Haley lit the candles and smiled. She loved the calm mood it set as well as the heavenly scent that filled her apartment. She'd enjoyed a long, hot bubble bath and was looking forward to nothing more than curling up with a good book. Nestled in her pajamas, the quiet evening was about to commence when there was a knock on the door. Taking a deep breath, Haley answered it.

"Lucas!"

There he was in jeans and a jacket, a hat pulled low over his blue eyes.

"Hey."

"Hi. Um, what…what are you doing here?"

"This is the last time, I swear it. And I brought something for you."

For the first time, she noticed what was in his hands. It was a large brown business envelope.

"Are those…"

Lucas nodded.

"Signed, sealed and now delivered."

He handed her the package and her hands shook as she took it. She carefully opened it and removed the papers. As promised, each one was in place, documenting the details minor and major that would cement the end of their marital union.

"Wow."

That was the only word she could articulate. Suddenly, inexplicably, it was hard to breathe.

"You okay?"

"Yeah", she sighed. "Sorry. Um, I'm fine."

"I got that same feeling. It's weird, huh? Light headed, dizzy, hard to catch your breath, stomach doing flip flops?"

Haley smiled.

"Something like that."

"I felt it too."

She came to the last page, the one with the words Official Dissolution of Marriage in fine, bold print. There was Lucas' name typed and a place for his signature. A few spaces down was her name as well and a designated place to sign.

"You didn't sign yet?"

"No", he shoved his hands in his pockets. "Um, I was gonna wait for you."

Haley smirked in spite of herself.

"One last romantic hurrah? Something for us to do together?"

He couldn't help but smile as well.

"Yeah, I guess. Pretty morbid, huh?"

His smile lit up the whole room and so did those eyes.

"Um, Luke, why don't you have a seat?"

"Thanks", he said, plopping down on the couch.

"Can I get you something to drink? Or eat?"

He shook his head.

"I'm fine."

Haley nodded and shifted uncomfortably beside him.

"So…"

"So", he shrugged. "Look, I guess you're wondering why I didn't send these through the mail or through the lawyers and all…"

"The thought crossed my mind but whatever. It's cool."

He took a deep breath.

"Look, I don't know if coming here was the right thing to do but it really felt like it."

"Lucas…"

"Hear me out, Hales. This is it. This is the end for us. We sign these papers and some judge stamps them and that's it. Our marriage is done."

"I know."

"I can't leave it like that. I just can't even though I know this is all my fault."

"We've been through this before. I'm tired of playing the blame game. It's just not worth it anymore. Besides, we've offered our apologies."

"I know but there are things I want to say because this is the last time I'll get to say them. Sure I've said sorry before and I hope you do accept my apology but I want to make amends as well."

He was being sincere and she nodded. Maybe she needed to hear what he had to say as much as he had to say the words aloud.

"Okay. Um, the floor is yours, Luke."

"I know I sound like a broken record but if I keep repeating myself it's because I'm telling the truth and it's really important to me that you understand it all."

"Okay."

"I'm sorry, Hales. I am sorry for the deceit and for lying and not being true to our vows. I'm sorry for the other women."

"I know."

"I hope you do because it's true. Maybe my apology lost a little credibility when I kept repeating the same mistakes over and over again but the cheating was never about you. You were a great wife. You were always loving and caring enough. You're sexy and beautiful enough. You never did anything wrong, Haley. It was me. It was my demons that did this to us. It might sound like an excuse but I promise you it's the truth."

"I know, Luke. Listen to me. You're not a bad guy. In fact, you're a very good guy struggling with a lot of bad things. Sometimes it's a battle you win, and sometimes it's one you lose. But no matter what, you have to keep on fighting the good fight because in the end, I have faith that the real you, the sweet, honest, loyal man inside will win. And that's not an excuse. We're all the products of our environments. And when things happen to us as children and we don't know how to deal with it, it manifests itself into monsters when we're adults."

Lucas nodded. Despite the pain and their troubles, she still really knew him.

"You're amazing, you know that?"

"Luke…"

"I mean it. After what I've done…the things I said and the way I acted and how many times I hurt you, you can still look past all that."

"Nobody's perfect but Dan and Karen and Royal and Keith screwed you up as a little kid. You have to deal with that. I pray you get help and find the peace you're looking for. It won't happen by running away, Lucas, but one day you're going to have to stop and just face it. I couldn't save you but you can save yourself."

"That's where you're wrong. You did save a piece of me. Hales, if it weren't for you I wouldn't even be sitting here. I recognize that and I appreciate it. You did your best and believe it or not, I did my best, too. Mine just wasn't good enough and I'm sorry about that. I put you through a lot of bullshit that you didn't deserve. I made you miserable and now you finally get to be free."

Haley chuckled.

"It wasn't all bad. I mean, you had your moments. We did have good times."

Lucas smiled fondly in remembrance.

"Yeah. I guess it wasn't so bad…even all those coffee shops you drug me to where we listened to people play guitar and read poetry."

"I knew you liked that", she smiled. "And I admit. Your classic car shows weren't that bad."

"Yeah. And we'd go dancing sometimes…"

"Or play softball in the park."

"Yeah but you know what the best times were, Hales?"

She blushed.

"The sex?"

Lucas burst out laughing. She had a point there.

"Okay, Miss Gutter Brain. The second best part?"

They shared a real laugh like old friends.

"What?"

"The quiet times", he looked around. "Times like this. I'd come home and you'd be here with the candles lit and we'd climb in bed in our underwear and just hold each other and watch TV and eat take out in bed. The silence and the talks…it was great. That's what mattered most and that's what I'll miss the most."

"Yeah…me too."

"I'm sorry. I know I say it enough but I feel like I should be saying it the rest of our lives. I feel like I should be making stuff up to you."

"You don't have to. We gave it a shot and it didn't work. There's nothing else we can do, Lucas."

"I just hope we can be friends. I know it's lame and cliché and I know I screwed up a lot but I'd hate to think there would ever be a time that you won't be an important part of my life. Losing you all together…well, that thought kills me."

"I don't know, Luke. I mean, I can sit here and smile and pretend like everything is okay and that life is peachy and that you didn't hurt me but that wouldn't be fair…and it wouldn't be the truth. I don't know if I can do that. So much happened. There was a lot of good but a lot of 'not so good' as well. You have to take the good with the bad. I honestly hope there will come a day when we can truly be good and real friends like we used to but that won't be today. Can you understand that?"

As painful as it was, he did. What other choice did he have?

"I do", he nodded. "But just one more thing, Hales. And I know I have a hell of a nerve asking you any kind of favor but it would mean everything if you accepted my apologies and you forgave me for all the horrible stuff I've done. I know I have to move on and I want peace too but I can never have that until I have your forgiveness."

She saw tears in his eyes and felt her own as well.

"I forgave you a long time ago."

Haley James Scott was truly an incredible woman. They took each other's hand and just caressed it for a while. It was a moment they knew was coming and in ways had looked forward to. But it had arrived and with it, a new sense of fear.

"It's time", he finally said.

It was. Haley wiped a tear away and watched him sign his name. Then it was her turn. He handed the papers to her and with one breath and motion of the pen, she signed as well. The signatures were in place. Soon the state of North Carolina would grant them a divorce, just as they had declared them legally wed just a few short, happy years before.

"Okay", she sighed.

Lucas gave her copies before packing them up.

"I'll take it to the attorney tomorrow."

"Okay."

He stood.

"Well, I guess I better get going."

"Yeah…"

She walked him to the door as he eyed the apartment for the final time.

"Take care, Hales."

"Yeah. You too."

"You, um, you deserve your freedom and a chance to be happy now."

She smiled through tears.

"So do you."

Their eyes locked and then their lips for the last time in a brief, extended peck. The marriage had been sealed with a kiss of love, lust, excitement and passion. The divorce was sealed with one of clarity and formality with a hint of underlying sadness.

"I love you, Hales."

She gave him a wave and then he was gone.

"Always and forever", she whispered.

She knew deep down he had always loved and always would. Despite everything that happened, the feeling was mutual. She loved Lucas Scott but a huge burden had been lifted from her. Haley felt light and free…and happy. It was time to move forward. For the first time in forever, there was a light at the end of the tunnel.