He still remembered Lily's birth like it was yesterday; being there in that room, hearing her cry for the first time, watching her squirm as the nurse weighed her. Four years had flown by; he honestly didn't know where they'd gone or how he'd managed it. The shock of being given guardianship overly Lily had never really worn off, although as he'd asked himself at the time who else were they going to give her to? Lucas' life had changed the instant the decision was made, his dreams of college set a side for a life beside Lily, raising her to be someone their Mom and Keith would be proud of.
Haley and Nathan had been a great help as they too became submerged in the unknown, plunging head first into the world of first time parenthood. Haley took to it like a duck to water, but not without the odd emotional wobble along the way. She became wonder woman balancing motherhood and a full time college course with seeming ease. Although sometimes Lucas thought she was just like that duck in another way, calm and collected, travelling smoothly to where she wanted to go but under the surface the legs were working overdrive. Then Nathan would step in and make her realise she didn't need to try to be super mom anymore. He'd rather she was happy. Nathan had changed the most in Lucas' eyes, just 6 years ago he'd been that pompous, womanising egotistical jerk he'd played on the River Court, now he was the model father, husband and coach few had ever considered him to have the potential to become. Lucas had been wrong about him and was happy to admit it.
Nathan shoved a slice of cold, cheese pizza into Lucas' hand, dragging his brother out of his daydream. "Earth to Luke. Didn't you hear the door?" There was another knock; it seemed distant like it was in another world. Lucas shook away the remnants of his thoughts and realised Haley had left the room, presumably to answer the knock on the door.
"Sorry man, I was miles away." Lucas looked up at his little brother and took a bite of his pizza, before he got out of his chair and headed for the hallway to see who it was calling at this hour.