AU. This is an experiment. I love "Switched at Birth", but I always thought the two girls got shortchanged as far as decent boys go. I watched the first two episode of the new season and decided to do an AU, throwing Lucas Scott at them. I already have two fics I'm currently writing, so I'm not sure if I'm going to invest on this one. Please, let me know your thoughts. By the way, if it continues, the Scotts will come for a visit in a few chapters, and Brooke too. My plan is for a Lucas -Daphne endgame, with some Lucas-Bay complications in the middle, but I am Brucas trash, so she may sweep in at the end and grab the boy. As usual, I owe nothing, either of OTH or Switched at Birth.

Chapter one

"Good afternoon. Lucas Scott, to see Ms. Kennish."

"You may go right in, Mr Scott."

It's a nicely appointed office, and the woman behind the desk is a pretty woman in her fifties, with a pleasant smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Kennish."

"Please, call me Kathryn. May I call you Lucas?"

"Yes, sure."

"We were very pleased you could accept our offer, Lucas, late as it was. Classes just started, and the sudden passing of our head coach left us in a very difficult position. I know it's going to be a challenge, but with your energy and experience, I hope you can have a good season."

"I've looked at a few game tapes, Kathryn, and you have a couple of very good players, Matt Bingen and Christian Kopek, I believe, in your starting line up. I understand Matt is a senior, and Christian just a sophomore. I can probably work with that. When do I meet the team?"

"I'll take you to morning practice tomorrow at half past eight. For now, did you go through the formalities, payroll, ID, parking place?"

"Yes. I still need to meet the chair of the English Department. I'll be running a creative writing seminar for juniors this term, as part of my contract."

She stands up and starts moving to the door. "Well, let me walk you there."

"Thank you, but it is not necessary."

"I like being outside."

"My husband John is the head coach for our collegiate baseball team. He asked me to invite you for dinner tonight, if you have the time."

"It will be a pleasure, Kathryn."

"Very well, our home address and phone is on the back of the card I gave you. You should come around seven."

The Kennish house was a huge revival mansion, in the center of a large, well landscaped lot. I parked the Mustang and as I was getting ready to knock on the front door, a large smiling man appeared through a side door. "Hi, I'm John Kennish. Lucas Scott, I presume. Nice car."

"Thank you." The handshake is firm and confident. "Here is some wine, and the flowers are for Kathryn"

"Thank you for coming."

The side door leads directly into the kitchen. Kathryn is at the stove, stirring a pot with a wooden spoon. "Oh, hi Lucas. Nice flowers, thank you. Honey, can you get a vase to place the flowers? Did you find a place to live, Lucas?"

"I signed the lease for a small two bedroom apartment about fifteen minutes from campus this morning." I tell them the address.

"Oh, a friend of ours, Regina Vazquez, owns a very nice cafe about a block from your place. It's called The Cracked Mug. You should try it out."

"I think I noticed the place. Regina. If I see her, I'll be sure to tell her you sent me."

"So, do you have children?"

"Yes, a boy, about your age, and two girls, a year younger. The boy lives in England with his wife and son. Our girls actually are your neighbors. They live in an apartment above the Cracked Mug. One of them is a sophomore premed at UMKC, and the other is an artist, I think she is doing tatoos now. What about you? Girlfriend? Brothers and sisters?"

"No girlfriends, one brother, Nathan, shooting guard for Maryland and one sister, Lily, three-year-old."

Suddenly the door opens, and one of the most beautiful girls I've ever seen barges right in. A short brunette, long raven hair, huge dark eyes, very fair skin, red cupid bow mouth, funky biker-like clothing with nice curves under them, and boots. "Mom, dad, I'm sorry. There's nothing to eat in the house... Oh, hi!" She extends a delicate hand with short black nails, looking at me straight in the eyes. "Bay Kennish."

I shake the offered hand. "Lucas Scott. Nice to meet you." She looks at her mother, a question in her eyes.

"Lucas is the new basketball head coach," she explains.

Bay frowns. "Aren't you a bit young to be head anything?" Outspoken.

"I'm twenty."

Her mother explains. "He's won two national titles, one as assistant coach and one as head coach, and just spent a year as chief assistant coach at Chapel Hill, one of the best basketball programs in the country. He's got the credentials, dear, and he was available last minute. He's also published a best-selling novel, an Unkindness of Ravens."

She stares at me, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Overachiever, much? I've actually seen the novel around. I think Daphne was reading it."

"Do you want to eat with us, Bay? I made pot roast."

She looks at me. "Sure."

We sit down to eat. I try to resist, but in the end I give in. "So Bay, do you have a boyfriend?"

She hesitates. The question clearly embarrasses her. "Sorry." Her father asks.

"Hey, what happened to Travis?"

"We broke up, two weeks ago. Things got weird after we got back from China."

"You were in China?"

"My sister and I spent a whole year there. I learned tattooing and she worked in an eastern medicine clinic."

"Wow, that sound interesting."

"We came back a couple of months ago. I'm working at a tattoo parlor now. Do you have any ink?"

"Please excuse me." I unbutton the top buttons of my shirt and pull it around, to show the chinese character in my left shoulder."

"Hm. Love. Not much artistry, but I can appreciate the sentiment."

"An ex-girlfriend has a little version in her girl parts."

"It's a little faded. How long ago did you do it?"

"Five years."

"Do you miss her?"

"Yup. You look a little like her."

That flusters her a bit. It's nice to know the self-possession is not shatterproof. She gives me a card. "Come by anytime. I can do a touch up in a few minutes. It will look like new."

"Thanks."

"Do you have any ink?"

"Just a lotus flower." She turns around and pushes her hair out of the way. It's a beautiful, delicate design at the base of her neck.

"It's beautiful, Bay."

"My design."

"You need more ink. I've never seen a tattoo artist with so little."

"So my boss keeps telling me." She looks me in the eyes. "I have a problem with commitment."

Her father finally gets tired of watching the flirty interaction between us, and decides to intervene. "Dessert anyone?"

oooooooooooooooooo

When I get to the apartment, Daphne is lying on the couch, reading a book. She feels my hard steps on the wooden floor and turns to me. "Hey sister, what's up?"

"I had dinner with mom and dad. Brought you some leftover."

"Hm. Thanks. I was getting hungry."

"There was this incredible hot guy having dinner with them."

That perks up her attention.

"A hot guy? An old hot guy like Brad Pitt?"

"No, a young hot guy. He is the new basketball coach at the U."

"How young?"

"Our age young. From what I got, he is a senior in college back east, but he's been coaching basketball for a while. His name is Lucas Scott."

She shows me the back cover of her book. "You mean this Lucas Scott?"

"Yup, but he looks better in person."

"He is an incredible writer. He's offering a creative writing seminar this term, and I was thinking of trying for it. You have to submit an essay, and he will pick a dozen or so students from their essays."

"When is the essay due?"

"A week."

"Do you have time to write something?"

"Oh, I have a few pieces I could use. I was writing this little memoir of our year in China. Maybe I could use a piece of it. Do you think he signs?"

"I have no idea. Probably not."

"By the way, what are you doing getting worked up over a hot guy? Aren't you still trying to get over Travis."

"Yes, but you didn't see him. We were flirting shamelessly right in front of mom and dad. To be honest, I have no idea what I would do if he makes a move."

"You are hopeless, sis. Be careful, take it easy, ok? You'll never lack hot guys coming after you."

oooooooooooooo

It's been a week I've been in Kansas City, and things are slowly falling into place. I've met with the team a few times, and I think I have a decent line up, but my two star players, Matt and Christian, are not working well together. It's the old story. Christian is more talented, a real NBA prospect, but he is young, arrogant, and rubs people the wrong way. Matt, on the other hand is a sweet, mature guy, good team captain, but he is a senior, and he needs to show something, if he wants any chance to make it to the pros. I think his chances are slim, but a good run at the playoffs, more than individual scoring, would really increase his chances. I need to convince both of them that working together is in their best interest, which means, I need to get in Christian's head.

I've been having breakfast at the Cracked Mug the past few days, at least in part because I like the feel the place. I have my computer up, and I'm doing revisions on a short story I promised to one of the editors of Sports Illustrated a couple of months back, as I sip my second cup of coffee.

My day takes a decided turn for the better, when two girls walk in, in an animated conversation in ASL. One of them is Bay, wearing another funky biker-like ensemble and the other is a pretty, athletic redhead in a light green summer dress, wearing runner shoes. I took one year of ASL in high school, in part because there was a younger deaf kid who would show up at the Rivercourt sometimes, and in part because I really like the way it looks. I haven't used it in a while, but I find the fast conversation between the two girls incredibly graceful. The redhead has that fluency characteristic of native ASL users, and Bay clearly has long practice, and her natural expressiveness to give it charm. I can still get most of what they are saying.

Bay sees me and smiles. "There is the hottie from mom and dad's." They approach me and I stand up to greet them. Bay speaks, signing simultaneously. "Lucas, this is my sister Daphne. Daphne, this is Lucas Scott."

I look at Daphne, and respond in clumsy sign and talk. "Hi Bay, hi Daphne. It's a pleasure to meet you. You look a lot like Kathryn." Both girls are surprised, Bay blushes, and I can see that signing scores major points with Daphne. She widens her already huge green eyes and gives me a broad smile that nearly knocks my socks off. She is one of these girls who look pretty, and then turn absolutely stunning when they smile. For dorks like me, the job becomes just to keep those smiles coming, as often as possible.

"Would you guys sit? Have a cup?"

Daphne turns to me. "We came in for breakfast. I'm headed for school, and Bay needs to go buy supplies for her shop." Daphne has a pleasant deep register voice. I assume she is also a good lip reader. That's nice. It probably makes her life easier. Bay places an order for their breakfast, and I ask for a third cup, just to keep the girls company, saving my work and putting the computer away to make space.

"Can I offer any of you a ride? I'm driving to school." Daphne says "Sure." and Bay says "I'm going to Costco, and I need my car. Thanks."

I'm intrigued. Daphne is clearly Kathryn's but I see no family resemblance between the two girls.

"So, are you twins?"

Both girls laugh. "You're not from around here. Everybody knows our story."

"We were born minutes apart, and switched. I was Kathryn's and raised by Regina, the owner of this cafe."

"And I was Regina's, raised by mom and dad. I always felt different in my family, and I begun to suspect I was adopted so, at sixteen, I did a paternity test and found I was unrelated to my parents. I confronted them and the switch came out."

"So, we are sisters because we have the same parents. My biological parents are her unwittingly adoptive parents and vice-versa. It took a while for us to figure this mess out but now we are really close."

Daphne turns to her sister. "According to his book, something strangely similar happened to Lucas. He has a brother who he only really got to know at sixteen, there was a lot of confusion, even hostility, but they ended up really close."

"He's married to my best friend, and I lived with him, his wife and their son for two years."

"If you're curious about our story, mom wrote a book about it, called Switched at Birth.", says Bay.

Daphne looks at me. "You should come back here and meet our other mother Regina. What time do you come home?"

"Well, I've been staying late watching game videos, but I could be back by six."

"That's a good time. I'll hitch a ride back with you at six, and we can come to the cafe and meet mom. Is that ok? Can you make it too, Bay? We'll eat something here."

"That's fine with me."

"I'll be a little late, but I can probably make it by half past."

Apparently I made a couple of new friends. Problem is, they are my boss' daughters, and I find both of them quite attractive. Well, I've been here. Let's hope I've learned something.

Driving around with Daphne is a bit frustrating. She can talk just fine, but I can't sign one handed and I can't look at her for her to read my lips for more than a couple of seconds. On the other hand, I rather enjoy her sunny monologue. When I park at my assigned spot, she picks up her backpack and gives me a sweet kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you at six."

I asked Christian to show up before practice and come talk with me. He comes is, with the defiant attitude typical of good, immature athletes. "Hi, Coach." "Christian is a six foot four black kid from a poor family in Saint Louis. Smart, insecure and arrogant. He desperately need to grow up some.

"Hello, Christian. Please sit down."

"What's up coach?"

"Do you know why I asked you here?"

"Yeah. You want me to play nice with the others, specially that fool Matt."

"No. That's not why. I have a few questions for you. Do you want to play at the NBA?"

"Of course. Matt has no chance, but I have a real shot, if I keep my scoring up."

"Do you know how many players from the Kangaroos were drafted in the past twenty years?"

"No."

"One. Josiah Mackenzie got picked on the second round by the Sonics in ninety two. This was the last time the Kangaroos made it to the playoffs. Do you know what should be the lesson?"

"What?"

"The NBA does not pick good players from losing teams. They might pick an exceptional player from a losing team, but you and I know. You're damn good, but you're not exceptional. You need your team to win in your senior year. That means you need me to attract good players, and the only way I can do that, is if the team wins now. In fact, a losing team with a high scoring star loses good players. So, my friend, you want to go to the NBA? Stop worrying about your scoring stats and start worrying about winning. That means you need Matt and the other fools in the line up to play with you. And you need to learn to play with them. You wanna learn how? Just look for me and ask. That's all."

"Thank you, coach." He leaves with the same attitude that he came in. I might need to bench him a few times to drive in my point.

I get my whistle and walk to the court. "Suicides, boys." I signal Matt to approach. "I just had a heart to heart with Christian, but I may need to reinforce it a bit. I need you to think on game tactics without Christian for the next few games. You can come talk to me about it next week. Now, go warm up."

Later I walk up to the English Department to collect the essays students wanting to enroll in my creative writing workshop must turn in. The deadline is Monday, but I hoped there would be some essays already there which I could read over the weekend. I have twelve places in my class, so I'm hoping for at least eight to ten students interested. I look for the Department undergraduate secretary, which is staffed by a busy looking brunette in her thirties. I approach the counter and she speaks, without looking at me. Take a seat. I'll be right with you. About ten minutes later she looks at me, takes in the suit and tie and looks confused. "How can I help you?"

"My name is Lucas Scott..."

"Professor Scott?"

I smile. "I don't think the title "professor" applies to me. You can call me Coach Scott, or just Lucas. But I am a teacher associated with this Department, I guess."

She picks up a cardboard box and places it on the counter. "You have sixty three applicants so far, Coach Scott. You can probably expect just as many by Monday. Ah! I almost forgot. The Chairman wants a word."

I walk two doors down the corridor, for the Chairman's office. His secretary appears to be in the wind, so I knock directly on his door. "Come in."

"Good afternoon, Prof. Boardman."

"Coach Scott, so good of you to come. please call me Charles." He shakes my hand.

"In that case, please call me Lucas. What can I do for you?"

"Well, mostly I wanted to meet you. We have had a resident author program for several years, and the creative writing seminar is the main duty we request of our authors. It's the first time our program receives a best-selling author, and considering the readers of your book tend to be young, it is no surprise that the competition for the places in your class will be fierce. We hope you can find some potential writers in the crowd."

"Well, it appears I'll have plenty of applicants to choose from. Is twelve students a hard limit?"

"We expect the students in this class to get seriously involved in it, and develop a personal relationship with the instructor. I would strongly recommend you don't exceed that number. Ah, I do have something else. We are holding a reception in your honor in the President's room at the central administration's office. The department's faculty, plus several faculty from other departments should attend, and we hope you would be willing to give a speech after dinner. The reception will be at half past seven next Thursday. You may bring a plus one, if you wish."

"Very well, sir. I'll be there."

I stand leaning against my car, when Daphne comes, half walking, half running across the quad. She gets near me and gives me another peck in the cheek. "Hi, Lucas! How was your day?"

"It was ok. Basketball practice, a good time writing and a meeting at the English Department."

"Oh yes. I'm going to apply to attend your class."

"Do you write?"

"I've been writing for the school paper. I am also writing a memoir about our time in China. I am using a piece of it as my essay for your class."

"Did you already turn it in?"

"No. I was planning to do it on Monday."

"Well, good luck. I hope you get in." Actually, I hoped no such thing. I was planning to ask her out, and, if she is in my class, that's against the rules. Well...

"Daphne."

"Yes?"

"Would you go out with me tomorrow for dinner? I know it's a bit short..."

"Yes! A date?"

"Yes."

"I would love to."

And that's that, I guess.

On the drive back home Daphne was quiet, but I could feel her excitement bubbling below the surface. We walked in and Daphne grabbed my hand, pulling me along to a beautiful middle aged latina standing behind the counter. "Mom, this is Lucas Scott. Lucas, This is Regina Vasquez."

"Very nice to meet you. My boss, Kathryn Kennish, told me I should mention her as I introduced myself."

"Hi, Lucas. Very nice to meet you." She can see that Daphne is interested in this boy, but she can't figure out the suit and tie. "Are you also a student at the University?"

"No. I'm actually a senior at the University of North Carolina, but I'm finishing my degree at a distance. I just work at UMKC."

"Mom, he is the new Head Coach for the boy's basketball team and the author of a best-selling novel. He is also doing a writer-resident thing for the English Department."

"Very accomplished. How did you meet Daphne?"

"Well, I went to the Kennish' for dinner Monday night, and Bay showed up unexpectedly. This morning I was sitting here at the cafe, minding my own business, when your daughters walked in, and Bay introduced Daphne. Very nice cafe, by the way. My mother supported herself by running a cafe and diner while raising me."

"Thank you. What about your father?"

I can't avoid a grimace. "He wasn't in the picture."

She places a hand in my arm. I can see that this is a very kind woman. "I'm sorry. I raised Daphne by myself too. Her father left when she was three."

My respect for this woman grows a notch. It can't have been easy raising a special needs child by herself. "Well, I don't know Daphne very well yet, but you certainly seem to have done a great job." I look into Daphne's eyes and smile, getting rewarded by one of her stunning smiles."

The mutual interest is not lost on Regina. "Well, you two certainly appear to get along."

"I asked your daughter on a date tomorrow, and she accepted. I do hope to get to know her better."

Daphne squeals and jumps in my neck, giving me a quick kiss on the lips. I look at her, surprised and she just shrugs, looking smug. Like many native ASL users, she is incredibly expressive. I would pick up her hand, but I like her signing way too much for that. Instead, I throw caution to the wind and pick up her face between my hands and give her a slow kiss in the lips, to which she responds enthusiastically back. I'm sure we would have deepened this kiss into a serious make out session right then, if her mother wasn't standing right there.

Of course, Bay chooses that moment to walk in. "Wow, you guys move fast." speaking and signing archly. She turns to her mother. "They just met this morning, and are already into PDA's? I'm dying to know what happened in between."

We separate and I look into her eyes. I just mimic saying the word "Later." She nods.

Regina looks around. "Hey, what about eating something? "

"Actually, I'm starving. What do you recommend?"

Bay replies. "Mom has a mean chilli." That reminds me of eating chilli with my mom and Haley after closing the cafe, back in high school.

"That takes me back."

Daphne nods. "I know. I read the book."

"Well, I could certainly go for a bowl." The girls agree, so it's chili all around. Regina serves four bowls, and brings out glasses with ice and a pitcher of water. "You may need this. There's a nice apple pie the cook made today, which you can have with ice cream afterwards." The chili is excellent, spicy as hell, and the apple pie was pretty good too. Regina and Bay keep up the conversation, while Daphne and I stay quiet, exchanging glances and smiles through the meal.

When we are done with the pie, Bay turns to her sister, in mock annoyance. "You two are disgusting. Why don't you just get out of here, and go do whatever it is you need to do?"

She looks at me, and I nod. We all get up, and I kiss Regina's cheek. "It was very nice meeting you. Thank you for the meal."

"You're welcome, Lucas. Be nice to my girl, ok?"

"I'll do my best, Regina. Don't worry."

"Bye, Bay." As I look in her eyes, I can still feel the mutual physical attraction with the brunette, now fully in the back burner. The truth is that I am attracted to Bay, but her sister pulls at some strings in my heart that I didn't even know were still there.

"Be good to my sister, Lucas Scott. I'll be watching."

"Bye, mom." And to Bay. "Will you wait up for me?"

"Sure. And take your time. I'll probably be at the studio." Bay converted a small deposit at the back of the cafe, with an outside door, into an atelier, where both her and occasionaly, Regina paint.

I look at Daphne and she explains. "Bay paints. You see the painting on he back wall?" It's a dramatic broad landscape, showing a group of peasants harvesting coffee. "It's Bay's" I look again at the scene. It's expressive, edgy and has a hint of social criticism. I turn to Daphne. "I think I like her work better that Peyton's."

Daphne explains. "That's quite a compliment, sis."

"Thank you, then. I guess."

"Let's go."