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.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 6

Home Sweet Home

Karen's House

Ring, ring, ring.

Karen quickly pushes the key through the lock as she hears her phone ring. She opens the door and runs to pick it up.

"Hello." she says out of breath.

"Hey mom it's me. Is something wrong? You sound right."

"No, no I just had to run inside to answer the phone so I'm a little out of breath. I'm just getting home from the café. So how are you?"

"I'm fine. I just wanted to let you know that Keith and I are going to be coming home for a while. Is that okay?"

"Is that okay? What kind of question is that? Of course it's alright this is still your home you know."

"I know I was just checking. I didn't want to surprise you and find you doing something you shouldn't be doing." said Lucas with a laugh.

"Right, well then I'm glad you called first or else you might  have been the one surprised."said Karen also laughing."So what exactly is bringing you both back here, not that I'm complaining?

"Wait. You haven't heard?"

"Heard what?"

"Well Dan died this morning. Haley called and told me, so now Keith and I are coming home for his funeral."

"Dan died? Wow I hadn't heard. That must be why Deb didn't show up today. I should call her and see if she needs anything. This must be hard on both her and Nathan."

"Yeah, when Haley called this morning she said that Nathan was taking this hard. He's blaming himself and taking it out on her so she asked me to come down and help her out with Nathan, but I'm not really sure how to do that."

"I'm sure just having you here will be helping her out. She's missed you a lot Luke. I know that she has Brooke and Peyton, but they aren't you."

"I know and I've missed her too."

"So how is Keith taking all this? Is he okay?"

"He's fine mom. He's driving right now or I'd let you ask him yourself."

"It's fine as long as he is alright."

"He is.Well mom I guess I should go.We'll be there in a little more than an hour. I'll see you then. Bye."

"Okay I can't wait sweetheart I'll see later. Bye."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An hour and a half later there was a knock on Karen's door.She rushed to answer it.

"Sorry I forgot my key."

Karen grabbed Lucas and pulled him into a tight hug."I've missed you so much!"

"I've missed you too mom, but do you think you could kinda let me go your starting to hurt me."

"Sorry."Karen says as she lets go of Lucas.

Karen and Keith both make eye contact.

"Keith."

"Karen."

Lucas could feel the tension and decided to speak."So mom it feels really good to be back. Are you happy to have me back?"

"Yes of course I am I just wish you were back here for good."

"Mom come on don't do this. Not again. We have this same conversation all the time. Look it's getting kind of late maybe we should all go to bed."

"That sounds like a good idea.Well then Keith I guess the couch is all yours. I've already laid out a few blankets and pillows, but if you need more you know where they're at."

"Thanks Karen."

"Your welcome now Lucas you go and sleep in your room we will all catch up in the morning."

Everyone said their good nights and went to their beds.

Lucas walked into his room and threw himself onto his bed staring at the ceiling. He knew that he wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Early the next morning Karen gets up to make breakfast before heading to the café.When she reaches the kitchen she sees Lucas sitting at the table staring into space. She could tell that he had been crying. 

"Lucas sweetie is everything alright?"

"Everything is fine mom. I was just thinking that's all."

"What were you thinking about?"

"Dan."

"Oh I see. Look I know we didn't get to talk last night due to me being stubborn, but how are you doing with all of this? He was still your father after all."

"No mom he was Nathan's father. He was nothing to me which is why I can't understand why I care. I can't believe that this is actually bothering me. This is crazy I shouldn't even care that he is dead, but for some strange reason I do."

"Dan may have been a complete ass, but to tell you the truth I wouldn't expect you be feel any other way. It's just who you are Luke."

"I guess it's just that with Dan alive there was always a chance that we could have somehow gotten to know each other. Been friends even. Not that I actually wanted that, but there was always the chance. It's just the fact that now I'll never know what could have been."Lucas says not daring to look up at his mother knowing he could break down at any moment."I don't know, now I'm just talking crazy. I guess this Dan thing is getting to me. I didn't get much sleep last night mom so I'm gonna try to get some now okay. I'll see you later mom, I love you."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Haley decides to stop by Karen's to see if she knew when Lucas would be getting in. She sees Keith's car in the driveway and rushes to knock on the door.

When Karen answered the door she was bombarded by a very giddy Haley."Hey Karen I know it's early, but I saw Keith's car out front and I just couldn't wait to see Lucas. Is he up?"

"Well good morning to you to Haley."said Karen through laughs."But I'm afraid that you are going to have to wait to see Lucas. He's not awake, in fact he just went to sleep. He didn't get much last night. He's not taking this Dan thing very well. I found him out in the kitchen this morning. I think he was out there the entire night so I don't think that right now is a best time to see him. He needs his rest, but why don't you come back a little later I know he can't wait to see you either and maybe you can try and cheer him up. You could bring Brooke and Peyton if you'd like. I know Lucas would like that."

"Well I will definitely come back later, but as for Brooke or Peyton I don't see that happening. They still aren't talking to each other.

"Oh okay, well then I guess I'll just be seeing you later, but I have to be going Haley. The café awaits."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brooke's House

Brooke and Peyton are listening to music and reading magazines.

"So what do you think about what Tutor Girl said last night?"

"Brooke your going to have to be a little more specific. Haley said a lot of things last night."said Peyton know exactly what Brooke was talking about.

"Come on Blondie you know that I meant the thing about Lucas coming back. How do you feel about that?"

"I don't know. I guess I don't feel anything. I could honestly care less where he is today, tomorrow or the next day."Peyton said knowing that every word she just said was a lie. She cared. She still cared a lot."What about you?"

"I don't know I guess it's like you said who cares if he's back. I know I don't."

"Then why'd you ask?"

"Just wondering where you stood with all this. It's just gonna be weird seeing him after this long you know?"

"Yeah, I guess, but Brooke it's not like we will be spending time with him. The only time we will probably see him is at the funeral and then he will be going back. He is not going to ruin our friendship like he did before.'' Peyton said forgetting(well not forgetting just not acknowledging) that she had a big part in ruining their friendship probably more than Lucas.

"I know your right Peyt everything is going to be fine. He'll do his thing and we'll do ours. Then before we know it he will be gone again without as much as a good-bye just like the last time."

Peyton looked down as Brooke said that remembering a month ago finding the letter that Lucas left them taped to her door.

Flashback

"So what are we going to do today Goldilocks?"

"I don't know you decide."

"I was hoping you'd say that because with my luck you'd probably end up choosing something boring like going to a museum or who knows maybe something worse like the library."

"Ha, ha your very funny Brooke."

"I know aren't I?"

"No!"

"So anyways"says Brooke."I say first we go to breakfast because I'm starving and your paying,  then I'll decide what to do next and that one will be on me. I'm just gonna take a quick shower okay? Can you do me a favor?

"Sure what is it?"

"Will you go and get my bag out of your trunk?I'm going to need to change and we all know I wouldn't risk being caught wearing anything in your closet."

"Again ha, ha your quite the comedian this morning. Just for that you can go and get your own bag."

"Oh come on Peyt you know I was just kidding that punk thing is so in right now, just not for me. Please?"

"Fine whatever just hurry up I want to take a shower too."

Peyton went down the stairs and to her car to get Brooke's bag. When she reached the door to her house she found a letter taped to it with her and Brooke's name on it. She could tell by the handwriting who it was from. Lucas. She started to open it, but stopped herself."I should wait to do this when I'm by myself."she said out loud and with that she folded it up and put it in her back pocket ready to spend the day with her best friend.

End Flashback

Peyton began to feel guilty about never giving the letter to Brooke.

"Brooke there's something I've got to tell you and your not going to like it."

"What is it?"

"Well I don't want you to be mad at me or anything, but........

"Hey guys what are you two doing?"asked Haley as she walked into Brooke's room and sat down on the bed.

"Hey Tutor Girl perfect timing Peyton here was just about to tell me something she thinks that I will be mad at her for, so if she's right you can help me beat her up."said Brooke laughing.

"Okay sounds like fun.Go ahead Peyton. Shoot."

Peyton who had totally lost her nerve and didn't know what to say said"It's really not important."

"Come on Peyt just say it.You sounded like it was really important a minute ago."

"Fine Brooke I was just going to say that....that....that you really need to change that nail polish on your toes.That is one ugly color.There I said it. Don't hate me it was just the truth."

"Is that it? God P.Sawyer you really had me worried. I thought I was gonna have to totally kick your ass and for your information I happen to love this color."

"Okay then leave it."

"I will thank you very much. So what brings you here today Tutor Girl? I thought you'd be with you husband helping him out in his time of need."said Brooke sarcastically.

"Nothing really. Nathan is out with his mom and I didn't have anything to do so first I went to Karen's to check if Luke was there. He was, but was asleep and Karen didn't want to wake him up. She said that he is taking this hard too."

"Really? Why?"asked Peyton.

"Gee, I don't know Peyton maybe because Dan was his father too."said Haley.

"So he's really back huh?"asked Brooke.

"Yeah he's really back and I can't wait to see him. We should all go out together before he goes back to Charleston. I know he would love to see you both."

"Come on Haley don't ask us that. You know that things didn't end well with all of us."said Brooke.

"Well then maybe it's time that you all got past that and became friends again. I mean you forgave Peyton, Brooke."

"That's different Haley and you know it."

"How Brooke?"

"I don't know it just is."

"Look Haley it's not going to happen Brooke and I are very happy with the way thing are right now and we are not going to do anything to jeopardize that and Lucas can, so we're gonna steer clear of him. Right Brooke?"

"Yeah she's right everything is good right now and we don't need anything messing it up."

"Will you two at least just think about it?"

Brooke and Peyton just look at each other not giving Haley a response.

"Fine if you two want to act selfish and stubborn then I see that there is nothing that I can do to change your minds, but you should really think about this before he is gone again and you both regret this. Now I'm gonna go back to Karen's and wait with Keith until Lucas wakes up. I'll call you later Brooke probably from Lucas' so pick up and bye Peyton I'll see you later.

With that Haley got up off the bed and walked out of Brooke's room.

"Well we seem to have pissed  her off."said Peyton.

"Yep it looks like we have."

I'm gonna see if I can catch her to say I'm sorry okay Brooke? I'll be right back."

Before Brooke could say anything Peyton was out the door. She just shrugged and went back to reading the magazine that was in front of her.

Haley was almost to her car when she heard her name being called."Haley. Haley I'm sorry about the way Brooke and I were acting. It's just that....well if I tell you this promise me you won't say anything to Brooke okay?"

Haley looked at her and hesitantly said"Okay."

"Well it's Brooke she really can't get over this whole Lucas thing. I've tried to get her to, but she won't. I actually want for us to be friends with Lucas again, but Brooke won't have it. I tried to bring it up earlier. I asked her how she felt about you telling us that Luke was back, but she just told me to drop it and not to bring it up again so I did. Look I guess what I'm trying say is that if you still want for us to get together I want to come even if Brooke doesn't want to, but lets just keep it between us okay."said Peyton as she fed all these lies to Haley.

"I don't know Peyton. I don't really feel comfortable about lying to Brooke. If she found out she would kill me so if  you want to hang out with Lucas then your gonna have to tell her because I'm not gonna keep it from her. You know what happened last time you lied to her about Lucas. I don't want a repeat."said Haley not sure as to how to react to what Peyton just asked her.

"Your right. I don't know what I was thinking lets just forget everything I just said okay. I'll only hang out with Lucas if Brooke comes. Her friendship means everything to me and I'm not going to do anything to risk it. Do we have a deal lets just forget this conversation ever happened."

"Okay well that I can do."said Haley not wanting to get in between Brooke and Peyton.

"Okay then I guess I will see you later. Bye Haley."and with said Peyton went back upstairs to spend time with her best friend.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey everybody thanks for all the reviews. I really appreciate it. This chapter was a little longer then the rest I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know what you think.

A/N:Okay I have a quick question I don't know if I should make Peyton unredeemable or if I should make her sorry for everything. So my question is should I have her have read the letter or just threw it away? I think that reading the letter and then keeping it from Brooke is unforgivable, but if she threw it away because she was worried about what it would do to their friendship then it could be forgiven. It will come up again in another chapter. Any help you can give will be appreciated.Thanks.