Author Note: Quick question, would you prefer to see characters in later seasons (Rachel, Chase, Lindsay, Owen, Julian, and any character past season 2), or not, cause right now I'm leaning towards adding them. Maybe not all of them right away, that way there's still a story to tell afterwards, but I think some will be making an earlier appearance then they would have. If there's a character you want to see, just let me know, if not, hope you enjoy the rest of the story.

Chapter 10

General POV

The group sat quietly in the living room of the orphanage a little while after lunch had been served. Jennifer had held no expense when cooking, all the while, telling them bits of details of Jack when he was growing up here.

It was a curious thing to see how their brother was raised over the last couple years, and Lucas and Nathan learned quite a bit actually.

His love for fighting for instance, had first been about trying to defend himself growing up in other homes, but he grew passionate about it after being raised by Ed. Apparently, 20 years ago, and about 50 pounds lighter, Ed was an amateur boxer.

Jennifer had joked that he hadn't lasted very long and made little to no money but still loved the sport greatly. Him and Jack had spent years watching late night fights on paper view and practicing in the garage with a beaten up punching bag.

It was the first thing that made Jack finally connect with one of them, Jennifer had explained. He'd always been a quiet kid, keeping to himself. Yet that moment was the first time they could relate with him and afterwards, he started to open up.

"He's quiet," Jennifer had said. She spoke about him with a clear sense of love for him. "And I know he seems defensive and guarded, but underneath it all he really is special. He's the sweetest boy and I promise you, it'll take some time, but he'll open up to you and when he does, you'll realize how easy it is to love him."

The group hadn't spoken much after that. Jennifer had excused herself to go check in on some of the kids upstairs had left them to gather their thoughts.

What Ed had asked of them was life altering. To care for someone they didn't know and ask little to no questions would have seemed crazy to about almost anyone. Yet both Lucas and Nathan had said yes without hesitation and so began the million questions buzzing through all their heads.

"So," Peyton started, trying to find the right words. "Successful trip?"

The others eyed her.

"Sorry, bad joke."

"This is going to change things," Haley started.

Brooke shrugged. "I mean does it have to? Why can't we just go on about our lives and when you see him around Tree Hill say hi how are you, and that's it. Just act normal."

"And I thought my joke was bad," Peyton mumbled.

Brooke sighed turning to the brothers. "Okay fine it's not normal, but you guys agreed to this. So at least try and look a little upbeat."

Nathan smiled brightly, sarcasm dripping on his voice. "Geez Brooke like this?"

"Ha ha." Brooke's eyes drifted upstairs. "What do you thinks going on up there?"

"Well from what Jennifer told us and from the little we've seen, I'd say Jack's putting up a fight."

The others couldn't argue with Lucas's logic. Everything they've seen from the guy had been him pushing back. Jennifer had said it best, defensive and guarded.

"Have you guys spoken to Keith?" Peyton asked. She thought the guy would probably like a heads up about knowing he had a new nephew coming to town. "Or your dad?"

"Screw Dan," Nathan said, his voice completely serious. "You heard Jennifer in there, she said to look out for him. Best thing we could do is to keep Dan far away."

"He's an ass Nathan, I get it, but when he finds out about having a son don't you think he's going to want to meet him?"

"Didn't want me," Lucas cut in. He hated the politics of this family but he knew Nathan was on to something. "We don't have the right to say or do whatever Dan and Jack want to do. Will be cautious, that's the best way to handle it."

Haley nodded, agreeing with her best friend. "Luke's right. You guys just be there when he needs it and give him his space when he does too."

"God it sounds like we're talking about a baby here," Brooke cried out.

"Haley told me you were checking that baby out," Peyton smiled innocently.

"What!" Brooke, Haley, Lucas, and Nathan all said together.

"Wow you guys practice that?" Peyton laughed.

The others laughed at their expense. It was a stupid joke but a timely one. They hadn't realized but they'd spent the last two days with so much drama in their heads that they almost felt too grown up.

They were all still so young, but had lived such crazy lives up until now.

"So if he agrees," Brooke started. She was rather homesick. "When do we leave?"

The others wondered the same thing, but before any of them could come up with a reasonable answer, a voice cut in.

"Whenever you're ready."

The five turned to see Jack leaning by the stairs, bag over his shoulder. "Let's go to Tree Hill."

Jack quietly packed up all his things from his old room and threw them into the back of his car. It was kind of sad that his entire life fit into such a small space but he decided that he wouldn't dwell on that too much.

He was getting a new start.

He didn't deserve it, but Ed had argued that he'd be stupid to turn it away, and he knew he was right. So he'd go to Tree Hill, try not to screw it up, and see how the year went.

They'd come to an agreement that they'd see how the first year went and if Jack wanted it, he'd be able to leave after that. The first year was mandatory, Ed had demanded, among other things.

Properly checking in every week, finding a paying job for at least two days out of the week, and of course, being enrolled at the high school the others went too.

The last part was a bit of a pain in the ass for Jack. He hadn't been in any form of educational surroundings in about 8 or 9 months. So much had happened during the past year, school had just fallen out of the loop.

Ed explained that he'd talk to Keith eventually in the coming days and get everything sorted out. Lucas and Nathans father, or his dad, had been in the hospital for a recent heart attack so everything would have to be discussed with his brother, Jack's uncle, Keith.

So here he was, staring down the house he'd called home for the past couple of years moving to a place he knew absolutely nothing about. He was glad he wasn't the only one thinking this was complexly nuts. He noticed the looks the others were giving each other while the getting ready to go.

They were nervous.

Of him? The situation? The pressure? Who knew, could be all of it.

"You all packed up?" Ed said from behind him. He turned to see the only two people he cared for in this world.

"Yeah think so." Jack noticed the teary eyed look Jennifer was giving him and he felt a pain flash inside him. "I'm going to pay you back every cent that…"

Jennifer cut him off with a bone-crushing hug. "You take care of yourself Jackie, okay? I don't want to hear one more thing about money."

"I will," Jack whispered, hugging the woman tightly. "Thank you."

"I love you Jack. Never forgot that."

She pulled back, wiping a few tears as her husband pulled her in close.

"So we're ready to go," Haley said from behind the family. She watched, not wanting to interrupt the family moment. But it was almost dark and they had to get on the road. "Thank you so much for everything."

"Thank you dear," Jennifer smiled at the girl, giving Haley a surprise hug. "You call if he's acting up."

"We will," Haley laughed.

Jack turned around to see the others had joined them. He hadn't really spoken to Lucas and Nathan since they'd been at the house. He wasn't sure what to say. Neither of them knew what to say.

"So you need to fill up or…" Nathan trailed off, not really sure how to start.

"Na I should be good," Jack answered, eyeing the car.

Lucas smiled faintly at the attempt before turning to the older couple. "Ed Jennifer, thanks for everything. Will call as soon as we make it home."

"That'd be great," Ed nodded his head. "You boys call me for anything. I'm sure your uncle Keith will have plenty of questions, and will have to figure out the living scenario and guardianship."

"I'm sure he well," Lucas agreed.

"You kids better be on your way," Jennifer said sadly. "Gonna get dark eventually, don't wanna be driving late at night."

The others agreed before giving Jennifer and Ed one last goodbye. They slowly made their way back inside there home, giving Jack a few last looks before closing the door.

Jack watched the five of them shift around wondering what to do. "So I'll follow you?"

"Yeah," Nathan and Lucas said quickly. Nathan eyed his brother before turning to Jack. "Yeah follow us and if you need to gas up or stop, just pull up and let us know."

Jack nodded.

Nathan gave one last look before rounding the car and getting in. He felt weird for some reason, like he should offer the guy a ride or something, but he knew that was stupid. He had his own car. He would have gone with Jack and let Lucas drive but he knew it'd be a long 8 hour's.

The others stood outside as they saw Jack open the door and slide into the drivers seat.

"Should one of us go with him?" Lucas asked, trying to read the situation as best he could.

"8 hours is a long time," Haley offered. She was very close to stepping up but some one beat her to the punch.

"I'll go," Peyton offered.

All three turned to her, but it was Brooke who spoke up. "You sure P. Sawyer? I mean…the guys a…"

Brooke tried to find the right word.

"Stranger?" Peyton added with a smile. She shrugged, grabbing her bag from the car. "Well I'll have 8 hours to get to know him. Everyone starts off as strangers right?"

Brooke nodded slowly. "I guess. You want me to come with?"

"Yeah, two of us can go," Lucas nodded in agreement. "I'll go too if someone doesn't want to."

Peyton laughed at her friends concerns. "I'm a big girl guys. You go ahead, I'll call if he tries to abduct me."

She gave one last smile before heading past Nathan's car and towards the passenger seat of Jack's Camero.

Jack had watched the scene unfold, thinking maybe something was wrong before seeing the blonde girl, who had introduced herself as Peyton earlier, make her way towards his car.

She bent her head down towards the open window with a hesitant smile. "Mind if I tag along? Get's kind of crowded in there."

"Uh yeah," Jack answered slowly. He grabbed the bag in the passenger seat and tossed it in the back for room. "Sorry about the mess."

"It's okay, you should see Brooke's closet on nights we go out," Peyton joked.

She watched Jack closely as he attempted to smile at the joke before turning his eyes forward. Jennifer wasn't kidding, he did keep to himself, and all Peyton could do was hope that eventually after 8 hours, she'd at least know a little about the newest Scott brother.

Peyton POV

It'd been almost an hour since they'd left for home and if Peyton had been counting, Jack had probably said under a dozen words the entire time. He'd asked if she was cold, offered her to play some music, and that was about it.

She was slowly starting to regret her decision when a song came on and noticed Jack drumming his fingers slowly up and down the steering wheel.

"You like the Eagles?" Peyton asked, hearing the familiar old tune of Hotel California on the radio.

Jack shrugged. "Not really. Probably just this song. Ed used to listen to this every time he worked on this car."

"This was his?"

Peyton wasn't sure how someone who could barely afford to pay rent could possibly own a car but it made sense that it would be passed down.

"Yeah, gave it to me a while back."

"That's nice." Peyton listened a little bit to the song but still felt like she had to press Jack further. "Jennifer and Ed seem like really nice people."

Jack gave her a quick nodded.

Rolling her eyes, Peyton sighed deeply into the seat. She couldn't work with this, he was being impossible. She guessed it was a Scott calling card. Nathan and her could never really talk about anything, her and Lucas talked about literally everything, and Jack, well Jack didn't talk. It's like neither of them could have a normal conversation with someone.

"So how do you know them?" Jack spoke up finally, his eyes still trained towards the road.

"Who? Nathan and Lucas?" Peyton asked, surprised he actually asked her something. "Uh it's a long story."

"Aren't they all."

Peyton half expected him to press further on the matter, but she realized he probably didn't care. He was doing what she was, trying to start a conversation and she'd failed just like he did.

"I used to date Nathan," Peyton admitted. "And then I kind developed feelings for Lucas while him and Brooke were together. Long story short that didn't end well."

Most people would have given her a specific look. Like the look your parents gave you when you disappointed them. What she did was wrong, she knew, she just expected Jack to have a similar look on his face. Only problem was he was smiling faintly.

"That funny?" Peyton asked, somewhat annoyed.

"Not really," Jack answered truthfully. "It just feels like I'm walking into a damn drama club."

Peyton watched as Jack laughed a little, and found herself smiling too. "Yeah I guess you got a point there."

Jack finally turned his head towards the girl fully and got an actual good look at her. She was pretty, like the other two, he noticed. His brothers must have been quite the catch back home to have all these girls dating them, sometimes at the same time it seemed.

"But you guys are cool?" Jack found himself asking, a little curious.

"Somewhat." Peyton hoped that she could say yes, but she knew there was still this massive elephant right above them whenever they were all together. "Hoping a new school year can resolve that."

Not sure what to say, Jack nodded his head agreeing with her.

Peyton tried not to smile at the newest Scott's habit. One shake of his head was his trademark it seemed, cause whenever he couldn't speak, he'd shoot her a head not. It was somewhat comforting in a way; she didn't have to think too much on what to say. He finished the conversation without asking or pressing with a simple nod.

Quick and effective.

Taking a moment in the silence, Peyton took a glance at the eldest Scott for the first time to size him up. The cuts and bruises had healed quite a bit from his fight the previous night. His lip a little swollen and a bandage above his eye were the only signs that he'd been hurt badly.

He wasn't as tall as Nathan, and not quite as innocent looking as Lucas was. Peyton noticed that he looked a lot older then 17 like the others. If she hadn't known him, she would have thought he was at least 21. Maybe it was the tiny beard, or the no nonsense pissed off look his eyes always had, but he just had this intimidating presence.

She hadn't spoken to Haley about it for very long, only as a joke, but Haley had mentioned that Brooke had been caught staring. She wasn't sure of the situation, but knowing her best friend, it was for one reason, and one reason alone.

Underneath the black eye, and the cuts, and even the swollen lip, Jack was handsome. Peyton wondered if the original Scott made a pact with the devil for their family members good fortune when it came to good looks.

He wasn't the handsome jock like Nathan, or the soft-spoken Lucas who went for the heart. No, she noticed he was different.

She couldn't put her finger on it, but it was strange to see how different all three brothers looked like.

"You're staring," Jack mumbled after awhile.

Blushing, Peyton coughed, trying to cover her tracks. "Uh I was just noticing your face. It's looking good."

She regretted the words the second they left her mouth. It didn't take long for Jack to smile, without turning his head towards her, and laugh lightly.

"Oh man I did not just say that," Peyton moaned, slamming her head against the seat.

"Should I be worried?" Jack joked. "You have something for Scotts?"

"NO," Peyton quickly said, a little too quickly. "I meant you're face was healing well. I didn't mean…"

"Relax Peyton," Jack said nonchalantly. He gave her a sideways glance. "I was just teasing."

Peyton sighed, thankful to drop the subject. "Didn't realize you had a sense of humor. Is it possible you actually have a personality under there?"

"I guess will find out. Six more hours to go."