Megan closed her eyes as she buried her face into the pillow. It was Nathan's childhood room and the one they shared whenever they visited Tree Hill. The blankets and pillows were warm and comforting. Most importantly, they still smelled like him. It made her feel close to him.

That and the activity, although too early to feel but it was surely occurring just the same, inside her. She smiled sadly as she rubbed her still flat belly. Inside her tummy was a mass of cells and tissues and fibers that would eventually become a living, breathing human being. It was created from so much love, the most honest and real and beautiful part of her relationship with Nathan.

She sighed. She appreciated the sentiment from friends and family but sometimes it became too much. She couldn't handle everyone being around her all the time. They meant well but it was suffocating. When it became too much, she would quilt retrieve to the upstairs bedroom. Sleep was impossible so she would lie there and wonder and worry and thing. It would drive her made. Then when the loneliness became too much, she'd find herself traping back downstairs to join the others.

Getting up, she headed towards the door. On the way out was an old photo of Nathan and Dan fishing. Meg smiled. Even as a little boy, he was a handsome blue eyed little devil. Her fingers traced the outline of his face as she felt the flood of tears again. She put her other hand, her left hand with the engagement ring on it, over her stomach.

"Daddy will come home, little one", she cooed to their unborn child. "We just have to believe and he'll come back to us."

She left the room and ventured back downstairs.

"Meg!"

"Mom!" she yelled, running to the woman who was an older but just as beautiful version of her.

"Hi, honey."

"What are you doing here?"

"I was worried about you. How could I not be here? Your father sends his love as well but he had other business to attend to on Capitol Hill. He'll be back from Washington as soon as possible."

The two women took a seat on the couch.

"Thanks for coming, Mom."

"How are you holding up?"

"Trying to keep the faith but uh…it gets hard", Megan sniffled.

Laurie Powell reached into her bag and pulled out her ever present Rosary beads. A woman of strong Catholic faith, she never left home without him.

"Don't lose your faith, Meg. Honey, faith is all we have. Faith and hope. You know that. God will protect Nathan and watch over him."

Megan nodded tearfully and accepted the Rosary. She was so tired and did not resist when her mother pulled her head onto her lap. Megan closed her eyes and cuddled the Rosary as Laurie held her close and stroked her hair. Just like when she was a little girl, she fell fast asleep.

They all had fallen asleep actually. It was a serene moment throughout the house. It was calm and quiet and eerily relaxed. The mood was quickly interrupted by the shrill ring of the house phone. Within seconds, everyone was alert and awake, eyes widened, hearts thumping.

"Oh my God", Mae Scott, said.

It summed up everyone's feelings. There was something peculiarly different about that ring and they all knew it. They felt it deep inside their bones. In the pit of their stomachs. In their hearts.

Closest to the telephone, Deb Scott stood. She couldn't feel her legs and her arms were like giant, awkward masses of jelly but somehow she managed to answer it.

"Hello?" she answered with a shaky voice.

"Good evening, ma'am. My name is Ruth Manson and I am with the American Red Cross. I am looking to speak with a Daniel or Deborah Scott, please."

The four walls began to close in and the oxygen slowly disappeared from the room.

"This…this is her, I mean she", Deb answered nervously. "I'm Deborah Scott."

"Nathan Daniel Scott's mother?"

"Yes", she squeaked.

"Mrs. Scott, this is in response to your family's inquiries as your son has been missing and unaccounted for since the tsunami's damage to his hotel."

"Yes. Is he…"

Deb held her breath.

"He's okay. I am happy to report both your son and daughter in law, Haley Scott were found alive earlier today. They are bruised and battered and understandably tired but in remarkably good condition in spite of the horrendous circumstances. Ma'am, would you like to take down the address and phone numbers of the hotel they will be transferred to after the medical team releases them."

"Yes. Yes, please."

Deb signaled for a pen and paper and hurriedly recorded the important information. She hung up, emotional and speechless. She was almost unaware of the audience gathered around her. They held their breath and their tears, literally shaking as they desperately tried to read her body language and emotions.

"Deb!" Dan finally said.

Her lips trembled as the words tumbled from her mouth.

"They found them…"

"Deb…", Megan breathed.

"They're okay. They're alive. They're coming home. Both of them!"

It took mere seconds to register but the sad faces immediately became smiles. There was an audible, collective gasp in the room right before it erupted into cheers and applause.

The relieved group's celebration lasted for hours but for Deb it was too much. She took a moment to mouth a prayer of thanks before heading out to the backyard. The tears flowed heavily then. She realized just how close she had come to losing her beloved only child. Jim and Lydia joined her where they shared a thankful group hug.

"He's okay, Deb", Dan whispered as he walked up behind his wife and snaked his arms around her still trim waist.

"Our baby is coming home", she mumbled.

"That he is. I never had a doubt."

"I'm so relieved and still on edge. I'm terrified for him to even get on the plane to fly back here."

"He'll be fine, Deb. And I know that because I intend to see it with my own eyes."

"What?"

"I've chartered a private plane. Lucas and I will go down and bring Nathan back home."

"Thank God", she sighed, hugging her husband. "Thank God."

He held her until she and Lydia were ready to return to the house. Jim let the women walk ahead so he could have a moment alone with Dan for a private conversation.

"Dan, I just wanted to thank you for putting the wife and me up the past few days. We really appreciate it."

"Thank Deb", Dan spoke without looking at him. "Trust me, it was all her brilliant idea."

Jim tried to ignore the indifference and callousness.

"Say buddy, I was wondering…I've been worried sick about my little girl and I'd love to go where she is and bring her home. I know it would make Lydia feel a thousand times better. Any room on that plane for one more?"

Dan turned and faced the other man. His face broke out into a wide grin, followed by villainous laughter.

"What do you think I'm doing here? Running the goddamned Salvation Army? Looking for another handout, eh, James? Well the Scott gravy train stops here. You want to see your daughter? Get your own damned plane. Haley is to blame for all this anyway. It's all her fault", he sneered. "As well as your own."