Disclaimer: I do not own OTH or any of it characters, places or such. I am simply borrowing them
AN/ Okay, I am really sorry for the lack of an update. I moved and then Thanksgiving came and I just have not had time to write. I have been thinking about it though. I hope to have the next chapter up faster than this one. Please review!
As always suggestions are welcome!
Nathan walked in the double doors at the back of the church and towards the double doors of the sanctuary. Nathan opened the door as his brother started to speak.
"Keith James Scott was a fine man" Lucas started as he looked towards the back and saw Nathan walk in the door. He looked at Nathan and then looked towards his mom.
"He is the only father I have ever known." Lucas continued, "He thought of others before himself and he never took credit for anything. When Nathan and I went off to UNC, dad took us both aside and gave us a credit card. He told us to use it only in extreme emergencies and that the bill would come to the shop so mom didn't find out. As soon as he gave it to us he walked right up to mom and told her. Dad was an honest man who could not and wouldn't keep anything from anybody. I can remember the look of joy on his face the day that Meredith was born; he finally had his little girl. He spoiled that little girl rotten and she had him around her little finger and she knew it. I remember the last time I talked to dad; it was just last Sunday evening. I was calling as I always do to check in and I told him that we had a game in Miami on Tuesday. He told me to be nice to my brother, the same thing that he has told me every time I have ever played in a game against Nathan even when we were little. I said that I would try, but I couldn't promise anything, which made him laugh. I told him that I would see him soon and that I loved him. He told me that he loved me also and asked me to make sure that I called him after the game with the outcome. I never got to make that phone call. I am glad though that I got to talk to him one last time. One last time to last a lifetime" Lucas finished and walked back to his seat next to him mom. Meredith instantly climbed back into his lap.
Nobody immediately stood to say anything, so Nathan started walking from the back of the church towards the front urging himself to go on. He stopped beside his mom and leaned down to give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, "Hey mom" was all he said as he paused in his walk towards the front. As he approached the open casket, he noticed that the casket was wood that must of come from an oak tree and was stained dark. 'Dad never did like light wood' he thought to himself as he looked down at his father. Keith was dressed like he dressed everyday of his life, blue jeans and a t-shirt. Nathan smiled to himself, 'just the way he wanted it'
Nathan turned to face the congregation as he began, "We just lost a good man. Many of you have known my dad his entire life or even your entire life. Some of you may have watched him grow up; some grow up with him and some he was here to watch you grow up. No matter what, everyone in Tree Hill knew Keith Scott. Dad was the man that I have strived to be like my entire life. He was caring, compassionate, kind, and helpful and always there when you needed him. Don't get me wrong when you upset him, you knew it, but you never doubted that he loved you. He was the best father that Lucas or I could have asked for and somewhere along the way he ended up being a father to our friends. To this day, he has told people that he has many children. He will be missed, but I know that his memory will live on through us, the many people that he touched. Rest in Peace, Dad" Nathan finished as he turned to look at his father one last time and then walked towards his family. He sat down beside his mother, opposite Lucas and put his arm around her.
"I am so proud of you, Nate. I know your dad is too"
"Thanks Mom"
As the preacher concluded the service, he placed the bible that he had read from in the casket with Keith and walked towards Karen.
Lucas stood as did Skills, Jake, and Mouth. Jack, a life long friend of Keith's also stood.
"Nathan, If you would like we could use you to carry dad outside" Lucas said to his brother.
"I would be honored" Nathan said as he stood and walked with his brother. Soon the congregation cleared the church and only the pall bearers and the preacher remained. They all stood around the open casket saying their last silent goodbyes. Nathan and Lucas slowly shut the lid together then took their position at the front of the casket on either side. Jake and Skills behind Nathan on the right hand side and Mouth and Jack behind Lucas on the left hand side.
"In honor of dad" Nathan said as they lifted the casket off of the stand and headed towards the open side door leading to the cemetery.
The door to the house opened later that evening as Meredith, Lucas, Karen and Nathan entered.
"Wow, mom you have really done a lot with the place" Nathan said
"That's what I said" Lucas replied
"I like it like this" Karen replied to her two sons
"That's all that matters, mom" Nathan said as he hugged her. It had been a long day.
"Thank you, Nate. I am going to go change my clothes and then it is about time for Meredith to get ready for bed. What are you boys going to do?"
"Jake had said something about a late night basketball game." Lucas replied
"Ok, be careful" Karen said as she started to walk towards her bedroom.
"I am putting this stuff in my room" Nathan said
"Are you up for the basketball game?" Lucas asked
"Yea, it will be good to play at the river and with the guys again. I'll be right back" Nathan said as he walked back towards what used to be his room.
As he opened the door and looked into the room, he realized his mother had not changed it. It was still the way that he had left it. 3 of the 4 walls were covered in basketball posters both college and NBA. The 4th wall was covered in a collage of pictures. There pictures that dated back to the day he was born there. Karen had started it for him when he had come to live with them, just as she had done for Lucas when he was born. As the years went on, Nathan added his own pictures to it. There was no real order to the pictures on the wall, but that made that much more fun. As he continued to look around his room, he found the framed picture of his family. It was the first family photo that included Michael and Meredith. Karen and Bevin sat on two stools holding the two new babies as Keith stood to the right of Karen and Nathan stood to the left of Bevin. Lucas stood behind and in the middle of Karen and Bevin.
Flashback
"Mom, do I have to take this photo? I am the odd ball" Lucas asked as they stood in the lobby of the local portrait studio.
"You are just now realizing that?" Bevin asked as she smiled at Lucas
"Haha, funny" Lucas replied as he turned back towards his mom.
"Lucas, stopped acting like such a baby. Your sister and nephew are acting better than you and they are babies."
"Mom, they have no idea what is going on. I am sure if they did they would fully agree with me."
"Luke, just give in. You are fighting a losing battle" Nathan said as he walked up behind Bevin.
"Oh, I know, but it is so fun to torment mom and your wife. They have to listen to me whine"
"Here I think you need this more than Michael" Bevin said as she took Michael's pacifier and stuck it into her brother-in-laws mouth.
End of Flashback
Nathan laughed as he came out of the memory. Bevin and Lucas were always joking around. It was a main reason why there was so close.
"That seems like so long ago" Lucas said from the doorway
Nathan turned to look at his brother, "Yea"
"That day was fun. I think mom has those funny pictures that we took" Lucas said as he walked fully into the room
"Even the one with your pacifier?" Nathan asked
"Yea, she hid it so that I couldn't burn it."
"Look at how little Meredith is" Lucas said as he picked up the frame.
"Yea and how beautiful Bevin is. She looks like she is floating on cloud 9"
"She was. Michael was only 3 months old in this picture"
"Yea, that was the last family photo that we had taken before they were taken" Nathan said
"Yea, I know" Lucas looked around the room and saw the picture that they had taken before everyone went off to college. "Now that was a long time ago"
"Which picture?"
"This one" Lucas said as he picked up the picture frame. "This was before we all left. Look at Skills's fro"
"Look at Peyton's hair. That was when she was in that short and crazy hair stage"
"I never really did like her hair like that"
"Neither did anyone else. Brooke was going to kill her for messing with her goldilocks"
"Look at Jake. He stilled had that baby face"
"We all still had that baby face" Nathan replied, "Speaking of Jake, let head towards the river court."
"First we have to do something" Lucas said as they walked out of the room and down the hallway.
They stopped outside of the open door to the right of Nathan's. The light was on and they could her humming. Inside, sitting on the bed with a coloring book and crayons, was their little sister. She had changed into a nightgown and was so involved in coloring the picture that she didn't hear her brothers step into the room.
"Hey Munchkin" Nathan said as he sat down on the edge of Meredith's bed.
Meredith looked up from her picture and into the eyes of both of her brothers. A smile spread along her face. It felt nice to be able to see them.
"We just came to say goodnight" Lucas said
"Where are you going?"
"We are going to go play basketball with Jake and some of the other guys" Nathan replied
"Can I come?" Meredith asked with pleading eyes.
She watched as her brothers exchanged glances deciding on whether on not to take their little sister. It was getting late and their mom might not like it, but you only live once.
"Get some clothes on and find your hoodie, but be very quiet" Lucas replied
"Ok I will" Meredith whispered as she jumped off her bed and walked towards the chest of drawers filled with her clothes.
A few minutes later Meredith was dressed and ready to go. The three siblings walked down the hall and into the kitchen.
"Bye Mom. See ya later. Love Ya." Nathan yelled back through the house. They had no idea where their mom was.
"I am right here" Karen said walking in from the living room, "Meredith, where are you going?" Karen asked noticing that her daughter was fully dressed.
"With my brothers" Meredith said as she stood between Lucas and Nathan only as tall as their legs.
"With your brothers, huh?" Karen asked. It was late and Meredith should be going to be bed, but Karen knew that children should have some time together. "Well did you take a blanket incase it gets cold?"
"Yes, Lucas has it"
"Alright, go have fun and listen to Luke and Nate"
"Okay. Love ya mom" Meredith said as she gave her mom a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Love ya too sweetheart"
"Bye mom" Nathan said as he kissed his mom's cheek
"Bye mom love ya" Lucas said as he hugged his mom
"Bye guys"
Karen watched the screen door close and then walked towards it. Walking across the yard were three figures, two tall and one very short, but all wearing the same thing; a gray hoodie that read, 'Keith Scott's Body Shop'. Karen smiled towards the dark sky. They were going to make it.
AN/ Please read and review