So, here we are - the last installment of The Lights That Guide You Home. I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to say here; it's been a massive deal for me to get to this point and this story has lived in my head for about a year and a half. I never actually thought it would end! As cliched as this may be, I need to say the biggest thank you to everyone who has read, followed and liked this story. I can't even tell you how much it means to me and your reviews and support has been the only thing that has pushed me to commit and keep writing! I've been insanely lucky to get to know some extraordinarily awesome people on this site who have helped me along this process and I'm insanely grateful to them for putting up with me and all of my uncertainty.

If you've enjoyed this fic, please follow me so you know when I start writing something else again - I've got so many half-written (smutty) one-shots that want to be finished, and I have two multi-chapter stories in my head, fighting to work out which is going to be written first.

Thank you again! xx

EPILOGUE

Haley stood on her tiptoes, trying to see over the crowd of passengers streaming past her as they disembarked at Charlotte Douglas Airport. Not for the first time, was she thankful that the passenger she was searching for stood taller than most, his dark, raven-coloured hair visible above the other heads. As she always did when she laid eyes on him, Haley's face broke out into a beaming smile and her heart beat faster as she was greeted with a smile just as wide as hers.

"Hey, baby, welcome home!"

Nathan strode up to her, engulfing her in his strong arms. His duffel bag swung off his arm to hit her as they embraced, but Haley couldn't feel anything but the warmth emanating from his body.

"Mmm... I missed you, Hales," he gushed, as she stretched up to cover the plentiful inches between them until she could kiss Nathan on the lips.

"I missed you, too. We all did," Haley replied as Nathan shouldered his bag again, grabbing her hand in his as they headed out towards the carpark. "The place is total chaos right now."

"I can't wait to see everyone. Jamie isn't too mad that I wasn't there this morning?"

"Not at all, you know he understands your job, Nathan. It's not his fault he happened to be born the day after the NBA draft. He knew you had to be in New York last night... plus, he's so excited for Quentin. He hasn't been able to stop talking about him, it's amazing."

"What's amazing is how Quentin spent four years at college getting his teaching degree before declaring himself eligible to play in the NBA," Nathan smirked down her

"Yeah, well... he's not the first NBA superstar to succumb to the dark side," Haley shot back with a smirk of her own. She couldn't deny how proud she had been of her former pupil who had gone on to study English Education and had yesterday been the number two draft pick in the NBA.

Nathan dug through his bag before pulling out the white and blue jersey of the Philadelphia 76ers with FIELDS emblazoned on the back. "At least Jamie is going to like his birthday present."

"I can't believe he's 5" Haley smiled, fondly. "He's such a great kid."

"He takes after his mom" Nathan winked at her.

They reached their car, Nathan moving to open the passenger side door for Haley before throwing his bag in the back and settling into the driver's seat. As they pulled out of the airport carpark, Haley reached over to grab Nathan's hand where it rested over the gear stick, feeling his fingers squeeze the gold band around the fourth finger of her left hand.

She had sobbed uncontrollably when, one morning shortly after their first Thanksgiving together, Nathan had rolled over in bed and announced that he could love her forever and why couldn't forever start today. Her mother's sapphire and diamond engagement ring had been slid onto her finger immediately, with Haley seeing no reason why she wouldn't spend the rest of her life with man she had only been with a few months.

Thoughts of her mother not being there to fuss over her and her father not walking her down the aisle were gloomy spots on an otherwise stress-free wedding, and all of her friends and siblings had played their part to ensure she had the perfect wedding. Under the archway in the Tree Hill gardens, where Lydia and Jimmy James had married 40 years before, Haley vowed to love Nathan until the end of time, and her to love her always and forever. One month later, after putting down the exhaustion, missed periods and bloating to wedding stress and indulgent honeymoon food, the newlyweds sat around a small plastic stick and watched two pink lines appear, confirming that Haley was pregnant with their first child.

The pregnancy itself had been non-eventful; Peyton had painted a blue basketball mural in the nursery, Vivian had visited, bringing with her mountains of baby clothes and advice on things like breast pumps and baby wearing. Quinn had documented Haley's growing bump in a series of black and white photos and Nathan had befriended the local convenient store owner thanks to his frequent trips to satisfy his wife's late night cravings. When Haley's contractions came, Nathan had stood beside her, gritting his teeth through the strength of her hand squeezing his and shed tears with her when their baby boy arrived into the world.

It had only been after Haley had held their beautiful son in her arms did the weight fall on her, reminding her that her depression was something she would never truly get rid of. This time, though, she had Nathan's arms to hold her when the tears wouldn't stop, her brothers and sisters happy to answer the phone at all hours when she just wanted to talk about how much she missed her mom and dad or how hard it was functioning on such little sleep because for the first two months, James Lucas Scott refused to sleep unless he was being held. And day by day, the weight slowly lightened and lifted, until once again, Haley realized that her head was no longer foggy and dark, that she was following her routine and life had become easier again. She felt how loved she was, not only by her friends and siblings, but by her husband and son. She felt like herself again.

Their second pregnancy had been another smooth one, and Haley and her daughter had both been fussed over and thoroughly spoiled by the men in their lives. Jamie had loved the chance to help out, following his dad around helping to heat bottles or rushing to pick baby Lydia up to stop her crying. Although she frequently missed, and would never stop missing, her mother's advice and her dad's sense of humor, Haley had never been happier.

"Where's that beautiful head of yours at?"

Nathan's voice snapped Haley out of her reverie. She turned her head to him with a smile. "I was thinking about the last five years."

Nathan's nod told her that he understood more than her words had expressed. "You know, every time I'm at that airport, I think of that woman I picked up six years ago, with the pale face and in that baggy sweatshirt... how much I owed her for changing my life. How I would do anything to help change hers. Thank you for loving me, Haley. Thank you for my son… and my daughter."

Tears filled her eyes at her husband's words. Haley swallowed the emotion down her throat. "I love you, Nathan Scott.

He picked their conjoined hands from the gear shift and kissed her knuckles, gently. "I love you, too, Haley James Scott."

Haley could hear the excited shouts and laughter before they even pulled up to their house, the bright yellow and orange bounce house moving rhythmically as energetic kids jumped around.

She got out of the car and surveyed the yard, sensing Nathan's strong figure behind her. Jamie and his school friends, Chuck and Madison, were jumping on the bouncy castle while Clay and Quinn stood in front of the inflatable, throwing balloons at them. In a small paddling pool filled with plastic balls, 1 year old Lydia sat excitedly clapping her hands under the watchful eye of Jenny Jagielski, who had taken it upon herself to babysit the small toddler during the festivities. Peyton and Jake stood by the table piled with food, with Lucas and a heavily pregnant Brooke, talking about the other Scott couple's decision to move back to North Carolina. A long banner stretched between two tall, sturdy trees, proclaiming HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY, JAMIE!

It was a picture perfect sight. There was a warmth spreading throughout Haley's veins, a contentment that filled her soul. This was her life, this was her family. Nathan moved to stand beside her and he smiled at her with all of the love and adoration he felt for her. Haley smiled back.

"It's great to be home."

THE END