A/N: Here it is! The moment you've all been waiting for, given to you in honor of President's Day and because YOU. GUYS. ARE. AWESOME! Thank you so much for the compliments!

"" "" symbolizes something I quoted from the show, to give credit to the wonderful writers of One Tree Hill. It is not mine, but it works so well in my story.

Enjoy!

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Chapter 11 The Prodigal Son Returns

Lucas pulled the mustang into the parking spot that read Head Coach, right in front of the gym of Tree Hill High. He leaned his head on the steering wheel, trying to compose himself before making his entrance back into the real world.

It had been 3 and a ½ months since he'd read Peyton's words to him on the Rivercourt, 3 and ½ months since Haley told him to stay and fight his way out of the darkness. 3 and ½ months since he chose to do what he had always done in the past instead. Run.

He didn't mean to stay gone that long. Didn't mean to leave Peyton with his last words to her being "I hate you," especially knowing the courage it must have taken to state publicly her love for him, having verbal evidence that he did not feel the same. Because even though most people would know the words he spoke were a lie, he wasn't sure if Peyton herself understood.

And that's what made it so hard to come back and face the music, because he knew he'd have to explain what he himself still didn't understand. She had been so steady, loving him through everything he threw at her, and yet he still pushed her away every chance he got. He didn't deserve her, but he was tired of running from her, and he couldn't let her go either, so the alternative left was to stop resisting and just be with her.

He was tired of living in a world where he lived complacent to the thought that their time together had come and gone- especially since he could no longer claim she didn't love him as much as he loved her when she shouted it to the world on a blacktop canvas. And he knew it. He'd always known it- he just never wanted to admit it.

He spent the first month traveling with his mother, "visiting," until he looked up one day and they were headed back to Tree Hill. "For a visit," his mother said cryptically, and gave him nothing more.

He hadn't intended to stay so long with his mother. In fact, he knew almost as soon as he left Tree Hill and boarded the boat who his heart lay with, that what he was chosing to do was a mistake. But the longer he stayed away, the harder it was to get the courage to go back. And it didn't help to be blindsided by the surprise visit home. He wasn't ready yet. He didn't have his game plan figured out. Every good coach knew the key to victory was preparedness, and he still didn't know what he was going to say to Peyton.

And so as Karen, Andy, and Lily docked and headed to the younger Scott's house to spend time with the family, Lucas hopped in his car and hit the road. He drove down to the Florida coast, getting out and walking along the beaches, his mind taking him back to the summer he spent with Peyton before Senior year, when it was just the two of them. Only this time, his brain began replaying what had become a broken record inside his head. 'Another opportunity you missed,' it whispered.

Looking back he could admit that he always had a sense of how Peyton felt about him. That summer was the perfect opportunity to pursue a relationship with her, but he was too busy declaring his undying love for Brooke. A romantic at heart, he secretly loved the idea of pining for Brooke and making elaborate plans to win her back. And if he were honest with himself, he also liked the idea of Peyton being secretly in love with him and standing in the shadows of that love, just as he had done with since before the eighth grade. It was a childish form of payback that just resulted in time lost for the two of them.

He left Florida, tired of the memories that tormented him, and headed west, driving through the lower states. It was hurricane season, so sometimes he had to stay put in a town, holed up in a room with the storm raging outside, reliving another storm, the time he had driven Peyton to identify her father's body. Yet another opportunity gone, this one only half acted upon. He had declared his feelings to her that time, only to become impatient at her hesitance- deserved, he realized now- but back then he took it as rejection and salved his ego in a stupid one night stand with Nicki. Him and his damned ego. The reason he was where he was now- no girl, no friend, just memories of missed opportunities that wouldn't leave him in peace.

He continued driving, until he drove into Louisiana and saw the continued effect of devastation that wrecked the cities years ago, when the levies broke. His eyes took in lot after empty lot, the destruction more evident by the lack of living things than by the remnants of destruction that had been cleaned away. And then, as he continued driving, he began to see it. One house built here. Another built there. A schoolhouse. A church. A mother pushing a stroller outside a street lined with businesses. Out of the darkness of the storm and devastation, the city was embracing the light of growth and renewal.

Hope was springing up all around Louisiana, because although many left and never came back, there were others who stayed. Others who came back and hunkered down to build what they loved back up. Day after day, even though there wasn't always tangible proof of their efforts, they continued toiling, uncomplaining because they weren't rebuilding a city, they were rebuilding their lives. They were rebuilding their future. And that, Lucas realized, was something that it took strangers in a foreign city to teach him. Running was not the answer. Taking a stand and fighting for the dream of your future was. His dream had always included a curly headed blonde with green eyes. ""Peyton Sawyer will be Peyton Scott,"" was a belief that stood unwavering in the depths of his heart since the eighth grade, even when he himself lost sight of it or tried to deny it. And instead of running from it, it was time to take a stand and fight to make it happen.

But first, he owed a debt to the city that reminded him to take a stand and fight, not to give up; the city that gave him back his hope. So he settled in, rolled up his sleeves, and helped the city dwellers get back theirs. September approached, and it was time to head back, but once again his old nemesis reared it's ugly head- Fear and insecurity. Fear that this would be the time Peyton finally realized he wasn't worth loving anymore. Fear that this last rejection, unintended as it was, was the last straw. Fear that by running from Peyton, he had also alienated the family he hadn't talked to in over 2 months. A call to Haley relieved the last fear, but her reluctance to divulge anything about Peyton only stoked the flames of the first two fears. And so he put off returning a little longer, until he absolutely had to return to his responsibilities as a coach.

So here he was, parked in front of the high school, scared to leave his car and the lovely cocoon of hopes and dreams, and step into a reality that might see his dreams dashed forever. He straightened determinedly. If he had learned nothing from his time in Louisiana, he had learned that nothing was certain, not even broken dreams- for dreams that died could and had been brought to life again. All he had to do was keep fighting, and life, and fate, and destiny would do the rest. Epic romances always ended with the reunification of lovers. Ulysses took ten years to make it back to his love- Lucas still had many more to go before all hope was gone. His saving grace lay in the fact that he knew for certain that Peyton would love him forever, courtesy of the rivercourt love letter. All he had to do was find a way to let her know that he loved her too, and make her believe it.

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He left his meeting humbled at the second chance the school had given him to turn the team around, even after his outburst last season. He was grateful for his family, for Skills and Nathan and the team that still believed in him and fought for him so the school board would take him back, even after all he put them through. Maybe this was a sign that someone else still believed in him- that she would give them another chance.

He heard the sound of a basketball bouncing along the gym floor. He smiled, remembering when he too was impatient for the season to start, and snuck in the gym to practice shooting 3's with Nathan, or Skills, or other members on the team. He walked in the gym to see players of a different kind. Jamie looked like he grew an inch since he last saw him, and his skills had definitely improved. A curly-headed boy who looked to be about a year younger sat in the bleachers as Jamie tried to convince him to play.

"Come on, Wills! I need you to play defense on me, so I can practice my moves!" Jamie pleaded, bouncing the ball.

"No, I want to finish this for Momma." Wills said. He had come home from school one day after hearing all the other kids call their mothers 'Mom,' and asked Peyton why he had to call her Peyton and couldn't call her momma, since she was gonna be his momma.

Flashback

"So, tell me about your day," Peyton said, seating him on her desk and settling in her chair, waiting to hear the details. He had been going to school for a week and was progressing beautifully. Of course it helped that Jamie was in his class, and allowed him to 'hold on' if he got too overwhelmed. He also had his superman cape and cap, which "make me feel brave, like Superman." The other kids just chalked it up to a cousin thing and didn't bother them too much about it. The one kid that did was quickly silenced when Nathan came to school and dunked, wearing a cape like the boys.

William looked down at his fingers, fighting the urge to put his thumb in his mouth. He didn't understand it, but every time he put his thumb in his mouth Peyton asked him what was wrong, and sometimes he just wanted something to suck on, even though was something was wrong most of the time. When he told her that, she kept him stocked with gum, and all their hangouts now had candy dishes filled with dum dums and other hard candies, so he no longer had that excuse.

He picked the skin on his thumb instead and asked tentatively, "Can I call you Momma?," finally raising his head to look at her.

He pushed forward, the words almost incoherent as he struggled to explain himself. "The other kids all have a momma, and they don't have a Peyton, and I don't think my momma would mind, cause she's not here, and you said you would always be there for me, and that's what momma's do, and…" His tirade was stopped as he was pulled from the desk into Peyton's arms.

"You've been hanging around Brooke too much Wills." She smoothed his hair back and gently kissed his forehead. "I'd be honored if you called me Momma."

End flashback

"You can finish it later! Look, all you have to do is stand there…" Jamie cajoled, climbing up into the stands.

Lucas smiled at the antics of the two kids, the words Jamie spoke and the sight of the little boy's curls bent over the sketchbook unexpectedly spinning him into the past.

Flashback

"Come on, Peyt! I need you to play defense for me, so I can practice my moves!" Lucas pleaded, bouncing the ball.

Peyton looked up from her drawing. "Whatever, Luke. You know I can't play ball to save my life. Besides, this is what we do. I draw, you dribble." She turned back to her sketchpad.

"You can finish it later! Look, all you have to do is stand there." Lucas cajoled, climbing up into the stands and sitting behind her, nuzzling her neck.

"Luke, stop! I'm trying to finish this last part!" she said, squirming as he hit a particularly sensitive spot.

"Don't you want to… play.. with me?" he whispered, turning her face so his lips could meet hers.

"Mmmmm," Peyton murmured, dropping the sketchpad to the bench and turning fully into Lucas' embrace. "I like this game, so I think…that can… be arranged."

"UNCLE LUCAS!"

Lucas shook his head, Jamie's voice bringing him back to the present.

"Uncle Lucas, it is you!" Jamie barreled into Lucas' legs and hugged them tightly. William trailed behind slightly, still shy with strangers.

"Hey! You spotted me! Whew, you are getting big!" Lucas said as he lifted Jamie in his arms for a full hug.

"I missed you Uncle Lucas! Where'd you go? Did you bring me something back? " Jamie asked excitedly.

"Whoa slow down, little man!" Lucas chuckled. "Let's see. I missed you too, I brought you me back, and I went to Louisiana and helped build some houses."

"Cool! Wills wants to build things when he grows up too, right Wills?" Jamie said, turning to look at his friend on the ground.

William nodded his head, inching his thumb towards his mouth.

Jamie, noticing the progression of William's thumb and not wanting to him to be embarrassed in front of Uncle Lucas by sucking his thumb, squirmed to get down. "Wills, do you need to 'hold on?'"

William nodded and Jamie ran over and grabbed his hand. "I'm gonna introduce you okay? He's my uncle, daddy's brother, so maybe he'll be your uncle too." Jamie whispered to William, not realizing Lucas could still hear him.

The two little boys walked over to where Lucas was standing. "Uncle Lucas, this is my cousin Wills. His name is William, but everybody calls him Wills, 'cause that's his nickname. Since you're my uncle, that means you're his uncle too, right?"

Cautiously, not wanting to hurt the little boy's feelings, Lucas explained. "Jamie, I'm your uncle because Nathan is my brother. I don't know William's parents, and I don't have any other siblings besides Lily, so I don't think I can be his uncle."

"But Uncle Skills is both our uncle and he's not related. And Daddy is his Uncle, and he's not related to Aunt Peyton, and…"

"Aunt Peyton?" Lucas interjected, confused.

"My momma," William spoke up.

"Yeah, Wills' momma." Jamie continued to explain. "I call her Aunt Peyton 'cause its only fair, since he gets to call my momma Aunt Haley. And we both call Aunt Brooke, Aunt Brooke."

Lucas looked at William incredulously. "Your.... your mom's name is Peyton?"

William nodded, "And my name's William. William Nathan Sawyer."

Lucas took a closer look at William. Slowly his gaze moved over the curly blonde hair, the bright blue eyes, the dark blue NOFX tshirt, and the black converse.

"Peyton Sawyer?"

William nodded again.

"And your dad's name is.." Lucas asked, holding his breath as he waited for the answer.

"He doesn't have a dad." Jamie piped up. "Neither does Bella. So I share mine, even though they don't call him daddy. I don't mind. That just means Daddy comes to school two days instead of one."

Lucas tried to keep up, his head still spinning around the new information. Peyton had a son! A young son that had his eyes and the name they had tossed around playfully when Jamie was born. How was it possible….? "Wait, who is Bella?"

"Oh, that Aunt Brooke's daughter. She's walking now, and she is getting into everything!" Jamie shared, parroting what Brooke was always saying.

"Don't you mean Angie?" Lucas said slowly, trying to wrap his head around it all.

"Nooo!" Jamie huffed. "Keep up Uncle Lucas. Angie left, but Brooke's got Bella, now, and she is a handful!"

Lucas stood listening. It didn't occur to him that his friend's lives would be moving even as his was put on hold during his sojourn away. It sounded like Brooke had a new child, and Peyton... Peyton had a son? A son that looked like him. None of it made any sense.

"Uncle LUCAS!"

"Yes?" Lucas said, torn from his musings by the impatient 5 year-old.

"You look confused. You should come to dinner at our house tonight. Maybe Momma can explain it better. I'm only 5, you know."

"I think I will," Lucas said slowly. He turned to William. "It was nice to meet you, William. And if you want to call me Uncle Lucas, I don't see a problem with that." He ran his hand through his curls, relieved to see a smile. He ruffled Jamie's hair as well, then turned to leave. "I'll see you tonight Jamie!"

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Ok, so it wasn't all of the moments you were waiting for, but hey, its just one chapter! Sorry about the cliffhanger. I hate them as a reader but they are such great chapter breaks.

Well, well, Lucas is back! Get ready for the drama to begin! So he's gonna get Peyton back, huh? We'll see (insert evil laugh here). Anybody have a romantic gesture Lucas should do to get Peyton back? We've seen running in the rain for Brooke, and proposing for Lindsay, but I want Peyton to have something new and different. I have something already for her, but here's your chance to be a part of the story and see Lucas complete the romantic gesture us Leyton fans have been waiting for for years! If you put it in a review, I'll try to put it in the story, with appropriate author's credit (that would be you) of course.

Personal Note: As an African-American woman, I am so blessed to be able to witness in my lifetime the first black president. So, since its the only thing I can do to honor President Obama and First Lady Michelle (my idol) on President's day, there will be another update tonight, so you guys can be blessed too. Thank the Obamas everybody! Chapter 12 in 12 (or so) hours!