Nathan took a deep breath as he exited Lucas's red SUV. It had been the longest 15 minute car ride of his life. His palms were literally shaking. In just a few moments, he would be near Haley again. Only this wouldn't be the reunion that he had dreamed of every day since her abduction…the one where she ran into his arms and he told her over and over how much he loved her. No, that dream was gone, just like Haley and Ally were. This reunion would consist of Nathan being able to be near the box that contains Haley's body…or what's left of it in.

"Nathan?" Lucas said, breaking into Nathan's thoughts. "You ready to go in?"

Nathan gave Lucas a sad smile, "I guess I have to be."

Brooke took Nathan's hand and squeezed it and then picked up Kate and followed Nathan and Lucas inside the funeral home.

"Hello everyone." The funeral director told them. "I'm Robert Boswell, the funeral director, and I will be here if you guys come across any problems let me know."

"Thank you. I'm Brooke Scott, I was the one who talked to you on the phone," Brooke replied to Robert.

"Yes, it's a pleasure meeting you. I just would like to let you know how sorry I am for your unfortunate loss." Lucas gave him a sad smile and the rest remained silent. "Ok, well I'll just show you where everything is."

"Alright." Lucas responded

"If you would follow me," Robert said as he guided them through the large hallway stopping to show them where the bathrooms were, where they could grab some coffee or where to go if they just needed to get away from people, and finally he guided them into the large room consisting of dozens of flower arrangements around the casket…the casket that held the young wife, friend, soon to be mother that was taken way to soon.

Nathan was having a hard time breathing. There she was inside that casket…she was so close. He was having a hard time keeping his emotions in check, he didn't think it was possible to use as many tears as he had within the last three days. Brooke held Kate tight and took Lucas's hand and squeezed it. Lucas took his attention to his wife as he kissed Brooke and placed a kiss on his daughter's forehead before walking forward towards the casket. Nathan had already somehow made it to the casket. Although, everything was in a fog, he couldn't even remember walking over here. Lucas walked up beside his brother and couldn't take his eyes off the picture of Haley on top of the casket. It had been taken just 4 months before she was kidnapped. Her smile, so big, so lifelike, so…Haley. It was enough to cause Lucas to have another breakdown of tears. His attention went to his brother's face, which broke his heart even more. That sight of pure pain would forever be imbedded in his head. He watched as Nathan took his hand and lightly touched the picture of Haley before setting it down on the casket and closing his eyes…as if to shut out the pain. Lucas couldn't help but let a tear drop. This was all so unnecessary…why did life have to be this cruel.

Brooke stood back a distance, just taking in the sight of the two brothers in such pain over one special person who was taken way too soon. She was trying to be strong, she knew that Lucas needed her to be strong and so did Kate. Kate… god she was her angel. It broke her heart to look at the young girl who was obviously so affected by everyone's grief over Haley.

"Hey everyone." Peyton said sadly as she walked into the room with Jenny and Jake followed by Lydia and Jimmy James. They had arrived via plane and Jake and Peyton had offered to come pick them up. Jimmy looked older, new wrinkles and lines formed from all the tears shed over the years for his daughter and unborn grandchild. Nothing was worse than losing a daughter. Lydia looked so exhausted, she was crying, she hadn't stopped for what seemed like days. She couldn't help it, her little girl was gone.

Nathan walked towards them. "Nathan." Lydia said emotionally and she gave Nathan a big hug.

Nathan tried to blink away the tears. "I'm so sorry that I couldn't protect Haley and the baby." he replied emotionally.

Lydia released herself from Nathan and looked him in the eyes "Nathan, do not blame yourself for this. I don't and neither should you."

Jimmy nodded, "Yes, Nathan. It's not your fault." He moved his hand on Nathan's shoulder and looked Nathan in the eye to make sure what he was saying was clicking.

"Do not blame yourself for this. The only person's fault, is that damn bastard who took Haley." Jimmy clenched his jaw together, rage and sadness flowing through his body, as it always did when he thought about the man who killed his little girl. "My baby loved you with all her heart. She wouldn't want you blaming yourself."

Nathan nodded his head, "I think some parts of me do understand that I shouldn't blame myself but…I just can't get the feeling of knowing that if I would have came home just a little earlier, I could have protected her…I could have saved her."

Lydia spoke up, "Nathan, you can't think like that. You had no idea what was going to happen. I know for certain that my Haleybub would want you to find some sort of peace," she said with tears running down her face. "Haley would always tell me whenever I was blaming myself for something, 'Mom, you can't control life, It just happens, you have to find the best in situations, and make the most out of it.'" Lydia said as her heart broke as she envisioned Haley as she would say it. Lydia tried to control her emotions as she spoke up again. She glanced the casket that contained her daughter and couldn't control her tears. "I'm sorry, I need to.. I need some air. " she said through tears as she started walking toward the door and turned back towards Nathan. "Just don't blame yourself, Nathan." She then walked out of sight.

Jimmy looked at Nathan sadly. "I got to go look after her." He then followed his now sobbing wife outside.

Nathan shut his eyes, trying to stop the tears. He took a seat in one of the funeral home's couches and rubbed his eyes.

"Hey honey." Deb said as she walked up along with her husband of one and a half years, Craig. "I'm so very sorry, Nathan. This must be so devastating for you." Her heart felt like it was literally breaking as she watched her son grieve over losing the only thing in his life that ever mattered. He looked so lost and there was nothing she could do for her son.

Nathan looked up, "Yeah, it is." He said as he tried to not breakdown. This was just too much. Being in the same area of the body of the girl that he had loved and married was enough to make him completely break down. Not to mention, the pain that he couldn't even think about regarding his little girl who he would never know. "Uh..thanks for coming Mom. You to Craig. "

"Of course," Craig replied

"There was never any question about coming." Deb said as she looked at her son. All of a sudden she just wanted to embrace him, just as she had held him when he was a young boy after he fell off his tricycle. Only this time there was no little scratch that she could just kiss and make him feel better. There was nothing she could do except give her sympathies. "Haley was amazing an amazing person."

Haley was amazing….past tense. No more present tenses..no more new memories... It's just as if there was no Haley…just like there was no little baby. It's almost like the period of when he was sixteen through twenty-one never happened. He never would be loved unconditionally the way Haley loved…the way his daughter would…He never would see the little bundle of joy that he and Haley had created out of love, the tiny being that he felt kicking so many nights, the little girl that he had imagined a life for, his Ally. They both were gone…forever. All of a sudden the reality of this situation was truly setting in. He never would be happy again. This thought absolutely devastated Nathan and he was doing everything in his power to hold in all his emotions.

"Oh baby, Come here," Deb Scott sat next to her son and embraced him just as she had done when he was a young boy. Only now…much older and much more broken. "Oh Nathan, it's ok. Just cry. Don't hold this in." Nathan couldn't help it. His emotions would not stay bottled up anymore. He just started sobbing…He was shaking and letting all of this pain out. "Shhhh, it will be okay." Deb comforted her son. "You'll be okay." They…mother and son stayed in that embrace for awhile….Deb comforting her son. Thinking of how great it is that they were able to save their relationship when it was almost ruined. It absolutely killed her to know that Nathan will never be able to have a relationship with his daughter…Never could he hold her while she cried and tell her everything was going to be okay..she would do anything to help her son find peace again…but sadly she didn't see that anytime soon.

After for what seemed like forever, Nathan finally let go of his mother..suddenly feeling slightly awkward for breaking down in his mother's arms..he hadn't done that since he was a boy. "Uhh, thanks mom..I really needed that," he said as he stood up.

"Anytime. That's what mothers are for." She smiled sadly at her son. "Haley would want you to find some happiness…."

"Nathan!" Dan interrupted as he walked up to where Nathan, Deb, and Craig currently were. "I would love to introduce you to my colleague, Michael Schultz and his lovely daughter Melinda…"

"Dan, what the hell are you thinking?" Deb exclaimed at Dan. "This is a very difficult time for all of us, especially Nathan and you're introducing him to a colleague!"

Craig chimed in, "This is a viewing of a very missed young girl. Show some respect."

"Oh, right. Sorry Craig not all of us are as thoughtful as you…" Dan said sarcastically. "Nathan, my deepest sympathies." Dan said in the most sympathetic tone he could muster up.

"Dan, you are so transparent you know it. I mean honestly, I know you never approved of Haley…but you do not need to act so happy about this!" Nathan said as anger overwhelmed him.

"And how dare you bring people?" Deb exclaimed.

"What? You knew about Haley being dead for about 5 years now…You know there was no possible way that she was still alive. Honestly, I thought you would have been over it already. So I brought a colleague and his daughter who would…."

Nathan punched Dan right in the face. "Nathan!" Dan exclaimed

"You disrespectful son of a bitch! You talk about Haley as if she never meant nothing, as if she was never my wife or carrying my child! You act as though her death helps me? You are beyond screwed up if you couldn't see that she was the one who saved me all those years ago! She saved me from all the shit you put me through! She was the only who cared about me no matter what.. She loved me….which is a lot more than you could ever say!" Nathan screamed out at his father..Everyone in the funeral home now watching intently.

"Nathan, I obviously love you!"

"Right, so you bring some basketball guy to try to do something with my career and his daughter that you want me to like marry to my WIFE AND CHILD'S FUNERAL! THEY DESERVED SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT!" Nathan screamed, taking all his anger and directing it towards Dan.

"Nathan…just ignore him," Lucas intervened. "Don't do anything stupid. Haley deserves so much more than a full out fight at her funeral."

Nathan tried to control himself…the anger the sadness was all piling up…he needed to get away…he just needed to get away. Nathan just backed up and started walking towards a backroom.

"Nathan," Brooke tried as he passed her.

"No…no I need…I need to be alone. Just get that bastard out of here. And..will you stay around Haley….the casket. I don't want her to be alone" Nathan said brokenly as he disappeared into the backroom. Brooke watched as tears started forming at her eyes.

Suddenly Brooke walked towards where Dan and Lucas were now standing with a crowd

"Dan, GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!"

"What I can't come to my beloved daughter in law's and granddaughter's funeral?" Dan sneered

Lucas stepped in, "Get out Dan, or I will force you out!"

"Fine, I'll leave." Dan said as he started walking towards the door.

"You two, get the hell out as well," Brooke said as she eyed Dan's two guests. "If you're with the devil here then you shouldn't be here. Haley deserves better."

Melinda started, "I'm so sorry, I'm leavi.."

Dan rolled his eyes at Brooke…maybe he had the wrong daughter-in-law kidnapped and interrupted Melinda. "We are leaving, you all can go back to mourning over a girl that's been dead for years.." having said that Dan, Melinda, and Michael all exited the room.

"Oh God," Peyton exclaimed as she looked at Brooke breaking down in Lucas's arms, and played back the scenario that just happen, and finally looked to where Haley's body lies inside a casket. This truly was what Hell was like.