...Chapter Ten...
...She's Finally at Peace...

"What? Why me? What about you? Shouldn't custody go to the father?" asked Rayanna, as tears were falling down her cheeks.

Nate shook his head. "He's not mine."

"What?"

"Haley was scared. She thought if, she told me that he was mine, then she'd know he'd be taken care of."

"Then... who is the father?"

"A guy she met on at the beach two months after she moved to California. She told me, she got pregnant a month after that. When she told the guy about it, he bailed."

"Where is he now?"

"The last she knew about him... was he went to prison for grand theft auto, possession of narcotics, and attempted murder."

"Damn." Rayanna shook her head.

"At least he'll be in there for a long time and you won't have to worry about him trying to take Jake away from you."

"Wow... I can't believe this."

"She found out, she had cancer when Jake was three months old. She told me, that he was mine when he was nine months."

"Oh." she nodded.

"And his last name isn't Archibald... it's Malone. Haley even showed me his birth certificate."

She nodded, then stood up. "Hang on a second." she walked into Natalie's room. "Hey, Natty?"

"Yes, Mommy?"

"How would you like to spend the night over at Daddy's?"

"Can I?"

"Yeah... so pack your suitcase." then Rayanna walked back out and sat down. "Can you take Natalie tonight?"

"Of course, Ray."

"Okay, because she is packing... as we speak."

Five minutes later, Natalie ran out of her room woth her little suitcase. "I'm ready, Daddy."

Rayanna gave Natalie a hug. "You be good for Daddy."

"I will, Mommy. I love you."

"I love you too, Baby Girl."

Nate stood up. "Ready, Peanut?"

"Yep."

He looked over at Rayanna. "I'm sorry... about everything and thanks for letting me take Natalie."

"You're welcome."

"Bye, Mommy."

"Bye, Baby... bye, Nate." Nate smiled, then him and Natalie left.

...

Ten minutes later, Rayanna decided that she didn't want to be there at the moment, so she went for a walk. As she walked out of her building, it started to rain, but she didn't care. The rain was hiding her tears from everyone she passed by. She walked in the rain for two and a half hours, then got into an elevator.

When the doors opened, a crying, soaked Rayanna came face to face with her baby sister. Neither of them said anything. Haley just pulled Rayanna into her frial arms and they cried together. Twenty five minutes later, after both girls calmed down from crying and Rayanna got into something warm, while her clothes were in the dryer, they sat on the couch in awkward silence.

"So." Rayanna started. "Where's Jake?"

"He's out with Nate and Natalie."

"You seen Natalie?"

Haley nodded. "Yeah, she's gotten so big and she looks exactly like Chuck."

Rayanna laughed. "Tell me about it."

"She didn't remember who I was, but I told her that I was her Aunt Haley." Rayanna nodded. "Are we going to talk about what's going on, Ray?" she didn't say nothing, she just looked at the ground. "Ray, not talking about it, isn't going to make it go away."

"It's just... not fair."

"I know, but I've accepted this and I'm not scared anymore."

Rayanna looked up at Haley with tears in her eyes. "I'm scared, Hales."

"Ray, you are the bravest person I know. Don't be scared. I need you to be strong for the both of us. Jake's going to need you when I'm gone. You kept me safe and protected when I was little and I want you to do the same for Jake." Haley had tears rolling down her cheeks. "And after I'm gone, I want you to make sure that Jake doesn't forget about me and let him know that Mommy did her best to be with him as long as she could." Haley paused to wipe her tears. "Can you tell him that?" Rayanna nodded. "Okay, I know, right now... he's too young to understand all of this, but one day he will."

"Why is this happening? You're too young. This shouldn't be happening." Rayanna said, shaking her head.

"I don't know, Ray... but soon it's going to be my time to go."

"How long do you have?"

"Long enough to see my big sister get married."

"What if I don't?"

"You will, Ray. I know... you love and care about Nate, but Chuck has always had your heart." Rayanna nodded. "But, if I don't make it to your wedding, then at least you'll know that I tried to hold out as long as I could and that I'm sorry for everything. So, can you forgive me?"

"Yes... I forgive you, Haley." Rayanna started sobbing. "I forgive you."

"Good. I have a request... when you and Chuck gets married, like you are supposed to... I want both of you to adopt Jake." Haley paused. "I know in my heart, that while Jake is with both of you, I know he will be okay." Haley started crying. "I know you will love him as much as I do and I'll be looking in from time to time to check on him and my beautiful niece and whatever other kids you and Chuck will have." Rayanna nodded as more tears were rolling. "You, Chuck, and the kids are going to live a long and happy life together. Promise me... you will."

"I promise."

Haley wiped Rayanna's tears, then her own. She leaned back on the couch, pulling Rayanna on her chest. "Come here. You're my big sister and I love you, Rayanna. Don't you forget that."

"I won't... I love you too, Haley."

"Okay, tell me something about my beautiful niece."

Rayanna giggled a little. "She's so much like Chuck."

"Mmm-hmm."

"When Nate picked her up from preschool, we found out that Natalie put paint in this little girls shoe, because the little girl pulled Natalie's hair." Rayanna giggled again. "I swear, she's a mini Chuck."

A few minutes later, Rayanna felt Haley still, underneath her. She pressed her ear on Haley's heart and got nothing. She hesitated getting up, but Rayanna knew she had to. Rayanna sat up and saw Haley's eyes closed. She looked like she was finally at peace. As tears were streaming down Rayanna's face, she checked Haley's pulse on her neck, just to make sure, but got nothing. So, she knew Haley was gone.

Rayanna took her phone out, while she was crying on Haley's chest. "NO, Haley... don't leave me..." she cried over and over. Then five minutes later, she called the only person she needed the most.

"Hello?" Rayanna was sobbing. "Ray, is that you?"

"Chuck..." she choked out.

"Ray... what's wrong?"

"She's gone... my baby sister is gone."

"What do you mean, she's gone?"

"Chuck... she's gone and she's never coming back to me."

"Okay... where are you?"

"My grandma's."

"Stay where you are. We'll be right there."

Rayanna nodded, then threw her phone at the other side of the room. She didn't know who was coming with Chuck and at that point, she didn't care. Ten minutes later, the elevator doors opened. Rayanna looked up and saw Chuck, Serena, and Blair with worried and concerned faces. Rayanna laid her head back down on Haley's chest and continued crying.

Chuck didn't see any movement coming from Haley, so he walked over to her, put his fingers on her neck to feel a pulse. He looked over at Serena and Blair, then shook his head.

Blair sat on the coffee table in front of Rayanna. "Ray... what happened?"

Rayanna sat up a little. "Haley was sick. The doctors didn't catch the cancer in time and now she's gone." she paused. "My baby sister is gone."

"Okay... we're going to call the coroners or whoever to come get her."

"What?"

"Ray, she can't stay here." Blair shook her head.

"Where's Natalie?" asked Serena.

"She's out with Nate and Jake. Can you call Nate and tell him not to bring the kids?"

"Of course, Ray." Serena nodded.

"I'll tell him to bring them to my place, Dorota will watch them." Blair suggested.

Fifteen minutes later, the cops and coroners came. It took three cops and Chuck to pry Rayanna off of Haley. As they were taking Haley away on the gurney, Chuck had Rayanna in his arms, on the other side of the room, on the floor as she was crying hysterically. Chuck had Serena and Blair go with Haley's body, while he stayed to try and calm Rayanna down.

A/N: I was crying as I wrote this and I was crying as I was typing it. Yes, it's very sad and I hope you enjoy this story, even though this chapter is a tear jerker. Well, as always... R&R!