I swear… next chapter I will dedicate to Nathan time with the kids… I promise… but this really super awesomest awesome idea popped into my head while I was not paying attention in government and I need to write about it before I forget it cause I absolutely think its uber funny. Plus… it involves Dan…

A u s t y n

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Chapter 14- Tree Hill…

Tree Hill… The home you wished you didn't have away from home. There is good and bad about it, but what Nathan's intentions are for going back there are certainly going to tip the scales… and not on the good side. See… Dan and Deb had just returned in from Europe, France to be exact, Deb had cousins there, and well, Dan went for the wine, and to stare at hot women all day, while his wife was out talking with a few cousins, life is fair, is it not?

However, good times must come to an end, and they did, or rather a bittersweet end, for they haven't seen either of their sons in about five years. A shame really. Nick was becoming such a fine man without his father's influence, but rather, his older brothers'. Nathan was more of a man every day, striving to not be like his father was while he was growing up.

"So, this is it," Nick said, looking at the rather large Scott mansion in front of them.

"Yea," Nathan sighed, "this is it, the largest house in Tree Hill, owned by our parents," he said as they started up the walk from the end of the driveway.

"You nervous," Nick asked.

"Nah, Dan can't hurt me, I'm stronger than him, tougher than him, and I am a better man that he will ever be. If he tries to hurt me, I will hurt his ass right back. He starts talking about me or my family, I'll start talking right back. You nervous about seeing him? You were five years old when you last saw him."

"A little, what if they don't like me?"

"They won't like you, so you can put your mind at rest."

"Oh… why?"

"Because they're them, that's what they do. Don't take it personally," Nathan said, and knocked on the door. He thought it would be weird to just walk on in.

Deb answered, and when she saw who it was, started sobbing tears of joy, "Oh my boys, come in, come in," she said, ushering them into the house where she could get a better look at them, "How are you, how is Florida, oh, I missed you guys so much," Deb said, between hugging them, then shoved them into the living room where they could talk.

"Nathan, how is Haley, and Nate, right, that's my grandson's name," Deb said, trying to catch up with her son.

"Haley's good, she's at home with the kids, they all have school, which is where Nick should be, but you just had to see him so bad, if it was a break or something you could have met the rest of the kids."

"Kids? As in you and Haley had more?"

"Yeah," Nathan said, taking out his wallet. He was a proud daddy with pictures of his kids in his wallet to show the world, "There's Hales, she looks as beautiful as ever, then Nick, that would be last Christmas, I think they all are last Christmas," he said, going in order through his wallet, of every single picture in his wallet. "That's Nate, he's probably changed since the last time you saw him. Then James and Kyle, who are like one person sometimes," he said, laughing at the picture. Everyone else had single pictures taken, and he felt bad for the photographer, every time he'd do that for James or Kyle, they'd manage to get in each other's picture, so finally, James and Kyle got their way and took one goofy picture with bunny ears and goofy grins, and Haley loved it, it showed the truth, how their boys really were. "James and Kyle are indeed a handful, next is Farley, our little genius, health freak, and probably one of the most responsible people in the house. Then there's Henry, he's quiet, except when he wants something or is with James and Kyle. Then you have Andy and David, our second set of twins, and probably will be worse than the first, but at least they're not bad yet. Finally we have Hayden, quiet, caring, and watches the world go by. Lastly, is Ryan. There's nothing really to describe Ryan because Ryan is Ryan," he said smiling at the picture.

"All boys huh?" Deb asked.

"Yeah, all boys, that's why my youngest one is in a dress," Nathan said very sarcastically.

"Which one?"

"Ryan, Ryan Kenny, my baby girl. I don't have any doubts that she won't do wonders, I also will not have any problem with boys around my house for her, I have eight sons, me and Nick, I think the ten of us could take on some guy, interrogate him till he's blue in the face. Oh, here," he said, handing her the box he'd been carrying, and put his wallet away, "It's from Haley, she said to give it to you, she thought you'd like it, and don't ask me what it is, cause I have no idea." He watched as Deb opened it, just as eager as he was to see what was inside. There was an assortment of school photos and Christmas photos, and just random photos that had been taken of various things and cards and drawings from their kids. Apparently they had done that one day while he was working, or sleeping. He watched Deb's face as she looked through everything.

"Just what every grandparent needs," she smiled, "Pictures to be able to boast about her grandkids and their artwork and thoughts, and pictures to hang around this empty house. Tell Haley I said thanks." Nathan knew she really did mean it. It was a very thoughtful gesture on Haley's part, thinking of this, and putting it together.

Dan walked in, "What does every grandparent need, Deb?" he asked, sitting down next to his wife, not noticing that Nick and Nathan were sitting on the couch opposite.

"Pictures of our grandbabies to brag about and display all over this empty house. And look, Nick's school pictures, from Kindergarten up, and look Dan, he's a basketball player, just like you wanted," Deb said, quickly going through the stack to find pictures Dan would be interested in. Dan took the pictures from her.

"And what were you saying about grandkids," he asked.

"Nathan's kids, they're so handsome, and Ryan is just cute as a button," Deb said, passing the family picture to Dan.

"All of these yours? Nathan, I thought I taught the meaning of birth control to you? Was I talking to the wall- hey," he said, actually looking at the picture, "you got some pretty nice looking boys there, they play?"

"Um, yeah, Nate plays, he's on the same team as Nick. James and Kyle do more than play, they beat the crap out of each other, one-on-one, they play for an hour and they're good on defense and offence. Farley doesn't, he's afraid of the ball. Henry loves it, he's been learning to dribble. Andy, David, and Hayden are too young yet to hold the ball, it's probably bigger than their heads, and there is no way Haley will let Ryan play."

"Why won't she? Ryan surely has some Scott blood in him. I bet he'd make a fine player, which one is he?"

"Um," Nathan looked at the picture, "She's the little girl that Haley's holding."

"Impossible, Ryan is a boy, and son, why is your boy in a dress?"

"Dad, Ryan is a girl."

"Okay, so which one is that Farley that's afraid of a basketball?"

"The red head, with the glasses, the one not strangling his brother with his tie, but right next to those two," Nathan said shaking their head. That day had driven the photographer crazy. He tried and tired to get a perfect picture, but in the end, he was mad when the one Haley wanted was one with everyone acting natural, to show people what they were really like, real smiles, cause they were really having fun, not fake plastered ones for a picture. Yeah, they all did look nice, mostly because they still did need an actual nice picture, just to prove they weren't always crazy and wild.

"Ah, yes, a scrawny kid, isn't he."

"I wouldn't say scrawny, just bony, or skinny."

"Whatever son, you should get him bulked up like the two who are trying to kill each other," Dan said smiling, apparently he liked James and Kyle, "They're purebred Scotts, I can tell by looking at them."

"That's great dad. Mom, it was great seeing you, keep in touch, I have a few more people I need to see while I'm in town. Great chat, we should talk again sometime, Nick, come on, let's go," Nathan said, standing up.

"Wait, you're leaving, what about dinner?"

"Can't mom, I'm busy. I've got people to see."

"Okay, I guess," Deb said, grabbing her other son, "Goodbye Nicolas, Nathan," she said, trying to cry.

Nick escaped from her grasp, it didn't really feel right, she was his mother, but not really. He could barely remember her, she was like a stranger to him.

"Hey, thanks for getting me out of there," Nick said, once he and Nathan were in the car.

"No problem, I told you, it would be quick and painless, now we can see your little friend."

"Don't say it like that, besides, she likes Nate, and she's just my best friend, kind of like Luke and Haley, unless of course, you think your wife and your brother are-"

"Dude… do not go there, or I will turn this car around and leave you at the Scott mansion in Tree Hill with Dan. Don't that sound like fun?"

"No, not the way you described growing up there."

"Exactly, so hush up."

"Okay, but I swear, she's got a thing for Nate, not me."

"Well, not to boast or anything, but what girl wouldn't like a mini me?"

"Dude, do you know how arrogant you sound?"

"Dude, do you know how far it would be to walk home?" Nathan said, pulling up to Hallie's house, "You have two hours, I have some people to see and I will be back," Nathan said, letting him out, then driving away.

Nick walked up to the house, rang the bell, and waited. He looked at his watch, maybe she wasn't home from school yet. The door opened, and there she stood, then she was jumping up and down and hugging him, then stopped, like she was looking for someone else.

"Is Nate here?" she asked, trying not to be disappointed to see her oldest friend, even though she wanted to see his nephew.

"No, I'm sorry, he had school today. So did I, but mom wanted to see Nathan and I. Nate couldn't come, but" he reached into his pocket, "he said to give you this, cause he knew he couldn't come," he handed her a folded piece of paper.

Hallie smiled wide, her face lit up, "Really, he thought of me."

"You two are gross, you're trying to go out with my nephew, okay."

"It's not my fault your family's messed up. Where you're the same age as your really cute nephew and your brothers are brothers from different mothers, and you live like a billion miles away with your uber cute nephew."

"Enough, you're going to make me sick, so, how about a game of one-on-one at the river court."

"Aw, come on, you know I suck, why can't we get Bobby, and Greggie, and Mack-Man-"

"Mack-Man?"

"Matt Mackley."

"Oh no… does he realize the horridness of that name he gave himself?"

"No, he thinks its cool."

"It's not."

"Whatever, and I can call Bridgett, and Chellie-"

"Chellie?"

"Michelle, dork, where have you been?"

"Florida, nerd."

"Whatever, and Brit."

"Lemme guess, ya'll is cheerleaders."

"Yuperdoodles."

"I swear, if you use that word again, I will not give you the second half of the note," he laughed.

"Why didn't you already give it to me?"

"Because I wasn't done reading the comedy, duh."

She hit him, hard, "That's for being a loser," she hit him again, on the other arm, "And that's for reading my notes."

"Do you know who I am? I am the heir to the Scott throne, the next in line to gain it all, you seriously want to get on my bad side?"

"Do you seriously want to get on mine, I'll whoop your butt, and you can ride all the way back to Florida with your underwear up your rear end."

"Like you could beat me up, shorty," he smiled, looking down on her, he was like a foot taller than her.

"Shut up, let's go," she said, slamming the door, and walking down her walk.