A/N: Thank you for the awesome reviews! And thanks to my awesome beta: Leeese!

Disclaimer: Don't own OTH

Chapter Nine

Lucas knocked on the door and waited patiently until someone could get there and answer it. He then exchanged smiles with Victoria as she opened the door. He knew that she was surprised to see him since he hadn't called before coming over. However, he had made sure that Brooke wasn't there before he had headed over to talk to them.

Victoria let him in the foyer before speaking. "What brings you over our way?" she asked him curiously. She wasn't used to seeing him without her daughter by his side.

"I hope it's not to ask our daughter's hand in marriage because I'm not giving you permission or blessing," Richard said abruptly. His wife gave him a look.

Lucas was startled by the comment, but he was able to keep his focus on the real reason that he had gone there. "No, I wanted to let you know that Haley, Peyton and I are planning to throw Brooke a surprise birthday party next week. And I thought that you two would want to come. And maybe give me some ideas on what she would like for her birthday." He added the last part in a hopeful tone.

Victoria and Richard exchanged looks before turning back to Lucas. "Lucas, I know you mean well. But I don't know if Brooke would want to have a surprise party this year," Victoria told him gently.

"Why not?" Lucas asked her confused. He would have thought that Brooke would love a surprise party since she always loved his surprises. He also thought that her parents were acting a little odd.

"It's complicated," Victoria replied, hoping that he wouldn't ask why. She didn't know how else to say it. She just didn't think it was the right time to have the party. "However, I will help you with ideas on what to give her."

"Thanks, I'd appreciate it," Lucas said, both feeling and sounding a little disappointed. He, Haley and Peyton had already started planning the party. He then looked at his watch and saw the time. "I got to go. I'll talk to you two later."

Richard and Victoria exchanged good-byes with him as Victoria walked him to the front door. She waved good-bye to him and waited impatiently until he was down the driveway. She sighed relieved as she shut the door behind her. "A surprise birthday party for Beth or should I say Brooke? What the hell have we gotten ourselves into?" she asked her husband with a sigh.

Keith looked at her with a frown. "This is exactly what I'm talking about. That boy is getting way too close to our daughter. I don't trust him or his brother for that matter," he replied in a concerned tone.

Karen gave him a look. "The only reason that you don't trust them is because their last name is Scott. There are plenty of people with that last name. It doesn't mean that they are related to Dan Scott."

"I still say that we should ask Agent Hargrove if we can relocate somewhere else. I don't want to see our daughter get hurt," Keith said in an exasperated tone. He had a niggling feeling that something wasn't right about the Scott brothers.

"I think that she will get hurt either way," Karen replied softly.

Miles away, Haley and Peyton were at a store looking at party supplies for Brooke's surprise party when Peyton started up the conversation. "So have you told Nathan about the baby yet?" she asked Haley curious. "Or did you chicken out again?"

Haley rolled her eyes. She had a feeling that conversation would be brought up sooner or later. "I'll answer your question if you answer mine," she replied. Peyton looked at her confused. She had no clue what her friend was talking about. "What is it with you bugging Brooke about her sex life? Not to be rude, but it's really none of your business of how Brooke wants to spend her time with Lucas. Are you trying to break them up or something?" she asked her.

Peyton just rolled her eyes in response. "Well, Jake and I do live right in the next apartment, remember? And sometimes late at night, we can hear them having the time of their lives. I can't get to sleep because of those two sometimes."

Haley gave her a look that showed she didn't believe her. "Come on, Peyton. Walls aren't that thin. Aren't you exaggerating a little?" she asked her as she put some streamers into the cart that was about to overflow. She knew what would get under Peyton's skin. "Or is it that you might be jealous because your relationship with Jake isn't that intimate?"

Peyton raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I'm not jealous. Jake and I have a wonderful relationship." She proudly held up her engagement ring to her friend. "Speaking of being intimate, did you tell Nathan about the baby yet?"

"That's none of your business either," Haley replied. She should have known that Peyton would have gone back to that topic to get the focus off herself.

"In other words, you haven't told him yet," Peyton said as she looked at their shopping list. She knew that Haley wanted to drop the subject. "Ok, we have streamers and balloons. Do we need anything else to decorate the room?" she asked her.

Haley thought for a moment. "We should get some confetti. That way, we could use it when she comes into the door."

Peyton had to agree. She then thought of something else that they could get. "We should probably get a card too and have everyone sign it. I'll go get the confetti and you go and try to find the perfect birthday card for her."

Haley gave her an annoyed look. "Do you know how tough it is to pick out a birthday card for someone?"

"Why do you think I suggested you to do it?" Peyton asked her with a smile as she disappeared down the aisle.

Haley let out a sigh as she headed towards the cards. There were so many that it was hard to choose the perfect one. As she stared at the rows of birthday cards, she started to get a weird feeling that someone was watching her. She looked around slowly and saw that nobody was watching her. She then turned back to the cards and shook her head. She was obviously being a little too paranoid.

Julian couldn't stop looking at the picture that Cooper had taken the other night of Brooke at the club. "I still can't believe that she has been in Tree Hill all this time and that your nephew didn't tell the boss," he told him as he gave his phone back to him. "I knew that he couldn't be trusted."

After confirming Beth was indeed in Tree Hill, Dan had sent Julian and Ian out to North Carolina to help Cooper to kidnap Beth and Haley. Cooper had picked them up that morning and brought them to his hotel in Wilmington.

Ian just rolled his eyes and got up from his chair frustrated. "Who cares? I want some action. What the fuck are we waiting for?" he exclaimed angrily. He was getting restless. He wasn't a patient man when it came to carrying out orders for Dan. The sooner he got them carried out, the better.

Cooper gave him a look. "You and I both know that this has to be carefully planned. We can't screw this up or Beth will get away again," he said firmly. "And possibly Haley if Nathan finds out I'm still here. I know my nephew and he will do anything to protect Haley, even if it means sending her away."

"Then why don't you go back to Las Vegas and we'll handle the job?" Julian asked him. "Especially if you're so worried about Nathan or even Lucas finding out you're still here. Then there is your sister. I'm sure that she would be so happy to hear that you're back in town."

Cooper knew that he had a point. However, he had his own reason for staying. "Because I started this job and I'm going to help finish it," he replied before he pulled out a notebook from a bag. He opened it before showing it to Julian. "I've been taking notes and it doesn't look like we will be able to get Beth and Haley alone together anytime soon. Beth is either at work or with my other nephew Lucas." He had watched Beth closely over the last few days. And it didn't look like she was alone very much.

Julian looked at him exasperated. "Well, we can't just take Haley. Dan wants both of them. And it's easier to grab them at the same time. He would be pissed off if we just grabbed one and not the other."

Cooper knew all too well what would happen if they didn't complete their job correctly. "Don't worry. I have a plan on how to get Beth into Nathan's house so we can grab them both," he assured them. He thought a lot about how they were going to carry the plan out considering the obstacles that they had to face.

Julian was confused. "What if Lucas suggests that she stays with him for a few days?" he asked him.

"I doubt that her parents would want her to move in with him, even if it was only temporary," Cooper replied. "According to my sources, they have just started dating. Beth wouldn't want to be far away from her parents in case something happens to them. That'll be why they're with her in the first place."

Julian thought for a moment as he processed what he said. "Are you sure your so-called plan will work?" he asked him. Cooper nodded, wondering what he was getting at. "Great because I just thought of the perfect date to kidnap Beth and Haley."