedroom looking out the window. She heard a noise and looked and saw Nick standing at the doorway with a tray.

"I cooked dinner, here's your plate, I'll just put it over here on the dresser, I will get my stuff after I clean up the kitchen," Nick said. He went back out the door. She went over and looked at the food and gasped. He cooked her favorite, chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, and corn. She ate and took the tray down to the kitchen and saw Nick cleaning up. She put her plate in the sink and began washing the dish. She put it in the dish drainer and put the tray up and went upstairs and went into Nicky's room. She watched him as he slept and realized what she had to do.  She went downstairs and saw Nick outside watching the ocean. She went upstairs and called Brian and talked to him. She got Nicky ready. Brian came in and got Nicky and left. Hayley changed into Nick’s favorite nightie and went out and dropped a note in front of him. She went and laid on the bed. She heard him coming up the stairs. She looked at the doorway and saw him standing there. He came in and sat on the bed.

        “Hayley,” Nick said.

        “Nick, I know about your night with Willa, but I also know it meant nothing to you,” Hayley said.

        “It didn’t,” Nick said.

        “I heard everything, I was on the stairs listening as you were talking to Brian and Leighanne,” Hayley said.

        “I should have been the one to tell you, not them, I was scared to tell you because I couldn’t live without you, or Nicky, or our baby,” Nick said.

        “You won’t lose me or our children, unless you really cheat on me or you leave me,” Hayley said.

        “I could never leave you,” Nick said.

        “Prove it,” Hayley said.

        “Where’s Nicky?” Nick asked.

        “Brian came and got him, they are keeping him for the night, it’s just you and me, and the baby,” Hayley said rubbing her growing tummy.

Nick removed her nighie and removed his clothes and gazed at her body. He gently made love to her. They laid there holding each other.

"I love you, Hayley, so much, you and our children are my life, I would die without you and our children in my life," Nick said kissing her forehead.

"Same here," Hayley said resting her head on his chest. He put a hand on her stomach.

"I will not leave you alone, during this pregnancy like I did with Nicky's, I don't want to miss this birth," Nick said.

"You better not miss it, and you better not claim this baby isn't yours either," Hayley said.

"I know this baby is mine, I'm not going to be that stubborn, you are stuck with me," Nick said.

"Good," Hayley said. He kissed her and made love to her again.

Two weeks later, Hayley was sitting in her living room when Brian came in.

"Hey Brian, what's up," Hayley said.

"Leighanne and I had this huge fight," Brian said.

"What about?" Hayley asked.

"My feelings for someone else, I wish I wasn't an idiot and feel this way but I do," Brian said.

"Brian, who do you have feelings for?" Hayley asked.

"You," Brian said.

"Oh boy," Hayley said.

"What," Brian said.

"Nick will kill you if he finds that out, you saw how he was when I had feelings for Kevin, he missed Nicky's birth, he doesn't want to miss this one," Hayley said.

"Where is Nick?" Brian asked.

"He is in California with Aaron," Hayley said. Brian sat down beside her.

"Hayley, I need help here," Brian said.

"Brian, forget it," Hayley said.

"Hayley, I think you have feelings for me," Brian said.

"Think again, Brian, I love my husband," Hayley said.

"Hayley, I know you like Nick knows you," Brian said.

"Brian, you are dreaming, okay, I don't have those feelings for you, I love Nick with everything in me, and I am carrying proof of that love," Hayley said.

"One day you will have feelings for me," Brian said. He got up and walked out. Hayley sat there.

"Yeah, well, it's that day, but I can't do anything to hurt Nick, Brian and you know that," Hayley said to herself.

Chapter 12

Three months after the baby was born, Hayley went to the beach for a walk while Nick took care of Nicky and the baby. They had a baby girl and they named her Alicia Jane Carter. They called her Ali for short. She walked along thinking about everything.

"Hi Hayley," Leighanne said coming up to her.

"Hi Leighanne," Hayley said. Their friendship has been strained due to Brian's feelings for her. Now he was in love with her and he divorced Leighanne. Brian has been pressuring Hayley to leave Nick for him but she wouldn't do it. She never told anyone that she had feelings for him.

"Do you have feelings for Brian, you know you can tell me anything," Leighanne said.

"No, I don't, Leighanne, I love Nick with everything in me, and I would rather die than live with Nick," Hayley said.

"Hayley, don't lie to me!" Leighanne said.

"Leighanne," Hayley said.

"Just tell me the truth," Leighanne said.

"Okay, I have feelings for Brian, but if this gets back to Nick, it will kill me, I love him and I can't bear to lose him," Hayley said.

"Nick won't find out," Leighanne said.

"I didn't set out to ruin your marriage, Leighanne, that is the last thing I would do," Hayley said.

"You didn't, Brian did, by falling for you," Leighanne said.

"I hope our friendship isn't ruined," Hayley said.

"No, it isn't," Leighanne said. They talked and Leighanne walked off. Hayley sat down and stared out at the ocean. Someone grabbed her and pulled her to a beach house and pulled her in and closed the door and pushed her against the wall. She looked at him and saw it was Brian.

"Brian, what are you doing!" Hayley said angrily struggling to get out of his grasp.

"I'm trying to make you listen!" Brian said.

"To what!" Hayley said.

"Me, I am in love with you, Hayley, and I want to be with you, I want you to leave Nick for me," Brian said.

"Not on your life, asshole, he is my husband!" Hayley said.

"I know you want me, Hayley," Brian said.

"I don't, Brian, I want my husband!" Hayley said.

"I know you don't, you want me," Brian said.

"Brian, listen to me, I want only Nick, don't even think that I want you and only you, you must stop this obsession with me because me, Nick, Nicky, and Alicia are a family and I will not break up that family!" Hayley said.

"Hayley, please, I can't stop this," Brian said. He kissed her deeply. She pushed him away.

"Stay away from me!" Hayley yelled. She ran out the door. She ran home and saw Nick sitting in the living room holding Alicia. Nicky was in his playpen.

"Honey," Nick said.

"I'll be upstairs, I don't want to see anyone right now," Hayley said.

"Are you sure, honey," Nick said.

"I just want to be here with you and our children," Hayley said.

"I won't let anyone else bother you," Nick said. Hayley went upstairs and went to the bedroom and laid on the bed.

Chapter 13

The next day, Nick took Nicky and Alicia to his mom's to visit. Hayley laid in bed sleeping when she felt someone sit on the bed. She opened her eyes and saw Brian. She sat up and he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. She pushed him away and got up.

"Brian, please, just stop this, okay, I don't have feelings for you, I am in love with Nick and I want to be with him and I don't want to hurt him, he's your best friend, you will lose his friendship if you keep doing this," Hayley said. Brian came up behind her.

"Who said he would have to know," Brian said.

"Brian, leave me alone, please, I don't want to hurt my family and I am not in love with you, and I don't feel the same as you do," Hayley said. He turned her around and he saw tears in her eyes.

"I know you do, Hayley, I felt it when I kissed you, you want me as much as I want you," Brian said. Hayley looked away. Brian grabbed her chin and turned her face to his and kissed her tenderly. She pushed him away.

"Leave, now!" Hayley said. Brian grabbed her. She pulled away.

"Hayley, you want this!" Brian said.

"No, I won't do anything to hurt my family, get away from me!" Hayley said.

"Hayley," Brian said.

"Get out!" Hayley yelled. Brian nodded and left. Hayley locked the door and collapsed on the bed crying.

Two hours later, Nick came home with Nicky and Alicia and found Hayley laying on the couch.

"Hi honey," Nick said. He laid Alicia down in her bassinet and put Nicky in his playpen.

"Hi," Hayley said.

"You okay," Nick said.

"I'm fine, I just missed you, that's all," Hayley said. Nick hugged her.

"I missed you, too, Mom asked about you, I told her you were catching up on sleep," Nick said.

"I'm okay now, I got caught up, thanks for the little vacation day," Hayley said smiling at him.

"You are welcome, that is why I'm here, we are a team here, and there is no way that is breaking," Nick said. He kissed her deeply.

That night, after the kids were asleep. Nick and Hayley were making love in their bedroom. Hayley held onto him like she never wanted to let go. Afterwards, Nick went to sleep. Hayley laid there staring at the ceiling. She never wanted to let him go and vowed to never let Nick go. She went to sleep holding onto Nick as he held her in his sleep.

Chapter 14

A week later, Brian still hasn't given up on Hayley. Nick invited everyone over for a barbecue. Hayley sat in the bedroom when everyone was arriving. Nick came up and saw her.

"Honey, are you coming down, everyone is here," Nick said sitting beside her.

"Who is here?" Hayley asked.

"Kevin, Kristin, AJ, Howie, Brian, he even brought Leighanne," Nick said.

"Leighanne is here?" Hayley asked.

"Yeah, they are acting lovey dovey again," Nick said. Hayley smiled.

"That's good, maybe they will get back together again, I still don't get why they got divorced," Hayley said.

"Brian said they wanted different things, but I have a feeling you might be right," Nick said.

"I'll be down in a minute," Hayley said. Nick kissed her deeply and went downstairs. Hayley quickly changed into a suit and put on a coverup and went downstairs and saw Leighanne and Kristin lounging in the chairs. Brian, Howie, and AJ were in the pool while Kevin helped Nick at the grill.

"Hey Hayley," Leighanne said as Hayley sat down.

"Hey," Hayley said. She looked at Nick. He looked at her and smiled at her and winked. She smiled and blew a kiss at him. He caught it and put it on his cheek.

"You and Nick are the perfect couple," Kristin said.

"We've had our ups and downs but now we are more in love than ever, I can't live without him, there is no one else for me," Hayley said.

"What about Brian?" Leighanne asked quietly.

"What about Brian?" Hayley asked.

"Don't you have feelings for him?" Leighanne asked quietly.

"Who said I had feelings for him," Hayley said.

"He did," Leighanne said.

"Well, I don't have any feelings for him, he's imagining things, I love my husband completely and I'm in love with my husband, and there is no way that I'm going to break up my family," Hayley said.

"Brian is totally obsessed with you, he won't stop until he has you," Leighanne said.

"He better stop because he is never going to have me, besides, why are you being this way, I thought you two came together," Hayley said.

"I'm here so Nick won't know about Brian's feelings for you," Leighanne said.

"So it's all an act, Nick said you two were lovey dovey, I thought finally I can have peace," Hayley said.

"Sorry, I can't be with someone who is in love with someone else," Leighanne said.

"Well, I am never going to break up my family, I am happy with Nick and my kids, we are a family and I would never do anything to break that up," Hayley said. She went inside and went into the game room and closed the door and sat down and thought about everything. There was no way she was going to hurt Nick or her marriage or her family. The door opened and closed and locked and she looked up and saw Brian standing there. He came over to her and pulled her close. She struggled to get away but he held her tight. He kissed her deeply. She tried to push him away but he had a tight hold on her. She struggled against him. He pushed her against the wall. She was still struggling to get away.

"No, I don't want this!" Hayley said crying. He covered her mouth and looked at her.

"You let me inside you and let me make love to you and you won't lose Nick or your kids, if you don't, if you continue fighting, I will tell Nick that we had an affair and you will lose everything," Brian said.

"He won't believe you, he knows I would never do anything to hurt him," Hayley said crying.

"Oh he will, Leighanne will back me up, after all, she did walk in on us," Brian said kissing her neck. Hayley cried.

"You are a liar, you would never lie to your best friend, you are going against your beliefs, you have gone nuts!" Hayley said getting away from him and running for the door. Brian grabbed her and pushed her against the wall and pressed his body against hers.

"My beliefs have nothing to do with this, either you give me what I want, which is to be inside you, so deep inside your body, or I tell Nick that we are having a hot passionate affair and he will leave you and take your kids," Brian said.

"No!" Hayley cried. She screamed for Nick. Soon Nick was banging on the door. Hayley opened it and ran into his arms. He saw Brian. Hayley cried as she held onto Nick.