Cassie returned home a short while later, feeling better after talking to Nathan and Haley. She had to admit, she had had her doubt about Nathan's sincerity towards her and Haley, but he did seem to be trying. And he and Haley were actually cute together. She could tell that Haley liked him, by the sparkle in her eye as she looked at him. Sure she had that sparkle with other kids she had tutored, but never to the extent that she did with Nathan. Cassie only hoped Nathan was trustworthy, especially now for Haley's sake.
Cassie walked in her front door to find Karen, Lucas and Keith sitting on the couch looking worried.
"Cassie." Karen said as she got up to hug her daughter with a concerned expression on her features. "Are you ok? What happened? I went to get you a bag of ice for your shoulder and I come back and find your bedroom window open and you not there."
Cassie hugged her mom back. "Sorry mom, I just had to get out for awhile. I needed to think."
Keith walked over to his niece and pulled her into his arms. "Congratulations kiddo, you scared us to death. As soon as your mom found you missing, she chased us down."
"I'm really sorry you guys...honestly." Cassie said with her Uncle's arm still around her shoulders. "But I guess its a good thing you came back Uncle Keith, that way you didn't do something you would regret."
"Where did you go?" Lucas asked hoping she wasn't still mad at him.
"Um not that its any of your business Luke, but I went to Nathans." Cassie said.
Lucas looked at her wide eyed. "N...Nathan Scott?"
"Who else?" Cassie asked.
"Since when do you talk to him?" Karen asked. "He's never really even acknowledged you."
Cassie nodded. "I know mom, but he's really trying to be a better person, he says he doesn't want to end up like Dan."
"Well Cas, I for one am glad your giving Nathan a chance." Keith said. "He hasn't had the easiest time with Dan breathing down his neck."
"I know. I guess its pretty safe to say we got the better end of the deal." Cassie said smiling at her mom and Keith."
"Well are you ok honey? Was he able to help?" Karen asked.
"Yeah actually he did. He was with Haley, she's tutoring him." Cassie said.
"Tutoring him?" Lucas muttered then spoke a little louder. "Why didn't you just come to me? You know you can talk to me."
"Not about this Luke. This was about you. And before you say anything, you should know he defended you." Cassie said.
"He did?" Lucas asked surprised.
"Yeah he said you were just trying to be a good brother, that he would have done the same thing."
"Wow." was all Lucas said.
They all walked over and sat on the couch.
"Look Luke, I'm sorry for getting so angry at you, I guess I kind of understand you did it." Cassie said.
Luke smiled. "I'm sorry too. I should have trusted you to do the right thing, but I just wanted to see Tim face the consequences, but it looks as if he already has." Lucas laughed.
"What do you mean?" Cassie asked.
"I saw him with some of his friends and he was pretty much black and blue from head to toe."
Cassie laughed.
"And Nathan made you realize all this?" Karen asked.
"Yeah, him and Haley." Cassie said. "Luke, you should really talk to him, he can be a decent guy when he wants to be. He even checked on me last night after the attack."
"I'm sorry I still don't trust him." Lucas said.
"I know, I don't either, but I'm starting to come around." Cassie said and then she remembered her mom saying her Uncle Keith had a surprise for them. "Oh my god, Uncle Keith we completely forgot the reason you came over." Cassie said.
"Oh right." Karen laughed. "Too much excitement."
"So what was it?" Lucas asked.
Keith smiled. "Well its kind of more for your mom." He said smiling at Karen who looked at him strangely.
"For me?" She asked.
He nodded. "Yeah, you remember that cooking school in Italy you were always going on about?"
She nodded. "Yeah but the timing was never right."
"Well now it is." He said.
Cassie's eyes widened. "You mean mom's finally going to get to go?"
"Yep." Keith said.
"But Keith I can't go. I mean be serious, I've got two teenagers to raise and a cafe to run." She said.
"Mom, you have to go. You need to do something for yourself for a change." Lucas said.
"Its kind of too late to say no Karen. I booked you a ticket..first class. You leave Tuesday." Keith said.
"What! Keith, that's two days from now...I can't just pick up and leave that fast. What about the kids, the cafe?"
"Mom, we'll be fine. You deserve this." Cassie said. "Besides Uncle Keith can stay with us."
Keith nodded. "And I'm sure we could find someone to run the cafe, say Deb? You two have been talking more...and if she can't then I will."
Karen looked at him. "What about your body shop?"
"Ahh, I was kidding. Deb already said she'd be happy to help. And Ms. Cassie here can take care of things on weekends and weeknights from time to time, right honey?" He asked his niece who nodded eagerly. "Besides, other than yourself Karen, no one can run that cafe better then Cas."
"What about the house?" Karen asked.
"Me and Lucas will keep it clean, don't worry. Things are already taken care of." Keith said. "All you need to say is yes."
"Come on mom..please do this for yourself." Lucas said.
"You two promise to behave?" She asked her kids.
"Of course mom, we'll be perfect little angels like always. When have we not been on our best behavior around Keith?" Cassie asked feigning innocence.
"Hmm what about that time when you were 8 and you decided it would be fun to play Cops and Robbers, and I came home to find Uncle Keith tied to the staircase.
Cassie looked down. "Yeah sorry about that Keith...but mom I'm a lot more mature now. I mean come on I'm going to be 18 soon."
"And what about you." Karen looked at Lucas. "When you were 6 you jumped out of the Treehouse and broke your wrist."
"I won't do it again mom." Lucas laughed. "You have to go...its non-negotiable."
"Lucas is right." Keith said.
Karen thought about it then hesitantly nodded. "Ok, I'll go."