A/N: Wow…so I've been reading other peoples' stories and I see these notes about how the reviews help spur on updates, and how they are just so amazing…I totally get it now, what all the other authors are feeling. The Cheshire cat couldn't beat me in a grinning contest!

To whiters, toddntan, brucas333, marys25, and riley06, THANK YOU so much. I'm on cloud nine, knowing that other people have found my story entertaining. Don't worry, Lucas will be okay, all shall be revealed shortly! Just not this chapter ;)

Disclaimer:I don't own the characters, but the story line is my own.

"Hey man. Sorry for just stopping by, but I needed to get away from her. Who's car is in the drive way? I don't recognize it." The contempt and disgust was evident in the blonde boy's voice, along with some curiosity.

"Uhh, no sweat man. Glad to see you out and about!" Nathan tried to raise his voice just that tiny bit to warn the ladies in the other room of their unexpected visitor. Stalling for time, Nathan racked his brain trying to find something, anything that could give Brooke a minute to gather herself.

"Uncle Luke! Today's my lucky day! Two of my family members came to see me!" James was jumping up and down. He couldn't contain his glee at having both his aunt and his uncle in the same house at the same time. Nathan groaned. Trust Haley's son to point out the proverbial elephant in the room.

"Hey little man! Good to see ya too! I've missed hanging out with you. We'll have to go play hoops later. Who else is here?" Lucas seemed genuinely happy to see his nephew, which made his younger brother relax. Until his son opened his mouth again.

"Aunt Brooke! She came to visit mommy and daddy and – Uncle Luke? You okay?" Lucas had suddenly gone sheet white, and was shaking just slightly. Nathan took James from Lucas and placed him back on the floor.

"Say, bud, why don't you go tell your mom that Uncle Luke is here, okay?" Nathan tried to distract James from Lucas' sudden attitude shift all the while wishing he could have escaped as easily as James did.

"Tell me I heard him wrong. Tell me he talked to her or received a letter or something and he's confused." Lucas' voice was deep and undercut with pain. He was shocked to say the least, and his tone didn't bother to hide his emotions.

"I'm sorry dude. She just pulled up. She's been here, maybe, an hour. I swear we were going to tell you she was here. Call it selfish, but we wanted some time with our friend before all the goings on caught up with her." Nathan finally decided he was tired of the lies and the pussy footing. This was his brother and his best friend they were talking about. Past or no past, it was time things came clean. Shit, that's the whole reason Brooke was here in the first place. To set things right.

"Damn! Why didn't you tell me she was coming in town? I would have…I would have, well I would have done something at least!" Lucas ran his hands through his hair. He was jittery, nervous, scared, and dare he think it…hopeful? Was she here because of him?

"Dude, you've already done something! You came out of your hell hole that you call a room! If just her being in the same town as you can do this, I'm dying to know what could happen when she actually starts talking to you!"

"Nate, man, don't start on me. That's not fair. I didn't even know she was coming! Why didn't you tell me she was-"

"Hi Lucas." And suddenly she was there. Standing in the doorway, and it all came back. The low, raspy, incredibly sexy voice. The gorgeous brunette hair, longer than he'd remembered but still in those soft waves that framed her face perfectly. The drop dead figure, his fingers itching to caress every curve. A smile hovered on her lips, uncertainty evident in her eyes. What would his reaction be?

"Uhm, Nathan, I could use some help in the backyard with James, would you mind coming with me?" Haley had walked up with Brooke and noticing the expression on her friends' faces, felt some alone time was in order. Not really waiting for a response from her husband, seeing as how it wasn't really a request, she walked past Brooke, snagged Nathan's shirt sleeve, and dragged him after her.

Time to see what fate could do after a push in the right direction.