The Man Who Was His Father
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the One Tree Hill characters
Sorry this chapter took so long to post, I had a bad case of writers block that is hopefully gone for good. Plus I'm starting work on another OTH fic, that I'll hopefully have posted by the end of the month. Keep the reviews coming guys!!
Chapter 5:
"He asked about you" Nathan said taking a drink from his half-empty beer bottle. Lucas was quiet; his gaze directed down at his own bottle. "He said he wanted to make amends."
"Too little too late don't you think?" Lucas shook his head and laughed bitterly to himself.
"Look I'm the last person to come to my dad's defense. I had to put up with his verbal abuse all of my life, he tore me down every chance he got. I grew up hating him. But I'm telling you, he's changed Luke."
"And now because he's sick, I'm supposed to forgive him for what he did to me, to my mom. And for what, so he can die with a clear conscience." The older Scott rubbed a hand across his face. His harsh tone was wrongly directed towards his younger brother, and he felt guilty. The past few weeks he'd been directing the anger and bitterness he felt for his father in all the wrong places. He softened his tone towards Nathan, and lowered his head. "I just don't think I can do it."
"I don't want to pressure you into doing anything, it's your choice to see him Lucas. You have to do what's right for you man." Nathan said finishing off his beer and tossing the empty bottle into the trash.
"Thanks Nathan." Luke smiled at his brother "You're getting pretty good at his brotherly advice thing you know."
"Yeah? Well I got some more advice for you, if you want to hear it." The younger brother raised his eyebrows, waiting for an answer.
"Alright let's hear it." Lucas grinned, wondering what kind of advice Nathan could give him.
"You look really stressed Luke, is everything ok?"
"Yeah, everything is fine. I just, I've been shutting Peyton out a lot lately and I feel horrible about it. She's been so understanding and patient lately, and I thought that coming back here would be good for us. It just doesn't help matters that my father is dying in some hospital a few miles away." Lucas just shook his head, and looked up at Nathan. "God I sound like a whiny jerk."
"No don't worry about it Luke, actually I might have just the thing for you and Peyton." Nathan left his chair and walked out of the kitchen through a large swinging door. He returned seconds later holding a keyring. He sat back down and slid the set of keys across the table towards Lucas.
"What's this?" Lucas asked, picking up the keys.
"Just think of it as your mini vacation" Nathan grinned "When I took over my dad's business, I got all his property as well. Haley and I are too damn busy to ever make it up to the beach house anymore, we'd be glad if you guys would use it."
"Are you sure?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah, use it please."
"You're a good guy Nate." Lucas said, placing the keys in his pocket.
"This is true" Nathan tossed his head back and laughed, Lucas just grinned and shook his head.
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"Come on Peyton, there's something different about you." Haley gave her best friend the once over. "Did you cut your hair? No, wait, you got it colored?"
"Haley," Peyton laughed. "There's nothing different about me, or my hair."
"No we've been friends since we were 16 years old. So that's what, almost nine years of knowing everything about each other. So don't think you can sneak anything by me." Haley arched a single eyebrow in suspicion, but Peyton wasn't going to budge.
"Hales, if I could tell you I would. Lucas and I agreed that it's best if we didn't tell anyone right now. Believe me you'll be the first, well second person, I tell." Peyton grinned knowing that the little teaser would drive her friend crazy.
"Oh Peyton that is so not fair to leave me hanging like that!" Hayley tossed a pillow across the couch towards Peyton, and then just shrugged her shoulders and eased back into the couch. "But if you're not going to tell me right now, than I'll just have to be patient." Peyton just shook her head and laughed.
"I wish you guys would move back to Tree Hill, I really miss you guys living five minutes from our house." Sticking out her lower lip in a mock pout Hayley looked over at her friend.
"Honestly, I would love to move back here to Tree Hill. I actually wish we would have come back after we graduated from college, but it was hard for me." She leaned back into the couch, and tucked her knees into her chest. "After my dad died there just didn't seem to be a reason to stick around. Brooke never forgave me or Lucas for what we did to her, I had you of course and Lucas, but I thought I had to go and find myself. But when I left here to go to college in Chapel Hill, and Lucas moved his entire life there to follow me I knew that wherever Luke was, home was."
"You guys overcame a lot of obstacles to be together, and you deserve all the happiness you have. Now give you best friend a hug" Hayley laughed as she leaned over and wrapped her friend in a warm embrace. "I love you guys"
"I love you guys too." Peyton said wiping a stray tear from her eye. "You've always been there for us."
"Well I hate to break up the girl-time, but Peyton and I have to head back to my mom's house. I've got something planned for my wife, and we have to get going." Lucas walked into the living room, followed shortly after by Nathan. Peyton looked a little confused.
"What plans?" she asked coming over to stand next to her husband.
"You just have to wait and see." Lucas said wrapping his arm around Peyton's shoulders.
"Ok well I'll call you later Hales, and we'll all have to go to dinner or something." Peyton walked over to hug her friend, and then gave Nathan a quick hug. Lucas followed her and shook his brothers hand before Nathan pulled him in for one of their familiar brotherly hugs. He kissed Hayley a quick goodbye, and then followed his wife out the door.
"So what's the big plan Nathan?" Hayley asked.
"I'll tell you later" Nathan grinned sitting down on the couch next to his girlfriend.
That's it for Chapter 5. Hope you all enjoyed it. Please read and review, I love to hear what you guys think. Next chapter is coming along a lot faster.