Lets just say you're all lucky today, because you got about 8,600 words words to read. :) An hour later than I planned I got caught up making cookie's :) for Esther Day!

Chapter 12

It had been decided later that morning after a discussion Haley had, had with Quinn that it might be better to have a whole family lunch as so no one felt jilted out of seeing Nathan and Haley and meeting their grandson/ nephew. Calls had been made and staggered arrives times had been Nathan's idea, especially with their mothers, for as much as they wanted all that animosity, put behind them, mainly from Karen's side, some habits were hard to break. Having them all arrive at different times, gave at least Nathan and Haley a break, and would also hopefully stop any awkward silence's happening at the front door.

Lydia James was the second to arrive as she pulled into the driveway of her second oldest daughter. There were a couple of cars in the Scott driveway already. I hope I'm not late, Haley did say eleven am right? I'm sure of it. She thought, shaking her head she decided it best to park at Quinn's and walk over, there were going to be major bonus's to having her two daughters live next door to each other although Lydia was sure that had only happened by chance and hadn't been planed by either of them.

As she opened her car door she heard music and laughter coming from Haley's back yard. It seemed like everything was in full swing, maybe she was late whatever she was here now.

The sounds of laughter only got louder as she approached the front door, which she found was wide open, this was a little odd to her, given what she knew of their past, however it also may have been like that because they were expecting people, and it would save one of them running to open it every few minutes.

"Hello?" Lydia called out, if there was one thing that, she knew probably hadn't changed with her daughter it was that, she hated when people just walked in without announcing themselves. When there was no reply she simply shrugged before walking inside. It was then she noticed her daughter in the kitchen, as she walked over there Lydia saw her leaning against the counter; munching away on a carrot stick, smirking up at Nathan. He was standing over her, his hands resting on the counter behind Hale y, with a smirk that matched her own.

"You're just asking for it Haley James," he said before capturing her lips in a tender kiss. Lydia smirked and watched as her daughter wrapped her arms around her husband. Her wedding ring capturing the light that shone through the window near them. It was nice to see them like this; of course she had seen them together as teenagers. The start of their budding romance, but watching them now let her know that even with everything Haley had been through, in the last seven years she had had someone there for her. Someone who loved her as much as if not more than her dad; Lydia also knew Nathan would never let anything happen to Haley. Her only wish was that her husband was alive today to see the person that their baby girl had become. Lydia looked up as she saw a little boy come running through the back door.

"Mama, Aunt Quinn's here," said Jamie as he jumped up onto one of the bar stools behind his parents and lent over the counter tapping his mother on the shoulder. When Haley did nothing Jamie shrugged and looked over at Quinn who winked at him. As much as she loved her little sister to death and would do anything for her; Quinn had always had this devilish streak, one that meant her pranks and harmless little jokes were often pulled on her younger sisters things that most of the time got a laugh out of them, well out of Haley, Taylor the sibling smack bang between them, often stormed off yelling at Quinn to grow up.

"Tay what are you doing here?" Quinn asked, with a knowing smirk it was about the only thing she knew that would get her baby sister's attention. As usual it worked, Haley jumped and pushed Nathan off her so quickly that he fell back and landed on the floor. When she noticed her mother smirking and her sister and son laughing at her she glared at both of them.

"Very funny Quinny as for you mister, you'll keep James Lucas Scott" Jamie giggled as his mother lent over the bench and tickled him.

"He did tell you I was here Hales and don't get up us, mum was standing there watching the two of you. Lil pervy if you ask me," said Quinn with a smirk on her face.

"Get use to it Haley James I have seven years to make up for," Lydia replied with a simple shrug, but the smile on her face when Nathan groaned after getting up and resting his head on Haley's shoulder gave her away, she was kidding...mostly.

"Don't worry babe I'll make sure she doesn't interrupt too much. So can you and Quinn go start up the barbecue, we'll be out in a minute," she said kissing the side of his head. Nathan nodded, grabbing what they would need. He started heading out with Quinn but both stopped when Jamie followed them.

"Jimmy Jam go help mummy" said Nathan when the five year old pouted Nathan just eyed him and Jamie folded his arms and stormed back over to his mother. Haley smirked and rested her hands on his shoulders.

"Haley bub, why don't you wait till Karen and Keith arrive do it all at once" said Lydia Haley thought about it then nodded it would save anyone thinking that they favored them more and it would stop Jamie from complaining about being pulled away from his cool Aunt Quinn every five minutes. Although when Lilly arrived she was sure that her son would drop what he was doing to hang out with her.

"Go on you dork go hang out with your aunt," she said pushing Jamie's head forward a little bit, not enough to hurt him but enough to make the five year old laugh before running off.

"Mama you're the dork" he said poking his head in the door he ducked back out as Haley threw a used dish cloth at him, both women could hear him laughing as he ran over to his aunt, Haley smiled and looked out with window as she saw him talking to Quinn who laughed and gave him a high five, shaking her head she then turned back to her mother.

"So wanna help?" she asked pointing to the salad mix sitting in the sink, Lydia walked over to the breakfast bar and put her bag down.

"I thought you'd never ask," The mother and daughter worked in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Haley noticed her mother was staring at her.

"If you weren't my mother I'd seriously be worried with you standing there staring at me like that, the only person who does that is Nathan, well he only does it when he's been away for a while, but still coming from anyone else it's a little off putting. What's up mum?" she asked grabbing a carrot stick off the tray beside her she then grabbed another. Lydia frowned wondering what her daughter was doing, till she saw Jamie run in and saw him run past his mother grabbing the carrot stick out of her hand.

"Thanks Mama I L.O.V.E you" he said Lydia couldn't help but let her heart swell while she watched her daughter interact with her son.

"Baby next time I call you in no fighting it ok?" Jamie sighed and nodded knowing it was better to agree with what his mother was saying then to argue.

"Ok mama," he said before running outside again. Haley laughed and turned back to her mother she rested a hand on her hip and cocked an eyebrow. When Lydia held up her hands Haley smirked and shook her head she turned back to making the kebab's she had been making not forty five minutes ago when Nathan had come into the kitchen and interrupted her.

"Oh and its Scott by the way, you called me Haley James-

"Baby you'll always be Haley James to me. Not Haley Scott" said Lydia walking over to her daughter and resting her hands on her daughters shoulders Haley rolled her eyes.

"If you'd let me finish, it's Haley James Scott. You're as bad as Nathan, not letting me finish what I'm saying, if I didn't know better I would say you planned it" Lydia laughed she was enjoying this side of her daughter this was what she missed the most being there and watching as her daughter turned into the woman she was now.

Lilly Scott bit her bottom lip sighing she got out of the car and smiled at her dad who came around and wrapped an arm around her. He gave her a quick squeeze before letting her go and taking his wife's hand as they walked up to the front door. They had already had a talk about her, not telling them Nathan was back in town, she had been told never to keep something like that from them again. Even though it was Haley who asked her not to say anything, no what had her on edge at the moment was her mother and just how today was going to go for her. Karen had taken her meds this morning but she was meant to take them with each meal. Especially since her slide back from where she had been. Lilly had noticed that her mother had planned to leave them at home. As much as she wanted her mother to not take them, she also knew what Karen could be like without them, and had slipped them into her pocket before leaving home. If there was one thing Lilly didn't want her brother or nephew, mainly her nephew to see was what her mother could be like without the meds.

Karen took a deep breath as she pressed the door bell today she was going to meet her grandson. She just hopped that she would have one of her better days, she could sense her daughters unease about what could happen, and the fact that her eleven year old had to worry about something like that broke her heart. A few weeks ago she would have blamed Haley. But now, now she knew the truth or at least part of it, and knew it was all her brother in law's fault.

One of these days she was going to corner that S.O.B and have a little chat with him. However that day wouldn't be today. Today she was going to or at least try to have fun with her family.

She had always known from the time they were kids that Nathan and Haley would end up together, they always just seemed to have that way about them, even when they flat out denied it. Unfortunately that feeling had never told her that, Dan freaking-pain-in-the-ass Scott would stop her from going to their wedding or even seeing her grandson in the hospital right after he was born, and she would end up on meds to keep her mood swings from happening. Someone bounding up the stairs and laughing brought her attention back to where it should have been.

"Nathan, you better tell them if anything happens I will kill both of them," she yelled as she walked up the front stairs, to their open front door, the comment Nathan replied with, was missed by all of them, shaking her head Haley would deal with him later she turned to her in laws.

"Sorry, come in mum's in the kitchen, Nathan is outside at the barbecue, my incorrigible sister, her boyfriend and my son are rolling down the sand dunes just behind our house, Lil you are welcome to join them if your parents say it's ok" said Haley Lilly looked up at Keith who laughed and nodded. Lilly took off through the house, yelling thank you over her shoulder.

"Lucas and-

"Don't tell me, I wanna see I want it to be a surprise. That's one of the things that bugged me for seven years who he would end up with, as much as we tried to keep up with everything that went on here, we missed the announcement. Our at the time neighbour's dog got to the newspaper before we did, and we couldn't get another one we tried but no luck, so please don't ruin it" said Haley Karen laughed and nodded wrapping her arm around the young women as the two of them walked further into the house, although what happened the other day hadn't been forgotten, at least on Haley's part it had been forgiven. They came into the kitchen where Lydia was standing at the back door watching Lilly run down to join Jamie whose face lit up when he saw her. Turning around she smiled as she saw Karen and Keith, although they all now knew, it was all Dan's doing, all the things that had been said between the two women would take time to heal the friendship they had once had, both of them had decided to put away any residual animosity they held for each other for their children. They could work everything else out later.

"Do you want to call Jamie in?" she asked Haley looked out to her son who was having fun with his aunts and shook her head.

"We'll wait for Luke that way he can meet you all at once. Besides he's having too much fun with Lilly and Quinn and I do want him to get to know you all if we call him in now he won't be happy." said Haley grabbing the kebabs she had been making and took them out to Nathan.

"Watch this" said Lydia to Karen pointing to their children. Karen watched as Haley placed the plate down beside Nathan who winked at her and lent over to kiss her. The couple was interrupted by their son running over to them.

"Mama, can we play nerf guns please? Aunt Quinn said I had to ask before she and Uncle Clay went to get them." Jamie had perfected the pout that Haley had, had as a little kid, and used it every chance he got on his parents, normally Haley could look around it, but now with the family he'd only ever known from picture's around, it was getting harder for her to say no. She wanted him to have great relationships with all of them; she looked over at her sister, who smiled sheepishly.

"I don't know baby last time you played-

"But mama that wasn't me that was Josh, he broke the rules and aimed at my eye, I was only-

"But still- Haley stopped as she watched her five year old fold his arms and huff before stomping away. She turned back to Nathan who raised his eyebrow.

"What?" she asked shaking his head Nathan held up his hands he wasn't going to get into that conversation right now, not with their families here.

"Nathan you know as well as-

"I know, but he's not playing with a bunch of boys older than him, he's playing with his aunts and uncle. Quinn and Lilly would rather hurt themselves then Jamie, and Clay well Quin would kill him."

"No, maybe when he's older. Besides Lucas will be here soon so- Haley walked way and stood by the edge of the pool, watching as Jamie finished what he was saying and turned back to look at her, he poked his tongue out at her and glared the best a five year old could. Shaking her head she went to turn around and head back inside when, she fell into the pool.

Keith couldn't help but laugh as he watched Nathan, push his wife into their pool. His son had to know his wife pretty well to know that he was safe to do that. He wouldn't dream of doing that to Karen at this time of the year, or ever. She was currently glaring at him for laughing. Deciding it was better to walk outside then stand there in a kitchen where his wife had easy access to countless numbers of knifes he walked out and stood beside the barbecue watching the food that Nathan had only a short time ago been cooking.

Haley came up spluttering she was going to kill that husband if hers looking around she saw him standing on the side of the pool. Shaking her head, she took the hand he offered but instead of climbing out she pulled him into the pull. Smirking at the shocked look he had as he fell in. When he came up she smirked at him.

"You had that coming you annoying ass"

"You say the sweetest things to me Haley James, let the boy play with nerf guns, it's better than playing with water guns" Haley had to give him that, she didn't want Jamie catching a cold, anytime soon, and what harm could it do really? Nathan had had a point Quinn and Lilly were not the boys Jamie played with in Savannah. Swimming over to the edge Haley pulled herself out of water feeling the cool wind that didn't bother her before, chill her to the bone now; she sat on the edge of the pool with her legs still in the water. Calling over her sister she waited till Quinn was standing near her but far enough away that she couldn't be pulled in if her sister decided to be evil.

"Fine, but Quinn any accidents and you are looking after them." Quinn nodded and ran off to tell Jamie, before they and Lilly went to get said nerf guns Haley then turned back to her husband

"You pull me back in and you'll be sleeping in here tonight" she said resting her arms around his neck.

"Wouldn't think of it, we better go get changed before Luke gets here, though or his mind will go to places not even he wants to think about" Haley laughed and nodded before standing up then helping Nathan out of the pool, like he had tried to help her before.

Lucas Scott laughed as he pulled up out the front of his little brothers house. Peyton looked over at him questioningly.

"Sorry, it's just when it was only Nathan, Haley and I before they started school and met you and Brooke. Nathan always said if he and Haley were going to play house well then it would have to be a big enough one that they could play basket ball in. The size of this house just reminded me of it, that's all"

"Nathan has played house?" she asked shocked having known the Scott family since she was about eight years old it was hard to believe that Nathan had ever played house.

"They were four at the time and I doubt they remember it, my parents and Lydia would though, and maybe Quinn" said Lucas as they came to the open front door, Lucas went to walk in when Peyton said they should wait, to which he replied that the door wouldn't be open if they weren't welcome in however just to be safe Lucas closed the door behind him. They walked through the house till they found the kitchen where Karen and Lydia were standing while watching Lilly and Jamie hide behind a tree, while firing at Clay who was out in the open back yard, and being pelted with nerf bullets from all directions.

"Where are Nathan and Haley?" Lucas asked. Lydia turned and smiled.

"Getting changed, Nathan thought it would be funny to push Haley into the pool and Haley Bob got her own back by pulling him in when he tried to pull her out. So they are at the moment drying off they should be down soon. Oh and Peyton, Haley, may squeal when she sees you. She wouldn't let anyone tell her who Lucas was married to." Peyton looked over at Lucas who smirked.

Haley walked out of the bathroom that was connected to the master bedroom to find Nathan sitting on their bed in a new dry pair of jeans, he had yet to put another shirt on, and his hair was still slightly damp.

"Mmm if we didn't have both our families down stairs" she said walking over to him and standing in-between his legs wrapping her arms his shoulders. Nathan laughed and looked up at her.

"There's always later. Jamie could go over to Quinn's or home with mum and dad, spend the night with Lilly. He'd love that then we would have this whole house to ourselves" Haley smirked and kinked her eyebrow.

"I like the way you think Nathan Scott" she said kissing him and running her hands up and down his arms.

"But for now we better get down there. Mum and Karen are dying to officially meet Jamie and well Luke will be here any minute now, if he's not here already" Nathan crinkled his nose and wrapped his arms around Haley's waist quickly pulling her down onto their bed, a surprised yelp escaped from Haley before she started laughing.

"You are incorrigible you know that, and for that, you're going to have to come down shirtless." Said Haley getting up and grabbing his shirt before running out of their room; laughing as Nathan came thundering after her, it would have been easier to try and catch her if she still had a skirt on, but now she was in hip hugging jeans. Over it she wore a simple black tank that had Road Crew California Sights Tour in white writing on the back, there was a cursive design on the bottom left on the front and if anyone wanted to look closely there was a HJS hidden in there with the three other artists who had been on the tour. Haley didn't wear so much anymore however it was clean, and she was sure, that her sister would eventually rope her into whatever she, Clay, Lilly and Jamie were playing so it would keep her cool, even if she had jeans on.

The first thing Lucas heard from Haley was her laughing, he looked up to see that she was currently running down the stairs, there was a shirt in her hand that was clearly too big for her and must have been Nathan's. When she saw Lucas she ran over and hid behind me.

"Scott get your sexy lil ass back here" said Nathan as he came down the stairs looking around for her a few seconds later, he looked around the living room till he saw her hiding behind Lucas, he walked over trying to get around his brother smirking as he grabbed his wife by the waist.

"My shirt Hales or I'll chuck you into the pool again." he said grinning at Peyton when Haley handed over the shirt he let his wife go and pulled the shirt over his head. It was is old Stanford cardinal's team shirt that Nathan had worn to death a few years ago, but these days only pulled it out when he was spending the day with Jamie, there was a patched up hole in the arm pit that, had taken Haley a while to fix purely because she like the view when he wore it.

"Bit up yourself to wear a shirt with your initials on it don't you think foxy?" Peyton asked, Haley spun around having known that voice anywhere she grinned before walking over and giving Peyton a hug.

"Ha! I told you Nathan Scott I know your brother better then you do, pay up babe" said Haley with one arm still around Peyton although she knew that this meant Brooke would be the one that would take the news of their return the worst. She was still happy that she had won the bet she had with her husband. Nathan sighed and then remembered his wallet was upstairs.

"You'll get it later, wait Peyton how did you know-

"I came across it online about six months ago, went to order one but they had sold out of my size and it was a sell out sale, they weren't making any more, took me a while at first, but I found it, so when I saw Hale's in it knew what would be on the front."

Haley laughed before looking out the window to see Quinn surrender to Jamie who was standing on a chair, with both his and her gun in his hands. Smiling she decided it was time for Jamie to meet the rest of his family that were here in Tree Hill. She lifted her arm away from Peyton and walked outside, capturing Jamie before he could get away.

"Jimmy Jam, you can come back you crazy boy, but mama and daddy want you to meet some people." she said lifting him up onto her hip. Walking inside Nathan smiled and walked over to them, wrapping his arm around Haley's shoulder.

"So baby those three there take a guess" said Haley pointing to her mother, Karen and Keith, she looked at Jamie who looked at her surprised, and then to Nathan who nodded.

"Yes baby, they are your grandparents, no more pictures bub, that's them and they can't wait to get to know you. The other two are your Aunt and Uncle, Daddy's brother Lucas and his wife Peyton."

"No Aunt Brooke?" Jamie asked looking at Haley, Nathan when he saw the look on her face came over.

"Not today bud, but there are a lot of people you have to meet so we wanted to do it in gro-

"She's still mad isn't she?" Jamie asked Haley nodded Jamie gave her a tight hug whispering in her ear that Brooke would forgive her; he'd make sure of it. It hadn't escaped anyone standing before them that, Jamie knew their faces, and names better than they thought he would. Peyton smirked and had an idea, one that would sure enough give Brooke an idea of how much she meant to Haley.

"Ok I know this is very dorkish and very, auntish but I'm doing it to prove a point to Brooke." said Peyton taking out her IPhone a getting a photo of them.

"Send me a copy, when I get my phone back, this one is hopeless and just a loan till mines fixed" said Karen Peyton nodded she had planed to anyway.

"Mama, can I go back now? Aunt Lilly and I are gonna make Aunt Quinn and Uncle Clay walk the plank" Haley laughed and nodded, letting him down.

"I will come back, cos I want to talk to all of you... but they have to walk the plank" he said looking over at his grandparents before running back out to where Lilly was waiting for him. Karen chuckled watching her daughter and grandson run down to the beach with Quinn and Clay in front of them.

An hour later found them all sitting down to lunch. After much debate it was decided that they would all sit outside, Nathan and Haley had a decent sized out door setting. It should fit them all but after trying they discovered it would be easier for Jamie and Lilly to sit on the pool side chairs. Leaving the adults to sit at the table; over the last forty eight hours it had been all about Nathan and Haley. Now the young couple had their chance to find out what had been going here in Tree Hill for the last seven years, well the things that they couldn't find in the newspaper or online. Peyton could see the question bubbling away in Haley's eyes she knew her friend and sister in law had more class then to blurt out her question till everyone one was seated. As it happened Haley herself was the last person who sat down having helped Jamie who was having trouble keeping his lunch on his plate. As soon as she sat down her focus turned to Peyton who couldn't help but laugh.

"Ok ask away," she said the other six people looked over at them confused it was Nathan who figured it out first, all he had to do was look at his wife to know what his sister in law was talking about he laughed and shook his head. When his parents, brother and in laws looked at him strangely he looked over at Haley who smirked.

"We were a couple of hours outside Tree Hill when I pulled over; it was really early in the morning. I mean really early I'd been unsure of how you would all react and Hales said that we were more than a couple of hours away from Savannah and only a hour or so away from Tree Hill, she also wanted to know who Luke ended up with, because we both knew it would be Peyton or Brooke." said Nathan, Peyton poked her tongue at Haley who poked her tongue back at her friend.

"So tell us, P Scott how did come to marry Luke when we left he was dating Brooke and you were pretty serious with Jake," said Haley, Peyton smiled and linked her hand into Lucas's who kissed her knuckles. Nathan smiled it was nice to see his older brother so affectionate, he'd never seen that side of Lucas before, however most of his time back then as it was now was spent with Haley.

"It wasn't until couple of months after; you and Nate left that Jake came out with he fact he had a daughter. Jenny, she was only a few months old at the time. I loved both of them so much and I still do Jake will always mean so much to me. But Jenny's mother came back wanting Jenny, and Jake had to leave. He actually lives in Savannah. We ah well we- Peyton looked over at Lucas who bit his lip.

"Lucas Eugene Scott what is your problem seriously?! First you and Brooke did that to Peyton. Then you and Peyton to Brooke, is she still even talking to you?" Haley asked. Lucas sighed of course Haley would figure it out without either of them saying a word that was just Haley. It was one of the more annoying qualities their best friend possessed. He didn't know how Nathan put up with her all the time, but then again Lucas could never really remember a time where Haley had used this freakishly annoying talent of hers on her husband; she used to use it on the rest of them all the time, but Nathan not so much, Lucas didn't know if that was saying something about Nathan or the rest of them, but it was saying something, he just wasn't sure what that was.

"Yes she does, she didn't at first, but she got over it which is why I know she will get over whatever stupid anger she still holds onto with you two," said Peyton. The conversation flowed on from that, from how Lucas proposed to the wedding then onto how Quinn and Clay met. It wasn't till Jamie came over that they realized how long they had been talking. It was Peyton who first noticed him. She pointed to him and smiled as Haley pulled him into a hug.

"Mama" he said wiping his cheek where Haley had kissed him a couple of times leaving smudge marks where her lipstick had left kisses.

"Jamie, want me to show you how to get that off? Your grandma does it me all the time" asked Lucas Jamie thought about it for a minute before nodding.

"Can you and grandpa play basket ball with me and aunt Lilly after" said Jamie Lucas laughed and nodded.

"I'm sure if you asked your grandpa he would, but first lets save your cheek" said Lucas heading inside with his nephew.

"So what will it be grandpa?" Karen asked knowing that Keith would still be shocked that he now officially had that title; sure they had known for about a week but hearing it come from Jamie was something else entirely.

"Looks like I'm playing basketball" said Keith getting up and placing a kiss on top of Karen's head as he walked into the house to find his son and grandson with his daughter hot on his heels.

After everything had been cleared and plates had been washed off and placed in the dishwasher. The rest of the adults walked out the front where the basketball hoop was. Haley smiled and wrapped her arms around Nathan as she saw Keith pick up Jamie so he could dunk the basketball into the hoop.

"Really dad, he can shoot a ball into a ten foot hoop and he obviously got Haley's height gene, did you really need to do that?" Lucas asked his arm resting on Lilly's shoulder. Keith laughed and let Jamie down who ran over to Haley.

"Mama, did you see, grandpa and I won." he said Haley smiled and ruffled his hair.

"I did baby, looks like Uncle Lucas isn't going to win a Scott game anytime soon. However I think it's time that someone got out of these grass stain clothes before those stain become impossible to get out." she said quickly grabbing him around the waist and holding him under one arm.

"Come on Lil I should have something that will fit you, save your mother killing me later for the same reason." she said Lilly gave the basketball she was holding to Lucas shoving it a little too hard to ran after Haley.

"Gezz Lil anyone would have thought Nathan taught you to throw" he said the rest of them laughed as Nathan scoffed and rolled his eyes. Lucas looked over to his little brother and raised an eyebrow.

"Who was the one who left for seven years?" he asked Karen gasped wanting to slap her son they all knew the truth and she thought it was way too early to make jokes.

"Ok one Lilly could throw a ball at three and I seem to remember being the one who spent all day teaching her how to aim, and getting hit in nads for my efforts. Two do you think it wise to joke with mum right near you? And three dude you are so glad Haley didn't hear you" said Nathan grabbing the ball off his brother dribbling it a couple of times then making a free throw.

"I can't play professionally anymore because of my back but I can still kick your ass old man" said Nathan Lucas chuckled before telling him to back up to where Quinn was then make the shot from there. Smirking Nathan dribbled the ball a couple of times then threw it.

"Nothing but net, sorry Luke, I'm going to see how Hales is going" he said before walking inside leaving Lucas to face the wrath of his mother who had started over towards him.
He flinched as Karen grabbed him by the ear it didn't pass him that Quinn, Clay, Lydia and even his own father and wife made a quick get away into the house before they too were caught up in the wrath of Karen Scott, and her eldest sons somewhat tasteless jab at his little brother. Karen and Lucas walked into the family room that was just off the kitchen, a few minutes later.

"I hear you're getting in trouble again Luke, glad to see something's never change" said Haley from the kitchen were she was helping Jamie and Lilly make hot fudge Banana splits.
He raised an eyebrow then poked his tongue at her.

As the sun started to set, even though no one wanted to leave, they all knew that, they couldn't prolong the inevitable, Karen wanted to have a chat with her daughter having found, her med's in Lilly's pocket, she had been wondering how her meds had found a way to sitting on the side of her plate at lunch. Lydia, knew at some point Taylor would be heading back home from her trip down south, and that she would make it via Tree Hill so she could stop there for the night. She also knew her daughter would not be impressed if she wasn't there when she arrived. As it hit quarter past seven, the only two people left were Peyton and Lucas. Quinn and Clay had, left a while ago both wanting to get of their also grass stained clothes and have showers.
Haley and Peyton walked into the living room talking an arm wrapped around each other, it was then that they saw Jamie fast sleep on the couch, one arm and leg hanging over the side. Haley smiled and walked around picking him up, and resting his head on her shoulder.

"Someone had a big day" said Peyton Haley laughed and nodded her left hand rubbing concentric circles on his back to keep him from waking up, she'd let him sleep in his day clothes, save waking him up to get him into pyjamas.

"I'm just going to put him down," she said as Nathan and Lucas walked inside.

"Love you Jim Jam," Nathan said as Haley started walking towards the stairs.

"Love you to daddy," came the quiet whisper from the exhausted five year old. As Haley made her way up stairs Nathan started to unload the dishwasher and started putting things away.

"Being a mum suites her" said Peyton now out of her trance of watching her friend look after her sleeping little boy. Nathan smiled and nodded.

"I won't lie the first couple of years were hard. Especially with Dan following us, every house, every town we lived in. He found us. When we were in college he came to one of my training sessions. He threatened Jamie. I don't think my coach had ever seen me so mad. It took me ages to calm down and that was with Haley by my side." Lucas nodded he had seen what his uncle was capable of but he had never really believed it till now. There would be a day that Dan Scott would get what was coming to him and Lucas really hopped he was there to watch it. Getting up as Haley came back down, he walked over and gave her a hug.

"This was fun; we should to it more often but just us Scott kids no parentals or in laws." Haley nodded and kissed his cheek before walking over and giving Peyton a hug.

"Glad your back foxy," Haley laughed she missed all the nick names that Peyton used to give her.

"Glad to be back, now all I have to do is face the monster" said Haley she wasn't looking forward to Brooke at all. Peyton sighed and nodded both women knew just how hard that one was going to be as close as Haley was to the rest of them, Brooke and Haley had been inseparable, and they used to tell each other everything so, Haley not telling her this, and staying away for so long; even though she did it to spare her friends and family, the wrath that she and Nathan had gone through with Dan wasn't going to be easy to explain. Especially to someone who had the nickname of Brookie monster.

After Lucas and Peyton left, Haley flopped on the lounge and rested her head into the crook of Nathans arm as he sat down. She was just as exhausted as Jamie but knew she'd never get to sleep this early.

"Today was a good day, I'm glad we came back Hales" said Nathan Haley snuggled into him more and looked up at him.

"I'm glad we came back too, did you see Jamie with your dad? Nathan no matter what happens with Dan no matter what he tries to do; moving back here was worth it, if only to see our son play a game he and his daddy love with his grandfather. I wish dad were alive he'd love Jamie.." she said thinking about her dad always bought a tear to her eye.

"I know angel and Dan will get what's coming don't you worry about that." he said tilting her chin and kissing her softly.

"I know"

Mean while across town, Karen was wondering just how did she, let her daughter know that she didn't have to worry about her any more. That she was free to be a kid again, and that she should have always been a kid and what she had gone through and what she has seen her mother go through over the last seven years wasn't fair on her. Knocking on Lilly's bedroom door she opened it slightly to see her daughter lying on her bed, homework spread out in front of her. "Lil- "I know mum, I should have let you decide but I didn't want you to slip. I just wanted you to be you, the old you for a day. I know Haley and Nathan would have been able to handle it, but I didn't want Jamie seeing that. I wanted him to see the grandma I know you will be not the person you were" Karen sat down on her daughters bed and sighed, yes her daughter was wise beyond her years. "Lil, I know you were worried about that and I know that we all have a lot of healing to do, but you don't have to watch out for me anymore. I have your dad for that, and if need be I have Lucas, but you are my little girl, and you shouldn't have to worry about me. I know I haven't shown you that much in the last few years, and I'm sorry about that honey really I am" "It's not your fault mum. Its Uncle Dan's fault, he started it he killed Haley's dad, she didn't tell me everything but she said that he did something that made them leave, and well them leaving made you go kinda crazy. It also hurt a lot of people but it was all Uncle Dan he was the catalyst. I don't have to call him Uncle anymore do I? You and Dad always said it was a sign of respect but I don't respect him so..." Karen smiled and pulled Lilly into a hug her daughter was just like Lucas that this age. She however had a lot of Nathan in her too, she was the perfect mix of her brothers and Karen wasn't even sure if Lilly knew that. Today had shown Karen just how much her daughter had missed having her older brother in her life. As much as he had tried to be there for his baby sister, Lucas still saw Lilly as just that his baby sister. He had never really spent that much time with her when she was little, it had always been Nathan and Haley. So when they left, Karen now could see that just like the rest of them, there had been a massive hole made in her then young daughter's life. As Nathan had pointed out he had taught his baby sister a lot of things, not only to throw a ball, but he taught her to hi-five, how to do thumbs up so many things that were so small in comparison, to everything else Lilly would learn in her life. Yet not having her big brother there to show her all those things, to have to learn them the way that only children learnt them, left Lilly Scott looking for reasons her four year old mind was too young to understand.

"No honey you don't have to call him Uncle if you don't want to, but I want you to understand one thing, if he tries to do anything to you anything at all when you are out with Jamie, and you cannot get to Nathan, Haley or whomever you two are with I want you to run. Either to the Cafe or to Brooke's store ok. Run and don't look back because your uncle will stop at nothing to hurt your brother and Haley now they are back in town and telling everyone what he did. I don't want to keep you away from Nathan, you both deserve to know each other and to spend time together. But I want you to stay safe, I do not want anything to happen to you. So please if you see Dan and cannot get to someone you trust run." Said Karen Lilly nodded and smiled as her mother kissed the top of her head and got up leaving her to get back to her homework ready for Monday.