Author's Note: Tired of me yet? This is the fourth update today! This chapter is pretty much some 'family bonding' time. I think the next chapter will have the 'BIG MOMENT' where Lucas finally finds out that Katie and Derek are his. I think I'll start writing it right now… I'll probably have it up for you all tomorrow. I hope you like this chapter! As always, please read and review!

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

Rating: K+ to T

Finding Our Way Back

Chapter 11 – Like Father, Like Son

Friday afternoon, Lucas walked up to Haley's apartment, intent on taking her out. Not on a date, but just out with the kids. He'd hardly seen them since he met them and he wanted to spend some time getting to know Katie and Derek. They were his niece and nephew after all.

When she answered the door, he stepped inside, stating firmly in a tone that said he wasn't taking no for an answer, "Get the kids. We're going out." "But-" Haley began to protest. "No Haley, I want to get to know my niece and nephew. How can I do that if you don't let me spend time with them?" "I-" she tried to begin again but Lucas gazed at her with pleading puppy dog eyes, "Please Haley?" "Yeah, please Mommy, please," Derek asked as he and Katie raced up behind her. "I-" she started then sighed in defeat as she stared into her children's hopeful eyes, "Okay. Let's go get your shoes on." "Yay," Katie and Derek exclaimed as they ran to go get their shoes.

Haley helped Derek tie his shoes while Lucas buckled on Katie's pink jelly sandals and then Haley grabbed their jackets and they walked outside. "So, what do you guys want to do," Lucas asked the two kids. "I wanna go play basketball," Derek said excitedly as he jumped up and down. "Yeah, me too," Katie responded then took Haley's hand, "You play too, Mommy?" "Oh, I don't know…" "Come on Hales, girls against guys. You and Katie against me and Derek. What do ya say?" "Fine," she replied with a smile, knowing she wouldn't be getting anywhere if she said no. "I know just the place," Lucas said as he shared a smile with Haley.

"Derek goes in for the final shot and… he gets it in! Yeah! Derek wins the game!" Lucas shouted as he lifted the little boy up and let him dunk it into the basket. When Lucas put him down he raced over to Haley, "I won, Mommy! I won! And I got to do a slam dunk!" "That's great D, I'm so proud of you," she said as she hugged him. "I didn't get to do a slam dunk," Katie pouted as she looked down at the ground and moved the toe of her shoe from side to side. "Come here Katie, I'll let you do a slam dunk. Mommy's too short to do it," he gestured for the little girl to come near, smirking at Haley as he leaned down to pick her up. Haley stuck out her tongue at him. She was becoming so childish. Being around Luke made her feel that way, like a kid again. Just talking and joking around and hanging out made her feel like she was back in her teen years when it was just the two of them.

He held Katie up while she performed the move and then she giggled excitedly, "I did it! I did it!" Haley took Katie from Lucas and she kissed her daughter's nose, causing her to giggle more. "Yes you did. I am so proud of you too. I love you both very much." "Luke, can you do a slam dunk," Derek asked, looking up at the tall man and when Lucas nodded, he started jumping up and down, "Show me! Show me!" Lucas went to grab the ball then dribbled it a few seconds. Then he raced from center court up to the net, launching himself into the air and dunking the ball, hanging onto the metal rim for a brief second or two before letting go and falling to his feet. Derek stood there, gawking in wide-eyed amazement for a several moments before he came out of his trance, shouting, "That was AWESOME!" Haley set Katie down because she wanted to go congratulate Luke and she crossed her arms as she watched Lucas and Derek talk animatedly about the move. "Like father, like son," she mumbled under her breath.

"Hey guys, what are you up to," Karen asked, wiping the counter, when she saw the four enter the café. "We went to play basketball," Derek replied happily. Katie walked over to Karen and tugged on her pants, "Where's Grandma Deb? Is she cooking in the oven?" The three adults burst out laughing. "What was that about," Haley asked when she was finally able to control her laughter. "Oh, the other day I said something about the kitchen being as hot as an oven," Karen replied, "that was priceless." "Grandma Karen, can I have some coffee with cocoa in it," Derek asked. Haley had explained that Karen had helped her through most of her pregnancy, even though she hadn't been there physically most of the time and that the kids had spent a lot of time with Karen and they considered her a grandma so they called her grandma. "No D," Haley stated firmly. "What about ice cream, Mommy," he inquired. "I think we can do that," Haley nodded. "Yeah! I want Mint Chocolate Chip," he replied. "What do you say," Haley inquired. "Please," Derek looked up at Karen. "What do you want Katie," Karen asked. "Rocky road please," she said politely. Karen looked to Haley and Lucas, "What about you guys?" "Chocolate," Haley responded. "Mint Chocolate Chip," Lucas replied. Derek looked up at Luke, "You like Mint Chocolate Chip? That's my favorite!" "Mine too," Luke answered.

Once they got their ice cream, Haley, Lucas and the kids strolled along the sidewalk by the storefronts, licking their cones. Derek was positioned on Lucas' shoulders and Katie rested comfortably on Haley's hip. After about five minutes, he felt something cold on his chest and looked down. There was ice cream on his shirt. Haley began to laugh at this. He knew it hadn't come from his cone because he'd already eaten it. He felt another cold, sticky wetness in his hair. He looked up to Derek and a small glob of ice cream fell on his face, on the bridge of his nose, sliding down his cheek. Haley burst into hysterical laughter, unable to control it any longer. Haley set Katie down then took Derek off of Lucas' shoulders, "Let's get you home and cleaned up."

When they reached Haley's apartment, Lucas looked at his watch, "Shoot! I have to be at Whitey's in half an hour. I don't have time to go home and take a shower. I have some extra clothes in the car. Is it okay if I use yours? I promise I won't be long," Lucas asked. "Uh, sure," Haley replied. "Great, thanks. I'll go grab my clothes. I'll be back in a minute," he replied as he walked across the yard to his car.

Ten minutes later, Lucas was in the shower while Haley sat nervously on her bed in her room as she focused her eyes on the door connecting to her bedroom. She couldn't help but imagine staring at his toned muscles and lean body, water cascading down his skin… It took almost all her restraint and will power not to open that bathroom door. It was almost too much to bear, knowing that Lucas was naked, in her bathroom, just a door away…