A/N - sorry guys for the delay - I've been super busy at work and general stuff!! Then fanfic wouldn't let me upload my story... silly computers :p. New chapter following soon. I hope you are still enjoying it! R&R as always :)

"So – my Mum says you will be leaving soon?" Jaime says solemnly as he and Lily sit on the back porch of Jamie's house. Their parents were busy chatting inside, and after a hectic play session, the kids were taking a break and enjoying the view of the pool and yard from the back steps.

"Yeah. Mum says we're heading off next week. In some ways, I want to go 'cause I love travelling, but I kinda like it here too." Lily answers.

"Where will you be going anyway?!"

"Mum says we will be heading to Australia and New Zealand to visit Andy's family"

"Is Andy your Dad?!"

"Nah, your Uncle Kieth is my dad, but I never met him. Mum tells me heaps of stories about him, and I really wish he was still here. Between the stories my mum tells me and Luke tells me, he sounds pretty awesome."

"Yeah – Uncle Luke tells me stories about him too. He tells me he wants to be as good an Uncle as Keith was to him."

"It's going to be boring without you….." Jaime surmises

"Yeah, It's going to be lonely without Tree Hill" Lily affirms, thinking of the quiet days spent on the road with nobody other than her Mum and Andy to keep her company….

"Are you ready?!" Marvin asks Millie as they sit in the car ready to go into the breeders house to try and find the pup just for them. After a long and arduous search, they had found a breeder that they both liked and got along with. Neither of them were really aware of how much effort went into purchasing a puppy, but both were determined to go about it the right way. The animal shelters at the time didn't have anything that suited their rather specific requirements, so the next choice was a registered breeder.

They both climbed out of the car, and Mouth affectionately put his arm around Millie's waist as they headed to the front door of the country home.

"Hi there, My name is Lauren. You must be Marvin and Millie?!" A larger lady said as she opened the door to greet them.

"Come on inside. The pups have all just had lunch, so they may be a little bit sleepy"

Mouth and Millie were taken over to the area where the puppies resided and were greeted by 10 healthy Golden Retrievers, all ranging in various colours of gold and each as cute as the other. They spent the next few hours talking to Lauren, the breeder about the personalities of each pup, what they were after, and of course soaking up every possible minute they could of cuddling these gorgeous little critters.

"Alright then, well the pups should be due to head home in a week or so. We won't be making final decisions on the puppies until later in the week so we'll certainly give you a call then!" Lauren said amicably.

On the ride home, both Mouth and Millie were very quiet in the car, each one thinking of their newest member that would be arriving home soon, if all goes to plan.

"I don't understand what the problem is?!" Lucas exclaimed into the phone.

"It's a huge commitment you are asking me to make, and yet I am getting almost nothing back for it. I don't want to take the contract. Come up with a better one or you have no sale!"

With that Lucas hung up the phone and sighed.

"Trouble in paradise?!" Peyton teased.

Lucas glared at her. "It's trying to get this darn book published that's the problem!"

"Aw hun, I'm sure you'll find the right publisher soon" Peyton consoled as she wrapped her arms around her husband.

"It's not like nobody wants to publish it. They do. They are just putting ridiculous conditions on the rights of publication! This is just so frustrating!"

"Lucas….. you do know, you can always contact Lyndsay again…." Peyton began not sure if she was saying the right thing for any of the parties involved.

"No." Lucas said firmly. "She's not the only publisher around and I am sure I can find another who will make reasonable requests." Lucas said, more confidently than he felt.

"In the meantime, I have basketball practice and speaking of which, I am running late, so I have to go!" He said before kissing Peyton and rushing out the door.

Peyton watched him run out and sighed. She knew how much he wanted this book to be published, but she also knew that he wouldn't bend on a lot of things he felt were right. Such as changing parts of the story or editing what he felt were important parts. These were going to be a long few months ahead!

"Sawyer!" Peyton yelled. "C'mon, we have to go! I have to get down to the studio today!"

"So Pretty Girl – what are we going to work on today?!" Peyton asked her daughter in a very business like fashion as they walked into the office of Red Ballrooom Records.

"Find some new tunes so Mama is happy!" Sawyer replied. She loved coming to work with her mum. She had certainly developed her mothers taste in music, and because of that loved nothing more than sitting around the studio listening to the various tunes blaring,

"What's wrong with a good old fashioned sound?" A voice resounded from the back of the studio. Curious, Peyton turned around to see who was in her studio.

"Oh….my… GOD!!! Mia, is that you! Get over here!" Peyton exclaimed pulling Mia into her arms and giving her a massive hug.

Laughing, Mia hugged Peyton back and said "Yeah, well you know, came to see if I really was too big for this old town now."

Sawyer, with a sudden hit of shyness was watching this reunion a small distance away.

"Omigod… is this Sawyer?" Mia asked noticing the little girl with wide eyes watching on. "She's so big!"

Evidently, like everyone else in this place, this person knew Sawyer, yet, she had no idea who this person was. Despite that, Sawyer liked her. She looked warm and friendly. Like someone who would give her ice cream after her mum had said no.

"Yeah – she's growing up way too fast. Wow – has it really been that long since I've seen you?! Ok – enough of that, I need to hear all about your WORLD tour miss…. And of course when is the next record coming out?!"

With that the girls sat down at Peyton's desk to catch up on new news, old news and everything in between.

"Oh She's gorgeous guys!" Brooke cooed at the puppy running around Mouth and Millie's apartment. "You've just given me new ideas for photo shoots, lines and…. Oh she's adorable!"

Everyone laughed. Jaime was transfixed with the puppy and was rolling around on the floor with her wrestling and getting her to chase the many toys that were scattered around. Sawyer was getting licked on the face and laughing hard whenever she threw the toy and the puppy ran over to get it and then ran around the room toy in mouth.

"I must admit she is pretty cute!" Haley commented. "What are you going to call her?!"

'We haven't decided yet! Do you know how hard it is to come up with a name that doesn't sound silly! We don't want to give her an overly human name like…. Louise for example"

"Well I can understand that! Not exactly a very puppyish name is it!?" Peyton joked.

"But then we don't want to give her a ridiculous name either! Her parents were "Star" and "Solo" so they are not too bad, but some people had very strange names for their dogs.."

"Not to mention, the breeder told us that if we had trouble to try and give her a name from her pedigree… so on her papers she's known as Goldenridge All Things Wonderful so how on earth do you grab something from that!" Millie interjected.

Peyton laughed. "I had a feeling you might be saying that. So in light of what a momentous occasion this is for all of you, we all got you a bit of a 'welcome home puppy pack'"

At that Nathan came inside with a huge hamper full of everything a puppy would need. Toys, grooming tools, collars and leads, and a baby naming book right on top. At that Mouth and Millie laughed as they quickly pulled it out.

"Thanks so much guys! This is fantastic!"

"Hey – don't thank us! You've just given me a tracking device for my son! If I can't find him, I'll know he'll be here harassing both of you and your pup!"

The door opens again as Skills pokes his head around the door. He doesn't seem confident enough to come inside yet. He scans the room and can't see the pup, so he makes a quick dash inside and shuts the door behind him, leaning against it lest he needs to make a quick escape.

"Is it safe in here?! Is it loose?" Skills asked cautiously

"Naw.. better not come in man, the dog is freaking huge… we've had to lock it away to let it compose itself" Lucas jokes.

Skills eyes go large and his face reads terror. They all laugh as Lucas goes over to his mate. "Nah man, I'm just kidding. It's a harmless puppy and it's sitting in Jaime's lap."

"Naw Uncle Skills it won't be so bad once you touch it!" Jaime offers

"I dunno dawg, I mean it's cute now, but that thing is going to grow up to bark, growl and bite holes in peoples legs"

As if on cue the little puppy lets out a few barks and a growl as it pounces on a toy. Once again, everyone laughs.

"Pwetty puppy uncle Skills" Sawyer says sweetly as she goes over to gently pat the pup. Jaime in the meantime grabs Skills by the arm and drags him over.

"If you pat the pup Uncle Skills I'll let you win the next game of NBA on the playstation!" Jaime tries to bargain

Dawg, I let you win! It's not fair to always beat a kid, so I let you win".

"Skills, you've been trying your best to beat Jaime since he was 4. Even I can't beat him anymore" Nathan intercedes.

With the puppy now in Jaime's lap once more, Skills gingerly reaches out to touch the puppy. As soon as the dog's head turns toward the touch, his hand jerks away as quick as lightning.

"Did you see that?! He was going to bite me!" Skills interjected

"Ladies and Gentleman, this will be a work in progress.." Jaime announces

"It was great having you here" Lucas says as he hugs his mother and then Andy.

"Don't make it so long until the next time you visit" Peyton agrees.

"Peyton the house looks lovely, you've done a great job" Karen compliments.

The time had come for Karen and Andy to depart once more. The long visit had been enjoyed by everyone and they all had mixed feelings about their leaving. Lily in particular was not as keen to go unlike her usual self.

"Luke – you'll write right?!" she asks her big brother

"Sure thing Little Sister. I'll write to you as often as I can"

"And tell me stories?!"

"And tell you stories"

"And tell me about Sawyer"

"And fill you in about Sawyer"

Half encouraged by this, Lily moves on to give Peyton a big hug. She loves Peyton and always tries to imitate her as best as she can.

"Bye Peyton. You'll write to me too?!"

"Sure sweetie!"

After a few more goodbyes and exchanges, after trying to pry Sawyer from Karen's neck who was refusing to let her Nanna Karen go without her, Karen, Andy and Lily finally leave once more from what was their 'home'. After all, while they did travel the world, there really was no other place they felt they belonged as much as Tree Hill.

"Don't be a stranger… " Karen calls back.

"If you're ever in the area…" Andy includes to which Lucas laughs.

"Yeah, coz we often go to Australia for a weekend away"

"You know what I mean!" Andy replies.

And with that, they all hop into the car and are gone once more.