A/N:

So, I'm a little sad about the lack of reviews I'm getting. There's been almost a 1000 hits on this story, but only 17 reviews.

I need to know if you like the story and wants me to continue writing it so please review... As I said, they keep me wanting to write my stories and I want to know what you're thinking.

Thank you to everyone who has been reviewing, you guys are awesome! Please keep it up!

Jenna

"Home Again"

Lucas walked into his old room and looked around. His mom hadn't changed anything since he moved in with Peyton a year ago. He thought of calling Nathan and Haley, but decided he'd rather talk to them in person. It was about time he took some time off to go see them; he'd been so busy helping his mom with Lily and the café there really hadn't been time for a visit with his Brother and Haley, besides that, he wanted to see his nephew and godson James.

When I was younger

My life was torn asunder

And I was carried far away

"Hey Mom…" Lucas called, "you home?"

"In here!" Karen called back from the kitchen.

As Lucas walked into the kitchen, Karen looked at him and saw the sadness in his eyes. But there was something else there as well, she just couldn't put her finger on it. "What's wrong Lucas?" Karen asked, somewhat worried. "Why didn't you bring Peyton with you?" She continued before he had the opportunity to explain.

Lucas just sighed. He hadn't told his mom he was ending things with Peyton. All he could do was hope she would understand as Karen had come to love Peyton like a daughter. After Lucas had chosen Peyton over Brooke after the state championship, Karen thought things were finally going to turn around for Lucas. He had finally made a definitive decision about his future, he had chosen the girl he wanted by his side once and for all, or so she thought.

Now somewhere in the distance
I feel a strange insistence
I long to be there once again

"Well, umm…" Lucas wasn't sure how to tell his mom. This was not going to be easy, and while he knew she'd accept his decision to end things, he figured she'd probably take the news pretty hard. Well, I guess I better just spit it out, Lucas thought to himself. "I ended things with Peyton today mom…"

"You… You ended things with Peyton today?" Karen repeated trying to grasp the thought. "What do you mean you ended things with Peyton today? Lucas, it's been two years, I thought you two were happy…" Shock and disbelief filled her voice as tears began to swell at the rims of her eyes. Peyton was like her daughter, she believed more than anything that her and Lucas would get married, give her grandchildren… and now he was ripping the rug out from under her in an instant.

"We were mom, it's just, it wasn't enough." Luke spoke softly, almost having a hard time believing it himself. He had after all told Brooke that it was Peyton he wanted next to him at the biggest moment in his life, that it was Peyton he truly loved, but he made a mistake. He made lots of mistakes in high school. Too much time breaking hearts, not enough time just loving the one girl in his heart. His pretty girl. "I loved her mom, I really did. She just wasn't…"

"Brooke…" Karen finished her son's sentence. She always knew Lucas still held a place in his heart for Brooke, but she always thought that when he chose Peyton that was the end of the heart wrenching triangle. She adored Brooke like a daughter too, however Brooke had left town and she hadn't seen or spoken to the girl in a couple of years now. Karen always wondered if the pretty brunette couldn't bring herself to come back after everything her son had put her though. There wasn't a lot for Brooke to come back for now, her and Peyton had drifted after the curly blonde returned from her internship, their friendship no longer strong enough to withstand the distance as it had once been.

"Yeah mom, Brooke. I just can't get her out of my head. I've never been able to get her out of my head. I thought I was making the right choice when I chose Peyton." Lucas felt the need to explain himself.

"If you feel like you've made the right decision, than I fully support you Lucas. So, what now?"

The day is drawing nearer
The time has come to leave here
The feeling just keeps gettin' stronger every day

Lucas thought about that for a minute before answering. "I was actually thinking of paying Nathan and Haley a visit mom. It's been a while, y'know?" He missed he brother and sister-in-law more than anything. If someone had told Lucas 5 years ago that he would miss his younger brother he would have laughed in their face at the absurdity of the comment, never thinking that Dan, the one who kept them apart and pitted them against each other their whole lives would be the common cause creating understanding amongst the brothers leading to a true bond.

"I think that's a wonderful idea Lucas!" Karen smiled. It had been quite a while since Lucas got to visit with his brother and maybe this would give him the nudge he needed to go to college and study English and journalism like he'd always planned. After what happened to Keith, and Karen finding out she was pregnant with Lily, Lucas had insisted he take time off in between school and college and help to take care of them. He really had grown up to be the man Keith would have expected and Karen was so proud of him for it. He had taken the time off to take care of his family, taking an assistant coaching job with a small college working under Whitey. "While you're out there maybe you can take a look into college too…" Karen suggested. It was after all her job to guide her children in life.

"Yeah, I guess I could do that…" Lucas said, more to himself than anyone. Maybe this would give him a chance to start over, reconnect with Nathan, Haley, his nephew and hopefully Brooke as well as give Peyton the space he was sure she needed. Besides, Dan was around and he'd been really helpful over the past couple of years. Although no one knew what had made Dan change from the monster he was to the helpful, involved father he became, he'd really stepped up to the plate and no one would argue that. Luckily for Dan, the pathologist determined that Daunte was dead from the car crash before Dan was caught beating him. "I'll take a look at the English/Journalism programs they've got running out there. Might be good for me."

So I pray for the moment when I'll be with you
And all that we hoped for is all comin' true
When the time we've spent waitin' is finally through
I'll be home again

"Sounds like a plan." Karen said, just as Dan walked in with Lily…

"What sounds like a plan?" Dan asked. It was obvious something fairly significant had occurred in his son's life by the look on both Karen and Lucas' faces. The only person that knew why Dan stepped up to the plate was Dan. Despite the continuous guilt he felt for murdering his only brother, the man who stepped up to the plate and raised his oldest child into the strong, compassionate man he had become, Dan had managed to hide it well. He would never forgive himself, but he could never turn himself in either as he had to do for Keith with Lily what Keith had done for him with Lucas, the only difference was Keith was not here to make that choice. His actions haunted him daily, but he had to be a good man now, not for himself but for Karen and Lily.

"Well, Lucas ended things with Peyton today and he's going to go visit Nathan and Haley for a while. He's also going to check out the journalism/English programs offered at UCLA where they both attend." Karen replied.

Dan could tell Karen was upset by the news that Lucas and Peyton had broken up. Karen really adored Peyton and had taken her under her wing when the two had started dating. He was always amazed at Karen's heart and wondered if she would have changed if he'd stayed with her all those years ago. He knew this was probably better, he loved her more than he had years ago and she had actually been giving him a chance over the last couple of years to prove himself.

I can still remember
Days that never ended
Standin' on a distant shore

"Well son, it's just too bad if you decided to go to UCLA you couldn't check out the basketball program. You and Nathan could play together again, co-captains together just like high school." As Dan said that Karen shot him a look that could wilt plants.

"Dan! What on earth are you thinking? You know Lucas can't play sports! He almost died, why you would tempt him like that..." Karen was obviously furious that Dan would even bring that up, almost like he was rubbing it in that Lucas couldn't play basketball, the game that meant so much to him.

Lucas felt the need to duck out of the room at that moment. Even though Dan appeared to have turned over a new leaf Lucas was still uneasy around him. Something just wasn't right and he couldn't trust Dan completely. Almost like Dan was trying to hard to overshadow his guilt. But what was he guilty about? Lucas couldn't help but wonder what it was that Dan had been hiding…

He knew his mother was giving Dan a real chance, and aside from the odd time like today that Dan would put his foot in his mouth, Lucas knew she was falling for her high school sweetheart once again. It was only a matter of time before the two made things more permanent, something that made Lucas shudder at the thought of. If he didn't figure out soon what Dan had done in the past that turned him into loving, caring Dan from manipulative, scheming Dan, he knew it would be too late. Determined not to let that happen, Lucas knew that when he did finally go to LA he'd have to talk to Nathan, hopefully his brother wouldn't brush off his suspicions as paranoia and help him dig up Dan's secrets. Something he himself wasn't prepared to face, whether he knew it or not.

Sometimes in the darkness
I hear what my heart says
Maybe one day I'll know what the feelings for

Slipping out of the kitchen and into his room, Lucas picked up the phone, almost dialling Peyton, but fighting the urge to save her. If he wanted a hope in hell with Brooke, he knew he needed to let Peyton go, a clean break, and she'd have to learn to save herself for once. He would be her friend when she was ready for that step, but she needed to understand and accept what was truly in her heart.

After his small inner turmoil, something so typically Lucas, he dialled another all to familiar number. After a couple of rings, he heard a very out of breath Haley answer the phone.

"Hello?" she spoke her breath ragged.

"Oh God please don't tell me I'm interrupting something… listen I'll call later, better yet, you call me" Lucas rambled on picturing things he didn't want to picture involving his brother and sister in law. He knew he'd never get that mental picture out of his head.

"BIL!" Haley screeched into the phone, until she remembered that she'd just put her two year old son to sleep. "How are you doing Luke? It's feels like it's been forever?" She started in her usual friendly matter while keeping her voice down so she wouldn't wake James.

Lucas was about to answer until Haley decided to cut him off upon realizing that she in fact was not impressed with him at that moment in particular. Sarcastically adding to her previous questions "And how's Peyton doing?"

"She told you huh?" was about all he could get out. He didn't want to face the wrath of Haley at the moment. She was not a force to be reckoned with when angry. Knowing she was not going to hold back, he prepared himself for what was surely to come next.

"Yeah, she told me you dumbass! What the hell were you think—" She was cut off mid sentence and before Luke knew what was happening another voice came through the line.

"Sorry about that Luke, guess I should have answered the phone." Nathan said while Lucas could here him in the background whispering to Haley that she could take a piece out of him later.

Lucas chuckled to himself, he should have known they'd find out before he had a chance to tell them himself, even if they weren't in tree hill anymore. Hell, for all he knew Brooke already knew.

"So listen Nate, I was thinking about coming out there for a visit…" Lucas was wondering how mad his younger sibling was at him.

So I wait for the moment when I'll be with you
And all that we hoped for is all comin' true
The time we've spent waitin' is finally through
I'll be home again

"Yeah Luke that'd be cool, Haley's actually heading for Tree Hill for the weekend to see Peyton… which by the way you have some serious explaining to do… You should consider just flying back with her." Nathan knew that having Lucas fly back with Haley was probably a death wish for his brother, especially after Haley spent the weekend with a very upset Peyton, but hopefully they could then work out any issues the two might have on the plane ride back, preferably without bloodshed, and all would be peaceful when they got to LA.

"I guess… But only if Haley promises not to hurt me" Lucas was slightly unsure of this plan, it probably would have been better if he'd just gone out the day Haley left and returned to Tree Hill before she returned to LA. He gulped before he continued with his next question, unsure of the reaction he'd receive. "So, ummm, have you spoken with Brooke lately?"

When you're out there on your own
It can chill you to the bone
There's a cold wind blowin'
But it feels good knowin'
The worst is over now – I'm finally going home

Nathan could hear the timid sound in Luke's voice, but he couldn't help but get angry at his brother's stupidity. "Are you kidding me Lucas?" He practically yelled through the phone before being scolded by his wife because he'd wake James if he kept that up. "Is she what this is all about?" He emphasized the she and before Lucas could get a word in edge wise he continued on "Lucas, you gave her up 2 years ago, for Peyton, she's happy now and you need to leave her alone." Nathan's voice was calm but firm on that subject.

"I just miss her man… I was wrong when I chose Peyton, please just give me a chance to explain everything when I'm out there… I don't want to do this over the phone."

Nathan just sighed… In his mind, he thought his brother was nuts, but in his heart, he knew the truth, Lucas loved Brooke and Nathan had always known it. He loved Brooke dearly and had become like an older brother to her, his need to protect her was undeniable, especially from the heartbreak his older brother could cause her.

"Listen Luke, I'm not promising anything, and if she doesn't want to see you, that's her choice and you'll stay the hell away from her."

That was the end of the discussion. There was no use in arguing with Nathan on the subject and all Lucas could do was hope for the best situation, although he had a feeling things wouldn't be that easy for him.

"Okay man, listen, have Haley e-mail me her flight details for the flight back to LA and I'll book my flights. See you in a few days little brother."

"See you then Luke…"

It's gettin' stronger
Can't wait any longer

So there's chapter 5. The song for chapter five is called 'Home Again' and it's by Bryan Adams.

So I know you all hate me because I didn't continue from the last chapter and let you find out who the guy is, but I promise you'll find out in chapter 6... :)

You know the drill.