Chapter 16

Both Nathan and Haley were glad to be back together and they showed it by spending every waking moment together. Even when Haley was in class Nathan would sneak in as a student just to see her...Haley knew of course...but she treated him like a student...she didn't want anyone catching on. Haley loved their moments together and, of course, their nights together were even better. They had returned back to their high school love...and that was great.

Nathan soon told Haley about saving her at the club and that he was the one who chose the dress...not James. He was surprisingly approving of her friendship with James but warned that if James tried anything funny...he would find himself with broken bones. Haley had laughed at that...and at James – who clearly looked worried at the thought of Nathan punching him. It showed Haley that this time away wasn't for nothing – he really had gone back to his old self...the man she adored more than words could ever say. They were like two teenagers in love – and they wouldn't have it any other way. Haley luckily had the Friday off so she decided it was time to visit Nathan at the dealership.

Nathan sat in his chair behind his desk in his locked office. Haley sat on his lap, tracing every inch of his face with her fingers, her eyes following the movements. She wanted to remember him...every single part of him. When her fingers slid over his mouth Nathan kissed them lightly and Haley smiled as she leaned forward and replaced her fingers with her own mouth. Nathan deepened the kiss as he reached up to cup her face with his hands. Haley and Nathan both smiled as the kiss ended. Nathan used his fingers to explore her face – his mouth following. He softly kissed her mouth, nose, earlobes, neck...every part of her face. Haley looked down at his hands and noticed a long scar on his hand. She traced it as memories of the morning he had hit his hand through the glass table came to mind.

"Does it still hurt?" she asked worried as she looked up and held his gaze.

"No...it never really did after I went away...but on the days I missed you the most...I couldn't look at it. It was a painful reminder of you and how I was. So physically...no it didn't. But mentally it stopped hurting when I came back." he said and looked down. Brutal honesty was hard for him.

"Well your back now...and now it's a sign to me of how much you love me. You never have to hide it." she said and he returned her gaze with a smile.

"I got you something..." Nathan said as he took out the bracelet that he had given her on the dock all those years ago. Haley stared at it in awe as he placed it around her arm.

"How did you find this...I thought I lost it?" Haley breathed into his ear as she embraced him.

"You never did...I took it with me the night I left...so that I could keep a part of you with me always." Nathan said as he kissed her neck.

"I've got you something as well...actually...I've had it for years." she said as she took out Nathan's chain on which he use to keep his wedding ring. Now on it was another ring...still a manly ring but so different. Nathan looked at it before he slipped the chain over his head.

"It use to belong to your brother Ryan...didn't it?" he asked as he realised whose it was...never having heard the full story.

"Ya...you don't know the story hey?" she asked and Nathan looked at her sincerely.

"No...but you don't have to tell it if you're not up to it."

"No I'm fine. I should probably start with my family tree. Kyle was my parents' first born...a full 10 years before me. Then 2 years later it was the twins, Amy and Conrad. Then another 2 years later Ryan was born. A year later my parents had the infamous Taylor and decided to stop there. 5 years later I was born...and being the youngest I was teased and protected. Somehow Ryan and I connected the best...he was the typical big brother to me. Don't get me wrong I loved Kyle and Conrad but once they hit high school it wasn't the same. But Ryan stayed the same all through his high school years. I was 13 and he was 19 when I noticed he was sick but he was my idol and I knew that he would be okay...he always was. A few days later I came home from Lucas when I heard my parents and Ryan crying in the living room. I immediately thought Taylor had done something stupid but when I saw Ryan I knew something was wrong. I remember running to him and hugging him as he whispered over and over how much he loved me and how sorry he was. I didn't understand. I thought that maybe he was moving away...maybe that was what was wrong. But deep inside I knew the truth...I knew that it was to do with his sickness. He took me to the Rivercourt...alone...and told me that he had cancer. I joked about it and asked if he was going to lose his hair and he smiled sadly at me. I didn't understand...but soon he did lose his hair...his beautiful brown hair was gone and his blue eyes had lost their glow. Soon after he was in the hospital when he called in each of the family...one at a time. Kyle came down from New York just to be there...I knew something was wrong but I didn't admit it to myself. My parents were first to see him, then Kyle who came out crying – something he had never done before. Amy and Conrad went together and they both returned sobbing. Taylor was next and I remember she walked in with the though girl attitude...she came out slowly...almost like a lost little girl Nathan. I had never seen her like that. Then I heard the doctor calling my name and I slowly made myself go in..." Haley said and continued the story.

Flashback:

Haley walked into the quiet room, the only sounds being that of the machines. She made her way closer to Ryan who motioned to her to sit next to him. It wasn't long before she was lying on the bed next to him. Ryan stroked her hair as he began humming softly.

"Do you remember that song?" he asked after he hummed it.

"Yes...you use to sing it to me when I was little and Kyle was ugly to me." she answered.

"Do you remember what I told you?" he asked hopefully.

"You said that whenever I felt alone all I had to do was to sing this song and you would be there with me...in my heart." she said as tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Come now my Haley-bop...I don't want you to cry now...you're with me." Ryan said and smiled at his little sister.

"But Kyle was crying...he never cries." Haley countered.

"He does...but he doesn't like to in front of you...he has to stay strong for his little sister." he explained.

"Then why did he cry now?" she asked and Ryan frowned.

"Because he's scared...and because he loves us." was all he said and Haley seemed content with the answer.

"Luke says hello." Haley said and Ryan laughed.

"Ahh...yes how is Lucas? I haven't seen him in a while." Ryan asked.

"He's fine...Luke and I are going to the movies next week...do you wanna come with...Lucas won't mind." Haley asked and Ryan smiled as his heart broke.

"No...I won't be able to...I'm sorry Hales." Ryan said as tears streamed down his face.

"Don't cry Ryan..." Haley said as she kissed his cheek and Ryan smiled.

"I'm sorry...I'm just sad." he admitted...it was weird for him...his parents and other brothers and sisters were easy to tell the truth. Sure it was hard but they were older...they understood. They cried together and said their goodbyes. But Haley was different. She was so young and innocent...she believed that nothing could go wrong...that he would always be there for her.

"Why are you sad Ryan?" Haley asked as she looked at him with a loving glance that broke his heart further.

"Hales...I want to tell you a story. A long time ago there was this brother and sister who loved each other very much. But the brother was very sick and he knew that he was going to have to go away. His sister was very sad when he said goodbye...but they both knew that they would see each other again in heaven. And she always knew that he was looking after her." he said and Haley looked at him with big eyes.

"That's sad..."

"Hales...you know I love you a lot. But I'm very sick and soon I won't be here anymore..." he started but Haley interrupted.

"You're coming home?" she asked hopefully.

"No Haley...I'm going up to heaven...and I know it's sad but you know what? I will always be with you in you heart. I will always be looking down on you and smiling." Ryan said and Haley started crying, Ryan pulled her closer to him.

"But I don't want you to go..." she cried and Ryan kissed her forehead. He gently took of his ring that he had gotten on his 16th birthday, opened her small hand, placed it in her hand and closed it.

"I know...here take my ring. Whenever you see it then you know I'm there...I'm right there with you every step of the way. And when you're really lonely then just sing our song Hales...and if you listen really hard you'll be able to hear me singing with in heaven. And all the angels will join in and sing because they will protect you to...they will be happy. But now...now I'm just going to spend all of my last time with you...my baby sister...and we'll enjoy it and we'll love it. Then when the time comes to say goodbye...both of us will cry a lot and we'll be sad and it's going to be bad. But then Hales the sun will come out again and you will move on with life...and no matter how hard it is you will not give up because I will be there right behind you pushing you on. And at night when you cry...I will sing you to sleep. When you make your valedictorian speech I will be in the crowd...listening proudly to my little sister...admiring what you have become. Then one day when you get married I will stand next to your husband and I will whisper in his ear how lucky he is. I will guide you spiritually along the alter and then I will give you to your husband. He'll never take my place...but he will be there for you. He will love you. And I will still be there...watching your back like I always did. When your first child is born...I will be next to you, holding your hand...and I will watch over you. Then, when you finally join me, we will be together and I will love you as much as I do now. I will always be there for you Haley...forever." Ryan said and Haley smiled faintly as tears streamed down her face.

"I love you big brother..." she said through tears.

"Me to...I love you more than the world...and if I had to die 1000 times to make you happy...I would do it with a smile on my face." he said and Haley cuddled into his arms.

"Hush now baby don't you cry. Everything will be all right. Close your eyes and drift and dream. Rest in peaceful sleep..." he sang her to sleep.

End of flashback:

Nathan stared at her wide-eyed as she told him.

"A few days later, after I had spent every waking hour with him, he died holding me in his arms...his last words being to me that he loved me." Haley said and smiled as tears streamed down her face.

"You know what Hales...I heard him." he said and Haley looked at him with a question in her eyes.

"I heard him that day when we got married. I heard him tell me how beautiful you are...I heard him tell me that I had to look after you." Nathan said with honesty and Haley smiled.

"I felt him next to me...he was there...like he promised." she said.

"I won't take the ring off Hales...I know it was hard giving it away."

"It's okay...Ryan would have wanted me to give it to you..." Haley said and Nathan kissed her forehead as he pulled her tighter in his embrace.

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

A few days later they were home, lying in bed together and Haley snuggled into Nathan's arms. Haley rubbed her hands over his chest as he stared at her with loving eyes. Haley shivered and Nathan quickly picked up the shirt that he had been wearing hours before and he helped her put it on. Haley smiled as she pulled him down by the chain around his neck and kissed him passionately.

"I don't want this moment to ever end..." Haley whispered into his ear.

"I'll make it last as long as I can." Nathan whispered back and Haley grinned into his mouth as they kissed again.