Well here it is guys. The finale. Thanks to all of those that have stayed with this and stayed with me. Please read and review...

Chapter 16: My Happily Ever After

Nathan POV

Watching Luke sleep has become second nature to me. Had someone told me two or even three years ago that I would have come out, be dating a guy I used to consider a stain on my dad's bed sheets, and be looking forward to the birth of our children together, I would have done some serious face pounding.

But being here, in this moment, I wouldn't change any of it. Although Luke looked peaceful, I could notice the small changes, those small signs of wear and tear. There were new wrinkles and worry lines that I wanted to kiss away. Knowing how much stress I put on him and the twins weighed heavily on me. I knew that I had to get Dan out of our lives before the bays came, but I couldn't imagine killing him. Deep down, I didn't want him dead; he's the man that raised me but... Then the mental switch went off. I wouldn't let him hurt Lucas.

The reality that I had killed someone started to sink in. I threw the books into my backpack and left. I needed time to think, to get my head screwed on right. I didn't want Lucas to see me falling apart and losing it like Dan had.

Exiting the hospital, I found that the weather mimicked my mood, the wind roaring and thrashing at me. The sky was an ominous black background scattered with scattered gray clouds and not a star in sight. The coldness seeped through my clothes and chilled me inside and out. A part of me wanted to run back into the warmth and safety of the hospital, of Lucas. But the stronger part of me forced my feet to move forward, deep into the depths of my mind to deal with my demons before my children arrived.

I walked aimlessly through the streets of Tree Hill. At almost midnight the streets were pretty much vacant and only added to my depressed mood. My feet led me closer and closer to my old house, the one I once shared with my mom and Dan, before their divorce, before Lucas, before the drama. Standing in front of the house brought back some of the greatest memories of my childhood. It was these memories and traditions that I would pass down to my children, in hopes of fostering a great relationship with all of my sons.

While reminiscing about my childhood, I neglected to realize that the front door had opened. I knew that Dan lived in a larger house across town, so I was confused as to who now lived there. Before I could realize it was her, I heard my mom call for me.

"Nathan?" I heard her voice loud and clear, missing the natural melody in the way she said it. I couldn't take my eyes off of her and my eyes couldn't stop tearing up.

I felt like a child who sees his mother after being lost. I cried and I cried hard. I ran into her arms and cried into her shoulder. "I missed you mom."

I felt her pat my back just like she used to when I would get upset over something Dan said or did. "I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere Nathan. I love you so much."

Her just being there calmed me to my soul. Breaking out hug, I looked at my mom and saw just how happy she had become. The smile on her face was an honest to goodness real smile, not a fake one and definitely not a drug or alcohol induced on.

"How's Luke doing Nathan?" I broke our gaze and stared at my feet. Although I knew that he was fine. I couldn't help but feel unsure.

"I think he'll be okay." I shrugged nonchalantly.

I felt my mom's hand caress my face, bringing my eyes up to meet hers. "And what about you? How are you holding up?"

Between her concerned stare and her questions, the dam broke. I felt like a little boy again seeing comfort from his mother. She enveloped me in her arms again and wouldn't let go. "I'm sorry. I…I didn't mean it."

She soothed like only she could. "I know and it'll be alright Nathan. We'll get through this." Her calming works and gentle embrace stopped the tears.

"He was gonna hurt Lucas and the babies. I had to do it. He was going to kill them." I cried, although no tears fell.

"Look at me Nathan." But I couldn't bring myself to meet her gaze again. "Nathan, look at me." She shook me gently until I lifted my head from her shoulders and met her stare. "The cops have already spoken with everyone there. They spoke to the doctors and nurses, to you and Luke. Between the eye witness reports and Dan's track record, I think you'll be fine."

Hearing all of that my throat tightened. I felt like I couldn't catch my breath. "I don't think I'll ever be fine. I killed someone. How can I raise my children when I murdered someone?" My body convulsed in anger and fear.

"We'll get you some help. But right now Luke and my grandsons need you. I'll go get Jamie from Karen's but you need to get back to that hospital." She pushed me into the street.

"Thank mom." I smiled, feeling the weight taken off my shoulders. I was happy that she was home and relieved to know that I had some sort of support system.

Heading back to the hospital, I felt charged and refreshed. The whole ordeal with Dan seemed to resolve itself. I accepted the fact that the situation had turned into a life or death situation. I reacted to that situation, plain and simple. I would deal with the mental portion later.

The closer I got to the hospital, the clearer my mind became and the more I focused on Luke, Riley, Liam and Jamie. They were my focus, they were my family now. I would give up my life for them. I crossed the threshold smiling and made my way up to Luke's room.

When I arrived, I found the room empty. He was supposed to be on bed rest, but knowing Luke, he's going to try to be as independent as possible. I figured that he went to the bathroom seeing as how the door was closed. But after 10 minutes, I became worried. I checked the small room and found it just as empty as the bedroom. Panicking I fled the room, hoping to grab the first nurse I saw. Instead, I found Karen in the waiting area with Jamie on her hip.

"Oh Nathan, thank god." Karen exclaimed, moving Jamie from one hip to another.

"Where's Luke?" I asked, bypassing formalities.

"He's..." But before she could continue, Jamie interjected saying, "Papa said its baby time."

"Time for babies." Karen corrected. "He went into labor. It's one floor up. They're waiting for you."

Without a second glance, I ran toward the elevator, bobbing and weaving around hospital staff like a pro football player. From the time I realized that Luke went into labor until the time I saw him on the operating table, I don't think I breathed one breath. My chest burned feeling like I was being poked with hundreds of hot needles. But seeing Luke took the pain away. I didn't notice the nurse pushing me out until they put up the partition between Luke's upper and lower body. The nurse got me scrubbed up and into the hairnet, booties, and mask in seconds. My mind consumed with thoughts of Luke and the birth of my two new children allowed my body to run on autopilot.

Being in the operating room as they performed the C-section was calming for me in a way. I didn't think I simply ran on adrenaline. Standing by his side, our fingers intertwined, I watched the entire procedure. We both cringed at the first incision, Luke from the actual pain and me from the imagined. Watching the doctor pull back layers of Luke's insides made my stomach turn and I clenched my eyes closed until I hear the wail of a newborn…our newborn. Riley was in the doctor's arms screaming at the top of his lungs. I could tell that it was him because Luke said that we had similar features and this baby had a full head of black hair. He was quickly passed to a nearby nurse for evaluation as the doctor went in for Liam.

"Riley's here Luke." I told him taking my eyes off of the doctor and looking at my fair haired lover.

"And Liam?" He asked weakly. The anesthesia left Lucas lingering between a conscious and unconscious state.

Hearing a small squeak, I looked back to another son taking their first breath. Unlike his older brother, this child had very little hair but what was there was blonde, just like Lucas.

Turning back to the man who gave birth to our children, I kissed his forehead. "You did good Luke. Both boys are fine."

"I wanna see them." He asked just as weakly as before. Being cut open and having two children removed from his abdomen took a lot out of him. I assured him that as soon as the doctor stitched him up, he could see them.

Once Luke was moved to recovery, the boys were brought in. Holding them in my arms and seeing Luke smile brought joy to my heart. And in that moment, I knew that this was our happily ever after.