Author's Note: Sorry for the delay...the site was down yesterday. I appreciate your patience. And Audrey, thanks so much for the intelligent, articulate, detailed, kind and eloquent review you posted!

A hushed silence fell over the patio. The only sound that could be heard was the distinct flow of water, courtesy of one of the fountains in the background. All eyes were on Haley James and the bundle of flowers in her hand. For a second she wanted to laugh when it reminded her of that scene from the classic movie Carrie right when the bucket of pig blood comes pouring down on the title character. The calm before the storm, before Carrie went psycho and offed the entire school.

Haley of course had no plans to turn the Country Club into a fiery inferno but nevertheless, it was no laughing matter. With every delay, mishap and obstacle in the world, she had made it to the wedding of her ex husband. The wedding she was supposed to stop but she had arrived too late. Time was definitely not on her side.

A cab had taken her to an empty church and her heart sank when she realized she had failed. Game over. Nathan had married another woman. He now belonged to Megan for eternity and there was nothing Haley could do but accept it and go back home. And that was the plan, to go back to Chris on the tour with her tail between her legs. But on the way back to the airport and surely an irreplaceable emptiness, one more stop had to be made.

The driver pulled up to the Country Club. It was her intention to just get a peek for a second. She just wanted to see it for herself. It would probably be the last time she would ever see him in person. Then her eyes caught sight of him on the balcony. He was with Lucas, hands shoved in his pockets, his blue eyes telling a different story than the tight smile on his face.

She couldn't explain it but it was a force, bigger than destiny, stronger than fate, deeper than love that seemed to pull her to him. Before Haley knew what was going on, she was paying the driver and stepping out of the taxi and making her way onto the crowded lower deck. She pushed through the people to the front just in time for the blushing bride to throw her bouquet. It wasn't a blatant act of disrespect. She hadn't caught it on purpose. It just sort of fell into her arms…

On the balcony nobody dared speak or move. Nobody except the bride. Megan was shaking uncontrollably. After a few seconds, she fled into the building, several people following her to offer comfort while her stunned husband lingered behind.

"Man, go after her", Lucas said, breaking the moment and snapping his kid brother back into reality.

Nathan nodded and clumsily made his way inside. Lucas looked around in disbelief as he was joined by their incensed father. Lucas could have sworn he saw smoke flaring from the older man's inflamed nostrils and steam coming from his ears.

"That's it", he huffed. "How dare she! Hasn't Haley James done enough? She ruined Nathan's life, broke his heart and almost got him killed. I guess the little tramp wasn't satisfied until she crashed the reception as well."

"Dad…"

"No. Call the police, son. And when they get here, they can either arrest her for trespassing or me for murder."

"Look, no one is arresting or killing anybody. You stay here. I'll take care of this, okay?"

Brooke watched a silent but still fuming Dan as Lucas left, presumably on his way down to where Haley stood beside her. Peyton was shocked and open mouthed as well. Still in her eyes Brooke saw sympathy and it enraged her. How could Peyton want to comfort Haley at a time like that? It was Haley who had showed up and ruined everything.

"Brooke…"

Brooke just shook her head. For years Haley James had been the greatest saleswoman, pitching the naïve, innocent, sweet and shy act but Brooke Davis was done buying her bullshit.

"I cannot believe you would even come here! You have some nerve."

"Brooke, I'm sorry, I…"

"I don't want to hear it. You know something? You're a real class act", she muttered sarcastically.

"I'm sorry", Haley whispered.

"And give me my damned bouquet", Brooke added, snatching the flowers away before walking off.

She met Lucas running towards her.

"Is Hales still here?" he asked out of breath.

"Unfortunately", Brooke rolled her eyes.

He brushed past her and grabbed Haley's arm, dragging her into a nearby and private downstairs room. It was away from whispers and prying eyes and cameras and away from the scene unfolding just one floor up where Megan Powell Scott was having a mental and emotional breakdown.

"Megan, breathe", Jules instructed, trying to calm her down.

But it wasn't working. There would be no breathing or calming down for that matter.

"Meg", Nathan tried.

"No! No! Don't you 'Meg' me! What the hell is she doing here? That disrespectful, manipulative little bitch! How dare she! This is my day! I am the bride and I'm supposed to be happy! And she has the nerve to show up here and then catch my bouquet? I will kill her! I will rip her ass to shreds! I'll…"

No one had ever seen the normally smiling, demure, friendly former debutante that angry. But who could blame her?

"Megan, calm down", Nathan said again.

"Did you know she was going to be here?"

"Of course not!"

"Do you still love her? Do you want to be with her, Nathan?"

"Meg! Damn! No! I married you."

"Then why is she here?" she asked as angry tears of hurt and humiliation fell.

It was yet another question Nathan couldn't answer.

"Megan…"

"No! I want her out of here! Now! I'm not playing around, Nathan! And I'm not putting up with this shit anymore! I want Haley James gone! Do you understand me? I don't care if you wave a magic wand, or you call the police, or you drag her out of here kicking and screaming but you better get rid of her now!"

Flustered, he backed out of the room and right into Tim.

"Dude, what the hell is going on here?" he rubbed his head. "This is nuts! Haley has balls the size of grapefruits! I think I saw this once on like The Bold and the Beautiful or something."

"Tim, shut the fuck up!" Nathan shook his head. "What are you doing up here anyway?"

"Oh yeah. Lucas sent me. He wants to see you downstairs in the ballroom."

Nathan pushed past his friend for the staircase. The large room appeared empty but he could see his brother by the corner. And Lucas wasn't alone.

"Luke…"

"Bro, you need to handle this. I don't know what you're going to do or say but this has to be settled by you once and for all."

Nathan knew Lucas was right. The older brother left, and the once married couple was alone and face to face. Nathan just looked at her. It was so much he wanted to say but the words just wouldn't come out. Finally it was Haley who spoke.

"I'm sorry, Nathan. I shouldn't have come here like this. I didn't mean to embarrass you or Megan. I do apologize for causing a scene at your reception but…but I'm not sorry for coming. I couldn't help it. I had to. I couldn't not come. I know that might not make sense to you now but it's how I feel. I made a mistake, Nathan. As much as I love music and my career, none of it means as much as you do. If I could take it all back or do it all over again, then I wouldn't get on that bus. I swear to you! If I had known it was going to hurt you that much or cost us our marriage, I wouldn't have done it. Not Chris or Michelle or the tour or anything. Because none of that was worth losing you. Nathan, I can't change the past but maybe I can do something about our future. I wanted to stop you from marrying her because that would just be another mistake. And one more thing that keeps us from having a future together…one possible future. I don't know anymore. I just know that I love you. And I never stopped. I've been in denial for years but I'm tired of living that way when you have my heart. And I wouldn't have done this if I didn't think there was still a chance. During the tsunami when we were in the hut…there was something still there between us. It was more than sex. I felt it, Nathan, and I know you did, too. I saw it when I looked at you and I felt it when you kissed me. I'm just asking you for another chance. I'm asking you to talk to me. I'm asking you to admit you feel something for me. I love you, Nathan. So much. And I want you…all of you everyday for the rest of our lives."

In an emotional ramble, she had poured out her heart to him. Feelings were spoken that had never been admitted out loud. Haley was putting everything on the line. Instinctively her arms rose to caress his shoulders as she anxiously awaited some sort of response.

Nathan was dumbfounded. He had waited for years to hear those words. His heart had ached for her so many nights he had spent crying himself to sleep. Although they had only been together total a little over a year, they had loved enough to last a lifetime. Every word she said rang true for him as well. He loved her. He wanted her. He'd had a similar speech prepared in his heart just weeks prior when he'd practiced it on that long "almost" drive to Nashville. Now after everything that had happened, she was in front of him…willing and ready.

He looked her deep in the eyes before taking her tiny hands in his and pulling them away. There was only one thing to do. Only one thing to say.

"You already had me", he said, walking away.

Haley's chest heaved. It was over. Really over. This time for good. They had come so far. So much had happened. They were so close. They were face to face, alone, together after so much time and so much heartbreak. She had walked out once before and now it was his turn.

"No! Nathan, no!"

He walked away and she tried to stop him but he silently pushed past her.

"Nathan! Please!"

She was clinging to him, pulling at his shirt, begging and pleading.

"Nathan! Don't go!"

He never looked back, his eyes closed so he couldn't see her pain. Hearing it was enough. She ran to him pulling his arm, his resistance causing her to fall desperately to her knees.

"Nathan! Oh my God! No! Please! Stop! Nathan! Nathan! No! I love you! Nathan, don't go! Nathan! Please don't leave me! Nathan, please! Nathan, I love you!"

She ended up on the floor, a sobbing, screaming heap. An anxious Lucas waited outside.

"Nate?"

"It's over, man", he simple said, walking past him.

Lucas reentered the room to see what was left of Haley. It broke his heart as he leaned down.

"Hales…" he said softly.

She looked up through a mass of tears. He reached out for her and she stared at his hand before taking it. He put his strong arms around her, the arms of a best friend who had comforted her so many times, so many years before.

"He's gone, Luke!" she wailed. "He's gone!"

"It's okay, Hales."

"He's gone! He's really gone! And I don't know what to do", she kept sobbing.

He'd never seen her so far gone before. So much pain. His brother's was hidden while his best friend's was on full display. More pain than they could ever imagine.

"It's okay, Hales. You're gonna be okay. I promise, Buddy", he whispered.