Author's Note: Hey guys! Two updates in one day! I'm on a roll! Well, this is it guys! Lucas and Haley finally see each other after five years! I hope you guys like it! I might update again tomorrow, depending on my family because it's Memorial Day and they might have plans for me other than lying in bed all day and typing up my stories. Anyways, I hope you all like it! As always, please read and review!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. One Tree Hill and its characters are property of the WB.

Rating: K+ to T

P.S. - Whitey does not know that Haley has kids, yet.

Finding Our Way Back

Chapter 7 – His Return

Lucas stared at the building in front of him, the many memories of four years spent there overtaking his mind. He knew he should go to see his mom first, but he wanted to spend a few quiet minutes alone, walking around the town. He hadn't been back in five years, not even for a visit. He was always too busy to come back down and part of him feared seeing Haley there. He wouldn't know how to act around her after what had happened between them. He was always traveling and playing games during the basketball season and during the off season, there were still practices to keep in shape, team meetings, and workouts in the weight room. They were good excuses not to visit, right?

He slowly entered his old high school and smiled at the peacefulness that washed over him. It felt good being back here. School had already been dismissed for the day so the halls were quiet and empty. He strolled along the corridors, looking at all the posters and billboards and everything around him. It hadn't changed much. He decided to go to the gym and on his way there, he came across the trophy case. He stared at all the trophies, awards, team pictures, and old jerseys… his gaze stopped on his old jersey and the picture beside it. He caressed her face with his finger through the glass and traced her lips, wishing he could kiss them again. After several more moments of staring at the picture, he turned and headed towards the gym.

He stepped inside the gym. It was like a holy place for him, the sun shining through the windows onto the court and baskets, the empty bleachers, the familiar smell. He spotted someone standing center court and his smiled widened. He chuckled as he walked forward behind them, "Gee, fancy seeing you here. You mean you're not dead yet?" The old man turned around and his face brightened at seeing one of his most cherished players. "You better watch it son, I can still put you over my knee. Lucas Scott, what are you doing back here in my gym," he responded gruffly. Lucas hugged him, "It's good to see you Whitey." "You too son," Whitey replied, "now what brings you back to my little ole gym? Aren't you supposed to be playing with the big boys up in LA?" "I was, but I'm not anymore. I quit-" Lucas was interrupted by Whitey yelling at him. Whitey's face began to turn red, "You QUIT! Why in the hell did you quit? Playing in the NBA was your dream, you numbskull! How could you just quit? After all the training I did, the coaching, teaching you, you repay me by quitting?" Lucas put up his hands in defense, actually a little scared of him, "Whoa there, Cujo. Calm down. I wanted to leave the team two months ago, but the coach wanted me to finish out the season. I realized that playing in the NBA wasn't what I wanted anymore. I wasn't happy. I kept remembering all those days down at the rivercourt…it was just me and the guys, you know? I missed that. Plus, I don't like all the reporters and photographers following me all the time. They're such a nuisance. I mean, the fans and the popularity were great, but it wasn't what I wanted. I always wanted the quiet life, you know? That's why I moved back to Tree Hill. It's always been my home and always will be."

Whitey stared him down for a few minutes before he sighed resignedly. Then a thought came to mind. "You looking for a job," he asked interestedly. "Yeah, I was gonna go see if that Sports Authority on Main had any openings. Why? You know of a place I could work," Lucas inquired. "Yeah," Whitey answered. "Where," Lucas asked. "Right here," Whitey smiled. "Here," Lucas questioned in confusion. Whitey responded, "I'm retiring next month and I've been looking for a replacement coach. Who better to have than one of my best players and former NBA star of the Los Angeles Lakers? The kids will go wild." Lucas smiled, "Really? That's great! I mean, I'm sorry that you're retiring, you were such an amazing coach. But it's about time. Of course I'll take the position. It'd be my honor."

"You're welcome son, you deserve it," Whitey patted his shoulder. "Thanks Whitey," Lucas replied as he hugged the man, "can we talk more about this later? Because I've gotta go see a woman." He couldn't wait to tell his mom the great news. "I reckon you're off to see the little lady, huh," Whitey replied with a wink and a grin. "Yeah, I haven't even told my mom that I've moved back down here. I was just about to go see her, now I'll have more great news to tell her," the young man replied. "No, I'm talking about little Miss Haley James. You haven't seen her around," he questioned. "Haley's here," Lucas asked, his eyes bulging slightly. A couple months after he'd moved to Charleston, he'd heard from his mom that Haley had left town. He was beginning to think that moving back wasn't such a good idea. He wasn't sure he was ready to face her yet. "Yep, moved here about four or five months back. Lives on Oak Avenue about five houses down. She's teaching English and History here at the school." His heart jumped in his throat. He'd be seeing her every day? Lucas gulped. 'Oh god, what have I gotten myself into,' he thought.

"Well, I have to go watch some basketball tapes for a game coming up. You should come to our practice day after tomorrow. You can meet the team and see everyone play," Whitey suggested. "Yeah, thanks Whitey. I'll do that," Lucas replied, still a little dazed from the shock of the news he'd just been given.

Lucas slowly walked down Oak Avenue, counting the houses as they went by. He reached the fifth house. The only question was, what side was it on, the right or the left? He chose the left. He cautiously made his way up the steps slowly, giving himself time for an escape if he decided he wasn't ready to see her and needed to bail out. But he didn't stop. He reached the front door and tentatively knocked on the door, taking a deep breath, preparing himself for seeing and talking to her after five years of absence and silence between the two.

A few moments later, a little boy answered the door, "Hello?" Lucas' heart jumped in his throat. She had a kid. She was probably married and happy. Then he thought for a minute. Maybe she didn't live here, maybe this was the wrong house. "Hi, uh, I-I was looking for Haley James…Is-Is she here," Lucas stumbled over his words in nervousness. "Yup," the boy replied then called back into the house, "Mommy! Someone's at the door for you!" "Honey, it's probably Ky. Just let Ky in-" Haley stopped short when she saw Lucas at her front door and she inhaled a sharp gasp, paling at the sight of him. 'This cannot be happening,' she thought, panic rising within her. "Uh, D, go wake your sister up and tell her it's lunch time. Your food is at the table. You guys go eat while I talk to, uh, this person," she replied still in shock.

Once Derek left the room, Haley said shakily, "H-Hi." "Hey," he said softly, his voice too choked up to manage anything more than a whisper. An uncomfortable silence fell over them. After a few moments, Haley's forehead scrunched into wrinkles as she look up at him, "I, um, what are you doing here?" She folded her arms over her chest, trying not to have a mental breakdown right then and there in front of him. Did he know about Katie and Derek? Was that why he was there? How did he find out? "I-I wanted to see you. I missed you. I missed my best friend," he said with a lost look in his eyes, knowing full well he'd missed her as more than just a best friend as well. An angry expression came across her face, "You're telling me this now, when you haven't even seen or talked to me in five years? Why the hell now, Lucas?" She put a finger up to pause the conversation as she pushed him back a little and stepped out onto the porch, closing the door behind her.

"C-Can we talk," he asked pleadingly. "We're talking right now," she responded in a short, clipped tone. "No, I mean really talk. It's been a long time Hales…can we go take a walk, please," he asked, offering his hand out to her. "Lucas, I can't just leave my kids here-" Haley started. "Bring them with," he suggested. "No, um, just-just give me about ten minutes. I'll ask Ky to come over and watch them," she replied as she turned and opened the door, walking inside. He still stood on the porch, unsure if she wanted him to enter inside. "Um, Haley? May I come in," he called out because Haley had quickly disappeared the minute she reentered the house. "Um, sure, yeah. Take a seat on the couch. Let me make this phone call then we have to wait for Ky to come over to watch the kids," replied.

Haley raced to her bedroom and shut the door behind her, breathing heavily as she began to panic even more. She wasn't ready for this. But she had already agreed to go talk with him. She quickly dialed the number to Kyla's place as she tapped her foot anxiously, waiting for her to answer. "Pick up, pick up, pick up…dammit Kyla, pick up! I need you," she mumbled as she continued to wait. "Hello," Kyla asked. Haley sighed in relief at her voice. "Thank god! Kyla, he-he's here! And-and he wants to talk! I'm not ready to tell him yet! Ky, I need your help! I need you to come over to watch Katie and Derek. I'm not even sure if he knows about them. God Ky, I'm really freaking out here!" "Calm down Hales, take a deep breath," Kyla instructed as she inhaled with her, "Whether or not you tell him tonight, you two really need to talk. It's been five years Hales. Hear him out, okay? I'll be over in a few minutes."

While Haley was off making the phone call, Lucas looked around the large apartment. Some pictures caught his eye. He walked over and studied them. One was of Haley and a young woman about her age with blonde hair and green eyes. The young woman was standing behind Haley and had her arms wrapped around Haley's shoulders, their heads pressed cheek to cheek. Haley had one hand on the woman's arm and both had large smiles on their faces. Lucas wondered who this person was. The next was a picture of Haley with her kids, the little boy who'd greeted him at the door and a cute little girl that looked just like Haley. The third was a picture of her and his mom together. Karen's arm was wrapped around Haley's back and her free hand was placed on Haley's protruding stomach, who appeared to be about four or five months along then. She looked to be about nineteen or twenty in that picture. He had just moved on to another picture when Haley appeared from the hallway to answer the door.

"Hey! Thanks for coming over on such short notice. I know you were probably busy, but I don't think we'll be long," she looked to Lucas who nodded, then continued, "call if you need anything?" It was the woman from the picture. "Sure Hales, you go and have a good talk," she winked at Haley, but the brunette just shot a glare her way. "We'll be back soon," she replied then turned to Lucas as she grabbed a light jacket from the hall closet by the door, "Let's go."