Authors Note: So I know this was a long wait and I apologize I know I've done that a lot so with that said this is the end of Back Home but I plan to write a sequel but to ensure that there are no long waits between updates I plan to write the whole story first then post it. So I hope you enjoy this short wrap up of this story I'm not sure it's a great ending but the plans I have will be better started in the sequel. I hope you all read the sequel but it may not be up for a while so add me to your favorite authors and to your author alert list and you'll be alerted when I post. Thanks for being patient with me and thanks for reading and leaving feedback I hope you all have enjoyed this venture with me.
"Hey," Lucas said to Rachel as he took a seat next to her at the café.
"Hey back at ya," she said, "is everything ok?"
"Yeah, Nate's just got a lot going on," he said, "but I'm sure it'll probably be headline news tomorrow so let's not talk about it."
"Ok if that's what you want," Rachel said.
They hung out talking about the fun they had this summer becoming friends and they talked about the upcoming school yeah and all the possibilities it held. They were excited to be going to the same school. Rachel was excited to show him around and introduce him to people. Lucas was excited to go tot his dream school, excited to be leaving Tree Hill, though it'd always be his home.
As the night wound down Karen made an appearance to bid farewell to Rachel. She told her how happy she was that she and Lucas had become close and that he would have someone to look after him and she would have someone to make sure she stayed the amazing person she had become.
Lucas walked Rachel to her car hugged her then told her he'd see her in about a week. He was headed back into the café when he checked his phone for the time but realized he missed a call and voicemail.
He checked the voicemail, "hey it's Brooke. Haley called me a little while ago they think Keith's coming home tomorrow morning. I was wondering if you wanted to do something? Call me."
Haley woke up in Nathan's arms. She quickly stood up realizing, now that she was awake, how uncomfortable it was for the two of them to have been squished on the small hospital cot. She figured it was really uncomfortable for Nathan considering he was still healing. His arm reached for her but he stayed sleeping.
It was about 9am when there was a knock on the door. Nathan startled sat up groggily. Haley was at Keith's side watching him sleep.
"Sorry," the doctor said to Nathan.
"Don't worry about it," he said rubbing his eyes.
The doctor went over and looked Keith over, accidentally waking him. "Well everything looks good so I'll sign the paperwork and leave it at the nurse's station just sign it on your way out and remember the regular follow-ups."
"Thank you," Haley said picking Keith up.
"Are we ready," Haley asked Nathan as he came back into Keith's room.
"Yeah, I took care of the paperwork with the nurse," he smiled, "but she warned me that there is a media blitz out front. I asked a security guard to pull the car around."
"You think they know about Duke and Duante, all of that," Haley asked.
He frowned and nodded his head, "probably," he mumbled.
She grabbed his hand, "we'll be ok." He smiled at her half heartedly. "You take him and I'll take the bags."
Nathan grabbed Keith and Haley's hand and they walked out. They got off the elevator and headed for the lobby. The security guard met them at the door. "The keys are in her and she's still running Mr. Scott."
"Thank you," Nathan said. The security guard opened the door and Nathan shielded Keith from the press. Haley pulled her sunglasses on and threw the bags in the trunk. She quickly got in the car ignoring the press' badgering for a comment about Nathan's situation.
Nathan quickly put Keith in his car seat and closed the door. He headed to the drivers seat, "no comment," he said as he climbed into the car and drove away.
They got to the house and approached it the same way they left the hospital, hand in hand Nathan holding Keith, Haley holding the bags. They walked into the house, "surprise!" Lucas, the river court guys, Bevin, Brooke, Tim, and Peyton were standing in the living room. There was a smell emulating from the kitchen and Karen and Larry, holding Kaitlyn, entered the room.
"Now this ambush I like," Nathan said as the door bell rang. He opened the door.
"Oh I'm late," Deb said disappointed.
"Hi mom," Nathan said as he kissed her cheek.
"I made you guys breakfast," Karen said, "and the gang just wanted to be here to welcome Keith home. We are all going to go now and let you guys rest." She had a defiant motherly tone, "even the two guests that have been staying here."
"Yeah I'm not staying either," Deb said.
"Oh mom it's ok, you just got here," Nathan said.
"No I insist really, I'll visit later," she said.
Everyone headed for the door, "don't be strangers, call and visit before we all head off in different directions," Haley said. They all left and Nathan, Haley, and Keith headed into the kitchen.
When Tim and Brooke finally came home Nathan sat on the couch holding a sleeping Haley. "How long has she been out," Brooke asked.
"I don't know. We were watching a movie and I looked down and she was sleeping," Nathan answered.
"So breakfast tomorrow," Brooke asked.
"Actually I think we should just lay low for a little while," Nathan said.
"Ok well we should have dinner in tomorrow, or something because were leaving the day after," she said.
"Oh ok," Nathan said.
Brooke and Tim headed off to bed and Nathan woke Haley so they could head up to bed as well.
When Brooke and Tim emerged from their room ready to face the day they saw Lucas sitting on the couch playing with Keith. "Hey where is everyone," Tim asked.
"Haley's just doing laundry and Nate's at physical therapy," he answered as Haley came into the room.
"Where are you guys headed," she asked them.
"Just making the rounds to say goodbye," Brooke answered.
"You're really leaving tomorrow," Haley asked.
"Yes," Brooke frowned.
"We're gonna try the river court first," Tim said.
They pulled up to the river court and sure enough there were Fergie, Skills, and Junk shooting around with Mouth and Bevin looking on.
"Hey gimpy, you able to shoot around," Skills asked Tim. "Nothing heavy just shooting."
"Uh I don't know lets see," he answered holding his hands out for the ball.
"Be careful," Brooke said cautiously as she joined Bevin and Mouth. "We're leaving tomorrow," she said to Bevin and Mouth.
"So are we," Bevin said talking about her and Skills. "I think Fergie and Junk are too."
"Yeah they are," Mouth said. "We're all meeting up at the café later."
"So we're all having dinner tonight at the café because half the gang is leaving tomorrow," Lucas said. "If Tim and Brooke are at the river court I bet they know. So you guys going to come?"
"I don't know," Haley said, "what about Keith?"
"I bet my mom would watch him," Nathan said.
"And if she won't mine will," Lucas said, "the café's going to be closed so she's free and already said she would if you wanted."
"You have to thank your mom again Luke," Mouth said. "She was great to us all summer long."
"Yeah," everyone else agreed in unison.
"Well your welcome," Karen said coming out of the kitchen.
"Mom what are you doing I thought you left," Lucas said smiling.
"Well I wanted to thank you all for being back home this summer," she said smiling at each one of them, Lucas, Haley, Nathan, Peyton, Brooke, Tim, Skills, Bevin, Mouth, Fergie, and Junk. "I also wanted to tell you all something I once told Lucas, 'I know you're searching for things. And I hope with all my heart that you find the answers to your questions.' After all that is what college is for, 'but the answers that you are looking for are closer than you think. They are in your heart and in the hearts of those who love you. And that is right here at home.' Just know that, 'no matter where you go or who you become this place will always be with you. There is only one Tree Hill and it's your home."