A/N: To my guest reviewer, I will definitely be working on La Vie En Rose! I have so many plans for Ava! :)

"Hey, Mom. Hey, Keith. Ava." Lucas walked into the cafe with a tux in hand, setting it down on the counter in the cafe. "This doesn't fit anymore. I need a new jacket..…uh, I think I'm going to this thing tomorrow."

"What changed your mind?" Karen asked while Ava made kissy faces at her brother behind her back, making Keith shake his head in amusement.

As far as she knew, as soon as Lucas had found out about the party Dan was throwing for the basketball team and their families to raise money for sponsors, he had his mind set on not going. And Ava didn't mind, she didn't like dressing up for any occasion.

"Well, I don't know. I mean…." Lucas glared at Ava before reaching for her, but he missed as she dodged him. "Nothing really."

"Well, we'll, uh, go Vietti's first thing to get you a new jacket." Karen nodded, pulling her daughter out from behind her. "And to get you a new dress."

"Noooo." Ava whined, looking up at her mother with a pout. "Why do I have to go, too?"

She didn't see why she had to go to this thing. Her shoulders slumped and a sigh of disappointment escaped her lips as she came to terms with this startling new development.

"Because we're gonna go as a family and it it might be fun." Karen brushed a hand over the nine year old's face to make her smile.

"Yeah, Ava, the whole basketball team's gonna be there." It was Lucas' turn to tease his sister. "You know what that means?"

"No, what does it mean?" Karen questioned.

"Jake's gonna be there." Lucas grinned as the heat rose in Ava's cheeks.

"Isn't he a little old for you?" Karen teased.

"I hate you." Ava crossed her arms and glared at him. Just because she had a habit of teasing him, didn't mean he could embarrass her. She absolutely, positively, without a doubt, did not have a crush on Jake. "I'm gonna tell Peyton that you love her and you think about her all the time." She threatened out of pure spite.

And if she was mad enough, she'd do it, too.

"Don't you dare." Lucas pointed a finger at her.

"And I'll tell her that you write love letters about her." Ava pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket, which just so happened to be one of his letters from the last time she went snooping through his things. "Love is beautiful and rare." She began with a large smile on her face.

She had been waiting for this particular occasion for a long time.

"Eyes like emeralds, hair brighter than the sun — ick!"

"Havana-Rose Scott, if you don't give me that poem back, I'm gonna kill you." Lucas growled.

Most of the time, he and Ava got along better than most siblings, but that didn't take away from the fact that Ava could be a real spoiled brat. He could strangle her when she got like that and this was definitely one of those times.

"You'll have to catch me." Ava wiggled her eyebrows, dodging him when he rushed at her and stopping on the opposite side of the counter near her uncle. "Not a day goes by that I don't think of you, and my heart beats to the — AHHHH!" The child shrieked and narrowly escaped his sneak attack. "Mama!" She raced back towards her and hid behind her.

Her heart beat rapidly against her chest and her senses were all on high alert.

She could admit, she may or may not have just crossed a line.

"No, no." Karen tried not to laugh. "You got yourself into this mess. Take it outside, please."

"Fine." Lucas nodded calmly, but anyone could see that he was about to explode. "I'll give you a head start."

"Promise?" That was all she could really ask for. Maybe if she ran far enough, he'd cool off and leave her alone.

"I promise." He nodded. "Go ahead."

Ava looked up at her mother and then at the door, before racing towards it with her brother hot in her heels.

"Poor thing." Karen sipped some coffee as Keith laughed. "I hope she makes it."

"She's been skirting on his nerves all day." Keith tried to compose himself, but the image of those two knuckleheads going at it was too funny.

"So…..it is a girl?" Karen asked, referring to the possibility of why Lucas had suddenly changed his mind.

"What else?"

"Teenagers are all the same."

"Can we go home now?" Ava pouted, getting out of the car. "This dress is itchy."

True to her word, Karen took both Lucas and Ava shopping for new clothes. Lucas was satisfied with his new tuxedo, he didn't mind getting dressed up for a formal get together. Ava, on the other hand, disliked every single dress her mother showed her.

The dress that was picked for her was, in fact, not itchy. It was a beautiful baby blue dress that came down to her knees with a bow in the back. But Ava was willing to use any excuse just to get out of going to this stupid party.

She hated dressing up, even if she didn't actually hate the dress, and would rather be hanging out with Maddie or better yet, doing homework.

"There's nothing itchy about satin." Karen smoothed out the child's dress, before taking her hand. "And we just got here. We're not going home for a while."

"Hmmph."

"Don't worry, kiddo." Keith nudged her as they headed towards the front door of Dan's house. "I'm not one for dressing up either. I think you get that from me."

"Hey, guys, maybe we should have, like, a signal." Lucas tried to lighten the mood. "You know, in case one of us wants to leave."

"Maybe we should just leave." Keith deadpanned.

"Yeah, let's go now!" Ava agreed.

"Oh, come on, that's no fun." Lucas smirked. "How about, 'caw!"

"Caw?" Karen gave him a look that said it all.

"Yeah. You know, like a raven." The blonde explained. "Caw!"

"Caw!" Karen tried it out.

"That's the spirit! So, when one of us wants to leave, we just 'caw."

"Caw!" Karen did it again.

"Caw!" Even Keith joined in this time.

Ava just rolled her eyes. There was no way she was doing that.

Grown ups could be so weird sometimes.

"You ready, Mom?" Lucas became serious as they walked up the steps to the door.

"Ready as I'll ever be."

At his mother's response, Lucas reached out and rang the doorbell.

"You know, maybe the best plan is to just avoid him all night, and then that way...…" Karen trailed as the door opened, revealing just who she didn't want to see.

Dan.

"Come on in."

This was going to be a long night.

Ava pushed her way through the giant sea of adults, trying to find something to do. It isn't as if they even noticed she was there. At one point, she almost had to crawl through several pairs of long legs just to get to where she wanted to be.

She managed to find the open bar and hopped so that she could see the bartender, Laurie. "Hi."

"Hi." Laurie peered over the counter and smiled. "What can I get you? Soda or juice?"

"Do you have apple juice?" Ava asked sweetly, standing on the very tips of her toes when she got tired of jumping.

"I sure do." Laurie nodded and poured her a small glass, before setting it down. "Be careful."

"Thank you." Ava stuck her tongue out in concentration, trying to get the glass without spilling everything all over herself.

And she almost did, before a pair of hands lifted her up so could reach.

"There you go." Dan set her down with a smile. "What are you doing out here all by yourself?"

"I'm bored and I don't know anybody." Ava told him, taking a sip of her drink. "All the big kids and the grown ups talk to each other, but I don't have anyone to talk to."

"That is a problem." Dan nodded. "Say, listen, I was getting a little bored myself. Why don't we stick together until you find someone you might want to talk to?"

"Okay, but I won't find anybody." She looked at him doubtfully, finishing her drink and pushing the empty glass up on the counter.

"Well, let's see." Dan smirked and began walking. But he nearly stopped short when he felt her slip her small hand into his much larger one.

He didn't want to press his luck by saying anything, so he kept his mouth shut and enjoyed this small moment.

She was just about the only person that didn't see him as some kind of monster or tyrant. She looked at him like some sort of mystery to be solved. The child had always been curious about him, but no one ever told her anything because she was 'too young' to understand.

But life had a funny way of bringing people together and bringing the truth out in the open.

And maybe that day would come sooner than anyone expected.

Ava was wrong, she did find someone she wanted to talk to.

Lucas and Jake.

And they were completely alone.

No grown ups. Goodie.

"Hi." She greeted the two as if she hadn't just seen Lucas ten minutes ago.

"Hi, Ava." Lucas smiled at her. "Are you doing alright?"

"I'm bored and I don't know anybody."

"You know Jake."

"Hi." Jake waved and Ava got shy all over again. "You look really pretty tonight, is that a new dress?"

"Thank you." Ava smiled, showing off her lack of front teeth. "It's new."

"Hey, Jake, Lucas." Brooke made her way over. "Two handsome boys for the price of one."

"Hey, Brooke." Lucas greeted politely. "Listen, I was gonna—"

"—Where are you going?" Brooke stopped him from leaving. "I haven't had the chance to invite you to the real party. It's at my place, later. I'm only inviting the cool people, but I guess you can come. You, too, Jake."

"Oh, thanks, Brooke." Jake had no interest, but he humored her anyway. "But I gotta cut out early tonight."

"Oh, like that's a surprise." Lucas smirked.

"Obligations, man." Jake reached out to shake his hand. "I'll see you, Luke."

"Take care, man."

"And you." Jake lifted Ava up in his arms. "I hope to see you soon, Princess. Goodnight." He smiled and kissed her cheek, before setting her back down.

"I think you just made her day." Lucas rubbed his sister's back. She had buried her face in his stomach and refused to let him go. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it." Jake turned to Brooke. "Alright, Brooke. Just go easy, okay?" He spoke softly before walking away.

"Obligations?" Brooke questioned Lucas. "What's his deal?"

"Look, I don't know." Lucas was more focused on Peyton than anything else. After all, she was the reason he even showed up in the first place. "Could you excuse me?"

"Well, I was gonna say, my parents usually close this place down every year, so if you wanted, we could go back to my place and start the party early. We have a jacuzzi."

"That sounds tempting, Brooke." Lucas glanced down at his sister. "Child in the room."

"Right…..oops." Brooke had the decency to look sheepish. "Hi, cutie. What's your name?"

"Havana-Rose." The child turned to look at her. "You're pretty...and we already met, remember?"

Ava sure wasn't going to forget the night of the Pickerington game. So much happened! Between Nathan and Lucas getting along, Peyton and Haley becoming friends, and Brooke's situation, she figured it was enough excitement to last a lifetime.

"Well, thank you, cutie. I think you're really pretty, too. I do remember, how could I forget a face like that?" Brooke smiled before turning back to the girl's brother. "So? How about it?"

Ava liked this version of Brooke a lot better than the one from the other night. She was very kind and she liked that the older girl hadn't ignored her in favor of her brother.

"Okay. Um, what if I told you there was someone else?"

"I think the person you have in mind is getting back together with her old boyfriend." She pointed over his shoulder at Peyton and Nathan. "See what I mean?"

"Excuse me." Lucas moved past Brooke, to make his way to the Scott's backyard, dragging his sister along with him.

Ava was just there for the ride and she didn't mind, she just wanted to be included. Most of the team was already out there, shooting hoops as some of the girls watched on. Ava wondered if they'd let her play, too.

"Haven't seen you much today." Peyton walked over to the two blondes.

"Yeah, I know. Every time I get within five feet of you—"

"—Brooke happens."

"Or Nathan." Lucas gave her a knowing look.

"Loose ends." She explained. 'Those are all tied up now." Peyton chuckled, her eyes catching a glimpse of something on his cheek. "Looks like Brooke got you."

It was red lipstick. No worries, all Peyton had to do was rub it off.

It got rid of the lipstick, but it did nothing to get rid of Brooke.

The teen had found them and she seemed to be just a little bit drunk all of a sudden. "Listen up, everybody." She staggered over to them. "It's time to play truth or dare. Or maybe just dare. Nobody really tells the truth anymore." She turned to one of her fellow cheerleaders with a smirk. "Teresa, I dare you...to go and pinch Whitey."

"Be right back." Teresa accepted the challenge as some of the team egged her on.

"Let's see..." Brooke worked to find her next target. "Peyton?"

"Brooke, come on." Peyton rolled her eyes. This was going to go too far, she just knew it.

"I dare you to show us how you really feel. Kiss Lucas."

"Yuck." Ava moved away from the two blondes and rushed over to Nathan, sitting on the armrest of his chair.

At first, Peyton felt a little embarrassed, but after catching the smug look on Brooke's face, she whirled around and planted her lips right on top of Lucas'. And she made sure it was worth the trouble, before she walked away, leaving Lucas more confused than ever.

"Why are you being such a jerk tonight, Brooke?" Nathan glared at the girl in red.

"Well." Brooke whispered, smoothly wrapping her arms around him from behind. "I thought you liked that in a girl."

"Go put some ice on it." Nathan pulled away, clearly annoyed by her antics, and stood up, taking Ava with him.

"Is she drunk?' She asked her older brother. It seemed like she was going to be dragged around all night, so she might as be briefed on what exactly was going on.

"Yes."

"Is she always like that?"

"Not exactly."

"Where are we going?"

Did little kids always ask this many questions? "Far away from Brooke."

"Can we slow down?" Ava gently tugged on his sleeve with the hand he wasn't holding. It was a little hard to keep up with him because of the height difference. Ava felt like she was going to trip any second.

"What? Oh!" Nathan slowed his pace. He was so angry at Brooke that he hadn't realized in trying to get away, he was walking too fast for Ava's legs to keep up. "Sorry."

That someone he'd have to keep in mind for next time. He was still getting used to having a little sister around and while it was fun, he was bound to make some mistakes.

"Haley!" Ava waved once she saw her friend.

She didn't know Haley was coming! That made everything so much better!

"Hey!" The brunette turned around and smiled. "You look adorable! What did your mother promise you to get you to wear this dress?" She joked before noticing Nathan. "Hey, um, I'm not crashing. I promise. Your mom just wanted some cakes."

"Cakes?" Nathan quirked an eyebrow.

In Ava's mind, it was now deemed as a Scott trait.

"Yeah, it's a long story. She invited me to stay and I sort of had a brain freeze and said, 'sure'...and it's probably really weird." Haley rambled. "I'm actually gonna leave."

"No, no, no." Nathan stopped her hastily. "I'm glad you came."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I mean, I'd even study right now. It'd be whole lot more fun than this suck-fest."

Even Ava nodded in agreement, making Haley laugh.

"Sorry, I'm off-duty."

"Well, then let me get you a drink."

"Okay." Haley agreed, playfully slapping the back of Ava's head when she made kissing noises to tease them. "Oh, stop that."

"But how else am I supposed to have fun?" Ava questioned mischievously.

"I have an idea." Haley shared a look with Nathan, wiggling her fingers. "What do you think?"

"I think that's a great idea." He agreed, wiggling his own.

"I'm out of here!" Ava gasped and tried to run, but Nathan grabbed her midsection and dug his fingers in, making her screech. Some of the team turned to look at them and laughed, going about their business when they realized that nothing was wrong. "Put me down!"

"Not so fast." Haley smirked, tickling her neck, making her scrunch. "Are you gonna stop making fun of us?"

"Yes!" Ava giggled maniacally. "Yes!"

"Do you think she's had enough?"

"I don't know, Haley." Nathan sighed as if he were in thought.

"I'll be good!" Ava continued to laugh. "I promise!"

"Alright." He relented, setting her on his hip. The motion was so natural, it felt like he had been doing it for years. "But if you tease us again..."

"I won't!" At least not tonight.

Their happiness was proven short-lived once Brooke called for Haley's attention. "Tutor girl!"

Something must've happened in the time that Nathan and Ava found Haley, up until now. Brooke looked very upset and she was clearly plotting something.

"It's Haley." She corrected.

"Brooke..." Nathan warned.

"Haley, right." Brooke completely ignored him. "Nathan's own personal little care package. Everything's starting to make so much sense now. You two are adorable. What was my favorite part? 'Believing you'll do well is half the battle."

Nathan had no idea what Brooke was talking about, but Haley did. He could see her growing more and more embarrassed as Brooke went on. The teen's face flushed a light pink and she could feel tears burning at the back of her eyes.

"You know, Tutor Girl's little love note you passed around earlier? The one that said, 'Call me if you need anything...at all." Brooke smiled at Haley, delivering the killer blow.

"Haley, I—"

But Haley didn't want to hear anything from Nathan. "—Stay away from me." She blew him off and walked away before he could even explain.

He hadn't even known she'd written him a note. Brooke must've found it in his room, after all, that's where he left the tin full of stuff for his upcoming test. In his dresser drawer.

And that would mean that Brooke had been snooping through his things.

"The games are getting old, Brooke." He sighed, tired of it all, and no longer willing to fight.

And why would he?

Haley was never gonna forgive him for this.

"Mama?" Ava found her mother sitting on a couch with Deb after all the drama went down.

"Hi, sweetheart." Karen made space for her on her lap so that she could rest. She could tell by the way the child had been rubbing her eyes, that it was time for her to go to sleep. "Did you have a good time?"

"Mmhmm." Ava nodded against her neck. "Nathan was holding me...he said I could sleep in his room, but I wanted you."

"That was nice of him." Karen gently bounced her leg and Ava's eyelids began to flutter.

"She's so cute." Deb gushed.

"Ava, honey, this is Nathan's mother, Deb." Karen knew Ava was exhausted, but she felt like she should introduce. the two anyway.

"Hi." Ava cracked an eye open, but it slammed shut. "I saw your pictures..." She yawned. "You're pretty."

"Thank you." Deb stifled a laugh. She knew a child doing their best to fight sleep when she heard one.

"Nathan's nice to me..."

"I'm glad. And anytime you'd like, come on by the house so you two can get to know each other better."

"...mm'kay..." Ava mumbled before finally falling asleep.

"I hope I didn't overstep when I told her that."

"No, no. Not at all." Karen shook her head. "They should get to know each other. I just don't see why it's easier for them to get along than it is for Nathan and Lucas."

"They're boys." Deb smiled. "They'll always be fighting about something, but one day they'll grow to like each other."

"I know they will." Karen smiled back. "I have to confess something. I've been pretty judgmental about you."

"How could you not be?"

"I really didn't want to like you."

"I'm hoping there's a 'but' in there somewhere."

"There is. I was wrong. I'm glad I've had this chance to get to know you."

"Oh, that makes two of us."

"There are so many questions."

"That makes two of us. You start." Deb urged.

"When you first met Dan, did he — did he tell you about me?"

"He said he'd had a girlfriend in high school."

"Did you know I was pregnant?"

"He conveniently left that out." Deb smiled awkwardly. "I didn't find out about you until we were married and living in Tree Hill."

"Oh, I would've killed him."

"Oh, I almost did." Deb joked.

"So when did you, uh..."

"We met at Freshman Orientation."

"That was about a month after I told him I was pregnant."

"A few months later, I was pregnant, too."

"You know, Dan, always the overachiever." Karen cracked a joke, making Deb laugh.

"Don't take this the wrong way, Karen. I'm glad I didn't know about you back then, because if I did, I wouldn't have Nathan."

"I know what you mean." Karen nodded. "I love my son, but sometimes I wonder how I could have been that reckless." She sighed. "I mean, when Ava came along, I was ready...I was prepared, but when i was pregnant with Luke, I hadn't even graduated high school."

"We were kids."

"Deb put this room together for me a few Christmas's ago." Dan spoke as he caught Karen looking around his office, carrying Ava in her arms.

"It's nice." Karen responded. "Anyway, I just came to get my coat."

"Karen, why are you doing this?" The man asked suddenly.

"For Lucas. And for me." She admitted. "And for Ava."

"For you? What do you get out of it?"

"I get to move on." She smiled. "And that's pretty liberating. Look around you, Dan. You have a wonderful life. Why are you spending it stuck in the past? Ava wants nothing more than to get to know you. She thinks the world of you. I saw the stuffed animal, she doesn't sleep without it. Don't let her down, Dan."