Nathan awoke with a start. There was a sharp pain in his chest and he was covered in a cold sweat. The digital clock by the bed read 3:22 a.m. and the bedroom like the rest of the house was dark and still. It had been such a normal even peaceful night but now the anxiety was flowing through his veins at top speed. Throwing the covers off, he stumbled over to the heap of clothes in the floor he had worn earlier. He quickly dressed in jeans and a shirt and slipped his feet in his Adidas sandals. He felt almost possessed, literally compelled to grab his wallet and hop in the car. Within a few minutes he found himself pulling into the Sawyer's driveway. He had hoped the whole time that he was having a nightmare, or maybe just overreacting. But his heart sank as he saw all the lights on in the house. It was such a late hour and that could only mean one thing. Practically racing to the front door, he pounded on it. Seconds later, Mr. Sawyer opened it, swollen and red eyes peering back at him.

"Mr. Sawyer, sir, I'm sorry it's so late but please. I...I need to see her."

"She said no visitors..."

"Sir. I have to."

The older man nodded and let the younger one enter the house. Nathan bounded up to the bedroom. Mr. Sawyer stood back giving the kids the closure both so desperately needed.

"I know you told me not to come but I had to. I had to see you just now. I woke up with this feeling..."

"They're calling me, Nate", Peyton whispered.

"Who? Who is calling you, baby?"

"My mom...and the rest of the angels."

Nathan bit his lip but that didn't stop the fresh avalanche of tears pouring from his blueeyes.

"I love you", he cried. "Always have and always will. Pey you mean the world to me and I'll never forget you or what you meant to me. Everything good that I am or that I've ever done is because of you, baby."

"We went to Myrtle Beach, Natey. We picked sea shells and had cotton candy...the jet ski."

"The jet ski", he sobbed. "We were laughing when Luke fell off the jet ski."

"That was a good time, Nate."

"The best", he whispered.

"Don't...don't let Dad bury me in a black dress."

"Peyton, don't say..."

"I mean it, Nathan. Tell them, please. I like the pink one with the little flowers on it. And I want to be buried right next to Mom."

"No black", he managed to repeat. "The pink one."

She managed a smile and reached out to him beckoning Nathan to lay with her. Wiping away at a flood of tears, he complied, gently crawling on the bed beside her.

"Sing to me", she said.

In an emotional voice Nathan sang the first tune that came to mind. He had sang it once, rather badly actually in front of the entire Tree Hill student body once during Senior year when he had inevitably screwed up and Peyton was once again mad at him.

Why do birds suddenly appear?

Every time you're near

Just like me

They long to be

Close to you...

Her hands tenderly caressed his face. His heart broke into a million pieces as he literally felt her floating away.

"It's gonna be okay, Peyton. Everything is going to be okay. You'll see. I promise, baby."

And then in his arms she went limp. There was no sound or no movement, only stillness and peace. The thousands of emotions inside him began to erupt. There was no way to control or stifle the moan of heart wrenching agony. His love was gone forever. Putting his face in her still warm chest he sobbed and cradled her. A little piece of Nathan had died that moment right along with Peyton Sawyer.

In the arms of an angel

Fly away from here

From this dark cold hotel room

And the endlessness that you fear

You are pulled from the wreckage

Of your silent reverie

You're in the arms of the angel

May you find some comfort there

"I love you", he said after singing to her for the final time.

With that he placed a tear stained kiss on her lips.

"Good bye, angel."