Once Upon A Time

Full Summary: Lucas and Nathan find out the truth about each other at the age of 7. Lucas contemplates stopping playing basketball, while Nathan tries to find a way to get back at Lucas…and Haley could be the best way to do so. Season one's early episodes played out with them as kids.

A/N: I'm not sure exactly how old they were when they found out the truth, but in this they're all seven years old and Peyton's mum is still alive (so she's not all depressed). The story is based around the early episodes in season one, but a lot of things are different. For example, they don't go partying or get drunk. They're only in the first grade!

Chapter One

Haley waved goodbye to her mother as she drove away, before bouncing up the steps to the back-door of her best friend's house. She turned the doorknob and walked inside with a bright smile on her face, as always. She was surprised when her best friend didn't return the smile. "What's wrong Luke?"

He folded his arms and grumbled something unintelligible. She bounced up to his bed and sat down next to him. "Did something bad happen?"

"I found out who my real Dad is."

"Isn't that a good thing? Knowing who your Daddy is?"

"Not when he's horrible."

"I'm sorry Lukie," Haley leaned over and hugged him.

Lucas wrinkled his nose, but made no other reply.

Haley was surprised. He usually laughed when she called him that, but there wasn't a fraction of a smile on his face. It really was bad. "Does he still not want to be with your mummy and you?"

"No, he has another son," Lucas said bitterly.

"So you have a brother?" Haley began to comprehend.

She was shocked when Lucas sat up suddenly. "Don't call him that! He's not my brother!"

"Who?"

"It doesn't matter! He's not my brother! He's mean and I'm not like him and I'm not playing with him anymore!"

"Playing…like in school?"

"I won't play basketball with him," Lucas said grumpily, and lay back down on the bed.

"But you're really good. You can even shoot a-a-" Haley struggled.

"Basket."

"Yeah. You can get points. You being good at basketball is like me being good in school. It's your special thing."

"Not anymore. I won't play with him."

"But…" Haley began, but she trailed off, sensing Lucas was still upset.

"But what?" He demanded.

"But your broth-I mean…whoever it is…it's not his fault that your Dad left you. Did he know about you?"

"No-"

"So then you can be friends; you're already family!"

"We're not family, Haley! Don't ever say that! My Mummy and Uncle Keith are my family. You, Skills, Mouth and Fergie are my friends. That's it." And he said it in such a way that left no room for argument.

Nathan Scott hadn't known that when he went to his father's office after school two days ago that he would find pictures of a boy in his class in the bottom drawer of his father's desk. He also hadn't known then what those pictures meant, or why he had them…but now he did. And now, he had a brother.

Well, it turned out that he'd always had a brother since Lucas was the older of the two, but that didn't make a difference to Nathan. Ironically, he was currently in his room lying on his bed in the exact same position as Lucas was at his own house. The only difference was, Nathan lacked a friendly companion; female or otherwise.

But that changed soon, when Nathan heard a knock on his door.

"Go away!" he yelled. "I told you, Mum, I don't wanna see you or Dad."

"I'm not your Mum or Dad," a soft voice said from behind the door.

Nathan raised an eyebrow. That didn't sound like Tim…

Not having heard any objection, the person behind the door opened it a little more, and then fully, revealing their identity.

"Peyton?"

She gave him a small wave. "Hi."

"What are you doing here?" He hadn't meant to sound so harsh, but it just came out. Well, he was mad and she'd just have to deal with it.

"I thought you might want someone to talk to…or some company."

Nathan frowned. "Why?"

"Well…you know…because of Lucas."

At this, Nathan sat up straight. "You know about that?"

Peyton nodded. "Yeah."

"How?"

"Brooke told me."

"How does she know?" Nathan asked rudely.

"Andrea told her, and Sam had told her, but he had got it from Michelle, who had been told by Justin, who-"

"Okay!"

"Well, you asked."

"Right, well thank you very much. You can leave now."

Peyton just stared at him and then made a face. "Fine. Remind me never to try to be nice to people again."

As she left Nathan called out mockingly, "Don't forget to never be nice to people again!"

Peyton turned around and stuck her tongue out at him, then shut the door behind her.

Nathan, alone again, lay back down. She was probably mad at him. Oh, well. They weren't exactly friends. And he never asked her to come. Stupid girl.

Nathan soon forgot about her, but what he couldn't forget was what she said. It looked like everybody in their grade knew. He was never going to tell Tim anything again.

Nathan realized that everyone would be making fun of him now. His Dad had had another son, and it had to be that loser Lucas. It made Nathan want to puke. Yeah! That should be his name – Pukas. Nathan laughed, but it was without feeling. The only thing he was really feeling now was anger…at his parents, but there was nothing he could do about that, except lock himself in his room. But Lucas… he could do something about him.

Nathan knew that his friends, none of whom had come to see him since the news came out, by the way, weren't close to Lucas and they would pick on him too if Nathan asked them too, if only because they liked his big house and basketball court.

An idea struck Nathan. Maybe if they teased Lucas enough they could get him to stop playing basketball with them. Then, at least he wouldn't have to see him so much.

For some reason, he kept recalling what his kindergarten teacher used to say. Back then, they were all told to play together because nobody likes to have no friends. Nathan thought about this…Lucas wouldn't be happy if they made fun of him, but he'd be even less happy if he didn't have friends.

That's what he'd have to do! Nathan wasn't happy so he'd show Lucas what it felt like. He'd make Lucas' friends his friends so then they wouldn't be with Lucas' friends anymore and Lucas would be alone, just like Nathan was now.

In his mind, Nathan started to go through the people he had seen Lucas with. There was the boy with the weird hair, and the one with no hair and a weird name. Then there was the other one who also had a weird name and was always talking. But, which of them would he start with? And would they even want to be friends with him?

It was as he was thinking this that Nathan remembered the girl.