Pretender

A man: two families

A/N: First thing I'd like to say: I'm kinda nervous about this new story… it's really different from the others I wrote… There is also that thing about flashbacks. There will be one at the beginning of every chapter. It doesn't always correspond to the chapter content… I really hope you'll enjoy it. Don't hesitate reviewing and suggesting things. Also, I have about three chapters already written so the updates should be rather quick. I'll try not to make you wait for a month or so for a new chapter…

Rating: T

Genre: Drama, Romance

Multiple pairings

Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the TV show One Tree Hill.

Chapter One: People Always Leave…

Twelve Years ago

Psychiatrist Office, Daytona Beach, FL

"So, what will happen the day one of them discover the truth?" A woman was sitting in front of a man, paper block and a pen in hands. She scribed something on her paper and looked up at him. He looked calm, totally undisturbed by the possibility of being discovered.

"It will never happen. It's not possible." He said simply, and then added, noticing she looked doubtful. "I've got the perfect cover, and I know they both trust me unconditionally."

"What about your children then? Do they trust you completely as well? They never asked about your activities? And will they always trust you? You know how teenagers are when they are having their existentialist crisis? They doubt everything, especially their parents. Do you not fear for that moment to come, when they will ask you about your purposes in life? Why you are always away? Why you are always working so hard?"

"I do not think they will ask. Like I said, they have not doubt and I plan on keeping it this way. I give them love, affection, there is no reason they would ever wonder about my trips."

"And what if they meet one day?"

Dan stifled a laugh at her question. "How would it happen? I mean, we're in Florida here, and Lucas and Lily are in North Carolina. It's physically impossible."

"What if they do?" She repeated and realized Dan was not getting what she was saying. "Look, imagine they meet later on, when they're about twenty…at college for instance… they meet and start becoming friends, noticing there is that strong bond between them… What will happen once they discover the truth about their father? Will you force a choice? Or…"

Dan shook his head smiling. He was positive about the fact his children would never know anything… and neither would Deb and Karen. He will make sure of that. "It won't happen. I will do anything in my power so it doesn't happen. Ever."

"Don't you have any regrets, or scruples?"

"Of course, why would I be here talking to a shrink if I didn't have troubles? I regret not making a choice when I could. I regret impregnating two women so soon in my life. I regret having to pretend I'm happy when I never will, knowing I cheat on them everyday of my life…"

"Then do something about it Dan."

"What could I possibly do? Let them know?" The doctor shrugged, sensing he was too reluctant and coward to do so. "No, never." Dan snorted and wiped his mouth. "I couldn't. I'd lose them both."

"Is that why you're scared? You don't want to end up alone at the end?" Dan didn't reply, and put his head between his hands, breathing out softly. They could never know…

Present Time

Scotts' Residence, Daytona Beach, FL

A dark-haired young man was standing in front of the bathroom he shared with the girl he considered like his sister, a pissed look on his face. It was so usual, like a daily thing, yet he couldn't come around with the fact he always had to wait for her to be done in order to take a shower. He was ready to knock again when he heard her snickering inside. He couldn't believe she was taking pleasure in annoying him so early in the morning. He shivered a bit, feeling an airstream coming from her bedroom. He only wore his favorite grey pajama pants and was barefoot, so of course the coldness of the morning teased his toes. Brooke always had her bedroom window open the morning. She said it was good to purify the room of the steamy nights she had with her boyfriend Felix. Talking about him, Nathan hated the guy with an immeasurable passion and it was a mutual feeling.

Ever since they had met Felix the day he had moved into the house next door, there had been an unusual tension between the two guys. He thought the punk only used people, especially Brooke, to help his popularity and get into the basketball team. His own team…

Thankfully, it wasn't going to happen anytime soon. Everson, their coach, didn't think the ass had the skills to play a good game. He even mocked him out loud the day he tried out… Felix was too cocky and selfish for his own good. Thanks to the popularity of his girlfriend, he was able to go to every 'must-be' party and once there, he flirted with girls behind Brooke's oblivious back.

Nathan pinched his nose and sneezed once, then twice and looked down at his hand disgusted by the fact it was slightly humid. He guessed his mother had left a door open after going to get the mail. Even this early in the morning, she was already a bit tipsy. Alcohol and its damages… Hey, maybe Brooke's mom could take her with her next time she visits? The two women had met years ago, during one of their A.A sessions and had immediately sympathized.

He ran a hand through his messed hair a bit awkwardly and yawned again. Banging his head against the door tiredly, he cleared his throat.

"Brooke Davis, if you're not out of this damn bathroom in less than 2 seconds, I'll tell the Dim you have a secret crush on him and believe me, he'll never leave you alone after that revelation!"

Nathan chuckled when he heard Brooke muttering an oath obviously directed to him. Every morning, it was the same scheme: Penelope, the snake she was, always found a way to get up before him and occupied the bathroom for an hour, in the best times of the month. And the funny thing was that it wasn't even worthy since Nathan didn't see the difference between before and after she went. She was a natural beauty, like Haley James was. Haley was Nathan's girlfriend and new captain of the cheerleaders since Brooke had been caught in the girls' restroom smoking pot with Rachel Gattina and Bevin Mirskey, her equally bestest friends of the world, like she pretended.

"You wouldn't dare Nathan Royal Scott!" Brooke let out a giggle, knowing the full effect of her reply. She kept on brushing her already smooth hair as if he had made no threat at all. She was positive he would not do a thing. You see Nathan was pretty much of a talker now… Haley was using that magic thing on him and he was completely whipped.

"How did you…" Nathan stuttered, not believing his ears when he heard her say his full name. "Where did you learn about my middle name?" Nathan Scott was totally taken aback by Brooke's discovery. No one knew of his full name except from his parents. Of course, Dan couldn't be the one to tell Brooke since they never interacted with each other. He completely ignored her to be honest. His father didn't care about the brunette, whatever happened in her life. She wasn't his biological child, so she wasn't worth it.

Anyway, Nathan was almost sure Brooke had gone through his belongings to find out. He couldn't believe her!

"Well, I'm not really proud of myself..." Brooke's voice was hesitant at first and Nathan let a sigh out, knowing that if she wasn't proud, it was definitively bad since she was rather bigheaded.

"C'mon, it can't be that terrible, you're always over-dramatizing!" He encouraged her while trying to break in with his pair of scissors which was kind of ridiculous by the way. He totally did look like a fool, new improved version of Tim Smith…

"I went through your birth certificate..." Brooke started and bit the inside of her cheek so hard she could taste her blood. Her curiosity was getting out of control; she realized it but really couldn't do otherwise. "I'm sorry." Nathan contemplated on whether she was sincere or not and guessed she was saying the apologizing words genuinely.

"It's okay, it's not like I had something to hide from you..." He trailed off with a smile when he heard her unlock the door. Finally, he thought as he saw her appearing all ready for a fashion show.

"So, how do I look?" She sprung around and Nathan scratched his head to the side, embarrassed. He didn't know what he was supposed to say to her. Of course, she looked like always: good, but slightly slutty. Her skirt was like very mini, and her halter wasn't covering much skin either. She saw him hesitating and frowned, re-entering the bathroom to check her appearance in the big mirror. "What's wrong with my outfit? Is it the skirt color? Or the top doesn't match the shoes?" She asked him, turning to him as she felt him walking inside the bathroom. He opened the cupboard and checked for his vitamins.

"No, you look okay but aren't you afraid you're gonna being cold in those clothes? I mean,…"

"Oh, I thought the weather forecasting was good for the rest of the week?" She asked with a puzzled face. He answered with a doubtful smirk. She let out a sigh, resigned to change her clothes for the third time this morning.

"Look outside and you'll see they were obviously wrong." Nathan said swallowing his pills. He glanced at her while taking a sip of water before rinsing his glass quickly, pushing her to the side. "Look, can you leave now? I have to take my shower." Brooke groaned, checking on her appearance one last time, making sure her hair was done at least. She ran a hand through her perfect curls and finally decided she could leave the bathroom.

"Sure, see ya, Hot Shot." She flashed him a fake smile and disappeared into her bedroom. Nathan shook his head to himself and locked the door behind him.

Dan Scott was waiting for his son and Brooke to come downstairs to drop them off at school. Every morning, it was the same story. Nathan woke up late but didn't seem to worry a lot about it. He took an awful time to eat his copious breakfast, and even found the time to check his emails or to watch ESPN. And then when it was already late, he realized he didn't have more than fifteen minutes before he had to leave. And Brooke… The pretty cheerleader spent a terrible long time in the bathroom, choosing her clothes and doing her hair and make up, sometimes three times before finding something that fitted her outfit.

Nathan didn't care about anything except basketball and Brooke couldn't think about nothing but boys and fashion. And of course, Dan was fine with it, as long as Nathan won his games against the other schools teams. And Brooke didn't bother him as long as she kept her mouth close and didn't make a fool of herself.

"Nathan, Brooke, hurry up please! You're gonna be late for school, once again! And this time, I won't come to your principal so you don't have detention."

"Comin' dad!" Nathan shouted from his room. He switched his radio off, threw his way too light bag over his shoulder and checked his appearance one last time in the big mirror of the corridor before stumbling downstairs out of breath.

"Honey, you coming home tonight or…" Deb asked her husband while Brooke appeared at the top of the stairs, all ready for a parade. She had changed her clothes for a pair of fair jeans and a transparent white shirt which you could see her red bra underneath. She smiled a toothy smile at Nathan, who rolled his eyes at her excessive looks. Dan ignored his wife's Goddaughter and looked into his wife's eyes.

"No, I have to take the plane for Tree Hill since they don't seem to succeed in working correctly when I'm not here to supervise. It'll probably take a whole week until I find a way to sort the problem out." Dan said with an attitude that made Brooke want to laugh. He was so full of himself, no wonder why Nathan had been following the same path before meeting his current girlfriend. Thankfully Haley wasn't like Deb at all…

"I'm kinda upset that you have to leave right now. We don't see each other often since a while." Deb complained with a small pout and Dan nodded, sadly.

"Dad, can we go now?" Nathan asked impatiently taping his fingers on the stairs banister. This question made Dan smiling. His youngest son was unbelievable. He had waited for him to be ready for twenty minutes and now that he was, they had to go immediately. Nathan was someone really needy, and that was probably his and Deb's fault. He was so different from Lucas and Lily, yet so similar in numerous things.

"Okay, let's go. I drive you two to school and then I go to the airport. Don't worry, sweetheart," He told Deb who had a frown on her face, "I'm back by the end of the month, I promise." Dan said sweetly, caressing his wife's cheek gently. Nathan rolled his eyes and left the house to get in the car. He wasn't really up to see his parents being all lovey dovey. He had always felt it was gross to watch them being close.

"I'm taking my car, my mom's on permission today so I get to spend the morning with her. So I'll miss some of my classes but I'll be back for the afternoon classes." Brooke told Deb and Dan who shrugged, not really caring.

"Fine, tell her she can come by for dinner tonight if she wants" Deb said to her goddaughter who left the house with a wave.

"Call me when you're there." Deb told her husband who gave her a small smile.

"Okay, I love you sweetie."

"I love you too Dan." He kissed her very quickly and patted her head softly.

Dan drove Nathan to school and then went to the airport, feeling slightly anxious. It had been a while since Deb hadn't questioned his activities. When he was sitting in the plane, he opened his wallet to change the photos of his family. He took Deb's and Nathan's pictures off and replaced them with his other family's ones. He put the photos of Daytona Beach in his attaché-case and bolted it. He was ready to meet his other family.

To Be Continued…

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Love, Linkie.