Author's Note: Sorry for the long delay on this. I had surgery done and because of that and the recovery process it takes so long. So here is the next chapter I hope you enjoy it. After this Chapter and the next I'm going to speed up the story into the future. Anyway hope you enjoy. Pece
Chapter 7
Lucas dragged Brooke's heavy suit case into her and Haley's apartment.
"Dag Cheery why do you have all this stuff, we were only gone for three days", said Lucas grunting while pulling her suitcase into their living room.
"I need all my accessories", said Brooke grinning at him.
Lucas rolled his eyes and sighed. Nathan smirked form his position on the coach.
"I hate you little brother", said Lucas glaring.
Right now Haley was cooking him dinner while he watched TV.
"Ahh you know you love me", said Nathan smirking.
Lucas plopped down next to Nathan and stole the remote from him.
"Hey", said Nathan grabbing the remote back.
"Little Brother unhand the remote", said Lucas lunging for the remote.
They began wrestling on the coach while Haley and Brooke sipping on their soda looking at them.
"So should we break it up?", asked Haley.
" Nah, it's good to see them having fun together", said Brooke smiling.
"But they are messing up our living room", said Haley.
"Oh yeah, yo Scott Boys stopping messing with my living room", said Brooke walking towards them and grabbing the remote.
"Brooke", sighed Lucas.
"I'm not joking, I love that coach", said Brooke sitting down on his lap.
Haley walked to them and sat on Nathan's lap.
"So what are we doing for Christmas?", asked Haley snuggling against Nathan.
"Umm maybe we can do that secret Santa Claus thing", suggested Lucas.
"No I want many gifts Lucas", pouted Brooke.
"I thought you like that mystery solving stuff", said Nathan kissing his wife's neck making her giggle and making Lucas groan in disgust.
"Eww, best-friend and brother in the room", said Lucas looking at the couple.
"So! Like you and Brooke are not a little freaky or shall I say kinky", said Haley.
"Eww kinky and my brother should not go in the same sentence", said Nathan shuddering.
"Alright enough of the talk about me and Lucas's excellent sex life", said Brooke making Haley and Nathan make ewww faces and Lucas blush.
"Go play basketball", said Brooke kissing Lucas softly.
"Come little brother, knowing these girls they would want us to go shopping with them or something", said Lucas getting up and placing Brooke on the coach.
"Yeah let's call Peyton, she seemed a little down during the trip", said Haley.
Brooke nodded her head going to their room to call Peyton.
"Baby, I'll talk to you later", said Nathan kissing Haley before following Lucas out.
"River Court?", suggested Lucas.
Nathan nodded his head. They walked towards the River Court.
"Nate I need to talk to you about something", said Lucas.
Nathan nodded his head and sat down on the bench.
"It's about the fire at Dan's dealership", said Lucas.
"What about it?", asked Nathan looking at Lucas.
Lucas took a deep breath. He told Nathan everything down to the fact that Deb was actually the one the tried to kill Dan.
"I told her to leave, I didn't want her to leave you or nothing like that but if Dan ever found out, she needed to be free", said Lucas.
Nathan looked at Lucas and closed his eyes.
"Nathan", said Lucas.
He placed his hands on Nathan's back. Nathan looked down at his hands trying to comprehend what his brother told him.
"Is she going to come back?", asked Nathan in a little boy's voice.
Lucas sighed and said, "I don't know Nate, but she can't be here, not now, when we graduate you can go to her then, she loves you", said Lucas.
"She left me again, to deal with him by myself", yelled Nathan getting up from the bench.
"How could she do that?", asked Nathan looking at the basketball hoop.
Lucas walked up behind him.
"She wanted to be free, she wanted you to be free", said Lucas.
Nathan looked at him with tears in his eyes.
"Why did you save him Luke?", asked Nathan.
Lucas looked down at his hands. Lucas sighed.
"I don't know, want me to tell you something. Some days I wake up and I hate him so much. I hate the fact that he left me and mom to fend for ourselves. I hate the fact that he would ignore me for the better part of me life. I hate the fact that he didn't think I was worth being with. Then there are days that I just wish that he would just love me. That he would be my dad just once", said Lucas looking at Nathan.
Nathan sighed and sat down next to him.
"I wish he wasn't my dad some days. I wished that he would treat me like a son rather than a way to keep his basketball dreams alive. I wish that he would be a dad. One that plays basketball with you just to play not because it was some competition. I love ball Lucas, I really do but sometimes I hate it because of him", said Nathan.
"You know what I fear the most", said Lucas.
"Letting your baby brother whup your ass in basketball, oopps did that already", said Nathan smirking.
"Ha Ha very funny, no seriously, I fear turning out like him", said Lucas.
"I guess me and you are very similar, because that is my biggest fear. I see it sometimes, I'm so much like sometimes. I'm scared that I'm going to hurt Haley because of it", said Nathan. Lucas nodded his head. "I'm scared of that too. I'm scared of hurting Brooke. Man last year me and Brooke we had a scare, a pregnancy scare", said Lucas looking down.
Nathan gasped at that.
"Yeah I hate to say it I didn't handle it very well. Man I was scared out my mind. God I wasn't ready for a baby. Plus me and Brooke were in a bad place then. But you know what happened?", asked Lucas.
"It was this event that made me not regret Dan not being part of me life", said Lucas.
Nathan looked at him.
"You were right when we were playing that game for me to be on the Ravens, remember right here you said he never mention me once, you were right. He didn't even want me. He told me himself. He told my mother to abort me", said Lucas.
"Lucas", sighed Nathan.
"I was a jerk back then, I was mean and God I let him get to me", said Nathan.
"I was trying to hurt you, I was wrong", said Nathan.
"No I know that, I know Nate it's not that. It's not about me and you. It's about me and him", said Lucas taking the basketball he brought.
"This game connects us three you know that. Even Keith doesn't play, we inherit this from him. And for as long as I remember it he has tried to ruin our love for it. We can't let that happen. This is the only thing I know that he can't control. We love this game Nate and he can't take that away", said Lucas looking at Nathan.
"Do you think we can do this. Lucas I'm not as strong as you. Haley is what makes me strong. She was who got me away from him", said Nathan.
"No you got him away for you. It was always you. If you ever feel like you can't you know me, Hales, Brooke, and Peyton are here for you", said Lucas.
"Come one let's play", said Nathan grabbing the basketball from Lucas.
They played well into the night.
"Hey Scott", said Brooke walking up to them with Haley and Peyton following behind them.
Lucas smiled at him while giving her a soft kiss.
"Cheery finish shopping?", asked Lucas.
She nodded her head. Haley gave Nathan a kiss before hugging him tightly.
"Missed you", whispered Haley smiling.
Nathan gave her a quick kiss before walking to the bench.
"Christmas is here soon", said Peyton sitting next to Nathan.
"Yeah, what should we do?", asked Haley.
"Enjoy it, we are in a good place now, so I think no drama just quiet time, you guys can stay over at my house", suggested Nathan.
They nodded their heads.
"Just as long as your dad is not there", said Haley gnawing at her lower lip.
Nathan kissed her forehead. It was no secret that Mr. Scott hates her.
"He won't be there", said Nathan.
Haley nodded her head. She wanted to be with Nathan so badly but she would wait for him. He needed time to trust her, them, again so she would be patient. She knew that Mr. Scott, Dan didn't want them together. Haley wondered where Nathan actually put the annulment papers. She was scared about what he would do with them. Even though she didn't sign them with her name, she was scared that he would want an annulment, that Dan would say something and she would lose him. She kept her fears to herself but sometimes she wished she could tell him how she felt.
"Haley?", asked Nathan looking at her bringing her out of her trance.
"You okay?", asked Nathan looking at his wife.
Haley nodded her head giving him a smile but it didn't reach her eyes. He knew something was wrong but he didn't want to push her. He kissed her on top of the head.
"I love you", whispered Nathan into her ear.
Haley smiled for real this time.
"I love you too", said Haley smiling.
"Lucas", yelled Brooke.
They looked up and but out laughing as Lucas had Brooke thrown over his shoulders running up and down the basketball court.
"I can play", said Brooke pouting when he set her down.
Lucas rolled his eyes giving her the ball. She shocked him when she gave an easy jump shot.
"Ha you show them Brooke", said Peyton.
"You aint the only one with skills Broody", said Brooke smirking.
Lucas shook his head.
"Oh Cheery trying to show me up aint yah", said Lucas kissing her on the nose making her giggle.
"Well yeah", said Brooke.
She let out a scream when he reached over and started tickling her. They rest of them laughed at them. They were silly sometimes.
Christmas Day Nathan's Home………………..
"Presents", yelled Brooke running down the stairs dragging a half asleep Lucas with her.
"Brooke it's like 7 in the morning", said Lucas.
"Presents", giggled Brooke and kissed Lucas on the mouth before running to the tree that she and Haley had set up for the boys.
All of has happened since they had gotten back. Keith came back and no Karen and him were giving it a shot. Lucas was really happy for his mother and Keith. Keith and him but their differences aside and actually he, Keith, and Nathan have been hanging out a lot lately.
Flashback…………
"Go long", said Keith throwing the football to Nathan.
When he almost fell on the ground, Lucas bust out laughing.
"Sue me football is not my game, I'm basketball man", said Nathan wiping his jeans.
"Yeah right", said Lucas still laughing.
"I could beat you up you know", said Nathan glaring at Lucas.
"I'm offended, Keith you hear him, he is threatening to beat me up", said Lucas pouting.
"Yeah that pouting look doesn't work on me, maybe Brooke not me", said Keith laughing with them.
They all sat down on the edge of the sidewalk sipping water and enjoying their time. They never even notice they were being watched by one Dan Scott.
End Flashback………….
"Brooke it's too early", complained Peyton rubbing sleep from her eyes as she took a seat on the coach in the living room where Brooke was excitedly looking at the many gifts under the huge tree that they had put up.
Haley and Nathan came in then and sat down next to Peyton. The phone rang then.
"Hello", said Nathan yawning.
"Nathan?", said the voice.
"Mom?", said Nathan into the phone.
Haley gave him a smile before pointing to the other room telling him that he needed to speak to her in private. Everyone sat around the room for a good twenty minutes before Nathan came in. Lucas gave him a look which Nathan just nodded his head in response.
"Open Present time", said Haley making Brooke squeal in excitement.
The phone rang again.
"These people are trying to take from my present time", pouted Brooke.
Lucas kissed her gently before picking up the phone.
"Oh Hey Corina", said Lucas smiling.
"What?", asked Lucas.
He looked confused for a bit before handing the phone to Peyton. She looked confused before taking the phone.
"Hey girl", said Corina into the phone.
"Hey Corina what's up?", asked Peyton.
"Well I have sent you a Christmas gift", said Corina.
"Gift, alright", said Peyton looking confused.
"Yeah now go to the door", said Corina giggling.
"Why do I have to go to the door?", asked Peyton.
"For your present, Peyton, come on chop chop", said Corina laughing into the phone.
"Alright Alright", said Peyton.
Everyone got up following Peyton.
"Now open the door", said Corina.
Peyton rolled her eyes before turning the knob.
"Surprise", yelled Corina into her ear.
Peyton was shocked. Her mouth hanging open.
"Hey Peyton, I'm back", said Jake looking at a stunned Peyton as he held baby Jenny in his arms.
"Peyton move you ass and hug the boy", yelled Corina into the phone.
This shocked Peyton out of her trance. She ran towards them.
"Jake", whispered Peyton with tears slipping down her face.
"Jenny", smiled Peyton kissing the girl on her forehead.
"Merry Christmas Peyton", said Jake smiling at her.
Jake looked up to see Brooke and Lucas embracing each other and Haley holding Nathan's hands, all four people smiling at him. He walked into the house to get their Christmas celebration underway.
"Presents", yelled Brooke when Jake shut the door.
Dan stared at his reflection in the mirror in his bedroom. He sighed and sat down on his bed. He looked around. Here is was Christmas Day and he was alone. It wasn't shocking really, who would want to be around him. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He looked up when he heard the door bell ring. He sighed and got up to open the door. Who he saw at the other end shocked him.
"Dad", said Nathan and Lucas standing there.
Dan's eyes looked at both his boys.
"What are you doing here?", asked Dan.
"We need to talk", said Lucas.
Dan looked at him before nodding his head. He opened the door wider and walked inside.
"Well come on I don't have all day", said Dan.
Nathan walked in followed in by Lucas. Lucas turned around and shut the door but not before taking a deep breath for what he knew would be a hard conversation.