He watches as she twirls around until she get dizzy and falls to the ground with giggles. Her long blond hair flowing as her butterfly dress twirls. "Am I pretty Bubba?" she calls in her four year old voice.
Lucas chuckles slightly, "You are beautiful Lily Rose Scott."
Lily jumps up and runs toward Lucas, her tiny arms out stretched, "I love you Luke!"
Lucas catches the child picking her up, "I love you too Lily."
"Lucas," Lily says playing with the collar of his shirt, "does my daddy think I'm pretty?"
Lucas pulls the child closer, "Your daddy thinks you are beautiful."
"Then why did he die?" Lily asks.
Lucas sighs, setting down in a rocking chair with Lily on his lap, "Daddy had to go to Heaven and watch out for you."
"But I want my Daddy here!" Lily says looking into Lucas's eyes.
"Me too Pretty Girl." Lucas says quietly. "But ya know what?" Lily shakes her head no, "Your Daddy loves you a whole lot. And he's always with you."
"How?" asks the four year old.
"Because he's always right here." Lucas puts his hand over the child's heart.
Lily seems to think it over for a second, "What was my Daddy like?"
"He was hero." Lucas says, "He would do anything for anybody. He was courageous and very smart."
"Like a Knight?" Lily asks.
"Just like a knight." Lucas nods.
"He was brave?" Lily asks.
"Yes, he was very brave." Lucas nods ounce more.
"Did he die being brave?" Lily tilts her head slightly.
Lucas swallows hard, "Yes Pretty Girl."
"When will I see my Daddy?" Lily asks.
"You won't see him for a very long time, because he's in Heaven." Lucas says gently placing a stray hair behind the child's ear.
"I wrote him a letter." Lily pulls a paper out from her pocket. Lucas takes the paper from her tiny hand and opens it, 'I LOVE YOU DADDY' is written above a picture of three stick figures drawn by the child. "That's Mommy, and me, and you" Lily points.
Lucas swallows the lump in his throat, "It's beautiful Pretty Girl."
"You crying Bubba?" Lily again tilts her head as if to better understand what has upset her brother.
Lucas shakes the tears and forces a smile, "Why don't you go play Pretty Girl?"
"I miss Brooke." Lily says.
"Brooke?" Lucas asks.
"Yeah she was going to teach me make up." Lily says climbing out of his lap.
Lucas laughs, "I think you may be a little young for that."
Lily shrugs and runs into the yard to play. Lucas opens the door, telling his mother he's got to do something, but he'll be back. Slowly he gets into his car and pulls out of the drive way. Lucas directs the car toward the graveyard. When he gets there he gets out and goes to Keith's grave. "Hey Keith." he says quietly, "Lily sure is growing. She misses you, and she's starting to ask question. I don't have the answers Keith. I told her you were brave. She wanted me to show you this." He places the drawing on the tombstone. "Ma's doing good. She misses you too. Brooke apparently is teaching Lily make up. I know, she's too young. But at least Brooke is trying. She's in New York for this week. And Payton is in LA. Says she's doing good, but I have to wonder. She calls every night to talk to Lily. Nate and Haley are doing great. Jamie is so big, he and Lily get along great. Nathan is teaching them basketball, while Haley teaches them to read and write. Me, I just try to teach them to be good people. I just want them happy. I just want us all happy. Brooke, Payton and me agreed nothing else can happen between us." Lucas wipes away a stray tear. "If you got any advise know would be a great time. I miss you Keith." Lucas runs a hand across the cold stone tracing the letters of the name. The wind picks up slightly and Lucas can feel it flowing through his spiked hair. Just breath, Lucas. Lucas can almost hear Keith's voice. He smiles slightly and stands. "Thanks Keith." Lucas turns and heads toward the house he grew up in, the one that Lily is know playing happily in the front yard.