Chapter 25

They told no one other than Haley's parents that they were married...not even Nathan's parents knew. Married life wasn't that much different. Haley's parents still let her live with them - after all Nathan was moving in a few months and it would be no use to get an apartment and Haley still had a year of school left. All that changed basically was that Haley spent most of her time at Nathan's house, either sleeping over or just hanging out.

Haley had been the first to start wondering if she had made the right decision. It had been impulsive and they had not thought everything through. All of a sudden she had to change everything...her name at school, her passport, her ID, everything had to change. She wasn't little anymore...she was 17 and married.

Nathan sensed that Haley was having second thoughts as they lied together on his bed. That was the one major thing that had changed. They now didn't have to worry about sleeping together...which they did on a regular basis. Nathan rubbed Haley's bare back as she lied with her hand on his bare chest, circling her fingers over his abs.

"What are you thinking about?" Haley asked as she looked up at Nathan from her position lying on his arm. Nathan smiled down at her before he took his free left hand and placed it on her right hand. Haley looked down at his hand and lifted her hand from under his and rubbed his ring.

"How I want this moment to never end..." Nathan admitted and Haley looked back at him.

"But it has to..." she trailed her sentence as Nathan closed his eyes and Haley sighed, placing her head once again back on his arm.

"I know Hales...I know..." was all he said as he leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the head. Haley moved her body so that her head was lying at the crook of his neck and she snuggled into his neck.

"Would it be evil of me if I didn't want you to go?" she asked into his ear and Nathan let his hand go through her hair.

"No...it would just prove you care..."

"I don't want you to go...not now..." Haley said as Nathan felt her start to fall asleep, her breathing starting to become shallow.

"I don't wanna go either...not without you." he said softly as he pulled up the sheet so that it covered most of their naked bodies. Pretty soon they both fell asleep.

oOoOoOoOoOo

The months seemed to pass like magic and before they knew it it was the night before Nathan was supposed to get on his flight. Haley sat in the chair, staring at Nathan as he slowly packed his clothes into the bags his father had sent over. The past few months had been the best time of her life and she had never felt more alive than she was when she was with Nathan. As his departure came closer the more time she spent with him and pretty soon she was permanently at his house...just going home to fetch some clothes. They spent their days together and - when they felt they had to - they would go hang out with Brooke and Lucas. But then the rings would come off - them opting not to tell them just yet. Haley looked down at her shaking hands and for the first time realized that life had not turned out the way she had planned it...

Flashback

"So...the question is...how do you see your life turning out?" James asked as he sat down next to Haley on the bench and she smiled at him.

"My whole life?" she laughed and James groaned.

"Okay...not till your 60! But you know what I mean!"

"Well I supposed I wanna be friends with you forever and ever...and when I'm a senior you can be my date to prom. Uhm...I wanna go to Stanford...it's been my dream for years and then I guess I'll see what life brings me but yeah...I'm thinking get married at 25 and then have at least 2 children..." Haley said and James gave her an understanding look.

"And where do all the hunks on your arm fall into the picture?" he asked casually and Haley laughed as she gave him a look - even though they both could feel the awkwardness sweep through them.

"Don't think I'll really have a serious relationship in high school...I think it's a bit to hard..." James laughed.

"Whatever you say Miss James..."

"No...it's Haley...just Haley." Haley corrected him.

End of flashback

Nathan stole a peak at his lovely wife sitting on the chair and he could see she was deep in thought. Her brow was furrowed and Nathan could see she was biting her lip. He placed the clothes he was holding on the bed and walked over till he was behind her and lazily placed his arms around her, pulling her out of her thoughts.

"You gave me a fright there..." she said softly as she held onto his arms and Nathan smiled, moving his face so he could see her.

"I'm sorry babe..." he said sincerely and gave her a gentle kiss which she returned.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't be so jumpy I know..." she went on and Nathan let his arms slide away as he moved away from her and back to his clothes.

"It's fine Haley..." he said and Haley looked at him as he turned to her, giving her a small smile.

"I don't know if I can do it Nate..." she finally breathed and Nathan sighed turning back towards her and looking at her as tears started to form in her eyes. Nathan lifted his hand and raked it through his black hair, as he let himself sink down onto the floor, sitting against the frame of his bed.

"Truthfully Hales...I don't know if I can do it either. These last few months...every time I started to crave my smokes...you were there...you helped me through it...and now...now I'm going away for a year...and you won't be there to stop me..." he said, his voice sounding far away from her. Haley gave a small laugh.

"So that's the only reason you're going to miss me?" she asked and Nathan lifted his face and looked at her.

"You know I'm going to miss being with you like crazy...we're going to have to get a webcam or something..." Nathan laughed and Haley smiled at him.

"Yeah...we're going to have to get one of those..." she said sadly and looked down as Nathan saw a tear slide down her cheek. He stood up from his place on the floor and pulled her up with him. Immediately he pulled her into his embrace and he felt Haley choke back a sob.

"We will get through this Haley...you have to believe me...we'll make it through." he said reassuringly and Haley nodded into his chest. He lightly pulled her away so that he could look into her eyes.

"Now...no crying the night before I go...can you do that for me?" he asked and Haley nodded as she wiped the tears away.

"That's my girl." Nathan said and kissed her forehead.

"No...that's your wife...and don't you forget it." she said with a smile and Nathan smiled back down at her.

"I could never forget that Hales..." he said and leaned down into a sweet kiss.

"Always and forever..."

oOoOoOoOoOo

Haley stood with her arms around her waist, tears streaming down from her eyes. Nathan stood in front of her, his own eyes filled with tears that he knew he would not shed until he was far away from where she could see him.In between them stood Nathan's last carry-on bag.

"This is it then...this is the end then..." Haley mumbled as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Don't say that Haley...this - us - it won't ever end!" Nathan said forcefully as he moved closer to her, moving the bag away with his foot. Within seconds Haley's arms flung around his neck and she held to him for all that she was worth.

"Don't leave me!" she urged as she dug her face into his neck and Nathan rubbed her back.

"I don't want to...believe me I don't!" he said back just as forcefully and Haley looked at him with hope in her eyes.

"Then don't! Stay here with me!" she said hopefully and Nathan looked away before he looked back at her.

"You know I can't do that Haley..." Haley couldn't control it anymore as she let out a sob and leaned up and kissed Nathan with a passion that she could hardly believe she had. Nathan returned the kiss with just as much passion as she did. Suddenly Haley pulled away from him, placing her arms around herself again.

"You should go...you're going to miss your flight." she said and Nathan looked at her sadly. He slowly bend down and picked up his bag, throwing it over his shoulder.

"I love you Hales...always and forever...don't you forget that." he said and Haley gave him one of her sad smiles.

"I know. I love you to. Always and forever." she said and Nathan moved closer to her, placing a kiss on her forehead.

"I'm going to miss you like hell." he said into her ear before he stepped back, away from her.

"Me to..." was all she said before Nathan gave her one last smile and headed towards the gate. At the entrance he turned back, giving her one last smile as he mouthed that he loved her, before he turned and disappeared.

Haley stood there for a moment, tears streaming down her eyes, when she felt a small hand touch her shoulder. She turned and saw an old lady standing in front of her, smiling.

"Now why is such a beautiful girl crying?" she asked sympathetically and Haley gave her a sweet smile.

"My husband just left to go to Australia..." Haley said and the old lady smiled.

"Don't worry dear...he'll be back. From what I see you two are head over heels in love...and soul mates like that...well they always find their way to each other in the end." she said and gave Haley a smile before she walked to an old man, hooked her arm around his and gave him a kiss. Haley stared at the loving old couple before she turned around and walked to her car, remembering her parents.

Flashback

"Haley James! What are you doing with that boy!" Lydia yelled as Haley entered the kitchen and Haley frowned.

"Mom I'm not 8 anymore! I know what I'm doing!" Haley yelled back and Jimmy rubbed his - now very much less than years before - hair. He looked at his daughter and for a moment all he could see was his little baby girl standing in front of him - asking for a new doll.

"Haley you're just 17...you can't get married now...what about school?" Jimmy asked and Haley turned to her father.

"Daddy...I love Nathan with all my heart and he loves me...and I'll still be in school next year. Nathan's going away and we decided together that I would stay here and finish school before I would join him." she said and Jimmy looked away, his daughter's eyes burrowing into him.

"And what about Stanford Haley? It's always been your dream..." Lydia spoke up again.

"It's always going to be there Mom..." Haley said as she gave a small smile. Jimmy sighed. He was a stubborn man - especially when it came to his daughter - but he was not heartless and he could see that they were in love.

"If we say no...what happens then?" he asked and Haley looked down to her ring before she looked back up again.

"Then I don't think I'll have any other choice but let the love of my life go and leave me in darkness..." Haley admitted truthfully. She could have said that she would run away with him but she knew when the push came to shove she wouldn't be able to.

"Soul mates always find their way to each other in the end..." he said quietly and Haley sighed, thinking that was it. She turned to give Nathan the news when she heard Lydia speak.

"You can drive at 16, go to war at 18, drink at 21...but who says how old you have to be to experience true love?" she said quietly and Haley looked back at her parents.

"We trust you Haley- Bop and we believe that even though this is not conventional...we support you...and if this is truly what you want...then we'll sign the papers." Lydia said and Haley ran to her mother and embraced her, then embraced her father.

"It's really what I want. Thank you so much."

End of flashback