Episode 1 Chapter 1 The Way We Were

"It's been two years, and I have tried my best to handle all of the changes that have come my way. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't want things to go back to the way they were." Lily's voice can be heard.

The scene cuts to Lily standing in the kitchen making breakfast.

"Ceweal," A three year old Scott was sitting at the kitchen table very impatiently.

Lily gave him a look of disapproval. "Mommy made you eggs today." She sat them in front of him. "And they are really good."

"No," he gave her a pouty lip.

"I invented that pouty lip mister. So I suggest that you poke it back in and eat your very yummy eggs." She kissed him on the forehead.

"Mommy," Ansley cried out. She was sitting on the other side of Scott.

"I didn't forget you sweet girl." She placed a small plate of eggs in front of the little girl.

"Yummy," Ansley took her fork and started to dig in. Scott was still a little skeptical, but Lily gave him another look, and he decided he better taste them.

Lily smiled at both of them. Scott had dark blonde hair and big blue eyes. He looked so much like Spencer it was a little scary.

Ansley on the other hand, had curly dark almost black hair with big brown eyes. She looked so much like Karen it was unbelievable.

"Scarlet," Lily called out. "Hurry up sweetheart. You are going to be late for school…again." Lily reminded her. Some days it was so hard to get that girl out of bed and onto the school bus.

"Sorry," Scarlet ran downstairs. "You know the cute boy I was telling you about?"

"Yes John," Lily wasn't completely sure. Scarlet was always talking about boys. She was boy crazy.

"No…Elliot," Scarlet sighed. "You always forget."

"I'm sorry there are so many that you want me to remember."

"Well Elliot sent me a facebook message. How awesome is that?"

"I thought I limited your facebook usage until you brought your math grade up to at least a B?" Lily gave her a questioning look.

Scarlet bit her bottom lip. She remembered having that conversation several times. "I know. But…"

"No buts…No more computer until your grade comes up."

Scarlet sighed. "It's not that big of a deal mom. I'm only twelve. I'll just learn math at a later date."

"That's what they all say. I know for a fact that when it gets to that later date you are going to say the same exact thing. So in order for us to avoid having this same conversation again at a future date you will no longer have computer privileges."

"That sucks…" Scarlet sat down at the table.

"Oooh," Ansley looked at her. "Mommy…"

"Scar," Lily looked at her disapprovingly.

"Sorry…it slipped."

"Just like your math grade." Lily walked back over to the counter. "Do you want a ham sandwich today?"

"Do I have to take my lunch? I'm in junior high now. No one takes their lunch anymore."

"Fine," Lily walked over to her purse. "I don't want you to seem un-cool."

"I know right. That would be awful, and then Elliot would probably never talk to me again."

"I'm sure that won't happen." Lily smiled. Scarlet was so much like her, even though they weren't even blood related.

"So," Scarlet trailed off. "How are you?"

"What?" Lily knew what she was talking about though.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Scarlet…How are you?" Lily tried to play it off.

"I'm okay…It's just another day right?"

"Yeah that's what I keep telling myself." Lily walked over to the table and took away Scott and Ansley's plates. "You two go wash your hands in the bathroom, okay."

"Okay," Ansley ran off.

"Wait on me," Scott followed behind her.

Lily dropped the plates into the sink.

"So do you have plans with dad tonight?"

Lily nodded her head. "Yeah…"

"Tell him I said hi."

"I will." Lily turned and looked out the kitchen window. Things had definitely changed in two years.

….

Lucas Scott sat at his computer trying to find the right words to write. He was writing a new book, but it didn't seem to be going his way.

For the past two years he had been writing nothing but children novels and books. Actually he would do the writing and Peyton drew the pictures. It had turned out to be a beautiful partnership. But he kind of already knew that it would. They had always had a wonderful partnership.

But now he was trying to write something that adults would want to read, but he wasn't having any lucky. He had once been a bestselling author. He wanted to get back to that. He needed to get back to that.

"Honey," Peyton knocked on the door of the office before walking in. She always tried to give Lucas his space when he was writing. That was something that they had discussed when he decided that he had to start writing again, and he wanted to write every day.

He felt like he had lost his freedom when he became a stay at home dad.

The new rule was that they both pulled equal weight as parents, and it seemed to be working much more smoothly than before.

"Hey," Lucas smiled as he looked up from his computer.

"Any luck on the next best seller?"

"Nothing," he sighed. "Nothing at all."

"I'm sorry Lucas. I'm sure you will have a great idea soon." She walked behind the desk and sat in his lap. "I'm positive that you will."

"But what if I don't? What if I'm only meant to write children books for now on?"

"Then you'll write children books for the rest of your life. Luke, honey, I don't care what you write or if you write at all. I love you no matter what." She kissed his forehead. "And that's just the way it is."

Lucas smiled. She always knew how to make him feel better. "Are the kids ready for school?"

"Yes…I'm going to drop them off on my way to work. You will have the whole morning to write…and to talk to Riley." She jumped up from his lap.

"Oh wait a minute…I'm not talking to him alone." He looked at her. "We are in this together."

"I know, but…"

"But nothing Peyton…We both agreed to do this together."

Peyton dropped her head. "I'm dreading this conversation more than I dreaded that root canal I got last year."

"It won't be too bad."

"No…it's going to be worse."

Lucas stood up and walked next to his beautiful wife. "It'll be fine…Because we have each other."

The scene changes to Peyton and Lucas standing outside of Riley's bedroom. "We've got to be strong and stick to our guns." Lucas reminded her as he pushed her to knock on the door.

"Come in," they could hear Riley's voice. He sounded a little more chipper than they had expected.

When they walked into his room he was dressed nicely in a pair of jeans and polo. Riley seemed to be in a rather happy mood.

"What's going on?" Lucas was a little on the confused side. This was not what he expected at all.

"You guys told me that I had to register for school today. You said that I didn't have a choice."

"You don't," Peyton replied.

Riley nodded. "Besides, the judge made it pretty clear that if I end up in his courtroom again I will end up in jail for quiet sometime."

"Yeah," Lucas looked at him. "I don't want that to happen."

"Neither of us do…That's why there are going to be a lot of rules."

Riley smiled. "I'm used to rules when it comes to you guys."

"We're going to treat you like you are in high school again."

"But I'm twenty," Riley reminded them.

"Yeah but you've been arrested three times on DUI charges. You've kind earned being treated like a high school kid." Lucas told him.

"Besides the judge put you in our custody for six months…and he told you that if you screw up one time it is over. We don't want that to happen Riley."

"I know," Riley sat on his bed. "I am going to be an upstanding citizen." Riley hugged Peyton. "I promise. I'm not going to screw up this time." He just looked at Lucas. They still weren't the best of friends.

Riley started to walk out of the room. "Where are my keys?"

"I'm driving you." Lucas told him.

"What? I can't go to college with my parent driving me. That's so totally un-cool."

"No, what's un-cool is getting arrested." Peyton reminded him. "Actions have consequences."

Riley dropped his head. "Great," he walked out of the room.

"That went better than I thought." Lucas looked over at his wife.

"Much better," Peyton hugged him.

…

Riley walks downstairs to see most of his brothers and sisters.

"Riley," Natalie jumps up from the table where she was eating her breakfast. "Do you live here now?"

"According to the judge," Riley gives her a hug.

"Yay," Natalie was so excited. "We've really missed you."

"Yeah Riley…totally missed you." Lucy hugged him.

"Is this for good?" Savannah stood up from the table.

Riley shrugged. He wasn't sure.

"At least for six months it is," Lucas said as he walked downstairs.

Riley just looked at him.

"Do you want some breakfast?" Savannah asked him.

"Sure," Riley walked over and poured himself some cereal.

"Charlie," Peyton looked over at Charlie. He was sitting on the couch trying to finish his homework. "Homework is to be done at night."

"This isn't homework." Charlie lied.

"I know homework when I see it."

"And I know lying when I see it." Lucas walked over to where the conversation was taking place.

"Come on guys…This is just the stuff I didn't get to finish last night."

"You didn't even start it." Lucas shook his head. "I'm almost positive you were too busy talking on the phone to one of your girlfriends."

Charlie just gave him a look and sighed.

"No phone for the rest of the week," Lucas held out his hand.

Charlie grumbled and then handed him the phone.

"Hey big man," Peyton pulled her two and a half year old son out of his high chair.

"Yummy," he licked his lips.

"I want some," Lucas walked over and grabbed some cereal off of the tray. "This is so yummy Zander."

"No dada," The little boy shook his head. "Me Brody."

Lucas looked at Peyton. "I'm going to kill Brooke."

"Don't kill Aunt Brooke," Lucy yelled at him. "That's not very nice."

"He didn't mean it sweetheart."

"Yes I did. I can't believe that she practically changed our kid's name."

"She said he was broody," Savannah chimed in.

"Zander seems to like his new name." Charlie smiled. "Maybe that's we should call him for now on."

"I like Brody," Natalie spoke.

Peyton looked at Lucas. "I kind of like Brody too."

"But that's not what we named him." Lucas fought back. "His name is Zander."

"Technically dad his name is Alexander Blake…His nickname is Zander…or was…if you start calling him Brody."

Lucas sighed. "You are too smart for your own good."

"He seems to like it Luke."

"I can't believe we're changing his name."

"I like it too," Riley spoke up. "It kind of fits him."

"Mom," Savannah called out for her. "I'm sorry to interrupt the name discussion, but we've got to go or we are going to be late."

"Right," Peyton searched for her keys. She leaned over and kissed Zander's forehead. "See you later my little Brody man."

Lucas just looked at her.

"See you later Broody." She kissed him.

"Ha…ha.." He kissed her again. "I love you."

"I love you too…" She looked over at Riley. "Have fun registering for school. I think you are going to love it."

"Yeah…"

All the kids grabbed their bags.

"Can I drive?" Savannah asked. "I have my permit."

"Maybe tomorrow."

"You say that every single day."

"Well maybe one day I will mean it." Peyton laughed as they walked out of the house.

Riley looked at Lucas. "She forgot the baby."

"I keep him every day. Peyton doesn't want him to go to daycare."

"Right," Riley nodded his head. "I have to take my dad and my little brother to my first day of college. That's pretty damn bad."

"Yeah well that's what happens when…"

"I know when you get arrested. I get it…trust me I get it." Riley sighed and walked out of the house.

Lucas sighed. It was going to be harder than he thought. He looked over at the baby. "Kids are complicated. Even you're complicated….I thought you'd at least be sixteen before you tried to change your name."

"Me Brody," he pointed to himself.

"Yeah, I know." Lucas kissed his forehead. "I guess your name is Brody now."

"Me Brody…You dada."

Lucas smiled, "That's right little man…you Brody…Me dada…"

…

Jessica was standing in the kitchen of her small two bedroom apartment that she shared with Hunter. "Hunter," she called out for him.

"Yeah," Hunter walked out holding a one year old little boy.

"I made you some breakfast."

"Thanks…you are the best girlfriend." He walked over and kissed her. "I think he wants you."

"Hey big man…was your daddy feeding you. You like it when I feed you, don't you." She smiled.

The baby giggled. He was still too tired to really say anything.

"See Grayson loves me the best."

"Yeah I think he does." Hunter kissed her. "I know that I love you the best."

"You better."

"Daddy," Ally walked out of the bedroom. She was now four years old and had the most beautiful blonde hair. "I need help. I can't tie my shoe."

"Oh no…that's not good…Super Dad to the rescue." He ran over to his little girl and picked her up. She giggled and he flew her in the air.

Jessica smiled. They almost had the perfect family.

….

McKenzie was lying in her bed.

"Hey," Mark walked out in a towel. "Why are you still in bed?"

"I was just enjoying the few minutes of peace. I don't get much peace these days."

"I thought we were at complete peace last night." He sat on the bed and leaned over and kissed her. "I mean last night was pretty passionate."

"Yeah it was. I guess it was because we were all alone, and not afraid to make a lot of noise."

"I love the kids, but I also love making noise with you."

"I love making noise with you too." She hugged him. "You still smell. I think you need another bath."

"I'm not taking another bath."

"Oh come on…You can take one with me. We can make some more noise."

He smiled and picked her up off the bed. "You twisted my arm."

She giggled and he carried her into the bathroom.

….

"Chloe, Connor," Mouth yelled. "Get down here now. It is time to go."

"Sorry dad," Connor grabbed his bag off the table. "I wanted to look nice today."

"Well you do son…you look really nice."

"Thanks," Connor walked out of the room.

"Chloe," he yelled again.

She walked downstairs wearing all black and her hair was even black too.

"Don't you look nice," Mouth commented. He hated the way she was dressing. He knew it was only part of her teenage rebellion and he hated it.

"Thanks for the sarcasm dad…you're great." Chloe walked out of the house.

Mouth shook his head.

"Hey," Jacey walked through the back door. "I'm glad I caught you before you left."

"Oh hey honey…you look better."

"Yeah I'm getting there." Jacey bit her bottom lip. "Could you keep the boys for me tonight?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"Keith asked me out on a date."

"Oh…"

"I know what you're thinking, and you don't have to think it. Everything is going to be okay."

"Jacey, I just worry about you."

"Well I'm not the daughter that dresses like a Goth."

Mouth nodded, "Oh yeah right…that would be my other daughter…I don't know what I'm going to do with that girl."

"It's not your fault dad. I blame Rebecca for leaving and not coming back."

"Yeah me too."

Rebecca messed everything up when she left, and Mouth would never forgive her even if she would come back.

…

Jason and Rita are lying in bed together. "You know for two people who have class in like twenty minutes we sure don't act like it."

"We could always skip. We never skip."

"We skip almost everyday Jason…"

"Oh yeah…that's right…well then what's another day."

"Do you worry?" She sits up in her bed. "I worry that our relationship is only about sex. I mean that's all we ever do."

"That's not all we ever do."

"Yes it is. It is all we ever do, and I'm worried that we don't have enough substance in our relationship…one day we're going to stop having sex and realize that there is nothing here."

"We've been together for two years. There is something here Rita."

Rita sighed. "I don't know if you take this relationship serious or not. I mean when was the last time that the two of us actually went on a date?"

"I don't know." Jason hated these kinds of conversations. "It's kind of early for us to be talking about stuff like this."

"It's never too early to talk about our relationship." She jumped out of the bed. "I'm going to class."

Jason sighed.

…..

Noah was at the new Tree Hill gym. Daniel had opened it with the money that Andy had given him. He and Jeremy ran it together, and Noah worked in the restaurant that was located next to it. He was the head chef. The restaurant served mostly healthy food. You couldn't have a restaurant located next to a gym that served fried foods…that would have been stupid.

"Noah," Elizabeth walked into the kitchen.

"Hey, what are you doing back here?"

"I wanted to see my husband."

Noah smiled. "I'm glad you did."

"I wanted to tell him that we're pregnant."

"What?" Noah was surprised. They were told that he would probably never be able to get anyone pregnant.

"It's miracle. I'm pregnant. After everything we've been through I am going to have your baby."

Noah picked her up and spun her around. "I can't believe this is happening. We've spent two years trying…and now you're pregnant. We are the luckiest people on the planet." He kissed her passionately. He looked over at the other people in the kitchen. "She's pregnant. My wife is having my baby."

Daniel walked into the kitchen, but he didn't look surprised.

Elizabeth saw him, and they both shared a look.

Daniel walked out of the kitchen before Noah could see him. This was supposed to be Noah and Elizabeth's moment. He didn't want to ruin it.

"Hey you," Daniel turned around to see Isabella smiling at him.

He walked over and hugged her. "God you smell amazing."

"And I look amazing too." She kissed him.

"That was nice."

"I'm so glad that we are together again."

"It's perfect." She kissed him again.

…

"Summer," Jamie called as he walked into the house. "I just dropped the kids off at school and pre-school." He sat the bouquet of flowers down on the counter. "Summer, where are you?" He walked upstairs. He couldn't find her anywhere. "Summer, this isn't funny. I don't like this game…well I only like it when we are being sexual…and this is not sexual." Jamie walked into their bedroom.

"Jamie," Summer's voice was weak.

Jamie ran into the bathroom. Summer was lying on the floor in a puddle of water. She was eight and a half months pregnant.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. My water just broke. The baby is coming."

"Oh my God!" Jamie couldn't believe it. He just froze.

"Jamie, call an ambulance." Summer yelled at him.

"Oh yeah right…okay…" Jamie was definitely in panic mode. He was about to be a father….again.

…..

"Alright, Sophie Beth, are you ready for school?"

"Yeah daddy…I am already." Sophie walked downstairs. She was perfectly dressed.

"Wow you look very pretty sweetheart."

"Thanks daddy…Mommy taught me how to dress."

"Mommy is a really good dresser." Nathan smiled.

"When is mommy coming home? I miss her."

"She'll be home soon. She's on a business trip."

"She's always on a business trip." Sophie reminded him.

"I know, but her business is really important sweetheart…Don't you like having Sophie and daddy time?"

"Yeah I love you, but I still miss mommy."

"I know sweetheart. I miss mommy too." He was definitely ready for Brooke to stop traveling and come home.

…

Brooke was standing outside of a hospital room. It had been one long week…rather one long year.

She walked into the room.

Millie was lying in the hospital bed.

"Hey sweetheart," Brooke sat next to her. "How are you feeling?"

"Better…Did the doctors say that I could go home?"

"Yeah," Brooke nodded. "I can take you home today."

Millie had been in the hospital for a week. It had been the longest week of her life. "But not really home…I mean dad can't know about any of this."

"I know. I'm going to take you back to the girl's home until I can figure out what to tell your father."

"But I'm not pregnant anymore. I thought that was only for pregnant teenagers."

"It is but I talked to Helen, and she said that you could stay for as long as you needed too."

Millie had tears in her eyes. "Are you sure that the baby went to a good family?"

Brooke nodded, "I made sure that your little girl is going to be just fine."

"Tell me again that we made the right decision."

Brooke squeezed Millie's hand. "You did the right thing Millie. Putting your baby up for adoption was the best thing for you to do." Brooke wiped away her tears. "Everything is going to be okay. I made sure of that."

….

Nathan opened the door to see Eligh, Lexie, and their new baby girl, Avey Alexis Scott standing in front of him.

Eligh was holding Avery. She was bundled up in a yellow blanket. "Avery, I would like you to meet your grandpa."

Nathan smiled. "She's amazing."

Lexie smiled. "We're so lucky to have her."

"I can't believe how easy the adoption was." Nathan smiled at the new addition to the Scott family.

"Well we have been on the list for a year now." Lexie reminded him.

"It doesn't matter how we got her…she is all ours…forever." Eligh was smitten.

So was Nathan.

"I can't wait until Brooke sees her. She is absolutely going to fall in love."

…

Alright so this is the longest chapter I have ever written. It was fifteen pages. That is a lot. But I am super excited about this part. I think that it is going to be the best or at least I hope it will be the best.

I hope you guys will enjoy this part and stick with me through all the ups and downs. There is going to be so much drama, and you guys know that I love drama.

If you have any ideas or suggestions please let me know. You guys always give me the best advice.

So let me know what you thought!