Rating: R

Disclaimer: As usual I own nothing at all.

An: I never really figured out if Americans graduate High School at 18 or 19, but in my home country you graduate the year you turn 19 and therefore in the following the characters will graduate the year they turn 19.

Epilogue

The day couldn't be more perfect, really, with the sun shining from a clear blue sky, summer in the air and the citizens of Tree Hill getting ready for another High School graduation. For some like Lucas Scott and Haley James this day meant more than for others just for the fact that if things had gone differently they wouldn't be here they way they are today. The abortion had forced them both to grow up and make some changes in their lives. Haley had let loose a little more realizing you're only young once and built a life outside school while Lucas had started focusing more on said school and let basket become just the game it was meant to be again and although he still played with the Ravens throughout High School, it wasn't the thing that defined him anymore. One can say he had gotten things more in perspective much like Haley had while sitting watching the game before she told Lucas about the pregnancy. Sometimes things like their child would be a little over a year old now would hit them and for a brief moment they let themselves think what if, but those moments rarely lasted long. In fact both of them had felt relieved after the abortion and everything had gone according to the plan, which meant that Haley had been up and about the very next day and none was the wiser, but to come back to the day at hand Lucas Scott had just finished getting ready for the big day in his bedroom. Since his mom hasn't called for him yet he has a few moments to himself, something that has been rare lately considering his joggling of school, basket, work and Haley.

X- Haley yeah, I can't believe it's already been almost two years since we got together. Things certainly hasn't been a dance on roses to get where we are today in a stabile, committed relationship. The whole pregnancy episode had forced things to move along faster than either of us would have liked and when the abortion was over and done with and we came up for air again that is become a part of our normal life, we found ourselves in a relationship realizing just that. The transition period that followed from friendship to more was far from easy, believe me, things just got really hard really fast and we were fighting about every single thing, hell there were times when I didn't think we would make it through, not to mention the fact that there were an amount of awkwardness between us for a while there after the abortion even though we both knew it was the right thing to do. When we finally got pass that, we almost immediately came across the next obstacle, sex. Yeah the big S-E-X. Of course it took us a while before having sex again even became an issue with the constant fighting and all but when we did it was with this overwhelming fear of a repeat. When we had slept with each other earlier after the fact things were easy since we didn't need to bother with protection cuz "the worst" had already happened, but when it was a possibility for Haley to become pregnant again things changed, they became more complicated. We planned and talked and planned some more but when it finally happened it was a spur of a moment thing again, actually we were fighting one minute and the next we were ripping each others clothes off, go figure, although this time we had the sense to take precautions. Even so I still remember the first month after having sex again, despite Haley being on the pill and me using a condom I was a nervous wreck until she got her period and I saw first hand things worked. After that it wasn't an issue anymore and it has been smooth sailing on that department ever since….jeez Scott can you sound more cliché…we never had unsafe sex after that fateful night, partly cuz Haley was on the pill and partly cuz of mom's standard birthday, Christmas present from then on, a box of condoms. -X

----------

Lucas can't help but half smile to himself about that little at first embarrassing tidbit in his relationship with his mom, but later it became more of standard joke between them.

"LUCAS EUGENE SCOTT! GET YOUR BUTT OUT HERE NOW!", Karen screams at her son from the kitchen.

Somewhere in the back of Lucas's mind his mom's use of his middle name registers and he hurriedly grabs his cap to go and see what she wants. As soon as he enters the kitchen a flash goes off nearly blinding him.

"Mom what the hell?" Lucas screams grabbing the closes thing to him to steady himself.

"Sorry"

"So did you want anything else than blinding me mom?"

"Yeah we need to go and what took you so long? I've been calling for you the last five minutes"

"Oops I guess I must have spaced out" Lucas sheepishly answers.

"Aha I would think Haley being the one spacing out considering she is the valedictorian"

"Yeah, yeah should we get going?"

"In a minute"

"Why?"

"More pictures", Karen answers holding her camera up.

"Mom", Lucas groans.

"Oh shush and let a woman have her fun, Now smile"

Signing Lucas obeys his mom figuring he owes her that much.

X- I can't believe how supportive mom has been over the last few years. To this day except me and Haley of course, she is the only one that knows about the whole pregnancy thing. It really changed our relationship to a more adult one and how strange it may seems trusting one although that didn't happen right away or maybe I just grew up -X

"LUKE!"

"Huh?"

"You're spacing again"

"Sorry", Lucas apologizes and puts on his brightest smile.

----------

An hour or so later Lucas is sitting on one of the many white chairs that have been put on the lawn in front of the familiar high school building, where he has spent the better part of his teenage years. Haley is currently holding her speech and Lucas's eyes along with his mind starts wondering, not because what Haley is saying isn't interesting but not matter how good it is, the twentieth time or so you hear it, just isn't the same attention grabber. The first person his eyes land on is Brooke.

X- Wow did she lay it on me that day in the bathroom, not that I didn't have it coming. But that day I realized she had more depth than I gave her credit for and Peyton really means the world to her. They really are best friends. Of course that didn't stop her from partying hard, being a bitch most of the time and barely passing school, but her being here is proof enough that she did. I highly doubt she has any plans further than this

though -X

While he sits there Brooke proves him right, when he sees her discreetly taking some sips out of something definitely alcoholic that she has smuggled in.

----------

Chuckling softly to himself, Lucas continues his observation of his peers and next thing he knows his eyes have found Peyton sitting a couple of chairs away from him.

X- Peyton, so long I thought she was the love of my life. God I never meant to hurt her the way I did. Damn I still regret the way I handled it, but thankfully she turned out to be a bigger person than I thought and forgave me. Although a while there she didn't speak to me and I thought that was it, but I was wrong. Later on she admitted it had hurt her, a lot seeing me and Haley during that time because she had let herself be vulnerable with me and that was why she didn't speak to me, but with time she worked through it and rekindled our friendship. In fact I think she is stronger today than ever, not that I justify my actions or anything. She dated throughout High School, hell she even had a few casual flings, but she had stayed clear of a committed relationship after me and basically stayed single those years. And as she put it herself she had found herself, who she was on her own without a boyfriend by her side, no matter how corny that may sound. The result being that the Peyton I see today is a happier and more easy going one since she has let her walls down a little and let people see what a great person she is. Granted she still has her moments but I don't doubt for a second, a great future awaits her at Berkeley, where she had gotten a full scholarship in art -X

----------

Although lost in his thoughts Lucas feels something bumping into him and upon turning to that side he realizes it is none other than Nathan Scott.

"Stare much!", Nathan cockily states.

"What!", Lucas irritably asks.

"I thought you were into Haley now, but then again your taste in women does change fast" Nathan answers smirking.

This time around Lucas decides to be the bigger man, not to mention Haley would tear him a new one if he started something today, so he doesn't take the bait handed to him by his littler brother.

X- God he can be such a jerk! I'm glad I have finally come to terms with not having a relationship with him. I can't believe the nerve of that guy putting the moves on Hales even after we officially got together, something that caused some fights between me and Hales. It wasn't that I didn't trust her; it was just that I know how the guy can manipulate people, a skill he has inherited from daddy dearest. Luckily it became clear pretty fast that Haley wasn't falling for it, case closed. Great, now he is winking at Hales, he really is an ass, speaking of asses there is the king of them sitting Dan freaking Scott. Another person I won't be seeing after today, at least I hope so. I can't believe mom can stand being in the same general area as him. What he did to her is unbelievable. I mean I now know everything he went through, but that doesn't exactly help his case, in fact I understand him even less because of it. Well at least I escaped being the spawn of Satan, well technically I didn't but the role I think has been fulfilled by Nathan. Great Scott now you've spaced out again, what is it with me today! Focus now Scott or Hales will…well lets just not go there -X

After that Lucas manages to pay attention to the rest of the speech and the graduation ceremony.

----------

Afterwards Lucas hangs around by the water fountain partly hiding from his mother with an apparent addition to blinding him with flash photography today and partly waiting for Haley, who now comes running towards him and throws herself in his arms. Lucas welcomes the embrace and spins her around; laughing Haley kisses him before he puts her back down.

"Can you believe it? We just graduated High School!" an excited Haley half shouts and starts dancing around a little.

"I know. It feels so unreal but GREAT at the same time", Lucas replies and catches her in his arms again before giving her another kiss.

"Sorry to interrupts your lovebirds" a familiar voice says.

"No problem Peyt" Lucas answers and goes to give her a hug too.

"Wow and I just came to see if you guys are showing up at the party tonight, but hugs are always welcome" Peyton laughs.

"Oh sorry, I'm just happy" an embarrassed Lucas answers.

"Hey Luke I'm not complaining besides we just fucking graduated. We've officially survived the madness that is Tree Hill High School." Peyton smiles and gives Lucas a hug back.

"Hey break it up you two" Haley jokingly protests.

"Ah Hales you know you're the girl for me" Lucas answers, letting go of Peyton.

"So how about tonight?" Peyton acquires when all the joking around has settled down.

"I think we can make an appearance. Hell it is our graduation night, we should be celebrating besides our plane leaves first tomorrow evening", Haley replies her.

"O yeah backpacking through Europe sounds like so much fun, I envy you guys. Are you looking forward to it?"

"You beat" Lucas answers.

"GUYS WE ARE HIGH SCHOOL GRADS! YAHOO!" Brooke comes screaming at them.

"Don't mind her, she looked a little too deep into the champagne bottle this morning", Peyton explains.

"Not to mention during the ceremony", Lucas adds.

"You're kidding right?" Peyton asks arching her eyebrows.

"Afraid not, I saw her drinking something definitely alcoholic she had hidden in her rope"

"That's just great" Peyton signs.

"Whatzzzzz great Peyton bestezzz friend?" Brooke asks slurring a little.

Peyton merely rolls her eyes at her best friend being used to her while Lucas and Haley start laughing.

"You guys I see my daddy waving for us to come, so I better try to get this walking bottle with me and get some coffee into her if she wants to last all night" Peyton says referring to Brooke.

"Ok see ya later"

"Yeah bye" Peyton says and starts dragging a reluctant Brooke towards her dad.

----------

Haley and Lucas stand in silence with their arms around each other, watching Peyton trying to get a whining Brooke to her dad and after five minutes or so the mission is completed and the three of them starts making their way towards the cars. After they seen Peyton, Brooke and Larry getting together, Lucas drags Haley further out of sight before giving her a proper kiss, which undoubtedly would have lead him to fulfil one of his fantasies, if it hadn't been for Ryan's voice reaching their ears.

"As usual my brother has great timing" Haley smiles straightening her hair out before continuing "But I should get going though."

"Yeah" Lucas signs

Reluctantly they get out from their hiding place and almost immediately they spot the James family.

"And there the whole gang are" Haley sarcastically says before turning back to Lucas "Pick me up at eight?"

"Sounds good, see ya then"

Lucas bends down and gives her a quick kiss before she leaves to meet up with her family. He watches Haley making her way over to them and can't help but notice the long and disapproving look that Mrs James shoots his way. Despite that years have passed since the morning she caught them the tension between the two of them haven't eased one bit and probably never will,

X- Damn that woman is stubborn! -X

With a sign Lucas turns around from the James family and goes looking for his mom and uncle.

The End.

----------

There you have it. I know the ending might not seem like an ending and that's what I'm going for: life continues no matter what obstacles you come across. I hope you liked it and I know it's totally AU and some of the characters is a little OOC but that's what fan fiction is for right? Feel free to drop me a line telling me what you thought, about well everything, but if you hated it and just are going to write how I suck, please don't. However constructive criticism is welcome.

Take Care

Bye,