A/N – Ok so this is my first OTH Fanfic. I've read heaps of them though so I know the standards I have to live up to. There are some seriously talented writers on here. Anyways this idea kind of came to me when I was browsing through the fanfics and I realised that there's hardly any involving Dan and Keith. So I thought I'd have a go.

Background – Basically everything that has happened in all 3 Seasons has happened, up to and including most of episode 3.16. However, I'm changing 3.16 around a bit because I was absolutely gutted when they killed Keith off so, yes, I'm bringing him back. The shooting at the school did happen but the way it actually happened was Keith went in to talk to Jimmy, Jimmy shot himself, the same way it happened in the episode but Dan didn't go in and kill Keith, he was too bust talking to reporters and stuff outside. Also there's an extra character in this story that does not fit in to the original plot so many of you may wonder how I've fitted them in. Don't worry just go with it all will be explained. Oh and in my story Lucas tested negative for HCM, why the hell should the one thing he inherits from his no good shit of a father being a life threatening disease! I don't think so dammit! Lol.

And last (for a reason, I hate these legal things) Disclaimer – Do I own Tree Hill or any of its characters? Haha. Yeah right! If I did you'd be seeing this story on the WB instead of having to read it.

And with that out of the way, it's on with the show…………..

Chapter 1 – Hello Again

She stared out of the tiny cabin window, watching the clouds go by below her but at the same time not really seeing them. Her I-Pod was turned up full volume, despite numerous protests from the old lady beside her who had insisted that if she wasn't more careful, she would damage her hearing. Like she cared. She knew what the woman had really wanted to say was something to the effect of 'turn that damn noise down'. Only maybe not in as polite terms. The old lady had taken one look at her in her ripped jeans and Fall Out Boy t-shirt, not to mention the long, fire red streaks in her hair, and seriously contemplated changing her seat. Old ladies like the one sitting beside her were always intimidated when they saw her, though she had no idea why. It didn't matter anyway. In less than a half hour the plane would touch down in Charlotte Douglas International Airport, North Carolina and she'd be away from snotty old ladies and on her way home, back to him.

A smile crept across her face as she thought about how close she was to seeing him again. She couldn't believe a year had passed since the last time she'd seen him. But at least a year between visits was better than three, which is what it had been before he came to visit last year. For the last five years she wished for only one thing. To be close to him again. It wasn't that she thought she made the wrong decision by leaving. After she lost her mom she needed to get away. She'd wanted to learn to be independent, to stand on her own two feet. He'd been disappointed, even a little hurt at first that she'd chosen to leave, but she'd explained that although she loved him and would love nothing more than to be with him permanently, she needed this time away. Eventually he had understood, and at just twelve years old she'd boarded a plane to Ohio, to attend a boarding school close to her Grandparents home in Cincinnati. She hadn't been back since. Yet somehow she didn't feel nervous at all.

She thought about the last time she'd seen him. One year ago almost to the day. She'd been lying if she said she hadn't been surprised when he'd shown up at her Grandparents' home just a few days after she'd arrived home for summer break. Her surprise was short lived however and replaced by unbelievable happiness that he was there. She knew from the moment he'd turned up with his bags that her Grandparents had been in on it.

Despite being ecstatic to see him, however, as soon as she laid eyes on him she knew there was another reason for his visit than simply to see her. Regardless of their years apart they'd always had a strong and close relationship. They knew each other inside out. He was her best friend. She knew he was just as happy to see her but something in his eyes told her that something was wrong. They were missing their usual sparkle. But she wouldn't push him. He'd tell her when he was ready.

So he had moved in with her for the summer. Conveniently, though she suspected it was more than just coincidence, her Grandparents' were getting ready to fly out to California for two months to visit her Uncle David and his family. She knew it was strange that they had agreed to leave her alone for all that time. Even though she was sixteen, her Grandparents were very protective and old fashioned. But at the time she'd been so surprised and excited that they'd agreed to leave her alone all summer that she didn't want to question it incase they realised they made a mistake. When he'd shown up she'd realised they hadn't and she couldn't have been more grateful that they'd gone out of their way to let them have their time alone.

It had felt amazing to be living with him again. She'd missed him so much over the last five years, even though he had tried his best to visit when he could. So they spent the entire summer together, visiting all the local landmarks, museums and galleries, taking trips to the cinema, and of course he had taken her on a rather extravagant shopping spree. She'd tried to refuse the amount of money he was spending but he just laughed and told her that was how it should be. And when they had done and seen almost everything there was, they spent there days lounging in front of the TV or just sitting talking and catching up on the years they had missed. She filled him in on how boarding school was going and he told her what was going on back home. He told her all about how Lucas and Karen were doing, and about Haley's marriage. She hadn't been too shocked to hear about that since Lucas had filled her in on their regular emails. Though she still couldn't believe she was actually married to Nathan Scott, resident jock and asshole as far as she could remember. Lucas had reassured her that he had changed, seemingly since meeting Haley. That hadn't particularly surprised her. She hadn't seen Haley in more than five years but even as kids Haley had always been an amazing person. She loved her like a sister and the two of them, along with Lucas, had been inseparable.

Eventually the topic turned to him and she worked up the nerve to ask him what had happened back home that had caused him to turn up on her doorstep out of the blue. He'd smiled sadly and she had cuddled into him on the sofa, sensing that he was hurting and needed support but at the same time knowing he was too proud to ask for it. No matter what it was, she would stand by him, she had told him.

But she had been anything but prepared for what he told her. She'd always known his brother was an evil son of a bitch but she never suspected he would do something so low to his own brother. He had humiliated him in front of pretty much everyone he loved. They'd had an ongoing feud for years now. It was the main reason he hadn't wanted her going home to visit. He hadn't wanted her to end up involved. His brother hurt everyone he touched and he wouldn't allow that to happen to her.

But things had changed. She'd realised when summer ended and it was time to return to school that she couldn't be away from him any longer. She was ready to go back. So she planned to finish the next year at school and then return home to him. She was ready. For some reason since she came to her decision time seemed to drag at an unbearable pace.

Then suddenly here she was, 35000 feet above North Carolina, about to complete her mission from a year ago. And she couldn't wait.

"Excuse me Miss….. Miss!" She felt a hand lightly tap her shoulder and removed the earpiece, irritated that whoever it was had interrupted her in the middle of her favourite Creed song, With Arms Wide Open.

"What…!" She replied, rather abruptly, regretting her tone immediately when she noticed the Flight Attendant looking down at her with a patient though obviously annoyed smile on her face that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Sorry to disturb you but we're about to begin landing and I need to ask you to put away all equipment and fasten your seatbelt."

"Oh. Ok sorry." She answered, immediately doing as she was asked. She felt butterflies of excitement stir up in her stomach as she realised the wait was almost over. She was finally home.

……………………..

The small café was buzzing with activity as the lunch time crowd hurried to collect their lunches before getting back to school or work. It didn't faze Karen though. Nothing could faze her lately. She was just so happy to have Keith and Lucas safe after the tragedy at the High School just two weeks before. They'd both been inside, Lucas rushing in to save his friend and of course Keith rushing in after him. Karen had never been so afraid in her whole life. Luckily they'd both managed to get out unharmed. That luck unfortunately had not reached everyone. She thought now and again about Jimmy Edwards and why he had chosen to end it the way he had. She felt for her son. Jimmy had been a good friend to Lucas at one point, before life had caused them to drift apart. She knew the experience still haunted him. Keith was dealing with it as best he could, considering he had actually witnessed the boy take his own life. He was remaining strong for Lucas. She loved that about him. It was just one of the many things she loved about him. She found herself gazing at the white gold ring on her left hand. She was actually engaged. And she was happy.

The sound of an irate customer clearing his throat brought her back from her daze and she handed over the coffee with a mumbled apology. She glanced to her left and noticed Haley looking over with a mock annoyed expression.

"Jeez Karen anyone would think I'm the one running this place." She joked, although she couldn't help but be happy for the woman she'd always thought of as a second mother.

Karen laughed, "Well maybe if my no good son over there would get off of his butt and help we'd get this done a lot quicker." She said loudly.

Lucas remained oblivious, his head in a book and his I-Pod turned up full volume. Haley walked up quietly behind him and swatted the back of his head with the dish cloth.

"What the…." Lucas jumped, narrowing his eyes in mock annoyance when he realised who had swatted him. "You know I'll get you back for that later!" he joked, for the first time noticing the crowded café surrounding him. He quickly rose to his feet to help.

………………….

She watched the scene inside the café with amusement, glad to see not everything had changed. She couldn't wait to surprise them but knew it would be more sensible to wait until the last of the crowd had left, otherwise she would cause uproar.

When the café had emptied she stood up, slinging her backpack over her shoulder, and made her way up the steps into the place she had missed like crazy. She entered quietly, still after all these years knowing the trick to getting through the door without hitting the bell. Lucas and Haley were sitting at a table with their backs to her, Haley taking a well deserved break. Karen had disappeared out back. Even better, double the surprise.

She cleared her throat, "Jeez what does a girl gotta do to get a coffee around here. The service in this place sucks." She joked, grinning to herself as she noticed Lucas look up, but not yet turn around.

A wide grin formed on Lucas's face when he heard the all too familiar voice. He'd recognise it anywhere, despite all the years that had past. ""Who is this little weed that dare come in here and diss my mom's perfectly good service?" He joked, as he finally made his way over to her, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her off the ground. "Hey cuz, long time no see! Hey mom, you got a rowdy little ratbag out here disturbing the peace, you want to throw her out or should I?" He laughed as a hand clipped the back of his head for the second time in less than an hour.

Karen made her way out front, hearing the commotion. She froze in shock as she caught sight of the girl standing inside the doorway, flanked by both Lucas and Haley, who still had her arms wrapped around the girl. The coffee pot she held in her hands promptly fell from her grip, hitting the floor with a crash. Luckily it was empty and made of plastic. Karen didn't care though. She was too busy staring at the smiling girl in front of her. What had it been? Five years? She would be seventeen now, only a few months younger than Lucas. She couldn't believe the difference the years had made.

"Cassie! Oh my gosh!" Finally finding her voice, and her feet, she rushed forward to gather the girl into her arms.

Cassie laughed and returned the hug. "Jeez Karen, better be careful, people might think you guys missed me." She joked.

"Missed you? Hell no girl, my mom's just happy to have an extra pair of hands to help out around here right mom?" Lucas laughed and ducked the hand that swatted at him.

"Shut it you, I know you missed me most." Cassie teased.

Karen ushered her into the café and to an empty table, where she promptly began making the usual fuss, making sure Cassie had been fed and watered on her long flight and that there was nothing she needed. Cassie politely declined and told Karen in no uncertain terms to sit her ass down and take a break.

Eventually, once the initial surprise had worn off and the only two remaining customers had left, Karen flipped the closed sign over on the front door and the four sat down to talk and catch up on the last five years.

Cassie teased Haley about her High School wedding, and questioned Lucas on the latest news of his relationship with the ever popular Brooke Davis. Cassie hadn't really known Brooke when they were young. They'd run in different circles and pretty much hadn't even known the other existed. But Lucas seemed happy and Cassie trusted his judgement.

Then Cassie had congratulated Karen on her own engagement and told her that she couldn't be happier about it and Lucas saw his opportunity to ask the question that was on everyone's mind.

"So Cass, does Keith know your home?"

Cassie shook her head and grinned at the mention of his name. "Not yet. I uh, I kinda wanted to surprise him."

"Well colour me surprised!" Said a voice from the doorway, causing all everyone to look up and Cassie to leap out of her seat.

"Good surprise or bad surprise?" Cassie asked with a teasing glint in her eye.

Keith laughed and shook his head. Some things never changed. She was still the little wiseass she had always been. He couldn't believe she was actually standing in front of him.

"Get over here kid!" He demanded, opening his arms for a hug that she was only too happy to accept. "God I've missed you so much."

Despite her best attempts to stop them, Cassie felt warm tears slowly begin to make their way down her cheeks as she returned the hug. "I've missed you too Dad."

………………

After Cassie was sure her father couldn't possibly squeeze anymore air out of her body, he pulled away and held her at arms length, looking at her in absolute awe. Karen ushered Lucas and Haley out back, sensing that father and daughter need some time alone. Other than the day she had asked him to marry her, she couldn't remember a day in the last year when Keith had looked so happy. There was no question about how much he loved his little girl, though she wasn't so little anymore. She smiled to herself, anticipating Keith's surprise and unbelievable joy when Cassie told him she was coming home for good. Quietly, she left the pair to it.

Cassie laughed at her father's still stunned expression. "Its ok Dad, I know your getting old and everything but I promise you you're not starting to see things. I'm really here.

"Hey! Watch it with the old thank you very much!" He mock scowled, though not able to keep the smile from his face for long. "Jeez kiddo you knocked me for six! What… how….?" He trailed off, still unable to speak.

Deciding to save him from having to talk when she knew he only stutter and stumble over his words, Cassie explained. "Well, after you left last year I realised that I missed you too much to stay away. I've had the time away that I need and I'm ready to come home. So Grandma helped me switch schools once I'd finished the year and booked me on the first plane back to Tree Hill. I want to come home Dad."

For the second time in less than fifteen minutes, Keith pulled his daughter into his arms. "You have no idea how good it is to hear you say that Cass." He said, his voice breaking as his own tears finally started. "I'd love you to come home sweetheart."

"Really? But what about, uh, well I mean is everything ok with Dan? You told me it'd be better if I stayed away for a while."

"Honey, my brother has done his best to take a lot of things from me lately, and I'll be damned if I'm gonna let him spoil things for us now that you're finally home. Don't worry about it." He ran his hand softly over her tear stained face. "Come on, I know we've talked on the phone regularly but I want to catch up in person. What's say you and me head out for a walk around town, get you reacquainted while we talk?"

"Sure, I'd like that."

"Ok, let me just go let the guys know."

"No need." Karen's said from the doorway to the back of the café. She smiled at the pair and Keith kissed her goodbye before leaving arm in arm with his daughter.

……………..

"Ok so wait let me get this straight." Keith laughed as he and Cassie walked peacefully through the streets that had once been her home. "You broke the guy's nose and kicked him where it hurts before pouring his own drink over his head!" He couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. Actually no, scratch that, he could totally believe what he was hearing.

Cassie looked back at him with an innocent expression before breaking out into a devilish grin. "Hell yes! Maybe that'll teach him not to try and grab a girl's ass in future. You disappointed?" She asked, knowing he wouldn't be.

"Hell no, I'm damn proud that my little girl knows how to stand up for herself. It's just a shame I wasn't there to give the guy a beating."

They had been walking for almost an hour and yet neither felt the need to turn back, both content to be in each others company for the first time in a year. They had visited all the places that Cassie remembered from being a kid. All except the River Court. She couldn't wait to get back there and shoot hoops with Lucas again, but she knew everyone would be there and she wasn't quite ready to give up her time with her father just yet.

Suddenly Cassie felt him tense beside her and only then did she realise that they had turned onto the street where his old auto shop had been, the one her uncle had thought nothing of pulling from under his feet. She knew how hurt he had been when Dan had done that. Keith knew Dan was evil but Cassie didn't think that he had even thought for a second that his own brother would stoop that low. A part of her father still loved his brother and she knew he wished that Dan would find a way to let go of his bitterness so they could try and form some kind of relationship. But she also knew that there wasn't a cat in hell's chance of that ever happening. Quite frankly the man gave her the creeps.

She hugged her father tighter and looked up at him. "You ok?"

"Huh, oh, yeah." He nodded and smiled down at his daughter, wrapping an arm around her shoulders so he could pull her closer. "Yeah honey I'm fine. I let go of this place a long time ago but sometimes it's still strange to see it, you know?"

"Yeah." They stood still for a moment and Cassie wrapped both arms around her father, who returned the gesture just as content to have her back as she was to be back.

They stood like that for what seemed like forever and Cassie noticed that the sun which had been setting a few moments ago had now given away to darkness, the light of the street lamps illuminating the street and the shop they stood in front of.

"Come on Honey, its getting cold. Let's get home." He was about to turn and leave when an all too familiar voice spoke from behind him.

"Well well well, big brother, cheating on Karen already? You work fast. You two only just got engaged." Dan taunted, not yet able to see the person standing in his brother's arms.

Cassie was angry. She was mad as hell for two reasons. One, the fact that she hadn't even been back a day and already she'd managed to run into this asshole. And two, that he had the nerve to ruin one of the first perfect moments she had shared with her father in a year. She felt him loosen his grip as he turned to face his brother and she moved to stand at his side, allowing Dan to see her for the first time.

His eyes widened when he noticed her and a smirk appeared on his face. He gave a humourless laugh as he looked her over. Cassie stared right back with nothing but hatred in her eyes.

"Oh! Look at this! The prodigal daughter returns. Well don't just stand there…" He taunted menacingly, "Come give your uncle Dan a hug." The smirk never left his face as he spoke. Something inside Cassie snapped.

"I'm sorry I don't know what you mean. My uncle Dan is dead. He died a while back. Right around the time the asshole paid a cheap whore to ruin my Dad's life." She spat, not in the mood to put up with the man's games. Not tonight. Tonight should have been a happy night. Now it was ruined. She had felt her father tense protectively as soon as he had heard his brother's voice.

"Cass…" Keith warned. The last thing he wanted was his brother pissed at his daughter. He knew Dan would already see Cassie as an easy target to get at him. Anything more would only make it worse.

Cassie quietened upon hearing her father's warning.

"Whoa.." Dan laughed. "This kid has a smart mouth. You should listen to your Daddy kid. You have no idea who you're talking to." He said, taking a step towards Cassie.

In an instant, Keith had placed himself between them, keeping Cassie close behind him, as he squared up to his brother. "What do you want Danny? I'm about to go home and spend an evening with my daughter so you'll excuse me if I don't have time to stand around and exchange the usual pleasantries with you."

His voice dripped with sarcasm and Cassie couldn't stop the grin that spread across her face. Then she noticed Dan looking at her, anything but pleased, and tried her best, without success, to suppress the smile.

In a second Dan's smirk was back as he replied to Keith's question. "Well I think I have a right to be concerned when I see you standing here with your arms around another woman. I mean you are marrying the mother of my son after all."

Keith visibly flinched at this remark and Dan chuckled. "But now that I know that it's just my niece…."

Cassie could take no more and cut him off. "Don't call me that you asshole! Don't you ever call me that. You're nothing to me after what you've done to my Dad. Nothing do you understand."

"Cassie honey enough." Keith commanded, wishing more than anything that he hadn't gotten his daughter into this situation on her first day back. He wanted to keep her as far away from Dan as possible. Unfortunately it hadn't worked out that way and he could tell that Cassie had already managed to piss Dan off. "Danny just leave ok. Walk away. This is Cassie's first day back and we just want to spend some time together."

That annoying smirk appeared on his face again and it was all Cassie could do not to reach forward and wipe it off with her fist. She wasn't afraid of this pathetic man in front of her. It took a lot to frighten Cassie and at the moment her uncle was only succeeding in annoying the hell out of her. But she stayed quiet. Although she didn't feel afraid she knew that her father didn't worry for just anything. He had wanted her to stay away from Tree Hill for the last four years, making the trips out to Ohio himself instead. Cassie knew that there had to be a good reason.

Without another word, Dan stood aside, allowing Cassie and Keith to pass him. Keith kept himself between Cassie and his brother until they were a comfortable distance away, not putting anything past him after the incident at the dealership. Dan had already held a grudge against him for years, but now he truly believed that Keith had tried to kill him and that could only make things a hundred times worse. There was one thing that Keith knew about his brother and that was that no-one ever messed with him without some form of payback.

"See you round niece!" Dan yelled after them and Cassie tensed in her father's arms.

Keith noticed this and tightened his hold on her. Great! He thought. Just freaking great! She's been home all of two minutes and already he's messing with her.

As if reading his thoughts she nudged him, smiling. "It's ok. Honestly he doesn't scare me. He just likes messing with people's minds that's all. He's all talk."

"I know honey. I just wish you hadn't had to deal with him so soon." Keith replied, while praying to God that his daughter was right.