September 23rd, 2013
Tree Hill, North Carolina
Haley and Nathan Scott's House
"Mama!" Jamie Scott yelled, from his bedroom, where the now eight year old was sitting in the middle of what looked like a LEGO explosion. "There's someone at the door."
Down the hallway, Haley James Scott sighed as she heard her son call. She quickly picked up the little girl she had just finished dressing and made her way to the door, not surprised to see Brooke, Chase, Logan and Ollie behind it. "What's going on guys?" She asked, though she knew full well what her friends were here for.
"Nothing, really. It's just so hot, and the kids are sick of the ocean, and we miss you guys. We haven't seen you since we got back from Italy, and I forgot to go grocery shopping."
Haley laughed, and then opened the door a bit wider, letting all four Adams' in. "Ollie," She said, turning to the little girl, "Jamie's up in his room, if you want to go play with him." As soon as the words had left her mouth, the little girl was dashing up the stairs, towards her cousin. "Why don't you guys-" Haley turned away from the direction that Ollie had just run off in, and rolled her eyes when she saw that Chase and Brooke had already made themselves at home.
It was less than twenty minutes later when Haley saw the suburban pull up in front of the house, with Lucas, Peyton and all the kids, all five of them, pile out, Lilly already in her bathing suit, Peyton looking like she was going to pass out. All the blonde could offer was a weak smile as she walked in, Avery in one arm, Chaim in the other, and practically threw herself onto a beach chair, her eyes closing as she reclined back into the seat.
"Long night?" Haley questioned, looking at her best friend, who was eying his wife worriedly.
"Yeah." Lucas said, breaking his attention from his wife, and turning his gaze on his best friend. "The doctor says Ave needs to be taking stronger HCM meds, now that she's walking and moving more, and the doctor's appointment was yesterday, but they can't get the medication to us until tomorrow. Peyt's hasn't let her out of her arms since we left; she's so worried about her. She spent all of last night with the baby in her arms, just watching her sleep, Haley it was the most heartbreaking thing I've ever seen."
Haley nodded, looking back over at her niece once again before turning back to Luke. "Are you okay?"
"I'm just as worried as Peyton is." Lucas admitted, "She's my daughter, and it scares the shit out of me that she's sick because of me."
"It's not your fault Luke." Haley said quietly, her arm on Lucas'. "Hey, why don't you go and take Chaim, and put him down in Kaylee's room, and then I am sure that Nathan won't mind watching Brody and Bailey in the pool for awhile. And make sure that Peyton knows that if she just wants to sleep in our room, that's fine."
"Thanks." Lucas said laughing, "But I'm sure she won't want to. If she's sleeping, she's not watching Ave."
"She needs to sleep."
"She'll sleep. I might not be until tomorrow afternoon, but she'll sleep if she gets tired enough. I know my wife."
"Okay." Haley relented, "Do you know who else is coming today?"
"Sorry we're late." A voice called from the front door, and Haley and Lucas both burst out laughing. Derek came into view of the chatting friends, Sawyer in his arms.
"Where's Lindsay?"
"Mia had her last summer concert today, so Lindsay's watching Karli for her, and she had to get her dressed. She'll be here in a few minutes."
"Great." Haley smiled as she informed him as to where everyone was, and then had Lucas go out and sit with him. Seconds later, Derek was in the pool with Nathan, Jamie, Lilly and Ollie, Sawyer in his bathing suit and life vest, in his arms.
"How you doing Blondie?" Lucas whispered, as he walked up next to his wife, bending down so that he was at her level, and then kissing her softly.
"I'm fine Lucas." The worry was evident behind her transparent sarcasm.
"So is she honey. I'm going to take Chaim in for a nap, okay?" Peyton nodded, letting the little body leave her arms, her eyes fighting sleep.
Apparently, she lost the fight, seeing as the next time she opened her eyes, she saw all her kids in the pool, Avery excluded, and Lindsay making her way through the gate, newborn in hand.
"Hey Linds." Peyton beckoned the woman over to her, and she took the seat next to Lucas without any awkwardness as he hugged her hello.
"Luke told me about Ave. You okay?" Lindsay started, her gaze shifting from Peyton to the baby.
"Yes. And Mia told me about Karli. How are you doing with that?"
"Okay." Lindsay laughed, looking down at the baby, just as Haley and Nathan got to the table, Nathan yelling for Lucas and Derek and Owen to get out of the pool, leave the baby sitting to Deb and Jake, who were in the pool, along with Rachel and Owen, and come help cook. Haley happily took the seat that Lucas had just vacated, and sat down next to Lindsay.
"Can you say 'Hi aunt Peyton and Aunt Haley' Karli?" Lindsay said, shifting the infant on her lap into her arms, and talking to her. It was no surprise when the little girl said nothing.
"God, she is just like her mother." Haley sighed, looking at the girl. And it was true. She had Mia's jet black hair, and the same eyes, and Peyton liked to pretend that they had the same attitude too.
"I know. They're both stubborn as hell." The blonde said, laughing as she reached out and took Karli from Lindsay, balancing both girls on her lap, so that Lindsay could breathe for a minute. Peyton then turned her attention to the little girl in Haley's arms, still sleeping. "She's beautiful Hales."
"Yeah, I know." Her daughter was gorgeous, and the exact opposite of Jamie. Where he had bright blue eyes and beach blonde hair, his little sister already had her fathers dark chocolate colored locks and eyes that were such a deep brown it was shocking.
"Aren't you too cute Kaylee? Just like your twin sister." Peyton laughed as Lindsey took Karli back, just as Nathan turned around from the grill, calling everyone over for lunch, Lucas right behind him with the tray of food.
The kids were already over at the table that they had set up in the lawn when Nate and Luke got there, and the older kids happily each grabbed the food they wanted as Deb and Jake handed each wet child to a parent, Logan winding up in Chase' arms, Brody and Bailey in Lucas, and Sawyer in Derek's.
They all ate happily, and as Lucas looked over the scene, his wife next to him, half asleep, with his daughter in her arms, trying desperately to carry out a conversation with the woman that a little over two years before she had called a man-faced-bitch, he had to smile to himself.
It was three hours later when Peyton finally fell asleep, curled up in Lucas arms on the couch, Avery next to her, while the other kids were either napping, or watching Ratatouille in the next room. No one had left, and neither Nathan nor Haley felt any need to have them go. This was comfortable. As odd as it was, this was it for them, all of them. This room, filled with brother's who had once hated each other, two completely different sets of best friends, ex-fiancés, screaming kids and married couples who had been thrown together by a game, a high school game. They had made it through, and they were happy, against their odds.
A/N: Okay, this is the last chapter of Against Our Odds. Right now, I'm going to post a one chapter epilogue as a different fic, called English Class for Authors, which has the definite possibilities of being the beginning of a sequel. However, I am going to start a completely new story after this, it's going to be a post 3.16 fic about, Lucas and Peyton. I really like this universe though, so I will probably be updating that fic about once every week, or so, depending on the response I get from my other story! Please review!