Authors note: I own nothing, wish I did but nope I don't. Flashback scenes will be in italics. Enjoy.
He stood in the locker room alone. This was a big night, he knew that, college recruiters, fighting for the state championship. It would be the first one since his father and uncle had played here. A lot was riding on this, he did not want to disappoint. He may have only been a junior, but he knew this was a big night.
"You ok," he heard from the doorway.
"Yeah coach," he said, "I'm good." He put his jersey on, closed his locker and walked behind his coach to the gym. He could hear the crowd cheering, as he stepped on the court, he saw his mother & his aunt sitting together, smiles plastered on their faces as they cheered their boys on.
"Your sister is looking mighty fine tonight," Chuck said as he nudged his arm.
"Come on man," Jamie said as he glared at Chuck, "get your head in the game."
"Men," Lucas said as he approached the team, "I'm proud of you, all of you."
"Thanks Uncle Luke," Jamie said, "can't believe this is my last game as a Raven."
"It's crazy J. Luke, but I am so proud of you, you too son," Lucas said as he placed his hand on the shoulder of the younger boy.
"Don't be," he said as he walked away, Lucas sighed shaking his head. He remembered being that age and he had hoped for better. He made his way to the stands, to sit with his wife, he glanced over at the cheerleaders and smiled at his daughter. She was so much like her mother, she waved up to her parents and Lucas waved back. His own sister captain of the cheerleaders, she reminded him so much of Keith. Then he looked back at the court and saw his son talking to Nathan and Jamie and that's when he noticed the back of his jersey.
"The Tree Hill Ravens starting lineup," the announcer said, "Senior Chuck Skolnick, Senior Andre Fields, Senior Shawn McKay and your co-captains, Senior Jamie Scott and Junior K.J. Sc," the announcer fumbled, "K.J. Davis, your Tree Hill Ravens ladies and gentlemen." Brooke glanced over to Lucas, she could see the frustration on his face as Haley rubbed her shoulder.
"You ok Tigger," Haley asked, Brooke nodded, "Nathan said he's ok."
"I know," she said with a sigh as they watched tip off, "let's go Ravens," she yelled as she watched her son with the ball.
As the buzzer sounded, Haley ran down to congratulate Nathan on the win, he had coached these boys to a state championship. Brooke smiled as she saw Jamie and her son embrace at center court. And Lily joined them followed by Madison, Jenny and Sawyer. She felt an ache in her heart for her son at that moment. She made her way down to the court, K.J. came up to her as she wiped her eyes.
"I am so proud of you baby boy," she said as she wrapped her arms around her son. She saw Sophie McKay looking at her son, she smiled and nudged him, "go," she said as she motioned towards the girl. Sophie, the bookworm, reminded Brooke so much of a young Haley she couldn't help but smile. Sophie had been best friends with K.J. since they were in kindergarten. Brooke looked over to see Lucas and Peyton standing with Sawyer who beamed with excitement.
"Luke," she said as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Oh my god," he said, "this is amazing."
"This is a dream come true," she said as she glanced over towards Peyton, "so who do you want standing next to you," she asked as they both looked towards Peyton, he hesitated, "go," she said. "It's ok, go."
Brooke's phone vibrating in her hand pulled her from her thoughts, she smiled as she saw the display, "hey my love," she said.
"Did they win," he asked excitedly from the other end of the phone.
"They did, babe, they won, and he did amazing," she said, "do you want to talk to him," she asked as she started walking towards when K.J. was standing with Jenny surrounded by the other girls and players.
"Of course, I wish I would have been there."
"He knows that," Brooke said, "hold on," she stepped towards the group, "K.J.," she said, trying to get his attention, "Keithan James, your dad wants to talk to you," she shouted. She saw a look of anger on her sons face as she caught a glimpse of Lucas standing behind her, "he's on the phone," she said as she handed her cell phone to her son. He walked off to be alone on the phone.
"He's my son Brooke," Lucas said frustrated, drawing the attention of the other players on the court.
"Daddy," the blonde little boy said grabbing on to Lucas' hand.
"What Keith," Lucas said frustrated.
"Mamma said we need to go now," he said. Keith was Lucas and Peyton's five-year-old son, the spitting image of Lucas, Brooke saw Peyton standing nearby with Sawyer.
"He's your son Luke," Brooke said looking at the little boy. She walked away towards her son who was explaining the whole game at this point.
"We're your family Lucas," Peyton said as she took his hand, "you don't need them."
"Are you guys heading out," Nathan asked as he saw his brother walking towards the exit.
"Yeah," Lucas said angrily, he shook his head as he looked towards Brooke standing with K.J. and Jamie, "what's with the jersey tonight?"
"Luke, come on man," Nathan said, "he's going through a lot with all of this. You of all people should get it. You weren't around for sixteen years man, his whole like and you come back here, and you expect him to what? Luke, you have another son named Keith, that's messed up in its own way, but you have a family that he was not part of. You left Luke, you left Tree Hill and you left him."
"We did what was right for our family," Peyton said.
"That's just it, Peyton," Nathan said frustrated, "your family. You've always been selfish though."
"Nathan," Haley said grabbing his arm.
"Luke you're my brother, man, and I love you, but how we all got here, that's on you two."