Chapter 18

In a dark world filled with confusion and hate a shimmer of light is seen at the end of the tunnel. Though the feeling of never reaching it resides in all of us…I am here to tell you that in the end you do reach that place. And let me tell you it's even better than in your dreams.

It is a place where good and evil can coincide with each other. A place where there is no door for hate only love. Where who you are is not decided on the clothes you wear or your social standing. It is a magical place – a place of wonder.

It is home.

xoxox

My name is Lucas Scott and this is the end of my book yet not the end of our story. I know I left you on a climax – with the news of Taylor's parentage and no real answers to some of your questions.

What happened to Nathan and Haley?

Who married who?

Questions that for a while bothered me too. But not all questions are meant to be answered. And some…well some don't really have an answer.

My story has an introduction and in all sense it has a conclusion…but it no way does it end.

My name is Lucas Scott and this was the story of the white house and the people who lived and loved there.

oOoOoOoOoOo

"My name is Giuliana DiPandi for E! News and I'm here at the release of the long awaited movie – White Houses. It's been five years since the real life characters of Lucas Scott's books – White Houses and Return to the White House – were last seen in the spotlight…and the question on everyone's lips is what happened to them! Lucas Scott left a bunch of questions in his book – deciding not to tell the readers if their favourite couples reached each other in the end – a risky move but one that paid off." Giuliana said into the screen as the crowd went wild in the background. She smiled as she watched the celebrities walk down the red carpet. She interviewed Matt Damon, Jennifer Aniston and many more celebrities. Suddenly all attention was turned to the red carpet and she smiled as she turned to the camera.

"The movie's stars have just arrived!" she replied with giddiness as she motioned them closer.

"Oh goodness we have a huge group here. Let me just list them all for you. It's Haley James with Milo Ventimiglia – who plays Nathan - as her date, Nathan Scott and Rachel McAdams – who plays Haley, Peyton Sawyer and her husband Jake Jagielski, Lucas Scott and Alexis Bledel – who plays Brooke, Brooke Davis and Justin Hartley – who plays Lucas, Channing Tatum – who plays himself - and girlfriend Jenna Dewan, Tyler Hilton who plays Jake and Hayden Panettiere who plays Peyton. Wow…all paired up tonight!" she laughed and the group laughed together as Nathan stepped forward.

"That's so don't realize who is with who…except Channing and Jake…that couldn't be helped. You guys suck for not playing along!" he laughed as he hit Channing on the shoulder who just grinned at him from the side. Giuliana laughed again as she watched them react.

"So I see there isn't any hate feelings left between you two… the book showed a really tense situation." She commented and Peyton laughed.

"Oh Lucas has this magnificent way to over-exaggerate everything…"

"Hey!" he shouted and everyone burst out laughing.

The photographers called the original five to take photos – leaving the rest of them on the small stage.

"So…any clues on what the ending is like?" Giuliana asked hopefully and Milo laughed as he shook his head.

"I wish we could but even we are kept in the secret about the end…we didn't shoot that scene…"

oOoOoOoOoOo

(Movie)

"Nobody is going to take her away from you…and nobody hates you. This wasn't your fault. Oh god I love you so much…" Milo whispered to Rachel who sobbed into his shoulder. The screen went black and the whole crowd was a light with the sudden end coming closer. Haley who sat next to Nathan – gave his hand a quick squeeze and he smiled at her.

A 10 year old Taylor's face filled the screen as she held the camera upside down and frowned. Lucas stood behind her – laughing and she scolded him.

"This isn't funny uncle Luke…" he moved forward – quickly moving it right – before he stepped back in front of the camera.

"Is it better now Tay?"

"Much." Lucas smiled as he addressed the camera.

"My name is Lucas Scott…and welcome to the finale of white houses. When we sat down – the five of us – and decided to do this movie we had only one rule. No actors would play us in the finale. No offence to the actors who played us…you guys did an amazing job. But we wanted you all to see the real love between us all. So here we are. It's five years after we left the house – to give you some timeframe to work with…" he laughed.

Taylor walked away from him to a heavily pregnant Peyton sitting with Jake. She smiled at the camera and Jake kissed her temple.

"Hey…I'm Peyton Sawyer and this is my oh so loving husband Jake Jagielski. And this here," she said, patting her stomach, "is our amazing twins that should be born any day now." She laughed and Jake took it as his time to talk.

"Not much changed for us after the whole white house thing. We still love each other dearly…and Peyton still paints. So yeah…I guess we just learned to love each other with everything."

"Oh…and he got to play dad with Taylor for a day which made him love kids so much… we had Jenny 10 months later!" Peyton laughed and Jake smiled as they shared a quick kiss.

Taylor laughed as she moved to Brooke who was sitting on the sofa a few feet away. Brooke smiled at the little girl as she quickly leaned in to kiss her before setting herself back on the sofa.

"Hello world. Brooke Davis talking…you know…Clothes Over Bros creator…and fiancé to the most wonderful man on earth…" she started as she showed her diamond ring to the camera.

"Who? Brad Pitt?" Peyton asked and Brooke gave a snort as Lucas made himself comfortable behind her.

"You better be talking about me sweetheart." He added as he kissed her and Brooke sighed.

"Oh I'm sorry…I'm engaged to this complete idiot next to me." He watched her from the side and took a long sip of his drink before he answered ever so casually.

"I love you too darling."

Laughter filled the room as Brooke rolled her eyes at Lucas before she turned her attention the camera.

"Here goes scary-Brooke! Attention stealing Brooke!" Peyton giggled at the side and Brooke shot her a glance before she turned back.

"You guys really should give a big ups to the white house. It brought me and Lucas back together again. We've been happily engaged for a year now…and no I won't say when the date is." She laughed and settled herself back in Lucas' arms.

"I still write and she still creates clothes. But now we have a much more…faithful and open relationship." Lucas spoke up and Brooke nodded.

"Now why don't we go find your mother…" he added and quickly took Taylor.

They slowly opened the door and found the most beautiful sight in the world. Haley and Nathan lay on the bed fast asleep – his hand softly trailing over her expanded stomach – as a young boy slept between them. Lucas quickly aimed the camera at himself.

"Yeah you guessed it…Nathan and Haley got married soon after the fight. He adopted Taylor and they had little Keith Scott three years ago. In the cradle there lies Karen-Rose Scott who is one year old and in a few months another baby will join their clan. Haley doesn't act that much anymore…rather concentrating on her family. Nathan still plays ball…you probably still see him on telly. Oh and she found out about his room dedicated to her…" Lucas quickly informed them as the camera turned back towards the sleeping couple. Lucas moved to pick up Keith as a manly voice stopped him dead in his tracks.

"Lucas Scott I will kill you if my boy wakes up after you try to pick him up." Lucas snickered as Taylor turned the camera towards Nathan who glared at them through his half-asleep eyes. Carefully he sat up and tucked Keith in before he yawned and stood up.

"Sorry. It's just Keith is at the stage where he refuses to sleep unless one of us is with him. And this pregnancy is taking its toll on us…so we try to get in as much sleep as possible." He said and Lucas nodded in understanding.

"Oh he did not… I'm the one carrying the child…" Haley spoke and everyone laughed softly as she sat up and stood next to him. He gave her a kiss on the forehead before the camera shifted and Taylor was suddenly in front of it. She hugged Haley and Nathan as she let her hands travel over Haley's expanded stomach.

"Hey baby brother…" she kissed her stomach and they all smiled as Nathan picked her up in one swift motion.

"What does daddy's princess want for lunch?" he asked and Taylor grinned.

"Popcorn!" she yelled and suddenly a crying was heard in the background. Nathan shot Haley an apologetic smile as she went to pick up Karen-Rose.

Lucas walked out and as soon as he was alone he turned the camera on himself.

"That's it folks…wish we could show you more…but maybe one day you'll meet our children who will tell you all about us. Just know we all finally got our happy ending. As for the white house? We share it…spend all our free time there together. Who knows…maybe there is a white house in your future. Just keep dreaming and remember nothing is impossible. With all our love – go with peace into this world…and we'll see you at the other side. This is Lucas Scott taking the hounours for Haley James-Scott, Nathan Scott, Brooke Davis, Peyton Sawyer, Jake Jagielski and myself signing off and leaving you with one last thought right out of the mother off all saints." He paused as he smiled.

"Do not hide amazing work because you are scared of what the others will think. You are your own person. Love yourself." He smiled whole-heartedly as he set the camera down. It was set so everyone saw as they all moved around the table and sang happy birthday to Taylor who afterwards ran to the camera – smiled at it and switched it off.

The end of one white house…

And the start of another.