Hey! Sorry for the extreamly long wait, but the fact of the matter is that i'm still in school and I have absolutely NO time to update this story as regularly as I would like. However, school is almost over, I have about a month left! Yay! So during the summer you guys should get more frequent updates. I want to thank those of you who left me reviews last chapter but there was a significant drop in reviews and I was a little disappointed, I get that I don't really update that frequently and I don't really know if I have lost readers because of this but I would still really like to hear some feedback from you guys. To see your reactions really makes my day and motivates me to get chapters out as fast as I can. Anyway now that my little rant where I beg for reviews is over hahaha I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS MATURE CONTENT. So you guys have been warned. If you get offended easily and don't want to read that part...well you can pretty much figure out where to stop reading. LOL.

Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill

Chapter 21

My heart stopped. It just stopped beating. & for the first time in my life, I had that feeling. You know, like the world is moving all around you, all beneath you, all inside you & you`re floating. Floating in midair. & the only thing keeping you from drifting away is the other person`s eyes.

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"Hales! You here?" Nathan walked further into the beach house shouting out the name of his girlfriend.

"Hales!"

"Dude, stop shouting." Jake said appearing out of his bedroom obviously having just woken up. "Haley isn't here; she and Peyton went into the studio early today."

"Good." Nathan sighed. "I was hoping I could talk to you alone." Nathan said following Jake into the kitchen.

"What's up bro?" Jake said taking two water bottles out of the refrigerator and handing one to Nathan.

"I need your advice." Nathan said timidly. "Your honest opinion."

"Shoot." Jake said curiously.

"I want to ask Haley to move in with me." Nathan said slowly waiting for Jake's reaction.

"Okay." Jake said looking at him weirdly. "What's the big deal?"

"You don't think I'm pushing her or moving too fast?"

"No man; Nathan you guys have been back together for months I definitely wouldn't say you're taking things too fast."

When Nathan looked down warily and shook his head Jake let out a long sigh, "What's the matter?"

"I just don't want to mess this up…I've waited so long to get to this place with her, I'm just afraid that if I get to pushy then I'll ruin everything." Nathan said vulnerably.

"You have to stop living in the past Nate." Jake said giving Nathan a slap on the shoulder. "Haley has; you should stop worrying so damn much and do what you should have done five years ago."

When Nathan gave Jake a questioning look Jake shook his head. "Follow your heart man."

"Hey girlie, you rocked it!" Peyton exclaimed once Haley walked into the room.

"Thanks Peyt, you know I have a good feeling about this next album maybe we should put it out sooner rather than later after all."

"I thought you didn't want to record a new album because you wanted a break." Peyton questioned.

"I thought so too but I don't know." Haley shrugged.

"What's going on James?"

"These last few months with Nathan have been really great," Haley said with a smile. "But I'm still crammed in the beach house with you and Jake and Nathan's still living in that huge house all by himself…I don't know, maybe we're not doing as well as I thought we were."

"Hales, you guys just got back together, give it some time before he proposes." Peyton joked. "Just breathe and see where it goes stop trying to plan everything out."

"And what about my album oh great wise one?" Haley mocked.

"Hardy har har, I'm serious Hales, everything will work out when you stop worrying so damn much. And as for the album just see what happens next."

"You're not helping." Haley whined. "All of this 'go with the flow' crap is useless."

"Sing about it." Peyton dryly pointing towards the room where Haley recorded her songs were located.

"Come on Nate!" Lucas yelled. "I'm beating your ass, it's supposed to be the other way around."

"Give it a break Lucas." Nathans aid tiredly.

"Nathan you're trying to make a comeback, as your coach and brother I cannot 'give it a break' I'm supposed to push you when you're about to give up."

"Thanks for the talk Lucas but I think I know what a freaking coach is!" Nathan snapped.

"What is your problem?" Lucas questioned.

"I'm gonna ask Haley to move in with me tonight." Nathan confessed

"And…" Lucas said motioning for Nathan to continue.

"Dude!" Nathan exclaimed.

"Dude!" Lucas mocked. "It's about damn time, why are you nervous?"

"What if she says no?"

"You are an idiot!" Lucas said shaking his head. "Have you seen the way that girl looks at you? She is totally in love with you, knowing Haley she's probably freaking out because you haven't asked yet."

"You think so?" Nathan questioned.

"I know so." Lucas said confidently. "Relax man everything is going to be fine!"

"You're right." Nathan said nodding his head. "Thanks bro." Nathan said while gathering his stuff.

"No problem." Lucas said with a nod. "Where are you going?" He asked once he saw Nathan walking towards his car that was parked by the rivercourt.

"I'm gonna see my girl!" Nathan shouted while talked quickly towards his car.

"What about your comeback!" Lucas yelled.

"Dude, I have a hot girl waiting for me, the comeback can wait." Nathan said with a smirk.

"Hey baby, sorry I'm late." Nathan said jogging up to Haley who leaning against the bridge overlooking the river on the market street docks.

"That's okay, did your practice with Lucas run longer than usual?" Haley asked. She smiled when Nathan pulled her closer to him by the waist and left a lingering kiss on her forehead. She was stupid for freaking out to Peyton earlier. Things with her and Nathan were going great.

"Nope, I just had to run a quick errand."

"Well I'm starving mister."

"When are you not starving?" Nathan quipped.

"I resent that!" Haley said with a slight pout.

"Aww, I'm sorry baby." Nathan said with a laugh; she looked adorable with that pout on her face. All the nerves he had been feeling earlier disappeared. Being with her in that moment was everything he ever wanted. She was everything he ever wanted.

"Yeah well you're gonna pay for that comment." Haley said with a mischievous smile.

"Oh yeah?" Nathan asked lowly. "And how exactly am I going to do that?" He asked his face inching closer to hers.

"You're literally going to pay." Haley said with a laugh. "As in buy me a hotdog." Haley pushed herself off of the railing at the bridge and made her way toward the hotdog cart Nathan trailing right behind her.

"That was not fair James." Nathan whined once he reached her. Despite the fact that the tone of his voice held some annoyance he pulled Haley close to him and draped one of his arms around her shoulder.

"Yeah well you better think before you make comments like that buddy." Haley laughed while leaning into him.

"I forgot how much I love it here at night." Haley said. "It's so beautiful." The market street docks were illuminated by Christmas lights during the night and sometimes a jazz band would set up in the center of the docks and couples would sway along to the music.

"Nate, come on." Haley said smiling up at her boyfriend.

"No way Hales, you know I don't dance."

"Not even for me?" Haley said a pout.

"Don't use the pout Hales it's so not fair!" Nathan whined.

"Come on." Haley said smiling knowing full well that she had won and Nathan was in fact going to dance with her.

"You're lucky I love you." Nathan said smiling, swaying to the music with his arms wrapped around Haley's waist.

"Yeah?" Haley questioned amused.

"Uh-huh, I wouldn't do this for just anyone." He stated casually.

"No?" Haley said leaning her face closer to Nathan's.

"Nope, just girls named Haley James." He smirked.

"And you're lucky I love you." Haley laughed.

"Why's that?" Nathan questioned.

"Because most girls wouldn't fall for cheesy lines like that," Haley whispered mockingly almost was if it was a secret. "But since I love you, I'll let it pass." She said with a smile before closing the gap between her and Nathan and letting their lips meet in a slow and loving kiss.

"What are you thinking about beautiful?"

"Us." Haley said smiling.

"Speaking of us." Nathan said grabbing Haley's hands and stopping her from walking any further. "I wanted to ask you something." Nathan said nervously. Now or never.

"What is it?" Haley asked curiously.

Nathan pulled out a key from my pocket and placed it in Haley's hand. "This is the errand that made me late." Nathan said sheepishly. "I had to make a copy and the guy wouldn't let me because he was about to close and I really wanted to do this tonight and I literally had to beg and--"

"Nathan," Haley said with a slight laugh. "You're rambling, and I'm pretty sure that's my thing."

"Sorry." Nathan said smiling.

"Is this what I think it is?" Haley said with a smile.

"I told you last week that I bought that house for us, so that we could have the life that I've always dreamed of having with you." Nathan said subconsciously rubbing Haley's knuckles with his thumb. "I want to have it all Hales, and I want to have it all with you."

Haley smiled and she couldn't help but notice that her heart was hammering in her chest.

"I want us to live together James."

"Yes." Haley said smiling and jumping into Nathan arms. "I love you so much." She whispered pressing her forehead against his.

"I love you too baby." He said as he gently turned her around in a circle.

"You know for a minute there I thought you were going to propose." Haley joked as he gently let her down.

"Baby, if you thought that was good just wait til I propose." Nathan said confidently. "I'll knock your socks off."

"Getting cocky aren't we Scott?" Haley said nudging him in the shoulder.

Nathan laughed and once again drew her closer to him by grabbing her hand and intertwining their fingers. "You still up for that hot dog?"

"Nah," Haley said with a slight pause. "Let's go home."

"What's that look?" Nathan questioned with a cocked eyebrow.

"What look?" Haley asked innocently.

"You have a glint in your eye James." Nathan said teasingly.

"Let's just say that I'm finding you incredibly sexy right now." Haley said in a low whisper. "And I wouldn't be surprised if you got lucky tonight."

"I should definitely ask you to move in with me more often." Nathan said huskily.

Haley laughed and pressed her lips against Nathans. "I'll meet you back at the house."

Haley grabbed Nathan by the collar of his red polo shirt and pulled him into the empty house. They haven't slept together since they had got back together, both of them claiming that they wanted to take things slow. But the way Nathan was talking at the boardwalk, about wanted to spend the rest of his life with Haley, well something snapped inside of her and made her want to stop taking things slow.

"I want you so much." Haley said breathlessly as she pulled Nathan in for another heated kiss.

"Hales, you have no idea how ling I've waited for this." Nathan said as he pinned her against the front door, gently grabbed her wrists in his own hands and raised them above her head. "God you're beautiful." He said as he started to attack her neck.

Haley let out a loud moan and Nathan smirked at the reaction he was getting out of Haley. "Let's go to the bedroom." Haley somehow found her voice and the words came out in shallow breaths.

Nathan nodded and lifted her up never once parting his lips with her own. Haley let her legs wrap around Nathan's waist and started to place feather light kisses on his neck.

Before either of them knew it they had reached Nathan's bedroom and Nathan was gently easing Haley onto the bed. He moved to get on top of her, careful that he wouldn't crush her.

"I love you." He looked down and smiled at a breathless Haley.

God, he never got tired of hearing that.

"I love you too." He said leaning down to place a kiss on her forehead. "I could love you forever." He whispered softly into her ear.

Haley pulled him down to her lips and snaked her hands underneath his shirt and lightly ran her fingers over Nathans abs. Nathan moaned when he felt Haley's hands moving lower. He then felt her gently tugging on the edge of his shirt and he obliged by parting his lips from hers and getting up slightly so that he could discard of his shirt. Once he had lifted the garment of clothing over his head his eyes searched Haley's and he could see tears brimming in her eyes.

"What's wrong baby?" He questioned concerned, but when he searched Haley's face he could see a soft smile on her lips. He saw her reach her hand out and tug on the chain that hung around his neck.

He couldn't believe he forgot he was wearing it.

The ring.

Well, he hadn't taken it off in nearly six years; it was every bit apart of him as his own heart.

"I can't believe you still have it." Haley whispered into the dark, tugging the ring on the chain and bringing it closer to her and in turn Nathan.

"I told you Hales," Nathan said with a broken voice. "Even when we were apart I was always thinking of you, I always loved you." He looked in her eyes and caressed her check. "I never forgot about you…about us."

Haley held the gold ring in between her thumb and her index finger and traced the outline of it. She ran her pinky finger through the inside of it and smiled when she felt the words 'my angel' engraved on the inside of the ring.

"Haley!" A sixteen year old Nathan climbed through his girlfriend's second story window and landed on the floor with a thud.

"Nathan?" Haley said getting up from bed; she was just about to fall asleep considering it was already one in the morning. "What are you doing here?"

"I had to come and give you something." He said breathlessly as he reached Haley's bad and took a seat on the edge.

"Why did you climb through the window?" Haley asked amused. "You could've just used the front door."

"I didn't want to wake your parents." Nathan exclaimed.

"My parents are away visiting Quinn for the weekend; and even if they weren't you probably would have wakened them up by now anyway." Haley said with a little giggle.

"Won't Dan and Karen be mad you're here?" Haley asked. "It's late."

"Relax Hales, don't be such a worry wart." Nathan rolled his eyes. "Lucas is covering for me," He said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Besides, this is important."

"What is it?" Haley asked curiously as she moved closer to Nathan.

"I was going through some things today," Nathan started. "Some things that my mom left for me in her will." Nathan clarified when Haley gave him a curious look.

Deb had died almost a month ago, and although it had been extremely hard at first, Nathan was learning to let go. He had the support of many people who loved him. And Haley always reminded him that even though he was moving on with his life it didn't mean that he loved his mom any less.

"What it is?" Haley asked taking his shoulders in her hands and pulling him down on the bed on top of her.

"She gave me this." Nathan said softly while pulling a golden ring from his pocket and placing it in front of Haley. "She left me a note with it." He explained.

"It apparently was my great grandmothers and was passed down from generation to generation; my mom wrote in the note that she wanted me to have it." He looked down at the ring and played with it in his hand. "She said that the words 'my angel' were engraved on the inside and she wanted me to have it so that someday I could give it to my angel." Nathan looked up and searched for Haley's eyes.

"I don't really have to wait for someday, because you're my angel." Nathan said with a small smile.

It was right at that moment when Haley's heart melted. She let out a shaky breath. "Nathan, this is a family air loom, are you sure--"

"Hales, you've always been there for me; through the good and the bad, especially now...when I need you the most you're always there no questioned asked. My favorite stories are my stories of you; my favorite memories are my memories with you." Nathan reached down and wiped a stray tear from Haley's eyes when he realized that she was crying.

"So yes Haley I am sure that I want to give this to you, because as far as I am concerned I will always love you and you will always be my angel."

"Nate…" Haley was speechless, for a boy who claimed to not have a way with words he sure gave kickass speeches at times.

"You don't have to say anything." Nathan said with a shake of his head. He grabbed Haley's hand and gently placed the ring on her index finger. "I love you Hales. Thank you for always being there for me."

Haley let out a shaky breath and smiled through her tears. "I love you Nate." She whispered.

Haley gave the ring back to him after they broke up and she left for California. She saw it as some sort of closure, if she held onto the ring she knew she would look at it every day and only feel hurt. Seeing it hang from the chain that hung around Nathan's neck made her heart melt all over again.

"I kept it hoping that someday my angel would come back to me." Nathan said softly, his hand rubbing Haley's cheek softly. He leaned up slightly and removed the chain from his neck and unhooked it letting the ring fall into his hand. He leaned down and grabbed Haley's hand placing the ring on the same finger he had when he was sixteen years old.

Haley smiled through her tears and pulled Nathan down for a heated kiss. She roughly moved her mouth over his and started placing wet kisses down his chest. She stopped momentarily so that Nathan could help her discard of her shirt.

"You're so beautiful." Nathan said huskily taking in the sight of his topless girlfriend. The fact that she wasn't wearing a bra was only making him grow harder.

"My body wants you so bad." She whispered as Nathan took one of her breasts in his mouth and started his ministrations on it. She arched her back at the sensation Nathan was giving her.

"What about your heart?" Nathan said as he trailed kisses down her stomach.

"My heart has been with you all along." Haley said pulling him back up to her and fusing their lips together.

Before they knew it all of their clothing was thrown carelessly around the room and soft moans could be heard through the room. Nathan was inside of Haley and he felt at home. "God, I love you." He whispered sweetly as they rode out the waves of pleasure together.

"I wouldn't be able to survive it if we were apart again." Haley whispered into his ear.

"Good thing you're stuck with me." Nathan smirked. He pulled out of her and collapsed beside her on the bed.

"Wow." Haley said breathlessly. She turned to face Nathan and a wide smile adorned her face. "Why did we wait again?" She asked while laughing.

Nathan chuckled and pulled her closer to him wrapping and arm around her bare waist. He smiled when Haley rested her head on his chest and intertwined their hands. "You know I meant what I said," She started. "I don't know if I would be able to survive it if we were apart again."

"And I meant what I said." Nathan said, leaving a soft kiss on her forehead. "You're stuck with me James."

"I like the sound of that."