Thank you so much to LaaLaa19 and firefightersgal for your reviews! I am so sad that this is the last chapter, but I will do a sequel for it, but it won't be out for a while. Here's the last chapter, I hope you enjoy it!
Wake-up
Chapter 7
Breath deep
Speak out
Make up your mind
Be brave
Follow your dreams
Listen to your heart
Close your eyes
Make a wish
As the new generation of Scotts and James, the traditional Thanksgiving dinner was held at Nathan and Haley's house. It ran smoothly, the food being catered and the house was professionally decorated in the autumn spirit. After everyone left Haley grabbed her glass of wine and sat down on the couch next to Nathan.
"Well that went surprisingly well for a Scott dinner. You can never predict what secrets will come out of the woodwork whenever we have family get-togethers. You okay?"
"Peachy."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"First holiday without Whitey? You're human Haley, it's okay to show emotion."
"Well you're one to give advice on that subject. We've been married for nearly three months now and I have barely seen any emotion from you."
"Yeah, since I come from such an emotional family. You know my dad and grandfather. To them, when you show emotion you show weakness. If an enemy sees your emotions, then they'll know how to hit you where it hurts."
"So that's it, it's okay for you to not show emotion because of the way you grew up, but with me it's a totally different story. Nice double-standard."
"Oh, get off it. We're different. It's not a double standard it's the truth. You act like I don't get your life, like no one understands you. Grow up."
"Stop acting like you know me, you don't!"
"You're just a spoiled little rich girl that the world put on a pedestal. We grew up together Haley. I didn't just meet you, I know you."
"You don't shit about me. This just proves it."
"Really, well enlighten me."
Haley slammed her glass down on the table. "Damn it Nathan. What do you want me to say? You really want the truth? Fine. I've gone around my whole life wearing a perfectly painted mask because I had to play the part of the perfect daughter, and now, I can't even remember what's underneath it. I'm too scared to take it off because of what I might find. I have a huge heart, but have so many insecurities coursing through me that I am too scared to open it up to anyone. All I've ever wanted from life is to get my Happily Ever After, but looks like that one has been thrown right out the window. And as much as I cling to any hope I can find and try to keep reassuring myself that everything happens for a reason, I can't help but feel that this is it for me. I'll always be some cold heartless bitch who hides behind a mask of perfection. Maybe I should take after you and go around screwing someone new every night acting like I don't have a care in the world."
"You're not the only one wearing a mask. Do you honestly think I like acting like I don't care? Do you really think that I get off on being able to hook up with someone new every night? That might have been fine in high school or college, but it gets old. You don't think that I don't want someone just like you do? But see, that's life. It's a bitch, but you just have to suck it up and keep going. The world isn't going to stop because we hurt or don't like the way our lives are going."
"Well, guess we finally agree on something." They both sulked leaning back into the cushions of the couch just as all the lights in the house went off. "On no, this is not happening again."
"Do you want me to go get the candles so we have some light?"
"I don't care." For once, Haley was thankful for the blackout because Nathan couldn't see the emotions that were running across her face after. She reached out for her wine glass before falling back into the couch.
"Going to get plastered so you can blame this on alcohol in the morning again."
"What?"
"Oh, don't act all innocent. The entire time we have been married I've seen the real you three times. That night of the blackout, the night Whitey died, and tonight. You blamed the first one on alcohol, and now you'll probably blame this one on it too. Step up and take some responsibility."
"It takes two to tango Nathan. You were a part of the black-out night as much as I was, so step up and take some responsibility."
"Fine, you want the truth, I loved that night. Are you happy now?"
"Yes! You?"
"Yes!"
"Good."
"Good."
Haley finished the rest of the wine in her glass before putting the glass back down on the table. As she sat there amidst the darkness she left Nathan's hand cup her face before covering her lips with his. The kiss quickly escalated as they maneuvered so that Haley was lying down with Nathan hovering over her.
"The only reason I blamed it on the alcohol that night was because I was scared that you were. I guess I just wanted to say it first to sort of soften the blow."
"No more. No more lies, or masks, or anything else between us."
"I don't think I can. I just…can't. I'm not strong enough."
"You are the most feisty and stubborn person I know. You can do it. We can do it. You just have to have a little bit of hope. We can't keep going like this. I hate being this bitter."
"Please don't break me."
"I promise."
Nathan rolled to the side of Haley and they lay together on the couch. As they held each other close, they couldn't help but be nervous for what their futures would hold now. But whatever is was, they would face it together.
They pealed off the layers of their masks, exposing their true selves to one another. Nearly a month later they found themselves on that same couch again, this time next to the large tree, adorned with lights and ornaments over the many festively wrapped presents. It was Christmas Eve in the Scott house, and both their parents had just left after the six of them celebrated the evening together.
"It's almost midnight, but that's close enough for me, so are you ready for your Christmas present?" Haley's eyes widened. Christmas had been her favorite holiday since she could remember.
"You're not going to make me wait until tomorrow morning."
"Yes and no. You don't get to open all of them now, but you can open up one."
"Okay. Do I pick one or do I have to open a specific one." Nathan didn't answer; instead he pulled out one of the packages from behind the tree. She unwrapped it to find an old book. She traced the gold embossed title on the brown leather cover, Cinderella. She carefully opened it up to find pages stained a light brown from time and beautiful, hand-painted illustrations.
"Oh, Nathan, it's beautiful."
"Um, there's actually a bit of a reason I got this. It's just that for the past couple of… well for the last month there's been a difference. I mean, of course there's been a difference, but see…Well the thing is there's something I haven't told you. Wow, I thought this would have been a lot easier to get out."
"Nathan?" Haley stared up at him, her eyes wide in confusion. Fear coursed through her, unsure of what he had to say.
"Ok, so here it is, I feel these things for you that I've never felt before. They are so strong and so overpowering that I can't ignore them anymore. That night about a month ago was one of the best nights of my life, and I thought it was for you too. I realize that I am taking a huge risk here, but I have to tell you because a part of me hopes that you feel the same way. I fell for you. Nathan Scott who has never fallen for anyone has fallen head over heels for you. So there it is, I think I love you." Nathan searched her eyes for some sort of response but he couldn't find one.
"Wow."
"I mean if you don't feel the same way it's fine, we'll just keep on going like we are. I just thought that if you did then we could take it to what I guess would be the next level. I mean we have become friends, or a couple, or whatever our relationship has become this last month, but I want more. I want to be someone you're proud of. I want to be your Prince Charming. You deserve that happily ever after you've always wanted Hales." Haley's eyes began to fill with unshed tears at his confession. Her fears and self-doubt where slowly flying out the window at the thought that she was good enough for him.
"No." Nathan nodded his head in defeat before he turned and started to walk away. Haley quickly took a couple of steps after him before reaching out for his arm and turning him to face her. "No, I mean no as in I don't want things to stay as they are. I want that too. I am proud of you Nathan. This past month you have shown me how good you are. I want to be like a normal, happily married couple too, but how do we know that it will be happily ever after instead of happily next couple of months? How do I know that I will be good enough for you, forever?" Haley's eyes were brimming with tears at the thoughts.
"You just have to trust me. I know that you are it for me. You are all I want, now and forever. No one can compare to you Hales. You are beautiful inside and out, and I can't help but feel like a better person when I am around you. That's why you will always be more than enough for me Hales. But if you are having doubts now, then I need to know if I am enough for you?"
"When I would go and see Whitey we would talk about anything and everything. He would tell me a lot about what he has learned in life. One of the days he told me, 'the important thing is to not be bitter over life's difficulties. Learn to let go of the past and recognize that everyday won't be sunny. And when you find yourself lost in darkness and despair, remember…it's only in the black of night that you can see the stars, and those stars will lead you back home…So don't be afraid to make mistakes, to stumble, to fall, cause most of the time, the greatest rewards come from doing things that scare you the most. Maybe you won't get everything you wish for…or maybe you'll get more than you ever could've imagined. Who knows where life will take you…the road is long, and in the end the journey is the destination.' I may not have gotten what I have wished for, but I think that's because I have always been wishing for the wrong things. I never wished for you, the real you. You will always be enough for me Nathan. That and the fact that I know I love you." One single tear slowly descended down her cheek before Nathan brought his thumb up to wipe away the stray tear. He kissed the area where he had erased her tear before moving his lips to cover hers. The passion, desire, and love that had been hidden so deep and carefully within their hearts came surging out of them and into their kiss. Since the creation of the kiss, there have been five kissed that were rated the most passionate. This one left them all behind.
Thank you so much for reading! I totally stole that last two sentences from Princess Bride, I love that movie, so credit for those goes to the writers of that movie. I would love to know what you thought of the story! Hope it was the ending you wanted, I know I love happy Naley endings! And I have decided to do a sequel, but I'm in the middle of a couple of other stories and ideas so it probably won't come out for a while. Thanks again for reading!