Hey...

Summary: She wonders if he knows what love is. What happens when he tries to salvage the relationship with the son that he knowingly abandoned? Does she let him back into their lives? Does he get the life he always wanted but was too scared to have?

Thanks for reading, please tell me what you think...flashbacks are in italics.

CHAPTER 4

'Scott dribbles the ball in the corner, but he can't get open. Ladies and Gentleman, this games going down to the wire.' The announcer stated over the speaker. 'Scott finally finds the open man, passes to Green, who immediately bounces back to Scott.'

Lucas knew that this was it, this was his last chance. This would be the game that would go down in books. He dribbled the ball through his legs, looking for the open shot as his defender reached for the ball. 'Scott still holds the ball, times running down.'

This was his shot. He faked to the right, then shot back left, leaving him wide open. 'Scott for the game!' The ball arced flawlessly through the net, people erupting in cheers as the buzzer sounded. 'Lucas Scott has done it again!'

He watched joyfully from the side as the crowd and his teammates celebrated. Although he loved winning, and he loved the game, it never brought him as much joy as it did for them. "Lucas, Lucas." A reporter pulled him from his thoughts, the bright camera light blinding him. "How does it feel to have another game-winning shot?"

Lucas smiled as the reporter shoved the microphone into his face. "Pretty good." Lucas admitted. "But if you'll excuse me for a second, I've got something to take care of." The camera followed him as he made his way to his coach and team in center court.

'You have to wonder what he's thinking right now.' The announcer stated with sheer shock. Everyone watched on as Lucas slipped his jersey off and handed it to his coach. He then dug into his pocket and pulled out a small gold band and slipped it onto his finger.

'What's this?" His coach questioned as he held the blue jersey in his hands. Lucas smiled as everyone hung on his every word. He scanned the crowd one last time, almost as though he expected to see her in the stands or on the sideline cheering him on.

"I'm going home coach." He replied. With one final gaze around the packed stadium, he walked away from it all. If she wasn't there, none of it seemed to matter. He knew that she wouldn't just welcome him back, but he had to try, for them, and for their son.

He willed his eyes to open, the bright lights stinging his eyes as they adjusted. The room was dark, but he could tell he was in a hospital. After his eyes adjusted he could see Nathan curled up in a chair in the corner. He let out a groan as he tried to move his hand, the IV stinging within it.

Suddenly he felt a tugging at his other hand and he titled his head gently. "Lucas?" The little voice questioned curiously as he struggled to see up onto the bed.

"Hey." Lucas managed to spill out, his throat still sore. "Can you get Nate?" He coughed as he motioned his head to his sleeping brother. He watched as his son nudged his brother, finally managing to wake him. Nathan sat up quickly and rushed to his side.

"Lucas, thank god." He smiled with relief. He reached over and grabbed a cup of water and helped Lucas to drink it. "You've been out for like two weeks, you really had us worried."

The door swung open, the one person he really wanted to see, walked in. "You okay?" She questioned him upon realizing he was awake. He nodded with a sigh, as she looked him over. "Good." She stated simply.

"I'm gonna go get the doctor." Nathan said as he exited the room. Brooke sat idly in the corner, her eyes landing everywhere except on his.

He took a deep breath in and let it out slowly as he studied her. Even in the dark, he could still see the tearstains on her cheeks. He watched as Ryan curled up into her arms and wished that it were his arms. "I meant what I said Brooke..." He finally found the courage to speak. "About still loving you, and about being in his life."

"Not now Lucas." She stated grimly. "This isn't the best time, or place."

"I think it's the perfect time." Lucas said sitting up carefully and propping himself up on his pillow. "I've already missed so much of his life, I don't want to miss anymore."

"Lucas." She bit her lip nervously as she glanced between her son and him. "I swear to god if you ever hurt him, you won't be as lucky as you were this time."

Lucas shook his head adamantly. "I won't."

"It won't change anything between us. We're done." She faked coldness in her voice. "He's still my son. I get final say in everything."

Lucas shook his head; he was wise enough to know not to argued it. She stood up carefully and carried the boy with her to the side of his bed. "Ryan, do you know who this is?" She asked her son as she placed him onto the bed.

He rolled his eyes playfully. "That's Lucas." He stated obviously.

"Ryan sweetie." She said stroking his hair gently, her eyes welling with tears. "Lucas…he's…" She stumbled, fear evident on her face as she fought to tell him.

"Ryan." Lucas said grabbing both of their attention. "I'm your father." Ryan glanced quickly between Brooke and Lucas, confusion flooding his small eyes.

His eyes focused on Brooke. "Mommy?" He questioned her. She licked the tears from her lips and nodded weakly. He wrapped his arms around her neck and clung tightly to her.

"Hey, hey." She said holding him tightly and rubbing his back. Both Lucas' and Brookes' hearts broke as they heard him cry. "It's ok sweetie."

The door swung open again. "Hey stranger." Haley greeted cheerfully as she pulled him into a hug. "Oh, sorry." She pulled away when she noticed Brooke in the room. She glanced at Lucas, but her eyes shot back to Brooke when she noticed Ryan. "I think I'm missing something here."

Both of their brows furrowed. "Nathan never told you?" Brooke questioned. Haley answered with a shake of her head as she moved to get a better look at Ryan.

"He's uh…" She said noticing his blond hair. Her eyes shifted back to Lucas. "He's yours?" Lucas nodded solemnly. "That's why you moved." Haley face filled with clarity as she turned back to Brooke. Suddenly her face turned stern as she shifted back to Lucas. "You're an ass." She declared angrily as she hit his chest viciously.

He flinched as she raised his arm again to hit him but decided against it. "I'm gonna go." Brooke said grabbing her bag from the corner and opening the door.

"Brooke." Lucas called stopping her and making her face him. "Thank you." She nodded silently and walked out.

"You're lucky you're injured or I would seriously kick your ass right now." Haley spat angrily at him.

"I made a mistake Hales." Lucas said turning away from her piercing glare. His eyes focused out the window at the night sky, the stars twinkling in his eyes. "And now I'm trying to fix it."

Haley nodded understandingly, a small bit of her anger subsiding. "She still loves you." She stated quietly, but he gave her no response. "But I don't know if you can fix this one."

Lucas' eyes shot to hers; the pain evident in them. He nodded slowly, realizing that she was right. He swallowed the painful lump in his throat and she offered him a gentle sympathetic smile. "I have to." He stated determinedly. "I have to make it right."