AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter has been written and re-written about 16 times until I finally gave up, realized I'm not trying to write a Man Booker winner over here and decided that half a chapter full of exposition about Nathan's feelings is better than nothing (maybe? I don't know, you decide). I am ridiculously overwhelmed and grateful at how kind and supportive the reviews I've been getting have been; seriously, I know this is just fanfiction but it's still pretty scary putting stuff out there and it means so much to know that people are actually reading and enjoying this story.

Usual disclaimer applies: let's face it, if I owned OTH, it would just end up being an x-rated Naley show.

"Dude, can you stop pacing? You're going to make me nervous."

Nathan stood still and raised an eyebrow at his half-brother. "You're marrying Brooke Davis in..." he pulled back the crisp white cuff of his shirt to reveal the chunky Hublot watch he always wore on his left wrist, "... twenty minutes... You should be nervous."

Lucas's blue eyes, a lighter replica of Nathan's own, squinted further as the boys' uncle chuckled at their bickering.

"You're such a dick. I knew I should have asked Haley to take your place. Brooke insisted she had to be her bridesmaid, but we've been best friends longer than I've known you and..."

Nathan had tuned him out at the mention of the name that had constantly been in his thoughts since his revelation at dinner the day before. His recollection of the night before, who spoke to him or what he had to eat, was a blur, until he made a fast getaway the second he'd spooned in his last mouthful of dessert. Grateful that the girls were spending the night together at the hotel where the wedding reception was to be held the next day, and therefore not needing to speak to Haley before he left, Nathan had driven home, swearing the subtle floral scent of Haley's perfume still lingered in the enclosed space of his car. He'd barely gotten through his door before he pulled out his phone and had gone back to the start of the lengthy message exchanges he'd had with Halo23.

Each scroll of his thumb revealed a new confirmation that Haley had to be behind the Halo23 nom de plume: having lots of brothers and sisters, staying home with a cat, being a teacher. Check, check, check. He had scrolled through their everyday exchanges, noting that their easy banter and communication was reminiscent of how it had felt catching up together at the Rivercourt, until he got to the first photo he'd received from Halo23. As it had the first time he'd received it, and the many times following that he'd revisited the images and the ones sent afterwards, Nathan's breath was knocked out of him, this time for completely different reasons. Was it possible that this gorgeous vixen who had sent him the sexiest photos he had ever seen actually be Haley James? His eyes had devoured every little pixel countless of times already, but this time he had viewed it through a new lens. The milky skin in the photo was identical to the peaches and cream hues of Haley's coloring, and the long, delicate fingers on the feminine hand that touched Halo's body could definitely be the same ones that Nathan had held in his own all those years ago. Using his reasonably extensive expertise, Nathan pictured what the size and shape of Halo's incredible breasts in that sexy purple bra would look like if she had been standing upright instead of lying flat on the bed, and came to a quick conclusion that they matched the curves he had seen on Haley from the night he first saw her again in that cleavage-baring top.

But with every tell-tale revelation came stomach-twisting confusion as Nathan tried to wrap his head around the enormity of his ex-girlfriend being Halo23. Getting his brain to work while looking at those images from Halo23 was a struggle for Nathan at the best of times, but the idea that his former tutor and girlfriend was behind them scrambled his brain even further. Despite her wanting to hang on to her virginity, he knew Haley wasn't a prude and her sexuality had clearly blossomed in her adulthood, but was it possible that she could be driven to share her body like that with a complete stranger? Halo23 had definitely been hot that night, igniting the sexual spark that had raged into an inferno between them; Nathan certainly wasn't complaining, but to think that he had met his sexual match in Haley James of all people was a dream even he couldn't conjure up.

Then he re-read her message about not being over her ex, how he'd made her feel and how she was trying to find that again... could Nathan cope with Haley's heart still with another man? He knew he'd been her first love, but over the last ten years surely he hadn't been the last? Aside from the fact that Haley was a beautiful, successful and confident woman who no doubt had attracted male attention everywhere she went, Nathan had treated her with so little respect and care when he felt compelled and forced to break up with her that there was absolutely no chance she would ever look fondly upon their time together, let alone be allowing the ghost of their relationship prevent her from moving on. Quinn had indicated that Haley was no longer a virgin; was there a man who had not only taken her innocence, but her heart?

"Nate? You still with us there?"

Blinking back into the present, Nathan stared at his uncle until he realized Keith and Lucas were looking at him expectantly.

"The minister said it's showtime."

"Right, yeah, of course," Nathan cleared his throat. "We're officially letting Brooke Davis into the family. Let's get this over with."

"Gee, thanks little brother," Lucas remarked, drily. "Your support is overwhelming."

Nathan smirked in amusement; Brooke's constant presence in Lucas' life over the years had bled into Nathan's and the two had ended up forging a friendship. They still bickered and teased, but even when they were mad at each other - like Nathan was the day before over Brooke's attempts at matchmaking - Nathan knew how happy she made his brother. She had become like a sister to him and Lucas knew his words were always in jest.

The trio stepped out into the heavily decorated church and Nathan took his place beside Keith as a string quartet in the corner struck up a slow melody. Candles flickered and the multiple arrangements of roses perfumed the air around them as ten year old Lily, taking her role as a junior bridesmaid extremely seriously, started down the aisle scattering petals in her wake. The setting was beautiful, but Nathan knew with unequivocal certainty that nothing could look as perfect as the sight appearing before him.

Haley stepped into line behind Lily, stepping slowing to the beat of the music. Her pale purple dress hugged her chest and dipped down in between her breasts like the top half of a heart. The silky fabric skimmed her hips and waist before falling to her knees, and she clutched a bouquet of white roses in front of her. Nathan watched her closely as the slight tremble in her lips exposed her nerves, until she looked up and those glossy pink lips curved into a beaming smile. He felt a physical tug, like a fish hook had caught his ribcage at the sight. It didn't matter that he hadn't been the reason for that smile - her sparkling gaze was focused on Lucas - but in that moment he felt himself tumbling head over heels in love with her - again.

As if she had sensed the heat or the intensity of his stare, Haley's chocolate brown eyes turned towards him. Nathan didn't notice when Peyton arrived to stand beside Haley, or when the invited guests rose to their feet, or even when the figure in brilliant white glided up the aisle; he couldn't focus on anything but her and the fact that this was his Halo, his angel. It was as if the two parts - the Haley James he'd always cared for and the incredible woman online he had quickly fallen for - had merged into one whole and his future was standing in front of him.

Nathan knew he had a challenge ahead; Haley hadn't exactly been thrilled to see him again and, despite their opportunity to talk about their past, he knew she was happier before he'd moved back to town. Hell, he'd only just figured out that he would have been the reason she'd cancelled their meet up at such short notice - if she didn't even want to meet her online date with Nathan around, finding out that he was actually Devil12 was not going to be a welcome revelation

Luckily for him, he also knew how the last few years had toughened him up and changed him for the better. He was strong, and he'd always fought for what he wanted. Nathan had lost a lot; his father and his professional basketball career were two tightly interwoven cores of his identity and he had suffered greatly when they were both gone, but nothing had caused more regret and pain than walking away from Haley James ten long years ago. She had loved him once before and she certainly had feelings for Devil12; he could make her fall in love with him again. He felt like, for the second time in his life, that he'd been struck by lightning.

He was going to win back Haley James' heart.