Firstly I want to thank everyone for their reviews. This story has been in my head for a while and I was going to get a few chapters written at once but decided to post the first one as soon as I'd done it to see whether there was an audience for it.
Also Nathan and Haley did not have a baby at the end of high school. It just doesn't fit with this story.
Lucas looked at the display on his cell expecting it to read either 'MOM' or 'HALEY' he was shocked to see it was his uncle Keith. He suspected Keith had been asked to call him by his mother so declined the call. He hadn't seen anyone since leaving Peyton's two days ago, well he'd seen one person – but he didn't count. His mother and Haley had both called him intermittently. He'd not answered once; he'd listened to the voicemails. There was still a huge part of him that felt massive guilt over the worry he was causing them both. But he was still too hurt and too angry to reply. When he'd returned to Tree Hill to see his mom and his friends he certainly had never intended to end up here. But with the betrayal running through everyone he knew in Tree Hill he'd been left with few options. There was a knock at the door and he felt safe in answering it, he had no doubt no one would have been able to figure out where he was staying. He wasn't avoiding everyone just because he was angry, he needed to figure out where his head was at. He was shocked to find Nathan standing there. He didn't say a word nor did he move so Nathan barged past him and into the house. He turned to face Lucas a look of distain on his face.
"Here? You ended up here?" Lucas shrugged and moved further into the room.
"I ran into him, told me he knew about Lauren, doesn't surprise me. Yet another person didn't tell me. But I don't feel betrayed by him, not about this anyway, it's not like we have a relationship. He suggested I stayed with him. It's free and I was under the impression no one would know I was here." Both the men looked uncomfortable in the beach house, with Dan's portrait gazing down on them. Lucas hadn't asked how it had all panned out with the other Scott family. He'd had other more pressing things on his mind.
"Luke you need to call your mom or Haley. They're worried about you." Lucas let out a cold laugh. "I mean it Lucas, I get that you're mad but you need to talk to them. You can't ignore them. They love you and want to explain what happened."
"They decided to keep Brooke's secret and never tell me I had a daughter. That's what happened." Nathan shook his head.
"Wake up Lucas, when has life ever been that simple. So what's your great plan hide out at Dan Scott's beach house forever." Lucas turned away, he didn't want Nathan to know he was without a plan.
"My plan is to stay here until they really get just how hurt and betrayed I feel. They are the two people I love the most." Lucas sighed. Of all the people to be here it was Nathan. They were not that close, but over the years they'd seen each other a few times when he and Haley had been to Charlotte. He knew from what Haley had told him that Nathan had changed a lot while he'd been away. Then again everything had changed a lot.
"The two people you love most betraying you, maybe now you know how Brooke felt back then after what you and Peyton did to her. Her best friend and the only guy she's ever cared about – there's no wonder her life is like it is." Lucas was too incensed to pick up on the latter part of Nathan's sentence.
"It's not the same thing! We were just kids. This has gone on years. Besides let's not pretend here, Brooke probably didn't care that much about me, she was never bothered by any of the guys she screwed and by her actions over the past few years not much was different about me. Good old Brooke Davis, anyone's after a few drinks." Nathan swallowed and spoke slowly.
"One day very soon you'll regret what just said about Brooke. But until then…" Nathan's fist caught Lucas squarely on the jaw and Lucas staggered back against the wall. Instantly his hand went to his face. "Remember that and remember this being a parent means putting crap aside and thinking of your child. Whatever has happened in the past if you want to be a good dad to Lauren, the kind she deserves then you need to realise Brooke is an amazing mother and you need to respect her because of it." With that Nathan was gone leaving Lucas to trudge slowly into the kitchen to retrieve some ice for his aching jaw. No matter what had gone on or how angry he was he knew he'd been out of line in what he'd said about Brooke. Brooke had cared about him very much back then and what he and Peyton had done to her was wrong. But to everyone else it seemed like that was an excuse for keeping Lauren's existence from him, he knew that was not an adequate justification for all that followed his betrayal of Brooke.
"Hey Hales." Haley's face was a picture of surprise at opening her door and finding Lucas stood there. Lucas with a very large bruise on his face.
"Come on in Luke." She opened the door wider and gestured for him to step inside. Once he was inside she walked to the couch and sat. He followed suit and they sat side by side in silence. They'd never sat in an awkward silence before and it was a new experience neither liked. It felt like there was a chasm between the two friends at the moment that neither knew how to bridge.
"I got your messages." It seemed like an idiotic thing to say to her but he didn't know how to start. He was reluctant to tell her that one of the reasons he was there at all was because of Nathan. "Part of me is still sorry I didn't answer you or my mom. It seems wrong. But I have no idea what to say. The two of you, it hurts far more that neither of you told me than that Brooke didn't." Lucas had never had a problem sharing his thoughts and feelings with Haley, but now it seemed foreign and unbelievably difficult to open up to her.
"Luke it's not like it was an easy decision. Brooke swore she was going to tell you. You know I never really thought too much of her. But Nathan and Brooke go back a long way and they were friends. She was so alone after what happened with you and Peyton. I know Peyton and I were building a friendship before you left but I just couldn't maintain that after what she'd done. I know I stayed friends with you, but you're just a guy. She was her best friend, since they were just kids. With her living with your mom I knew something was up. It didn't take long to figure out what when she was working at the café. The non-stop rushing to the bathroom to vomit was a give away. I couldn't know for sure that it was yours. But I guess I knew deep down it had to be for your mom to be so good to her. But the thing is Luke when you left can you for a second imagine how abandoned your mom felt. She'd given up everything for you, you were her world and you just left. It must have been such a slap in the face. Then this girl shows up alone and pregnant with your child. Not only were there huge similarities in the way your mom looked at her own past and Brooke's present, your mom found hope in Brooke. She was facing being alone and rejected by her own child. Then there was Brooke – a girl who desperately needed a mother, and she was carrying your child. Without the two of them I have no idea how your mom would have survived with you gone." He'd never before sat down and thought – or been told – about how badly his leaving would have affected his mother. He suddenly needed to talk to her more than anything in the world. He realised then that the bridges that had seemed so badly burned just a few hours ago could be fixed, the realisation that he had been partly responsible for his mother's actions showed the past few years in a vastly different light.
"I need to see my mom now Hales." She nodded at him and watched as he darted out the door.
He was taken aback to see the brunette answer the door.
"Brooke." He knew he even sounded surprised.
"Lucas why so surprised to see me where I live?" He cursed himself for being so obvious.
"I thought you'd be working." She smiled a little and nodded.
"You should probably know that everyday on the way home from school Lauren and I drop by the café to see Karen. Lucas if you want to talk to your mom and not have us around then be a man and knock on the door. I'd take Lauren out and leave you both to it. Don't play childish games like calling the café to see if I'm there and hanging up when I answer. It's pathetic." Her words cut through him and he hung his head before she would be able to see his face turning beetroot. Perhaps it had been childish but he had not wanted to be anywhere near Brooke, even if it was merely in passing.
"Obviously my mom isn't here so I'll go" Part of him wanted to ask to see Lauren, but he wasn't sure if he was ready. He was halfway towards the street before she spoke.
"Lucas there was someone waiting on the porch when we got home. I think you'll want to see them." He turned back and slowly walked closer to Brooke. She opened the door wider to let him through and it felt very strange for her to be inviting him into his mother's house. He couldn't help the grin that broke out on his face as he stepped inside. The man on the couch next to Lauren stood when Lucas walked in and the two embraced like it had been a lifetime since they'd seen one another.
"Uncle Keith what are you doing here?" The pair pulled apart neither noticing the awkward brunette still stood at the wide open door.
"Well I thought it was about time I met Lauren here." As Keith spoke he half turned to toss a grin at the girl. "Well it's about time for you to be getting washed up for dinner so I'll be getting going now."
"Will you come and see us again tomorrow? When my grandma is here." The little girl sounded so eager and earnest that Lucas had to smile. If Keith had been there for more than an hour Lucas would be surprised, but it sounded like Lauren had known him much longer.
"I sure will, I haven't seen your grandma in a real long time. Is she still as pretty as she used to be?" Keith smiled at Lauren as she beamed up at him.
"My grandma is the second prettiest lady in the world!" Keith laughed.
"So who can the first be?" Lauren puffed her chest up and gave the most amazing smile.
"My momma of course." Even Lucas was forced to smile at that. He wondered if Lauren realised just how like her mother she looked.
"Well of course she is, but I bet when you get older you'll be the prettiest lady in the world, cos you sure are the prettiest little girl." Lauren gave another megawatt smile at Keith before swinging to face her mother.
"Am I momma?" Brooke finally came to life and walked over to her daughter swinging her into her arms.
"You most certainly are." Keith stood back up from being at Lauren's height and slapped a hand on Lucas' shoulder.
"Well like I said I'm going to get going now, and Lucas here is going to take a walk with me. But I will see both you lovely ladies tomorrow." Brooke finally let go of a smile and stepped towards Keith. She leaned into him and he placed his arms round both Brooke and Lauren.
"It's so good to see you Keith." Lucas had forgotten how fast Brooke had become attached to Keith in the brief time they'd dated while his mother had been away. But that was Keith, everyone loved him. He was such an amiable guy that people couldn't help but like him. Lucas had once thought he himself was the same but had recently come to realise it was far more likely the opposite was true. He walked towards the door as the trio pulled apart. With another smile at the girls Keith followed him outside. Neither spoke a word until they were halfway down the street.
"So where you been hiding Luke? And how the hell did you get that bruise on your face?" Lucas was reluctant to tell Keith he'd taken Dan's offer of staying with him at the beach house.
"Nathan hit me. I deserved it though - possibly. So really why are you here?" Lucas knew Keith wouldn't press so changed the subject. Keith smiled.
"Your mom was worried. So was I. It's a pretty huge thing you've just found out Luke. I figured you might need someone to talk to."
"How do I even begin to wrap my head around the fact I have a child who is almost 5 years old?" Keith sighed.
"Luke it's not going to be easy for you, but you need to decide whether having a child is the same thing as being a father. I know that after Dan you probably have always thought that when you had a child you'd be a good father. But after everything that's happened since Lauren was born you need to figure out if there is a way past the hurt and anger because if there isn't it may be the case that being a good father is walking away and not destroying that girl's life. Ultimately Brooke is her world and if you can't get past how you feel right now but try to be in Lauren's life that hatred will destroy that little girl. She will be torn in two. Being a parent Luke means putting a child's best interests first even if we loathe what we're doing."
"I did always think I'd be there – so why is it so difficult to decide that I want Lauren to know I'm her dad?" Keith chuckled.
"I'm going to go with it's because this is not how you pictured it. If you screw up now she'll know about it. If you make a little mistake with a baby they forget it, it doesn't mean anything. Lucas sometimes in life things don't happen the way we think they will. We achieve the things we thought we would but it doesn't always mean that we got there how we thought we would. Luke I strongly feel like a parent to you." Keith paused and Lucas jumped in.
"Keith you are my father, in every way that matters." Keith nodded.
"I know Luke, and I love you as my son. What I'm saying is, when I was younger and thought about being a dad I never thought that it would be to my brother's child that he abandoned. I thought, like you probably did, that I'd meet someone, fall in love, get married and have a baby. That was how I'd become a dad, but it didn't happen. This happened and the end result is the same. I feel like a father. My point is that if being Lauren's father is the destination, does the journey really matter?"
I did think I'd be getting some of Brooke's POV in this chapter but now I'm thinking it will be the next one, the one after that at the latest.