Author's Notes: It's been years since my last update, but I was going through my stories, and I felt like this needs closure. It can pretty much stand alone as it is, but there seems to be something missing. I'm editing the pages then gonna upload a last chapter, that will hopefully settle me down.

Reading them again, reminded me just how special these stories are for me. So I'm completing this fic, so hopefully I'll also get closure.

Disclaimer: I dont own One Tree Hill... although I would love to have Nathan Scott as my own... wahaha... he's just my dream come true guy! waahhh!

Story line: Basically everything that happened season one and two happened, until the episode in season three where Haley was staying with Nathan at the beach house the day she came back from the tour. But that night when she came to his room, he didnt push her away, and something happened with them. But Nathan disappeared the next day, without a word or note.

So here goes! Enjoy!

"Hi."

Funny with just one simple, overused word can change your life. She was the one who said it first, standing by his doorstep, the minute she realized her music was never enough without him. And at that single word she said, her life turned out to be something even her wildest dreams couldn't fathom. Then, it seemed that the tables had turned, and it was now him standing on her doorstep, soaked from head to foot, uttering that seemingly cursed word, and she didnt know how she would she respond.

She dreamt of this day - no, ached for this day - for so long that there came a time when she stopped believing that it could come true. Though she could never deny that she had never stopped hoping, the thought of it happening seemed lightyears away. Now that it did, all she could do is stare at the man in front of her. Not one word, not one movement, just the talking of the souls between two long lost lovers who, may at last, have found their way home.

A cry from upstairs broke them from their trance, and suddenly, she bacame aware of her surroundings. She had remembered how hard the rain was falling at that time, and that she is living a different life now. She looked back at the staircase, debating on her next move, before looking back into his eyes, then all other thoughts left her.

His eyes, his eyes that seemed to be drinking her in when he first saw her were now full of betrayal, hurt and regret. And as it always did before, when life for them was different, his pain became her own that she had to force herself not to break down in front of him.

"I shouldnt have come here," he muttered so softly that she could hardly hear the words against the pouring rain, but as he started to turn his back on her, he body moved on its own - her hands tightly holding his elbow, and her questioning eyes were answered by sheer desperation and tears on her own. She couldnt bear to lose him now, never again. She cant let him go.

Without a word - she feared that if she spoke, she would completely break down - she led him to the living room and sat him on the sofa, not minding if he ruined it with his wet clothes. After handing him two towels to dry himself off, she quickly turned to the bedroom upstairs to tend to the persistently wailing child.

"Hush now, mommy's here," she gently cooed her little boy as she picked him up and held him. She was too absorbed in her baby that she didnt hear him follow her. He stood there by the doorway just watching her take care of the little child as if she was born to be a mother. They were a picture of perfection, like the painting "Mother and Child" and he would give just about everything for that child she's taking care of would be his. But it wasnt, he came too late. She could have moved on after he left her that day. Maybe by then she realized that he was not worth all that. And now she has now someone else, someone who's better than he could ever be, and she was now raising their child. That thought alone caused him to break down.

She gently put down on the bed her son who had again fallen asleep. She couldnt help but smile just looking at him. He reminded her so much of his father, the same blue eyes, same gorgeous face. She could see him playing basketball just like his father, and hopefully not be a player like him.

Her smile widened a little when her thoughts drifted to the man she left downstairs. 'He's back my little one,' she thought as she gently caressed his hair. 'We can be a family again.'

She turned to go back but the the site that greeted her shocked her. By the doorway was Nathan, on his knees, head bowed, and his fists clenched so hard that it was almost white. What shocked her the most was the tears she saw. For all the years she had known him, she barely see him cry, and there he is, openly crying, at the doorway of his son's room.

She stood there for a minute more before she regained control of her body and before she could even stop herself, she was already kneeling beside him, hugging him tightly to her chest, and he was hugging her back with the same fierceness, afraid if he let go, she will disappear.

They didnt know how long they were like that. But they revelled in the feeling of being with each other. Holding on to each other and crying onto each other. It was all their hurt and frustrations and hope for the days they had been apart. And it is for the future and the present that they had been given now.

No words were needed. After awhile she slowly stood, taking him with her, for even then he wont let go of his grip on her, and led him to her bedroom. After giving him a set of clothes to change from his wet one, and changing herself, they tucked themselves into bed, just holding each other, never once letting go.

Maybe it wasnt such a cursed word, for all words started and ended with a simple "Hi."

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