TW: Depression and the briefest mention of spanking

Nathan grins as his mom puts a big piece of blackberry pie with a dollop of whipped cream on the counter in front of him. He grabs the fork and instantly begins eating.

"Thank you, Mama," he mumbles around the mouthful.

Karen chuckles, shaking her head. "Don't talk with your mouth full," she lightly chastises. Once he's put the fork down, she wipes his already messy mouth.

Nathan squirms, cheeks turning red. "I'm not a baby."

"I know, you're a big boy. But right now, you're my messy big boy and it's only been one bite."

Nathan pokes out his tongue but doesn't say much more. It's not often his mom lets him have sweets on a school night. But he came to help at the cafe once he was done with practice, earning him not only tips from the tables he bussed but a big piece of pie. Nathan loves going to work with both his parents, but he has to admit he likes being paid in dessert.

"Your daddy should be here soon to pick you up."

Nathan makes a face. "You're not coming home?"

"I have inventory, Angel. I'll come tuck you in again when I get home."

"I was talking to Tim," Nathan says. He ignores the look on his mom's face. Both of his parents hate Tim. They say they don't, but he's not stupid. Lucas perhaps hates him the most. "He says we're too old to have a bedtime. He doesn't."

"Last I checked I wasn't Tim Smith's mother," Karen says. "I'm Nathan Scott's. Which means I decide the rules for him alongside his daddy."

Nathan shoves another bite of pie in his mouth, knowing if he talks he'll get in trouble. It really isn't fair. Tim's parents don't have a lot of rules for him. He gets to walk home from school by himself. He doesn't have to ask for permission to go out. No curfew or stupid bedtime. His step-mom trusts him to make good choices. And okay, maybe Tim doesn't always, but Nathan isn't him. His parents say they trust him but sometimes he feels like a little kid. Lucas gets to go out with friends. He goes to parties. Heck, when their dad gives him the truck, he can drive home from school! All by himself. Nathan can't even ride his bike on his own.

The pie distracts him just a bit, not much as it would've 2 years ago. Still, he focuses on it so he isn't frustrated with Karen. He doesn't like being upset with his mom.

The door to the cafe opens, causing the little bell above it to ding. Nathan doesn't look up until he hears his mother say "hey, sweetie". Lucas is walking over with the same look he's had on his face for the past few weeks. Nathan tries to smile.

"Hey, Luke. Want some pie?"

Lucas ignores him. Nathan frowns, playing with the fork. His older brother glances at Karen.

"I'm here. What do you want?"

Karen arches a brow. "I want you to acknowledge your little brother. Drop the attitude while you're at it."

Lucas barley looks in Nathan's direction. "I don't want pie." His squinty eyes return to Karen. "You left me a voicemail saying to come straight here."

"I did," Karen agrees, clearly trying to stay calm. "Your dad will be here soon to pick up Nathan. He wants the three of you to spend time together."

"I skipped Brooke's to hang out with the two of them?"

"You can hang out with Brooke anytime. And you know how I feel about you being over her and Peyton's houses when their parents aren't there."

"They're never there!" Lucas snaps.

"Attitude," Karen reminds him, her voice growing sharper. Nathan slides down on his stool. "And that's why they're always welcome at our place."

"Yeah, with you and Dad hanging around. Plus my stupid baby brother."

Nathan bites his lip and stares down at his pie. Hurt fills every bit of him. Lucas used to never call him stupid. Lately, it's all he does. Karen whips off her apron and walks around the counter.

"Lucas Eugene, you will apologize to your brother."

"Right, take his side. Again. Even though that's my sweatshirt he's getting pie on."

Nathan frowns. He rolled up the sleeves on the baggy navy blue hoodie but some got on the top.

"I can wash it," Nathan whispers.

Lucas scoffs. "You've never washed a damn thing a day in your life."

"Okay, that's it," Karen's voice comes through clenched teeth. A few of the customers are starting to look. "We are not doing this here. We'll talk at home."

"Whatever," Lucas mutters. "I'm going to Brooke's."

"Oh no, you're not."

"Stop me."

Lucas walks out the door, just as Keith walks in. He doesn't even acknowledge his dad in the process. Keith arches a brow as he walks over to the now red in the face Karen.

"I can't, Keith. I just…I can't."

She throws her hands in the air and walks into the back. Nathan drops his fork and looks up at his dad. Keith scrubs his hand over his face. He notices his youngest and tries to smile.

"Hey, buddy." He ruffles his hair. "Mama paying you in pie again?"

Nathan shrugs. "She and Lucas fought again."

"That much is clear. Hey, I'm gonna go talk to her while you finish up, alright? Then we're going to rent a video. Whatever you want."

Nathan nods, returning his face to the pie. Keith lets out a soft high and heads into the back. The cafe has resumed their usual chatter, but Nathan can still catch bits of the conversation.

"Don't know what to do with him…"

"Only been a few weeks…"

"…his brother stupid!"

"I'll talk to him."

"Oh, because talking helps?"

"Get him…Brooke's…"

"No. Can't…another fight."

"He can't get away with this."

"I meant what I said. I can't deal with this anymore."

Nathan pushes the dish away. He wipes at his own face, not wanting to add yet another thing to his mom's plate.

His dad appears a moment later, looking more upset than before. Once again, he tries to force a smile. This one doesn't even meet his eyes.

"You all set?" Nathan nods. "Let's go."

"I want to say goodbye to Mama."

"I think we need to give her some space, pal."

Nathan hops down from the stool and heads back there anyway. He throws his arms around his mom's waist while he washes the dishes. Karen looks down at him. He can see the tears on her cheek. Nathan frowns. She's crying again. Lucas used to threaten to kick his butt if he ever made their mom cry. Now, he's doing it a lot.

"Don't be sad, Mama," he whispers.

Karen cups his cheek and gives him a pained smile. "Don't worry about me. I'm the mom."

"I don't want you to be sad."

"Oh, my sweet Angel."

She doesn't have to bend very far to kiss the top of his head. Little by little, he's outgrowing her height wise. If he's anything like his brother, soon she'll have to stand on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. As much as Nathan wants to grow up and be like Lucas, right now he'd rather stay little. It makes his mom happy. She sometimes gets a little sad when she realizes how much he's growing up. And right now, he'd do anything to make his mom smile.

"I could stay and help," he offers.

Karen shakes his head. "No thank you, baby. You have fun with your daddy."

"But…"

"Go on. You deserve to have a little fun."

Nathan nods. As much as he wants to stay and make her happy, he knows that arguing will just make her feel even worse. Lately, Nathan's had a hard time listening. That makes her upset. He doesn't want to add to it.

So, he gives her one last hug and tells her he loves her before heading out with his dad. Keith holds his hand, as usual. It's another way his parents seem to treat him like a little kid. And still, he allows it, knowing his dad is upset.

He indulges Keith on questions about his day and in return, asks questions about the garage. There's a lull at one point. Nathan stuffs his free hand into the pocket of his hoodie.

"Daddy?"

Keith glances down at him. Unlike his mom, Nathan is nowhere near his dad's height. Though, once again, if he's anything like Lucas, he'll get there in a couple of years. "Yeah, bud?"

"How long is Lucas going to be sad?"

Keith inhales through his nose. His brows furrow as he exhales.

"I…I don't know, baby boy," he whispers. "I don't know. He just found out that he has a heart condition."

"But the doctor said with medicine he'll be okay, right?"

"That's right. But now he can't play basketball. And you know how much he loves that."

Nathan nods. His tummy hurts and he didn't even finish the pie. Before the doctor, he hadn't gotten those tummy aches in awhile. Usually they only come when he feels really bad about something. Like he does right now.

It's his fault Lucas took the test. He pulled that trick. Lucas took it and now, everything was taken from him. He had to quit the Ravens. While he can still shoot around on the Rivercourt so long as he takes it slow, his days of high school, and even college, ball are over.

Lucas hasn't even gone to the Rivercourt since he found out. He took out all the posters of players from his room. His Bobcats jersey that he got last Christmas from Grandma May would've been tossed too but Keith said it was too expensive and put it out of sight. He won't watch anything on SportsCenter. It's like basketball ceased to exist. All he does is read, go over to books or instigate fights with their mom. He seems to know better than to do so with their dad.

That doesn't even go into how he's completely shut out Nathan. Refusing to even look at him, let alone go to his own games. Nathan can't even be upset. It's all his fault. Lucas probably blames him. He hasn't said it, but Nathan knows it's the truth.

"He'll adjust," Keith says, not sounding as if he believes it. "It'll just take time."

Nathan just nods. Once again, he knows that anything but that will make his dad sad. And his parents are sad enough.

Nathan should know better than to go into his brother's room. Prior to all this, it'd be considered a death wish. It seems even more dangerous now.

But he actually washed the hoodie. His mom showed him how to use the machine and the stain remover. It looks good as new. Nathan's made a vow to try not to steal his clothes any time soon.

He opens the door and finds Lucas sitting up on his bed, reading Julius Caesar . Instantly, his eyes break away and squint.

"Get out," he demands.

"I just…"

"I said get out!"

Nathan swallows, trying not to cry. He holds up the hoodie and drops it onto the desk.

"I washed it," he whispers. "I won't…I won't take it again."

"Good," Lucas growls. "Now get out!"

Nathan turns back for the door. He hesitates for a moment.

"I'm sorry," he whispers.

"What?"

"I said I'm sorry," Nathan raises his voice just a little. "About the hoodie…about basketball…about…well, I'm sorry I made you take the test."

Nathan slips out the door before he can be yelled at more. There's been enough fighting. The night before, Nathan woke up to more of it. With the sleep in his eyes combined with his dyscalculia, he couldn't see the clock on the wall but Karen's shouting at Lucas was kind enough to fill him in.

"It is 2:37, young man! Where the hell have you been?"

Once again, he didn't make out the whole fight. The gist was: Lucas didn't think he had to tell Karen and Keith anything. Karen assured him that oh yes, he did. She said she understood why he was upset but he had to stop taking it out on them. Lucas let out a slew of expletives. That was followed by some muffled spanks and Keith telling Lucas unless he wanted more to go to his room. With the addition to stay there until he's 40.

Then his mom cried. Again.

Nathan didn't fall back asleep for another half hour. A few years back, he would've crawled into bed with his parents but he's too big for that now. Even if they say he's not.

Nathan goes into his own room and throws himself back on the bed. He holds his teddy bear close as he stares up at the stupid glow in the dark stars that are still stuck to the ceiling above. Lucas helped him put them up there when he was 5 and the older brother, 9. Back when basketball was just a fun game. When Lucas wasn't grouchy all the time. Back when the biggest argument in that house was Nathan not wanting to go to bed on time. When Karen only cried over sad or even overly happy parts in movies.

A moment later, there's a knock on his door. Probably Keith or Karen.

"Come in."

Much to his surprise, Lucas walks in. Nathan sits up a bit against his pillows, dropping his bear on his lap. He braces himself to be yelled at some more or even called names.

Instead, Lucas' voice comes out soft. Not entirely loving, but soft.

"It's not your fault."

Nathan tilts his head. "What?"

"It's not your fault. All…" Lucas sighs. "This crap. It's not your fault."

"I made you take the test."

"Whether you made me take it or not doesn't change that I have it. HCM is a part of me."

"But not me. Or Dad."

Lucas nods. "Trying to rub it in?"

"No. Just…that's another reason you're upset. Because I can still play."

"I'm not mad you can play."

"Then why'd you stop coming to my games?"

Lucas runs his fingers through his hair. Nathan studies him for a minute. He looks tired. But something tells Nathan that it's not because he was up until almost 3 AM.

"I'm not mad you don't have HCM," Lucas says. "I'm glad you and Dad don't. I wouldn't wish this on anyone."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"You sound too much like Mom right now." Nathan shrugs. Lucas sighs. "I'm not mad at you, Nate. I'm pissed. At my body, at the world, at…Dan of all people. Even though I know it's not his fault. Just that he never gave me a damn thing in my life except for the predisposition to this."

Nathan nods, biting his lip.

"I can't think about basketball now. I don't want to think about it or talk about it. I just need a break. But it's not you. I need you to know that it's not your fault."

For the first time in nearly a month, Nathan sees a bit of kindness in his brother's eyes.

"I've been a dick to you and that's not fair. I'm just…sad. And angry. And I've taken it out on you." He clicks his tongue. "As well as Mom."

"She's sad too," Nathan points out.

"I know. I owe her an apology. Just as I do you. I'm sorry, Nate. None of this is your fault, okay?"

Nathan nods. He still isn't sure how much he believes it. But Lucas seems to think so. Maybe that's enough.

"You're not stupid," Lucas adds. "I think you may be smarter than me."

"You get better grades."

"Academics don't matter. Right about now, I've been acting like the bratty little brother." He sighs. "I'm still sad. But I'm going to work on being the big brother you deserve, alright?"

"You can yell at me if it means you won't yell at Mama anymore."

Lucas shakes his head. "I shouldn't yell at anyone."

He turns to walk out. Nathan hesitates before speaking.

"Luke?"

His brother turns back around. "Yeah?"

"How long do you think you'll be sad?"

Lucas bites his lip. "I dunno, buddy. I don't know."

"I hope you can be happy again soon."

For a minute, Nathan thinks he sees a tear fall down his cheek. But Lucas doesn't cry.

"Me too, Nate," Lucas whispers. "Me too."

That Saturday, Nathan sits on the bench alongside the rest of the Tree Hill Junior Basketball League. His bright yellow t-shirt will soon be covered in sweat, especially as Cove City is in town this week. It'll all be worth it when they kick their butts.

Nathan glances up into the crowd. His mom managed to get coverage so she's here today, sitting alongside his dad. Those are the only two representing his family. Something he's more than used to by now.

Lucas apologized to their mom. He's still spending most of the time in his room and won't talk basketball, but he's at least not shouting anymore. Karen seems to have more hope, so Keith and Nathan are trying to have it too.

He watches as the opposing team comes trickling in with their coach. At first he thinks he hears something but shakes it off. Then there's another whisper.

"Nate."

Nathan turns around. Lucas stands a few feet away. His hands are stuck in his pockets and there's a small smile on his face. Nathan beams. He hops off the bench while his own coach is distracted and races over.

"Luke! You came!"

Lucas nods, squeezing his shoulder. "I did. Had to watch my baby brother kick Cove City's butt."

Nathan's smile brightens. "Does this mean you're not sad anymore?"

Lucas' own smile dims a bit. "No, bud. I'm still sad." Nathan frowns. "But, that doesn't mean I should miss out on my baby brother playing."

"You can leave if you want."

"Nah." Lucas shakes his head. "There's nowhere else I'd rather be."

Nathan leans forward and hugs him, not caring if his friends see. Lucas squeezes him back and kisses the top of his head.

"Nathan!" Coach Terry calls in the distance. "Get your butt back over here!"

Lucas pulls off. "You better go. I'll see you after the game, alright?"

Nathan nods. "Alright."

He jogs back to the beach and joins the team for a huddle. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees his brother join their parents on the bleachers. Lucas kisses Karen's cheek, making her smile. He's still got sadness on his face but he sits beside Keith and keeps his eyes on the court.

Maybe Nathan can't make him entirely happy, but hopefully him kicking Cove City's butt will be enough.

I wish they had gone into Lucas actually taking the time to deal with and process his diagnosis vs lie about it and play anyway. That was just so stupid and the wrong message to peddle to teenagers. But then, this is Mark Schwahn we're talking about, so why do I expect anything good from him?

I have another idea for this verse taking place when Nathan is 14 and on the Ravens, so keep your eyes peeled for that! I am slowly coming back to OTH fics. They will solely be on this family with mentions of the friends and girlfriends, but they won't actually be in it.

Let me know what you think! As always, feel free to leave prompts or ask me questions! I am on Tumblr and love communicating on there, as well as in the comments.