Nathan Scott was sitting silently in the green room. He was awaiting his fate as a professional athlete and the suspense was killing him. Instinctively, he grabbed his girlfriend, Brooke Davis', hand and squeezed it. She looked up at Nathan and smiled at him. That was all he needed to calm his nerves. Brooke was the only person in the world who could make him feel better in tense situations and he was so glad she was there with him.

"Nathan, it's gonna be fine sweetie," Brooke said as she squeezed his hand.

"I know I'm just nervous. I feel like I've been sitting here forever," Nathan replied.

"Nate, they haven't even announced the first pick. Be patient babe."

Nathan laughed. He knew Brooke was right but the suspense of his future was killing him. Would he really go in the top 5 like he was told he would or would he be the Matt Leinart of the NBA and fall to the 10 spot? Being drafted 10th wasn't necessarily a bad thing but it would crush Nathan after being told he was a lock for the top 5. He couldn't imagine what that must have felt like for Matt going from a guaranteed number 1 pick if he came out a year early to falling to the 10th spot in the draft the next year.

"Hey Nate," a voice said shaking the young man from his thoughts.

"Yo Luke, what's up man?" Nathan replied when he realized it was his brother.

"It's getting crazy out there. I think Mr. Stern is getting ready to announce the first pick. You all right bro? You look nervous?"

"He's fine, Lucas. Just not good at being patient," Brooke answered from the corner.

"Nate? Patient? Please, he's never been good at that," Lucas laughed.

"If you get drafted over me I'll kick your ass bro," Nathan said sarcastically.

"Oh please little brother. I don't think you have to worry about me going before you, it's been all "where is Nathan Scott gonna end up?" "will he go number 1?". The only thing I've heard about myself is whether or not the Scott brothers would both be drafted in the first round. Bro you're a lock for the top 5 and we all know it right Brooke?"

"Yup. Luke's right Nate. You'll be in the top 5 for sure. But that's not important to me. I'll be proud of you no matter where you get drafted," Brooke said as she lifted Nathan's hand to her lips and kissed it sweetly.

"Thanks baby," Nathan said sincerely.

Lucas was about to say something when they heard NBA Commissioner David Stern's voice over the intercom system.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to welcome you all to the 2010 NBA Draft. With the first pick in the draft, the Toronto Raptors select out of Duke University power forward Vance Jefferson."

Vance Jefferson jumped up from his seat and had to regain him composure before going out to the platform to shake hands with the commissioner. Nathan smiled as he watched Vance make his way from the green room to the platform. The waiting began again as Vance came back into the green room sporting a Toronto Raptors hat to collect his stuff and then just as quickly as he had come in he was gone again.

"How did that kid get drafted over you? Baby he's not number one material. It's all you," Brooke said with surprising anger.

"Brooke, it's all right. I'd rather not be drafted number one. There's gonna be enough pressure on me being the son of Dan Scott. I don't mind not having the added pressure of being drafted number one on top of that. Besides, what happened to you being proud no matter where I get drafted?" Nathan answered her calmly. He really didn't want to be drafted number one. It was gonna be tough enough dealing with the name sake he was so "lucky" to carry.

Brooke didn't say anything. She knew that she was being ridiculous. But it still didn't seem right to her. She followed college basketball religiously being the girlfriend of a talented ball player like Nathan and an ex-girlfriend of another talented ball player like Lucas. She wanted them to get the recognition she felt they both deserved. Nathan was dominant in his four years in Orlando with the Golden Knights and Lucas worked his way to a leadership role in Gainesville with the Gators. Neither one of them managed to reach the pinnacle of college basketball by winning the national championship but that didn't matter to them. They didn't play for the glory like they had in high school. In college it was about having a good time and winning. Championships just didn't seem to come their way and that had been fine with them. Dan Scott however was less than thrilled to hear that neither of his sons were staying in North Carolina to go to school. Brooke remembered the many talks she had had with Nathan and Lucas about their decisions to go to school outside of North Carolina. At the time she wasn't dating either one of them. But she wanted to make sure they were making their decisions based on what they wanted and not based on what Dan didn't want for them.

"With the second pick in the 2010 NBA draft, the New Jersey Nets select out of the University of Central Florida, center, Nathan Scott," David Stern announced.

Brooke let go of the breath she didn't know she had been holding and squealed as she hugged Nathan before he stood up, pounded fists with Lucas and made his way out of the green room to the platform where David Stern stood waiting for the young man. As he made his way out of the green room he flashed the room full of families, team execs and players a genuine smile before accepting his cap and shaking hands with the commissioner. His boyhood dream was coming true. Nathan had been drafted into the NBA. He was gonna be better than Dan Scott ever was and he was gonna do it in a classier way than Dan Scott knew how.

"If only Keith could see this," Nathan whispered to himself. It had been four years and it still hurt to think that Keith was dead. Keith had been more like a father to Nathan and Lucas than Dan ever was. He knew that even though Keith couldn't be there to see this that he was indeed proud of him.

After a moment Nathan turned and made his way back to the green room. He didn't want to leave until Lucas' name was called too. It meant everything to Nathan to be there and support his brother after the rocky start they had getting to know each other.

"Nathan what are you doing back in here?" Lucas asked with a mischievous look.

"Supporting my brother. I'll leave when your name has been called and not before then. I know if the roles were reversed and I got left in here alone I'd go crazy," Nathan replied.

"Thanks bro."

"Anytime."

The two pounded fists one more time and then pulled each other in a manly one-armed hug. Brooke watched from the corner and smiled at the scene that was unfolded before her. She loved Nathan with her whole heart and Lucas was an amazing friend and she couldn't imagine life without them. They were her life now. Haley was off doing her music thing and Peyton was, well she had no idea where Peyton was or what she had been up to. And that suited Brooke just fine. She had the Scott brothers on her side and as far as she could tell, that was all she needed to get by. Brooke was shaken from her thoughts when she felt Nathan's eyes on her. She turned her head and smiled warmly at her boyfriend.

"Whatcha thinking about baby?" Nathan asked as he sat down next to Brooke.

"Just how lucky I am with you and Lucas around," she replied sweetly.

"Aw, baby, nobody's luckier to have you than I am. Without you I'd be nothing."

"Nathan Lee! That's not true. You're amazing with or without me."

"No Brooke. Without you I'm lost. You helped me in so many ways that I can't even begin to explain what you mean to me."

Lucas pretended to throw up as he watched his brother with his girlfriend. He felt like Nathan was about to propose or something but knew that wasn't happening today. Nathan talked to him the night before and he told Lucas that while he wanted to be with Brooke forever he wasn't ready to take that next step quite yet. In fact, if Lucas heard right, Nathan said marriage freaked him out.

"Lucas will you please tell your brother he's amazing even without me?" Brooke asked sweetly.

"Nate, you're amazing even without Brooke. But he's right too Brooke. You've helped him become one hell of a man," Lucas replied.

"Not fair! You're just using your leverage as Lucas' ex-girlfriend to get what you want out of him," Nathan pouted playfully.

"Nathan!" Brooke shrieked as she smacked his shoulder.

"Babe you know I'm teasing."

Brooke just rolled her eyes at Nathan. He was right, she did know he was teasing but she couldn't let him know. She had to leave him wondering. It was more fun that way. As the three sat there waiting they heard a few more names called. Lucas was getting antsy but he was trying to remain calm on the outside. Pacing wouldn't help, only make the other guys in the green room more anxious and pissed off so Lucas opted to sit in the corner and just close his eyes. Silently he counted as more names were called that weren't his following Nathan. So far he counted five after his brother. His nerves were really starting to set in. Was he really gonna fall out of the top ten? As much as Lucas wasn't a position guy he didn't want to listen to Dan chiding him should he fall out of the top ten. Especially since Nathan was drafted number two.

"Lucas. Luke? Hello," Nathan said waving his hand in front of Lucas' face.

"Huh?" Lucas responded disorientated.

"You ok? You've been sitting there counting to yourself for a while now. What's up?"

"Just counting how many guys' names are being called after you that aren't my name."

"Dude, it doesn't matter if you don't get drafted in the top ten. You're still a kick ass baller and you know it. Screw what Dan says if something happens and you don't get drafted in the top ten. You know he'll be on you no matter where you fall in the draft. We should both just be glad we didn't get drafted number or back-to-back."

"I know. But I can't help but think, maybe if I get drafted in the top ten, Dan will understand that I am more than just his bastard son who walked onto the high school team and stole some of your thunder."

Nathan grimaced as a laugh slipped from his lips. He remembered telling Dan that his "brother" had shown up and walked onto his team. Even more than that, he remembered how much it pissed him off. Now Nathan didn't give two shits about whose team it was. As far as he was concerned now, it was a team effort but there was nothing wrong with having a captain because everybody needs someone to follow and take direction from.

"With the eighth pick in the 2010 NBA draft, the Denver Nuggets select out of the University of Florida, power forward, Lucas Scott," Commissioner Stern announced.

"Wait a sec," Lucas started.

"Get out there bro, I don't know of any other power forwards named Lucas Scott out of Florida in this draft," Nathan said with a smile.

"I'm proud of you too," Brooke told Lucas as she hugged him before he walked out of the green room to join Commissioner Stern on the platform.

Unbeknownst to Lucas, he found himself wishing Keith could see this just as Nathan had done when it was his turn on the platform. Lucas looked out over the crowd and his eyes immediately fell on the two people he was searching for, his mom, Karen, and his little brother, Jason. They smiled and waved at him, Lucas smiled and nodded in their direction. Turning on his heels, Lucas walked off the platform and down the steps to join Karen and Jason.

"Hey Mom," he said happily as he sat down next to her.

"I'm so proud of you baby," Karen said.

"Lucas can I weaw youw hat?" Jason asked sweetly.

"Sure pal," Lucas replied as he took it off and placed it on Jason's head, laughing as it slid down over the boy's eyes.

"Nice hat, Jace," Nathan said as he and Brooke walked over to join them at their table.

"Luke let me weaw it," Jason answered.

Everybody at the table chuckled at Jason. Keith's death had been hard on everyone but ever since Jason was born, it felt like there was a piece of Keith in him and that made it just a little more bearable. Jason Keith Scott was born on May 15, 2006. He was a blessing to all who he came in contact with. Even Dan seemed to have a soft spot for the young boy. While at times Karen was leery of Dan's behavior toward Jason she was grateful to have an adult male presence in Jason's life. She only hoped that Lucas and Nathan's presence weighed stronger on the character of her youngest son. She did not want Jason to be anything like his uncle.

Nobody was really paying attention to the draft anymore until they heard another familiar name, Jake Jaglieski, was drafted 16th by the Houston Rockets.

"Good ole JJ, haven't seen his scrawny butt in a while," Lucas said.

"The last time I saw him he was with that bitch Peyton," Brooke sneered.

"Brooke!" Karen gasped.

"Oh my gosh, Karen, I'm so sorry."

"Mommy what's a bitch?" Jason asked not even thirty seconds later.

"It's a mean name to call a girl. I better not ever hear you say it ok?" Karen answered.

"Ok Mommy."

"Karen I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. I know you hate for anyone to use foul language around Jason," Brooke apologized.

"It's ok sweetie, it was an accident."

"Nathan tell your girlfriend to watch her language around my little brother," Lucas laughed.

Brooke looked at Lucas and mouthed "bite me" at him. Nathan sat back and laughed at the two of them acting like they were the four year olds, not Jason.

When the first round of the draft had ended, Jason was sound asleep under the table. Karen had wanted to stick around longer but Lucas convinced her to take Jason back to the hotel and get some rest. He knew she needed it whether she admitted it or not. Jason was quite the handful sometimes and it wore Lucas out to watch him so he could only imagine how badly it wore Karen out on top of having to run the café.

"Mom, it'll be fine. Just take Jay back to the hotel, let him sleep and you get some sleep too," Lucas told her.

"No, he's fine where he is. I'm fine too," Karen replied stubbornly.

"Come on, Karen, how about I go with you and if Jason wakes up, I'll entertain him," Brooke offered, sensing Karen was nervous about leaving it to chance that she wouldn't hear Jason wake up and something would happen to him.

"Brooke are you sure about this?" Lucas asked skeptically.

"Yes Lucas, as long as your mom agrees."

"Ok, thank you, Brooke. That would be wonderful," Karen finally said.

Lucas lifted Jason off the floor and passed him off to Karen. Nathan kissed Brooke's lips softly before she turned to walk away with Karen and Jason. Lucas and Nathan sat at the table watching the draft unfold. They were curious to see where their college teammates and any of their old high school teams were gonna be drafted. Mostly they were just glad for some one on one bonding time.

"This is gonna be one helluva ride," Nathan declared.

"Damn right little bro," Lucas replied. They smiled and knocked fists before tipping back their waters. This was a great day for the Scott boys. Nathan and Lucas sat there as the draft continued. It was still the first round somewhere around the 19th pick.

A few hours later, the draft had ended and it didn't seem like anyone was terribly disappointed. Charlotte, Dallas and Sacramento drafted all skills, Fergie and Junk, high school teammates of Nathan and Lucas, late in the first round respectively, also Tim Smith was drafted in the second round by Seattle. Overall, Whitey's discipline and coaching contributed to getting the seven of them, include Jake, to this stage in their basketball careers.

"All right bro, let's bounce," Nathan said to Lucas as the room began clearing out.

"Aw what's the matter Nate? Afraid of the media now?" Lucas teased.

"Shut up, Luke. You know I hate all the crap about Dan and then playing against you. I'm sick of it."

Lucas did know. He hated it too. But what he hated even more was the fact that the press felt they had the right to pry into his personal life with constant inquiries about his love life. His new found status as a rookie for the Denver Nuggets was sure to bring the onslaught of questions flooding back. It was at that moment he knew that he wasn't ready for that yet.

"Ok, let's get out of here. I'm not ready for the media either," Lucas said after a minute. Nathan nodded in agreement. The two brothers snuck out of the room and slipped out of the building to find their limousine waiting to take them back to their hotel. As soon as they were in the limo, Nathan leaned his head back and closed his eyes.