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The boxes were packed and the movers were loading them into the moving van. Lucas took one last walk through the empty house, looking for a sign to tell them he was doing the right thing. On the front porch, the wooden swing was swinging in the gentle breeze.
"Lucas," stated Haley one summer evening. They were sophomores in high school, before Lucas had joined the Ravens, before Haley had started tutoring Nathan, before their world had changed forever.
"Yeah, Hales?" asked Lucas, pushing the porch swing back and forth with his feet. Haley was resting her head against his shoulder and he had an arm wrapped around her. They were snuggled close, warm despite the cool, evening air of early September.
"Don't you wish it could be like this forever? You and me, our own little team. Nothing will be able to stop us."
"I don't know, Hales. I think I'd get bored of you eventually." Lucas laughed, teasingly, and Haley backhanded him across his chest.
"I just mean, us, Tree Hill. I wish we never have to grow up and leave. I don't know what I'd do without you here, beside me. If that's not too sappy, sorry." Haley chuckled.
"Well then, I'll tell you what, Haley James. After college, when we're all grown up and have families of our own, we'll move back to Tree Hill and live right next door to each other. How does that sound?"
Haley smiled and snuggled closer. "That sounds good, Buddy. I think I'd like to raise my kids here, in Tree Hill."
The memory blurred and when it came back into focus over two years had passed. Haley was sitting snuggled against Lucas on the same porch swing, but now she was many months pregnant and there was a ring on her finger.
"Luke, tell me what you're thinking," Haley spoke softly. Her head was resting against Lucas' chest and she shifted to look up at him.
"I'm thinking how crazy it is the turns our lives have taken. Who knew that two years ago, I'd have walked off the rivercourt and won the State Championship, or that you would be married and about to pop?"
"About to pop, maybe," said Haley wryly, "But I don't know about the married part anymore. I haven't heard from Nathan in almost seven months." There were tears in her eyes.
"Don't worry, Hales. He'll come back to you. And if it takes him some time, well, we'll raise this kid together, you and me." He smiled and rested his hand on her stomach. Suddenly there was a small kick.
"Do you feel that, Luke?" Haley whispered. "He knows it's you. You're going to be a great uncle, do you know that, Lucas? My son will be very lucky to have you in his life."
Jamie's voice brought Lucas back to reality. "Are you ready to go, Uncle Luke?" he demanded. "Molly is in her carseat and everything's packed." Lucas nodded, blinking back any tears. It wouldn't do to let the children see him crying.
"Uncle Lucas," asked Rebecca, tugging on his arm. "Why do we have to move?"
Lucas sighed. He knew this question was coming, but he thought his choice was for the best. "We're going to live in the place where your Mama grew up, okay, Rebecca? That's where I live. It's by the beach and you can have your own room and I think that you are really going to like it. Your mama told me once that Tree Hill was her favorite place in the world."
"Why isn't Mama coming?" asked Rebecca, sadly.
It broke Lucas' heart to hear her question. Despite the many time he had explained it to her, she and Molly still didn't understand that their parents were gone. "Because she is in a special place now, called Heaven," Lucas reminded her gently. "But she is still watching you and every time you smile, it makes her smile too, okay?"
She clutched her teddy bear and gave him a timid, but real, smile. Her front two teeth were missing – a stage of growing up that already Haley hadn't gotten to see. It was the first of many events of her children's lives that Haley would miss out on. "Okay," said Rebecca.