A/N: Well here it is guys, the final regular chapter. It picks up directly from where it left off in last chapter. I have put the beginning in italics due to its pretty detailed sexual content for any of you who do not wish to read that stuff. I hope you will as it is an important step forward for Nathan and Peyton at this point in their relationship, however, if you skip the italicized parts, you can still get the general jist of it.

Huge thanks, as always, to my readers, and reviewers, thank you so much. I hope you will all like this chapter.

...

He pulled his head back to gaze at her, to ensure himself she wasn't crying this time. "Are you sure?" he asked.

He'd probably asked that same question a dozen times already and he'd only gotten as far as kissing her and kneading her breasts. He needed to be certain she was sure before he pushed further.

Again she nodded, assuring him that she wanted him. That she wanted this to happen, and his mouth clamped back onto hers almost brutally as his hands continued to massage the perky flesh within them.

His tongue darted deep in her mouth, finding hers, duelling with it deliciously. His thumbs circled her hardened nipples before taking them between his fingers and applying some pressure, and finally rubbing his palms over those firm peaks. It felt so damn good to touch her again.

But he was cautious, constantly breaking away to look at her face, worried she'd break out into tears any second. Even so, he pulled off his own shirt, wanting the feel of her bare chest against his own. She was dry eyed so he figured it was okay.

It was better than okay. It was ecstasy for both of them when their naked skin touched.

He groaned deep in his throat. "Fuck, you feel good," he muttered breathlessly, enjoying the moment a while longer before his head bent to draw one supple breast into his mouth, his tongue grazing over the tip while his hand gave more attention to the other, alternating their positions several times and always, always, breaking away to look at her face to ensure it was pleasure, not pain, he was evoking.

Going on instinct alone, Peyton arched her back, giving greater access to that fantastic mouth and capable hand. Oh yes, how she'd missed his touch, a burning heat spreading through her body and settling at the juncture of her thighs. Wild anticipation coursed through her veins at the knowledge that soon he'd be touching her there too.

It wasn't long before he did, and a cry of pleasure escaped her lips as he stroked her over the material of her jeans, but the thick barrier quickly became too big an impediment, so soon his was undoing the button and zipper and dipping his hand inside, his fingers doing wondrous things with the sensitive nub just above her opening.

He seemed to spend an eternity there, rubbing, massaging, until she moaned loudly from the uncontrollable spasm that raked her body.

And then he dipped further down, those same fingers prying apart her delicate folds to slip a couple inside her, probing in and out.

"Oh God," she cried out as another wave of pleasure came over her. This surely was heaven, just as she remembered. She didn't think of Damien or any of the horrific events that had happened here. She only thought of Nathan and what he was doing to her.

He kissed her again, muffling her moans within his mouth.

Her own hands suddenly came between them to touch him, but he gently pushed them away. She brought them right back, but again he responded in kind.

She made a sound of complaint to which he smiled at. "It's my turn this time," he said huskily, and she nodded compliantly, understanding. She'd been pleasuring him this whole time and now he wanted to do the same for her. She blindly decided to let him have that.

She couldn't do it though. Her hands automatically reached for him. She wanted to touch him too. Needed to touch him. But Nathan continued to pull back from her hands, and she finally began to realize how difficult and frustrating it must have been for him when, for months, she pleasured him without allowing him to touch her at all in return. Well, at all in a sexual capacity with an aim to please.

It was pure torture, keeping her hands off him. Was that the point he was trying to make? Trying to show her how hard it had been for him? Probably. It was very Nathan-like to assert a little pay-back, even in times like this.

Truth was, pay-back was the furthest thing from his mind. He had a much simpler reason to refuse her touch—because he was barely able to hold back as it was. If he allowed her hands to roam his body, then this would be over within seconds and, quite frankly, he didn't want it to be. He wanted to savor this time, to bask in the satisfaction of giving her pleasure as she'd given him pleasure. He loved seeing the ecstasy play across her face, hearing the cries of rapture escape her lips. It had been way too long since he had, and he wasn't about to cut it short.

So Peyton was just gonna have to keep her hands to herself as he'd had to do the past several months. Yeah, it sounded a bit like revenge, but it really wasn't.

She forgot about everything, including touching him, when he pulled her jeans and panties right off and trailed hot, wet kisses from her chest, down her flat stomach, to the moist center of her core. There his lips, teeth, and tongue dipped, probed, suckled and teased, wreaking havoc on her already overwrought senses. And when his fingers got involved too, she could hardly stand the torturous pleasure and soon her hips were bucking up and into his face.

She vaguely heard him utter how good she felt, how good she tasted. An involuntary moan escaped her as his tongue thrust deep within her and his fingers rubbed just above.

Her orgasm came swiftly and explosively. And then another, and another.

He stood when he could wait no longer to have her. He pulled his own jeans and boxers off, his manhood springing free, tall and proud at full attention.

She reached for him again, but he shook his head and kissed her breathless once more.

Somehow he had a condom in his hand—he must have pulled it out of his jeans before removing them—and he slipped it on. Gently he pushed her back onto the plank where Damien had had her, and positioned himself between her thighs. "You sure about this?" he asked again. Again she nodded.

He pressed into her, groaning gutturally at the sensation of it and watching her face closely. Nothing obviously amiss, he began slow, rhythmic thrusts. That's when her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

She was holding them back, he realized. So he made a move to pull out of her, but she wrapped her legs around him and whispered to him to stay.

He stayed still, unsure what to do. He wanted her so bad, but sex was supposed to be good for both of them. It was not meant to be a traumatic experience for her. But still, she kept him there with her long legs, and when he didn't move, she did.

So then he did too. "I can stop whenever you want, ok?" he muttered, his voice thick with unfulfilled desire. "Just tell me."

She didn't tell him so he continued. But he didn't like how her eyes shimmered like she would burst into tears any second. The tears didn't fall, but her eyes did flutter closed. To him that was even worse.

"Open your eyes," he gently ordered. "See me, not him," he practically begged.

When she did as he said, that's when a few tears made their way down her cheek.

He kissed them away. "Don't cry, babe," he pleaded. "We can stop. It's ok."

She shook her head. "I don't want to stop," she whispered. "Please. Baby, I want you." She understood his hesitation though and was quick to let him know her tears were happy ones.

And they were. A trembling, unforced smile came to her lips. She was experiencing a whirlwind of emotions, none of which had anything to do with Damien, but all of which had everything to do with Nathan and all the patience, sweetness and understanding he was showing her. She was happy because she was finally loving him again without any dark memories taking over her mind. She could feel whole again, as a woman...as Nathan's lover. And the fact he was being so incredibly observant and thoughtful of her— willing to stop dead all sexual activity for the third time if she needed him to—played hugely on her emotions.

However, she was in no state to explain all of that to him right now. Her body was on fire again, and all she wanted was her man deep within her, plunging in and out until those delicious waves of ecstasy overtook her once more.

Her own movements finally forced him to follow suit. He was too far gone to do anything else when she rocked her body in a slow, sensuous rhythm.

Unfortunately for her, those additional waves of pleasure were not to be, for he came much faster than he would normally do despite trying his best to hold off. "I can't...ahh fuck," he groaned just before he shuddered and spilled.

He hung his head and cursed under his breath, knowing she'd been on the brink of climax once more, but he'd finished too quickly. Damn it. "I'm sorry," he mumbled even as he went ahead and finished her off with his fingers.

"It's ok," she assured him afterward when he apologized again. "Your hands did the trick just fine."

He chuckled, but humourlessly. He wasn't impressed with his staying ability as the moment.

"Oh come on baby," she lightly teased. "So what if you were a minute man this once? I won't tell anyone."

Again came that dry chuckle, and she knew she had to get serious. His sensitive, male ego was on the line. She shouldn't be teasing him. "You don't hear me complaining, do you?" she asked sensually. "I mean, seriously, how many orgasms did I have in a row? I kinda lost count after three."

He chuckled for real now, and shook his head, recognizing her attempt to make him feel better about the total lack of control he'd just experienced. At least he could take comfort in the fact that he wasn't normally 'a minute man'. His concern redirected to her now. "So all of this was ok?" he asked. "You're ok?"

"Baby, I just told you..."

"No," he countered. It wasn't about his ego now. "I mean, are you ok with...?"

"I'm fine," she said affectionately, knowing what he was asking. Was she as ok as she appeared, having sex in general, having sex in this place to be exact. "Thank you for being so patient with me," she added softly.

He gave her a heartfelt smile in return. "What else was I gonna do? Get all pushy and aggressive? That's so two years ago."

She laughed out loud and grabbed a piece of her clothing to put back on, nervous now that someone would walk in on them naked. Funny she hadn't worried about that at all before. She was glad to see him pick up his discarded clothing and begin to dress too.

Fully dressed now except for his shoes, Nathan slid them on and tied the laces, a small smirk on his face when he asked, "So does this mean no more blowjobs? Cause I was getting kinda used to those being a daily thing."

He was joking—sort of—and, figuring she'd know that, he expected some sarcastic barb in return. Instead he heard her sniffle. He turned his head to find her also fully dressed and tears streaming down her face.

He took the few steps toward her and wrapped his arms around her in a tight, almost crushing embrace. He was such an idiot for turning this into a joke, especially since she never had withheld oral favors from him, even before. It hadn't been a daily occurrence then, but still, she'd always been a willing participant, no matter the sexual activity. She was finally able to resume their normal sexual relationship and he mock-complained about getting less of a certain aspect of it? Damn it, he was such an ass. If he could punch himself in the face, he'd do it in a heartbeat. She was obviously still too vulnerable for sex to be made light of. Why couldn't he have realized that five seconds sooner?

"I'm sorry," he said regretfully. "It was a joke, and I'm an idiot."

She shook her head against his strong shoulder. "No, you're not," she denied. "You're perfect. I'm the idiot. I shouldn't have..." The words stuck in her throat, her sobs taking over.

He knew then it wasn't his stupid joke that set her off. Really, he should have known that. "Shouldn't have what?" he pressed, afraid of the answer. Shouldn't have had sex with him? Was it affecting her now, like a delayed reaction type of thing? Had she once again set out to just please him and now felt the effects of the aftermath? The thought of that made his heart sink. He'd really thought she was into it this time. That she'd enjoyed it. Had she faked all those orgasms? He'd heard women could do that. Had she?

The idea of it turned his guilt into anger. She'd pushed this. He was neither a monk nor a mind reader. How the hell else was he supposed to react when she seduced him, knowing how badly he already ached for her? If anyone was to blame here, it was her. He shouldn't feel guilty for taking what she offered so very persuasively. He couldn't be expected to resist her under those circumstances.

He wasn't that guy to do the 'right thing' while she went out of her way to flame his already inflamed body, and she knew it. She knew he would go for it.

He shouldn't feel guilty, but he did nonetheless. "Shouldn't have what?" he repeated, a little harsher this time, almost daring her to state her regrets out loud.

"I shouldn't have let you walk out of the airport," she surprised him by saying. She sniffled again and went on. "I should have chased after you and dragged you back in, and we should have gotten on that plane and gone to Vegas and gotten married."

He pulled back to look at her, his arms on her shoulders. "You wouldn't have had to drag me in," he told her, a little less angry though a little more frustrated that she could never seem to make up her mind.

"I know," she acknowledged. "It's me. You've known what you want all along. I'm the idiot who's been all over the place." She'd let herself and others talk her out of something she actually wanted and had let Nathan down in the process. She didn't know why she did these things but she hated herself for it.

As glad as he was to hear her admit she was the fickle one here, he wasn't thrilled that she called herself an idiot. He understood her reluctance to marry even though he didn't feel it and hers tended to piss him off. "It's ok, Peyton," he said soothingly. "I get it. You and everyone else are right. We're not ready." Oh, how it irked him to say that. It didn't ring true to him at all, and he doubted she believed him either. But he had to try to make her feel better. He just had to. He hated seeing her cry. "And besides," he added with a smirk. "I kinda like what we did instead."

She laughed despite the fact her tears still freefalled down her cheeks. He didn't know she'd planned that for them anyway. It wasn't meant to be an 'instead'. Beautiful green eyes looked up to stare into gorgeous blue ones. "I want to marry you," she whispered.

He nodded solemnly. "I know," he whispered back. "When we're ready," he added in a tone that spoke understanding.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "Today. Right now."

"But..."

"No buts."

Oh, she knew that everyone was right for the most part. But Nathan didn't care about all that stuff and she finally realized, just now, that neither did she. She just wanted to marry him. She couldn't love him any more than she already did in this moment, and she knew that no amount of time or preparation would change her feelings for him. So why had she held back?

She knew only her regret. She wanted to marry him, not because he wanted it, but because she wanted it. She realized now that she wanted it more than anything.

If only she'd realized it before she'd made them miss their flight. And if only those practical things such as money and a place to live didn't exist.

Nathan stared at her, a mixture of sadness and gladness running through him. It wasn't making love to him she regretted, but her doubts about marrying him. That did his heart some good. But it was too late. They'd missed their flight.

He was at a loss for how to comfort her. He wouldn't tell her what she'd done was all right because it wasn't. She had let him down, and he wasn't gonna lie and say he wasn't hurt that she backed out at the very last minute. He was rather glad, actually, to hear her say she wished she hadn't.

"So what now?" he asked.

She didn't answer for a while, and then suddenly she snatched his hand and pulled him toward the exit. "Come on," she said.

"Where we going?" he questioned.

"First to the beach house to clean up," she said. "I have an idea that might make everyone happy."

...

"What is this about?" Dan Scott roared as Brooke showed him into the sitting room at the Davis household for the second time that day.

Brooke lifted her shoulders uncertainly. It was several hours since everyone had dispersed from her house, and it had taken much effort on her part to get them all back, but she'd done it. All who'd been gathered earlier were now gathered again, including Cooper, who'd been halfway back to Charlotte by the time she'd reached him.

Dan wasn't the only one questioning their returned presence. Everyone wondered why they'd been called back after the disaster from earlier.

But Brooke couldn't answer their questions, for she was just as much in the dark as everyone else. "I have no idea," she said. "Peyton called me and told me to get everybody who was here back because she and Nathan want to talk to all of us together."

"Yet, they're not here," Cooper pointed out.

"They're on their way," Brooke said. At least according to Peyton, they were.

"Wonder what they want to say," Rachel wondered aloud. "Think they want to yell at us some more?"

"Highly probable," Brooke replied nervously. Obviously they hadn't made their flight to Vegas, otherwise they'd still be there. Yeah, she could definitely see them telling them all to go to hell once again. That's how angry they'd been when they left and they'd be even more furious if her little plan had caused them to miss the plane. Brooke couldn't say she blamed them at all. She really shouldn't have stuck her nose in there. It was a habit she was finding very difficult to break even though they'd complained about it more than once to her. It was usually because she loved them both so dearly. She only hoped they realized that.

It was an hour before they finally arrived. Probably to keep them all guessing, Brooke thought, not putting it past Nathan, at least, to be vengeful like that. As for Peyton, well, she could easily be convinced of anything if it was Nathan doing the convincing, especially since she'd been just as pissed as he'd been.

The pair strode in hand-in-hand as they had earlier, minus the cautionary, confused looks on their faces, and stood before them all.

"I'm sure you're all wondering why we asked you back here after what happened earlier," Peyton began.

Everyone nodded, and Peyton glanced at Nathan for him to pick up where she'd left off, which was nowhere really.

"We want you to know that we thought about what you all said," Nathan told the crowd, "about us being too young and maybe not ready, and how we're rushing into marriage without giving it proper thought..."

"And how us eloping would hurt those of you who want to be there for our wedding." Peyton added.

"That too," Nathan agreed. "Thanks babe," he whispered for adding the part he'd left out.

"Anytime," Peyton whispered back, her eyes alight with happiness. "Anyway, like Nathan said, we thought about it..."

"And talked about it."

"Yes," Peyton said, smiling her thanks at her handsome man for his own addition. "And while we don't agree with everything that was said, we acknowledge that most of your concerns are valid and come from a good place."

"So we've decided to have a real wedding after graduation..."

"Which is almost a year from now, just saying," Peyton said.

"Yeah," Nathan agreed. "A wedding you will be a part of..."

"Some of you as guests, and a few of you as wedding parties."

Nathan nodded. "Coop, I'd still love you to be best man if you're still interested."

"I'd be honoured, little nephew."

"Brooke?" Peyton took over to her best friend who was literally in tears of sheer relief and happiness. "My meddling best friend," the blonde teased. "You were always meant to be my maid of honor and so you shall be."

Despite her tears, Brooke let out a squeal of delight and practically jumped in Peyton's arms. She might have toppled her over were it not for Nathan's firm grip on her.

Brooke turned to Nathan next, affording him with the same excited embrace she'd had for Peyton.

Tim and Rachel were almost as gleeful as Brooke when told they would also form a part of the wedding party.

Peyton would also ask Haley to be a bridesmaid, but since neither she nor Lucas had participated in this intervention, it would have to wait. Nathan, she knew, was undecided whether to ask Luke to stand for him. They were brothers, yes, and their relationship was developing, but it was still all so new. He had friends he'd known much longer that he could ask, but he was leaving it open for now even though Peyton had her entire party picked out. There was no half sister/half stranger for her to consider, and besides, he had nearly a year to make up his mind.

"And Daddy," Peyton said with eyes that were misting over. "You'll walk me down to aisle just like I always dreamed you would."

Larry's own eyes watered. "Nothing would make me happier, sweetheart," he said, taking his daughter in his arms and embracing her tightly, glad he would have that chance to give her away after coming so close to being denied the opportunity.

He shook Nathan's hand next. "Thank you," he said with heartfelt gratitude. "You've proven yourself to be a man I never credited you for in the past, and I'd be proud to have you as my son-in-law."

Nathan smiled a genuine smile. "Thank you, sir," he said, knowing full well that in the past he hadn't deserved that credit. "That means a lot. To both of us," he added, his loving gaze on Peyton now.

She beamed at him, her face glowing radiantly as she put her hand on his arm.

That was the moment Brooke noticed the engagement ring sitting proudly on her finger and remarked on it. "You took it off the chain," she said, inspecting it as though it were the first she saw it. It really was a gorgeous ring, she thought, much the same as she'd thought the first time she'd seen it.

"I did," Peyton returned. "I'm not hiding our love and our future anymore," she said, her eyes on her father, the one who'd forced her to take it off her finger when he'd first seen it.

Larry gave his daughter a sheepish smile. "You don't have to," he told her, amused at learning she'd clasped it to her necklace rather than give it back to Nathan as he'd ordered her to do at the time. It figures she'd only hidden it instead. Funny, he wasn't surprised by that.

"So your chain must feel naked now," Brooke commented.

Peyton glanced at Nathan, who also looked at her, a secret smile spreading between them. "Not really," she answered Brooke while still looking at Nathan. Only the two of them knew what hung in the engagement ring's place. Just as only they knew what now hung on his chain hidden inside his shirt.

It was their little secret. Not because they were ashamed, but because they wanted this for themselves, pure and untainted by people's negative views and opinions. Something they could cherish that was all their own with no clouds of doubt from anybody to ruin it.

Yes, that's right. As of this afternoon, they were husband and wife. And hidden from view hung their cheap but matching wedding bands. As it turned out, they hadn't even had to go to Vegas. There was a courthouse in Raleigh—a few hours away, but much closer than Vegas—that performed marriage ceremonies so long as the marrying couple was willing to wait in line behind any court trials that may be presiding at the time.

Nathan and Peyton had been more than willing to wait. They'd had to wait for three separate trials and two other couples waiting to marry since it was on a first come, first serve basis, but finally it had been their turn. All they'd had to do was show their marriage license, which they'd already acquired in time to go to Vegas as originally planned, and pay the $20.00 registration fee. And that was that. Their marriage certificate would be processed and sent by mail.

One might argue it wasn't very romantic, but Nathan and Peyton would argue that point fervently if necessary. As far as they were concerned, the bond that had been tied there in Court Room #901 was the strongest either of them had ever felt, and the most romantic moment of their young lives.

And still they could have their dream wedding in a year from now and no one would be the wiser. No one would suspect they'd already been married nearly a year.

And everyone was happy. As Brooke would say, win-win.

Nathan couldn't take any of the credit for this genius ploy, for Peyton had cooked it up all on her own, and had merely presented him with it once they'd arrived at the Courthouse parking lot, ignoring his million and one questions all the way from Tree Hill to Raleigh.

All in all, it had been a day of surprises for Nathan. The first two—the ambush and then Peyton's agreement to it—had sucked, but after that—their activities in the boiler room and their marriage—had gotten so much better.

It was, without a doubt, the best day of his life despite its shaky start.

"What are you two smirking so slyly about?" Brooke questioned, her hazel eyes narrowing suspiciously. She knew them both well enough to recognize when something was up.

"Nothing," they both said in unison.

"We're just happy," Peyton said when Brooke's suspicious expression remained.

Brooke wasn't buying it, but she didn't push it. She was just glad her two best friends were still speaking to her. "Listen, you guys," she began. "I'm sorry about earlier. I should have stayed out of it."

The couple had nothing but warm smiles for her. There were certain conclusions they'd reached today: their love could endure anything, their parents meant well even when they got pushy and controlling, and Brooke Davis could always be counted on to be their biggest meddler, but also their biggest defender and cheerleader. They'd finally learned that that was just one of those things they'd have to accept as 'just how it is'.

"It's fine, Brooke," Peyton said. "We still love you."

"Most times," Nathan teased.

"Thank you. You guys are so good to me."

"Not really," Nathan said sheepishly. As Chase had once said, they did tend to take out much of their frustrations on Brooke, never properly appreciated her, and hadn't really been the friends to her as she was to them. "But we're gonna be," he said. "From now on, no more laying all our shit on you."

Brooke actually laughed at that, not believing it for a second. Nathan and Peyton possessed equally volatile tempers, often times losing it on each other, and then turning around and taking it out on those around them, which was usually Brooke. Brooke didn't see that ever changing. She'd long ago accepted it as 'just how it is'. It didn't make them bad friends by her way of thinking. It was simply a flaw they both shared, just as she had a tendency to jump in the middle of their relationship, which certainly contributed to their lack of patience and lost tempers toward her. She could promise to stop, but they all knew it was pointless to do so. "I'll believe it when I see it," she said with a chuckle. "So, we gonna turn this cry-fest into a party or what?"

"Uh yeah," Nathan agreed. "Just as soon as the old folks leave."

"I heard that," Larry teased with fake admonishment.

Brooke shrugged her shoulders carelessly and giggled. "No problem. We have a wedding to plan anyway. We'll start off with the guest list and then we'll look at a church and a hall, and then tomorrow we'll go get the invitations. It's best to get those out as soon as possible. And then we'll figure out what kind of dinner we'll be serving, and oh, that reminds me we have to put RSVPs on the invites so we know exactly how much food we need. And there's flowers to get, and a photographer, and our dresses, tuxes for the guys, but they can do that themselves. We have enough to do. Oh my God, there's so much to do and we only have a year! There's still the bouquets to think about, and should we get a live band or a dj? I'm thinking dj so there's more variety of songs, and oh my God, the bachelorette party..."

Nathan and Peyton exchanged amused glances as Brooke continue to babble excitedly, and when Deb and Ellie joined in, they both burst into laughter, further amused when the other three didn't even notice.

"Looks like we're not gonna have to do anything," Peyton remarked.

"Score," he responded. Wedding planning could not be considered his cup of tea, and he'd likely forget all the small details if left to him to plan it.

"I don't know," Peyton replied, chuckling reluctantly. "I think I might like a say on a thing or two."

"Well, you did get to pick out your own groom."

"Yes, I did, and just look what a fine job I did with that."

"True," he boasted. "You couldn't have done better if I'd picked him out myself."

"You didn't choose so bad yourself, husband."

He shrugged insolently. "I'm a man of many talents."

She laughed heartily. "You're pretty full of yourself, Scott. Care to make good on all that big talk?"

"I'm up for it," he replied. "Literally."

Her eyes instinctively looked down before she smiled coyly and kissed his lips.

"What do you say Mrs. Scott," he began, "You wanna go over there and make sure they don't take over the entire wedding or you wanna get outta here so I can rock your world?"

"Hmm, when you put it like that, definitely the latter. I thought you'd never ask."

He took her hand and led her out the door, a smug grin on his face.

He was so smug, in fact, that she couldn't resist a little teasing about their earlier encounter. "But FYI, it takes more than a few seconds to rock my world."

He snorted in feigned offence. "Fuck, I married a bitch," he retorted lightly.

"You did," she agreed. "But you knew what you were getting into."

He chuckled, taking the term literally.

"And I married a pig," she said. "It's a good thing I looove pork."

He let out another roar of laughter, and she did too. Right after she smacked him in the chest.

...

"God, that was soooo good," Peyton said as she unstraddled herself from Nathan to lie beside him and tried to catch her breath. "So much better than earlier."

He shook his head and sighed softly. She was only joking, he knew, but she had no idea how truly wounding to the male ego it was to have your sexual prowess made fun of. "It was only because it was a long time since we had sex," he mumbled defensively.

She bit her bottom lip, realizing she'd pushed the teasing too far. "I know, baby," she said, straddling him again. "And you've plenty made up for it, then in the boiler room and just now in this beach house. The beach house they'd shared plenty of pleasurable moments throughout their relationship.

He smiled up at her, but his eyes were troubled. It took much longer of her stroking his sensitive ego before he finally smiled for real.

"You sure?" he asked with a small amount of lingering doubt. "Cause I don't wanna be one of those husbands who can't satisfy his wife in bed. I don't want you going off finding a lover who can please you better."

"Trust me, that'll never be an issue," she said firmly. "Neither one of them."

"But you'll tell me if it is, right? I mean, if I ever slack..."

"Nate," she rebuked.

"I'm serious."

"Fine, I'll tell you if it ever comes to that. But I know it's not going to."

He nodded, finally satisfied with her answer.

She leaned down to kiss him passionately, the wedding rings on their chains dangling together as their lips were.

She broke the kiss and smiled down at him. "It sucks that we're married but we'll still be living apart for the next year," she said. The only way to keep their married status a secret was if their current living arrangements remained the same. It solved all their practical problems of money and whatnot, but it still saddened her a bit.

"You think so?" he quipped. "Cause I'm thinking it'll probably be the tamest year of our entire marriage. I mean, you and me living together, with our tempers, is actually kinda scary. We're gonna have so many fights," he predicted.

"Oh yeah, but just think of all the makeup sessions we're gonna get to have," she said sultrily in return.

He chuckled. "Yeah, you're right. This year's gonna suck. You're not sorry we did this, are you?"

She shook her head. "Not even a little bit."

"Good. Me neither."

"You realize after the big wedding, we're gonna have two anniversary dates every year?"

"I'm ok with that."

"Oh me too. It means more presents from my thoughtful and sexy husband."

Tongue in cheek, he quipped. "Oh, is that right? And I suppose you're gonna expect me to go big for both of them."

"You mean big like this?" she questioned teasingly, grabbing his crotch, which was already swollen and erect again. "Absolutely," she breathed out as she began to stroke the smooth, pulsating organ.

The gesture brought forth a guttural groan from his throat. "That won't be a problem," he croaked. "Since my wife is hot as hell."

She smiled seductively. "Good answer," she whispered.

They made love for the third time that day, their movements languid, lazy, taking the time to enjoy each other slowly. At least it was that way until the friction of their thrusts sent them close to the edge. Then, anxious for that sweet release, their pace quickened, becoming almost frantic, their moans of ecstasy carrying through the room until they burst with uncensored pleasure.

"Fuck, it's gonna be a great life," he mumbled on a blissed-out sigh, his hands running up and down her bare, gorgeous legs.

She couldn't help nod in agreement. Yes, it surely would be. There was not a single doubt in her mind.

And later as she watched him sleep, thinking of how sweet and observant and concerned he'd been for her in the boiler room earlier, and how patient and understanding he'd been with her in the past few months before that, she was even more sure. Her heart was full of love for him. Because she knew he had become the man she always knew he could be.

She didn't know exactly when this change in him had taken place, couldn't pinpoint an exact day. It had happened subtly and so gradually that she'd barely noticed it until now. This was the real Nathan that had been waiting to surface, no walls around him. Just Nathan, raw.

The good in him had finally conquered the bad. And the proof, among other things, lay in their matching wedding bands, shining brighter in her eyes than they actually were in reality.

In many people's minds he was guilty of being the ultimate bad boy. Arrogant, rude, and heartless. And sure he could be all three of those, but in her mind, he may as well be innocent of those perceived character flaws, for she didn't see them as flaws, but as just more reasons to love him. Just as he saw her own not-so-pretty quirks as reasons to love her more.

They accepted and loved each other as is, hot tempers and all. And nothing could be sweeter than that.

He shuffled a bit and opened his eyelids. "What are you smiling about?" he asked, his voice thick with sleep.

She'd neither noticed he'd awakened or that she was smiling. It only grew wider with his question. "What's there not to smile about?" she returned dreamily, "when you married the best guy in the world?"

He drew her closer and shut his drooping eyes again. Soon every night would be like this. Life was good. But he was hard put to express those feelings into words, especially since he was half asleep. "I love you," he said simply, nuzzling into her neck.

Really, those three words said it all, simple as they may be.

Now, she wasn't naive enough to delude herself into thinking their relationship would be smooth sailing from here on out. They were both too ill-tempered for that to ever be possible. There would be more storm clouds and bumpy rides ahead for them, but they would make it, she knew.

She thought he was asleep again when, out of nowhere, he chuckled softly in her ear. "Brooke's gonna be so pissed at us," he muttered drowsily.

"Only if she finds out," Peyton replied with a hearty, happy laugh of her own. Yes, if their best friend ever discovered their secret marriage, she would have both their heads on a platter.

Keeping it from her was going to be one hell of a challenge.

"We don't have a catch phrase," she suddenly said a few minutes later.

"What?" he mumbled against her neck.

"A catch phrase," she repeated. "You know, something that describes us and our love."

She felt his chuckle more than she heard it. "That's because we're not cheesy."

"Well, maybe I want to be cheesy. I know, how 'bout 'Nathan and Peyton, true love always'?"

"Too cheesy," he answered, not even lifting his head.

"Fine, you come up with something then."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes."

"All right. 'Nathan and Peyton, always and forever'.

She wrinkled her nose. "Wow, that's even worse than mine."

"Impossible."

"Always means the same as forever," she replied. "That's redundant, not cute and romantic."

"Ok." He really just wanted to sleep.

"It has to be something that speaks of us as a couple."

"Ok," he repeated.

"Nathan!"

"What?"

"Our catch phrase," she emphasized.

"Right. Sorry. I got nothing. Can we just sleep?"

"No. Help me think."

"Why do we need a catch phrase? We're just us."

"Come on, Nate. This is important to me."

"Why?"

"It just is."

"Fine," he grumbled, sitting up and wiping his eyes. "Fire and ice," he threw out just to appease her so she wouldn't get mad.

"Oh, and I'm the ice, I suppose. No thanks."

He sighed in defeat. "Well, babe, I don't know, ok?" he practically whined.

"What about 'beauty and the beast'?"

Despite his exhaustion, he couldn't help the teasing smirk that appeared on his face. "You don't wanna be ice but a beast is fine?"

"Oh, you're funny," she returned. "I was thinking you'd be the beast."

"Ok, sounds good."

"Are you just humoring me?"

"No. It's good," he said.

"No, it's not. You're just saying that so you can sleep."

"I'm tired."

She rolled her eyes. "If I wanted to have sex, you'd wake up in a hurry."

"Do you want to have sex?" he asked.

"No, I want to figure this out. If you'd take this seriously, it would go a lot faster, and then you could catch your precious beauty sleep."

"Ok, ok," he conceded with a deep sigh before his face took on a look of serious contemplation. "All right, I've got it," he said. "You ready?"

She smiled, nodding with excitement.

'Nate and Peyt plus eight.'

Her face fell. "That doesn't even make sense. We don't have any kids."

"Not yet, but I want them someday."

"Eight of them?"

He grinned. "Or more, but eight rhymes."

Her eyes nearly popped out of her head. "Ok, you know what? You're right, catch phrases are cheesy, and not only that, they're totally overrated. We should just go to sleep," she said, laying down now.

"Wait, what? I thought it was important."

"I think us swearing to love and cherish each other till death do us part says enough. Don't you?"

Eyes twinkling, he grinned down at her. "If you say so." He put his head back down on the pillow.

"Yeah," she said. "Besides, I really hate it when you call me Peyt."

He chuckled deeply and pulled her close. Yeah, it was him calling her Peyt that freaked her out, not the mention of eight or more kids.

Sure it was. His new bride was too cute.

The End

A/N: So there it is guys. After over six years this story is finally finished, except, of course, for the epilogue, which will be two to three years later. I can't believe it's over. I'm so emotional right now...like my first born has grown up and is moving away to college...lol. Silly, I know.

Thank you again to all of you who have stuck with this story. You have truly been an inspiration to keep writing even through all the challenges and difficulties of real life. If it weren't for all your encouragement, I probably would not have seen this through to the end despite my love of writing. It has been my pleasure to write this story for you, and for me. I cannot say enough how much I appreciate all the support throughout this journey. My fans (it's so awesome to say I have fans...lol) you are the best and I sincerely hope you are happy with this ending.