So here is the final chapter, hope you've all enjoyed it and any good or bad points about it would be great so I can know if I should bother writing this kind of style again.
4.
"Oh god Haley, I'm so sorry." Nathan said tears in his eyes, the full extent of the situation clear to him, Haley had just lost the only other member of family she had in the world.
Haley stood up and paced before stopping.
"God I need to tell Peyton, she needs to hear it from me." Haley said her voice still a monotone.
"Maybe you should leave it for a bit." Nathan said standing up as well, trying to be ready to catch her if she suddenly crumbled.
"No she needs to hear this from me, I can't let her down again." Haley said firmly heading for the door.
"Well let me give you a lift and come with you." Nathan said desperately not wanting to let her out of his sight, he was pretty sure it hadn't sunk in yet and when it did she was going to fall apart and he needed to be there for her.
"No she won't want to see both of us together right now, its only a block away I can walk, don't worry I'll be back later." Haley said with out even looking back at him.
She walked quickly hugging her arms tightly around herself not even having thought to grab a jumper and as she rushed to her friends she couldn't help the tears that were escaping her eyes as she thought of how she was going to tell Peyton.
She approached Peyton's front door and knocked a clear plan still not in her head, not even thinking of the fact Peyton might not want to talk to her.
The door open and Peyton stood there for a second taking in the appearance of Haley, before Haley could even talk Peyton started.
"He's cheated on you hasn't he, ha. Even I didn't think it would be this quick." Peyton said a small victorious grin on her face.
"Peyton." Haley started but was cut off again.
"I told you not to come running to me when he did this I don't care." Peyton said harshly, the Haley Nathan thing had caused her so much pain and now she was happy to be able to repay the favour.
"Peyton." Haley tried again more tears leaking down her face.
"I don't care what you have to say I warned you, you know I phoned your dad yesterday and told him and he was so disappointed in you." Peyton said not guessing the unbelievably devastating effects those words would have.
Haley started to back away from Peyton's door, her dad had heard all about what she had done with out having heard her side and the last thing he would have been thinking about her before he died was how disappointed he would have been in her. The sick feeling in her stomach got 10 times worse and she staggered off, the police officers words suddenly sinking in, she had no family left in the world.
Nathan approached Peyton slowly the next day at school, he didn't really want to be there but he knew he had to talk to Peyton as Haley wasn't able to. Last night he had worried when she hadn't come home so he had searched every where for her and finally found her at her mothers graveside.
He had carried her home and held her all night as she sobbed. She had told him what had happened at Peyton's and he had promised he would tell her and he had left Haley in bed where she had finally managed to drift off to sleep, after telling Peyton he was going to return to her, school wasn't important to him or missing basketball as long as he could be there for her.
"Peyton I need to talk to you." Nathan said, feeling very tired, he was so cross at her for the cruel things she had said to Haley at the party but he didn't want to be the one to give her the bad news.
"Nathan I had nothing to say to you." Peyton said rolling her eyes at him and going back to her conversation with Brooke.
"Peyton please this is important." Nathan said seriously.
"Look you screwed up and cheated on her and like I said I don't care." Peyton said angrily.
"Peyton it's nothing to do with us, it's about Haley's dad." Nathan said and Peyton suddenly looked at him.
"What's happened?" Peyton asked her voice quiet, she hadn't been expecting this.
"I'm really sorry but he was in a car accident yesterday and he didn't make it." Nathan said his voice cracking slightly.
"Nathan this is a really sick joke." Peyton said her eyes filling with tears as Brooke grabbed her hand looking really sad.
"I'm so sorry Peyton, Haley tried to tell you yesterday." Nathan explained and watched as pain spread across Peyton's face.
"Oh god." Peyton said putting her head in her hands "the last thing I said to her was how her dad must be so disappointed in her." Peyton said the tears flowing down her face as she looked back up, regret shining in her eyes "Is she ok? Where is she?" Peyton asked.
"She's at home, I found her by her mum's grave last night, she didn't really get much sleep last night. I'm going to go back there now actually." Nathan said, glad he had managed to tell Peyton so he could get back to her.
"Yeah she'll really need someone right now, you should go make sure she's ok." Peyton said nodding her head.
"Yeah I will." He said nodding sadly.
"Just tell her that I'm sorry, about her dad." Peyton said wiping at her eyes "and to not worry about me, I've got my dad, well I've got people looking after me, cause she'll worry if she thinks I haven't got anyone to be there for me." Peyton explained knowing her best friend so well, as she broke down in tears and Brooke hugged her.
As Nathan walked away he was disappointed he had hoped Peyton would come with him and offer Haley some comfort but he guessed it was too soon, but it also made him incredibly sad, if this awful situation didn't unite the two friends he didn't know what could.
"Did he like Leonard Cohen or Van Morrison best, I should know this stuff but I can't remember." She said, the stress evident in a voice "Also are sandwiches going to be enough I don't know what people are expecting, Karen said she could help but I don't want to put her out." She pulled again roughly at her hair a habit she picked up over the few days.
"You just have to calm down, what ever you choose he would have loved." Nathan tried to reassure her, its funny the old him would have given up, with a girl in this situation but if anything he couldn't bear to see her hurting and wanted to make her feel better. He didn't care that she shouted and got frustrated, he still loved her.
"He deserves it to be perfect, what kind of daughter am I that I can't even do the best for him. He deserves the best." Haley shouted before bursting into tears again.
Nathan hugged her and gently stroked her back not knowing what to say just hoping it was enough.
The door bell rang and Haley groaned.
"I know they are just being nice but I wish the neighbours would stop bringing over food." Haley said, she had smiled and thanked all of them but they were just piled up in the kitchen as she couldn't eat much at the moment.
"I'll go deal with it." Nathan assured her kissing her forehead and getting up but stopped when she grabbed his hand.
"I know it's not been easy but I appreciate you being here so much." Haley said her eyes shining with tears and the gratitude clear on her blotchy face.
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." He assured her gently squeezing her hand before going to the door.
He sighed with relief when he saw Peyton there, he had texted her an hour ago asking if she could come help with the funeral plans, he had felt so helpless as he didn't know much about Haley's dad but he knew Peyton could help her choose things.
"Hey, I'm here to help." Peyton said uncertainly.
"Yeah come in. She's in the living room." Nathan said and Peyton slowly went in.
Haley looked up and was surprised to see Peyton stood there, awkwardly, Haley quickly rubbed her eyes.
"Oh hey, I wasn't expecting any company" Haley said indicating the baggy t shirt and pyjama bottoms she'd been wearing for the last few days. "We were just sorting out the funeral." Haley said blinking back the tears, for some reason she didn't want to cry in front of Peyton, she didn't want her to have to deal with her pain when she didn't deserve her comfort.
"Yeah Nathan texted me so I thought I would help, I mean only if you wanted me to." Peyton said uncertainly.
"Yeah I need all the help I can get." Haley said nodding at her and patting a seat next to her on the floor, where lots of cd's and lists were spread out.
"I was trying to decide on who to especially invite to the wake but I couldn't remember who at work he hated." Haley said scanning the list again.
"Well he hated Lynda Frost." Peyton said sitting next to her and looking at the list "Do you remember he came home that day she'd tried to seduce him on his desk." Peyton said and Haley couldn't help but smile at the memory.
"He spent the next two weeks hiding in the photocopying room during lunch." She said " And Phil Smith always tried to offload his work on to him so he could leave early to play golf." Haley said glad that she'd finally remembered something.
Nathan smiled from the door way, he was so glad Peyton had come over, he moved himself into the kitchen until Peyton left, he didn't want to get in the way but there was no way he was leaving her, he planned to be there for her ever step of the way.
She had stood out side the church greeting the occasional person, one of her hands being held by Nathan the other by Peyton and she couldn't be more grateful.
Now she was inside the church listening to vicar talk and she felt numb and she kept remembering back to her mum's funeral where she had sat on her dads lap the whole time and hid her tear stained face against his chest. Her mind was a million miles away when she noticed the church was silent and everyone seemed to be staring at her.
"It's time for you to say some words about him." Nathan whispered in her ear.
Haley nodded and made her way up to the front and started out at all the people waiting for her to talk about her father.
"My dad…" She started but coughed to clear her throat, she had written a speech, things she wanted to say and she had been rereading it all morning.
"My dad was a.." She stopped again, she couldn't do this, she couldn't let go of him, she couldn't talk about him like he was dead. "I'm sorry I can't do this." Haley said and quickly made her way to exit at the back of the church and only stopped when she heard Nathan's voice.
"Hello everyone, my names Nathan, unfortunately I never got to meet Jimmy James. Even thought I never got to meet him I do however know some things about him, I know that he must have been an amazing man because he brought up a truly remarkable daughter and he managed that on the most part all by himself which shows the strength he must have had after losing his wife the love of his life. So I hope they are now reunited in heaven and I hope you all know how lucky you were to have had him in your lives."
Despite herself she could help but give Nathan a small smile, he didn't really know any of the people there and he hated talking in public but for her he had talked about a man he knew little about.
In stead of running off upset, Nathan joined her at the back of the church and she stayed and listened to Peyton and some other people say lovely things about her dad and she was so happy she stayed.
"I thought I'd find you here." Nathan said slowly approaching her, it was after the wake and he wasn't sure if she'd want to be left alone or not, but Peyton had told him to go see her.
"Yeah I just wanted to say my own private good bye." Haley said stepping back from the fresh graveside.
"I can give you a few more minutes." Nathan said.
"No were done. Thank you so much for today that speech was amazing." Haley said smiling adoringly up at him.
Nathan just shrugged, he didn't think it had been very much.
"You'd have done the same for me." He said taking her hand.
"I'm sorry if I've been taking up a lot of your time lately, your dad and Whitey must be furious." Haley said shivering slightly at the thought of Dan Scott.
"Well my dad's an ass nothing new there, he has been having a go at me but I don't care, ever since you've been in my life he just doesn't affect me any more and Whitey understands, he said if I had actually come to practice he would have kicked my ass." Nathan said and Haley gave him a small smile.
"I just don't want to come between you and your family." Haley said sadly.
"Haley you are my family." He said gently stroking her cheek, something he had been mulling over the last few days suddenly seemed appropriate.
"It's so odd the funeral's over and it just seems like I have to go back to my life like everything is normal, I guess this is the new normal." She said as a few tears rolled down her cheeks.
"You know I love you right, more then anyone else ever before. Peyton said I didn't know what love was but I don't think she's ever felt half of what I feel for you." Nathan said.
"I know and you have shown me lately how much and I love you too, after my mum died apart from Peyton I've never really let myself get to close to anyone but now I couldn't imagine my life with out you." She said smiling at him slightly, thanking god she had him in her life.
"I was hoping you'd say that." He said smiling at her before bending down on one knee and pulling a small box out of his pocket.
"Haley James will you marry me." He asked his voice shaking slightly with nerves.
"What, Nathan we've only been going out for a few months. I've lost my family but I don't want you to feel guilty or obliged to me." Haley gasped in surprise, she had not expected this in a million years.
"Haley it's not obligation or guilt, like I said you are my family and I love you and I can't see that changing, ever. I know marriage isn't easy but the thought of loosing you just hurts too much, I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Nathan said still down on one knee.
Haley just looked at him for a second then a wide grin spread over her face.
"I love you too, yes I will marry you." Haley said and Nathan beamed widely before gently placing the ring on her finger before picking her up and twirling her around.
"Everyone's going to think we're crazy." Haley said happy for the first time in a long time wrapped up in Nathan's arms.
"I don't care." Nathan said and kissed her, feeling like he'd made the best decision in his life.
"I haven't been here in forever." Peyton said looking round the old playground, they used to play at until they were 13 and decided they were too old to play in the park.
"Well I had something to tell you and I wanted to do it on neutral ground." Haley said nervously, hiding her hands in her pockets.
"Ok what?" Peyton asked nervously, she was surprised to see Haley out and about only two days after the funeral.
"Nathan and I are getting married this afternoon and I wanted you to be my maid of honor." Haley said giving her an excited smile.
"What this has to be a joke." Peyton said with out even thinking, this was the stupidest idea ever, she knew Nathan had been amazing with Haley lately but people in high school didn't just get married.
"I'm serious Peyton, he asked me the other day and I said yes." Haley said bringing her hand out of her pocket to show Peyton the modest ring.
"And you think I would just forgive you and be your maid of honor." Peyton said in disbelief.
"Yeah I was kind of hoping." Haley said, she knew it'd been a long shot but she wanted Peyton at her wedding so much.
"Look it's been less then a month since I found out you were seeing him behind my back you expect everything to just be back to normal." Peyton said crossly.
"I love him, ok I would never have gone behind your back if he didn't mean so much to me." Haley tried to tell her.
"Well then why didn't you tell me you were falling for him huh." Peyton demanded.
"I was going to but then your dad got into that accident and I didn't want to hurt you more. I have been a great best friend for years and I make one mistake." Haley shouted back.
"Well it was a pretty huge one, it just showed what a self bitch you really were, going after my boyfriend." Peyton said angrily.
"I didn't go after him because he was your boyfriend, I didn't even want to tutor him in the first place. Do you know what its like to have a boy actually like me more then you for once, all our lives I've always been in your shadow." Haley argued back.
"Did I force you to be no." Peyton said.
"But I let you but I'm not going to with this. Peyton I love you, you are my sister but I love him and he's worth all the pain." Haley finished sadly.
"I know how you feel about him, I can see how you feel about each other but I just can't stand by you not yet, I need more time." Peyton said sadly, her anger gone and tears filled her eyes.
"Well I promise you are going to regret not coming to my wedding." Haley said sadly.
"I'm sorry Hales." Peyton said squeezing her arm gently before walking off.
"I just want her to arrive already." Peyton sighed rubbing her extremely large baby bump.
"She obviously just loves her mummy so much she doesn't want to leave." Haley said smirking at her friend as she cradled her 3 month old son in her arms.
"This is all Lucas' fault." Peyton pouted she was fed up of being pregnant and just wanted her daughter to come into the world already.
"Well I hear it takes two. Plus I'm jealous I haven't slept in 3 months." Haley said staring still adoringly at her son, even if he did stop her sleeping.
"Well if he didn't follow me to LA and not give up until I went out with him." Peyton grumbled, although she couldn't help but smile at the memories of Lucas trying to woo her after she had sworn off Scott men.
"Well actually he was only there following me and Nathan to college you were just lucky you got that job at the record company." Haley pointed out, a fact she had thanked her lucky stars for every day as they had managed to repair their friendship due to them living in the same city.
"Yeah that was a great move, brilliant job." Peyton said sarcastically rolling her eyes.
"Well you have red room records now and the best producer in Tree Hill, when we both return from maternity leave." Haley said smiling again. When they were 13 they had decided they were going to start their own label and now amazingly after everything that had happened they had. They only had a few small bands and artists but were building something good.
"At least Quinton's playing better." Nathan said as he and Lucas entered the kitchen.
Lucas kissed Peyton on the head as he gently caressed Peyton's stomach and Nathan gently stroked his son's hair.
"Sorry we had to go in today." Nathan said.
"Yeah you should have planned getting us pregnant better so it was in the summer not in the middle of the basketball season." Peyton said sarcastically.
"How about we make dinner." Nathan suggested, both him and Lucas had been feeling guilty that they had to go to work and leave their wives with a new baby and being heavily pregnant.
"I want spaghetti and meatballs." Peyton said quickly before any other suggestions could be made.
"Your wish is my command." Lucas said smiling at her and the boys headed to the kitchen.
"Now he's asleep I'm going to go put him up stairs, I'll be back in a sec." Haley said getting up.
When she got back down stairs she saw Peyton by the mantle piece looking at the pictures.
"Hey you should be resting." Haley said coming to stand next to her.
"I'm fine." Peyton said softly "You know I do regret it." Peyton said indicating Nathan and Haley's wedding photo which had a very smiley Karen and Lucas in it.
"So this is the bit where I say I rub it in your face and say I told you so." Haley said rolling her eyes and side hugging Peyton.
"Well I'll defiantly come to your next wedding." Peyton said smiling at her.
"Well Pey, the only guys I seem to go for are yours so lets hope there isn't a second one." Haley teased.
"I love you Hales."
"I love you too Peyton."