A/N: Ok here we go. The LAST chapter. Another complete story.

No matter how many I write, it still always feel so satisfying to finish a story.

I hope you like it….

Chapter 7

Nathan POV

"Look I know you're set in how you want this to end but it's better if you leave all the talking to me," Mouth said as we walked up the large stone steps to the court house.

"Don't worry, I'll behave," I said.

"I'm just saying we have a plan and we should stick to it," Mouth said, "it wouldn't surprise me if they take one look at your bruises and want to redraft the custody agreement."

I bit my lip, hoping that wouldn't happen, then remembered that was the last thing I should have done because of the cut.

I had woken up this morning feeling strangely calm. Last night with Brooke was one of the most intense conversations in my life. I had put myself out there for her, and she didn't take it.

The worst part was, if I was in her situation I probably wouldn't either. I'd caused her too much hurt. I didn't deserve her.

It really was over.

If it meant Brooke stopped hurting I would have to deal with it.

We walked up to the reception desk and the woman directed us to a room number.

We walked down a few corridors and went into a small room, with an oval table in the middle. Brooke was sitting on one side with her lawyer. She was wearing a pant suit but she didn't look happy. She looked tired, as if she'd been up all night. I suddenly felt another wave of guilt at putting her through this again.

Last night had to happen for me to understand where we stood, but Brooke didn't need last night. If anything it probably just brought up all those feelings of hurt again.

"Hi," Brooke said.

"Hi," I responded with a weak smile.

Mouth shook hands with her lawyer and we all sat down.

We all sat in silence for a few minutes waiting for the judge to come in. I couldn't bring myself to look at Brooke and see the pain I had caused her. I stared ahead at the glossy mahogany table instead.

"Are you coming by tomorrow morning before we leave?" she asked.

"I'll be there," I said.

"Good. The kids want to see you," she said.

"Are they ok?" I asked. We both knew I didn't mean in general, I meant after last night.

Brooke nodded, "Codes and Ella are oblivious."

"Talia?"

"Nate, Tal told me she told you that me and Julian were together," Brooke said, and I looked into her eyes, "we aren't. She was just mad. I wouldn't start seeing somebody without telling you, and I'm nowhere near that point—"

"It's ok," I said stopping her. So Brooke wasn't dating? I didn't need to hear her explanation though, she didn't owe me anything.

"So whatever you heard, he wasn't talking about me. He has a girlfriend, maybe it was about—"

"Brooke really, you don't owe me any explanations," I said.

Mouth and Brooke's lawyer sat in silence trying not to act like they were intruding on a personal conversation.

"I just wanted to say, I understand why you got mad," she said.

I gave her a nod, but didn't feel any better. Ok Brooke wasn't dating. But she would be one day. Her reassuring me now didn't really make a difference.

Brooke looked at me curiously, waiting for a bigger response, but my defeatist attitude was taking over.

The door to the side opened, and the judge, a short man in his late fifties sat down, with a file in front of him.

"Ok then," he said, shuffling through them.

"Proceedings seem pretty simple," he said, "looking over the notes from both lawyers, both parties are in agreement with all the terms regarding the children. Is that correct?"

"Yes," Brooke and I both said at the same time.

"Good," he said, "Then the only thing left to work out now is the division of assets, then you just have to sign here, and you're divorced."

The judge put two bundles of paperwork in the middle of the table.

"There's nothing to work out, she can have it all," I said, taking Mouth's pen from in front of him and reaching for the packets of paper.

"What?" Mouth said, and I could hear his internal monologue freaking out because I had just undone all the work regarding negotiations, which he had probably done.

"Mr Scott, that's a very big sweeping statement," the judge said.

Brooke leaned forward looking confused.

"No, Nathan what are yo—" Brooke began.

"Brooke you and I both know sitting here getting divorced from you is the last thing I want to do. But that's my part to deal with because it's my fault and I know that. I lost myself for a while there; thinking I'd lost my dream, but I know now that basketball was never my dream. You were. More than that though my dream is just for you to be happy and if signing this paper and getting divorced will make you happy, then I'll do it."

I could feel four pairs of eyes on me, but I ignored them and signed both identical packets on the bottom line, then stood up.

"My part's done?" I asked the official.

"Yes it is," he said.

"I'm sorry for everything," I said to Brooke. She was staring at me speechless. In fact, everyone was.

I opened the door, and walked out, heading out the building.

The cold wind blew in my face and I took a deep breath. My heart was racing but I felt ok. Numb like I did this morning but I felt like I had finally done a good thing. I had hurt Brooke long enough. I wasn't going to be the cause of her pain anymore.

Xxxxxxxx

Talia POV

"Did you check all the stuff in your desk?" Mom asked, "we're not coming back if you forget anything. You'll have to wait until Uncle Luke ships it over."

"Yeah, I have it all," I assured her.

Mom was moving the last few boxes from the dining room to the hallway for the moving guys to put it in the truck. We were taking all the necessities, then everything else would get sent over gradually.

"Are you sure?" she asked, but I could tell she was only half listening. She had been like this since yesterday. I could tell she was in her own world. I don't know what she was thinking about but it didn't take a genius to figure out it had something to do with Dad.

I know all this time I wanted her to let go of Dad and for him to let go of her, but now that they were officially divorced I didn't feel as satisfied as I thought I would. If anything I actually felt sad.

"Yeah Mom, don't worry," I said pulling on my jacket.

The front door was open so I could see Dad's range rover come around the moving truck and park.

Mom stood frozen for a few seconds watching the car and watching Dad get out. I wanted to say something reassuring to her, but I didn't know what I could possibly say that would help.

"Mom?" I said, after she stood there for a good minute without reacting.

"Huh? Oh right," she said, opening the door to the living room, "Ella, Cody, Daddy's here."

Ella and Cody came flying out the living room and out the door, and I watched them jump into his arms as he held them both at the same time.

The shrieks of excitement from outside and the silence of in here contrasted drastically.

Mom leaned against the doorway watching the three of them.

I stood beside her and watched on as Dad sat the two of them on the hood of his car and was talking to them.

"We're good to go ma'am," one of the loaders said.

"Ok, thanks," Mom said, picking up her handbag, and keys, "Come on Tal."

Dad saw us leaving the house, and took it as his signal to hug both Ella and Cody once more before bringing them to Mom's car.

Mom opened the door, and Dad put them in their seats, with reassuring words he would see them soon.

Dad closed the doors gently and put his hands in his pockets.

"I'll see you soon Tal?" he said sounding unsure. He looked nervous and I didn't blame him. I couldn't remember the last time we had a real conversation. He must also hate me for creating the whole mess with Julian.

"Yeah," I said nodding, feeling guilty.

"Ok," he said, looking conflicted between what to do now, "drive safe?" he said to Mom.

"I will," she said, her voice sounding foreign to me.

Dad started walking back to the car, and Mom sighed.

She started walking over to her side of the car.

"Dad, wait!" I yelled. He stopped and turned around.

"I'll be two minutes," I said to Mom.

I jogged down to the end of the driveway where Dad was.

"Is everything ok?" he asked looking concerned.

"I'm sorry," I blurted out.

"For what?" he asked, gently—the opposite of how he should be treating me.

"I lied to you about Julian. He isn't dating Mom. He never was. I know I ruined everything and I'm sorry, I just—"

"Honey, it's ok," he said, "I know."

"You do?" I asked, " I don't want you to hate me."

"Talia is that what you think?" he said frowning, "I could never hate you."

I could help but start to cry. I cried for this year, I cried for how I had been treating Dad, and I cried for all the time I had lost because I wouldn't let him in.

Dad pulled me into a hug, and the second his familiar scent hit me, I felt like I was coming home.

"Why did you do it Dad?" I asked, into his chest, "I kept asking myself what we did to make you leave—"

"Talia, no," he said pushing me away, and gripping my arms, "You guys or your Mom never did anything. Never blame yourself for what happened. This is all because I messed up. I can't tell you how much I wish I could take back that year, but I can't."

I looked up at him with tearful eyes, and he wiped away a single tear, which escaped.

" I love you guys more than anything," he said, "there is nothing that matters to me more than you kids. I'm sorry that I failed you."

"I'm sorry I pushed you away," I said.

"It breaks my heart that I hurt you enough to make you want to push me away," he said, "I will always be here for you. I'm your Dad."

"I know. I love you," I said, gripping his hoodie, not wanting to move half way across the state now I finally had my dad back.

"I love you too Natal—sorry Talia," he said.

"No, it's ok," I said, letting someone use my full name, the name that derived off his, for the first time in ages, "call me Natalia."

He smiled softly at me, and put a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"I love you Natalia," he said, and I smiled.

Things were going to be ok.

Xxxxx

Brooke POV

I sat back in my chair and watched Talia and Nathan in the rear view mirror. My eyes glossed over as I saw Talia hug her Dad for the first time since we separated.

They separated and talked for a while, and I was glad they were opening up to each other again. I think what made this even harder for them was that they were very similar; they always had been.

Nathan had walked up to the house this morning and I didn't think it would be as hard as it was. We were divorced now. If anything though, I didn't feel relief. I felt worse. This was meant to solve our problems; getting divorced and getting a fresh start by moving away but it all just felt wrong.

Nathan had walked out the courthouse and I'd sat there for a while, his words just playing over and over as if I kept hitting replay on a tape player. His words had translated as a declaration of love for me. I always knew Nathan loved me; that was never the problem; I loved him too. The part I found most difficult was how he had actually given up. He was giving in that this was really over, and from that moment onwards there really wouldn't be any chance for us. It wasn't that I wanted a chance; I just didn't want it to be completely off the table.

In the back of my mind, having Nathan there, even if we weren't together was a source of comfort. Now I wouldn't have that. All I would have was a quick exchange of children every other weekend.

I was up all night, these thoughts running through my mind. I hated myself for being so affected by the fact I was affected by this. Of course it would be hard; I did just get divorced. It wasn't meant to be easy.

A divorce was meant to be good though, especially for the party that wanted one. That definitely wasn't Nathan, it was me, but all I felt was vulnerability and emptiness.

Nathan had come to the house this morning in his worn jeans and black zip up hoodie that I had spent many nights wearing.

Seeing him wearing something I had such a connection to, created a lump in my throat.

Talia hugged Nathan and came back to the car, and I wiped my eyes quickly, not wanting to make a big deal out of what had happened between Tal and Nathan, or alerting her to my unease.

"Ok, we can go," Talia said, sounding happier, then added, "are you ok?"

"I'm fine," I said.

"Mom, I…" she stopped mid sentence.

"Yeah?" I prompted.

"Just… I just want you to be happy," she said.

"I am happy," I said, reaching out and giving her hand a squeeze.

She hesitated for a second then gave me a small smile.

"Ok," she said.

I reversed out the driveway and head toward the highway. I resisted the urge to look in the mirror behind me and watch Nathan leave.

The car was silent as we drove. It was one of the rarer times, Cody and Ella were keeping to themselves. It was as if we were all aware of the momentous step were taking.

I saw the exit for the beach on the left, and I caught a glimpse of the back of the beach houses where I knew Nathan's parents place was.

Suddenly I was hit with a flashback as I was transported to the moment we lay in front of the fire all those years ago and Nathan proposed to me.

In that moment I felt safe. Like everything would be ok. I always felt like that with Nathan. I knew he would always be there for me no matter what.

"Mom?" Talia asked.

"Yeah?" I asked, coming back to reality.

"You're acting weird," she said, "do you want to stop?"

"Sorry, no I'm ok."

"We can get through anything," Nathan said.

"We can?" I asked, but not because I doubted him, because I needed some sort of reassurance that everything would work out.

He nodded.

"As long as we're together we can get through anything Brooke, because I love you," he said pulling away from me slightly. "And I want to make sure you're by my side forever."

Images of Nathan and I over the years flicked through my mind, and with each one, the tugging feeling in my stomach, pulling me back to toward Tree Hill grew.

"Our family is our happy ending," Nathan said.

"I love you Nathan Scott," I said holding out my hand. Nathan slipped the ring, which was a perfect fit onto my ring finger, and I leaned forward at the same time as Nathan.

"Forever," he whispered just before his lips met mine and in that moment I knew everything would be ok.

I pulled over to the side of the road, and gripped the wheel. Talia didn't say anything but I could feel her worried eyes on me.

My head was saying one thing, but my heart was saying another.

I knew what I wanted. I was just scared. Scared to put myself out there in case I fell.

I signalled, and pulled out again. Going straight.

All I needed was a sign. Something to tell me what to do.

I drove on. Talia still hadn't stopped looking away.

I could hear the dull ringing of my cell phone coming out my handbag.

"Can you get that?" I asked Talia.

She reached into my bag and pulled out my phone.

"It says Daniel Kantas," she said.

"My lawyer?" I said confused, wondering why he was calling me. I thought everything was finished yesterday.

I reached for the Bluetooth headset from the ashtray which was never used for its actual purpose, and slipped it into my ear.

"Hello?"

"Brooke! Tell me you're still in Tree Hill," he said.

"I just left," I said, "I'm on my way out. What's going on?"

"I need you to sign something," he said.

"Oh you're kidding! We forgot something yesterday?" I said, thinking it must be something to do with lawyers fees, "can you not just fax them to me? I'll sign it and send it back to you."

"No, you need to do this in front of a judge," he said.

"Why? What is it?" I asked confused.

"Brooke!" he said sounding exasperated, "the divorce papers aren't signed."

"What are you talking about?" I said, "I saw Nathan sign them, we all saw him."

"Yes he did, but you didn't. You just put them back in the envelope and sealed them so we all assumed you did!"

" I didn't sign the divorce papers?" I asked.

"No. I'm sorry but you're still married," he said, and I felt a smile appear on my face.

"I'm not," I said.

I suddenly turned the car around.

"Mom!" Talia shrieked, holding onto the dashboard. The kids in the back let out squeals of excitement at the car jerking.

I ended the call and drove back toward Tree Hill, pressing down on the pedal.

There it was. My sign. The divorce papers weren't signed. Deep down I never wanted this.

I was scared in case I fell but I knew if I did, Nathan would always be there to catch me.

Xxxx

Nathan POV

I was still standing in their driveway ten minutes later, and I knew if I hadn't reached it already, staying any longer would verge me on pathetic.

I sighed, and got into the car.

They were gone. They were actually gone.

I hadn't lived with them for a year but at least knowing they were only fifteen minutes away gave me peace of mind. Now there would be no more being able to do random late night drive bys to make sure they were ok, or calling on impulse to see if the kids were free to do something.

There was also no longer a very big chance of seeing them in the mall, or at the park. I wouldn't even get to see Talia, at the other kids when they got older, at school anymore.

I drove toward my house, but found myself driving straight passed it. I didn't want to go home yet. I knew once I did there was a very big chance I would start feeling sorry for myself and I swore when I signed those papers that I would deal with it well.

It was hard, but this is how it was going to be now.

My mind was on autopilot and I found myself pulling in at the River court. It was the one place that gave helped me think straight over the years, and I was hoping it would help me now.

I took the spare ball I kept in the trunk out, and walked over to the basketball court.

The place was completely empty, nobody else bothering to be out in the cool drizzle. I bounced it a couple of times, before throwing it into the hoop, but as the perfect shot went through I didn't feel any better.

I let the ball bounce away slowly and roll onto the grass but I didn't bother to get it. For the first time in my life, basketball didn't seem to be the answer.

I didn't bother to try and get into it, and took the ball back to the car with me instead.

There was no avoiding it. I would have to go home sometime.

I couldn't linger around town the rest of my life.

On top of everything else, home was riddled with memories. It was the house where the kids grew up, and we had lots of happy memories. Brooke had been the one who insisted she move when we separated, not wanting to be surrounded by memories. I couldn't find it in myself to let go though.

Maybe now, moving out was what I had to do as my first step toward accepting my life.

I hated to think of anyone else living in that house though.

I slowed the car down as I approached the street before the house, just to prolong having to go in. Inevitably, I ended up turning the car into the driveway.

The number of times I had driven in and seen Brooke standing outside, having just come home herself. I could almost see her standing there now—

I turned the car off and blinked, hoping it wasn't just wishful thinking that I could see Brooke right now.

I got out the car and sure enough she was still standing there.

Brooke stood by her car, with her bottom lip in between her teeth, looking unsure.

"Is everything ok?" I asked, hoping the kids were ok.

I looked into her car and saw the younger two asleep, and Talia purposely not looking in my direction.

"They're fine," Brooke said.

"Then…what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be on the way to Greensboro?" I asked confused.

"I can't go to Greensboro," she said, putting her hands in the front pockets of her jeans and walking over to meet me halfway.

"Why not?"

"My husband lives here," she said.

I looked at her confused.

"The divorce didn't go through. I forgot to sign something," she said.

Oh. So she has to stay until the weekend is over and she can go to the courthouse again on Monday.

"So you're delayed until the office is open again?" I asked.

"No," she said.

"I don't understand," I responded.

"I'm pretty sure I didn't forget to sign it," she said, "I think I just didn't want to."

"Brooke I really don't understand," I said.

"If I go on Monday, it will mean we'd be divorced."

"Yeah?" I prompted.

"And that's a problem because I want to be married to you," she said.

"Huh?" I blurted out. Now I was definitely sure I was either twisting her words to hear what I wanted to hear, or this was all a dream. Because I knew this conversation couldn't mean what I hoped it did. It was too good to be true.

"Brooke, I—"

My words were cut off as Brooke grabbed onto my t-shirt and pulled me closer, making it easier for her to kiss me.

For the first time in a long time, Brooke's lips touched mine, and I knew now that all those memories I had of me and Brooke kissing didn't do the real thing justice.

I slipped back into familiarity and wrapped my arms around her waist, kissing her back.

The kiss started off gentle and cautious but it soon turned back into loving and passionate.

It felt like everything around us disappeared as it felt like we were the only things here. Right now, nothing else mattered.

Brooke pulled away, her cheeks tinged with pink.

"I don't understand," I said, playing with a strand of her hair, "I thought you said we'd been through too much."

"We have, but that's what makes it all worth it, and makes us who we are," she replied, looking up at me, "I love you Nathan."

Brooke let out a little breath, then looked at me with a sparkle in her eye that I hadn't seen for a very long time. Somehow I knew then that Brooke was back. My Brooke was back. It wasn't just me that had lost myself for a while; Brooke had too. I knew though that we'd both found each other again, and we wouldn't have been able to do that without each other.

She pulled me in for another kiss, and I happily obliged. I couldn't stop the smile that I knew was on my face. I felt whole again.

I lifted Brooke up, and she wrapped her legs around my waist.

I looked over her shoulder, and caught a glimpse of Talia through the window of the car. She winked at me and smiled.

Brooke pulled back , and I put my hands at the base of her back to make sure she didn't fall.

"But what about how you said sometimes love isn't enough, and no relationship should be this hard and difficult?" I said, repeating her words from the day before, unable to believe this was happening.

Brooke smiled and said the words that we'd forever remember when things got tough.

"Baby, nobody writes books and music about the ones that come easy."

Xxxxx

A/N: I feel like I have butterflies in my stomach after the last scene, especially the last line.

Ok so the next project. If anyone has any ideas let me know.

Also Fame has one more chapter I think…or it may be two, I need to check. But either way that will be out very soon. Hopefully before Easter.