Chapter Twelve:

"Hey, Cosette! Why don't you come on over here and show these guys how it's done?"

Ava smirked and jogged onto the court as Q passed her the ball, shooting just in front of the three point line.

The ball spun around and around until it flew directly into the hoop, making that lovely 'swish' sound as it went through.

"Nice!" Q beamed, passionately pulling her into him.

"You're feeling very cheery today." She wrapped her arms around his neck, allowing him to hold her up. Her eyes looked directly into his and she could see how happy he was by their twinkle.

"Today's a good day, you know?" He pressed his lips up against hers. "Why shouldn't I be cheery?"

He was back on the team, his grades were rising, his family was doing great, and he had a beautiful, understanding girlfriend.

Of course he was happy.

"That's the spirit." Ava giggled when he dug his finger into her side. "Dude, the whole team is watching!"

"So?" Q kept kissing her. "Let 'em watch. It ain't everyday I get to kiss the girl that beat up the jerk from the opposite team."

"Oh my gosh!" She pulled away and lightly slapped his shoulder. "When are you gonna let that go?"

It seemed like Ava had been the talk of the entire school for the past week or so. Luckily, no one got the fight on video, but those who weren't at the game had friends who were and they were more than happy to fill them in on the details.

Walking through the hallways with everyone looking and whispering wasn't new to Ava. She was a Scott, people were always going to talk about her, whether it was about her father, or how her family worked in the same school she attended, or how she was dating the star of the basketball team. So them gossiping about the fight didn't really bother her.

If anything, it prompted kids that would normally give her a hard time, to leave her alone.

Carter was the one who told Q about it. He hadn't actually been there. If he had been, it would've been a two-against-one kind of fight. He, Ava, and Maddie were childhood friends and there was nothing he wouldn't do for either of them. Including getting into a fight that had nothing to do with him.

He had really been there for her when she needed him and vice versa. She loved that Q hadn't been threatened by their relationship. Good friends were hard to come by, he knew that.

"Never."

Ever since Carter told him about the fight, Q made it his mission to tease Ava about it at every chance he got.

"Then no more kisses for you." She smirked, turning away from him.

"Girl, come back here." He scoffed and pulled her back into him, making the rest of the team wolf whistle.

"I really hope that's not my sister you're kissing in the middle of practice."

"Gross!"

Ava rolled her eyes and she and Q pulled away from each other as Nathan and Jamie entered the gym.

"My man!" Q lit up when he saw Jamie. "What's up, boy? Gimme one more." He high-fived him. "There it is." He grinned before lifting the five year old up. "Hey, let me throw J. Scott up there, and one of ya'll dunk him."

"While the cat's away, huh?' Nathan spoke to Skills, who had been watching from the bleachers.

He wasn't just keeping an eye on the team. He was also watching out for Ava. He knew that there really wasn't anything to worry about, but he's known Ava since she was a baby. It didn't hurt to be careful.

"Nah, they're just having some fun." The other man answered as one of the team made a slam dunk. "Why, what's with you?"

"Well, apparently, my mom's been dating some freak she met online."

Uh oh.

"Really?"

"Yeah, can you believe that?"

"Why he gotta be a freak, though? I mean, maybe he's a nice guy."

"Right. This guy's probably got a mustache."

"I'll tell you what, Skills." Nathan seethed. "My mom's pill addiction was bad, but hooking up with some dude off the internet, too? Man, this really takes the cake."

"Yeah, but she seems happy, though, right? You know…..satisfied?"

"Dude, did you just ask me if my mom was satisfied?"

"Nah, you know, I meant, like, happy, like she's into the dude."

"It doesn't matter. It's embarrassing. I'll tell you one thing. I'm gonna find out who this jerk is. And when I do, it's gonna get ugly."

"Hey, Baller, c'mere." Q beckoned Jamie over to where the team huddled in a circle to dance. "Yeah, boy. You ready?"

Jamie looked up at the teen and nodded.

"Alright, do what I do, alright?" Q started dancing, making Ava laugh. "What? You wanna join?"

"Totally." Ava did exactly what he did, giving Jamie room to copy them as someone blasted their music on a speaker.

It wasn't her taste in music, but she recognized the tune having heard it on the radio a few times. It had a nice beat and she liked it well enough to dance to it.

"This is fun!" Jamie giggled.

Q laughed and grabbed Ava, pulling her into a dip, making her laughter echo off the walls.

"I wanna do that!"

"Okay, but I have to dip you." Ava took her nephew in her arms and did the same to him while he squealed with delight.

She lifted him up and twirled him around a few times before they both got dizzy enough to stop.

"Hit the showers!" Skills ordered, though there was a smile on his face.

"Hey, Nate." Q waved to the former Raven, grabbing a stray ball. "Come on, man. Let's show them how it's done. Old school."

"Old school, huh?"

"Let's do this." Q shot the ball up in the air, giving Nathan time to dunk it.

"Cool!" Jamie's eye twinkled as the team cheered.

"There it is! That's my man!"

Ava smiled along with the rest of the boys, but faltered when she saw Nathan holding his back. She hadn't known that it was still bothering him.

Evidently, the road to recovery wasn't an easy one.

"Don't worry about me, I'm fine." Ava read a text she received from her brother.

He and Peyton had disappeared from Tree Hill a few days ago without saying a word to anyone. The only reason why Ava wasn't worried, was because she had been right next to Peyton when she got that call from Lucas asking her to meet him at the airport.

"Is that from Luke?" Haley asked, peering over her shoulder. "He sent me the same thing."

She even got another text right after it, from Peyton.

"Thank you." Ava read it off, showing Haley the picture that was attached to it.

It was a picture of Lucas holding her as they gazed into each other's eyes. And they both looked happy.

It was about time.

"Alright, you dancing fools." Nathan smiled at the sight of his wife, his son, and his sister dancing in the music room of the house. "It's time for bed. And you, too, Jamie."

They all looked so happy and it made him happy, too. They had been through a lot more than they ever should have, but they weren't letting it bring them down.

"Ha ha. You're so funny." Ava stuck her tongue out at him. "Goodnight, Jamie."

"Goodnight." Jamie wiggled his fingers under his chin.

"Got it." Ava did the same.

"What is with this secret signal thing, you two have going on?" Nathan asked.

"I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you." She winked.

No, one day she would tell him. He was more than welcome to be on the little secret gesture. Ava just wanted to make him squirm for a little longer. She was enjoying it.

"Goodbye." Haley spoke in a silly voice, kissing her son.

"Goodnight, Mama." Jamie giggled. "Hey, Daddy. When you play in the NBA, you should play for the Bobcats. That way, you can come home a lot more and see me, Mama, and Ava, plus, Q says they need a shooting guard."

"Q, huh?" Nathan locked eyes with his sister, noting her blush at her boyfriend's name. "You and Q. Come here." He lifted his son up onto his hip, faltering just a little when his back jolted with pain. "Ava, it's pretty late, you might want to get to bed soon."

"Alright, sure. Let me just make a phone call."

"Don't let Q keep you up past midnight."

"Nathan!" Ava bristled as he left the room.

He always knew how to catch her off guard.

"After school later, can we get ice cream?" Jamie asked Ava, leading her downstairs to get some breakfast.

"Uh, I don't know, Buddy, but if I can't today, I'll definitely make it up to you."

The two hadn't hung out in a while, Ava made a mental note to change all of that soon. But she was balancing a lot; Dance, cheer, therapy, Q, and school.

Maybe she'd take a day off from dance and spend it with Jamie instead. He deserved to be her number one priority, not an afterthought.

"Okay. Don't forget."

"I won't. I promise." She smiled, but stopped short and her jaw dropped when they reached the kitchen.

She couldn't believe it.

Skills was making out with Deb.

Skills was making out with Deb.

In the kitchen! Where they eat!

"Aunt Deb!" She shrieked, having seen enough. "Skills!"

"Hey!" The two jumped apart as if they had been severely burned. "There they are. Um, let me check." Skills looked closely at deb's eye. "Oh, yeah. I, uh, I think you're good. She just had some, uh…yeah, she's good."

"Good morning, Grandma." Jamie completely ignored whatever that was and hopped up on a stool.

"Nanny Deb." The woman corrected.

"Nanny Deb."

"Okay, well." Skills sweat nervously. "I'm just gonna…you know….."

"Yeah." Ava nodded slowly. "You do that."

"Lock it up, little man." He fist-bumped Jamie. "Alright. See you later, Grandma….right."

"Let's get you guys some breakfast." Deb smiled once he left, walking over to the pantry to find some pancake mix.

"And they thought the last nanny was crazy." Jamie mused.

"It's a world full of crazy nannies, Jimmy Jam."

"What's up, man?" Q taunted Nathan as they played one-on-one. Since Nathan had helped him out with his game when he broke his hand, Q decided to pay it forward. Nathan's dream was to make it to the NBA and Q was going to help him in any way he could. "What's up, boy?"

Nathan ignored his taunts and stole the ball, making the shot before Q could even try to block him.

"Man, you are getting it back."

"Slowly, but surely."

"Slowly? Dude, you're playing like me now."

"You should be honored. That's the best compliment you'll ever get from him." Ava joked, stealing the ball away from Q, dribbling it nonchalantly.

"Is that what you think?" Q playfully narrowed his eyes at her.

"Uh oh." Nathan smirked.

Ava caught the look and dropped the ball to make a break for it. "No! No!" She shrieked while she ran with him hot on her trail.

But Q was faster than she was. He caught her around her waist and spun her around while she cackled uncontrollably.

"Put me down!" She yelled, though she didn't really mean it.

"I want an apology."

"No way!" Ava screeched when he dug his fingers into her sides. "Wait! Wait!"

"That don't sound like no apology." He teased.

"I'm sorry!' Ava giggled.

"Now, that's better." Q stopped and set her down, still holding her waist.

"Forgive me?" A playful pout graced her features.

"I don't know about all that. Let me think about it."

"Kiss?"

Now how could he say no to that? Q's lips curved upwards and he nodded, allowing Ava to give him a gentle kiss.

"Alright, no PDA in the gym, please." Nathan groaned. "Especially not with my little sister."

"I think it freaks him out." Ava bit her lip and wriggled her eyebrows.

"Well, in that case." Q dipped Ava.

"Uh, what am I walking into?" Haley interrupted them.

"Hi, Hales." Ava looked at her from her upside down position.

"Hi, Ava-Rose." Haley looked on in amusement. "Hi, boys."

"Hey." Nathan greeted his wife as Q let Ava go.

Ava giggled as she stumbled while the blood began to flow down from her head, forcing Nathan to keep her steady.

"I said, they call him J-Lucas, so put up your dukes, he's blowin' up and the boy done shook us!" Q rapped.

"They call him Q Fields, he's a pretty big deal, he's in my corner, he's keepin' it real!" Jamie spit back.

"You're corrupting him, Q." Ava shook her head lightly. "His father's always on my case, but it's you he should be worrying about."

"Gimme some, man." Q pretended to exchange punches with the child. "It looks so much cooler when you're rocking that cape, man."

Jamie puffed up with pride and showed it off. Ava thought that his love for his cape was so cute. He took it everywhere he went. She thought he looked like a little Linus.

"I like that, man. I wish I had me one of them. That's hot." Q snapped his fingers as if he had just remembered something, and ran over to the bleachers. "I brought you something, man. Hold on a second."

"He likes my cape." Jamie grinned as Ava bent down to his height.

"Of course he likes your cape. It's like, the coolest thing ever."

"Check this out." Q came back with a wooden box. "Now, when I was a kid, I used to put all my little treasures in here. See that?" He opened it to show him. "Now you can, too."

"Cool!" Jamie graciously accepted the gift. "Thanks, Q!"

"Oh, man, it was nothing." Q's eyes met Ava's and they shared a very loving look.

They only tore their eyes from one another when Haley spoke up. "Q, I'll be in my classroom."

"Alright. I'll be right there, Ms. J. S." He stood up. "Alright, Baller. I gotta go, but, uh…see if you can beat your dad in that cape."

Jamie picked up a basketball and nodded, fully intending on give his dd a run for his money.

"Oh yeah, it's easy. You can do it." He encouraged, turning his attention to Ava with a wink. "And I'll see you later."

"Have fun."

"What's on your mind, Skills?" Nathan sat down on the bleachers.

"Oh nothing…actually, when you first started dating Haley, how hard was that for you to keep that from Lucas?"

"It was probably harder for her Haley, 'cause they were friends, but I didn't like Lucas."

"You didn't like Uncle Lucas?" Jamie gasped.

He couldn't imagine the two brothers not getting along! They hung out every day!

"Not at all." Ava smirked. "They fought, like, all the time."

"We didn't fight all the time." Nathan playfully shoved her. "And it was a long time ago, Big Ears." He tugged on his son's ear.

"What about Ava, did you like her?"

"Yeah, Nathan." Ava cocked a brow. "What about me?"

"I always liked you, you know that." He rolled his eyed and tweaked her nose. "Goof."

"Just checking." She smiled very cheekily, satisfied with his answer.

"What's in your head, Skills?"

"Just thinking about the rules of it all, you know? How sometimes the heart just wants what it wants."

"Hilarious."

"So, what's going on, Skills? You sneaking around with some hot girl and not telling us?"

"Yeah, what's going on, Skills?' Jamie looked at him.

"Yeah, is there something you're hiding?" Ava teased.

She for one, couldn't wait for Nathan to find out about what was going on behind his back. She wanted to see his exact reaction to Deb and Skills being in a relationship.

"Hey." Jamie looked at his father. "My ears aren't that big."

"Well, Mr. Fields. You've certainly come a long way. It almost seems as though you're starting to enjoy 'Les Miserables'."

"Oh, come on, now. Don't get crazy on me. You asked me to read the book, and I'm reading the book."

"I've also noticed how you are with Jamie and Nathan. I appreciate it." Haley sat on her desk to face him after having graded his paper.

She was so proud of him. He'd come a long way from where he was when they first met. She didn't think she'd ever grow to tolerate him, let alone view him as a good friend. He was doing so well with his schoolwork and on the basketball team, because now he was willing to be a team player.

Now he was helping Nathan out and was acting like a really good friend for her son.

"I'm telling you, man. Jamie, that kid right there, he's gonna be the man. I'm serious. He already has some things going for him." He smiled, highlighting some lines in his book.

"Well, I think it helps having the star of the basketball team making him feel special."

"Well, I got a little brother his age. He's always watching me and copying me and whatever. I don't know, I just try to keep it fun for him before he grows up and life gets harder."

"I've seen how you are with Ava, too." Haley smiled as his blush. "She's happy."

"Ava, man….." Q couldn't keep his smile to himself. "She's the best. She's so beautiful…She knows what to say to make me laugh and she's so kind. Her heart, man…her heart is special."

Q had to say, that out of all the things he loved about Ava, her heart was the thing he loved the most. She had opened it up to him and allowed him inside of it. It wasn't something to take lightly.

"I agree."

Haley believed that Ava's benevolence, was the very best part of her. She had seen it grow and blossom from the time she was a little baby to the present day. It was certainly a sight to see. All the things she's been through was enough reason to end up bitter and nasty, but Ava just continued to be exactly who she was.

Ava looked up to Haley, but what she didn't know, was that Haley looked up to her, too.

"She isn't anyone I've ever met in my life. She's just…..Ava."

Every time Q thought about Ava, he couldn't put it into words, but he felt like running until he ran out of breath, screaming until his voice gave out, jumping until his legs buckled. He felt a rush of energy one minute, but the next he was calm and carefree. His stomach jittered, but then it went back to normal.

Ava Scott had such an effect on him, he didn't even know what to do with himself. She was always on his mind.

"What do you want to do with your life? Besides basketball?"

"Besides basketball? I don't know. I guess, uh…get married, raise a family."

Having a family would be nice. He'd love to settle down and have a few kids to raise.

"Yeah? You want kids?" Haley smiled.

"I mean, I think about it sometimes. When I looks at my little brother or when I see J-Luke, I don't know. I think maybe I'll have a son of my own someday or…..you know, a little girl. That'd be alright."

A beautiful girl, with Ava's smile...or a son with her eyes. That would be nice.

He didn't see a future without Ava in it. She was it for him. He wanted to spend his life with her, not just date in high school or college.

He wanted to be with her forever.

"Well, like I said, you've certainly come a long way." Haley handed him his report. "A plus, Mr. Fields."

"A plus?" He looked at her and then at the paper in shock.

"A plus."

"What? I got an 'A'. Nice. So, I guess this means I get to go ahead and stop reading this book?"

"No."

"Play that chord again. What was it, a B7?"

"Yeah." Ava strummed once again from her place on top of the grand piano. "B7 into E."

"Soulful." Haley commented, playing along on the keys. "Hey, I was thinking….."

"About what?'

"I'm working on this record and we haven't really done anything together in a while, so would you want to help me with it?"

Sure, Ava was in once of her classes and she had a room in her home, but the two hadn't really done anything with just the two of them in a really long time.

She missed hanging out with her favorite troublemaker.

Ava had more than proven herself to be a capable musician over the years and she could really use her ear on this new album.

It could be a fun bonding experience.

"You mean, play for you?' Ava's eyes widened.

Haley wanted her to play on her album? This was totally huge!

"Yeah. You don't have to if you don't want to, but I've been watching you play and improve for years and you're really, really good. I think you should share that gift."

"I share it."

"Yeah, but only with us."

"You really think I'm good enough?"

"Absolutely."

"Okay." Ava mulled it over for a bit before answering.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, I'll do it." She confirmed and played the lick to 'Turn the Page'.

"Great!" Haley grinned, pretending not to notice Jamie sneaking into the room.

Ava looked away to allow him his fun.

"I smell a little monster sneaking up behind me." Haley sang before turning around to give Jamie the opportunity to 'scare' her.

"Rawr!" Jamie growled as Haley and Ava screamed.

"Wow, you're good!" Ava pretended to be out of breath.

"I didn't really scare you!" Jamie laughed.

"I feel scared."

"What's up, Beastie Boy?"

"Can you help me make a cape?" He asked his mother.

"Sure. How come?"

"Well, Quentin really likes mine, and I thought maybe we could make one for him, too."

"I think that's a very nice idea. I'd be happy to help you, sir."

"Do you think he would really like it, Ava?"

"Oh, he's gonna love it." Ava assured him. If he didn't, she'd make sure that he would.

"Good, but don't tell him. I really want it to be surprise."

"Well, in that case, my lips are sealed."

"Do you smell that?' Haley sniffed the air all of a sudden.

"No."

"I smell…..a bigger monster!"

"Uncle Lucas!" Jamie squealed as his uncle picked him up from behind, giving him a light shake.

"You're getting heavy." The blonde held his back once he set the child down.

"Face it, Luke, you're getting old." Ava grinned.

"Hey, Ava?" Lucas pretended to be excited about something. "Guess what?"

"What?"

"You're grounded."

"Aww, fudge."

"Did you know that Daddy didn't like you once?" Jamie completely ignored the exchange between the siblings. He was used to Ava get on Lucas' nerves. Haley said that Ava only did it because that was her way of telling him that she loved him without actually having to tell him.

"What?" Lucas shot a questioning look to Haley and Ava. "When?"

"When he was dating Mama. I have big ears."

"Good looking out." He fist-bumped him before the five year old left the three alone.

"Kid's got my back."

"So, speaking of sneaking around, uh, where have you been the last few days? With Peyton, maybe?" Haley wiggled her eyebrows.

"Actually, we're engaged." He smirked.

"Get out!" Haley slapped him on the arm. "Dude, I just shaved your head from your last engagement gone wrong!"

"I know. I know it sounds crazy. But we just spent the last couple of days together, happier than either one of us can remember. And I know I've been all the place, but my best friend said, 'pick a team' and you were right."

"You're happy?"

"We both are."

"That's all that counts. Besides, the only people that tear happy people down are those that are unhappy, so you go do your thing. I got your back."

"Thanks. What are you so smug about?" He looked at his little sister, who was still perched up on the piano, a cheeky smile plastered on her face.

"Me?" Ava put her guitar down on a stand. "Oh, nothing."

"Just say it. I know you want to." He rolled his eyes.

She had been the one that never stopped believing that he and Peyton would eventually end up together, so he could let her gloat on this one.

"I told you so!" Ava wasted no time in rubbing his face in it once she got the okay. "I told you! I told you! I told you!"

"That must be Havanese for, 'Congratulations'."

"Whatever. I was right and you were wrong and when you guys get married and have kids, I get to tell them all about it!"

"Are you done?"

"Yes. Congratulations, Luke." Ava leaned over to hug her brother. "Why didn't you get married in Vegas like you wanted to?"

"How did you know about that?"

"I was right next to Peyton when she got the call." She answered like it was obvious.

"We wanted everyone to be there."

He and Peyton both agreed that it wasn't right to elope. Their families should be able to celebrate their union right along with them.

"Have you picked a date?"

"Not yet, party planner." Lucas laughed. "But when we do, you'll be the first to know."

"What's got you so happy tonight?"

"Tonight is really special." Ava twirled as she and Q walked along the Riverwalk.

It was kind of becoming their 'place'. They'd gone on so many dates and walks here.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Lucas and Peyton are engaged."

"No kidding!"

"I'm serious!" Ava insisted. "They ran off together and got engaged and I bet it was so romantic! You know, I knew all along?"

"Tell him I said, congrats."

"Tell him yourself. It would mean a lot to hear it from you." She smiled.

"Yeah, I'll tell him when I see him at school."

"Good." Ava took his hand in hers and had him spin her.

"Ava?" He caught her attention once she stopped.

"Yeah?"

"Do you ever think about the future?"

"Sure, I do. Why?"

"Where do you see yourself? I mean, after college?"

This was it. He was going to ask her.

He felt a bead of sweat trickle down his back as he grew more and more nervous. What if she said no? What if she laughed at him?

"I don't know….it gets scarier the more I think about it. I don't want to be rich and famous…I don't really care about all that." Ava pondered. "I would be perfectly happy with staying right here in Tree Hill doing whatever it is that I decide on doing."

"Do you think you'd ever get married? You know, start a family?"

"Oh, definitely." Ava nodded, not keen to his nerves. "I'd love to get married someday. And I like kids. I watched Jamie and Lily grow up and sometimes, I think I can do it. Do you think about it a lot?"

"Yeah, sometimes." Q admitted, quickly changing the subject as he momentarily chickened out. "Jamie's really liking that box I gave him, huh?"

"He keeps it on his dresser. He's so proud of it." Ava told him. "That was a really nice gift."

"I figured he'd like it."

"He loves it. It came from you. He really likes you, you know?"

"He's not so bad himself. He reminds me of Andre."

"He's so cute. I have to stop by and see him again. I promised him a rematch at Uno."

"Yeah, he takes that game pretty seriously." He chuckled nervously.

"What's wrong?" Ava finally noticed and grew concerned.

"I've been meaning to tell you something…..don't take it the wrong way…..and I'll understand if you do, but—"

Why was this so hard?

"—What, Q?" Ava stopped in front of him, putting a hand on his chest.

"We've been dating for a long time now…..and I thought that this might be the right time, you know? You're happy. I'm happy. The mood is right, and—"

Spit it out!

"—Q?"

"I love you, Ava." He finally blurted and when he started, he couldn't bring himself to stop. "I love you. I mean, when I kissed you that first time, I felt something I've never felt before in my life! I think about you all the time! I think about how you're always pushing me to do better, how you're always right there, smiling, when I'm upset, and how beautiful you are! I love you."

Ava's eyes widened at the admission and her mouth gaped as she tried to find something to say.

Love.

That was a big word.

A really big word.

And Q had just expressed it to her.

"I know it's a big deal and I just came out of nowhere with this, but it's true."

He loved her.

"Wow." She finally managed to say. "Wow, I—" She hadn't even realized she still had her hand on his chest as her mind raced.

Q made her heart thump wildly.

Every time he entered the room, or someone mentioned his name, her cheeks flushed with color.

He made her smile. He made her laugh and he always had her back.

And he loved her.

"I love you, too." She let her heart take over before her mind could overthink and mess everything up.

"What?" He looked at her in pure shock.

Had this actually gone as planned? He actually did it?

"I love you, too." She laughed, tears springing to her eyes.

And just like that, everyone around them disappeared.

It was just the two of them.

Q gently took her face in his hands and pressed his lips against hers, kissing her tenderly, yet passionately, while strangers looked on as they passed by.

Some were appalled by the public display of affection, but the teens didn't care.

They had reached a new step in their relationship and nothing was going to ruin it.

"Ava." Q spoke in between kisses.

"Hmm?"

"When we graduate and get our lives together…..will you still be with me?"

"Absolutely." Ava spoke confidently without a single second of hesitation. She didn't know what she wanted to do in life, but she knew exactly who she wanted to end up with.

There was no question or doubt in her mind about that.

"We'll meet right here and we'll plan the future. You and me."

"You and me." Ava parroted. "I promise."

Bonus Scene:

"Luke?"

"Ava, it's almost midnight." Lucas glanced at the clock. He was at his brother's house this time of night to talk and catch up on what had been happening in Tree Hill while he was gone. "You're supposed to be in bed."

"I know." She lazily leaned up against wall. "But I have to ask you something."

"You're about to fall asleep on your feet. Can it wait?"

"No." She shook her head, her heavy eyelids fluttering.

Lucas smiled at the sight before him and got out from the table, making his way over to his sister before he lifted her up to carry her back to her room. "Let's get you in bed."

"But I still have to ask you."

"You can still ask me. Go ahead." He set her down and pulled her blankets over her, tucking her in.

"How did you know you were in love?" She rubbed her eyes as a sleepy smile graced her lips.

"How did I know I was in love?" The man parroted to make sure he heard correctly.

"Yeah. Did something happen? How did you know it was for real?"

"It was back in high school...when I first joined the team. I felt like I wasn't good enough and I wanted to quit, because I was so different from the rest of the guys on the team." He picked up the girl's beloved stuffed companion and tucked it under her arm. "I saw pieces of her artwork and it turns out, she had drawn something so inspiring, that I showed up for the next game. I was different, but I needed to embrace it."

Ava nodded to let him know she was still listening, so that he could continue.

"I told her that her art mattered. It's what got me there." He said. "And I meant it. I think, that's the moment we both fell in love with each other. She saw me, the real me, and I saw her."

"I like that." Ava yawned.

"I'm glad you like that, but you need to close your eyes and sleep, Babygirl. It's late. We can talk some more tomorrow."

"I love you."

"I love you, too." He leaned over to kiss her forehead. "Goodnight, Babygirl."