Hello, Hello readers (for those of you still reading)

I know this chapter is short but I'm hoping to get this all finished by the end of the year because it seems to fit.

A big thank you to theresatheresa20 your review made me want to get my act together and finish typing this all up but just a warning the cliffhanger at the end is totally dedicated to you for making me sit through so many with your amazing stories!

Any mistakes are mine we are all human and I make tons so please forgive me.

Again I own nothing if I did I've be a lot richer.

So Enjoy xoxo

Chapter 18
Haley POV

Heartbroken, that's something I know well. I wish I didn't but more importantly I wish my kids didn't. Karen had offered to take the kids for the day knowing after the last month, I needed a day off. I sat outside by our pool wondering how I had held it together for so long as my mind drifted back to the day I received the note.

*Flashback*

It was a Tuesday, the day it came. Two days after Nathan had kissed me. I had been sorting out the mail when I came across his handwriting… I just stood there looking at it, wondering why he would send a letter, sure he said he'd be in touch but I figured that meant in form of a phone call at least. The kids happened to be at the rivercourt with the guys so I opened the note:

Dear Haley,

Forgive me, what I have put you through over the last few years has been nothing but that of a bad husband and father. I will always love you but if I haven't been able to get you to love me back by now I know it's pointless. You are a stubborn woman Haley James Scott, it's one of the things I love about you most. As well as your kindness, faithfulness, support, loyalty, I love everything about you, always have, always will- until my last breath.
But I have to be fair to you, I know how hard it's been on you so I'm leaving, for good. I had a special weekend with Jamie & Sophie that hopefully they will remember forever, not how their father couldn't stay around… I love them, they are the best parts of us Hales, but we can't live like this anymore so I'm doing this so you can move on and they won't see you as the bad guy- I'm not going to be around at all and I won't contact you at all.

All my love is for you and my heart has always been yours.
I'm sorry- Nathan.

Tears were pouring from my eyes by the time I had finished the letter, I grabbed the phone and dialed his cell. "The number you have called has been disconnected" I couldn't believe it, he had really gone. I hung up and it suddenly rang.

"Nathan?" I answered.

"No hunny, it's Deb. What's going on?"

"Have you heard from him? Deb I just got this letter and he won't answer his cell"

"I know, I got one too and can't reach him on any number and the dealership is saying he blocked out his calendar last Friday and had no appointments"

He lied to me, "Oh Deb, I'm sorry- I have no idea what to say?"

"Haley sweetie, are you okay?"

"No, I'm not. What am I going to do, how do I tell Jamie and Sophie that their dad isn't coming home?"

"I swear if my son is still alive, I'll kill him for this. Do you want me to come down?"

"No Deb, Thanks for the offer but you need to stay there in case he comes to you"

"Okay; I don't think he will as his letter said not to come looking for him. I'll stay but if you need me call and I'll be there"

"Thanks Deb. Please call if you hear anything"

"You too. I love you Haley, it's going to be alright" she tells me as we hang up and I collapsed to the kitchen floor in tears and that is where Rachel found me two hours later

"Haley? Oh crap what happened?"

"He's gone" I cry handing her the letter. She held me close as she read it and as she finished up I could tell she was lost for words

"Come on hun, let's get you to the sofa at least" she said helping me up calling Bevin and Peyton on the way and then ringing Luke asking him to take my kids to Karen and that she would explain later

I shook my head bring me back to the present, everyone had been amazing. Thanksgiving had been last week and although I felt thankful for little this year the group had all banded together for dinner at Karen's even Deb had come to stay for a couple of days.

I had two wonderful children to look after who didn't really understand where Nathan had gone (although neither did I) but since thanksgiving I had really started to get back on track. Nathan was and would always be a huge part of my life but I needed to move on and be strong for my kids.

*End*

The phone rang pulling me out of my thoughts "Hello?"

"Haley, it's me" a voice came in tears down the line

"Brooke? What's wrong?" I ask

"Chase" was all I could understand through her tears

"Brooke, calm down I can't understand you" I say worried

"Chase" she sniffed "Hales I caught him with a girl from work"

"Oh Brookie, what the hell was he thinking?"

"I don't know, Hales I know it's a lot to ask but do you think you could come up here for a couple of days"

"Sure Brooke, I'll call Deb and make sure she can come down and stay with the kids and I'll call you back"

"Thanks tutormom" she said before hanging up

I dialed Deb's number the moment Brooke hung up and explained to her the situation "I've got to go to New York for a couple of days to be with Brooke, it seems her and Chase are having some issues. She just rung me in tears and I'm going to head off straight away but I needed to make sure you could spare a couple of days to come and look after the kids"

"Of course honey, I'll pack some stuff now and be there tonight"

I sighed "thanks Deb, Karen has James and Sophie right now so if you could pick them up from her that would be great, I'll call her and let her know"

"Okay that's fine, when will you be back?"

"I'm not sure yet, at this point I'm not sure if I'll be bringing Brooke back with me" I tell her

"Oh I hope it's not that bad"

"Yeah me too, after everything Nathan and I went through I wouldn't want it to happen to my friends. But thanks so much for doing this Deb I have no idea what I'd do without you these days"

"Anytime Haley, just go and take care of our girl and I'll see you when you get back"

"Will do, I'll see you in a couple of days"

I hung up from Deb and called Karen to let her know what was going one and then went to pack dialing Brooke back as I went

"Brooke it's Haley, I'm on the first flight"

"Thanks Hales,

"Don't worry about it, I'll get a cab from the airport when I get there"

"Okay I'll just leave the apartment un-locked"

I left the house and jumped in and car, pulling out of the drive I turned the car towards the airport and hit the gas. I got to the airport in record time booking a seat on the first flight I could and text Brooke with the time I would get in.
I checked in and boarded. The flight itself seemed to me like hours like I was flying to Europe not New York, I knew it was because I was just in a hurry to see Brooke.

Chase, I could just about kill him, how could he treat her like this.

The plane landed and I grabbed my stuff and ran outside flagging down the first cab I could giving the driver the address. The ride to Brooke's felt as slow as the plane had – I remembered why I hated New York traffic.

We arrived at the apartment and I threw money at the driver telling him to keep the change. I rushed into the building and took the lift to the right floor and sprinted down the hall and into the apartment, dumping my bags in the hall running up the stairs to the master bedroom but she wasn't there. I checked the upstairs guest room thinking maybe she was staying in there not wanting to be reminded of Chase but again nothing.

"Brooke?" I called out but no response "Brooke? Are you here?" I called again walking down the stairs. As I reached the bottom a figure walked around the corner, as they came more into the light I saw who it was

"Nathan?"