Family Picnic

Haley walked over to the picnic table with hands full of Tupperware. Nathan was putting a table cloth over the table and Dakota ran around the court while her 10 year old brother, Bobby started to throw his basketball at the basket. Nathan smiled at his son with pride. Haley walked up to her husband. She set the Tupperware on the table and wrapped her arms around her husband. "You know, it wasn't that long ago when that was you out there."

Nathan smiled and gave his wife a quick squeeze. She smiled and unleashed her grip from his waist and turned back to their mini-van. She grabbed a few more plastic bowls full of food and closed her trunk and made her way back to the table.

Dakota ran up to her parents, "Chalk!"

Nate frowned, "What?"

Haley turned to her daughter and smiled, "Dakota, how do we ask nicely?"

The teeny girl sighed, "Chalk please!?"

Nate laughed and Haley smiled. She reached across the table and grabbed a big tub of chalk and handed it to her daughter, "Here you go."

Dakota grabbed the tub, "Thanks!" and ran off on the side of the basketball court and began to draw.

Nathan and Haley laughed at their daughter. Just then, 2 more mini-vans pulled onto the grass next to Nathan and Haley's. Bobby watched the cars excitedly. He had made the basket he had just shot, but he quickly lost interest by the arrival of his cousins. He left his ball under the hoop and ran over to the cars. "Uncle Luke!"

Dakota heard the commotion and also looked up. She smiled and dropped what she was doing. She stood up and ran as fast as she could to her family. Lucas had stepped out of the car and was soon greeted with his 5 year old niece. He swooped her up into a hug. "Hi North Dakota! How's one of my favorite nieces?"

She giggled at her nickname, "Good!!"

Haley and Nathan walked over hand in hand to greet their family. While Dakota greeted Lucas' car, Bobby had run over to Brooke's car. Lucas set Dakota down and everyone hugged each other and greeted each other with warm smiles and 'hellos'. Bobby pulled his boy cousins away from the family and quickly got them started in a game of HORSE. Bobby was by far the best one. Lucas laughed, "You think that I would have been able to pass on my basketball skills to a son, but I got stuck with 3 girls!" Nate laughed and Peyton hit her husband in the stomach gently. Lucas laughed and soon recovered explaining, "Of course, I love my baby girls though."

Peyton smiled, "Yea, you better."

Dakota, Becca and Ellie ran off to play with the chalk. Dakota had started drawing a sun. Becca decided to color a dress and Ellie began drawing a picture of the world. Ellie was by far the best artist of the three girls, but none of them had really noticed. Parker and Shanelle sat on another side of the court with their dolls and began to play with each other. The adults all laughed at their kids who got along so well. They unloaded their cars and brought food to the picnic table. Lucas carried Anna's car seat and set it on the table. He sighed, "Go to sleep baby..."

Peyton looked over her husband's shoulder at her baby, "She'll be fine Luke. Don't worry so much about her."

"Sorry, I can't help it."

Peyton nodded, "I know. You just care and I love you for it, but relax."

Luke nodded and put a blanket over Anna and faced his attention towards everyone else. "So Hales, who all did you invite to this party?" Haley smiled at herself. She hadn't told him his mom was going to be there. It was her little surprise for her best friend. Just as she opened her mouth to answer a mustang pulled up. It was Keith's old car. Lucas gave it to his mom, Karen, when he had gotten married and they bought the mini-van. Lucas turned to see who was pulling up and smiled when he recognized the car. He turned back to Haley, "Oh, trying to be sneaky?" Haley shrugged and smiled. Lucas got up from the picnic table and walked over to the car to greet his mom and little brother, Keith Jr. Lucas gave Karen a big hug and high fived little Keith. Keith ran off to play basketball with his nephews and the boys began a game of two-on-two; Keith and Bobby vs. Ricky and Scott. The teams were a little unfair since Keith and Bobby were the best players between the four, but they didn't seem to care. Lucas helped his mom carry Tupperware to the table and she greeted everyone with hugs.

Haley smiled, "Thanks for coming Karen."

"Oh, thanks for inviting me! Keith loves playing with Bobby..."

"I know. They get along so well."

Nathan chimed in, "And they both know how to smoke Brooke's kids in some basketball!"

Everyone laughed and Brooke retorted, "Hey! At least my kids look good doing it." Everyone laughed again and Dave kissed his wife for the effort.

Karen sat down by the car seat that was holding Anna and she smiled, "And how is my granddaughter doing?"

Peyton cut in before Lucas could answer, "She is doing fine. She is recovering very nicely."

"Good," Karen smiled and gave Anna a kiss on the head.

Peyton wrapped her arms around her husband and smiled at the scene between Karen and Anna. Luke kissed her on the head and let out a small sigh.

Brooke watched Lucas and Peyton and smiled. She was ok. They really did belong together. She did love Luke, but it was ok. Dave was the perfect guy for her. She turned and watched the kids playing and smiled at Luke and Peyton's blonde daughters having fun. She smiled at their girls' names. Anne and Ellie had been named after Peyton's mothers and Parker was an original name. It pained Brooke to think that Peyton didn't have her mothers around. But Brooke knew that Peyton was strong and would be the best mother she could be.

Haley searched through her bag and pulled out a small radio. She turned it on to Mouth's radio station so they could also listen to their old friend talk and play music. Brooke smiled at the sound of Mouth's voice. He had always been there for her and now he finally was doing what he loved.

Haley sighed, "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's eat!" Everyone smiled and began to dig in to the Tupperware bowls.