Author's Note: As always, loved the reviews, especially the ones after a "weekend cliffhanger", lol. You guys are too funny!

Oh and Cathy...what can I say? You are the best! I swear if you live in the DC/Northern VA area, look me up because I KNOW we would have fun hanging out, lol...

Haley sighed, staring at the pink stationary with pages and pages of her trademark, neat, cursive penmanship scrawled on it. The words had been in her heart for months, some of them even years but she'd never created the time to write them down. Partially because she hadn't had the guts to do so. But it was time. So she had spent literally the entire day trying to figure out how to express herself in the most articulate, eloquent, yet still brutally honest way possible. The letter would speak for her, say things her mouth couldn't.

Dear Nathan,

It's come to this. There are so many things I need to say to you that should have long ago been said. I guess I never had the time or the courage but now I have no choice. Because I can't keep silent anymore. For so long I have held my tongue and tried to keep my distance on the pretenses of protection. Protecting my heart, protecting you, trying to do what's best for everyone involved. Finally, I figured out there is no "best". Life is what it is, what we choose to make of it and over the years it seems we made a real mess of things whether we meant to or not.

You may not believe it, you may not want to hear it but you must know that despite everything that has happened, I still love you. That's the one thing I wanted you to know when I foolishly and selfishly invited myself to your wedding. I just felt I had to let you know, maybe in hopes that you felt the same way…and even if you didn't, at least you would know the truth of how I felt.

You are my one true love, my only love. I am a firm believer in that we don't get to choose who we love, rather love chooses us. It's fate or destiny or kismet or whatever you want to call it. If we did have a choice, I don't know if we ever would have loved each other. Love only complicated your plans to mess with Lucas and love complicated my loyalty to him. But we found each other anyway and also a love that was beautiful and powerful and true enough to conquer anything. Is that still the naïve little Tutor Girl in me just wishing upon a star? Or is that true?

As much as it hurts or sucks and I don't understand why, I can be mature enough to be at peace with the fact that possibly our ship has sailed us by. I can deal with that. What I can't handle is you hurting and falling apart. I still care and from a distance I am watching you and this desperate, downward spiral just breaks my heart. Maybe I have no right to even mention it or even care but I can't help it. I also can't help but think that some of, or dare I say all of this is my fault. That kills me to know that I am even somewhat responsible for this pain you're feeling. I wish to God there was something I could do or say to make this all better but I know I can't.

Sometimes I pretend that life was like it used to be back when we were married and together and happy and in love. I was searching for something more, so blind to the fact that I had all I ever really wanted or needed in front of me in the form of you and our marriage. I made a mistake, Nathan and I'm sorry. I guess we all mess up from time to time but my error in judgment was colossal. It's funny how one decision I made as a teenager was able to dictate and affect the rest of our lives and so many around us. I know our time is up and I can't be there with you now but if I close my eyes, sometimes we meet again in my dreams. That's enough for me for now. Having you that way, I suppose beats not having you at all.

Our time together in Santa Domingo was bittersweet, to say the least. I hated the reason we were there but it was for the best perhaps. It was our tickets to finally move on without each other. But as far as I'm concerned, two unspeakable tragedies happened there. The devastating tsunami, of course, and the fact that you and I lost each other. I know the physical stuff that happened between us was wrong but we couldn't help it because it felt so right. I will never regret those last moments of passion. Even in the darkest hours when I thought death was just a heartbeat away, you were there for me. If it was meant for me to die, then at least we would die in the same breath. Totally morbid but in the same way romantic in a Romeo and Juliet sort of deal. But that's beside the point. I'm nervous so I'm rambling. You know how I get…yeah, I guess that's the thing. You know everything about me. We have always had that uncanny ability to bond with each other and just be in sync. I felt it from the day we first met to our wedding day and every day that has followed…even now.

And if I don't say it, or if I never did, then I thank you for saving my life. That night when the water was everywhere and people were dying all around us and I was so scared and drowning, it was your arm that pulled me to safety. You took care of me, you saved me, you protected me…just like you always said you would. You were there for me until the end, especially when it counted most. My God, how do you thank someone for saving your life? There are no words to tell you how forever grateful I am. And they haven't even invented words yet to describe how much I love you.

With that being said, there is still more. There is something that you should know. I should have told you face to face so long ago but I'm a coward. I didn't know how to say it or how you would react but it's an important truth, probably the most honest part of our lives. I know in the Dominican Republic we gave in to desperation and sheer passion but it isn't over. It will never be over because something happened. Nathan, the baby I am carrying inside me is not Chris Keller's. I told you I was never intimate with him and that is the truth. He has just been trying to be a good friend and protect me from the relentless terror that we know as the paparazzi. No, the baby inside me is the result of whatever happened between us this summer. You're the father.

I ask that you please not hate me but if you do, I can't say that I blame you. Just don't resent this child. He or she didn't ask to be born, especially into all this unstable, messy, drama that is our lives. I know I was wrong not to be honest sooner but I was trying to do the right thing, whatever that is. I didn't want to turn you into "Dan" and have you have to make that impossible lose lose choice your father was faced with years and years ago. But this your child and you have the right to know that and love it and be there for it…and be more of a father than I'm sure I will be a mother.

This is me pouring out my heart to you. No lies, no excuses, no frills. I beg you to understand. Whatever choice you make, I will try to live with it. Please forgive me for disrupting your life. I don't want to hurt Megan or your other child. I am sincerely sorry it came to this. I just hope we can be okay. Somehow we can get through this and avoid the mistakes of the past to ensure a peaceful future. Nathan I couldn't rest another second until you read these words. Now you have and I can breathe again knowing the ball is in your court. I know this is a lot and it's going to take time. You obviously have a lot to think about. Just know that I am sorry and I do love you…forever and always.

Hales

She carefully folded the papers together and placed them in her scented, pink envelope. To ensure privacy and the fact that he would receive it, she planned to have it couried to North Carolina. She had done her part and told the truth. The rest was up to him.

"Haley bub!"

Haley jumped as she heard Taylor screeching.

"What's up, sis?" she sighed.

"Nothing, it's just that I haven't seen you all day. Where have you been? What have you been up to? Why so quiet?"

Taylor gleefully plopped down on Haley's bed.

"You're in a good mood."

"I'm alive and it's beautiful outside."

"It's cloudy and dark and cold as the dickens."

"Yeah? And how would you know when you haven't even left your hole to take a look outside?"

"I've been busy", Haley informed her.

"Doing what?"

"Just stuff…something I should have done a long time ago."

Haley felt the envelope through the fuzzy material as she took a deep breath.

"Well, I'm off. There is this rad can't miss party in the Village tonight."

Haley smiled faintly.

"Wow, I remember a time when I was at all the can't miss parties in the Village and on the Upper East Side."

"Those days aren't gone, you know?"

"Yes, they are", she nodded at her sister.

Taylor ruffled her hair.

"Then I will have enough fun for the both of us. Can I borrow your diamond stud earrings?"

"The real ones from Tiffany's that cost like ten grand and were a gift from my manager to celebrate my first gold record?"

Taylor grinned.

"Uh, yeah. Those would be the ones. Now can I wear them? And you know they look cuter on me anyway."

"Sure. Why not? They were made for big ears anyway."

Taylor pretended to be hurt as she threw a pillow at her younger sister. Haley smiled, retrieving the studs from a velvet jewelry box.

"Thanks, Hay", Taylor put them on.

"Just be careful."

"I will", she rolled her eyes. "I will guard these babies with my life."

Haley shook her head.

"No, Tay, not that. I mean, just…just be careful, alright? With everything. Okay?"

Taylor nodded and smiled. Despite the sibling rivalry, the two honestly loved each other. Taylor knew Haley had been having a rough time lately.

"I love you, Haley bub."

Haley buried her face into Taylor's shoulder.

"Yeah. I love you, too."