Dan's car pulled up in front of the Carter's house. Both him and Natalie looked on sadly. A moving truck was parked in front and Henry's parents were talking to movers as they moved furniture out of the home.

"I'll just be a few minutes." Natalie whispered sadly, unbuckling and getting out.

"Okay sweetheart." Dan replied gently, knowing how hard this was. Natalie slowly walked across the lawn and into the house.

"Natalie!" Mrs. Carter exclaimed.

"Hi." Natalie whispered shyly.

"Thank you for coming to say goodbye. We'll see you soon." Henry's mom told her.

"Yeah...have a good thanksgiving." Natalie replied.

"You too." Natalie walked into the house and held her breath to avoid crying.

The kitchen, the dining, the living room - empty. She walked up the stairs and into Henry's empty room.

"Hey." She muttered. Henry had been looking out his window, and he turned around.

"Hey." He said sadly. Natalie observed the black bags under his eyes "What happened?" She asked, moving towards him.

"Couldn't sleep." Henry's voice sounded like he had been crying. Natalie just nodded. "You're going to your mom's later?" Henry asked, she nodded again. Henry stepped closer to her, and took her hand. "I promise Nat, everything will be okay." He whispered. "I'm always going to be here for you - 100% no matter what. I'm just a phone call and a plane ride away, okay?" Natalie smiled slightly and nodded. "C'mere." Henry muttered, pulling her tightly into his arms. Natalie let herself go and allowed her face (and Henry's shirt) to get soaked with tears, as she shook and sobbed in his arms. Henry's lips kissed the top of Natalie's head as his arms held her.

"I'm going....to....miss...you.....so....much!" Natalie sobbed.

"I know, trust me I'm going to miss you too." Henry whispered.

"We've been through everything together." Natalie said.

"I know." Henry replied.

"You were my first everything...boyfriend....kiss...love....best friend." Natalie cried.

"I know." Henry said, trying to avoid breaking down. "You're my best friend too Nat, and I wouldn't be me without you - you know that? I'd be nobody without you. I love you, more than you'll ever know." He whispered.

"I love you....so....much.....why do you have to leave?" Natalie sobbed.

"I wish I didn't Natalie." Natalie pulled him closer and then kissed him, long, and hard, and lovingly. Henry's hands fell to her waist. After a few minutes Henry's Mom yelled

"Henry! I'm sorry - it's time to go!" Henry and Natalie broke away from each other.

"I'll see you soon." Henry whispered.

"Not soon enough." Natalie replied.

"I know. But Natalie, I love you, and we're meant to be together forever, and we'll get through this and come out of it stronger than ever. I promise. And next year it will just be me and you, free, together. I'm not ever letting you go Natalie." Henry told her. "And I have something for you..." Henry reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bl ack velvet box. Natalie restrained herself from gasping as Henry opened it. 2 silver, shiny rings were inside. "They're promise rings. So we'll always belong to each other, and we promise to stay together through this." Henry slipped one ring on his finger and took Natalie soft hands and glided the other over hers. "Not that we need rings to remind us..but..."

"Thank you." Natalie whispered, falling into his arms once again. "Thank you for understanding me, and for the rings, and all the other gifts, and not giving up on me, and being there at 2 in the morning, and helping me with school and piano, and through my parents, and Lisa, and my brother, and for believing in me when I couldn't believe in myself." Natalie whispered.

"You make it seem like doing all of that's hard for me - but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world." Henry told her. "Because at the end of all that - I get you." He whispered, pulling away and kissing her gently.

"Henry!"

"Coming!" Henry called down to his Mom. "Let's go." He said, taking Natalie's hand and walking with her down the steps and out the front door. He walked her to her car, where Dan and his Dad were talking. Natalie rested her head on Henry's shoulder.

"You ready?" Henry's Dad asked him. Henry nodded.

"I'll see you soon Henry, thank you for everything. You have fun out there." Dan said to Henry, shaking his hand.

"Thanks Mr. G."

"We'll see you soon Natalie." Henry's Dad said. Natalie smiled and nodded and the adults said polite goodbyes to each other and Natalie turned to Henry one last time.

"I love you." He whispered. "Don't forget that."

"I love you too." They kissed again.

"See you in a month." Henry said. Natalie nodded and Henry wiped a tear from her cheek. His lips met her forehead and he wrapped his arms around her, commiting the scent of her perfume and the feeling of her in his arms to memory. "Be good." He said as they pulled away. "And have fun at your Mom's." Natalie laughed and rolled her eyes.

"Yeah." She muttered. Henry took in a deep breath and said

"Bye."

"Bye." Natalie replied, kissing his lips softly and then turning and walking back to her Dad's car. Henry walked to his parents' van. And both cars drove away.

Natalie watched the trees go by in the car window and thought. She thought about how different she had become - starting from the moment she'd walked into that practice room that faithful morning, and the moment she walked out.

Natalie sat back and remembered how rude, and angry, and unsure of herself she was when she had met Henry. She remembered how they would just sit for hours in the practice room talking about music, and playing. She thought about the day that she told her Dad about Henry, and the day her Mom told her not to get pregnant when her and Henry had been officially dating for like 3 days.

She remembered all of the fights, and all of the make ups, and their first time meeting each other's family, and her piano recital, and the dance, and the day her mom left.

Natalie silently cried in the back seat of the car as she thought about all of the moments that she'd allowed to fly right by her, and even though despite Henry the last few years of her life had been hell, and painful, she'd give anything to go back and relive them again - starting from the moment she'd walked into that practice room. And as bad of decisions both her and Henry had made over the years, she wouldn't change anything about their time together.

Not a thing.

I'm sorry - I'm very good at writing sad things. I know this could have been soo much sappier and much more sad. I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless...I think I might end it here....even though the story didn't go where I'd planned - and start on a new story. But if you guys want to I'll keep going.....review and share your thoughts :)