Disclaimer: I do not own OTH or any of it characters places or such. I am simply borrowing them.

AN/ Here is the next chapter. This is kind of a filler chapter. I am in the process of writing the next one that that will have the graduation video and their last night together in it. I was going to make these two chapters one big one, but I am too tired and you guys deserve at least some kind of post. I will TRY to have the next chapter up before the end of the weekend. Thanks for reading and please leave some reviews!

"What do you need?" Karen asked for the fifth time since they had brought Nathan home

"Mom, I am fine" Nathan answered, "I got my blanket, pain pills, remote…Haley"

"Aww" Haley said from her spot on the arm of the old recliner that Nathan was sitting in. Haley bent down to kiss Nathan.

"Alright" Karen replied as she smiled at the two of them.

It had taken a lot of moving around and strength, but they had finally gotten Nathan into a comfortable position. The poor man had been moved from the wheelchair to the couch and then finally to the recliner all within a few minutes. If he was in any pain, he didn't show it at the moment. He was just happy to be home.

"Where did everyone go?" Haley asked as she pulled back from the kiss. The living room, which had been full a few minutes ago, was now vacant except for the three of them

"Scott and John went to check out the perimeter of the house and I am not sure what happened to the rest of them" Karen answered as the door opened, "Well, there is one of them"

"Looking for me?" Mouth asked

"Just wondering where everyone was" Haley replied

"Well, they are not outside" Mouth supplied, "I got to run home a little while, shower, change. Karen, do you mind if I stay here tonight?"

"Mouth, I think that might be the first time you have ever asked me that question. I am not even going to answer it" Karen said

Mouth just laughed as he hugged his second mom, "Just trying to get you to scold me. For old times sake"

Haley and Nathan both laughed. Mouth had a habit in high school of taking things, fresh baked cookies at the café, the last piece of bread at the house or using the last thing of sugar and not telling anyone. Karen used to scold him about it and yet he still did it. Karen had always treated him like one of her kids, the same way she treated everyone else. What Karen didn't know is that Mouth, unlike most kids loved to be scolded. It was his way of getting attention and knowing that someone cared unlike his own parents had during those years.

"Yea, well I am going to scold you if you don't go take a shower." Karen said laughing.

"Yes, mom" Mouth said smiling, "I will be back in a little while guys"

"See ya Mouth" Nathan said before the front door closed

"I swear I think he likes me to get on him," Karen said which again caused Nathan and Haley to laugh.

"What is so funny?" Karen asked innocently

"Nothing mom nothing" Haley replied

It was night like these when they were all together at the house that everyone reverted to calling Karen, mom instead of Karen. They would pretend that for just that for that one night. They were an actual blood related family. Karen herself loved those nights, the kids that she had raised or had helped raise were only hers on those nights. It was silly if you thought about it, but they didn't care.

The front door opened as a blonde walked in with a brown haired man walking behind her, another walked in behind him

"Nathan Scott, I am going to kick your you know what. What the heck are you thinking?" Peyton said as she walked to stand in front of him. She stood there with her hands on her hips and an angry look on her face.

"Uh…." Nathan stammered, "I am thinking that I have pissed off my very hormonal pregnant best friend"

"Right answer, buddy" Peyton said as her face softened, "Nate, why did you check yourself out of the hospital? You need to be there. You were shot, been in a coma and…"

"And I will heal better at home with my family. It is our last night together, Peyt. Brooke leaves tomorrow so do Sam and Chris. I didn't want to miss that"

"I know that, but you should have stayed in the hospital. I don't want anything to happen to you"

"Don't worry about me. As long as I stay in this chair and don't get pounded by one of you. I will be fine."

"You better be or I am going to pound you" Peyton said as she leaned down to hug Nathan

"I am okay" Nathan whispered in her ear as he hugged her back. He knew that Peyton had been terrified of losing her best friend hours before, "I am okay"

Nathan could hear Peyton sniffling in his ear as she fought tears that rolled down her face. She pulled back and smiled at him, "Darn hormones!"

"Now, those are one thing I don't miss about being pregnant" Karen said

"I still can't believe that you are going to have a baby. The first one of the next generation of us" Haley said

Peyton laughed, "Yea, only my child will not growing up with the annoying Scott brothers"

"HEY!" Nathan said which made the group laugh

"But our child will be growing up with the amazing Scott sister" Jake added as he spotted Meredith coming down the hall

"Mommy, I am hungry," Meredith said as she walked up to her mom

"Well, Why don't we order some pizzas. I am sure everyone else is hungry too. Come on lets go see if we can find some coupons. We have a lot of people to feed" Karen said as she and Meredith took off into the kitchen

The back door opened as Karen and Meredith walked into the kitchen and Scott and John walked in.

"Everything okay out there?" Karen asked

"All is secure. We do have a slight problem though, but it will be dealt with" John replied

"Slight problem?"

"We have been informed that the media may know that Nathan is no longer at the hospital" Scott answered

"Great" Karen replied, "Now they are going to be hounding the house. You guys better go tell Nate"

"Yes ma'am" Scott said as the two walked towards the living room

"I thought for sure Peyton was going to really hurt you" Trent said as he sat on the couch in the living room.

"You guys should have heard her on the way here, good lord" Jake added

The group laughed and Peyton shot her fiancée a glare, which made the others laugh even more

"Hey Nathan, how you feeling?" John asked as he and Scott walked in the room

"No pain" Nathan replied, "Everything okay?"

"The media may have found out that you left the hospital" Scott replied

"How?" Haley asked

"We are not sure" John replied

"Turn on the TV, Nate. See if they are saying anything" Peyton said as Nathan reached for the remote.

He clicked on the TV and turned it to the local news station. The sight confirmed the fears of John and Scott

"And now we go live to Sandra Patterson live outside of Tree Hill General with the latest on NBA basketball star, Nathan Scott. Sandra?" the older male newscaster stated

"Thanks, Bill. I am standing outside of Tree Hill General where we have just learned that NBA basketball Star, Nathan Scott has signed himself out of the hospital against medical advice. We were told just over an hour ago by Scott's agent, Simon Matthews that Scott would remain in this hospital for a few more days before returning back to his home in Orlando. However, sources tell us that while Mr. Matthews was holding the press conference outside, inside paperwork was being prepared for Scott's release. We are also told that Nathan Scott was taken out of the back of the hospital and put into a car driven by his mother, Karen Scott. Scott and his brother, fellow NBA star, Lucas Scott were both raised here in Tree Hill and have been here for the last week following their father, Keith Scott's tragic car accident last week. Sources tell us they do not know where Scott was taken, but believe that he may have been taken to the home of his mother or a close family friend. We will continue to update you, as we know more. Sandra Patterson reporting, back to you in the studio."

"Got to love the media" Nathan said as he sighed

"Don't worry about anything. We have the house and property secure and there are more agents on the way" Scott said

"Thanks guys" Nathan replied

The front door opened as Mouth, Erica, Skills and Theresa walked in

"I think the news is out" Skills supplied

"Why?"

"We just saw the news crews coming down the street" Theresa replied

"Some better call Lucas and Brooke and warn them" Nathan said

"I got it" Haley replied as she pulled her cell phone and dialed Lucas's number

"Thanks for dinner, Lucas" Brooke said as the two exited the river side restaurant hand in hand

"It is my pleasure. What shall we do next?"

"Why don't we head home. I bet the whole group is at your house and I want to see Nathan"

"Okay" Lucas as they walked towards his rental car parked at the back of the building

As Lucas opened the door for Brooke, his cell phone rang

I don't want to be
Anything other than what I've been trying to be lately
All I have to do
Is think of me and I have peace of mind
I'm tired of looking 'round rooms
Wondering what I've got to do
Or who I'm supposed to be
I don't want to be anything other than me

"Haley" Brooke said before Lucas could flip open his phone

Lucas laughed as he closed Brooke's door and answered the phone, "Hello?"

"Hey. Where are you guys at?"

"Down by the river. Everything okay?"

"No, the media found out that Nathan signed himself out of the hospital and now they seem to be heading here"

"Great" Lucas said as he opened his door and got in.

"We thought you could use a heads up"

"Thanks. We are heading that way now."

"Okay I will ask John and Scott to keep a look out for you guys"

"Okay. See ya in a few"

"Okay. Bye Luke"

"Bye Hales"

Lucas sighed as he hung his phone

"What's up?" Brooke asked

"Media found out Nate is out of the hospital and they are heading towards the house"

"Can they ever just leave you guys alone?"

"Nope. Something we deal with and something you are probably going to have to deal with too" Lucas said as he put the car into drive and drove out of the parking lot

"Yea, I know. I see you still have that same ring tone for Haley" Brooke said

"Yea, she wanted it and she got it. She was obsessed with that song, remember?"

"Yea, she used to go around singing it all the time"

"I think it is more like her theme song now" Lucas replied as they continued towards the house. His mom's house was not that far from the river and they could media circus as they grew near. 'Just another day in the life of a celebrity' Lucas thought

AN:/ Song used in this chapter is "I don't want to be" by Gavin Degraw. It belongs to the songwriters and I don't own it. Just using it