A/N; Ok, I would really like to apologise to all my readers/reviewers for taking so long to update, but here it is - the penultimate chapter! Please please review and tell me what you think!

CHAPTER 14

Lucas stepped slowly out of the hospital's main doors and squinted as the sun shone in his eyes. Two weeks had passed since his surgery and it felt like forever since he had breathed fresh air. Brooke came bouncing up beside him, her excitement barely contained as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "You're finally going home! I'll finally have you in the privacy of your own bedroom where I can "nurse" you back to full health."

"I look forward to it." Lucas whispered as he nuzzled his girlfriend's neck.

Karen followed behind them, folding up Lucas's prescriptions and putting them into her purse. "You are going to be taking these every day Lucas Eugene Scott, if I have to hold you down and pour them down your throat myself." she scolded as she put the last of Lucas's belongings into the car. Luckily, Keith had collected the bulk of it the previous day because Karen would never have been able to move all the junk Lucas had accumulated after spending a month in hospital.

"Nathan and Haley are going to be at the house when we get there. We're having a little welcome home party but act surprised because I wasn't supposed to tell you that." Brooke babbled as she buckled up beside him. Karen started the engine. "It says only one a day of each so that won't be too hard to remember - you could take them when you have your breakfast each morning. Apparently they're very effective. Very little side effects." Lucas rolled his eyes - he'd been through all of this with Dr. Harte.

"Mouth and Skills and the entire gang are going to be there too. Haley baked you a cake, but again, act surprised when you see it because she spent, like, all night baking it and I swore I wouldn't tell you but you know how terrible I am at keeping secrets. Do you remember in 8th grade when Bevin made out with Charlie Hatcher at Sophia Taylor's pool party? I totally couldn't keep my mouth shut."

"I didn't hang out with you in 8th grade, but I actually heard about that. Wasn't Charlie Hatcher the kid with really bad psoriasis?" Brooke nodded enthusiastically.

"Hatcher the Scratcher! It was so gross!" Brooke shuddered dramatically and feigned itchiness over her whole body.

"Kids can be so cruel. . ." Lucas chuckled. "His psoriasis cleared up you know. He's on the varsity wrestling team, he's pretty good."

"I know, Bevin asked him out last week and he turned her down. Can you believe it? Hatcher the Scratcher turned down Bevin Thomas. When he was in 8th grade, she was his dream girl, and now he's too good for her? Who does he think he is?" Brooke fumed.

Lucas shrugged. "The captain of the varsity wrestling team. . . ? He's a jock, he can pretty much have who he wants now. Girls are throwing themselves at him and he can drop them when he's done. He's a player."

"Is that right?" Brooke was being mock serious now, her eyes dancing. "And how many girls threw themselves at you last season?"

Lucas shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not like all those other guys - I don't do cheerleaders." He could see the smile playing on his mother's lips up front and Brooke cocked her eyebrow at him.

"You don't 'do' cheerleaders?" she questioned, trying her best to be serious.

"You know what I mean! Obviously, there's one cheerleader I do. No, not 'do', oh man, you know what I mean!" Lucas sighed, exasperated.

"I have no idea what you mean, Lucas." Brooke said innocently. "What do you do with cheerleaders? And to the best of my recollection, there has been more than one cheerleader hasn't there? Not to mention skanky carousel ho's." Brooke was thoroughly enjoying torturing him, especially when she knew how uncomfortable he was discussing his past exploits in front of his mother.

Karen laughed at her son's discomfort. "Lucas, I am quite aware that you are no angel. You kids forget that we adults have been there and done that years before you. I could tell you guys some stories. . ."

"Ooh do tell!" Brooke giggled when Lucas made a face.

"Please don't!" Lucas begged. "I do not need to hear any stories about my mom's wild days. My heart, literally, could not take it. I mean it, you'll have to turn the car right around and drive me back to hospital!"

They eventually arrived back at Karen's house and Lucas put on his best 'surprised' face as everyone welcomed him home. Haley, however, didn't buy it.

"Brooke told you didn't she?" Haley scowled at Brooke. "I knew it! I told you we should never have told her, she can't keep anything secret!"

"Hey! I can too!" Brooke yelled back.

Nathan came up behind Haley and rested his hands on her shoulders, soothing her. Haley's anger dissolved at his touch and she shrugged at Lucas. "Surprise" she said half-heartedly and hugged her best friend.

"Thank you" Lucas whispered, squeezing her tightly. "For everything."

The party got underway and after a couple of hours, Lucas was exhausted. He took a step back from the party and quietly watched his nearest and dearest have a good time. He loved that everybody was here, even the guys from the team had showed up including Tim, who was unsure as to whether he was supposed to talk to Lucas, but after Nathan had assured him that things were cool now, he agreed to come. He was now losing badly to Skills in the NBA Playstation tournament.

As he snacked on the chips and dips, Lucas caught Brooke's eye from across the room where she was deep in conversation with a few girls from the cheerleading squad about her plans for the new season. A silent conversation of facial expressions took place, her asking him if he was ok and him assuring her that he was good. Deb joined him at the snacks table and filled her plate with an assortment of goodies. "It's a nice change from hospital food isn't it?" she smiled as she nudged his ribs with her elbow.

"God, yes. Mom is cooking pot roast for me and Keith tomorrow and I can tell you, it's going to be the best damn pot roast I'll ever have." Lucas's mouth almost watered thinking about it.

"Karen is probably going to spoil you rotten over the next few weeks."

"Yeah, I've been trying to come up with a list of things I can get away with. Total control of the TV, no chores, home cooked meals every day. Bliss. . ." Lucas grinned .

"Until she gets sick of sports and action movies…"

"Yeah, then I'm on my own."

"So you and Keith are ok now?" Deb asked.

"Yeah, we're getting there. We're talking, which is a start I guess." Lucas looked over to where Keith was entertaining Karen and Whitey with another of his anecdotes about some of the guys he worked with in Chicago.

"He loves you very much, Lucas. Any fool can see that you're like a son to him." Deb pointed out.

"I know." Lucas lowered his eyes and changed the subject. "How are you, Deb? How's Baby Scott?"

"I'm fantastic, thank you for asking Lucas." Deb replied amusingly. "And Baby Scott, or Kaylen, as we are now calling her, is doing great too. We'll get to meet her in less than 2 months." she smiled lovingly as she rubbed her bump.

"Then the fun really begins, right?"

"Oh yes. You and Nathan are going to have lots of fun when I put you guys on diaper changing duty!"

Lucas grimaced and threw away the piece of chicken he'd been chewing on. "Great." he said sarcastically.

"Who's on diaper changing duty?" Nathan asked cheerfully as he approached his mother and brother.

"You don't want to know. I'll let you boys catch up." Deb laughed heartily as she picked up her full plate and waddled over to the 'grown ups corner'.

Nathan looked at Lucas expectantly. "We have to help take care of a baby." Lucas frowned. "I didn't think I'd have to deal with babies until I at least hit 30."

"When we're 30, she'll be almost 13. How weird is that?" Nathan looked panicked. "When we're 40 she'll be barely old enough to drink!" he shook his head in despair.

"Do you think she'll look like either of us?" Lucas mused.

"I hope for her sake that she looks nothing like you." Nathan laughed when his brother glared at him.

"It'll be cool though." Lucas said seriously as he watched Deb sit down on a sofa and carefully balance her plate on her bump.

"Yeah. It'll be cool." Nathan agreed, also watching.

Karen woke suddenly at the sound of the phone ringing, reaching wearily for the handset beside her bed and realising it was still dark out and her clock read 4.05am.

"Hello?" she mumbled into the phone.

"Karen? It's Nathan. Mom and I are at the hospital. Can you come down? I don't know what to do…"

"Is she ok? What happened? I'll be there in 20 minutes!" Karen slammed down the phone without waiting for a reply to her questions and jumped out of bed. She was fully awake now and pulling on a pair of sweatpants and a sweater, while hurrying to Lucas's room.

"Lucas." she called as she switched on the light and began to pull clothes from his closet. "Lucas get up! Deb's in hospital, we have to go!"

Lucas's eyes flew open, not sure he was actually awake. "What? What's going on?" A pair of jeans landed on his head and he rolled out of his bed, his eyes still half closed. He dressed as quickly as he could ignoring the creases down one side of his face and silently saying prayers of thanks that Brooke had sneaked home a little earlier than usual tonight.

They arrived at the hospital in record time, having only just left the place a few days before. It didn't take them long to find Nathan who was pacing the waiting room as Haley tried to offer words of comfort. She too had received a frantic phonecall and was still dressed in her pink teddy bear pyjamas with a jean jacket and sketchers thrown on.

"What happened?" Karen asked, quickly taking control of the situation and easing Nathan into a seat next to her.

"I'm not sure. She started having contractions and she came into my room, crying that it was too early. It's way too early isn't it? The damn doctors won't tell me anything!" Nathan slammed his fist into the plastic seat, his frustration growing.

Karen took his hand, trying to calm him down. "It's ok. Don't panic, babies are born early all the time. It's going to be fine. Haley, Lucas will you stay with Nathan while I find Deb's doctor?" Karen was already halfway down the hall.

It didn't take her long to find Dr. Callie Murphy, Deb's obstetrician. She assured Karen that Deb was getting the best care possible, and yes, she was in labour.

"She's not full term yet, aren't you going to stop the labour?" Karen asked, her voice full of concern.

"No it's too late for that. It seems Baby Scott is eager to come out already. The only problem is, she hasn't fully turned yet."

"She's breach?" Karen's eyes widened. "Will you have to perform a C-Section?"

"We're going to have to wait and see." Dr. Callie answered. "We're monitoring Deb and the baby carefully. You can go in and see her. I know she's anxious to see Nathan. He can go in too."

Nathan felt a little easier after seeing Deb. She didn't look as awful as she had at the house and she was a little calmer. Her contractions were still coming but everyone was assuring him that this was ok. What choice did he have but to believe them?

"She's an impatient little madam isn't she?" Deb joked in between contractions. She and Nathan had agreed that he wouldn't be in the delivery room when the time came and she was as glad as he was. Nothing was weirder than a teenage boy watching his mother give birth. He did not need to see that, so it was Karen who would be beside her for support. Keith and Brooke had now arrived at the hospital so Deb was getting her fair share of visitors. She allowed a moment to think about Dan and how he wouldn't be there to see his daughter born as he had his son. She felt a wave of sadness but another agonising contraction shoved away those thoughts.

"How much longer is it going to be?" Lucas yawned, slightly frustrated and bored. It was past dawn and there was still no sign of the baby being born.

"How weird is it that this baby is my sister-in-law?" Haley asked, clearly ignoring Lucas's grouchiness. He never had been a morning person.

"She would only be your sister-in-law if you and Nathan were still married." Lucas snapped.

"Ok, snappy pants! Why don't you just chill? Go to sleep or something." Haley retorted.

"I'm sorry. It's just taking so long! Why does it take so long? I mean the birth canal isn't that long, right? Why can't they just yank her outta there and be done with it?" Lucas reasoned.

"Ok, number one - Ew! And number two-" Haley slapped Lucas across the back of his head. "Insensitive man! You have no idea what Deb is going through and all you're worried about is your own discomfort! When you get kicked in the crotch 20 times in a row, then come back and complain." Haley sighed. "Just wait and see how insensitive you'll be when it's Brooke in there in labour with your child."

"Brooke? In labour? Are you crazy? She'll book herself into the most expensive clinic in the country and have a C-Section on her chosen day. And that's only if, God forbid, she actually did get pregnant. Brooke doesn't do stretch marks and swollen ankles. We'll be probably do a Brad and Angelina and adopt our brood from each continent." Lucas chuckled. He looked around carefully to make sure Brooke hadn't overheard him. She had disappeared about an hour ago to put the finishing touches to the cardigan she was knitting for the baby.

"You want kids?" Haley asked, a little surprised.

"Yeah sure, someday. A whole bunch of them." Lucas smiled at the thought. "Don't you?"

"I don't know. It wasn't really something Nathan and I discussed before we go married. But I guess, yeah, I'd like one maybe. Or two to keep it even. A boy and girl." Haley warmed to the subject. "But we won't have a family right away. We both want to go to college and have careers."

"Talking about the future is weird isn't it?" Lucas half whispered. "Two years ago it was just you and me making plans to sneak backstage at a Green Day concert so you could convince Billy Joe to marry you and climb to the top of the Empire State building to spit over the edge."

"And now here we are talking about marriage and kids. Oh my god, spit over the edge? Were we that gross?" Haley made a face that made Lucas laugh out loud.

"We don't have to think about that stuff just yet. We're only 18. We'll have this conversation again after college." Lucas patted Haley's knee. "Until then, we spit over the side of buildings."

A little after 10 am, Deb's waters broke. The baby had not yet turned so an emergency C-Section was ordered. Karen followed the gurney as Deb was wheeled into the delivery room, both women gripping each other's hands tightly.

"Ok Deb, little Kaylen is getting a little distressed so we're going to get her out of there." Dr. Callie smiled at Deb. "Don't worry, you're both in good hands."

For a long time, Deb wasn't sure what was going on. She was pretty out of it on painkillers but she saw immediately when Dr. Callie lifted her little girl from her.

"Congratulations, Deb, you have a little girl." That was all Deb heard before her baby was brought to the other side of the room. She hadn't heard her baby cry yet.

"Where is she Karen? Where are they taking her?" Deb cried..

"Sssshhh, it's ok. They're just cleaning her up and helping her to breathe. She's really small."

"Is she ok?" Tears were rolling down Deb's cheeks when Dr. Callie cam back over to her.

"She's ok Deb. We just have to make sure she can breathe by herself. She's a tiny one, only 4 pounds. We're going to put her into an incubator for a little while but you can see her soon."

Nathan and Lucas sat on either side of the incubator. It had been several hours since Kaylen was born and her brothers were eventually allowed to visit her while Deb rested. She was breathing by herself and both boys stroked a hand each through the incubator windows.

"She's so tiny." Nathan was completely in awe of the tiny little person before him.

"She's looking right at me." Lucas smiled at her. "Her eyes are so blue."

"She's not looking at you, she can't see you yet. She's listening to your voice."

"Well she likes my voice then. Her hair is so dark and there's so much of it." Lucas laughed lightly. "I guess she is like you after all."

"She looks like him doesn't she?" Nathan met Lucas's gaze and his brother nodded. Both thought about their father for a moment.

"I don't think I'll be able to hold her, I'm terrified I'll break her." Lucas said, almost to himself.

"She's so tiny." Nathan repeated.

A few hours after giving birth, Deb was wheeled into see her baby by a nurse. Nathan and Lucas were still in the room, still staring at their new baby sister.

"How is she?" Deb asked getting up out of the wheelchair, wincing in pain. Nathan hurried to her side and helped her into the chair he'd been sitting beside the incubator.

"She's perfect." Lucas answered.

"How are you feeling mom?" Nathan asked.

"Not bad, considering I just had my stomach cut open." Deb smiled weakly. Her face lit up as she watched her daughter and Lucas excused himself, leaving to go and find Karen and Keith now that he had a full description of Kaylen.

Nathan watched his mother and smiled. He had never seen her look so happy and this was a great relief for him. He knew she'd been a little upset these past few weeks that she had no one to share her joy with but he had assured her that she would never be alone, that she always had him for support.

"This is where our new life begins, Nate." Deb whispered as she stroked her baby's fuzzy black hair. "You, me and Kaylen. It all begins now." she looked up at her son, her eyes glistening. "I'm going to be a good mother this time, I promise."

"You are a good mother, Mom." Nathan argued.

"I've let you down in the past, but I won't anymore." Deb pulled Nathan into a hug. "We're all in this together. Karen, Lucas and Keith too. They're our family."

"And Haley." Nathan added.

Deb smiled brightly. "Haley too. We should probably add Brooke, because she knitted the most beautiful cardigan for Kaylen and I wouldn't want to leave her out."

"Not if she had anything to say about it anyway." Nathan laughed. Both mother and son fell silent as they watched the new addition to their family sleep peacefully.