Author's Note: For those of you reading today as I post this...as you may know, the story is written in my head and the next chapter has actually already been typed, however I am not going to post it right now. I will just leave you all with this so you'll have something to think about. I know, I know, I'm evil or as Jess and Lindsay love to tell me. That's fine. But it could be worse. I could have two alternate endings and have you guys text your favorite one, lol. But that would be too easy...

Nathan took a deep breath as he made his way to the front of the church by the minister. He looked handsome in his dar suit. His skin was tanned and his blue eyes were more than a mesmerizing sight. It was time to get married. He was ready…as ready as he ever would be.

"Nathan Scott, you got your mind right, brother?" Lucas the best man asked.

"Getting there", Nathan whispered.

Lucas smiled and shook his brother's hand as they took their places. The church was packed. Friends, family and neighbors. Politicians. Professional athletes. The cream of the crop of the social elite. Lucas scanned the crowd. Front and center was Peyton. She flashed him a nervous smile, which he returned. It was time to get the show on the road.

In the front pew of the groom's side were Dan and Deb. On the outside, they looked lovely. Dan, fit and taunt, was proud as ever, his usual smug smirk transformed into a friendly grin, just in case one of the many photographers wanted a picture of the beaming dad. Deb smiled but it wasn't one of the proud mother. It was reserved and at times even pained. She seemed just as nervous and anxious as everyone else.

Finally the music began and the wedding party made their way down the aisle. Tim, Jake, Skills, Mouth and Fergie were standing up for Nathan. Brooke, Megan's sister, Samantha, and a few of her friends were representing Megan. As Brooke walked up the aisle escorted by Jake, Lucas couldn't help but notice how gorgeous she looked. Caught in the middle of the Nathan/Haley/Megan triangle, certain aspects of their own lives had temporarily been put on hold. They hadn't had much of a chance to talk or spend time together since the night they'd spent having animalistic sex, which was also the night they'd had to tell Nathan the truth about Megan's pregnancy. It had been awkward but when she gave him that million dollar smile, he winked at her and knew all was right with the world.

After the groomsmen and bridesmaids, it was time for the children. Megan's little nephew was adorable as the Ring Bearer and Jenny looked like an angel as the Flower Girl. Like the proud parents they were, Jake and Peyton beamed from ear to ear as Peyton snapped pictures until the camera required a roll change.

Then it was time. Time for the bride. Nathan took a huge breath and so did Lucas. The wedding march began but no Megan. A murmur fell over the crowd as all eyes searched in vain for the Congressman's daughter.

Lucas and Brooke made eye contact and both had the same "oh shit" looks on their faces. Please, God. Not now. Not again. Not like this.

Hearts pounded with each passing second. Everyone was one edge. Everyone except the one person who should have been. Nathan was calm. Too calm. Eerily calm. His blue eyes remained on the door but his mind traveled back six and a half years prior…

It was his intention to beat the living shit out of that scrawny little punk, Chris. But he hadn't. He had let it go and he didn't quite know why. Maybe it was all for the best. He'd get back on that stupid tour bus and go off to another city far away from Tree Hill and his wife. And Taylor would be gone too. At last the apartment would be theirs and theirs alone again. Nathan couldn't wait. It was just what they needed to set their shaky marriage back on track.

"You know, now that Taylor's leaving, maybe we'll have enough hot water for our own showers", he joked.

Haley smiled and closed the door. She eyed him a couple of times before climbing onto the counter with a sigh. Finally her arms reached out to him, hugging him sadly.

"Haley, what's wrong?"

"Um… Michelle Branch likes my voice. She thinks I could be a singer. A real one. Chris said that she wants me on tour. I'm so far ahead with classes and I'd be back in time for finals."

"So says the great Chris", Nathan's smile faded as quickly as it had appeared.

"No, this isn't about him, Nathan. This is about…opportunity. I have, my entire life, been the reliable one and the dependable one and I've always done…precisely what's expected of me."

"Till we got married."

"Exactly. And then I finally did something for me…something that I wanted and the world didn't end. And I have that chance again."

Nathan raised his eyebrows. He couldn't believe what she was about to say.

"If you leave me..".

"This is not the end for us. This is my shot to find out if I am good enough to have a life in music. Or if nights at Tric are all I get."

"And this has nothing to do with Chris?"

"No. Absolutely not", she answered quietly.

"Then why haven't you asked me to come with you?"

It was a question Haley had no answer for.

"Did you kiss him?" Nathan asked her for the second time with a shaky voice.

She paused for a long time.

"Yes."

There it was. The truth. She had finally said it. And Nathan was beyond heartbroken.

"I'm sorry. You have to believe me. That's not what this is about. Nathan…"

He didn't want to hear it. He couldn't. Her words no longer mattered.

"Haley, listen…if you wanna go, you should go. If you do…we're done."

She gasped and cried as he turned and left the apartment. He had given her the ultimate ultimatum and she was torn by what to do. But he didn't care. Screw her pain! What about his? She had just kissed another man! And she had bitched about him jacking off to Internet porn when they were dating. Now she was married and kissing other men.

He hated Chris Keller. He hated Haley at that moment. But he loved her, too. So much. Sometimes too much. He walked to get away and clear his head. How dare she! She was selfish. She was a cheat. She was a liar. He didn't know her anymore. He had encouraged her to follow her dreams and in the process he had created a monster. If she had the nerve to get her selfish little ass on that bus, he would divorce her and never look back.

The farther he walked, the angrier he became. He didn't care that it was growing cold and he had no jacket. He noticed nothing round him, that is until he saw the table. The very table where they had sat that first morning of their tutoring session. He had given her the Cracker Jack bracelet.

Then it hit him like a ton of bricks. He loved her. Maybe he had even loved her then and just didn't know it. She was his wife. His soul. His life's work. His pride and joy. He couldn't let her get on that bus but even if she did, it wouldn't be over. He was bluffing. It would never be over. Damn, he had been a stupid fool! He took off in a dead sprint for home. He'd find her and hold her and tell her that he loved her. Together they would figure out some sort of plan.

He ran for blocks, miles. Faster than he ever had in his life. He skipped the steps, two or three at a time and burst through the apartment door. It was quiet and his heart sank until he saw a shadow in the back.

"Haley!" he called out.

But it was Taylor who exited the bedroom. She just looked at him and as long as he lived, he would never forget that look.

"I'm sorry, Nathan…she's gone."

His head dropped and he didn't even hear Taylor leave. Nor did he care. He was in a state of shock. Nothing seemed real to him. He must have paced that living room for hours. His thoughts were even too much. As he walked, he felt the sadness build. Sadness morphed into anger. Anger became rage. Nathan was shaking. Then he saw it. The keyboard. That goddamned keyboard he had bought that had started it all. He picked it up and chucked it as hard as he could at that stupid Wedding Wall. He wanted to physically destroy both objects. Why not? His wife had already destroyed their meaning.

Someone could have put a dagger through his heart and it wouldn't have hurt as much. She left. She was gone. It hurt. It hurt bad! He didn't know what was worse…the fact that she was gone or that she had left even after he told her their marriage was over if she did. But did it even matter? Either way you looked at it…Haley was still gone. Gone…

Gone. Nathan stared straight ahead. Where was Megan? The guests wondered the same thing and some of them loudly. Eyes darted across the room. Poor Dan looked on the verge of another heart attack.

"Nate…" Lucas put another arm around him.

But Nathan was quiet. He dared not move. He couldn't if he wanted to. That feeling. It was happening again. Dammitt!

Brooke's expression had turned to fear then sheer panic. She mouthed to Lucas if she should go try to find Megan. He held up his hand to stop her for the moment, not sure what to do. Then he looked over at his brother. In a simple gesture that said it all, Nathan finally just hung his head.