Thanks for the reviews girls! I hope you like this chapter. It's a cross between an NH, LH, and KH chapter. Really it's a Scott Family chapter which focuses on Haley. Enjoy. BL chapter next then more JP. I mean how awesome were they last night? I love them, but mines gonna work out for them.

Chapter 10: Home Is Where the Heart Is

Nathan's POV

We started sailing back to the shore because it was getting late and I didn't want my dad to freak out that I had taken his boat without asking. We already had no relationship at all and this would make it even worse. Even though I can't see how that's possible. No things can always be worse. He would probably think it was stolen and call the police. And jail is the last thing Haley and I need right now. I wouldn't put it past Dan to actually let them arrest us and leave us there all night. Haley suddenly pulled me out of my thoughts and I realized we were back.

"This was really nice Nathan. It's just what I needed."

"I'm glad Haley. You want to dock the boat and take a walk on the beach? We can talk some more.

"Sure."

We got out of the boat, took off our shoes, and walked down the shore.

"So tell me more about Keith. I'd love to know more about who he was."

"Well I did leave out the most important part of my story."

"Oh really? Do tell."

"Well that night as I lie on the deck of the boat I couldn't sleep. Too many thoughts were running through my head. I started to feel really guilty about being so selfish and not being there for my family in a time like this. I started to think about my nanna and how disappointed she would be that I wasn't there. I needed someone to talk to and when I looked over at Lucas he was fast asleep. I called out his name and poked him but he didn't respond. So I thought maybe I would just see if Keith was still awake. I made my way to the other side of the boat and there he was. He was just staring out into the water with a fishing rod in one hand and a beer in the other. He must have heard the deck squeak under me because he looked over and smiled."

Flashback

"Am I bothering you?"

"Of course not. Come take a seat."

I walked over and he handed me a soda out of the cooler. "Thanks."

"It's not much. It's Caffeine Free. I don't want you to be up all night."

I gave him a sad smile. "I think that's pretty much how it's gonna be anyway."

"You okay kid?"

"Not really. I feel bad about being here."

"I'm sorry Haley. Maybe this wasn't what you needed, but I'm not the best when it comes to these things."

"No Keith. That's not what I meant. This trip has been amazing and I want you to know how much I appreciate it. Thank you. I have had so much fun. It really made me forget everything."

"Oh. Now I see what the problem is."

"You do?"

"You feel like you shouldn't be having fun while everyone else is in pain."

"That's part of it."

"And you are ashamed to be feeling good when your grandpa can't feel anymore at all."

"How did you know?"

"It's normal and the same way everyone feels. You are not going through anything that millions haven't experienced."

"But shouldn't I be feeling sad? Shouldn't I want to be crying? Don't I need to be with my family?"

"It's okay to feel sad Haley, but it's still okay to live. Your grandfather was very important to you. But he would want you to have the best life possible. He wouldn't want you to be miserable. So having a good time is nothing to be ashamed of. All day I noticed any time you felt like you were having too much fun, you would go and sit down. Like you felt that it was wrong. It's not wrong Haley. You and your family are a new generation that will make him proud. So do just that Haley. Become great just like he wanted you to be and like I know you are. And never be ashamed of that. Death is apart a life that we will all eventually come to. But it's what we do while we are alive that matters. And remember your grandfather is not gone because he will always be in your heart. It's not the end for him but a new beginning. He is in a wonderful place filled with happiness and he is no longer in pain. Death is not something to be afraid of and I'm sure he wasn't. He was sick and now he is in peace. Think about it. He's having the time of his life playing shuffle board with God. Metaphorically speaking that is."

He nudged me with his shoulder and smiled. "That's a nice way to put it. I never thought about it that way. But what about my nanna? She has been left all alone and I'm not there for her. She's gonna think I don't care. That I don't love her.

"Your nanna knows you love her. And she knows how hard this must be for you. That you have a reason for not being there. And she is still around. You have time to spend with her. Just don't take too long."

I reached over and gave Keith a hug. "Thanks Keith. You've helped me so much."

"You're welcome Haley. I'll always be here for you. You can tell me anything. Just think of me as a second father. No scratch that. I'm not old enough to be your father. Think of me as a much older brother."

"I know you are. And I already think of you that way."

"Good kid. Because you are the daughter I never had. I mean little sister of course."

I must have fell asleep while talking to Keith because next thing I knew it was morning and we were back at the docks. Keith and Lucas were already awake and gathering up all the stuff. They looked really flustered and in a hurry.

"Good you're awake. I know we were up late so I didn't want to wake you. Are you ready to go home?"

"Home? I thought this was a week long trip. Weren't we sailing to Jekyll Island?"

"We were."

"I don't understand."

"You told me that you regret not going to the funeral."

"Yeah. But there's nothing I can do about it now."

"That's where you're wrong. You can always fix your mistakes. I bought you a plane ticket and I'm taking you to the airport."

"What? I can't ask you to do that. Lucas said you had been planning this trip for weeks."

"Lucas will explain it to you. I'm going to load my truck." Keith walked off and Lucas came over.

"Okay what's going on?"

"I lied when I told you Keith said you should come with us on our trip. There was no trip. We threw this whole plan together in a few hours."

"I must be having a nightmare because I am still confused."

"It was all for you Haley. You're my best friend. And I couldn't see you be upset and be forced to do something you didn't want to. Something you weren't ready for. And I wanted to be there for you but I didn't know how. I'm a ten year old boy who most of the time acts like I know everything. But I don't. I don't know what I'm supposed to do for you. So I told Keith and he came up with this. Then last night when you poked me I pretended not to feel it."

"What?" I yelled and hit him on the shoulder. "You are such a jerk! I could have been chocking or something."

"I would have heard you."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Okay continue. But you better have a really good explanation."

"I do. I knew Keith was still up and that he would give much better advice than me. He has already had plenty of live experience and dealt with his own losses. Plus he is always there for me when I need him. And he is never wrong. At least he hasn't been yet. When I woke up a couple hours ago I talked to him. After he told me what you said last night, we decided to call your parents."

"You're amazing Lucas. You and Keith both. I love you." I reached out and surrounded him in a hug bear hug.

"Right back at ya Hales. Now enough of this mushy girl stuff."

"I am a girl you know."

"Don't remind me. At this age I get picked on enough for having a girl as a best friend. I try to forget."

"Oh that's right big man. You have your image to uphold."

"Se, I knew you'd understand."

"Why do I put up with you again?"

"Because you love me. You need me. You can't live without me."

"Oh that's right. And you're modest too."

Lucas laughed. "And you handle my crap when no ones else does." Keith honked the horn to signify he was already to go. "Let's get you home with your family."

"I already am. Home is where the heart is, and my heart is here. And you are my family."

"I'm glad you think that. Because I have another surprise."

"What would that be?"

"I'm coming with you."

"What?"

"Keith and I both thought I should be with you. If only to be a shoulder to lean on. But no crying cause I don't think I could handle it."

I gave Lucas a big kiss on the cheek. "You are everything a girl could ask for. If only we were older."

"Ew, gross. That's enough of that. Let's go."

End of Flashback

We got to the end of the pier in front of the beach house and sat in the sand. Haley leaned up against me.

"What did you mean if only you were older?"

"Nothing."

"Did you have a thing for Lucas?"

"That's not important now."

"I think it is."

"I have a thing for all Scott men. Well three out of four. Two were crushes and one is the real thing."

"Good."

"And Lucas is with Brooke now so I settled for you."

"Haha. You think you're really cute don't you Miss. Smarty Pants."

"Yes I do. And that's Mrs. Smarty Pants."

"Just remember that." I gave her a little wink.

"I could never forget. So anyway, you learn enough about Keith?"

"Yes. And about Lucas too. They are two great reasons not to be ashamed of the Scott name. Sounds like both you and Lucas learned a lot from Keith. Like how to be a good friend and how to love."

"You must have gotten that from him too."

"You think so?"

"Oh I know so. You sure didn't get it from your parents. You are so much better than them. You're the third reason not to be ashamed of the Scott name."

"We'll when we have kids we'll make sure they learn those things from us."

"And that they continue to do well by our name." She reached over and grabbed my hand.

"It's a guarantee. Now let's get you home."

"I am. Home is where the heart is."

TBC