Chapter Nine: Love of Mine, I'll Be Close Behind


Author's note: Thanks for reading, we're officially at the end. Thanks for not slaughtering me when I deserved it, hope it's worth it. And don't worry, my endings will stop being sad with my next story.
December 3rd 2010, Tree Hill General Hospital, Tree Hill, North Carolina

"Nate?" came a weak, strained voice from the bed. Nathan immediately turned around and dropped into the chair by her head, and took her hand in his.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

"You know how I'm doing, Nate," she said, her eyes attempting to focus on him.

"You think that'll stop me? I'll follow you. I'll always follow you," he promised, kissing the back of her hand.

"You think I don't know it?"

"We have a son, Haley. He's perfect."

"I know. I'll be watching, I promise," she said, her eyes sliding closed.

"Haley?" he asked, his voice pannicked.

He moved from the chair to her bed, and took her slight, fragile body into his arms. "Haley."

"I'm not... leaving you. Right... beside you. Always," she promised, her voice fading. He kissed the top of her head, and his tears streamed into her hair.

"Stay with me..."

Her last words were so quiet, that ever after he'd wonder if he'd truly heard them.

"And forever..."


December 3rd 2020, Tree Hill Cemetary, Tree Hill, North Carolina

"That's beautiful," said Brooke. Nathan nodded slowly, smiling to himself, knelt on the grass and traced the engraving on the tombstone with his finger.

Haley Elise James-Scott. July 18th, 1988-December 3rd, 2010. Beloved wife and mother.

"Ten years ago today," remarked Brooke, glancing worriedly down at him. He slowly stood as he heard a familiar call echo through the graveyard. He slipped an arm around Brooke and kissed her temple as he felt a kick on her large, round stomach. He smiled.

The wind whistled through the trees, and Nathan's smile widened. He knew she was there.

Nathan fished his phone out of his pocket as it ran. Brooke looked in interest as Nathan smiled.

"Hey, Lucas. Thanks for calling. Yeah, I'm fine. Brooke and I are at the cemetary and Harrison's about to join us."

"Yeah. How're Peyton and the kids?" Brooke flashed a dimply smile before squeezing her husband's hand again. Nathan hung up.

"I want you to know I'm going to try to do better. Haley has to stay in the past."

"She won't. She'll stay with us. I can handle that," said Brooke.

"Dad?" came the call again. Nathan smiled as the boy came running toward them and stopped just as his feet reached the edge of her grave.

"Hey Dad. Hey Brooke." The boy glanced down at the marble tombstone. "Hey Mom."

Nathan smiled proudly and brought his wife closer in to his arms.

"Hey Harrison," she said.

"Hi son."

Nathan put his hand on his son's shoulder, and the three of them turned to make their way out of the cemetary. Harrison slid his hand into his father's.

"I think I know what we should call this one," said Brooke thoughtfully as the three left, her hand resting lightly on her stomach.

She watched them, as she always watched them. She smiled when her son smiled. As a fresh bout of laughter rose and reached her ears, she wished with all her heart that they could be the family that she could never have.

Because she didn't need to wish for the other thing. Because she knew, without question, that he would never forget her.

The End