FINALLY!! I have finally finished this story. I want to thank you guys so much for reading, especially with such a prolonged ending. I always get frustrated when a writer takes forever to finish a fanfic and so I'm sorry I was one of those! I hope the ending was worth the wait though!

It had felt so good to finally be wrapped in his arms again. The touch had been so electric that she could still feel it now. She had almost forgotten what such intense chemistry felt like.

But it had only been a dream. Haley traced her arms with her own fingers, still keeping her eyes closed, trying to remember the touch one more. Tears began to form in her eyes as Haley desperately tried to hold onto a memory of a person she had repeatedly tried to remove from her life.

As much as Haley knew Brooke was right about having to tell Nathan the truth, Haley could not bring herself to admit what had almost occurred between her and Alex. She didn't have it in her to break Nathan's heart again. And even though he had hurt her by almost sleeping with someone else, Haley knew in her heart that Nathan didn't mean to; he was just dealing with life the only way he knew how.

But Haley didn't know what she had been thinking that night with Alex. It was so unlike her to act irrationally. She just kept making mistakes and had no idea how to fix them. She was the one who stupidly went out with Lucas in a slutty outfit, she was the one to cry and throw Nathan out of her house when he said "I love you," she denied his marriage proposal, and she had suggested they break up because of the move…twice. What right did she have to cry over Nathan? How could she call him and hurt him again?

Only a few months ago, Nathan had been her best friend. Life was so much less complicated and easier. But when Haley thought about her life before Nathan had proclaimed his true feelings toward her, it seemed meaningless now. Their friendship had always been destined to grow into something more.

As Haley sat there, reflecting on her relationship with Nathan, she realized something: there was a reason Nathan had been the only constant figure in her life other than her mom. There was a reason that the first time she actually felt complete was also the first time Nathan had said "I love you" to her. But Haley was finally recognizing that despite the hundreds of reasons there had been to be with Nathan, all she had been able to think of was the one reason not to.

It was only now, however, that Haley finally understood how insignificant that reason truly was.

Though he was ashamed of it, Nathan had privately wished numerous times that he could show Haley the type of hurt she had made him endure.

But now Nathan could not recall how he could have ever felt that way. He would rather be hurt a thousand times over by Haley than to ever have to hear such pain in her voice again. Knowing he caused the person he loved most in the world any kind of turmoil was the most heart-wrenching pain there was.

And even though Nathan desperately wished he could take it all back, part of him wondered if it was for the best. From the start it seemed as though the world was determined to tear him and Haley apart. At what point are you supposed to stop fighting? How are you supposed to know when your love is real? And even if you do believe in the love you have for someone, what do you do if the person you are in love with isn't strong enough to believe in it too?

It felt like forever ago when she had last stood on this door step. She extended her hand to the button and heard the familiar chime in response. Her nerve grew exponentially as she heard someone on the other side of the door fussing with the lock. Instinctively, her teeth locked down on her lip as she came finally came face to face with Nathan.

"Haley!" Nathan exclaimed, the shock on his face undeniable. "…How?"

"I took the first flight out of Seattle," I responded quickly.

Nathan opened his arms to embrace Haley and she gladly pressed her small frame against his large one. "It's so good to see you," he breathed into her hair, taking in her scent at the same time. Haley could only nod her head against her chest, knowing she would break down into tears the moment she opened her mouth.

"But," Nathan continued, "why are you here? I don't deserve this, not after what I did. Not after how I hurt you. Unless you're just here to kick my ass in person…which would be completely understandable of course but…"

"Nathan," Haley said, finally gaining composure, "stop rambling."

"Sorry," Nathan replied, allowing the slightest smile to creep on his face.

"I'm here because I needed to stop running the truth," Haley stated simply.

"The truth?" Nathan questioned, confused.

"Can we go inside and talk for a bit?" Haley suggested nervously. Nathan simply nodded in response as he led Haley by the hand into his house.

"I'm so sorry Nathan. I'm sorry for what I did and I'm sorry for not admitting it right away. I'm especially sorry for getting mad at you for something that I did too."

Nathan grasped his hair with his hands, overwhelmed by all the information Haley had just divulged to him. He didn't know whether to feel angry, jealous, or hurt. He just sat there, staring blankly at the wall ahead of him, hoping an answer would magically appear.

"Nathan, we've both made mistakes," Haley said quietly, "But you want to know the one thing we got right?"

Nathan broke from his trance and moved his eyes to look directly at Haley.

"This," Haley said, placing her hand on Nathan's heart as she attached her lips to his at the same time. "I love you Nathan, I always have. But for the first time, I'm not scared of it."

Wasting no time, Nathan quickly reconnected their lips. For the first time neither Haley nor Nathan had any question to where they belonged. They belong together, through the good and the bad, and nothing else matters.