Thanks for your patience and kind words, means a lot to me. And I'm sorry I kept you guys waiting. I have updated this one as well as my other two. Here is my new chapter that I hope you enjoy, the surprises will come soon. Enjoy. Also, today is my last day where I live, I am moving to Hawaii for six months- though I will still update I just would like to let you all know why I won't be doing it as much. But I will do my best.

"Where are we going?" Haley squealed as Nathan continued to run along with Haley's hand entwined with his. Nathan had started to take off through the city, passing the random cars and buildings with little life going on in them. At the moment he didn't think anyone in the whole world felt as alive as he did. "Nathan, my heals weren't made for running!" Haley laughed as she stopped them for a moment as she took them off and carried them in her other hand.

"Come on, we're almost there."

Leading the way, Nathan slowed down just slightly as he led them into a dirty road that hadn't been walked on in years, its trail covered by the overgrown grass and trees branches. "Don't let go." He called out as he began to move aside the hanging branches covered in moss. "Watch where you step, not even the moons light can do you much good in this part."

Her hand still secured in his, Haley careful watched where she placed her footing, gripping closer to Nathan. The walk wasn't long, but Haley couldn't help but secretly want it to go on forever. Just Nathan and her in the dark, how it sounded just right. As if hearing her silent thoughts, Nathan turned around and smiled; a smile that shined even in the dark. Haley hung her head down, this wasn't like her. Never in a million years would she have thought in one day she would find someone that would make the impossible seem possible. Looking up once again, she knew why. She had fallen in love.

"So this is what it feels like?" Haley murmured softly to herself.

"What does?"

"T-The grass, I never felt the grass on my bare feet." Haley came up with quickly, being thankful for the dark. She was sure enough the color of her cheeks turned a rosy pink.

"Its great isn't it? No barriers, just you and the one thing you desire." Nathan replied as they made their way out of the small forest, and into a vacant field. Now this was the sight Nathan had wanted to show her, wanted her to experience….with him. The grass was somehow shorter in the field, but full. Small purple flowers laid peacefully in the open greenness, their colors radiating from the full moon above them Nathan turned his head and for the first time since they had stopped running and looked at Haley. And it happened again. Though he had been caring these feelings the past day, Nathan couldn't help but find them foreign. This was the first time he ever felt this way, before and during the war. Now, as Haley stood next to him, the feelings resurfaced stronger before. He was in love. Is that what it was? It had to be. How else was this between them be explained? Nathan watched as Haley's stunned eyes roved around, dancing around the small pond, the purple flowers, and the vast sky above them. For a moment he followed her gaze, the stars and moon brighter than he had ever seen them. No lights, buildings, or cars to take away from the skies natural illumination.

"So, what do you think?" Nathan asked breaking the silence.

"I-I don't know what to say. It's beautiful."

"My thoughts exactly."

Haley pulled her hand from Nathans and bent down to retrieve a small purple blossom. "How did you find it?" She asked, twirling the small flower between her fingers.

"The first day we got here, I decided to check out this town and I don't know, ever since I was small I liked going on adventures, so when I saw the abandon road I knew it was calling my name."

Stilling kneeling on the ground, Haley placed her hands on her lap. "I've lived here most of my life and never have I heard of this place. It's a shame. How can something so beautiful be alone for all these years?"

Watching her, Nathan bent down as well, taking her hand in his. "That's what I ask myself." Haley smiled softly, knowing very well he wasn't talking about the field. "Maybe it just had to wait for the right person to come along to discover her."

"It." Haley corrected with a small smile. "I could stay here all night."

"Whatever you want, I'll give it to you."

Haley shook her head. "You can stop feeling sorry for the small town waitress." She joked, picking another flower with her free hand and placing it behind her ear.

"I wasn't feeling sorry for you, I…"

"What?

"Never mind." Nathan gave a short laugh and placed Haley's hand back on her lap. Nathan took a seat on the ground, his knees propped up, as he crossed his arms, resting them on his knees. "Listen, Haley…I'm trying to be honest here. But that's really hard for me, but when I'm with you its too easy. But I don't realize that until I'm already a fool for trying to hard." He looked over at her. "If I said something right now, maybe something you're not ready to hear…you don't want to hear, would you forgive me later?"

"Nathan what are you talking about?"

Nathan retook Haley's hand in his, placing a small kiss on her knuckles, and took a deep breath. Nathan felt the corners of his mouth crook up out of nervous habit. What if it came out wrong? Didn't come out at all? What if Haley laughed? What if she didn't feel the same way….what would he do? Nathan didn't know if he could ever recover from that. The past twenty four hours felt like such a lifetime, in just the last few hours he had met Haley, got to know her, and in the end of the beginning…fell in love with her. Now it was time to let her know. "I love you, Haley." It was out. There was no way to take it back now, not that he wanted to. Nathan stared at Haley, whose expression hadn't changed since he got her attention.

"You don't have to say it back. I thought it was only fair to let you know how I feel."

Haley nodded. She was still trying to process what Nathan had just said. He loved her. He loves her. Was this real? Did Nathan Scott really just confess that to her? A smile crept on Haley's lips, how she wanted to hear that for the longest time from someone, let alone, Nathan. And here it was. Lingering in the air with such intensity, lingering on his heart, lingering on his lips….

Before Haley could think about what to say or do next, her heart acted on its own terms. Lunging into Nathans arms, Haley pressed her lips against his. She felt Nathan stiffen in shock, yet was soon taken over by passion. Haley kissed Nathan with as much fire and passion she had in her, pushing him completely on the ground. Lying on top of his chest, Haley lifted her head when air became a necessity. Nathan looked up, a smile full blown on his face. He brought his hand up and moved Haley's hair behind her ear, which had formed a curtain around them. Looking into her eyes one more time, Nathan pulled her back for another kiss. This time he poked his tongue along her full lips, begging for entrance, and once Haley complied, their tongues worked swiftly but passionately around each other. They both tasted blood but neither cared.

Finally pulling back, Nathan tried his best to bring his breathing to a normal pace.

"That was a reaction I didn't plan for." Nathan panted, running his hands up and down her back.

"Then I guess you don't know me that well." Haley teased.

Shifting beneath her, Nathan propped himself up on one elbow. "I love you Haley James."

Haley smiled once again, and now she knew it was time for her to let him in on this feeling of being loved. Let him feel what she was feeling. "Nathan," Sliding off his chest, she settled on the grass next to him. "I love you."

The silence that fell between them wasn't awkward, not full of regret, or confusion. Instead, it was filled with honesty, and forever would this moment be the changing moment between them.

"Really?"

Haley laughed. "Yes. I thought it was only fair to let you know how I feel." She quoted his earlier words causing a laugh out of him. "I do Nathan, I love you."

Falling back on the grass, Nathan laid down as his eyes looked at the vast starlight straight ahead. Haley quickly followed, spooning herself against Nathans side. One arm wrapped around her shoulder, Nathan began to stroke his arm that was wrapped around his waist. Nothing could beat this moment. Them, the darkness, and their feelings; was there more to life? Haley closed her eyes as she felt for the first time completeness. Haley hadn't even been searching for anything; she was perfectly content with life before Nathan. But that was before, now that there was an after….she never wanted to go back.

"What you thinking about?" Haley asked as she crooked her head up to look at him. Nathans eyes were closed, yet the smile on his lips gave a clear giveaway that he was still awake.

"At the moment? A lot of things. The war, my family, but mainly, you." He proclaimed kissing the top of her forehead.

"What about your family?"

"Well, for starters, I wonder at times if they miss me. When I first got into the war I would get letters weekly. Yet, that soon turned monthly and now, I get them every now and then. I don't expect much from my father, but my mother….she always said that one day she and I would get away from my fathers controlling ways. Then when that someday became next week, to in a few months and finally…when we can. Then," Nathan sighed before tightening his grip around Haley. "I like to think that I can make them proud. No matter how many times they have disappointed me or not believe in me, I like to think that I can still make them happy."

Haley knew Nathan needed comforting, but she wasn't going to give it when she knew the time wasn't right, instead she furthered deeper into Nathans secured mind and heart. "What about the war now?"

"The war? That's simple. Everything. I'm scared of one day waking up and not realizing that it's my last. I'm scared that I won't do my country proud and protect them. However, I think I'm mostly scared from the idea that if I do die, I won't leave my mark behind. You know?" Nathan asked aimlessly as rubbed soothing circles on Haley's arm. "I don't expect to go down in history, but I do want to be remembered if not for a solider then for a man." He confessed.

Swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat, Haley continued. "Lastly….what about me?"

Laughing lightly, Nathan looked down at Haley. "I knew we were getting to that eventually." He teased. "Well, you…lets see. You want the good news or bad?" Haley playful squeezed his bicep at the joke. "Okay. Okay. Sorry. You. I was just thinking about how happy you have made me this past day, how happy you make me every time I see you. When I look at you Haley I fall deeper in love with you. When I hold you I know I never want to let go. And when I talk to you, I know there's no one else I would spend my days with."

Haley smiled. "So where does the bad news kick in?" She joked in return, but by the looks of Nathan's face she knew he was really struggling with it.

"The bad side of it all, it's going to have to end."

Sitting up properly, Haley looked down. "Says who? Nathan, it doesn't have to end…I won't let it end."

Following Haley's earlier movements, Nathan sat up as well. Looking at Haley he knew she was right. The war, family, or loss could never end this. Though that was both riveting and beautiful, it was also terrifying to Nathan. If he ever lost Haley, if Haley was ever taken from him or this world, he would never be able to cope with that reality. "I won't either." Grabbing hold of Haley's hand Nathan kissed it lightly before looking back into those brown, doe eyes that he had grown to love. "Now, there is also one more problem. I've been carrying it around for sometime…."

And in that moment, Haley and Nathan's lives changed.

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Lucas sat at his desk scribbling down the cafes income for the past week. Making side notes here and there to help him remember what to check up on later. The front swung open grabbing his attention. He was the only one in the café that morning, and the sudden swing of the door caused the café to shake with sound and life. Usually the café opened just around dawn, yet today Luke couldn't bring himself to. It was just after nine when the door opened, not only was it not business hours, but he was sure he had locked the door.

The only person with a key was Haley, and he was sure it wasn't her. The fight they had yesterday wasn't pretty, having to see Haley cry broke Luke's heart, yet the fact that he was the one that inflicted the pain was harder to cope with. Lucas loved Haley. Ever since he met her, he knew he loved her. Though their friendship never went far beyond that, his feelings never seemed to have changed.

The sound of footsteps grew closer bringing Lucas to his feet.

"Hi."

"Hi." Still in disbelief, Lucas looked down and back up. "What you doing here?"

Haley shrugged. She stood in front of Lucas in a simple white, small strapped dress that touched just below her knees, a small white coat hung on arm, as she playfully swung her purse from side to side. "I just….I needed to come see you."

Lucas walked around the table to where Haley was standing and pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry for yesterday. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that, said those things." Lucas admitted. "It was wrong of me. Please forgive me."

Hugging Lucas back, Haley smiled against his chest. "Of course. There is nothing to forgive." Pulling back so she could see his face Haley continued. "You were doing what you felt was right, said what you felt, and as our friend….I cant be mad."

Since the first time Haley walked in, Lucas finally took a good look at her. Realizing what was happening…happened, he stepped back from her embrace. "Haley…" Lucas called out in a barely audible voice. Seeing that he had it figured it out Haley gave a small smile, but was soon met with tears as well. She loved Luke. Never would she do anything to hurt him or betray him, but for the first time Haley found something-someone- who made her feel alive….and she wasn't going to let that pass. Even if it meant hurting Luke.

"I wanted to tell you right away but….it just happened so fast." Haley began to explain as the tears rolled down her cheeks. She took a step towards Lucas who was sitting on one of the bar stools. "I wished you were there Luke, I wanted you to be there."

"How? Why? When?" Luke's questions came out in a rush.

Setting her purse on the bar behind him, Haley tried to explain it the best she could. "Last night. Nathan and I were just talking and…he asked me and I said yes."

"Why? Haley you have only known him for a day?"

She couldn't take this anymore. Haley crossed her arms as she took a few paces back. "Why? Because I love him! Lucas, I love him with all my heart. And when he asked me to marry him I knew in my heart that it was meant to be."

After Haley's small tale of the events of last night the café fell back into the slumber of silence. Lucas sat on the stool staring at Haley, who happened to be staring at the ground, neither speaking. She was married. Haley was married, and to all people, a man she just met. Luke never saw that coming, never would he have pictured that being the case. "Okay." Luke's voice was defeated and tired. "You're married."

Haley turned back to Lucas, and for the first time she saw what this did to him. Haley was tormenting Lucas, the man who was always there for thick and thin, about her love. When, he was the one in love with her. She felt cruel, selfish, yet it had to be done. "I am."

"And you love him?"

"I do."

"Well, then you can't have a proper wedding without a ceremony."

Haley opened her mouth to speak but the words couldn't be formed. Lucas watched as shock, excitement, and strong emotion took over.

"We can have it here at the café. Invite all out friends and have a good, old traditional wedding ceremony."

Wiping the tears away Haley choked out, "Really?"

"Of course. That's the least you owe me; didn't even invite me to the actual wedding."

And before Lucas could continue anymore, Haley jumped into her best friends arms.

Along with being the ceremony, the next chapter will contain small, short flashbacks. I hope I don't confuse people between the present and the past.