Chapter 25

Jesse walked out of the hotel, wiping his tears, and got into Mike's car.

"What happened?" Mike asked Jesse when he got in the car.

"I told her the truth, I told her about Paccino & the threats and everything."

"How did she take it?"

"Not very well, she was crying a lot. I hate seeing her this way Mike"

"I know you do, but it's for the best, for Brooke"

"I know, I know it is, I would die if I knew she was in danger"

Brooke finishes explaining to Haley and Lucas everything.

"Where is he now?"

"Probably on a plane going back to New York"

"You have to go tell him that you don't care about any threats; all you want is to be with him" Haley told her.

"What?" Brooke asked her, like she was crazy

"Brooke, I'm an expert on dealing with mistakes, don't make a mistake by letting Jesse go. I learned the hard way. Trust me, it's not fun." Lucas told Brooke

"You guys think I should go to the airport? Brooke asked them

"Yeah, I do. Don't make a mistake. And then have dreams of what could have been. Make the dreams come true. Live them don't daydream them."

"Go to him Brooke" Haley said.

"Thanks Luke. Haley, I don't know what I would do without you"

"You're welcome" Lucas said

"You know I'll always be there for you babe" Haley said and then gave Brooke a hug

"Okay I have to get to the airport" Brooke said with excitement

"Come on, I'll drive you" Lucas said

"You sure that's a good idea?" Haley asked him

"Yeah, I'm sure Hales" Lucas said.

"Wish me luck!" Brooke screamed

"Good luck" Haley screamed

Brooke and Lucas both run out of the hotel. They get into Lucas's car.

"Thanks for doing this Luke"

"Brooke, all I ever wanted was for you to be happy. i realised that I wasn't making you happy. and you finally find a guy that deserves you. A guy that can stay faithful, and a guy that you can depend on. The guy I always wanted to be for you.

"Lucas…"

"No, don't say anything. Just leave it at that. I just have one question for you"

"What's that?"

"Can you forgive me?"

"What?"

"Forgive me…I've held on to you way too long Brooke. You've wanted me to let go, but I didn't. I guess I was afraid of loosing you, and I'm sorry." Lucas told her in all honesty

Brooke looked up, and looked deeply into those fiercely green eyes of his.

"Of course I forgive you"

Mike and Jesse were waiting for their flight back to New York.

"You ready?" Mike asked Jesse

"Yeah…" Jesse said

"Let's go"

Mike got up, but Jesse didn't. he was still sitting in his chair

"She hates me"

"Who hates you?"

"Brooke…I love her man"

"I know you do"

"Why do I have to do this? Isn't there an easier way?"

"No, bud, sorry I'm afraid there isn't"

"I just hate this"

"I know, I hate it too, I hate seeing you like this Jess. Come on bud, New York is waiting for us"

"I'm coming, hold up."

"You know what, stay here, I got to go to the bathroom before we get on the plane"

"All right, I'll get the stuff ready"

Mike runs off the bathroom. Jesse gets up to get the luggage together, but realises Mike hadn't bought gum. So Jesse went to the gum shop, and bought some gum. He went to go get the tickets which were in his wallet. Jesse opens his wallet, and there are pictures that fall out. He goes down to pick them up. And looks at them, they're of him and Brooke. "I love you Brooke" he said. He heard "I love you too" from behind him. Jesse looks behind; Brooke was standing in front of him, and started walking towards him. Jesse is speechless, and doesn't say anything. Brooke bends down to pick up the pictures, and gives them to him.

"Jesse, I love you, and I want to be with you. Did you ever think that maybe I could defend myself? I can't picture my life without you Jess, I love you. And if this Paccino guy isn't okay with it, then I will stand up to him."

"Baby, that's really sweet but Paccino is part of the mob. And I don't want you getting into any of that. Baby, I don't know what I would do if something bad happened to you."

"Listen to me okay? Something bad will happen to me, if you are not with me!"

"You really want to marry me?"

"You know I do"

"I was hoping you would come back to me"

Jesse holds her tightly and kisses her gently, and then the kiss turns into a passionate one.

"I'm not leaving you, and we are going to get married"

"Come here, I thought I lost you"

Jesse holds her tightly

"Come on, let's get out of here"

"But I have to get back…"

"You do?"

"Yeah, like right now"

"Alright well do your thing tonight, I'm coming with you. I'm never letting you out of my sight ever again. You hear me?"

"Alright babe"

(kiss)

"We're back"

"Mom, we got taco bell"

"Really? My favourite!" Haley jumped for joy

"Yeah, actually dad knew that"

Haley remembers a distance memory

"Come on, you have to try this Haley" Nathan said to Haley

Nathan orders a hard shell taco with sour cream, onions, tomatoes, and lettuce and hot sauce

"No, no it's okay ill just get a salad"

"No, come on, try it, please, try it"

"Okay fine"

"Here we go" (takes the taco)

Haley bites into it "oh my goodness, that is so good!" She takes another bite out of the taco. "Yum, that is really good. How about we make a tradition? We have tacos a least once a week?

"HALEY?"

"Yeah?"

"You zoned out on us"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I was just remembering something"

"Come on mom, I want to show you what dad taught me"

"Alright"

The 3 of them walk to the river court. Nathan passes the basketball to Noah. They start the game. It was Nathan vs. Haley and Noah. Haley starts off with the ball at half court, she dribbles the ball, and dribbled the ball between her legs, fakes a pass to her son. And dribbled up to the net, and took a shot. The ball went in.

"Wow, Haley, that's really impressive"

"Thanks, my son has taught me a little"

"Yeah, every Monday night mom and me go to the basketball hoops and we shoot around. Basketball has been my life, for a long time now." Noah told Nathan

"You always wanted to be a basketball player baby, ever since you could hold a basketball." Haley said

"Noah, I want to tell you something. Basketball is just a sport, it's not a life." Nathan said

Nathan remembers when Keith told him the exact same thing

"I know dad." Noah said

"Noah, there are more important things in life other then sports. I don't want you to forget that. I learnt it the hard way." (looks at Haley)

Haley looks down. She knew he was talking about their marriage.

"Baby, I have to tell you something, actually your father and I have to tell you something"

Okay?? What is it? Noah asked curiously

"I'm moving to New York with you and your mom. Is that okay?"

Noah drops the ball. Turns arounds, and starts pacing back and forth. He finally turns around and runs to Nathan, and hugs him.

"We're finally going to be a family"

Haley walked over to her son and her "fiancée" and they all hugged. A big family hug.