He was almost surprised when she showed up and took the seat next to him. Almost, but not quite. She had never been independent enough to live her life without him, even when he had given her no reason to stay. She had never had the bravery to leave and find a better, happier life for herself, and it was this fact that had taken the surprise out of her action for him. He said nothing as she took her seat, feeling neither happy nor upset that she had joined him. Lucas felt nothing but indifference for Peyton anymore.

When they departed the plane it was to an empty reception. There were no smiling faces waiting to greet them, no friends or family that had missed them terribly in their long and silent absence. The hollow feeling in Lucas' gut intensified as he realized just how many people he had alienated in leaving with Peyton all those years ago. They had no place to go. No family to open their homes and hearts to them, so they got a hotel. Settled in, showered, crawled into bed, backs facing one another, never touching, and slept.

Lucas awoke to an overwhelming desire to reunite with all those he left behind. It was consuming him. That night he had dreamed of Brooke, looking just the same as the day he left but hadn't said goodbye, dimples tucked into the corner of each cheek. His pretty girl, thrilled to see him again after all this time. His heart ached when he woke. Ached for the times when everything was simpler, ached for the times when he was happy. It had been so long since he had been happy.

Peyton was sitting at the table under the window when he opened his eyes, absent-minded doing something on her phone.

"What do you want to do today?" Peyton asked when she saw his eyes open.

Lucas sat up and blearily rubbed the sleep from his eyes, clearing his throat before he spoke. "I don't know. I guess go see Nathan and Haley."

"Don't you think it's rude, showing up unannounced after all this time?"

"Well I didn't come all this way to argue with you in a hotel room," he replied back. "I'm going to Nathan and Haley's. Come with me if you want, stay here if you don't." Without another word he removed himself from the bed and walked to the shower, standing under the hot beads and trying to shake off the nerves he felt at being back in Tree Hill after all this time.

OTHOTHOTH

Ella was not herself today. The normally happy and energetic child was lethargic and clingy and only wanted to be with her mother. Brooke was consumed with worry. They had been at Nathan and Haley's all day and no matter how much Jamie insisted, Ella had no interest in playing today. On a normal day she wouldn't give Brooke the time of day if Jamie was around. The children would be off playing on their own and wouldn't come downstairs until it was time for dinner. Today she was curled into Brooke's side, quiet and half asleep.

"Is she feeling okay?" Haley asked as she sat down on the couch with them.

Brooke placed her hand to her forehead and withdrew it in horror. "She's burning up a bit. I'm so worried."

Haley could read the anxiety on Brooke's face. "I'm sure she's fine. Probably just coming down with a bit of a bug."

Brooke rubbed circles into her daughter's back, pressed a kiss to her forehead and pulled her in closer. "It's okay baby," she reassured. "You're going to be okay."

Ella remained quiet, eyes falling in exhaustion.

"I think I'm going to go get her something," Brooke said. "Just run to the store and grab some Tylenol, something to break the fever."

"For sure. Just leave her here, no point in waking her up now that she's finally asleep."

"Are you sure?" Brooke asked. She didn't want to leave Ella when she wasn't feeling well but she didn't want to wake her either, she needed rest.

"Of course. I'll watch her."

Brooke nodded, hugged Haley, and headed out the door in worry.

Haley took Brooke's seat at Ella's head and pulled a strand of her dark blonde hair away from her face, looking in wonder at just how much Ella looked like Lucas when she slept. She loved Ella like her own daughter and hated that Lucas was missing out on her life. She knew that he would be an amazing father if he was given the chance.

The doorbell rang and Haley cursed, watching to make sure that it didn't wake Ella but the little girl was fast asleep. She rose from her spot and walked to the front door, sliding it open and staring in shock at the people before her. At first she wondered if they were real, if pregnancy hormones were making her hallucinate or if she had caught Ella's fever. But there was no denying the subtle way he held his hands in front of him in anxiousness, the way she looked shyly out from behind him. Hallucinations were not this vivid.

"Hi Hales," Lucas said when Haley refused to open her mouth, sheepish smile on his face.

She still said nothing but threw her arms open and embraced him, breathing in the scent of him that had not changed after all this time, still speechless with him in her arms.

"You're here?" She asked as if still uncertain.

"I hope that's okay," Lucas said unsurely.

"Of course it's okay! Come in!" She hugged Peyton briefly and ushered them inside, yelled for Nathan up the stairs, and stood in the foyer in disbelief.

Nathan's stunned expression was not unmissed as he took sight of them. "Luke? Peyton?"

"Hey Nate," Lucas said with a smile, relief washing over him as he took sight of his brother for the first time in too long.

Nathan laughed and hugged him, hugged Peyton, and led them to the living room.

"What are you guys doing here?" Haley asked.

Peyton and Lucas looked to each other, searching for an answer that neither one really had.

"It was just… time to come home." Lucas replied.

"For good?" Nathan asked.

Lucas shook his head. "I don't really have any plans either way."

Haley and Nathan nodded and watched as Lucas scanned the room until his eyes fell on the sleeping body on the couch.

"It that…" he started in disbelief. "Is she yours?"

In unison Haley and Nathan turned behind them to Ella sleeping, then locked eyes with each other in horror.

"Uh, no," Haley stated. "She's a friends. We actually have a son, Jamie. Nathan why don't you take them upstairs to meet him and I'll call Ella's mom."

Nathan understood the double meaning to Haley's words and nodded, beckoning Lucas and Peyton to follow him. As soon as they were out of earshot Haley pulled out her phone and dialled Brooke, praying that she wasn't on her way back already.

She answered on the fourth ring without a hello. "Is Ella okay?"

"She's fine, she's fine," Haley said. "But we have a much bigger problem."

"What?" Brooke asked with worry.

Haley hesitated. "Lucas is here."

Brooke's heart stopped. "What do you mean Lucas is there?"

"I mean he's here. In my house. With Peyton."

"Ella." It was all Brooke could think about, her daughter, her world, in a house with her father for the first time in her life and Brooke wasn't there to protect her. "I'm coming to get her right now."

"Brooke don't. If you come now Lucas will know that Ella is yours. Give me and hour and I'll bring her to you. You're not ready for this. None of us are ready for this. Give yourself a little bit of time to prepare. He thinks that Ella is a friends daughter, we will keep him away from her and as soon as I can slip away I will bring Ella home."

"Haley I need her." Brooke was on the verge of tears. Every one of her worst fears was coming true and she had absolutely no control over the situation.

"I know Brooke, but it's going to be okay, I promise. One hour and I'll have her back with you, okay?"

Brooke stifled the sobs threatening to choke her and mumbled a quick, "Okay," before hanging up the phone and racing home.

Haley had hung up just in time as Lucas, Peyton, Nathan and Jamie came back downstairs and into the living room.

"Is Ella better yet?" Jamie asked, running to the couch to check on his cousin.

"Not yet baby. Just let her sleep," Haley said, pulling Jamie away from her and sitting on the opposite couch. "So where have you been?"

Lucas cleared his throat. "I guess we have a lot of explaining to do."