Suffer Part II

Chapter 8

. . . . .

::CLICK::

"That's good, hold it Lucas."

::CLICK::

"Now, Nathan how about you help your brother with his blazer." The photographer instructed. He took a couple of more shots of the groom and bestman before heading out. Once alone, Lucas removed his blazer and started playing around with the cufflinks on his shirt.

"It still doesn't feel right." Lucas commented as he went about re-adjusting it.

Both brothers were unusually quiet.

"Come here." Nathan offered and helped Lucas out. "You pick up a few things after going through so many black tie events." Nathan finished with Lucas' cufflinks and then helped re-adjust his tie. "Now you're going to be the second best dressed guy out there." Nathan smirked.

Lucas playfully rolled his eyes and took a seat. There was still time before the ceremony and Lucas figured he didn't need to be in full dress yet.

Nathan took a seat next to him. "So.. you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." Lucas said casually, picking up a nearby magazine. "I think once I'm out there with everyone, I think I'll be a little nervous but a lot of the pressure has already been taken off."

"What do you mean?"

"If Jackson wasn't born, then I'd probably be freaking out on images of Brooke leaving me.. but with Jackson.. she's stuck with me." Lucas laughed and he looked back down on the magazine and kept reading.

Nathan let out a deep breath and started fidgeting with his fingers. He couldn't believe Lucas was acting so casual, nonchalant. He was pretty sure everyone at Tric heard him and Haley yelling last night but Lucas, his snooping, nose in none of his business brother wasn't saying anything to him.

After another five minutes, Nathan couldn't stand it and grabbed the magazine from Lucas.

"Hey, I was reading that." Lucas grabbed it back. "You can read it after I'm done."

"Are you serious right now?"

"What's your problem, Nate?"

"Don't play dumb with me Luke."

"I'm staying out of this one." Lucas knew exactly what Nathan was talking about.

"Now you want to butt out?" Nathan rolled his eyes. "I don't know what to do Luke."

"You really are the worst best man ever." Lucas chuckled. "That's the problem right there, you don't know what you want. You try to move on from Haley with Lindsey but that backfired and now Lindsey isn't even going to be here today."

"You know?"

"She called this morning to apologize, she gave some lame excuse about some emergency back home. I didn't press the issue because I knew it had something to do with you."

"I messed up. She figured out that there was something between Haley and I, and yeah.. it's over now." Nathan said sighed.

"And the argument between you and Haley last night?"

"I was hoping no one heard that."

"Just because the walls are sound proofed didn't mean we couldn't tell there was some arguing going on."

"It was bad Luke.. I said some things.." Nathan wondered if he should tell him what happened. He wouldn't put it passed Lucas to hit him after what he did to his best friend. "That didn't end well either." Nathan sighed.

"Nate, you got to decide what you want. If it's Lindsey, great, if it's Haley great, if not either of them great but you got to do what makes you happy Nate. This isn't healthy. I get that Haley hurt you and now Lindsey got caught in the cross hairs."

"I know, I learned my lesson…never get involved with your friends."

"So this is my fault?"

Nathan chuckled and sighed. "No, this whole big screw up is all on me."

"What do you want Nate? It's a simple question and it shouldn't be a complicated answer."

"I want." Nathan paused and he thought back on the other day when it was just him and Lucas taking care of Jackson.

"I want what you have." Nathan said softly. Lucas squinted at him. "I see how you and Brooke are and how you guys are with Jackson.. I want that."

Lucas gave his brother a sad smile. "Fine I take it back, you're not the worst best man ever." Lucas was quite touched to hear those words from Nathan. He never pegged his brother to be the settle down type but after seeing Nathan with his own son, Lucas knew that Nathan was going to be a great father one day.

"You and I know that, it's Haley you want to build that family with so just give it a shot." Lucas offered simply.

"I wish it can be as easy as that."

"Why not?"

"Because she has a family of her own.. imagine if Jackson was Brooke's son and not your own."

Lucas winced, that was a painful thought that he luckily would never have to go through.

"Just cuz she has a family doesn't mean you can't be part of it or you and Haley can build your own one day."

Nathan looked down.

"But you my dear brother, need to get your head out of your ass and do something. Like I said, this isn't healthy, you either forgive her and try it out or just simply move on."

Nathan sighed. He was so confused. "I know your right but either way, I need to talk to Haley. I ran into her earlier. She was so nonchalant, just said hi, smiled and went into the bridal suite as if I was just any one else. I wanted to at least apologize for last night." It irked Nathan that she seemed so indifferent about everything.

"Do I want to know what happened last night?" Now Lucas was very curious. Normally, he'd love nothing to do but meddle but there was so much back and forth between these two that he his head was getting dizzy.

"No." Nathan shook his head.

"Well seeing how red your cheeks were earlier, I don't think you should tell me. Brooke would kill me if you ruin the pictures by sporting a black eye." Lucas smirked.

"Noted."

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Flowers for the bride.. who clearly isn't here." The delivery man sighed.

Both Lucas and Nathan jumped up from their seats. "I'll take them." Both said at the same time.

. . . .

"Give me that." Nathan yanked the flowers from.

Lucas yanked it back.

"Dude you got to give me this one, if I take these flowers to Brooke, I get some face time with Haley."

"Forget it man, Brooke ditched me early this morning."

"So what, it's bad luck. You're not supposed to see her."

"Well she took our son."

"I'll get Jackson from her.. .besides what do you think is going to happen before your wedding at a church?"

Nathan grabbed the flowers back.

"Oh you under estimate me. Besides what're you going to tell Haley?" Lucas stopped in the hallway. that you're sorry for whatever stupid thing you said last night and then what..

"I haven't thought that far yet."

"Yeah, exactly." Lucas took it back. "You still don't know what you want." Lucas continued to walk.

"You're going to hell." Nathan sped up his pace to catch up to Luke. "You know, I suffered enough of your bad jokes over the years.."

"Whoa, my jokes are not stupid." Lucas protested as he reached the door and knocked.

"Look the point is I need this. I told you, when I ran into her earlier today, she smiled and nodded.. that's it, nothing else."

Lucas squinted at him, he was confused. "So?"

"So! It means, I'm fading fast."

"Oh so you're going to admit that you want to give things a go then?" Lucas kept walking and knocked on the door.

Before Nathan could reply, Haley opened the door and took the flowers from Lucas. "Oh flowers for the bride."

"I can help you with that." Lucas offered.

"Hey, look who it is." Nathan walked over.

"Sorry bad luck." Haley quickly slammed the door on both their faces.

"Hey, look who it is, no wonder you're fading." Lucas rolled his eyes and made his way back to the room where he was getting ready.

Nathan glared at his brother's retreating form and turned back to face the door. Nathan took a deep breath and knocked again. The door opened but there was no one there, but then Nathan looked down and saw a beaming Madison smiling at him.

"Hey, Madison." Nathan bent down. "It's been a long time, I've missed you. Do you think you can let your Uncle Nate in and come say hello."

Madison smiled and giggled before stepping aside and letting Nathan in.

"Mommy, mommy, look who's here." Madison bounced over to her mom.

Haley gave a tight smile. "I see your energy is back, you feeling better?" Haley asked, Madison wasn't feeling well earlier. She was worried that she was getting sick. Madison nodded. "Good, look why don't you go in the back, they still need to put the bow in your hair."

Madison nodded and waved bye to Nathan.

"Charming a five year old huh?" Haley turned to Nathan.

"I have my ways." Nathan stepped closer to Haley. "Look Hale.."

Haley put her hands up. "Nathan, before you say anything, I just want to say sorry."

"Sorry?"

"For last night.. for the song, I.. I shouldn't have aired all that out in front of the world.. and for umm, slapping you."

"I deserved it. I wanted to say that I'm sorry too. I said some things that were uncalled for."

"You were just telling the truth." Haley looked down. She thought about things long and hard last night and all this morning. "I knew I hurt you badly, when I picture myself in your position, and well it was all bound to come out.. umm.. I'm not mad Nathan. I'm sorry for everything.."

"Haley, you don't need to keep apologizing."

"And we don't need to keep going on this little merry go-around we've been going through. I'm happy for you Nathan. I really am, Lindsey is a great girl."

"Umm.. things with Lindsey." Nathan scratched his forehead trying to come up with the words. "We're not together."

"I'm sorry to hear." Haley said honestly.

"Hales.." Nathan said softly as his eyes bore into hers, instinctively drawing him towards her.. She was so close to him, he could smell her scene. Vanilla. He leaned in closer but was surprised when she stepped back.

"This is me getting off that merry go-around Nathan." Haley took a deep breath. "I don't know if I can handle getting close to you again only for you to pull away. I know you said you forgiven me, I know you still love me, I see it in the way you look at me.. like the way you're looking at me now, like I've seen so many times this past year.. there are moments that I feel we're connected again and it gives me hope but then you remember what I did and how I hurt you and then we're back at square one again. I love you Nathan, truly with all my heart I do but last night, what you said .. I get it. I get why you pull away."

Nathan looked at her intently.

"I wish I can make things right Nathan but no matter what, Madison will always be my daughter, Chase's daughter. Regardless of how much I know you like her and care for her, I know that's something you're never going to get over. I can keep trying, I can keep fighting for us but she'll always be a reminder of how much I hurt you." Haley let a lone tear fall from her face.

"Mommy, mommy, I'm all done!" Madison's voice boomed from the adjacent room.

Haley stepped back and blinked away all of her emotions. Just then, Madison came running back.

"Well, don't you look pretty." Haley smiled warmly and Madison smiled back. She turned to Nathan, obviously wanting a compliment from him as well.

"Do I look pretty Uncle Nathan?"

Nathan gave a sad smile. "Yes.. yes you do." He said honestly.

There was a knock at the door and then he heard it opening.

"Daddy, daddy!"

Nathan turned around and Chase walked right passed him and leant down and open his arms up to his daughter. "Aren't you the prettiest flower girl I've ever seen?" Chase hugged her and she giggled. Nathan watched the young family from a distance and felt very much like someone on the outside looking in. He quickly stepped outside and closed the door behind him.

. . . . . .

Nathan stood off to the side as he cradled Jackson against him, not really caring if the boy was drooling all over his shoulder, this was a rental after all. He loved spending time with his nephew but right now he also served a dual role, to make sure no one bothered him. Every time someone would come up to him, he would put a finger to his mouth and they'd know to back off so as to know wake the young baby. He needed the solitude at the moment, so many things were running through his mind.

The wedding was short, sweet and beautiful. He had expected something more elaborate from Brooke but she was pretty reserved, the ballroom they were in however, definitely highlighted Brooke's personal taste. But no matter how hard he tried to fight it, his eyes always roamed back to Haley. She was gorgeous and as they stood there next to Brooke and Lucas as they recited their vows, he couldn't help but think about the future they could've had.. wondering if there was a future they can still have. Unfortunately for him, everyone else seemed to notice and he couldn't believe how many comments he'd heard from many of the male guests. His agent Clay being one of them and if he weren't his friend, he would've ripped the guys throat by now.

"Oh Nathan, there you are. I can take him." Karen grabbed her grandson from him. "Go enjoy the party." Karen smiled.

Nathan tried to hide his annoyance but smiled politely back at Karen, muttering a quick thanks and heading back to his table.

"Uncle Nate, Uncle Nate!" Madison skipped over to him. "Do you want to dance.. please?" Madison batted her eyes and she couldn't help marvel on how mother and daughter looked so alike.

"Umm.." Nathan stammered.

"Come on sweetie.. Uncle Nathan doesn't like to dance." Haley came up and took her daughter's hand. He and Haley locked eyes for a second, Haley could've sworn she saw it turn to a darker shade of blue. He looked back down at Madison and gave a wide smile.

"I'd love to." He took the little girls hand and led her off to the dance floor. He took a spot next to the bride and groom, who were laughing at the way Madison stepped on Nathan's feet while he held onto her hands as they danced.

Haley looked around and noticed many of the female guests admiring Nathan. Of course she was no different, her heart swoon at the way she saw him sway Jackson to sleep and now dancing with her daughter, but she still couldn't help think about how far they've fallen apart.

"I see that Madison inherited your interest in Nathan." Chase stood next to Haley.

"Chase, don't start." Haley warned.

"You're too good for him, Haley."

"Chase, really don't." She turned to him.

Chase put his hands up in mock surrender. "I meant that as a compliment."

"Not now Chase." Haley sighed.

"Look Haley, I've been meaning to apologize to you."

Haley turned to him with an eyebrow raised.

"With our marriage, I should've known.. when I came back home after my injury, I thought something was off but I thought it was just me readjusting. Looking back, I can see that you were never happy Hales.."

"Chase don't blame our divorce on you."

"What I meant was, I saw the signs.. I should've done something about it sooner. This wasn't how I thought it would be for us but I'm happy Haley, I'm in a good place in my life right now and I still care about you.. I just want to make sure you're okay."

Haley gave Chase a half smile and then looked back onto Nathan and Madison.

"I'm going to be." She hoped.

. . . . .

Nathan came walking back to the ballroom and noticed all the guys gathering on the dance floor. There would only be one reason why they would all be there. Oh no, he immediately thought and hid behind the back bar in the hopes that no one would call him out. The garter toss was something he wasn't keen on participating in. Luckily, his plan seemed to work, Lucas and Brooke were in the middle of the dance floor as Luke was on his knees removing the garter. He saw all the guys playfully shoving and pushing each other around, eager to catch it. He wondered why there were so happy… shit, his heart sank as he looked behind Lucas and Brooke and noticed Haley standing there, looking flustered and holding a bouquet of flowers that looked awfully like the one Brooke used earlier.

Clay eagerly rubbed his hands together, this puppy is mine, he thought. Lucas turned around and lobbed the garter behind him. Jumping as high as he could, he reached out his hands, his body being shoved against the ton of other guys there but when his feet landed on the ground, it was he who still had his hand up in victory.

"Yes!" He exclaimed but his victory was short lived as he turned around and found a furious Nathan.

"Give me that." Nathan said in a low voice that only they heard it and then with such conviction, Clay wondered what he did wrong and if he still had a job tomorrow. Nathan had yanked the garter from him and just as quickly, Nathan's demeanor changed and he placated the crowd by smiling and raising his own hands in victory.

He avoided the confused and shocked expression Brooke and Lucas had on their faces and made his way over to Haley.

"What're you doing?" She kept her smile up and tried to act like nothing was wrong but Nathan ignored her and motioned for her to sit down.

The crowd cheered them on and Haley tried to keep up the act while Lucas and Brooke looked on with amused faces. He'd deal with them later, he thought.

"Just go with it." Nathan pleaded with Haley. She nearly gasped as she felt Nathan's hand grab her leg and remove his shoe and as gently as he could, he placed the garter on her and lifted it up just above the knees.

"Don't say I never gave you anything." He said as he stood up.

The crowd continued to laugh and cheer and the two posed as the photographer took shots of them. Brook and Lucas walked over to them and the four shared a group photo. "What was that?" Lucas whispered in his ear.

Again, Nathan choose to ignore the comment. Thankfully the pictures were done and he could stop with the fake smile.

"Can we talk?" He said quietly to Haley but she just looked at him and turned around.

"I have to see Chase." She muttered and walked away from him.

He sighed and scratched the back of his head.

"Are you okay?" Lucas asked Nathan.

"No, I'm not." He replied as he watched Haley walk over to Chase's table, he was holding a sleeping Madison.

Lucas gave look to Brooke who backed away and joined the other guests. Lucas led Nathan off to the side. "What's going on with you?" Lucas asked with concern in his voice and it only made Nathan feel even crappier. He didn't want to ruin Lucas' night but there was something bugging him and he needed his big brother right now.

"How does it end?"

"Huh?"

"You're book, how does it end?"

Lucas looked at him curiously.

"I know it's about me." Nathan added and he started to recall what happened last night.

It was a long drive home and Nathan thanked God that they finally made it back to Lindsey's hotel. It was awkward to saw the least. After his fight with Haley, he stayed in the dressing room for some time before making it out. He was surprised that she even waited for him. He can tell she was pissed but at this point, he had so much in his mind that he couldn't find himself to care.

Lindsey reached inside over sized bag and pulled out a worn out manuscript. She held it in her hands. She noticed Lucas' name on the front cover, "The Comet by Lucas Scott." He wondered why she brought it out.

"At first glance, it's about a scientist and the stars but really, the story is about this lost little boy who sees this comet and suddenly his life has meaning, and then he waits his whole life for the comet to return, he has faith that it will even though science and intellect tells him he's wrong, his heart still believes." She paused as she leafed through the pages to find the passage she was looking for and then handed it over to him. "It's beautiful and heart breaking. It's an epic love story."

"It's about a comet." Nathan was confused.

"It's about love in its purest form and I was so thrilled it come from Lucas' mind and heart and I wondered where it came from. At first I thought it was the story of him and Brooke but I was wrong." She pointed to the top of the page. "Read it."

Nathan was still confused but as she said, "It was more than just a comet because of what it brought to his life: direction, beauty, meaning. There are many who couldn't understand, and sometimes he walked among them. But even in his darkest hours, he knew in his heart that someday it would return to him, and his world would be whole again... And his belief in God and love and art would be re-awakened in his heart." Nathan's throat became dry when he finished reading it.

"It's an epic love story.. it's your love story.. you and Haley."

Nathan handed it back to her, unable to look at her in the eye and at this point no point in denying anything.

"I should've known." Lindsey put it back in her bag. "One of Lucas' early drafts even had him naming it as Haley's comet." She shook her head. "I've fallen for you Nathan… I really really like you and I want us to work but your heart's conflicted. I don't know what happened between you and Haley but from what I can tell, it was a long time ago."

"It was." Nathan turned to face her.

"Apparently, not that long ago." She turned to him. "I'm not mad at you Nathan.. in a way, this is my fault, I should've seen the signs, you were always polite and kind but kept me at arms length."

"I'm sorry Lindsey, I wasn't trying to lead you on or anything."

"It's okay Nathan, you can't help who you love right?" She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheeks. "Bye Nathan." She stated with a finality in her voice. She undid her seatbelt and opened the door, with one foot out, Nathan turned back to her.

"Lindsey?"

"Yeah?"

"How does the book end?"

Lindsey gave him a half smile. "Lucas hasn't given me that part yet." And with that she closed the door.

"So? What happens?"

"You have to wait until it comes out in hardcopy."

"Luke." Nathan said frustrated, feeling another Lucas induced head ache coming on.

"The scientist waits but the comet comes only once in a life time."

"So that's it, he's doomed to spend his life waiting for something that'll never happen… talk about the worst book ever!"

Lucas rolls his eyes but knows he needs to push his brother. "Exactly, he'll wait for something that'll never come so he does the next best thing.. he goes after it."

Nathan smirks in true Nathan Scott style and starts walking in away but he pauses and turns back to Lucas.

"Wait, how does he do that?"

Lucas shakes his head. "I don't know, he works for NASA, builds some elaborate telescope .. or he stops bugging his brother."

"Okay, okay. I get the hint." Nathan took off and Lucas couldn't help but laugh.

. . . . . . .

Nathan was outside in the front gardens. He stood off to the side as he watched the valet get Chase's car and Haley put her sleeping daughter inside. Madison was obviously all partied out. She was completely passed out. He watched as Haley gave Chase a hug goodbye and then Chase drove off.

Haley started walking back when Nathan stepped out from the shadows.

"You stalking me now?" Haley quipped.

"I followed you out." He corrected her. "How's Madison?"

"She developed a big headache, probably from all the soda I told her not to drink and fell asleep from the sugar rush. Her and Chase are going home but enough of the small talk Nathan, what was that back there? Clay looked like he was scared half to death."

"I didn't want any one else touching you." He answered honestly.

Haley crossed her arms. "Why?"

"You know why."

"Unbelievable." Haley shook her head and started to walk away.

"Last night you were practically begging for me to take you back and now you're walking away."

"I have to Nathan. Because this, whatever it is you're doing. I'm not falling for it."

"I'm not doing anything but trying to be honest with you." Nathan took a deep breath. "I know I said some things that were out of line but."

"No Nathan, you said what you were really feeling. I told you earlier that I can't do this back and forth. It hurts too much Nathan."

"So that's it, you're giving up on us?"

"Nathan, how can we be together when every time you see Madison, you just see how much I hurt you and then we're back to where we started. Nathan, I love you.. I love you so much but she's my daughter. If I have to choose, I choose Madison, it'd be a different story if it was just me but Madison isn't going anywhere Nathan." Her voice cracked at the end as she fought to try to hold back tears that were threatening to spill.

"Neither am I." Nathan took a step closer to her. "I'm not asking you to choose. I would never do that. But you are right Haley, when I look at Madison, it hurts. It hurts to know I see Chase in her, that you choose him over me. I'm sorry but that's how I feel yet I've been around your daughter long enough to know that she's a smart, friendly, curious, thoughtful, fun-loving little girl who is the spitting image of her mom.. so yes it hurts that Chase is her father but she is a part of you and I can never hate her.. much like I can never hate you .. in fact I've spent the better of the past five years trying not to love you but I can't … I can't help it Hales.. I love you."

Haley stood there frozen.

"I love you.. I want to be with you. I want to make this work, I want to give us a try." Nathan finally took the leap over.

Haley didn't know what to say, what to do. As much as she wanted to jump up and down, there was still a little voice in her head telling her that this was too good to be true.

"You don't believe me." Nathan frowned.

"I feel like this is a dream and that I'm going to wake up at any moment now."

"This is real Haley." He grabbed her hands. "I know it's not going to be easy but that's okay. I just really want to be with you." Nathan sighed and pulled her close to him. He wrapped his arms around her. She was stiff at first but eventually relaxed under his embrace.

"Is this real?" Haley muttered against his chest.

"Do you remember when we saw each other last year? My welcome party to the Bobcats, do you remember you made me promise to you?"

"I will always love you Nathan Scott, you deserve the best, you deserve to be happy, so promise me Nathan."

"What?" Nathan choked out.

"Be happy. I'm so sorry that I hurt you and I wish I fought for us but that's my cross to bear, not yours. You deserve happiness Nathan even though I know it's not with me. Just promise me okay?"

"I promise."

"I remember." Haley said softly.

"I'm keeping that promise Haley." Nathan pulled back and looked down at her so she can see the conviction in his eyes. "You hurt me Hales, it still hurts but what'll hurt even more is knowing that I didn't try… that you were here and I didn't do anything about it because I was scared.. scared to be hurt again and that I didn't let go of my damn pride. Then next thing you know I let another five years go by, still feeling hurt and alone." Nathan paused. "I don't know how this is going to go but all I know is that I've been miserable and even though a lot of great things have happened to me, there's something missing.. someone missing. Haley you are what makes me happy… and I can only hope that I can make you feel the same way… So what do you say Hales?"

"I say that I love you. I've always loved you even when I tried not to." Haley smiled. Nathan smiled back and leaned closer as his lips came into contact with hers. It was slow at first but eventually he pushed harder, their mouths opening up and their tongues battled.

They both pulled away, breathless but with a renewed sense of hope.. happiness.

"Hey.. don't cry." Nathan frowned when he saw tears form in her eyes and wiped a few stray tears away with his thumb.

"These aren't sad tears… they're happy tears."

"How about from now on, we do smiles for happy instead?" He grinned widely. She smiled back and nodded.

"The, I think my cheeks are going to hurt." They both laughed and Nathan swooped in and kissed her again.

"I still can't believe this is real." She muttered against his lips as her hands ran up from his head down to his waist.

"It better be cuz you're not the only freaking out that this is just a dream." Nathan answered back. "I'm still scared that you might leave me again.."

"I'm not." Haley quickly replied. "I'm not going anywhere either."

Nathan smiled back at her, needing to hear those words but being with her right now, he knew he didn't need to hear it, he felt it in the way she looks at him and the way she's holding onto him. "I know and I'm not gong to let fear control me anymore, we're going to make this work Haley."

"Yes.. and five years is a long time and even though we've seen each other this pass year, I want us to get to know each other again. I want to do things right."

"I want that too." Nathan hugged her and held her close to him. Haley felt like she was on cloud nine, there were so many times she dreamt of this moment but now she knew she wasn't dreaming because nothing in her dreams could ever amount to the real thing.

"Hales." Nathan said softly.

"Yeah?"

"I know we said that we're going to take it slow but I want to put it out there that you're my girlfriend now and I am your boyfriend."

"Really?" She pulled back with a smirk.

"Yes, we don't need to go that slow… unless you object?"

Haley laughed as she leaned in to kiss him again. "No I don't."

. . . . . .

"Well, well well." Lucas crossed his arms as he stood in front of Nathan and Haley, who were sitting awfully close together on a nearby bench, smiling and giggling away like some horny teenagers.

"Oh Luke, hey." Haley turned her attention to the other Scott.

"So.. umm.. what you guys doing?" Lucas eyed them with a goofy grin.

Nathan stood up, along with Haley, their hands intertwined.

"We're together now." Nathan replied.

"Yep, I'm his girlfriend." Haley said proudly.

"And don't say I told you so." Nathan quickly added with a pointed finger.

"You wound me, Nate." Lucas put his hand on his heart in dramatic fashion.

Haley laughed. "Luke, you're such a dork.. but come on, say it."

"Say what?"

"Whatever it is you want to say.. or ask or whatever, I know how you are."

"That hurts Hales.. can't a guy be happy for his brother and best friend… but seriously guys.. I'm happy for both of you." He pulled Nathan to him and gave him a hug, then followed by Haley. He stood in between them and started leading them back to the party.

"And besides, Brooke is going to blow a fuse when she sees you two, I'll just find everything out from her." He laughed. Both Nathan and Haley just shook their heads. They could imagine what everyone will say.

Lucas broke away and took a few steps ahead of them. "Now last time I checked, it was my wedding and it'd be nice to have my best man and my best friend join me in celebrating."

He took Haley's hand again and followed Lucas back inside the reception.

As soon as they entered, they felt that all eyes were on them. Brooke immediately spotted them and as quickly as she could, made her way over to them. Her jaw hit the floor when she spotted the two of them so cozy together, their hands intertwined. She tried to speak but words were failing her at the moment.

"I'm going go over there by Luke.. I'll give you two a minute." Nathan turned to Haley and then gave her a quick kiss goodbye on the lips. As he walked away, he heard Brooke squeal and soon enough he stood next to his brother, turned around and saw Haley, Brooke and Peyton ,who had joined them, in one big giggling fest.

"She looks happy Nate." Lucas commented.

"Yeah." He smiled. "I did that." He said proudly to his brother. Lucas shook his head and padded Nathan's back.

"Don't forgot about how I'm going to make you a lot of money when that book of yours comes out."

"I don't know anymore, I think it's going to flop." Lucas deadpanned.

"Gee thanks." Nathan rolled his eyes.

The music got more up beat and Brooke dragged Haley and Peyton onto the dance floor which was getting filled by other guests of the party.

Brooke pointed at Lucas to come join her.

"Looks like the wife is calling me."

"You are so whipped." Nathan snorted.

"Really? You want to go there." Lucas snickered back as he made his way over to the dance floor.

Haley broke off from the little circle her and Peyton formed and went towards Nathan.

"Come dance with me?" She took his hands in hers but he stood firm.

"I don't want you to revoke my boyfriend status so quickly."

"Oh come on, I saw you dance with Madison earlier."

"I was appeasing a five year old, and I wouldn't call a five year old stepping on your feet dancing."

"You know, they say dancing is a reflection of how a guy is like in bed." She teased.

"That's a lie and you know it." Nathan quickly remarked. "The thing about the shoe size.. well you know that's real." Nathan smirked as he tapped his size 14 shoe on the floor.

Haley's heart skipped a bit. Oh I knows, she thought.

"I don't dance Hales." Nathan crossed his arms in an attempt to stand his ground.

"Oh I know and it's genetic too, I've seen that weird robot move Lucas makes, believe me, you're dance skills is not what made me fall in love with you." She quipped.

"I think I'm good here. You can go."

"Nathan, come on." She pleaded, her big brown eyes looking at him. Mother and daughter were really alike, he thought.

"I'm going to look like an idiot."

"You have me."

"And when you leave, I'll be standing out there looking like a fool. At least Luke has a robot move, I have no moves." He stood his ground and started developed a small pout.

"I'm not going to ditch you." She laughed and leaned up and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "I'm not going to go anywhere." She took a couple of steps back and held her hands out, "Trust me?"

Nathan eyed her for a moment and looked back at the crowd behind her. Everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves. but he turned back to Haley and the crowd seemed to fade away and it was just her he saw. He would focus on that now and always. Forever. With out a word, he took Haley's outstretched hand and let her lead him out on the dance floor.

With their hands and hearts intertwined, they danced the night away.

The End.

You're eyes are not deceiving you, this is the end. Finishing the first draft of this chapter was emotional for me. It hit me that this is it, much like how 9x11 hit me too that this is the end of OTH. My goal was to finish this story before the show end and this too would be my swan song. I thought back to the stories I've written, the feedback from you guys and how much fun I had writing. In the end, I actually had fun when I finished up this last chapter. Because of time, I did scale back with this story. I had always meant for this chapter to happen but there was going to be a couple of more chapters but I figured this would be a good time to end it and if I were to continue I could but I didn't want to dig myself into a hole and just write for the sake of writing. Could there be a part III? I'd say never say never but it wont be the same writing now that the show is going to end. Like I said, I probably do some one shots here and there just cuz it's not as taxing to write. I loved the angst in this story and it was nice to write a happy ending. I hoped you guys don't think that Haley gave up on Nathan because no matter what Haley would do, Madison would always remind Nathan of how he hurt her and I hoped that showed. And for Nathan, it was a story about forgiveness and moving on and letting go of his fear and hurt but it was that constant back and forth with Nathan.

having just watched the finale, some parts touched the heart, some parts were overwhelming some parts were under whelming. it wasn't able to capture that magic from the season 4 finale or even the s8 finale and I think it was the sound choices, too upbeat songs, needed something more mellow, esp at the end. I get that it's a celebration but its also good to milk some emotions out with music. also too concerty, I didn't need to see everyone practically finish the song, what happened to editing? but it was still good, its just that I think we had better. the season over all was great, plot issues aside with nathan's kidnappers of course. I thought CQ had a great resolution tonight and liked that they didn't go cliché on us with mouth and millie but just showed her pregnant at the end. disappointed we didn't get to see bevin talk with the cast and see her and skills re unite but im glad skills got his happy ending. loved where they went with jamie, haley's one tree hill line was all sorts of love and we didn't get much naley but man that kiss was just "aww" and "Whoaa" I was half tempted to write a rain scene in here lol.

Again, thank you for reading, thank you for your support and please leave me some love. Sad tears for me, this is the end folks. Good night and good bye.