I spent a couple of hours in the room alone. I just needed to be alone with my thoughts, without so many distractions. Deep down, I knew that I loved Nathan and that there was no real conflict to speak of, at least not anymore.

I knew that I had to come to terms with the fact that I had hurt Todd. It didn't set well with me…and I knew there was nothing I could really say or do to make it any better.

Nathan was very understanding. He gave me the time and space I needed to just think. I know it scared him to a certain extent – I think he was concerned that I may have doubts about us or that I would feel that I'd made a mistake in choosing him over Todd.
He had left the apartment for a while to shoot some baskets and give me some time. I had been in the living room when he got home.

"Hey," he said with a small smile.

"Hi," I said in return.

He stepped over and put his arms around my waist and kissed my forehead.

"Thanks for giving me some time," I said, hugging him to me.

"Of course, Hales. I know none of this has been easy for you."

I nodded silently.

"…but now, I'm going to ask for you time."

I pulled back to look at him, unsure of his meaning.

"Haley, I know that only in time I can show you how much you mean to me and that I have truly changed," Nathan said. "So, I need to ask you to stick this out with me. Give me time to prove to you how much I love you. I am so grateful to even be here with you, and that I have a second chance. I will never do anything to hurt you ever again."

I could feel tears welling up in my eyes again as I kissed him and hugged him to me. Those were words that I had been yearning to hear for such a long time. I had lost hope that I would ever hear them from Nathan – but fate had found a way.

~~~

I granted Nathan his request – I gave him time. Time passed and our lives continued and things only got better. Nathan went back to basketball but managed to come back to Tree Hill every couple of weeks.

I put in applications at many resorts and eventually decided to take a Marketing job with a travel agency in Raleigh.

Yes, I did give the engagement ring back to Todd after an awkward but productive talk at Starbucks where we parted on somewhat civil terms considering the circumstances. I hear now that he's with a beautiful girl who absolutely adores him...I'm glad -- he deserves it.

I was Brooke's Maid of Honor when she got married last year to a sweet guy named Josh. They met through a mutual designer acquaintance and she was smitten from the beginning.

Nathan and I even arranged to take a cruise with the happy couple as part of their extended Honeymoon.

It was on that cruise that Nathan himself proposed to me.
I looked around, on that beautiful cruise ship, when Nathan had led me by the hand to rejoin Brooke and Josh after his proposal (that they had apparently known about all a long), thinking how perfect things were.

Of course, they weren't always going to stay that way...but I'd come a long way to get here...a lot of sadness and a whole lot of tears...but I can say now, it was all worth it. I guess, I hold on to the notion that things happen for a reason. Life takes you on journey that can be filled with sadness and pain...but that sadness only tends to make the good times that much better.

THE END