My first shot at writing a short fiction. Hope you enjoy!!

Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill. If I did, James would never have time to film :-)

Love's The Only Promise

I sit quietly on the freshly trimmed grass, not worried about staining my new jeans, but straining for peace and listening to the wind. I can't help but let my mind wander back to the day that blew me away. The day that I realized that my life would never be the same again. Sighing, I wipe a few tears before slipping into my memory.

"I'll see you in a few hours baby." Nathan smiled at me genuinely and kissed my forehead. "Lucas and I are just going golfing." I made a face for him, since I knew how much he hated the sport. "For fun. We'll probably end up just hitting the driving range and not even playing a full game." He squeezed my hand gently and ducked out the door, flipping Lucas off when he laid his hand on the horn.

Looking back, I couldn't believe how close Lucas and Nathan had gotten. Coming from the same ass of a father but different mothers, the boys had turned out completely unalike. Nathan was the cocky, arrogant basketball player, yet Lucas was a quiet, gentle boy who loved the sport but didn't dare play. Eventually, in front of my own very eyes, they both shed those faults, and Nathan emerged into a wonderful man, and sooner then I knew it, my junior year of high school to be exact, my husband. Lucas got over his fear of playing and became part of the unstoppable threesome, along with Nathan and their friend Skills, that led us to the state championship.

"Haley?" A voice at the door interrupted my thoughts. I smiled at my best friend, Brooke Davis, as she shakily stepped into the room. It took me a couple of seconds to realize that her eyes were actually filled with tears, and her face red.

"Brooke? Oh God, what happened?" I rushed over and hugged her. "Brooke, what is it?"

"There was an accident." She finally let out. My heart stopped, and I felt my whole life flash before my eyes. "Haley, Lucas blew a red light on accident and smashed into a car. The damage-" She choked out another sob. "It's so bad Haley. C'mon," She gently steered me out the door, "We have to go to the hospital."

"For what?" I asked, shell shocked; numb. I was Tutor Girl for Gods' sake, of course I knew why we had to go to the hospital.

"To identify the bodies." It was then that all the air left my body. I fell onto the stairs in front of my house, hugging myself and sobbing. Brooke tried consoling me, but there was nothing that she could do. My husband, the love of my life, was gone forever, and there was nothing that I could do to change it.

I flew through the actions that day, and it's been hell since. Looking down at the headstone in front of me, I choked back a whole new batch of tears. I gently touched my swollen stomach and felt a little bit better. It was if a piece of Nathan was coming back to me, and that was the only thing that comforted me and made me want to go on each day. That, and my iPod. Music was my second comfort, and was always an outlet that Nathan and I had both appreciated.

Turning it on and pressing the shuffle button, my breath caught as the most beautiful words that I had ever heard flowed into my ears, my brain, my soul.

When the world around you starts a-movin

And you should wonder if I still love you

If you feel the darkness comin, risin' inside

I'll make a light to guide you back home

And after all the sky is fallin' down

And after all the water's washed away

My love's the only promise that remains

I smiled through my tears of joy and kissed Nathan's tombstone before heading back to my car. "I love you baby." I said softly before driving away.

Song credit: Reba McEntire feat. Justin Timberlake/The Only Promise That Remains