A/N: I don't own OTH although I'm thinking about buying Season 5 on DVD. What a great season! Jamie couldn't be any cuter! And the title of the chapter is from the song by Oliver James. This is an extra-long chapter since it's been a while since an update. Thank you to each of you who continue to read this story!

Chapter Nine: Long Time Coming

"Wait a minute," Haley said, frantically moving her hands around. "Dan Scott is your father?"

Peyton and Jake gave each other a look before getting up from the table and moving to the dance floor. Yet Brooke, intrigued by this new, attractive man, stayed to listen to his story with Haley.

"Dan is my father," Lucas began. "But I didn't grow up with him or anything. He and my mom dated in high school. She got pregnant, he was moving up to New York to take over the company, and she stayed in Atlanta. When he got to the city, he met Nathan's mom, Deb. Nathan was born a little while later. Just like that. He didn't raise me or anything."

"So you never really knew Dan?" Haley asked, touching her temples as she focused on processing the new information.

"No, I didn't. In fact, until recently I was convinced I wanted nothing to do with the man. I mean, he left my mom, you know?" Lucas stopped, rubbing a hand over his face as though exhausted by the story. "But Dan, I don't know, was different after Nathan's mom died. A few years ago he came to Atlanta. I saw him a couple of times, and then after I graduated from college a few weeks ago, he came by and offered me a job with the company." He smiled and looked down, almost bashfully. "I really want to be a writer, to be honest. But I'll need something to pay the bills in the meantime, so I took it."

"Let me get the straight," Haley blinked several times, trying to clear her thoughts. "So you're Dan's son? Dan's oldest son? You were born a few months before Nathan, then?"

Brooke giggled, almost uncomfortable. "Uh, Hales? Were you listening at all to what the boy said?"

But Haley ignored her friend. "And if you're the older son…" she trailed off.

"Well, yes," Lucas took in the reigns of the conversation. "I guess that's right."

"What?" Brooke asked, looking from Haley to Lucas quickly.

"So then Nathan isn't…?" Haley continued, obviously shell-shocked.

"What?" Brooke asked a little more desperately.

Lucas turned, facing Brooke. "If I'm older than Nathan, then it stands that I would inherit James-Scott Company after Dan dies," he explained.

"The Scott half," Haley added softly, still thinking. "But Nathan has thought that he would own the company his whole life," she said.

"I know," Lucas looked straight at Haley. "And I don't want to be that guy who comes in after all these years and takes his livelihood away. Like I said, I want to be a writer, ultimately."

"So you're going to sign away your right to own the company to Nathan?" Haley asked.

"Wait," Brooke stopped the conversation. "Why does Lucas automatically get the company? Nathan's worked there his whole life, practically."

Haley shot her friend a curious glance.

"What?" Brooke shrugged. "I Wikipedia-ed the guy one day while you were at work. He sounded interesting. And," she added, leaning forward while she spoke as though her information was high-level gossip, "I'm right. He's been working at James-Scott practically from the womb. Always around the place, really hard worker, pretty reliable." At the strange looks from Lucas and Haley, Brooke straightened up and shrugged her shoulders again. "Or, you know. According to Wikipedia."

"Anyway," Haley interceded. "Brooke, to answer your question, the way the company works is that the oldest son always inherits the position of owner from his father. In the event of no sons, i.e. my family, the oldest daughter inherits. The way our grandparents set up the company was so that it wouldn't be divided among the children and children's children as the generations continued."

"But that's a little bogus," Brooke frowned. "I mean, what if the oldest son is a total dummy? Or," she cried, getting excited, "what if he's transgender and starts off as the oldest son but then decides to be a woman, but is actually a man, and technically was going to inherit the company, but has a younger brother and the brother is all like, "Now you're a girl," and now the oldest, transgender son is no longer really a viable candidate. Then what?"

Lucas and Haley stared at Brooke.

"What? That hasn't happened yet?"

They both shook their heads.

"Well, it's something to consider. In our changing, politically-correct world, there are these problems," Brooke stated matter-of-factly, folding her hands on top of the table.

"Uh, yeah," Haley shook her head. "Anyway, Lucas, back to my original question. What are you going to do with the company?"

Lucas ran a hand through his hair. "You know, I haven't yet given it that much thought. The only real idea that I've come up with is to share ownership with Nathan. And, you, of course," he motioned to Haley.

"But that's exactly what our grandparents were afraid of. Then you and Nathan will each have two kids and they'll want to share the ownership, too, and the cycle will continue. And the company will continue to divide!"

"I know, and to top it off, Dan will have an aneurism if I tell him I'm planning on sharing the company."

"Well, there is a plus side after all," Haley said sarcastically.

"Ha, ha," Lucas rolled his eyes. "I just don't know how to approach everything. Or, for one, how you feel about the whole situation. I haven't even really talked to Nathan about it yet-"

"Talked to Nathan about what?" a familiar voice asked from behind a crowd of people. Haley's eyes widened in shock as a black head of hair gradually made its way around a group of screaming girls and toward their table. He invited himself to sit down and made himself comfortable before looking around, his signature smirk on his face. "So," he started, winking at Haley, "what are we talking about?"

"You, as usual, little brother," Lucas smiled. "You're late as usual, too."

"Wait just a minute," Brooke's eyes lit up. "Little brother? You're Nathan Scott?"

"It seems you've heard of me." Nathan smiled.

"You could say that. I'm Brooke."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," he stuck his hand out for an awe-struck Brooke to shake. "As usual, my reputation precedes me."

"Oh, yeah," Brooke said. "I've heard all about you from Haley."

"I don't know if Haley's a very impartial judge. I'm pretty sure she's in love with me," Nathan smirked.

"You have got to be kidding me!" Haley exclaimed, suddenly coming to life.

"Yep," Brooke nodded. "Heard all about you."

"How long have you two known each other?" he asked, gesturing with his head to his coworker while keeping his eyes trained on Brooke.

"Oh," Brooke waved her hand. "Please, I've known Haley forever. I even knew her during the overall stage."

"Oh come on!" Haley protested. "It wasn't a stage! I wore them once! And they were cool!"

"Yeah, okay, Tutor Girl," Brooke scoffed as the boys smiled.

"'Tutor Girl?'" Nathan laughed openly. "I knew you were a nerd!"

"I was not a nerd!" Haley responded. "I tutored. You know, like helped people learn. I'm sure you needed more than your fair share of 'help' to even pass school. And, besides, I liked school."

"Nerd," Nathan coughed.

"So what are you even doing here, anyway?" Haley glared at the younger Scott brother.

"Oh, you know. Just catching up for a drink with my brother," Nathan answered, smiling. "And what about you? I thought you were Little Miss Proper Wet Blanket. I never expected to see you in a bar."

"I am not a wet blanket!" Haley cried indignantly. "And," she sniffed. "I'm here with friends. So if you'll excuse us," she stood up, dragging Brooke along with her. "We are going to go enjoy ourselves. Dancing," she added, pointing to the dance floor where Peyton and Jake already were.

"Dancing?" Brooke asked. "Hales, you never want to dance."

"Wet blanket," Nathan fake-coughed into his hand.

"Oh, very mature," Haley rolled her eyes. "Come on, Brooke. It was nice to meet you, Lucas."

"You, too, Haley. I look forward to working with you. And Brooke, I was wondering, would you ever want to go grab a drink or something?"

Brooke smiled. "I'd love to," she said, reaching into her purse for a pen. "Here's my number," she added as she drew her cell number on Lucas's hand. "So you won't lose it."

"Great," he said softly. "I'll call you."

"Great," she repeated.

"Let's go Brooke," Haley nudged her friend out of her trance. "We better find Peyton and Jake."

"Have fun dancing, Hales," Nathan called out as the girls walked away. With a start he realized that he was smiling, just watching the short blonde walk away.

A/N: Hi guys, it's me! I don't want to be a pester, but I do want to stress how much I really enjoy every single review that you guys write. It means a lot to me, those of you who continue to read and review for each chapter. Please keep up the kind words and I promise to write and update more often. Now press that review button. Come on, you know you want to…