My Way Home Is Through You

Things had changed around Tree Hill in the last few weeks. A big change seemed to come from Nathan, he seemed a little more determined when it came to rehabilitation, and he was certainly being nicer. But he still wasn't present a lot of the time. The other big changes were that Peyton and Brooke had moved back into town. But the biggest change had come from Emma. She had been a lot quieter, and a lot more secretive. And all of the adults in her life had noticed. She stayed out the house later, though she blamed dance and the library. And when she was home, she stayed in her room. Whenever someone tried to talk to her about it, she acted like she had no idea what they were talking about and reminded them that she still had great grades, she had kept up with helping around the house, and always came home before curfew.

"We need to talk about your sister." Haley said, walking into Luke's office.

"Did something happen?" Luke asked

"No, but she hasn't been home for dinner in weeks, I barely see her unless she's at school. She comes home after I'm already asleep, and she's out of the house early. If she is in the house, she's in her room. I mean, I have no idea what she's doing these days. I'm worried."

"Well, I mean she has early practice and after school practice for dance."

"That's what she keeps telling me. But, she's always made it home for dinner before. Now, she stays out until her curfew and walks in at exactly 10 o'clock. She claims she's at the library, but even I didn't spend that much time in the library."

"Well, I'll talk to her. Tell her you want her home for dinners."

"No, don't do that. Maybe she really just needs to be away from the house right now. I just want you to be aware. I don't know, I just don't want her to fall apart on us too."

Lucas nodded and agreed.

Emma finished up the routine with the rest of the team. It was 4:30 and the rest of the team was heading home for the night. Emma had decided to stay and work a little longer on it. As she moved to the song, everything Emma had been feeling over the last few months came out in the dance. The anger, the frustration, the sadness, and the helplessness all came out through her movements. She continued to dance, over and over again. She pushed and pushed, even though every bone and muscle in her body her. She continued to dance, she needed to dance. Until exhaustion finally hit her.

She looked up at the clock, 6:30. It was still too early to go home. The tension in that house, although it had eased a bit, was still there. And it was driving her crazy. She packed up her bag, and began to walk. She walked to the most familiar place to her. The place where she could just think, and be in peace. The River court. And then she saw him.

"Hey Q" she said walking up the court, he was practicing his dunking.

"Hey you" he said, she had been out here every night over the last few weeks. He had spent more time with her then his family. And she had done the same with him. He watched as she made her way over to the bleachers.

"Your sister came by yesterday… tried to talk me into getting back to school."

"She's right. And you know it. You're being stubborn."

"Maybe. But your brother doesn't appreciate me. I'm great." He said, and as to prove his point, he slammed the ball into the net.

"Yeah, you are. Maybe if you just apologize –" Emma started

"No way! I'm not apologizing to your brother, he kicked me off the team."

"Luke can be a hard ass sometimes, but he means well"

"Whatever, Scott." Q said, clearly irritated she wasn't taking his side.

She got up and walked over to him. "Don't be mad at me, too. I just want what's best for you."

He looked down at her, and smiled.

"I'm not mad." He answered.

"Wanna play?" she asked

"Your on!"

The two of them played one on one, keeping score – but cheating from time to time. Over the last few weeks they had become close, they had listened to each other and sometimes, they just were silent. There was a comfort between them, one that couldn't really be explained. Emma never let Quentin's head get too big, and Quentin never let Emma stay in her head for too long.

As Emma went to put a shot up, Q wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off the ground and spun her around.

"Foul!" cried Emma, through her laughter "Foul! Foul! Foul! Put me down!"

He did what he was told. Soon they were standing, looking at each other.

"You're a cheat" she whispered, "A total cheat"

"I can't help it, you're just so huggable" he said, laughing. And then he leaned down, and kissed her. It was their first kiss; it was Emma first kiss at all. And she kissed back, wrapping her arms around his neck, and giving everything to this kiss.

As they broke apart, both were smiling. Everything was different now, but nothing had changed.

"Well, that's one way to piss off my brother" Emma said, Q laughed.

"You should get home, it's 8:30 – Want me to walk you?" he asked

"No. I can handle it. I'll see you tomorrow." She said, grabbing her gym bag and walking towards home.

When Emma walked into the house, she heard something completely unfamiliar. Laughter. Curious, she made her way into the living room. Emma couldn't hide her shock as she saw a clean-shaven Nathan and Haley sitting on a couch together, as Jamie showed off what Emma assumed was his jump shot.

"Hey! You're home!" Haley said, jumping off the couch. "You missed a good dinner, Nate and Jamie made it. Here, let me heat you up some."

Emma, still in shock followed Haley to the kitchen. Nathan following them both.

"Where have you been?" he asked, "It's 9 o'clock, a little late." Emma was still too in shock to be pissed by the question, he hadn't cared where she had been in months.

"River court." She said, quietly. Nathan nodded; giving his sister a once over, something was different about her.

As Haley placed a plate of food in front of her, and stood behind the counter, Jamie came running in.

"Come on dad! Let's go outside and shoot," he yelled excitedly, Emma couldn't help but smile.

Nathan followed his son outside, while Haley stayed behind the counter.

Emma began to eat her food, but couldn't help but ask, "What the hell happened?"

Haley smiled at her, "I don't know," she replied, "But I think things are going back to normal."

Emma nodded, still confused. An awkward silence came across the kitchen; once upon a time there would be things to talk about. But the family had almost forgotten to talk to one another, silence had taken over.

"Well, I have to go do some homework." Emma said, getting up. Haley stopped in front of her.

"Em, I know these last few months have been hard on you and –" Haley began, but Emma interrupted her.

"They've been hard on all of us."

"Yeah. But, things are going to change around here. Just know that."

"Okay." Em said, "I got it. Back to normal" she finished, before walking upstairs into her room.

It was 11:30 when Nathan knocked on his little sisters door, her light was still on. When he opened her door, she looked up, surprised.

"It's late" Nathan said, "You should get to bed soon."

"I will," Emma, said, "I just have to finish this chapter."

"Look, about being at the River court until 9 o'clock –"

"Aw come on, Nate. Don't start." Emma began to argue, but one look into Nate eyes told her not to push it. While out of her brothers, Nate probably got in the most trouble growing up, he was definitely the disciplinarian.

"Look," Nate said, "I know I haven't been around much the last few months. And I'm sorry. But Haley told me that you've been coming and going as you please and she's having trouble finding out where you are and what you're doing… and that's just not going to fly. You know the rules." He said

"I've been following the rules! I have all A's, I haven't missed one class or dance practice, I've been doing my chores, and I'm always home by curfew." Emma yelled, "And who are you to come barging into my room telling me what to do! You don't know anything!"

Nathan sighed, and Emma knew she had crossed the line. Nathan sat on her desk chair, and moved closer to her bed.

"I'm going to pretend you didn't just yell at me, and that way I won't have to punish you for it." Nathan said, and although Nathan hadn't punished Emma in months, she didn't put it past him to do it tonight. Nathan didn't mess around. "I'm your brother. That's who I am. And I need you to be safe. And I need to know where you are, who your with, and what you are doing. If your not going to be home after dance, I want a phone call. This is not a discussion, this is how things are going to go. Are we clear?"

"Yes" Emma said tightly, still fuming.

"Good." Nathan said, getting up. "Next time, there will be consequences. I'm back, and I'm not playing around. Clear?"

Emma nodded, she didn't trust herself to open her mouth. Nathan was trying not laugh at how pissed she looked, both of the Scott siblings were very stubborn and it often caused them to butt heads.

"I love you Em," Nate said, Emma didn't reply. "Go to bed." He said, not bothered at her lack of response, he knew she was just trying to get him upset. With that, he turned off her light and Emma knew that it was time to actually go to sleep.