Thanks to everyone who gave me feedback on the last chapter!

To Lola: I have to disagree with you on your comment. Best friends do kiss, it is possible. Because my stories are fiction and non-realistic, I may portray Lucas and Haley as more physical than they appear on the show to fit the concept of my story. Hope you understand! And remember if you don't like my story, then just don't read it.

Note to everyone: I decided to make this chapter as realistic as possible. It may seem completely unbelievable to some of you who don't necessarily like LH this way and that is fine, we all have our own opinions. The main rule here is if you don't like my stories, don't read them. Most of you who read this story do like LH romantically, so this should be a chapter you'll really love.

Chapter 17-"The What Ifs"

The scene of Lucas and Haley before Haley gets married to Nathan for the 2nd time in the season three finale of "The Show Must Go On"

"I could never really give you away, you know that? I could never give away my best friend," Lucas said as he smiled at Haley, and then pulled her close to him in a warm embrace.

Her body always felt so right and perfect against his, like it was meant to be that way. As Lucas closed his eyes and held her close, he couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like if it was him and her getting married. What if they were the ones who had met and fallen in love instead? Unfortunately, it was not and Lucas couldn't fight that burning feeling of jealously he was feeling at the thought of Nathan spending the rest of his life with Haley, the best friend he always loved. It made Lucas sick to his stomach, but he also wanted Haley to be happy. A few moments later, Haley pulled back a little and looked at Lucas. She could immediately sense something was wrong and was naturally concerned about him.

"Luke, are you feeling ok?" Haley asked him, looking into his eyes.

Lucas licked his lips and slowly looked into her eyes. "You know I want you to be happy, right?" Haley nodded. "Well, when I said I couldn't really give away my best friend, I meant it. I don't want to give you away now without knowing what could have been if things were different," he admitted.

"What do you mean by if things were different? Like if I was marrying someone else?" Haley questioned, wondering where he was going with this.

"Yes, what if things were different and it was you and me getting married today?" Lucas said, speaking what he had been thinking.

Haley almost could not believe her ears and wondered if Lucas was still jealous of Nathan being with her. "Luke, I don't know what to say. You're with Brooke and if things were different, maybe it would have been me and you, but it's too late now. I'm marrying Nathan today."

Lucas nodded. "I know and I'm happy for you, but how can you be sure that Nathan is the one you want to spend the rest of your life with? We're only seventeen, Hales," Lucas told her.

"Because I love him and he loves me and supports me. I didn't know I was going to fall in love the first time around, but I did," Haley answered. "Who says young love can't survive? I have faith in me and Nathan especially after all that's happened to us in the past two years."

"But I love you for you and support you all the way. I'm your best friend. I know you better than anyone. Isn't that enough?" Lucas asked her, realizing he should have said this much sooner.

"Luke, of course it is, but we can't be together," Haley said as she started to walk away from him and stepped out of his hold on her. She faced her back towards him. "It's too late, Luke. It's too late." Tears started rolling down her cheeks as her voice started to crack. She was thinking of the what ifs, too, always hoping Lucas would say this, but didn't until now.

"Hales, I'm sorry. I just had to tell you how I feel, ok? I couldn't give you away without saying anything first," Lucas apologized

"I wish you had said something sooner before Nathan, before all of this," Haley turned to face him as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I always wondered about us, too, Luke, but we can't be together. You know that."

"Look, I trust Nathan will take care of you and make you happy, but I just want to let you see what you could would be missing if it had been different, if it had been you and me. So, will you just let me do one thing before I give you away?" Lucas asked of her as he stepped forward and brushed the tears off her cheeks with his hands.

"What?" Haley softly said. Her heart beating wildly as Lucas caressed her cheeks and cupped her face. It was so easy for her to get lost in his soulful eyes.

"May I kiss you? And I mean really kiss you, like Nathan does." Lucas said, getting lost in her eyes as well as he lovingly gazed at her.

"Luke..." Haley managed to say his name in response, just before he crashed his lips upon hers, not even letting her answer his question.

Haley moaned into the kiss as she felt his lips move over hers delicately, but passionately at the same time. After a few moments or so passed by, Haley slowly felt herself naturally respond to his kiss. She moved her lips back against his; blown away by everything she was feeling for him when she was supposed to be getting married to Nathan in a few minutes. She wondered how she could possibly be in love with two brothers at the same time, but knew Lucas meant more to her because they had a connection unlike anything she had with Nathan.

A few moments later, Lucas looked back at Haley as he slowly pulled away. "Wow, I was right. The magic was there all along and you really do have feelings for me."

Haley slowly nodded a she opened up her eyes. "Yeah, I do really have feelings for you. I always have, just got used to hiding them. I just thought it would be best if I stay with Nathan because of your feelings for Brooke and Peyton."

"Haley, my feelings for you are way stronger than anything I feel for Peyton and Brooke. I want you to know that and when I say I love you, Haley, I really do love you as more than a best friend, much more than that," Lucas admitted to her.

"I love you in the same way, Lucas, but we can't do this. I have to get married now and I'm asking you, will you still give me away?" Haley asked him.

Lucas nodded yes, even though his heart was breaking at her words. With one last hug and Haley fixing herself up one last time, Lucas and Haley prepared to walk down the aisle so she could marry Nathan again. In the following year, Nathan and Haley started having marital problems again. This time, it was over the obvious feelings Haley was having for Lucas. She started spending more time with Lucas then with Nathan and Nathan even went so far as to accuse her of cheating on him, but she never did. Eventually, they became legally separated and divorced. Haley fell out of love with Nathan, but remained good friends with him. Nathan eventually understood that Lucas made Haley happier than he ever could, that they were the ones who were meant to be together. Years down the road, after college, it was Lucas and Haley who got married and stayed in love and had their happily ever after.