BRIEF NOTES:

Thanks again for loving the story.

So yeah, kids say the darndest things. There's a little time jump in here, along with a tiny surprise. I thought I'd make another quasi-lighthearted unit after the onset of heavy drama from the previous chapters. This one is a little lengthy as well, but only because it has everyone's point of view in it.

Hope it doesn't bore anyone. Enjoy.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own One Tree Hill.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

"Happy birthday dear Kaitlyn… Happy birthday to you!"

The cheerful applause that followed was a song to Karen Roe's heart. Today marked the 6th month since they moved back; and today, her daughter turned five years old.

The scenario in front of her was straight out of a postcard, she thought. Everyone, for the first time, was in a jovial mood as all the previous and impending drama had been set aside. The cheery smiles pasted in all of their faces was a picture of fulfillment.

For the first time a long time, Karen Roe felt like she was home.

Nathan eyed a very preoccupied Derek from the corner of his eye and decided to break into the man's musings.

"He's still not going to die even if you keep shooting daggers from your eyes."

The marine scoffed. "Mind your own business, Scott."

He raised his hands up with a shrug "Hey, as far as I remember I'm not the Scott brother you're mad at… so tune the catty down."

Derek averted his eyes towards Lucas, who was seated with the 3 Scott children. "I'm not mad at him, Nate. I'm just… being a brother. And besides, it wasn't him I was looking at."

That got Nathan's curiosity. "Oh? So if you weren't going for laser eye tag, then who were you checking out?"

Derek smirked, thankful that Nathan hadn't noticed the direction that his stare targeted. "Like I said, Scott, Mind your own business."

"Lucas, the blue Lego with the small holes goes here!" An exasperated Kaitlyn cried.

"Well, they all look the same to me." He replied flatly as he shifted Robby's weight in his lap.

Ryan interjected his comment with a sigh, "Big people just don't get it. You and daddy are the same, Uncle Luc."

"That's coz we're brothers, Ry." He answered with a smile. His nephew was a feisty one, but he was thankful for the interaction. Ryan, too, had given him a second chance – and he was grateful for it.

Robby fussed in his lap. "Hey buddy; feeling better?" He asked. The little boy responded with a silent head shake and curled up in his arms. Lucas frowned in worry as he kissed the top of Robby's head - his son hadn't been feeling well since yesterday. He considered it a burden and a blessing – a burden, because he didn't know how to handle the situation; and a blessing, because the little boy had taken comfort in snuggling up against him.

It had taken approximately 3 weeks before Robby actually offered him a smile, or any type of positive reaction to his efforts for that matter. But after the ice had finally broken, everything in their relationship had fallen into place – slowly, the little boy had gotten used to him; and over the course of 6 months, Robby had automatically taken to holding his father's hand, approaching him with a hug, or absently crawling into his lap for comfort. All in all, the progress of their budding relationship was fruitful, and there was only one more fence to mend before his life could finally be complete…

The fence that belonged to Peyton Sawyer.

Haley James-Scott laughed together with her two best friends as they discussed the new flash report her son made over yesterday's dinner.

"I still can't believe he almost walked in on you and Nate, Hales" commented Brooke. "Haven't you heard of locking the door?"

Peyton put her thoughts in with a chuckle. "Says the woman I caught playing tonsil hockey with my brother in the kitchen three nights back."

The brunette flushed at the memory. "P. Sawyer, I can't believe you! You saw us?" The blonde answered with a smug smile and a shrug.

"Brooke! You and? Wait… what?" A very confused and curious Haley asked, but Brooke was too mortified to notice, her attention was focused on the blonde. "Why didn't you say anything, Peyton?"

She scoffed. "What are we, seventeen? You and Derek have been at it since four years ago… it was bound to happen. Besides, Brooke, if this is keeping you smiling despite everything that's happening then I'm cool with it." Peyton said with uitter sincerity. Just then, Nathan came forward and drew his wife to his side. Having heard part of the comment, he inquired "Who's been at it with Derek since four years back?" Haley immediately supplied the culprit's name, which earned Brooke a wide-eyed expression from Nathan.

"I knew it! I knew you and Sommers had a thing going on!" Nathan beamed at the truth to his speculations.

"Why didn't you tell us, Brooke?" Haley's voice was a mix of curiosity, hurt, and concern.

"Look, we're sorry we didn't tell any of you. We wanted to, but everything was just full of drama that we didn't want any unnecessary attention drawn to us." Brooke explained, hoping she would understand.

Haley seemed comforted by the explanation. "Alright, as long as you're preoccupied and smiling."

"I am." Brooke said with a smile.

Haley spoke again. "Good, now that that's out of the way, I have something to say…" Nathan was about to walk away when Haley caught him by the arm. "Stay, Nate, this concerns you too." All their eyes were transfixed on her, Nathan's own laced with anxious anticipation. She released a sigh and smiled.

"I'm pregnant. Again." Her eyes directed to her husband, praying that his reaction would be positively different from the first time she said those words.

Nathan's jaw slacked and he felt like a deer caught in the headlights. The shock lasted for one second and he immediately felt his lips curl up into a smile as he picked up his wife and spun her around.

His rejoicing was shared by everyone else in the circle. As the congratulations went around, Haley James-Scott freed a breath she didn't know she held back.

Finally, everything was exactly what she hoped for.

"Congratulations, man."

Nathan turned to shake his brother's hand. "Thanks, Luc."

"Well, at least you made her cry happy tears this time." Lucas joked.

He chuckled, remembering how awkward it had been when Haley informed him of her pregnancy with Ryan. "Yeah. I wasn't too much of deer caught in the headlights this time, huh?" Lucas agreed with a smirk and a nod.

Derek sauntered over to their spot, and Nathan sensed the tension that creeped into his older brother. "He's a good guy, Luc... just being a brother. Besides, you haven't given him a reason to maul you. So stay cool." He assured just before the marine arrived.

"Scott..." he nodded at Nathan then greeted, "...and Scott." as he faced Lucas. "Great party. Tell your mom thank you for me. Brooke and I are heading over to the mall to check on her store." The man shook Lucas's hand and turned to bid the otehrs goodbye.

"Well, he and Brooke are getting close." Lucas commented.

Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you're jealous."

The older Scott was shocked. "What?! No! I'm just..."

"Wishing you and Peyton shared the same type of relationship?" the younger brother supplied. Lucas fell silent, he could only sigh as he averted his gaze to the woman-in-discussion.

Nathan understood. "Soon, bro. Soon."

Lucas stood by the door frame, watching Peyton set their son down on his bed. It was a moment, in his opinion, too perfect for words or pictures. His heart clenched.

She turned and he saw a hint of surprise in her. "Oh, hi. I hope you don't mind, but he said he wanted to sleep so I put him down for a nap here."

He smiled at her timidity. "I don't mind… not at all." He decided to try things out and approach her; when they came face to face, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Peyton, I really can't thank you enough for letting him be open to me. Most people would've done otherwise."

Peyton looked at him, her eyes glinting with the faintest hint of gladness. "Well, as you know, I'm not most people."

"That, you are." He complimented.

She blushed. It blew him away, knowing he could still make her blush. "Heh. Okay, well… I should be getting back to the party…" His hand on her shoulder held on a bit tighter when she attempted the exit, causing her to freeze mid-motion.

"I'm still sorry, Peyton. And I know it's a lot to ask… but I was hoping we could work us out. It's too soon, I know. This we-might-as-well-be-strangers phase isn't really the best place to be in where you're concerned, and I guess I deserve to be here--"

Peyton cut him off "We're not… we're not strangers, Luc."

The faintest bit of hope arose from his heart. "What are we, then, Peyt? Friends?" he curiously inquired.

"Getting there." She said as she released herself from his gentle grip and stepped into the ongoing party outside. He smiled.

They weren't friends, but they were getting there – and that made all the difference.