This is the longest chapter I have ever written and it was insanely hard for me to write and edit. I hope it has turned out okay and I'm sorry for the delay in updating.

Thank you Analy222 for answering my question! I thought Nathan was going to say it in the flashback at the wedding, but he didn't. Oh well, I hope "always and forever" is said at least once before the season ends.

Has anyone else noticed that in episode 2x19 Nathan says Cooper's ex-wife's name is Carrie? I just found it kinda funny/ironic that the person who almost wrecked Cooper's life had the same name as someone who almost destroyed Nathan's marriage…

Anyway, please Read and Review! I really do love reading what you think of my story and I am really curious as to what you guys think of this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of the characters and such.

Bold face is reality with Haley in a coma, Normal is the dream world, and Italics are the thoughts and memories.

The next installment of the story shall now begin in Savannah, Georgia…

To Wish Possible Things #3: Take a chance

"Here we are in front of Tree Hill Memorial Hospital where young Haley James Scott, wife of local basketball star Nathan Scott, daughter-in-law of Mayor Dan Scott, is fighting for her life. Ms. James-Scott was crossing the street when a car struck her late

Peyton closed the window with the internet broadcast and placed her face in her hands. Haley still isn't okay…It's been days. I wonder how Nathan is coping…if he is….I wonder if Lucas is alright…

"You're concerned."

Peyton lifted her face a little to see Jake leaning against the door frame. "Of course I am Jake. Haley and Nathan are two of my best friends, how horrible would I be if I didn't care about them?"

"Peyton…maybe you should go back…"

"And lose you again? I'm sorry Jake, but you can't get rid of me that easily."

Jake didn't want to say what he was going to next, but he knew he had to. He took a deep breath, already bracing for the hurt, "I called Brooke. Lucas is awake."

Peyton took in a sharp breath, Luke is okay….but does that change anything?

"I can get you the first flight back to Tree Hill Peyton. You don't have to stay with your second choice anymore."

"You're not a second choice Jake!" Peyton stood up. Why is it so hard for Jake to accept me being here because I want to see him?

Jake shook his head. As if reading Peyton's thoughts he said, "Peyton the last time you told me you loved me you revealed you had feelings for Lucas. I told you go and see if those feelings were real….You went to Tree Hill and never came back. I got my answer."

"My life is there Jake, I hate admitting that, but it is the honest truth. Almost everything I care about is in Tree Hill, my school, my friends, and yes I count Lucas as one of them. He's always saving me Jake, except I don't think he would have to if you were there. I think you would save me."

"What are you saying Peyton?"

"I'm saying you should come back to Tree Hill Jake. Take Jenny and go."

"It's not that easy Peyton, there's a whole legal system I have to work through. It could take months."

"I'm willing to wait for you Jake if you're willing to try."

"Who says Nikki would agree? She would win Peyton, if it came down to it."

"I do. I called Nikki and we had a nice long chat. She wants to go back to school. She would be willing to give youas long as you get help from your parents back in Tree Hilltemporary full custody."

"Who's to say she won't use an education against me? A high school dropout."

"Jake, don't you see? If you come back to Tree Hill you can go back to school. Your parents can watch Jenny like before, or Karen can watch her with her baby once she has it."

"Peyton I don't know…"

"Jake please. This is our best shot. We've never been lucky enough to get a chance like this, don't throw it away now."

"Red, what do you want?" Nathan asked. He was already annoyed.

"Only one dance and then I leave you alone for the rest of the night."

Nathan glanced up and saw Haley searching for him. "I don't think that's a good idea," he said.

Red placed a hand on his arm, "Is the big bad Nathan Scott afraid of his short, fat ass ex-wife?"

Nathan's face turned into a shocked expression, "Did you really just diss Haley while trying to flirt with me?"

"Why not? It's obvious she doesn't appreciate your charms." Red started to move her hand to Nathan's muscular chest.

"The hell do you think you're doing?" Haley's voice was full of acid.

When Nathan looked up and saw Haley's face his only thought was Oh shit.

"Asking the hottest guy here to a dance since his date is so," Red looked Haley up and down, "Unsatisfactory."

Haley took a step forward, but Nathan interrupted, "Hey I think it's time for you to leave," He said to Red, "Last time I checked I'm the judge of who's unsatisfactory and I'm pretty sure it isn't Haley."

"Oh I get it. Since I'm the obviously unsatisfactory one you gave me all that money to buy you at the auction to piss off fat ass over here. It all makes perfect sense now."

Haley grabbed Red by the arm, "I think it's time you got your skank ass out of here. You just admitted you're a whore and the bouncer had a bad experience once and he hasn't been too fond of cheap whores ever since."

"At least I don't have to pay people to have sex with me."

"Is that the best you could do? I think you need lessons on comebacks along with lessons on how to tell when little Johnny likes you because you obviously can't read signals."

"You short little bitch!" Red suddenly lunged for Haley. Haley mostly dodged, but Red had gotten a hold on the tips of her hair. She yanked hard on them.

"Hey! Stop it!" Nathan shouted. He was a little surprised, usually he was the one in the fight and Haley was yelling at him to cut it out.

Haley managed to twirl and get free of Red's grasp. She promptly raised her hand and slapped her across the face.

She put a finger in Red's face and said menacingly, "Stay away from me, and stay the hell away from my husband."

"Is there a problem Ms. Gill?" Mack asked. He had appeared out of nowhere as if he had sensed the trouble.

"Yes! This bitch is being a….bitch!" Red shouted.

"Ms. Gill is the nicest young woman I know, if she really is being the vulgar term you used then I guess you really deserve it. Would you please leave the club?" Mack asked politely, but his eyes showed a certain fierceness that even Red dared not disobey.

"I'll get you back for this somehow!" She shouted as Mack ushered her out of the club.

Nathan started his apology before Haley could yell at him. "Haley I'm sorry—"

Haley turned around to face him and the expression on her face already cut him off. She was glaring as she asked, "Did you really pay her just to bug me at the auction?"

"Haley, please. She was going to buy me and then I was going to spend the night with my mom. Honestly, can I get any more pathetic? I just figured it would be better is we weren't around each other anymore and I thought she was the best way to keep us apart."

"Nathan, you can't make those decisions alone! Shouldn't I have at least a little input on whether or not we should be separated?"

"Haley I realize that now! I thought if we stayed apart I wouldn't get my heart broken again, except that isn't the case!" Nathan was getting desperate. A few minutes earlier he had been making a fool of himself in a crowded bar singing about how he always messed up. Even he could tell Haley was relenting on him back then, but now he was just back where he always was, in her doghouse. "I screw up Haley. You know that better than any person, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm trying to change and I have changed since the beginning of last year. Haley, you're the reason I'm trying to change! Please, just give me a chance."

"A chance for what Nathan? A chance for you to try to hurt me some more? Nathan, I screw up too. You expect too much of me, you think I'm this saint when I'm not. You hold me up to a higher standard than anyone else and when I fail to meet that standard, you make it known clearer than anyone else. I'm done trying Nathan, I'm done trying to meet the standard, I'm done watching you screw up. It's obvious we just aren't meant to be. The fact that I'm the reason you're trying to change makes it all the more obvious, you shouldn't try to change a person. That's what I always was told, I just never really listened, but I get it now."

"Haley, I want to change. I don't like who I used to be, I like who I am when I'm with you."

"Yet you always revert to your absolute worst because of me. Remember yesterday in class? Nathan, you never would have said something like that if it wasn't for me!" Haley remembered the pain she felt only the day before because of what Nathan said and remembered her need for revenge against him. "You know what Nathan, I'm going to go dance again and show you how it feels to watch the one you love not care about how you feel."

"Haley c'mon," Nathan pleaded, but it was too late. Haley was already talking to a seedy looking guy. Nathan blinked, he knew that guy.

"Do you want to dance?" She asked the stranger. He gave her a cocky grin. Normally Haley would never have considered approaching this stranger, but her emotions were so high she didn't even notice her instinctual alarms going off.

"Yeah babe. Who wouldn't want to dance with you?"

Haley smiled and the two began to dance. At first it was fine, he just kept his hands resting on her hips.

The guy had light brown hair. He had a skinny face and dark eyes. Nathan couldn't help cracking his knuckles with this one.

"Cheery where are you taking me?" Lucas asked. Brooke had him blindfolded and in her car.

"Where would the fun be if I simply told you?"

"Where's the fun in making my eyes itch from this stupid blindfold?"

"Oh there's lots of fun in it," Brooke teased with a playful smirk.

"Are we going somewhere fun?"

"I hope so."

"Your version of fun or my version?"

"Are you asking if I'm taking you to a bar or to a bookstore?"

"Yeah, pretty much," Lucas said. He was nodding and smiling at her, or where he thought was the general direction she was in.

"I've changed and noticed more of the things around me than you think Lucas," Brooke said as she stopped the car. "We're here. Hey! Don't take that blindfold off Lucas Scott!" She shouted as Lucas immediately reached to remove the blindfold.

"Sorry," he said as he obediently put his hands down to his sides and waited for Brooke to tell him what to do next.

"Your outfit looks great on you," the guy Haley was dancing with whispered into her ear. Haley could smell the alcohol on his breath and it wasn't attractive at all. "I bet you look even better with it off."

He moved one of his hands from Haley's waist and down her thigh.

"Hey, stop that."

"C'mon babe, we're just dancing."

"You don't know me, keep it PG okay?"

"I'm R rated and by the way, I do know you. You're a cheerleader for Tree Hill and just came back from a music tour. Your name's Haley right?"

Haley stopped dancing completely. She was officially creeped out. She tried to get away, but the guy had too strong of a grip on her.

"What's wrong babe? Keep it moving." He began to force Haley to move with the music.

"Let go of me!" She said loudly.

The guy looked up and around at the people who had glanced over at them. He gave the nearby people his cocky grin, "Babe, now isn't the time to rehearse for tonight."

Haley did her best to turn around and shove the guy, but when she turned to face him he pulled her into him so she had even less mobility than before.

"That's what I'm talking about," he said into her hair.

Haley wanted to cry. This was not how her revenge on Nathan was supposed to turn out. He was supposed to get insanely jealous and regret all the things he had said to her since her return. She wasn't supposed to end up against a stranger's chest only wishing for Nathan's strong hands around her instead of the creeper's she was dancing with.

"I believe the lady said she wanted you to let go of her," A deep voice growled into the guy's ear.

"Nathan!" Haley wanted to exclaim, but didn't. As thrilled as she was that Nathan had come to rescue her, she didn't want him to know how much she really desired his help.

The guy looked over at him, and moved his hands to Haley's wrists with a death grip. Nathan couldn't understand why Haley wasn't fighting back, the guy had succeeded in making it seem like he wasn't restraining her painfully. The guy smiled, "Nathan Scott. It's been awhile. I'm pretty sure basketball is your business, and you should really improve on that and not mess with the women."

"And I'm pretty sure when a woman says for you to let go, she means it, Damien West. I think you need to go back to kindergarten, that's where they teach hands to yourself."

Damien laughed, "Like you know anything about hands to yourself. Weren't you the one who got into five fights off-campus at High Flyers because of your temper?"

Haley was a little surprised to still hear more about the negative effects her absence had on Nathan.

Nathan leered at Damien, "And weren't you the one who got beat up off campus for hitting on the girlfriend of one of the guy's? I thought that would have taught you your lesson."

"Hey this girl approached me, her boyfriend shouldn't have a problem. It's his fault he can't keep her on a short enough leash."

Haley had kept silent during this exchange, but her wrists were starting to hurt and Damien was starting to really piss her off.

Haley said, "Too bad Damien, he is. He wants you to let go of, not his girlfriend, but of his wife."

"Well tell him, I don't want to let go." Damien grinned and looked back at Nathan, "I think I'm going to get lucky tonight, especially after a few more drinks. This one looks like she'll get freaky too."

Nathan couldn't stand it anymore. He had always hated Damien West, except at High Flyers he had known better than to let him get to him. Now, though, Damien was insulting Haley, and nobody every got away with that around Nathan.

"Hey!" Haley shouted at Damien, anger radiating off of her as well. Her shout gave Nathan just the distraction he needed as he shoved Damien. Damien started to fall over, but his grip on Haley didn't break like Nathan planned.

Horrified, Nathan watched as Damien pulled Haley on top of him.

"You want to get it on in public? I think that's illegal, but whatever floats your boat," Damien said cruelly. He wanted to piss Nathan off enough to hit him. Damien knew he had a challenge in Nathan Scott for the championship and if assault at a bar got Nathan kicked out, then let it.

To Damien's shock—but not really Nathan's—Haley started kicking him. She tried to punch him, but he was still holding her wrists so tightly she couldn't even move them, but her feet were free.

"What the hell!?" Mack exclaimed. Once again he had come out of nowhere.

Nathan reached down and pulled Haley off of Damien by the waist. Haley was still trying to kick him, but Damien couldn't hold her wrists now that Mack was here so Nathan was able to pull her off.

"This girl started to get a little freaky on the dance floor, I'm sorry it caused a disturbance sir," Damien said calmly as he got himself off the floor.

"You jerk!" Haley shouted. She could feel the tears behind her eyes, but the rage was coming first. She wasn't going to give Damien the satisfaction of seeing her cry because of him. "You wouldn't let me go! I wanted to get away!"

"Shh Haley, its okay," Nathan whispered into Haley's ear. He kept his arms around her, holding her tight. He hoped he was giving her a sense of security after being violated like she had and he was successfully holding her back from flat out attacking the jerk. Nathan explained to Mack, "Haley was trying to make me jealous so she started to dance with this guy here. The only problem was this guy has a grudge against me and he went too far past her comfort zone. When she tried to get away he wouldn't let her go. I came over here and shoved him, hoping it would break his grip, but all it did was make he and Haley fall over."

Mack nodded. "I think you need to leave now," He said to Damien West.

"You're going to believe them over me?!"

"Hey I saw the whole thing," A woman with light blond hair said. She walked over to Mack and pointed at Nathan and Haley, "Those two are telling the truth, the girl looked really unhappy for most of the song, but scrawny kept touching her and not letting her stop dancing. Then the big guy came over and warned him, but the scrawny guy didn't let go so the big guy shoved him."

Mack turned to Damien, "Yes, I'm going to believe them over you. Now let's go." Mack turned to Nathan and the distressed Haley, "I hate to say this, but if there's one more disturbance you two are involved in tonight, I'll have to ask you to leave as well."

Nathan nodded, "There won't be another. Thanks for all your help."

Mack smiled and he began to push a struggling Damien West out the door.

As soon as the two were out of sight and people stopped staring, Haley spun into Nathan's chest. She wanted comfort more than anything at that second, and Nathan was the best one at comforting her.

"I'm surprised he would ever show his face at a place like this," Nathan whispered to Haley. "If he—or anyone else for that matter—violates you ever again, you let me know alright?"

Haley nodded into Nathan's strong chest.

"I promised you Haley that I would always protect you and I meant it. I'm sorry if I haven't stuck to that promise very well recently."

The DJ played a slow song so both were able to stay still for several minutes, which was all Haley needed. She was able to regain her composure without any tears.

When the song ended Nathan asked her, "Do you want to go get something to drink?"

Haley nodded and the two went to the bar. They both ordered alcoholic drinks.

Nathan gave her a questioning look to which she replied, "It's been a rough night Nathan. Even I have to lose it from time to time."

"I've seen you lose it Haley and I love it, but I don't think you do."

The drinks were placed in front of the pair. "I'll live," she said before bringing her drink to her lips.

"You brought me to the Rivercourt?" Lucas asked slowly.

He and Brooke were now standing in the center of the old court. She had refused to let him take off his eye covering until he was standing where he was.

"Yep."

Lucas stared at her perplexed. When she didn't say anything else he asked, "Why?"

"How many times in the past year have you come to this place Luke?"

"I don't know, I haven't really thought about it," Lucas answered honestly.

"Okay, what about this? How many times did you come here before you made the Ravens?"

Lucas smiled as he remembered old times, "Everyday."

"How many times did you come here after you made the Ravens?"

Lucas' smile lessened, "Less. I still came three times a week usually."

"And after Haley left?"

Lucas frowned. He really reflected on it, once Haley left and didn't come home after three months the magic of the Rivercourt had seemed to disappear. He no longer felt comforted by the river and the gravel under his shoes, all he did was remember her and the times they spent together. He would remember how she left without saying goodbye and not calling for days. All those things would always depress him. He finally answered, "Once every other week…if that."

"That's my point. Broody, you love this place, and you love Haley too. This place and Haley were interconnected for you, without her you couldn't have the other." Brooke was speaking with a double meaning, she was also referring to her and Lucas. "The thing is Lucas, now that Haley is back, you still haven't returned to this place, your old sanctuary. Why haven't you Luke?"

Lucas ran a hand through his short hair. He looked around the place where he had once spent hours with not only Haley, but all his other old friends. He thought back to the feelings this place would instill in him, where he could play the game he loved without the Scott name hanging over him.

"I guess…" He began slowly. "I guess it's just not the same. This place was my refuge, where I could hide from the rest of the world. Now though, I don't need a refuge. I'm not the bastard anymore, I'm Lucas, my own person to everyone. I don't know how to explain it Brooke, I've lived without this place for so long, it just seems wrong to go back. It's like I might ruin everything I built up without it and dishonor how much this place had helped when I needed it."

"I don't think you will Lucas. I think it would be dishonoring your old memories by abandoning here." Brooke paused and walked over to the picnic table where she used to watch Lucas play. She reached under the table and pulled out a basketball. She walked back over to Lucas, "Shoot a couple of hoops Luke, you might be surprised by how you feel."

Lucas took the ball and bounced it on the gravel. Immediately he felt a small portion of what he used to feel when he played there. He felt that this place would provide safety from the rest of the world, no matter what it threw at him, the Rivercourt would always be there.

Lucas dribbled the ball to the free throw line, shot it, and watched it ark gracefully through the old hoop. He smiled over at Brooke as he retrieved the ball.

"I still can't believe you hit Chris on the head with the microphone. Man, I would have paid to see that," Nathan laughed as Haley told a story from the tour.

"You could've gone to the concert and seen it yourself."

"It was too far away, I'm not like you Hales; I fail school if I miss it."

"Good point," Haley laughed too.

Both of them were actually enjoying the other's company without any trouble. Haley hoped it wasn't because of the alcohol that both of them had their guards down.

"Hey Haley," Nathan said as he began to reach into his pocket for his wallet.

"What's up Nathan? Besides the dark ceiling. Hey is that a disco ball? I really like disco balls, they're so sparkly and pretty—"

Nathan grinned, he didn't realize how much he missed Haley's rambling. "Haley," he said cutting her off when she began wondering who came up with the concept of the disco ball. Her eyes focused on him with her face in an expression as if asking 'What?'

Nathan replied, "Here's the money for tonight. It's fifty dollars short of what you paid because I know you, you would feel bad for taking all of what you paid."

"Why are you giving me this Nathan?" Haley asked. She was staring at the wad of money with the weariest look she could manage in her state. She figured this was some sort of trap, if she took the money, she would owe Nathan.

"Because I wasn't worth it. You shouldn't have spent all that money on me and you wouldn't have if I hadn't given Red the money. So here, this hopefully makes up for it. There's no catch Hales; this money would have been spent tonight anyway," He added when she still didn't take the money.

Haley continued to stare at the wad of cash and not take the money.

"Fine Haley, it's your decision. If you don't want it, don't take it," Nathan said. He began to put the money back in his wallet. He wasn't able to keep the smirk off his face, he was already planning how he was going to trick Haley into taking the money.

"Hey everybody, in case you couldn't tell it has been a slow night," The DJ said into his microphone to the crowd. "I've had a few requests that a certain person who sang a song called 'Leaving Town Alive' come up here and do a set. Is the singer willing to?"

Haley grinned and polished off her latest drink. "I'm right here!" She shouted and ran to the stage. Nathan followed closely behind, he knew Haley, she couldn't handle alcohol. Sure enough, she tripped going up the stage's stairs. Nathan easily helped her up after he checked to make sure she didn't hurt herself.

"Are you sure you can do this?" He asked her.

"Of course I can. I have a bunch of new songs I want to sing!" She said excitedly. Nathan smiled at the intensity in her brown eyes.

"Alright, have fun Hales," he said.

Nathan began to lean in, he didn't even realize it. It had been such a habit between them, a kiss before they separated for anything. A year and he still hadn't been able to break the habit completely.

Thankfully, Haley had turned her head by the time Nathan's mouth reached where hers had been. He grazed her cheek and realized what he was doing. He did his best to rectify his mistake by whispering, "Break a leg."

"What are we going to do Keith?" Deb asked the grizzled looking man.

"Can I take a shower? I feel kind of dirty."

"Keith, I'm serious. Everyone will soon think—if they don't already—that I've left Tree Hill and I'm fine with that, but you know Dan isn't going to leave you alone and he'll probably try to track me down."

"You need to stay hidden Deb. If something happens to me, you need to come forward with the evidence of Dan's crimes."

"Why don't we turn him in now?"

Keith looked out the old motel room window. "He's an ass, but I have to give him another chance."

"Hasn't he used enough chances?"

"He's my little brother Deb. What kind of person sends their little brother to jail? I should be protecting him not plotting to destroy him."

"Keith, he's had you locked up in forced rehab that you didn't need for months, do you really want someone who is willing to do that to their brother running around town?"

"I can't give up on him yet Deb. I have to see if he's any better."

Deb shook her head, she knew she wouldn't be able to dissuade Keith, he was too good, or foolish, to destroy his brother so soon. "Have you stopped by to see Karen yet?"

Keith sighed, "No. I've been avoiding her and Lucas, I don't think they even know I'm back."

"Why haven't you gone to see them?"

"I don't know what to tell them. For all they know I got up and left one day because I was bored. Until I know what to do with Dan I can't go see them."

"It would mean the world to Karen and Lucas to know you're alright."

Keith replied sadly, "It would mean the world to me to let them know I'm alright, to tell them that I didn't abandon them like Dan…But I can't do that yet; not until I know my plan."

"Hi. I'm back!" Haley unsteadily said into the microphone. Nathan didn't know how she was going to get through the performance in her state. Haley continued into the mic, "I'm going to sing three songs for you guys. I wrote this first song at the end of my tour. I didn't show anyone it though because I knew I would get in trouble with my manager and this guy I was touring with and I figured showing it to someone would make my feelings real, and I didn't want that. This song came about when the guy I was touring with did a cover of this 80's song called 'Missing You.' During the song I came to a realization and this song was born!"

Haley took in a deep breath to calm herself and focus on the music, she began,
"Honey I just can't get around it anymore
You make me feel like home is where you are
And baby I just can't run around it every morn'n
It's time that I believe it, home is where you are"

Nathan smiled. Despite Haley being tipsy if she wasn't flat out drunk already, her voice was steady and clear. She was singing perfectly and Nathan loved it.

"Notes in my drawers, songs in my pockets,
Fragments of letters that you sent,
Leftover phone calls, cologne in the bath
I still have that bottle of Rosé
Staring at your photograph, tryin' to take it down
There's still a stirring in my heart."

Nathan closed his eyes and just listened to the music. He wondered if Haley really did sit up on the tour looking at a picture of him and wanted to get rid of it, but she just couldn't. He wondered if she really did feel like her home was where he was.

"My next song is called Crazy Girls. This one I wrote part of while on tour, but I could never get the right inspiration for it. When I came home I found the inspiration and everything just seemed to fall into place."

Nathan opened his eyes and stared at Haley as she started the next song.

"I've been behind on the events of the past seven days
I've been sleeping in my bed
And missing you like sometimes crazy girls do"

Haley looked into the crowd and found the intense blue eyes she could always seem to fall into. She gave Nathan a small smile. Haley loved her guard being down and being able to sort of tell Nathan her true feelings about them, she wasn't sure she would love it the next day though.

"I've been hanging like a child onto this photograph of us
It was taken on a bus across town the last time I saw you
And now this whole world is going 'round
But it's when you're gone it really brings me down, down"

Haley remembered a late night on tour. She had checked her phone and saw a voicemail from her parents. She had listened to it and smiled, at least they still love me, she had thought. The message had inspired Haley to go through an old scrapbook of hers. She found it in her pile of stuff on the tour bus. Haley had opened it up and spent hours staring at its content.

The last page had been the first bit of inspiration for the song. On the last page was a picture of her and Nathan smiling. It had been taken when Nathan came up with the idea to take a spontaneous road trip to see her parents. They had been standing by a city bus from where her parents were at the time. Haley had been on Nathan's back piggy-back style with a huge smile. Nathan had his head turned towards her, his eyes full of love and adoration. Seeing the obviously in love teenagers made her miss it, made her more depressed than she had been the entire time she had yet been on tour, and most of all it had made Haley realize how insanely much she really did miss Nathan.

That moment was playing through Haley's mind. Other moments with Nathan since her returned floated through as well, but the one on tour was the most prominent.

"Oh, will you wait till I get back home again
'Cause I'm willing to give this another chance
Only you baby keep me up at night
Sometimes crazy's all right
Well I never thought I'd say I was in love with you again
It's funny how my life has come around to this
And I'm crazy for you
I do like crazy girls do"

Nathan froze. Was Haley being honest when she wrote this song or was she writing it just to make a good song? Wash she really willing to give them another chance?

He stood in consideration for the rest of the song.

"My last and final song," Haley began, "is different than my first two. This song is much slower and less upbeat. I'm not sure where I came up with this song, but one day I was sitting in my apartment and these words were floating through my head. I wrote them down, threw them away, and then rewrote them later, creating this song."

Nathan gave a questioning look up to Haley. He knew she couldn't answer his question or even know what it was, but he couldn't help it. He knew of one bit of lyrics that Haley had written and thrown away and he wondered if these were them.

"I could never stumble
With you walking by my side
I could never love you
more than I already do"

Nathan realized these weren't the lyrics and sighed, out of relief or disappointment, he didn't know.

"So don't walk away
Don't walk away
Don't lie, tell me that youre gonna stay
Please don't walk away"

Nathan once again found himself frozen. These were the lyrics that Haley had written and Brooke had given him that fateful day in the gym.

"If I made a promise,
I would stay by your side
It's only the beginning
I love you"

"Haley," Nathan whispered. This was it. As soon as she came back down those stairs he was going to kiss her. He was going to throw caution to the wind and even if she fought back he was going to kiss her, like he had the first time they kissed.

Nathan stared intensely up at Haley. It seemed to be an eternity before she finished her song.

"Thank you!" She exclaimed into the microphone. The crowd cheered in response and Haley began her way down the stairs.

"Nathan….I'm glad I'm back…"

Nathan stared at Haley. He couldn't believe it, did she really just say something? Nathan ran his fingers through his hair, it's probably my imagination. How long has it been since I got some sleep?

"Nathan…." Haley said again in her raspy voice due to a lack of water.

"Haley!?" Nathan shouted. His hopes were officially up, "Oh Haley, you're awake!"

"I'm…glad….I…came back from tour even if this is the only good night for us…..It's been amazing…."

"No…Haley…no…don't leave!" Nathan was practically crying again. He knew what was going on. Haley was still in her dream world. She was having a good time in her dream world, "Haley come back to me! The real me."

Haley didn't move again. Nathan felt despair creep up on him, will she ever come back if she keeps having a good time?

"Did I do a good job?" Haley asked Nathan once she had made her unsteady way down the stairs and to him.

Nathan was nervous and he knew he looked it. He glanced around and noticed several guys walking towards the pair. He had to get Haley away from them before she decided to make him jealous again.

"Dance with me?" He asked instead of answering her question.

Haley didn't reply, but she let Nathan grab her hand which was good enough for him. He led her into the middle of the dance floor and noticed the several glares he was receiving for getting Haley to dance with him.

They got to the middle of the floor and the lights dimmed.

"What the?" Haley asked.

Nathan smirked in response. "Folks, we had a request that we play a certain song in a darkened environment and we decided to comply. I hope none of you mind too much," the DJ said.

"You need a friend
I'll be around
Don't let this end
Before I see you again
What can I say to convince you
To change your mind of me?"

"I love this song," Haley said quietly as the couples around them began to dance close together.

"I know," Nathan said. He had a sneaky gleam in his eye.

"You requested this didn't you?" She asked him.

He didn't say anything he just placed his hands on Haley's waist. Immediately a jolt went through her body.

"Look in my eyes, what do you see?
Not just the color
Look inside of me"

Haley placed her arms around Nathan's neck as she stared deeply into his blue eyes and he into her brown ones.

"You were amazing Haley. I'm sorry if I never told you enough how great your voice is, how much talent you really have."

Haley didn't say anything in response, but she did move closer to Nathan. His hands were now able to touch each other on her waist.

A desire that nobody had been able to inspire—excluding the day in the Gym— for quite some time passed through Nathan and he found himself loving it. "God, I've missed you Hales," Nathan whispered to her.

Haley cautiously laid her cheek onto Nathan's shoulder. "I've missed you too Nathan," Haley whispered.

"Free for you, whenever you need
We'll be free together baby
Free together baby
I'm going to love you more than anyone
I'm going to hold you closer than before"

Nathan pulled back slightly so Haley's head came off of his shoulder. He made eye contact with her brown eyes, the eyes he was always so drawn in by.

He bit his lip and slowly moved his head in.

"And when I kiss your soul"

Haley stood still as Nathan's lips briefly and lightly touched hers, creating a rush of feelings. Her mind on the other hand, was in overdrive, or well as much overdrive it could manage in her intoxicated state.

"your body'll be free
I'll be free for you anytime"

Nathan stared into her eyes again, searching for a reaction. He saw confusion, shock, and….happiness. Nathan smiled, but he did nothing more. He would wait for Haley's reaction, she had to make the next move. It was how it always was in their relationship. She would put her heart out, he would screw up, make a move, and then wait to see what she would do.

"I'm going to love you more than anyone
I'm going to love you more than anyone"

Alright the (abridged) songs were Songs in my Pockets, Crazy Girls, and Don't walk away by Bethany Joy Lenz/Galeotti and More than Anyone by Gavin DeGraw. In case you couldn't guess, I do not own any one bit of them.