It became a weekly tradition. Dan and Ana would meet every Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m. at a small coffee shop in downtown Tree Hill. They would talk about their week, their kids and as the weeks went on the conversations began to move into their hopes and dreams.

Larry came home and Ana told Dan how happy she was to have him back. How wonderful he was to their daughter Peyton and how Peyton seemed to light up when her father was home. Ana also shared with Dan her fears for her daughter, how she seemed to go within herself and hold things in and it seemed only Ana was the only one that could bring her out of it.

Dan told Ana about his wife Deb being gone for weeks at a time with her job. How a lot of the responsibility of raising his son Nathan had fallen to him. He feared sometimes all they had in common was basketball and wondered if he was too hard on the boy.

Ana would smile at Dan and shake her head yes telling him "maybe a bit." Dan would dip his head in agreement and smile sweetly at her. It was the only time he truly smiled, Dan realized, when she was with Ana.

He built his week around the hour he spent with Ana at the coffee shop on the corner. He could tell her anything and though all Ana saw in their meetings was friendship, Dan's was more. Dan knew with a matter of fact that he was truly and deeply in love with Ana Sawyer.

Dan had thought he had been in love before. He thought he loved Karen Roe, but basketball always came before her. He thought he loved Deb but in reality he loved her money more. But with Ana he wanted to be a better person for her, he wanted to make her smile, he loved her and he wanted her to love him back.

Being a better person prompted him to tell Ana about Lucas. It was a hard conversation because he wanted Ana to only see the best of him.

"I am sure you have heard the stories," Dan said one day in September. The summer days were quickly giving way to the feel of autumn. Leaves were changing from dark green to vibrant red and orange.

"What stories," Ann asked as she sipped her coffee. She smiled up at him.

Dan felt his heart skip a beat before he began. "That I have another son," Dan said in a matter of fact tone. "His name is Lucas Scott and he plays basketball with Nathan. I got a girl pregnant before I left for college." Dan added that fact before Ana could ask.

"Is he the cute blonde haired boy that wears the No. 3?" And cocked her head and brushed her light blonde hair from her face.

"Yeah," Dan said dipping his head. "He doesn't know I am his dad, or at least I don't think he does."

"He is such a sweet boy," Ana told him. "I remember he was the one that went and got the nurse the day Peyton fell from the swings and broke her arm in second grade. I don't think Peyton ever knew who went and got someone for her but the teacher told me it was Lucas."

Dan felt a sense of pride he had never felt for Lucas build up.

"I have noticed too that Lucas kind of watches Peyton while at basketball," Ana giggled. "I think he has a bit of a crush on her." She took her napkin and dabbed her lips.

"I want to tell him," Dan finally admitted to Ana. "That I am his dad. I am not sure how Karen will feel about it but I think a boy needs his father."

"You should do it," Ana encouraged him. "You are a good man, Dan. And no matter your history with his mother, Lucas needs his dad in his life."

"Thank you, Ana," Dan said taking Ana's hand and stroking it softly. "You always know what to say."

"That is what friends are for," Ana said as she slowly pulled her hand from under Dan's. She smiled at him but it had a hint of discomfort.

"Ana," Dan began. "I have to tell you something."

"Dan, don't." Ana warned scrunching up her brow.

"Ana, please," Dan pleaded. He leaned in closer to her. "I have loved our time together. Ana, I love you."

"Dan, I wish you hadn't said that," Ana told him. She collected her belongings and stood. "I have to go, Dan."

"Ana, wait," Dan said as he stood as well. "Please, stay."

"No, Dan," Ana told him. "I have to get back."

And she turned from him and left.

"So, you and my mother," Peyton began. Not wanting to finish her sentence asking if Dan slept with her mother.

"No," Dan said as if gauging her question. "All your mother wanted was my friendship. It was me who wanted more."

"But," Dan continued. "My wanting more is what cost your mother her life."

"What?" Peyton's face turned ashen.

It was then Dan told the story he hadn't told a single soul. The day of Peyton's mother's accident and death, Dan had called Ana and asked her to meet him one last time, this time in his office. He had told her he had to see her one, that he wanted her advice about how to approach Lucas' mother about seeing the boy. Knowing it involved Lucas, the boy who had helped her daughter Peyton, she had agreed.

Ana met Dan that afternoon at his dealership. Dan ushered Ana in his office and he at first talked exclusively about Lucas. After Ana had counseled Dan on how to approach Karen, then Dan went on to pleading his case. He didn't want to loose her, he couldn't loose her.

Dan pleaded with her asking her to love him. Ana kept telling him she loved Larry and only Larry. Dan pulled Ana close and kissed her and she responded by slapping him. It was then Dan saw a hint of terror in her eyes and he backed away.

"I am sorry, Ana," Dan said near tears. "Please forgive me."

"I forgive you, Dan," Ana told him. "But we can't see each other anymore."

"Just stay for a while and talk to me," Dan was desperate.

It was then Ana looked at the clock and realized she was going to be late picking Peyton up. She told Dan she had to go, that Peyton was the kind of child who feared the worst if Ana was just a minute late picking her up.

He watched her hurry out the door, noticing it was 2:25 p.m. and calculating that Ana would be late picking up Peyton from school. He hoped Peyton wouldn't be too upset that he had made Ana late, even if the girl would never know why her mother had been tardy.

"So see, it was my fault Ana died," Dan said. He took two steps away from Peyton. "I kept her from leaving to go and pick you up."

"No, Dan," Peyton said surprising Dan with her answer. "It was just, I don't know, something stupid that happens in life. She ran a red light at the wrong time. Believe me, I ran enough tempting fate, and nothing ever happened to me."

That shocked Dan. That this girl would tempt fate to see if it would catch up with her like it did her mother. But Ana had always said that Peyton was haunted by a hint of darkness.

"Thank you, Dan," Peyton said. "For sharing this with me, for sharing another part of my mother with me," she smiled at him.

Dan knew Ana wasn't Peyton's biological daughter but at that moment he swore he saw Ana in Peyton's smile. Maybe it was because he saw Ana's good in Peyton and how Peyton had brought out the best in his son, Lucas. The way she had brought out the good in him for at least a few short months all those years ago.

"Well, I will let you get some rest," Dan said. "Take care, Peyton. And take care of that baby. I think she is going to be something special."

Peyton dipped her head and rubbed her tummy where her daughter nestled inside her.

Lucas was waiting outside Peyton's room when Dan walked out.

"You were in there a long time just to let Peyton know you didn't know anything," Lucas said. He leaned up against the wall and folded his arms across his chest.

"I didn't lie to her, Lucas," Dan told him. He put his hands in his pants pockets.

"I asked you to do one thing," Lucas kicked away from the wall. "One thing." He held up his index finger at Dan as if to drive home the point.

"She is a smart girl," Dan said. "She figured it out. Besides, you both made more out of the story then it was."

Dan smiled at Lucas and walked way. "You should go see your wife," Dan said over his shoulder as he walked to elevator and pushed the down button.

Lucas watched Dan wait for the elevator and step in and leave before he turned and went into Peyton's hospital room.

"Hey baby," Peyton said as Lucas walked in and went straight to her. He leaned down and kissed her temple.

"Hey, yourself." He kissed her on the lips and then hooked his foot around the leg of the chair and sat down beside her. "So, I just saw Dan leave." No hiding anything now, Lucas guessed.

"Yeah," Peyton bobbed her head up and down yes. "Listen," she held out her hand and Lucas put his in hers. "I understand you wanted to protect me, but I am glad Dan told me the truth."

"That your mom cheated on your dad with my dad," Lucas asked with a hint of disgust.

"It wasn't like that," Peyton said. "It was far from it." She turned her head and looked out the hospital window. The sun was high in the sky now and she could tell the wind was blowing slightly as the trees swayed in some silent rhythm.

Peyton couldn't shake the story Dan told her. It sounded so similar – almost a parallel to her and Lucas. Finding that one person that could make your life complete – they had almost lost that, letting fear and insecurities almost tear them apart. Peyton could see what Dan had become forming in Lucas after his failed marriage attempt with Lindsey, in fact maybe before. But Peyton had learned to fight, thanks to her brother Derek, and she wasn't going to let Lucas take that path. Their happiness depended on it.

Now, she and Lucas were happy and beginning a new life together with a new life. They were talking this journey without a road map, but it was okay because they were partners in that adventure.

Dan never had that. His chances slipped by, whether thanks to fate or his own design. Now he was a broken and at times bitter man who no one wanted in their lives. He had his chance and never gave anyone the opportunity to take his journey with him.

So, Peyton was glad that her mother gave him a few weeks of happiness. She didn't begrudge Dan his moments of happiness with her mother because Peyton was secure in the knowledge that Ana Sawyer loved her father Larry and for a time gave a man named Dan Scott a bit of peace. Just as she, Peyton, Ana's daughter, was giving a lifetime of peace and love to his son Lucas.

Peyton turned back to Lucas and smiled. She squeezed his hand. "So, how about you tell me about the time in second grade? Seems you were and are always saving me."

Lucas dipped his head and smiled shyly all the while shaking his head.