Hey everyone! Thanks so much for the reviews.

daddyzangel108: I know, so sad it's the last story. But it's time to wrap this baby up. Yes, you do review for every single chapter, which is why I absolutely adore you. :) And of course I don't want to kill you... hope you're not dead yet... lol.

JLsNaley (April): Yes, I've concluded that Jack has given some major blows to the naley relationship... I suppose I could kill him off... but would that really be any fun for me? lol. Guess you'll have to wait and see. Glad you're loving it and thank you so much, again, for being one of my most faithful readers. Love you always!

ticklemeElmo667: Thank for the review. I'm glad you're so happy about this sequel and that you enjoyed its prequel. I agree, Jack is the elephant in the room. But you have to wonder, how do you go about killing an elephant... a heart attack maybe? lol.

Thank you guys again and I hope you like this one...

Oh, just a little side author's note: This story probably won't be as long as the first two. I know exactly where I want to take it and it won't take very long. So sorry, but I'll make it good. :)

Chapter 1:

Looking back at me I see
That I never really got it right
I never stopped to think of you

Jack was a lonely man. And he was finally ready to admit that he had been for some time now. The night he'd had the heart attack, he felt so dejected. The kind nurse had asked if there was anyone she could contact with the news and looked sympathetic when he couldn't seem to think of anyone. That was when it hit him, when he finally realized that he was completely alone. For the first time, he realized just how severe his isolation from everyone he'd ever met was. None of them cared enough to come see him.

It wasn't so much the sympathy he hated. It was the pity. So, he'd blurted the first person who came to mind. And it had been Haley. He knew he was in love with her. He also knew that she could never love him back. She already had that special someone in her life and he had no desire to screw up that relationship for her anymore. He only wished she could see how strongly he felt about her. But he'd already ruined her once. He couldn't afford to do it again.

I'm always wrapped up in
Things I cannot win

He was always getting caught up in things that he couldn't seem to get out of. For instance, take his job trafficking drugs. He'd gotten in way too deep. He shuddered to think what they would've done to him if he hadn't collapsed. The heart attack struck him down the night he'd planned on quitting. Things like that just didn't sit right with him anymore. Not since he'd fallen for Haley.

You are the antidote that gets me by
Something strong
Like a drug that gets me high

All he would ever do was hurt her. And he knew that she knew that. Yet she was still willing to do everything she could to come say goodbye to him. So, what did that say about him? He didn't even want to face what he was.

He could call himself a jacka ss, a bastard, and any other crude words that came to mind, but none would be sufficient. And that hurt. Because he was so much worse. There weren't words to describe how horrible he'd been to Haley and to everyone else in his life. But mostly to Haley. He'd really messed her up. And the worst part was he hadn't even meant to. He'd only wanted to help. But he still had to pay for his mistake. Every damn day of his life.

What I really meant to say
Is I'm sorry for the way I am
I never meant to be so cold to you

Looking back on how he'd gotten where he was, he wasn't exactly proud of who he'd become. Not that he'd been that well off to begin with. Throughout his life, people had come and gone, but none had ever stuck around as long as Haley. Maybe that's why he felt himself so attracted to her. It was like he was inexplicably drawn to her.

She just had this light about her, this calm that made her so much more beautiful than everyone else. Joy radiated off her in golden waves and she always forgave. Haley was a good enough person that you knew she would always find a way to be OK. She would always be surrounded by people who loved her. And now that he was finally one of those people, it was being ripped from him and it was fading fast. He couldn't leave without saying goodbye to her. She was the only one who mattered anymore.

And I'm sorry about all the lies
Maybe in a different light
You could see me stand on my own again

He hadn't meant to fall in love with her. But he had. And the only thing he was guaranteed at the moment was that she would try to get the love of her own life to bring her to bid him farewell. He wished he had a shot at so much more. He knew he didn't deserve it.

Cause now I can see
You were the antidote that got me by
Something strong like a drug that got me high
I never meant to be so cold

By the time he'd realized how much she meant to him, she'd already seen him for who he was. Somehow, that f ucked up side of him always came through and it was the only thing anyone else could see. It obliterated everything else about him. It suffocated all the good parts.

I never really wanted you to see
The screwed up side of me that I keep
Locked inside of me so deep
It always seems to get to me

He wished he had time to explain everything to her. He wished he had time to tell her everything, starting from the beginning. He wished she would understand and forgive him. That maybe they had time even to become friends someday. But he knew the end was near, he could feel it. He wasn't sure how much longer he could wait for her.

I never really wanted you to go
So many things you should have known
I guess for me there's just no hope

Jack glanced at all the wires trailing from his wrists to all the monitors and machines. Looking at the heart monitor, it showed that his heartbeat was slow and irregular, very faint. The doctors gave him a choice. Soon, they would have to resort to Life Support. Did he want to go through with it? they asked. He pretended to think about it. But he already knew the answer. He didn't. And that's exactly what he told them. He just hoped he could hang on until Haley came.

I never meant to be so cold

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It was the day after Nathan agreed to take Haley and Haley was elated. Nathan, on the other hand, was sinking lower into a constantly sad and moody stance. He didn't know how much more his heart could take.

He'd finished packing an hour ago and was watching TV on the couch, flipping listlessly through channels as he waited for Haley to finish. He wondered what could be taking her so long. Clicking the TV off, he sighed and leaned back on the couch, eyes closing. He was exhausted. After deciding to comply with Haley's unfair, or at least in his opinion, request, he hadn't gotten much sleep. He hadn't really gotten any sleep at all.

He heard her light footsteps treading down the stairs and knew she would come to sit next to him in a matter of seconds. He tried to open his eyes, but found he couldn't. He was just too tired.

He expected to feel her small weight drop onto the couch beside him, but when he didn't, forced one eye open, then the other to find her standing before him. She looked worried. He hadn't meant to make her worry.

She sat heavily next to him and let her fingers trace light patterns over his forearm. It was relaxing and he felt his eyes starting to close again. Until she spoke. "Nathan, are you OK?"

He looked at her warily. "What do you mean?"

She spoke quietly, but firmly. "I mean, are you OK? Because you don't seem like it?"

He drew her to him, sighing as he laid a small kiss on the top of her head. "I'm fine, really."

She looked up at him, holding him with her small arms. "Are you sure? Lately, you just seem so... I don't know. Tired. Sad."

He looked away. "Oh, so you noticed." She was surprised at the undertone of bitterness she heard there.

She grabbed his chin, gently pulling it to her until her eyes met his. She felt an overwhelming sense of grief sweep over her at what she saw there. Yes, he was tired. But the sadness, it was worse even than her own on finding Jack was dying. "Nathan," her voice cracked. "What's wrong?"

He shook his head, leaning his forehead against hers and closing his eyes so she couldn't see the pain there. She felt her heart break. If he wasn't willing to talk about this, it could only mean one thing. It was her fault. She'd done this to him. "Nathan, please talk to me. Is it about someone? Did I do something?"

He sighed. "Haley, let's just go," his voice shook as he said it.

She gasped, realization dawning. "It's Jack, isn't it?"

He looked away from her again. She hated when he did that. "Nathan, please. Just tell me what this is about."

He swallowed and looked at the floor, his grip on her loosening. "I just want to get this over with, Haley. That's all."

She knew what she had to do. It wasn't what she wanted, but she couldn't do this to him anymore. Her voice rang out with conviction. "We're not going."

His head shook vehemently. "Haley, no. We're going. You need to do this."

She forced him to look at her and the sorrow that remained only confirmed her decision. "Nathan, you can't do this. And I can't do this knowing what I'm putting you through."

He kissed her sweetly. "Haley, I'm not going to lie to you. I would love to stay here, but I'm going with you. I don't ever want to be away from you again. And this is important to you..."

She interrupted him. "Not as important as you, Nate. You mean the world to me. Don't you get that? And if keeping you happy means not going, then I will gladly give that up."

He laced his fingers through hers and smiled sadly. "But Haley, if you don't go, you'll never really be happy again. I'll get over this and it won't take me that long. But if you can't say goodbye... Haley, you'll never get that chance again. I can't, I won't take that away from you."

She took a deep breath. "Are you sure? Because I can't take it knowing you're this sad."

He nodded. "Haley, I promise, as long as I have you, I'll be fine."

She smiled. "I love you." Pressing his lips to hers, he swiftly pulled her into his lap and held her closer. A few minutes later, they still hadn't pulled apart and Nathan smiled against her lips as she moved to straddle him.

This was the way things should be. But the doorbell rang, interrupting them. Nathan pulled away, breathing erratic, and stared into her eyes. Haley didn't care about being polite anymore. Whoever was at the door could wait. "Just a minute!" she called, going back to his lips.

But he pulled away again. She looked at him, confused. "Cab's here," he whispered. She nodded, disappointed and reluctantly moved off of him. They both stood and Nathan grabbed their luggage, a suitcase in each hand as they walked side by side to the door.

Just a 20 minute drive to the airport and a short plane ride and they'd be back where he swore he'd never go again.

He watched as she slid into the backseat. Loading the suitcases into the trunk, he pulled it shut and walked around, sliding in after her. She immediately moved closer and settled against him, slipping her hand into his and kissing his cheek. He released her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist, bringing her so she rested snug against him. Dropping a kiss on her temple, his other hand reached out to grab the one he'd just let go of. She smiled up at him and gave him quick kiss.

The cab driver got into the seat in front of them and pulled away from the house. Nathan threw one last glance back at it. Their dream house. He just hoped they would be coming back soon.

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Leave me some reviews and I'll do my best to update more today.

P.S. I know this chapter was still a little short and that the first part mainly focused on Jack, but the situation needed to be recognized... now I'm all about the nale. :)