Disclaimer: Occasional dialogue (especially in the first chapter) from the movie Definitely, Maybe, and eventually from OTH. The title obviously comes from the movie and the whole concept as well. I own neither and I never will.
A/N: This story is set tens years after season 6, making everyone about thirty-two or just early thirties. This concept comes from the movie Definitely, Maybe, so if you've seen that or heard about it you should have a basic idea where I'm going with this. The story is completely canon. This is just my interpretation of what would eventually happen years later. This chapter doesn't feature any of Lucas' main girlfriends, but the following chapter will heavily feature all three in flashbacks. Also, Sawyer Brooke Scott is a vital part of this story, so even if you hate her mother, bear with me. Sawyer will be awesome. Side note, italics are Lucas' thoughts.
Chapter 1: Love is Complicated
Lucas Scott ripped open the envelope, feeling a growing sense of reality wash over him. He'd been living in denial these past few months, hoping for an outcome better than this. But alas, his efforts had been futile and far between. It had led him to this specific point of time—this disillusionment of his marriage.
He slowly, numbingly pulled out the divorce papers. He wanted more than anything to come to peace with this fate, but there was something holding him back. His memories kept him in the past, unable to find any acceptable future.
I don't think anyone ever imagines on their wedding day they'll be part of the 46% that doesn't live happily ever after, he thought to himself bitterly, reading the artistic signature his wife printed on the sign here line, effectively sealing their divorce. Then again, he considered, I never thought I'd still be working on a third novel after ten years either, and paying the bills by editing the work of others.
But Tuesdays and Fridays are my favorite days. I get out of work early, and I go pick up my daughter, Sawyer, from school. She makes it all worth it.
Sawyer Scott meant many things to many people. She was a miracle to her mother, a chatterbox to her cousins, and a treasured angel to her father.
Lucas knew he had made many a mistake in his life, but Sawyer was never one of them. She was cute, logical, and well-above her years intelligence-wise. She had a deep love of learning that she shared with her father, and she also had his same dark soulful blue eyes that contrasted with her curly locks of sunflower blond hair that fell just above her shoulders.
If he was being honest, he was completely in awe of his daughter. She was just ten years in age, but she had this wise, opinionated look to her whenever she wanted something. It was the same look she had now as she sat on the other side of the room, seated at his newly acquired dinner table while he leaned against the wall watching her.
"I think you should tell me the story of you and my mom," she told him plainly, all business-like.
He deflected in true Scott fashion. He moved over to one of the moving boxes and began to unpack it. He'd been back living there a month already; it was time he made Tree Hill home again.
"Why do you keep saying my mom?" he demanded, avoiding eye contact. "Like I've never met her?"
She bit her lip, searching for reason. "Well, because now that you're getting divorced, she's mine, not yours."
"Is that so?" He tried to sound emotionless. It was bad enough for his daughter that they were splitting up the family. He didn't need to add to her confusion and pain.
"Tell me how it happened," she ordered once more.
He'd forgotten just how alike she and her mother were sometimes. Sawyer also had the wild hair, the never-ending passion, but most importantly, she seemed to have that uncanny ability to pull at his heartstrings and make him cave on any matter.
"And the real story," she continued easily. "Not the, "Oh, we met, we fell in love, and we decided to take all that love and make a family, and that's how we made you.'"
And that reminded Lucas just how unlike her mother she really was in other ways. She was never indifferent or indecisive. Sawyer knew what she wanted, when she wanted it, and how to get it. It was amazing and terrifying all at the same time.
Lucas moved back into the kitchen to check on the dinner he'd been preparing especially for his daughter's one night visit. "You know something?" he told her. "I'm gonna tell you the real, true story of how me and your mother met."
She sighed. "When I'm old enough?" she assumed out loud.
He took no hesitation with his answer of, "Yep."
"Look. I know love isn't a fairytale," she continued her refusal to back down.
"Really?" His voice held a hint of sarcasm. He'd also forgotten that Sawyer wasn't a dreamer like her mother. She was much more down to earth and grounded.
"Really," his daughter confirmed, standing up and walking over to him, leaving no room for him to escape her precious doe-like eyes. "Did you have another girlfriend before you met her?"
He gave her a look—one that indicated he really didn't want to get into this with her.
"Come on, tell me the truth," Sawyer requested.
His heart beat nervously, gauging her reaction. "I had two serious girlfriends," he finally admitted. "And then some other, a smattering of other women that I dated." Sawyer eyed him quizzically. "What?" he questioned.
"What's the boy word for slut?" she asked pointedly.
Wasn't he just a beaming parental example? "They still haven't come up with one yet, but I'm sure they're working on it."
She brushed it aside all the same. "I'm guessing you weren't her first boyfriend. Maybe it was some nerdy guy, or maybe he was mean."
Jackpot, Lucas thought, thinking of his half-brother and Sawyer's uncle. Nathan definitely fit the latter part of her guesses back in high school.
"You still have to tell me the story of why you fell in love with her." Sawyer was on an investigating streak with no chance of backing down.
"I fell in love with her because she was smart and beautiful and dedicated," Lucas said almost sadly, remembering the glory days when their relationship was all romantic passion and angst and no fighting.
"So now she's stupid and ugly and dispassionate?" Sawyer shot back, challenging. No one talked bad about her mother.
"Of course not," Lucas clarified, allowing a crooked smile to creep onto his features. "I see you're making good use of that dictionary I bought you for your birthday."
She narrowed her eyes. "Don't change the subject, Dad." She softened a little. "Then what's the problem? You still see mom the same way as always."
"It's complicated, Sawyer." Lucas ran his hand through his hair, frustrated to no end. Sawyer was just ten. She didn't know the ways of the world and the ins and outs of love. She'd never understand the reasons for this divorce. He still struggled with it himself.
"Everything with you is so complicated." She didn't know the half of it, but she was on the right track. "I bet that if you just told me the story, you'd realize that it's not complicated at all. That you just," she paused, adding deep emotion, "love her." It was almost a plea.
Lucas took a deep breath. "I know this is tough for you, but what are you thinking? That I'm gonna tell you this story and it's gonna make everything better? You can't force people to fall back in love and forget their problems. It doesn't work that way."
"Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. Tell me and we'll find out," she begged.
"No," he whispered harshly. "Game over. It's time for dinner."
"No, it's not time for dinner!" she shouted back at him in her high-pitched melodic voice. "It's time for you to tell me the story!"
He groaned. Couldn't she just give up for once? "Sawyer," he whined desperately.
"I need to know!" she yelled forcibly. She saw the light flicker in his eyes—the one that showed just how powerless he was against her. "I need to know," she repeated softly, knowing this battle was already won.
"Fine!" He'd do anything for his little girl. "Fine!" he said again, knowing he'd give into her every demand, even if this conversation would open up a part of history that ran deeper than she could possibly know. "I'm gonna tell you the story."
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