The cold chilly air felt great pressed up against his face. After the long hot summer, this cool autumn day in October felt amazing. The leaves, colorful in red, orange, and yellow, hung on to the tips of tree branches for dear life. Half of them had already given up the battle of hanging on and surrendered to the cold ground.

As they sat upon the ground, they were kicked aside as a young man ran past them. Lucas, age twenty-two, ran pass them with his little sister Lily, age five today, on his back.

"Lukey, go faster! I want to see daddy!" she shrieked loudly.

Lucas picked up his speed to appease the little joy in his life on his back. He bolted up the hill at top speed which was nothing to sneeze at being he was carrying a forty pound five year old on his back, up hill, and with a still nagging heart condition that really had not given him too much grief since his senior year. The only true problems were when he exerted himself too much or let his emotions control him. Other then that, his heart was doing just dandy.

Lucas did have one problem. He was in love. Madly in love with the little girl on his back. He never figured he could love so much, where it would encompass his every part of his being. He loved his little sister so much, he simply could not get enough of her. He had made a promise months before she was expected to be born that he would be there every aspect of her life and he never intended on breaking it.

Even while Karen was pregnant Lucas was there every which way, whether that meant going into the store to buy a jar of pickles and a carton of vanilla ice cream to satisfy her crazy cravings, massaging her swollen feet, or never letting her out of his sight, he was there nevertheless. Even on the day she due, Lucas made his mother promise him that she would call when she was ready. With her stomach fully bloated, her hands on her hips, and sweat on her brow she nodded and promised for the fifteenth time.

Just as Lucas walked out of the door, she felt it was time. She called after him and without a moment passed, Lucas ran back into the house. He grabbed her sweater, placed in around her, as well as the hospital bag and took her out to the car. He placed his arm around her waist and gently led her down the stairs of the porch one by one. Together they performed the breathing patterns the instructors at Lamaze showed them. Lucas opened the door of the car for her and shut it behind her. Once she was inside, Lucas bolted to the other side of the car and shoved the keys in the ignition without much thought.

The car ride truly till this day was a blur. Lucas sped through the streets of Tree Hill to get his mom to the hospital as fast as he could. She sat in the passenger's seat groaning in pain as the contractions got closer and closer. She did not think she could make it any longer just as the pulled up to the Emergency Room doors. He bolted out of the car at top speed after putting the car in park and headed to his mom's door. He flung it open and brought her to standing position. He hurried her through the sliding doors and yelled for some help.

Instantly a nurse came over with a wheelchair and ordered Karen to sit in it. Lucas held onto her hand for a brief moment as he brought it up to kiss it gently. "I'll be right in there, ma!"

Lucas went with another nurse that helped him get ready to be there in the delivery room. He went in the room just as the doctor entered the room from another door. His mom was fully medicated and her legs were propped up in the stirrups. She called him over to his side and that's where he stood the entire four hour labor.

Just as Karen was about to give into exhaustion, a piercing cry sliced through the entire room. The nurses gathered around the little baby and kept on admiring how beautiful she looked. Lucas took his mother head in his hands and kissed her on the sweaty forehead.

"You did great mom," he praised.

Karen held her son's hand tight as they waited to see the new addition to their family. One of the nurses brought over the little bundle of joy wrapped in a pink blanket. She stretched over her arms and handed her to Karen. Lucas's eyes were locked on the beautiful creation for what seemed like centuries. He could hardly move as he stared into the all too familiar brown eyes and that crazy brown hair.

Tears rushed down his cheeks as he saw their father in the little baby's face. He reached out his fingers to gently touch her perfect face. "She's absolutely beautiful!" he declared as his voice cracked.

Till this day, October 20 2009 Lucas till believe with all of his heart that Lily Roe Scott was still beautiful. He truly found himself thankful he had lived past the most terrible month of his life so he could see her grow up into such a precious little girl.

Lucas stopped at the grave which sat under a large oak tree. He lowered himself to the ground and let Lily jump off of him. Once on the ground, Lily reached her tiny little hand to her big brother's and grabbed it. Her dark brown hair danced in the light wind as did her pretty lavender dress.

Lucas stared at the grave. That horrible day, which felt just like yesterday some days and yet some days it felt like hundreds of years ago, still had the power to twist at his heart as the all the memories came rushing back. There honestly was not a day where he did not miss or think of Keith and the incredible legacy he left behind. There were many days in Lily's life that Lucas wished her dad could have been there to see.

"Lukey," Lily spoke as she pulled on her big brother's arm to bring him back out of the fog he was in, "Tell me a funny story about daddy."

"Hmm," Lucas said as he got down on his knees. There were so many. "One time daddy and I wanted to surprise mommy buy making her cookies for Christmas when I was your age. I was trying to open to the flour bag for him but he thought I was going to make a mess, so he took it. He showed me how to open it by putting it between us but he pulled so hard it exploded. We had the powder all over our faces and hair. His face was so silly. The funny part was when mommy walked through the door and asked us what we were doing."

Lily giggled and inquired, "What did daddy say you were doing?"

Lucas smiled, "He said, 'Teaching Luke how not to open the flour bag'."

The two siblings laughed in harmony. Once their laughter subsided, Lily asked "Lukey, do you miss daddy?"

Lucas nodded. "I sure do. Sometimes everyday."

Lily looked at the grave in front of her as she spun her long chestnut hair around her finger. "I miss him too. Would he have loved me like he loved you?"

Lucas brought his sister into his arms and brought her chin up with his finger. "He would have adored you, Lily."

Lily's sad brown eyes lit up instantly. "Really?"

"Oh yeah, you would have been his little princess and I would have been so jealous!" he teased as he started tickling her.

Lily squealed as her brother continued to torture her over and over again by tickling her incessantly. He broke it off when he took a glance at his watch that Keith left behind for him.

"We got to go princess, we're gonna be late for daddy's, Jamie's and your birthday party!"

Lily pretended to put on lipstick and fiddled with her hair, "I believe I am allowed to be fashionably late to my own party." she spoke in a snooty voice but busted out laughing right after.

Lucas rolled his eyes as he laughed. Lily constantly said things that were way past her age and he absolutely loved it. "Well then my highness, let's take our time getting there."

Lucas stood up and stretched out his hand for his sister to grab. She placed her small delicate hand inside and the two walked down the hill together laughing and giggling at all the funny stories about their father. Lucas looked behind him at the grave and thought with a great big smile on his face.

"Happy birthday dad!"

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

FINISHED.

Dedicated to all those men who selflessly give their lives for children to have a man to call father, when the biological walks out, in their own lives, especially to one awesome father in particular, my own. You didn't have to be apart of my life but you've been there every step of the way these past twenty years and I greatly look forward to many more. I love you pappy! : )

Hello friends, well it's done. I cannot believe I finished a story, this never happens ever but it was made possible with faithful readers and reviewers. Thank you for all the support, advice, and just bearing with me. I hope you enjoyed it. I feel confident in the how the story went and ended up. Thanks again to all my loyal followers and reviewers such as-

Ash1984- Thank you for your sweet constant, but helpful reviews. It has been a honor to write for your entertainment even when you were about to kill me for not updating! Thanks again, sweetheart! : )

LongLiveBrucas- Thank you for your constant reviews. They made me laugh often but I enjoyed them. : )

RJMoonspell4- Thanks for the coming in half way through and leaving extremely helpful reviews. I did not do everything you asked, but you helped me a ton. : )

OTHRocksmysoxoff- You dropped off the face of the earth after chapter 10, but I hope you've been still reading. You left very encouraging reviews and I thank you. : ) I am gonna read your fanfic, no matter how long it is. ; )

Turner97- You as well fell off the face of the earth but thank you for your reviews. I wonder if this truly was a tear jerker for you because if you say yes, then good! : ) You as well need to update your story, I check once a week to see if you updated and every week I am sadly disappointed. ; ) But thanks again! : )

Everybody else- Thank you for all who have read either anoymously or been one of my friends finally giving into me begging you to check the story out, thank you for taking time to read it all! I appreciate you reading it even if you didn't leave a review, hint-hint! : )

Next story in the process, Between You and Me- Lucas hiding a secret from everyone goes pretty well until someone finds out. Will she tell everyone or keep it. Will she fall for him in the process even though she's dating his jerk half brother. Check it out, I only have a chapter written due to the fact I wanted to finish this before I get to into this new one. Let me know if I should also pick up the only one and try to make something out of it.

Thanks again for all the reviews, love you all! : )