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. The next set of good-byes. Sorry for the delay in getting this chapter up. There has been a lot going on lately. This story will be over soon, but I am thinking about writing a sequel. What do you think? Let me know! Thanks for reading and please leave some reviews!
The group sat quietly in the living room of the Scott house each with their own thoughts. Peyton and Theresa had tears rolling down their faces. Peyton had commented a few minutes before that it was hormones. Usually everyone would laugh at the comment, but today that was not the case. Mouth was the first to break the silence.
"I hate leaving" Mouth said quietly from his floor space next to Erica
"We all do" Nathan replied from the recliner
"Is it always this sad?" Sam asked from the couch
"Yep" Theresa replied next to her, "It never gets easier"
"Oh you guys" Karen said as she walked into the room, "It will all be okay. You guys will be back before you know it"
"Isn't that same speech you gave us when we left for college?" Haley said from her spot next to Nathan in the recliner
"Yea, it sounds familiar" Mouth replied
"Well, maybe it is the same speech, but it is still the truth" Karen replied as the front door opened and Lucas walked in.
"Hey Bro" Chris said from his spot on the floor by his sister's feet
"Hey" Lucas replied sadly as he walked in to the room and sat down on the floor leaning his back and head against the window wall next to Nathan and Haley. "Well, that sucked"
"You okay?" Nathan asked his brother
"Yea, I will be eventually" Lucas replied, "When are you guys leaving, Chris?"
"In a couple of hours. Was there anything you wanted to do before we leave?"
"How about another game at the river court?" Lucas asked. Basketball always helped him relieve stress
"Okay."
"Skills, Jake, want to play?" Lucas asked
"Yea, I could use a game" Jake replied
"Me too" Skills replied, "Theresa, you want to come watch?"
"I think I am going to head back to the house for a little while." Theresa replied
"I will go with you" Trent said
"Anyone else want to come to the court?" Lucas asked as he stood
"I will" Sam said
"Me too" Peyton added
"Us too" Mouth said speaking for himself and Erica
"Nathan?" Lucas asked not knowing if his brother would want to sit on the sidelines
"Yea. I'll go. Hales?"
"Yea, me too"
"Mom, do you want to come too?" Lucas asked
"You know what, I think I will" Karen said as she left the room to find Meredith also
"Alright, well let's go" Lucas said as he moved to get Nathan's chair, "Chris?"
Chris was by his side as the two brothers moved their other brother to the wheelchair
"You sure you will be able to handle sitting on the sidelines, little brother?" Lucas joked
"Yea, I got to see how the other side sees things" Nathan said laughing, "and I get to gossip"
"Oh be quiet," Peyton said as she hit him in the arm
The group laughed.
"Are we ready?" Karen asked as she and Meredith came down the hallway
"Yea, let's go" Nathan replied, "Hey Munchkin, want to ride in my lap?"
" Can I?" Meredith asked
"Sure, you just have to be really still" Nathan replied
"Okay" Meredith said as she climbed up in her brother's lap and the group walked out of the house.
An hour later, the group was still at the river court. Theresa and Trent had joined them a few minutes before. Nathan sat to the side of the bleachers with his youngest sister still in his lap. Sam sat next to him and the two older siblings were sharing a conversation and cheering on their brothers at the same time. Karen sat next to Haley admiring the site before her.
"I am so glad they all get along," Karen said softly
"Yea, it is good for them to know each other" Haley replied
"I just hope they are not mad at me or Georgia for not telling them"
"They aren't. They understand. And all that matters now is that they are together and can get to know each other."
"Yea, that is true. Meredith has taken to Sam and Chris as if they are just old friends that she hasn't seen in a while"
"She is just glad to have another sister around. I am pretty sure that she and Sam will be pretty close when she is older."
"She will be close with all of you. Did I tell you about the call that I got a couple of weeks ago from her teacher?" Karen asked
"No"
"It is funny. She called to let me know about how Meredith had answered a question that day in class. She had thought it was so cute and wanted to share it with me. The question was how many brothers and sisters do you have? The teacher had gone around the room and asked each child to say how many brother and sisters they have. When she got to Meredith, well, Meredith answered, 'I have five brothers and four sisters'. Ms. Cruz was a little take back because she knew that Meredith only had 2 brothers, Lucas and Nathan. So, she asked Meredith, 'I thought you only had two brothers'. Meredith's response, 'well, I do, but I also have three other brothers and four sisters. They are not my mommy's or my daddy's, but they call my mom and dad, mom and dad and they treat me like their sister so they are my brothers and sisters'"
"Oh, that is sweet. I think I am going to cry" Haley said
"She thinks very highly of you guys. No matter how far away you guys live, you will always be her brothers and sisters, just like you guys will always be my children, biological or not. She has just added another brother and another sister and she couldn't be happier."
"She is a special little girl. I miss her a lot when I am in Montana"
"She misses you too. She is always asking about all of you. When I tell her that I have talked to one of you on the phone she gets so excited and wants to know everything about our conversation. It is cute"
"Well, I will make a couple of special phone calls just to talk to Meredith"
"I think she would like that very much" Karen said as she turned to watch the game
"I am really glad that we found each other, Nate" Sam said
"I am too. It was a rough start, but it turned out okay"
"Yea, it was a rough start. Neither Chris or I believed it at first"
"We didn't either. It has been a whirlwind week."
"Yea, it has. It seems to have been a week of bring back the past"
"It has and I will tell you it has not been easy"
"Well, no one ever said looking back was easy" Sam said as Lucas made the scoring basket and the guys came walking over to the group.
"Good game guys" Mouth said
"Thanks Mouth." Skills replied, "Couldn't stay away, huh?"
"Yea, well…" Theresa replied as Skills sat next to her and Trent
"So, what do you think about the other side, Nate?" Lucas asked
"It was actually pretty fun" Nathan replied laughing.
"Well, you guys I am going to head back to the house. I have dinner to make before Sam and Chris leave" Karen said as she stood from the bleachers, "Who isn't coming for dinner?"
When no one said anything, Karen laughed, "Okay, dinner for everyone"
"Karen, I will come help you" Peyton said as she stood
"Yea, me too" Haley said
"I will too," Sam said
"Me too" Theresa said standing also
"Well, do we want to play another game or just head home?" Lucas asked
"That is up to you man" Jake replied
"Let's play one more game" Lucas replied, "Our last game"
"Nathan, do you want to come home?" Haley asked
"No, I am good" Nathan replied, "Meredith, are you going home?"
"I want to stay here" Meredith replied
"I will keep them company," Erica said from her spot still on the bleachers
"Thanks Erica" Karen replied as the five women started walking away.
When they arrived back at the house, the menu was decided on, lasagna, a salad and garlic bread. Something quick, easy and would feed everyone. The women set about putting together dinner, laughing and talking as they did. Just before dinner was done, the guys came home from the river court, Chris and Lucas having won the last game. Haley and Peyton had set the table to fit everyone and figured they could all eat dinner around the table. They moved chairs around to make sure there was a spot for Nathan's wheelchair. When dinner was ready, the whole group found seats at the table and sat down to the meal before them. The conversation was light and fun. They talked about Chris's basketball skills and both Lucas and Nathan told him that he should try to go into the NBA. He was that good. Sam was surprised because he never seemed that good to her when they were playing. Chris admitted to his sister that he held back a lot so she wouldn't lose every time. The group laughed about the sibling rivalry between them and between all of them. When dinner was over, the table cleaned and the kitchen cleaned up. It was time for Chris and Sam to say their good byes.
"Thanks for everything, Karen" Sam said as she hugged Karen
"Oh you are welcome. You guys should come back and see us sometime soon. Just cause Nathan and Lucas are not here doesn't mean you are not welcome in this house. Meredith thinks of you as her brother and sister also."
"We will come back as soon as we can" Sam replied as she moved to say good bye to Meredith and Chris hugged Karen.
"Thanks, Karen." Chris said, "We feel like we have added another mom into our lives"
"Well, you have" Karen replied, "And more family"
"Yea, we know" Chris replied.
Chris and Sam hugged and said goodbye to Theresa, Skills, Erica, Mouth, Trent, Jake and Haley before moving to say good bye to their brothers.
"Bye Lucas" Sam said as she hugged him
"Bye sis." Lucas replied returning the hug
"Don't be a stranger. You know where we live"
"And you know where I work" Lucas replied laughing
"Bye Nate" Chris said as he gave his brother a man hug. "Get better"
"I will, thanks Chris"
"If you come down to Charlotte, let us know"
"Don't worry I will. I will talk to you before than"
"Good" Chris replied.
Sam and Chris traded brothers laughing. "It is kind of weird having more than just you" Sam said to Chris
"Well, get used to it" Nathan replied
"Oh, I will" Sam replied as she bent down to hug him, "No more trying to leave us, okay?"
"I promise. I won't. I will be there when ever you need someone to talk to. I am only a phone call away and I will try to get down to Charlotte soon"
"Okay. I will miss you"
"I will miss you too," Nathan said as Sam released her hug and stood up
"See ya later, Luke" Chris said giving him another man hug
"Yea, soon. Remember, I will be in the same city soon." Lucas said laughing, "Think about what we said"
"I will. I am not sure if I am really that good, but I will think about it" Chris said honestly
"Okay. Be careful going home"
"I will. We will call and let you know we made it okay" Chris replied
"Okay"
"You ready, Sam?" Chris said to his sister
"Yea, I guess. Bye guys. Thanks for everything. We will see you soon," Sam said
"Bye Sam Bye Chris" Meredith said as the two opened the front door and began to step out.
Chris turned around and bent down to hug Meredith, "Bye little sister" he said with a smile. "We will see you soon"
Chris stood and smiled towards everyone before once again walking toward the door after his sister. He closed the door behind him and the group went to sit in the living room.
"Three down" Jake said, "I really hate good-byes"
"It is not good-byes. It is see you laters," Haley said
"Yea, you are right Hales." Nathan said pulling her into his lap.
"Well, guys, I guess I should say my good byes now too. I have a 6am flight tomorrow and my parents are feeling neglected" Mouth said as he stood.
"It was good to have you home, Mouth" Karen said as she moved to hug him.
"Thanks Karen. It was good to be home" Mouth said, "I will call you for our bi-weekly chat"
"You'd better" Karen said smiling
"Thanks for taking me in this week, Karen" Erica said as she also hugged the older woman.
"No thanks to it. You have just been added to the family" Karen replied
Erica laughed, "Yea, I guess I have"
Mouth and Erica said their good byes to the rest of the group before leaving the house with their stuff.
"I really hate this leaving stuff," Haley said
"We all do and tomorrow is our turn" Nathan said
"Are you leaving too?" Lucas asked
"Yea, I am going back to Orlando. John and Scott are coming with me."
"Are you going to be okay by yourself, Nate?" Karen asked
"I won't be by myself mom. A couple of my teammates are going to come stay with me for a couple of weeks and the guys will be there too. Plus, the team doctor lives right next door if something serious happens. If I don't get back to my routine, my healing process is just going to take longer. I will be okay though"
"Okay" Karen said
"Don't worry mom" Nathan replied laughing. He knew she would anyway, but he still felt like he had to say it.
The room fell silent after that. Everyone thinking about tomorrow's events. The group had started out the week as nine, then thirteen and now they were down to eight. Tomorrow, there would only be four left in Tree Hill once more as Lucas, Nathan, Haley and Trent all went back to their respective jobs. They were not sure which was easier, leaving or being left behind, both came with grave difficulties and both were a part of life.