Author: Lori

Disclaimer: I don't own OTH

Ratings:PG-13 and may end up an R

Pairings: Naley,Brucas,others undecided

Summary: Lucas has to come home and deal with all that he left behind.Will he be okay? Who will he lean on for comfort?

A/N: Okay this is my first story and I decided to post it here. So please go easy on me. I hope you enjoy. Please let me know what you think!

A/N2: Takes place one month after the Season Finale. Dan did have his heart attack and is in a coma. Keith and Lucas did move to Charleston.They know about Dan's heart attack, but decided to stay in Charleston. Brooke and Peyton are still getting along great, just not like before.Nathan and Haley are married and have become really great friends with Brooke.

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Chapter 5

Back To Normal

Charleston

Lucas' POV

Lucas is sitting in the living room in the dark, just thinking.

Wow I can't believe Dan is dead. I am never going to see him walk around again or be able to tell him he's an ass. It's funny , but while he was alive I couldn't care less if I saw him and now all of a sudden I do.This is crazy. What's wrong with me? Why do I care? It's not like he ever cared about me. So why do I care about him? Because he's still my father no matter what. He did help to save my life which he didn't have to do.

Lucas begins to wipe away a few stray tears as they roll down his cheek.

"I can't believe I am acting like this. Why am I so sad?"Lucas asks out loud as he sees the front door open.

Keith turns on the living room light and jumps back as he is startled. He sees Lucas sitting alone in the dark.

"Jesus Luke you scared the hell out of me.Why are you sitting here in the dark? Are you okay? Is something wrong?"

"Whoa Keith take a deep breath. One question at a time okay. I'm sitting here because I needed to think. I am fine, but yes there is something wrong."

"What is it?"

"Well Haley called me this morning and I'm sorry Keith, but it's Dan. He stopped breathing and the doctors did all they could. He died this morning."Lucas said pushing back the tears that threatened to fall.

Keith just stood there in shock taking in all the information that his nephew had just given him.

"Wow, when I woke up this morning it never crossed my mind that when I came home I would hav to  hear that my brother was dead."

"I'm sorry Keith. Are you going to be okay? Is there anything that I can do?"

"I'm fine Lucas, really I'm fine.How about you are you okay? He was your father after all."

"I'm fine too Keith and we both know that he was never really my father. I'm more worried about you though." Lucas stated with every word cutting through him like a knife.

"I know Lucas and I'm sorry about that, but really I'll be okay it just needs to all sink in."Keith said sitting down next to Lucas.

"Okay well I told Haley that we would go back to Tree Hill for Dan's funeral, but it is totally up to you. We don't have to go back if you don't want to."

"It's fine Luke we should go back. He was my brother after all. It's only right.Why don't you go to your room and pack we'll leave tonight.

With that said Lucas went to his room to pack for what would end up being a very emotional trip back home.

"This is all my fault. I'm sorry Dan. I hope that you can forgive me. I never wanted this to happen and neither did Deb. What we did was a mistake it should never have happened."Keith let out with a slight whimper as he too went to pack.

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Haley and Nathan's apartment

Haley's POV

Haley is sitting on the couch flipping through the channels not really caring what was on.

What am I doing out here? I should just go into our bedroom and talk to my husband.I love him. He loves me. I know he didn't mean what he said earlier. He really needs me right now.Okay, okay enough is enough I need to get up.As I am about the reach the door it swings open and out walks a red and puffy eyed Nathan. I hate seeing him like this. It's killing me. He walks up to me and I look up at him and take his face in my hands. He breaks down and falls to the floor and I fall with him.

"I'm sorry Haley, I really am. Please forgive me. I didn't mean what I said before. I was being a jerk. I love you and I would never take back a second that we spent together. You are it for me. I hope you know that. It's just...It's just...I miss him so much and maybe I shouldn't, but I do. Please say you forgive me. I need you. I can't lose you too. Please!"Nathan begged.

"Shh, it's okay Nathan. I forgive you. I know you didn't mean it. I know you love me.You were just hurting and you have every reason to. He was your father and it doesn't matter if you two got along or not he was still your father.You don't need to feel like you shouldn't be sad."

Nathan looks up at me with tears in his eyes.

"Did you hear me Nate?"

"Yes."

"I know you might not believe this right now, but everything will be okay."

"I know it will. It's just hard picturing everything without my father being here to breath down my neck. I know that lately we haven't been that close, due mostly to him, but I always knew that that could change if I wanted it to because he would always be there and now he's not."Nathan said sobbing into my hair as he lowered his head to my shoulder.

I threw my arms around him in a tight hug not wanting to let him go.

"I'm going to be here for you Nate. I promise I will get you through this."

"Good, I just want you here with me and I just want  for everything to go back to normal.Whatever that may be."

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I hoped you liked this ch.Thanks for all of your reviews.Let me know what you think.

A/N: I know that some may think that this might be a little out of character of Nathan, but I just wanted to show that just because he wasn't getting along with Dan he still did love him. I couldn't help but write a mushy ch. for Naley.