This is pretty much really sad. Two chapters left after this. I seriously can't believe this story is almost over. I'm excited, but sad at the same time. So, I tried to personally respond to as many reviews as possible, but some weren't responded to, and I'm sorry, but I had like, no time. This was a pretty busy week. Anyway, I hope everyone likes the chapter. If you're emotional, you may possibly need tissues, and yeah. I dedicate this chapter to Ange, who, despite her complaints, has stuck with this story even after everything I've put Naley through. This chapter goes out to you, Angie.

Only The Good Die Young

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Love of Mine, I'll be Close Behind

Tucked away in a little unknown closet at the hospital sat three friends. One was a pretty blonde with curly blonde locks, and memories of a similar situation. Another was a fragile brunette with a tear stained face, who couldn't help but fear the worst. And the last was a teenage boy who had tried to put up a brave front. A teenage boy who was less then hours away from losing the love of his life.

The three sat beside each other, squeezed into the tight space, leaning against the closet door, hoping no one would at any point just barge in, and their backs would be spared the pain this would cause.

Nathan rubbed his eyes slowly, looking towards his two best friends. "This sucks. I really hate this."

"God, what am I going to do without her?" Brooke spoke more to herself then her friends as she said this.

"I can't go in there." She said quietly, her voice cracking and tears falling from her pretty green eyes.

"You have to, Brooke. You can't let her," Peyton stuttered on the words, "g-go without saying goodbye."

"But I don't want to say goodbye."

Nathan bit his lip. Why the hell had this happened? Why did they have to suffer? Why couldn't it have been some evil man who raped, murdered, and stole?

Peyton looked down, unwillingly remembering darker days, when her mother had crashed the car. She'd been just a child. Seven, if she remembered properly. Her mother, Anna Sawyer, had passed away. The car had just - killed her. She'd had no time to say goodbye, or that she loved her. It had been final. She had just been gone.

It was like that now, only Brooke had a chance to do it differently. Brooke had the chance to go into Haley's hospital room, and tell her that she loved her. That even though they wouldn't be together, she'd always be in her heart.

Tears flooded Peyton's eyes, and she looked over at Brooke and Nathan, both who had turned towards her for advice.

"If I had the chance," Peyton said softly, "I would go back in time and say goodbye to my mother. You can't just let her go like that. She needs to know that you're okay with her leaving, even if you're not. She needs to know that you'll always love her. I couldn't tell my mom that, but you can tell Haley."

She was right. Nathan knew that she was right so much, but he didn't want her to be. He'd never - ever - experienced such tragedy. Now looking back at his life, it had always been perfect. He'd had everything handed to him, and he'd lived a happy childhood, with a great family, wonderful talent, and better friends. Now, this would be the first major blow to his perfect life, and he wasn't ready for it.

He wasn't ready to lose her. Haley meant so much to him, and now she was just going to leave? It couldn't happen. She was his first love, and he didn't want to lose that. He wouldn't let himself lose that.

And to think, if he had just not taken her up onto the stage, maybe he could've told her everything he wanted to before her life was taken away. So in a way, he had that chance now, only not really. He wanted to get her out of bed, but that wasn't a possibility. He wanted her to experience a full life, but that wasn't possible either.

He was beyond stuck.

Peyton sighed. "I understand you're scared. You don't want to have to do this. But isn't it better then not doing it?"

Brooke and Nathan were silent, not entirely sure themselves.

"And I'm not saying you have to be strong for her. If you have to cry, cry. If you need to hug her, hug her. These are your last moments with her, so tell her everything you've ever wanted to."

Brooke nodded slowly, leaning into Nathan. Nathan kissed the top of her head, and sighed, closing his eyes. They would have to go in soon. They'd have to let her go.

"I'm so scared." Brooke said quietly, attempting to imagine life without Haley for the hundredth time that night.

"Me too," Nathan admitted, "When she's gone, I don't know where I'll be."

"Lost, most likely." Peyton said honestly.

"I was afraid you might say that." Nathan was looked down, and fiddled with the hem of his shirt a little.

They were silent for a few minutes, before Peyton stood.

"I'll go first. It's going to be hard, but I won't make the same mistake twice."

Brooke and Nathan moved away from the door, and allowed her to open it.

"Peyton!" Brooke shouted as her friend began her walk down the hallway.

The blonde turned.

"The first time, it wasn't your mistake, or your fault."

"I know," Peyton smiled, "But I won't let it be this time."

Brooke and Nathan had long since left the closet. The two were back in the waiting room - with everyone else - only in their own corner, on the floor.

"I'll go first." Nathan offered, and Brooke nodded.

"Okay. Thanks."

He shrugged. "I don't think I can wait much longer, B. I'm going to go nuts."

"How come?"

"Because I have so much to tell her. But not only do I not know how to explain it, but I'm not sure I'll have enough time to."

"Write it down." Brooke offered, standing only to retrieve a pen and paper from the nurses' station.

Nathan took the paper and pen from her hands and thanked her, before thinking of his words carefully. When he finally knew what to say, he wrote it down quickly, hoping she'd understand.

"You good?" Brooke asked him, squeezing his hand tightly.

"As good as can be expected. How about you?"

"Terrible. But I'm working on it."

Nathan wrapped his arms around his best friend. He kissed her forehead briefly.

"You're almost all I'll have left of her."

"No," Brooke protested, shaking her head, "You'll have yourself."

"Yeah, but is that really enough?"

"Nate, you mean more to her then the world. If you aren't enough, then I don't know what is. We have each other though."

"Just like always." He smiled in spite himself.

When Peyton emerged minutes later, she was wiping tears from her eyes, and was trying hard not to cry even more.

She walked over to her friends, and managed a small smile.

"How was it?" Nathan asked quietly, knowing fully well that he was next up.

"It's scary," Peyton said truthfully, "But it'll feel good. You won't be so empty."

Nathan folded up the parchment in his hands, before standing up. He waved goodbye to his friends, before approaching the door.

Taking a deep breath, he said quietly to himself, "This is it."

As soon as Nathan opened the door, he knew he wouldn't be able to turn back, even if he wanted to.

There she was. It didn't matter that she was hooked up to any machines, or that she was in that terrible hospital gown. There she was. His love.

"Hey Nate." She said weakly, and he clenched his jaw to keep from breaking down right there.

"Hey Hales. How're you feeling?" He sat beside her, and she smiled softly.

"Now that you're here? Better." And she did feel better. Her true love was there with her, and she'd never felt happier to see someone before.

"I love you so much."

"I love you too."

"No, I mean, I was really hoping this wouldn't happen. Because - because tonight, I was going to do something. I mean, I know it would be kind of sudden and everything, but I was gonna propose to you."

"What?"

"I was going to ask you to be my wife. And I know that we both know that you didn't have that much longer with me, but I wanted to make that time worthwhile. And now, because I was too stupid, and too late, that'll never happen."

"Nathan.."

He pulled the box out of his pocket. He'd held it in his hands for hours the night before, and had been almost unable to think all day. School was out in days, and soon he'd be at college - but none of it mattered if she wasn't there. And even if she wouldn't be for long, he would still have had the chance to do something. Anything.

She would be Haley Davis-Scott. And they would be happy while they could be.

He'd wanted that so badly.

The ring was simple. All he could afford without his parents knowing. A gold band that matched the one he'd purchased for himself that same day.

"I know we can't," He said softly, "But would you still wear it?"

"I would love to." Tears filled her hazel colored eyes, as he slid the ring onto her finger.

Then, he lifted her hands, holding them to his lips and kissing them softly. And then he just held them in his own hands.

And then he started to cry. Tears rolled down the basketball player's cheeks, and he sniffled and tried to hold them back.

"Baby, baby please don't go. Please don't leave me. I need you. I need you here so much."

"Oh Nathan. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry that I can't be here for you."

"Don't leave me, don't leave me.." He whispered into her hands, praying she'd magically heal, and everything would be okay.

Haley had long since begun to cry as well. It was a hard thing to handle. Her boyfriend - or fiancé, was he? - was begging her not to do something she had no control over.

"I'm sorry. I have no choice, Nathan."

"I know. But I can't imagine life without you."

"I know it seems hard-"

"No. Before it seemed hard. But now, now it feels impossible."

"Please don't say that." Haley closed her eyes tightly.

"It's true, though."

"Nathan, I love you. I love you so much that you don't even know. I mean, you truly are the love of my life. But," She sighed, "I'm not the love of yours."

"What are you talking about? Of course you are."

"No. Nate, my life ends right about here. Yours, on the other hand, will go on for so much longer. You need to move on after me. You need to fall in love with someone else. I want you to get married, and have children, and be the best you can be for someone else."

"I can't do that, Hales."

"Please, Nathan. I can't handle knowing that you'll be unhappy for the rest of your life, because of me."

"I can't imagine myself falling love with anyone else, Hales. I want to. I want to be in love, and happy. But I can't. Not if you're not here."

"I will be here. You just won't be able to see me. Nathan, please. Please let yourself be happy."

"I'll try. That's all I can do."

"That's all I'm asking."

She looked weaker now. As if she had visibly paled a couple shades. Nathan leaned forward, allowing his land on hers softly, in a long, slow, kiss.

"I love you, Nathan."

"Always and forever." Nathan said softly.

"Always and forever." She agreed.

He was there for a long while. Longer then Peyton and Lucas. Longer then her parents. Longer then the few family members that had visited since she'd been there.

They held each other, and reminded each other that they were in love. They kissed, and they whispered sweet nothings into each other's ears.

And then when he was leaving, Nathan kissed her nose, and pulled the small piece of paper out of his pocket, leaving it in her hands.

After he was gone, she allowed herself to cry a little bit. And then finally, slowly, she opened the paper, taking in the words.

If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks, then I'll follow you into the dark.