Hi! First of all a big thank you to everyone that has read the story so far and to those who have reviewed it! Sorry the update for this story has been a little slow. I had hoped to get it up quicker than I had but I haven't been able to. This chapter was originally longer, but I felt it worked better as two separate chapters in the end as it was a little long... Anyway, it's here now and hopefully you all like it!

Chapter 4.

"Lily stop running around and sit down, I'm trying to get breakfast ready" Karen scolded, leaning over the stove, while swatting at her daughter with her tea towel.

"But Mom…"

"Lily, do as your mother says and sit down please." Keith interrupted, peering over his newspaper.

" 'Kay" the young girl pouted, slumping into the chair next to her father, rather sulkily. Keith smiled and shook his head slightly, returning to the sports column he was reading.

My, he thought to himself; there's no doubting she's Karen's daughter, with her stubbornness and no doubting she's a Scott with her sulking and pouting, lord help me when she's a teenager! He began to chuckle at the thought of two stubborn women in the Scott household, how would he and Luke cope?!

Karen looked across at him, curious as to what he was laughing at. "Something funny Keith?" she questioned with a smile. He peered over his paper once more, this time with the Scott trademark smirk, "Nothing, or at least not something I'd like to share".

"Very well. I guess there won't be enough pancakes to share with you this morning then," she replied, throwing him a flirtatious look.

"Oh really?" he questioned, setting down his paper and glasses on the table. He was about to reply with a rather inappropriate comment, when he was reminded of the presence of his daughter.

"Daddy, when can we go for a walk to see the birds?" the small girl questioned, her elbows propping up her head, while her small legs kicked the air above the tiled floor.

"Later sweetie, after Mommy's made breakfast and everyone's ready" Keith replied, reaching across and pulling his daughter onto his lap. "How about you sit here and read the sports results with Daddy while we wait?"

Lily nodded, smiled and grabbed at the paper from where it lay. Karen smiled, it was always a wonderful sight to watch her daughter and husband interact, it reminded her so much of the years gone by from when it would be Lucas sat on Keith's knee, reading the same column while she prepared breakfast. Her thoughts were interrupted by Haley's presence, soon followed by Nathan's.

"Morning Karen, Keith, Lily" chirped Haley, smiling at the three of them as she made her way from the doorway across to where Karen was cooking. They looked perfect sat around in the farmhouse style kitchen, like a proper family, but only fully complete when Lucas was there.

"Morning Haley, how did you sleep?" replied Karen, handing her a glass.

Haley thanked her, taking the glass and crossing over to the fridge. "I slept okay thanks, did you?"

"Not as well as I usually do here, but much better than I do in Tree Hill. Would have been better if Keith hadn't been snoring all night" she laughed.

Keith blushed slightly, obviously embarrassed, and continued to read with Lily, while Haley joined in the laughing. Nathan took a seat next to Keith, acknowledged everyone in the kitchen and got involved with reading the column. Haley leant against the porcelain sink, sipping her juice, watching how Nathan interacted with Lily. He was caring and looked so at ease with a child. She knew he'd be a wonderful father one day and couldn't help but wonder whether he'd be a wonderful father to her children. She knew it was too early to be thinking about that kind of thing but couldn't help smiling at the thought. Nathan caught her watching him as he looked across at her, hoping to be unnoticed himself. His piercing blue eyes met her dark brown eyes, and it felt as if he was looking into her soul. She quickly looked away, turning to wash her glass. This look did not go unnoticed by either Keith or Karen, both glancing at the pair, raising their eyebrows slightly at each other as if to question it.

Keith, Lily and Nathan continued to be absorbed in the sports column, while Karen continued to cook.

"Haley, could you give me a hand for a moment please, I could use some help with plating everything up ready for the table."

"Sure!" Haley walked back over to the stove, smiling at Karen. It felt just like being back at home working in the café, something which she loved to do.

"So, did you enjoy yourself last night?" Karen began. "You certainly looked beautiful." She knew from experience that the best way to question a teenager was to start off on a neutral subject.

"Aw thanks Karen! I felt it that's for sure, your dress was stunning! I had a great time, it had been far too long since we'd joined the Smith's on their boat." Haley smiled, it certainly had been a good night, but not just because of the party.

"Thank you Haley, it's one I bought a few years ago and forgot about so it seemed the perfect opportunity to wear it! It definitely had been, Tim was up to his usual silliness later on into the night, I'm sure he'd been drinking, even though Shari claimed he was just excited. It was such a shame you left early!" Karen continued, stirring the beans in the saucepan, hoping that Haley would be willing to offer more information about why she'd disappeared so early from the Smith's party and where she'd actually gone. "If you don't mind me asking Haley, why did you leave so early last night?"

Haley continued to plate up the food, taken aback slightly by Karen's question. She knew that she would eventually be questioned about leaving the party early, but she hadn't realised it would be so soon.

Nathan glanced at Haley, noting the sudden panic on her face. He knew she'd crack and end up telling Karen everything if she couldn't think of an answer. He wasn't embarrassed of the previous night's events, nor did he regret them, he just knew that it would cause a lot of issues between the families, particularly with his own mother arriving with her new husband that evening, not to mention his fathers expected arrival that afternoon. Perfect timing Scott he thought to himself.

Haley looked at him, as if pleading for help, but knew he couldn't say anything without making it obvious to both Karen and Keith that something had happened. .

"Oh… I…. er…." She started.

"There she is, my number one princess!" shouted Jimmy James, entering the kitchen and heading straight towards his youngest daughter, interrupting Haley mid-sentence.

"Morning Daddy" Haley replied, meeting him halfway. Jimmy scooped Haley into a hug and affectionately rubbed her head as he released her from the embrace.

"Oooh pancakes!" Jimmy exclaimed, reaching for one from the stack, only to be met with a playful hit on his hand from Karen.

"I wouldn't if you value your life, I think Nathan's got his eye on the first one" Karen joked, looking across at Nathan. He looked up once more from the sports column and grinned.

"Sure have Mr James, but you can always fight me for it with a game of hoops. First to 10?"

"Nathan, Nathan, Nathan, how many times, just call me Jimmy! We've known each other long enough now to be well past any formalities. Anyway, we both know that I'd beat you and win" he joked, walking over to the table and setting down a glass of juice. He took the seat at the opposite head of the table from Keith, a tradition that had been kept for years. Nathan laughed and began to playfully argue with Jimmy, the pair joking with each other about who was better at what sport, before involving Keith in the debate. Karen and Haley both looked at each other and laughed, knowing this debate would go on for quite a while if they weren't fed soon.

"Now, now boys, no fighting at the breakfast table!" said Lydia entering the kitchen, laughing at yet another typical man debate, before walking across to join Karen and Haley. "You know girls, we should just give them a room to themselves, full of sports, food and beer and I'm sure they'd be quite content, I know I would be!"

The three of them laughed and continued to have a neutral discussion about varied things. Within a few minutes everything was ready and Haley and Lydia began laying the table around the boys and Lily, while Karen finished plating up the remainder of the food. The last of the food was set on the table and Karen was just placing a large steaming hot coffee pot at one end, when Lucas came in through the French doors.

"Oh you're here! I was beginning to think you'd gotten lost!" she joked.

"Yeah, me and Jimmy were about to start a search party for you!" Keith continued, causing everyone to laugh at the memory of the time they had searched for him. Lucas laughed and unplugged his ipod, stuffing it into his pocket, before kicking off his shoes. He walked around the table to take his usual space next to his younger sister, who beamed at him the whole time. He rubbed her head as he sat down and pulled a face, causing the young girl to shriek with laughter. The general chit chat around the table settled down slightly as everyone took their respective seats.

"Mmm smells amazing!" Nathan said, reaching for a pancake from the stack in the middle, "Guess I got the first one after all Mr Ja-, sorry, Jimmy," he added, clearing his throat a little at his mistake.

"Thanks Nathan, I figured everyone could do with a good hearty breakfast after last night" Karen replied, laughing.

"Too right!" exclaimed Lydia. "Please just pass me the coffee!" causing everyone to erupt with laughter. It was a little known fact to the wider world that Lydia James could not handle her red wine, especially when it was flowing for free at one of the Smith's parties.

"Well Nate, I guess you did get the first pancake, but I'll fight you, man to man, for the last piece of bacon!" Jimmy joked back once everyone had taken a fair share of the food.

"Not if I beat you first!" shouted Keith and Lucas, both lunging for the bacon at the same time. This was met once again with laughter, as Nathan and Jimmy got involved with trying to win it.

"Victorious!" shouted Lucas, proudly presenting the bacon on the end of the fork. The men argued amongst themselves about how he'd cheated and tricked them out of it, all in good fun. Haley looked around the table and smiled to herself. As crazy as her life was, and as annoyed as she got sometimes, she loved it and she wouldn't have it any other way.

So we finally got to meet some of the others! Hopefully you all enjoyed the chapter and like where the story is going.

I would love to know what you all think or whether there's things you want to see happen, especially whether you want a Brucas or Leyton pairing, so please leave a review and let me know! :)