A/N: Hi everybody! Some of you guys are worried because I am following the story. I respect that, so for the intense scene (school shooting), I will put a note at the beginning for those who feel like they may not want to read it. If there are other scenes in season 3 or 4 you want prior warning for, put it in a review and I will be sure to warn ahead of time its coming. Some scenes wont be added, because the arrival of Brody will have changed the dynamic of the universe, and I do play around with timelines here. But to be sure, put your concern in a review and if it is a scene I use I will be sure and put a warning note up top.

Congratulations for making it to 200! Thanks to all the regular reviewers, but thank you also to the readers who dont normally review, but put themselves out there to win an extra update. Everybody appreciates your efforts to win extra reviews. Its like Swing Vote- you dont realize it, but every 'vote' does count! :)

Daily updates continue til Friday. If you can make it to 300 by then, they just keep on going!

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Chapter 9 The Promise of the Future

A week had come and gone, and the benefit album was taking off. Peyton was able to book Nada Surf, and as Ellie predicted, bands began calling them to be apart of the album. Peyton had asked Haley to record for the album, and they had also received word from Jack's Mannequin and Fall Out Boy that they would be willing to both record and do a concert. It was now Thursday, and all the seniors were required to meet with the guidance counselors to talk about their plans for after high school.

Lucas was first.

"So what would you look for in a college?" The guidance counselor asked, leaning back in her chair.

Lucas hesitated, then replied. "I don't know if you already know this, but I have a son. He's two months old…"

FLASHBACK

Lucas paced in front of the New Brunswick County Jail, bouncing Brody in the Bjorn with his hands under Brody's patting it up and down. Karen walked up to him and offered him a cup of coffee.

""It's gonna be fine, Lucas. You really need to get to school."" "I can watch Brody- it'll take my mind off what's going on in there." ""I'll call if I hear something,"" "or if I need you or Peyton to take Brody during your study periods."

Reluctant to leave, Lucas protested. ""Oh, come on, mom, it's Keith. This is important!""

Karen replied quickly, ""Your future is important. Don't you have a meeting with your guidance counselor today? Talk about colleges?""

Dan walked up to Lucas and Karen, smirking. ""Oh, you wouldn't wanna miss that! I mean look; Keith didn't go to college and look where he ended up."" "Besides, I don't think colleges look at 'teenage father' as a promising extracurricular."

Incensed, Karen took a step towards Dan. ""What the hell is wrong with you? He's your brother, for god's sake!"" She said, glaring at Dan. "And you should be proud that your son is taking care of his responsibilities, which is more than I can say for you in high school, and somebody let you into college!"

Dan held his ground and countered, ""Someone shoulda told him that before he tried to light me on fire!,"" ignoring the shot about him in high school.

"Keith had nothing to do with that!" Lucas interrupted, shouting. Brody started against his chest.

Dan turned his attention to Lucas. ""How would you know?! Were you there?""

At this Karen intervened. "Lucas, give me Brody and go to school. There's no need to waste any energy on him."

"Are you sure you'll be okay, Mom? Lucas asked, taking off the carrier and kissing Brody on the head. Looking at Dan, he continued, "I can stay a little longer."

Taking Brody in her arms, she nodded. "I'll be okay. You just talk to the guidance counselor. She'll be able to help you find a college that'll be good for both of you" she said, glancing at Brody, then at Lucas.

"Good luck with that" Dan smirked, interrupting once again the family moment. ""Well, gotta run; don't wanna be late for the Keith Show. In today's episode, Keith Scott learns – you play with fire, you're gonna get burned. ""

END FLASHBACK

"So the most important thing for me right now, is to find a school that is accepting of teenage parents, and has a good support group for them." Lucas finished.

"That's admirable, and very smart, given your situation." The guidance counselor said. ""Do you want to stay close to home?""

""Probably. I mean, I can't really afford to go to college out of state."" Lucas replied. "I've always liked UNC, but with Brody now, I don't know if that can still be an option."

"Brody?" the counselor queried.

Lucas smiled. "My son."

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"So Peyton, what are your thoughts on college? The guidance counselor questioned, gesturing for Peyton to sit down.

"Well, I never really thought about going to college, until recently." Peyton confessed, looking at her hands.

"Oh? And what made you start thinking about it?" the counselor probed.

FLASHBACK

Ellie and Peyton were sitting in the living room, eating a late night snack and talking about the coming meeting with the guidance counselor.

""Well, you didn't go to college and you're doing just fine."" Peyton argued, defending her choice not to go to college.

Ellie scoffed. ""I'm a free-lance writer who lives pay-check to pay-check. I've done okay, but I could have done better."" She shook her head. ""You don't wanna go to college?""

""Does that surprise you?!"" Peyton asked, incredulous.

""Actually, it does"" Ellie shot back. ""I just assumed you'd go.""

"Why?" Peyton asked.

Ellie sighed. ""Because you can. I never understood people who had the chance to go and chose not to.""

""Well, I don't understand people that waste four years in school when they could be out living life!"" Peyton yelled into the kitchen, where Ellie had walked.

""What's the hurry?"" Ellie said, sticking her head out the kitchen. ""From what I hear, college is fun. I can see you majoring in art or music. Or business.""

""Really? You see all that without tarot card or a Ouija Board?"" Peyton said sarcastically. ""What else do you see?""

"I see you with a son in 18 years, trying to explain to him why he should go to college when you didn't if you don't change your attitude." Ellie came and sat down next to Peyton. "Take it from someone with experience. It's a conversation you don't want to have."

Peyton sat thoughtfully digesting what Ellie shared. Changing the subject, she stood.

""Alright, well, how bout this?"" Peyton picked up the list of bands for the album. ""Do you, by any chance, see a name for this album?""

Ellie smiled. ""Hopefully something better than This Album.""

""I don't know,"" Peyton mused, ""it's kinda growing on me.""

""OK, have fun."" Ellie said, shooing Peyton out the door. ""Don't benefit any friends… and do good cheering.""

""Go Ravens!"" Peyton waved and walked out the door.

Ellie could help but comment. ""You know, I'm starting to doubt my powers coz I never woulda see you as a cheerleader.""

Smiling, fondly, Peyton said quietly, "My mom was a cheerleader. And I'm starting to doubt my powers, cause I never saw myself going to college, but… anything for Brody"

END FLASHBACK

"Brody" Peyton answered.

"Who's Brody?" the counselor queried.

Peyton smiled. "My son."

"Brody…Is his father Lucas Scott?" the counselor questioned.

"Yes, but what's that got to do with anything?" Peyton said, defensive.

"Actually, it may have a great deal to do with it. I was talking to Lucas earlier about his son, Brody, and how he wanted to make sure he went to a school that was supportive of student parents. Since he was interested in UNC, I gave him some literature on their parent support network. If your son was the same Brody, then I can be of better help to you in making your plans for college." The counselor explained. "What were you planning on studying in college?"

Peyton squirmed uncomfortably. "I hadn't gotten that far."

"Well," the counselor began, ""the point of college is to find something you love and hopefully make a career of it. What makes you happy?""

"Besides my son? I don't know. Music and art, I guess. And maybe business would be smart" Peyton mused, thinking of her album.

"That's a start," the counselor brightened. "Now, we take that and look at all the different schools in North Carolina to see if they have an art and music program. That way, you can take classes in both, and don't have to decide right away."

Peyton smiled, then ventured a suggestion. "Can we look at UNC first?"

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That afternoon, Peyton took Brody to her house. She hadn't been spending as much time as she liked with the baby, and with a basketball game that night, there would be even less time. Brody didn't notice when she was gone since he was so young, but Peyton knew, and that wasn't the type of mother she wanted to be. So with an afternoon to himself for a change, Lucas went to the Rivercourt to shoot around.

"Are you supposed to be out here with your HCM?" Keith said.

"I guess I'm not ready to give it up." Lucas confessed.

"You know I'm just messing with you." Keith said. "Besides, have you talked to your doctor? Your dad played with HCM. Maybe with some medication and modified playing time, you would still be able to play."

"Nah. I don't want to risk it, with me being all my mom has, and especially now that I have Brody. Plus, since I'm not playing, I can watch Brody so Peyton doesn't have to give up cheerleading" Lucas turned, took a shot and missed.

""Hmmm. You know in jail, a shot like that would make you somebody's girlfriend."" Keith teased.

""Yeah, we'll you'd know."" Lucas shot back. ""I was worried about you. Are you ok?""

""Yeah, I'm fine."" Keith said seriously. ""Anyway, you're a kid, Luke. You should worry about kid stuff.""

Lucas laughed. ""Oh, you mean like… school, money, college scholarships, mom,""…my HCM, my son, my son's mother…"

""Wow"" Keith stopped him in the middle of his list. ""its tough being a kid these days.""

"Yeah" Lucas agreed.

""Since when did you worry about college scholarships?"" Keith asked.

"Since I have to find a way to support myself and my son and Peyton while I go to school, so my mom wont have to worry." Lucas said, dribbling the ball on the the ground.

Keith stole the ball, then took a shot. ""Well, she likes to worry about you.""

Lucas grabbed the rebound and passed it back. ""I don't want her to. You know what, college is expensive."" "Babies are expensive."

"Girlfriends are expensive" Keith added, smiling.

Lucas ducked his head. "C'mon Keith. Peyton and I aren't like that."

Keith paused. "Who said anything about Peyton?" Smiling, he let the boy off the hook. ""We'll manage. We always have.""

Lucas laughed.

""What?"" Keith said, confused.

""You said 'we'."" He said, pointing at Keith.

Keith looked down at the ball he still held in his hand. ""I, um,… asked your mom out on a date." Keith smiled. ""Hope that's ok with you.""

""I think it's great."" Lucas patted Keith on the back. ""What'd she say?""

Keith laughed. ""Funny. I guess you had to ask the question. I mean, my track record with your mom is about as bad as the Ravens'.""

"Hey, I'm not on the team anymore" Lucas countered.

"Maybe not now," Keith said, "but who knows what the future holds? And speaking of futures, I asked your mom out and she finally agreed. When are you going put yourself out there and ask Peyton out?"

Lucas paused thoughtfully. "Peyton and me… we had our chance, and I blew it. It just wasn't meant to be." He paused, reflective, then put his hands out for the ball. "Besides, she's still missing Jake.""

"Has she said that?" At Lucas' silence, Keith passed him the ball. "I don't know, Luke. Seems to me like your story and mine are an awful lot alike. Your mom turned my proposal down before, and she was dating Andy not even 2 months ago." Keith paused, then continued. "But today, when I asked her out, she said yes, Luke."

At Lucas thoughtful look, Keith relented and stopped the conversation. "Just think about it. And talk to Whitey about your HCM. I think you might regret not exploring whether it's possible for you to play ball safely."

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Lucas did talk to Whitey, but not about his HCM. Instead he convinced Whitey to let Skills join the team in his place. Whitey agreed, under one condition. Skills was on the team- if Lucas would help coach.

"You want me to be assistant coach, Coach?" Lucas asked, sitting down abruptly.

"Look Luke, I know how much you love the game. I also know that your mom is not to keen on you playing it right now. But I've been watching you. Don't think I didn't notice that you convinced Nathan to help clean up that raggedy gym after he threatened to quit. And Skills is a great player, and you knew just how to showcase his skills so I would be convinced to let him play. You know this team. You know this gym. And you have the heart for the game." Whitey came over and put his hand on Lucas' shoulder. "Basketball is not a game that's just played on the court, son. And though life's trying to teach you that it is, I'm gonna try and show you that its not."

So the night of their third game, Lucas was standing right there next to Whitey, with Keith, his mom, and Brody in the stands and Peyton cheering him on, as he watched Nathan and Skills lead the Tree Hill Ravens to their first victory of the season. It was a night never to be forgotten. The Ravens first win, and Tree Hill's first blackout in the storm of the year.

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Gotta love Keith and his fatherly words of wisdom!

I dont have any questions, so feel free to review as you choose. Be patient with the filler chapters, and I think you will enjoy where I take this story. ;)