A/N – Chapter 2 is here!

Thanks: lia, Girl007, Becky, KTxx, mashleigh323, -NCISxBonesxOTH-, fizliz23, haleydavisbaker, Caroline, Mackenzie, sb1218, arubagirl0926, B. Davis FTW, and Mosie1213.

Thanks for the wonderful reviews! Please enjoy this chapter!

'Tis the Season

Chapter 2 –

They're sitting on the couch, cuddled together, as the glow of the fireplace provides them with warmth.

It's a chilly day in the middle of December, and while there's still tons of holiday shopping and preparation to be done, Brooke and Julian are just content being in each other's arms.

"Hey, you okay?" He asks, his voice penetrating through the comfortable silence.

She looks up at him and with a dimpled grin. "Of course. I'm with you…how could I not be?"

He chuckles at this and holds her tighter. "I know that this year hasn't been the easiest on us…" He begins, being reminded of their marital bliss that had a damper due to their desperate efforts and attempts to start a family. "But I just want to tell you how incredibly happy you've made me as my wife…Can you believe that next year…around this time…we'll have a baby in the house...?" He trails off, almost as if the words are almost too good to actually be true. And the fact that they actually are makes it even more amazing.

Brooke's eyes tear at her husband's little speech, and she doesn't know how she lucked out and got this incredible man to be a part of her life forever.

Julian carefully and softly places his hand on Brooke's slowly growing three-month pregnant stomach.

"This is gonna be our last Christmas alone." Brooke notes. "Next year, be prepared for me to max out all of our credit cards. Our child is going to be spoiled like you can't even believe." She jokes and giggles, leaning into Julian's chest.

"I wouldn't have it any other way..." He smiles, dropping a kiss on her head. "…Wouldn't dream of it."

Brooke is in a great mood. So much of a great mood that she almost forgets that Julian isn't home. Almost.

She's blasting Christmas music, dancing around with Brayden in her arms, and singing along. And she knows that if Julian were here, he'd tell her how he loves her so much, but she's got a hell of a terrible voice.

It's almost two o'clock and that means Haley and the kids should be arriving any minute.

Brooke had always envied the fact that Haley always had a family of her own to spend the holidays with. She remembers when Jamie was a little boy and how she'd go over to their house and watch as the Scott's decorated their tree together. She'd watch Haley and Jamie burn cookies in the oven that eventually would be eaten later by Nathan, or Santa, as young Jamie assumed. She always wanted that. And when Addison was added to their family, her jealousy grew even more. Sure, by then she had Julian with her…but there was something missing. That something was Brayden.

Brooke knows that her little boy is far too young to actually appreciate Christmas, but, growing up practically without parents, she wants to get him involved at a young age so he can have the memories. Memories she unfortunately doesn't have.

The doorbell rings and Brayden looks up from in her arms with such an inquisitive look on his face that Brooke can't help but laugh.

"It's your cousins, Brayd." Brooke says, heading over to let them in.

She swings the door open with a smile on her face and right away Jamie greets her. She can always count on her godson for such a pleasant hello.

"Merry Christmas, Aunt Brooke!" The eleven-year-old smiles brightly and walks in, then directing his attention to his baby cousin. "Can I hold him?"

Brooke grins. Jamie always looks out for Brayden, and she loves that about him. She can't count how many times Jamie voiced how he wanted Brayden to learn to walk already so he can start teaching him sports.

"Sure, just be careful." She knows she doesn't even need to say that, but she is always the over-protective.

Jamie nods and walks into the living room to play with Brayden, leaving his mom, sister and aunt still by the doorway.

Brooke turns away with a smile. "Hey, guys." She closes the door behind them as they all walk in.

Haley, who's carrying her three-year-old, leans in as best as she can to give Brooke a hug while balancing her daughter and a bunch of desserts for later.

"Hey, Hales. And how are you, miss Addy?"

The young girl sticks her thumb in her mouth and buries her head in the crook of her mother's next.

Brooke playfully gasps. "Addison Lydia Scott, Aunt Brooke is waiting for a hello." She smirks.

Addison looks up for a split second, thumb still in mouth, and Brooke sees the corners of her mouth twitch into a smile.

"I guess I'll take that." Brooke sighs.

"She's a little cranky." Haley explains. "She didn't take her nap today."

"Well you better get into the Christmas spirit, little girl. We've got to bake some cookies for Santa."

The girl's face suddenly lights up.

"Ah, there's that beautiful smile…come on, let's go bring this stuff to the kitchen." She motions to the bags Haley is still carrying.

"So where's Julian?" Haley asks as Jamie is helping Addison frost some cookies. Brayden is in his highchair watching in high interest at what his cousins are doing.

"Good question." Brooke replies quickly. "Apparently, work doesn't stop on Christmas Eve."

"Work?"

"Well that's what he said anyways. He also said he'd be back by six-thirty." Brooke informs her and then seems deep in thought.

Haley looks at her strangely, thinking she'd continue on in her thoughts. "What are you thinking about?"

"Well…" She begins. "I just don't know. I feel like he's hiding something."

Haley nods. "Julian is quite the romantic…maybe he has a special gift planned…?"

"Hmmm…maybe…" Brooke murmurs. When she turns her attention back to the kids she looks utterly shocked.

Addison is completely covered in the frosting, which is to be expected for a three-year-old…But what she doesn't expect to see is her son completely covered in the green frosting himself.

"James Lucas Scott, weren't you supposed to be supervising?"

"Sorry, Aunt Brooke." The boy shrugs. "He wanted a cookie."

Brooke walks over to the highchair and breaks out into a laugh. Brayden looks completely unaware of what he has done, which makes it all the more adorable. He's got the frosting all over his face and hands and he's sticking his fingers in his mouth.

"He likes the cookie!" Addison calls out, licking her fingers as well.

"I can see that." Brooke replies with a laugh. She picks up her now sticky baby and sighs.

"What am I gonna do with you, baby boy?" She tickles him and soon enough he erupts into a fit of giggles.

After the two young ones get cleaned up, Brooke starts preparing for dinner…but with Haley's supervision, just in case.

The kids are in the living room watching "The Grinch," and every now and then they have to be checked on to either see how the baby is doing or to see if Addison is behaving.

"Mom…" Jamie calls. "She's doing it again."

Up until a few months ago, Addison had been the baby of the family. When Brayden came that all changed and a lot of the attention goes to him when the two families hang out together…which is quite frequent. So, often times she antagonizes the baby.

She sticks her tongue out at him and Brayden whimpers as he tries to swat her away.

"Addy…" Haley warns. "Stop bothering the baby. If you don't behave I'm taking away your presents and Santa isn't going to bring you anymore either."

Addison huffs and sits back down, leaning against the couch cushions.

"Cousinly love." Brooke jokes.

Just as Haley is about to reply, Brooke's cell phone goes off, and she rushes to retrieve it.

"Hey, baby." She answers happily. "Are you on your way home?"

Haley watches as her best friend converses over the phone and she becomes strangely interested when Brooke's facial expression turns from happy to pissed off.

"What do you mean you're going to be late? Julian…you said six-thirty!"

Haley tries not to seem too nosey as she pretends to be doing busy work around the kitchen countertops.

"…Well I guess I don't have a choice…" Brooke continues. "Fine…love you too, see you later." She hangs up angrily.

"You'll never guess what just happened!" She claims outrageously.

"Um…Julian's going to be later than he thought?" Haley smirks, but immediately takes it back upon seeing the glare sent her way. "Sorry…" She quickly mumbles. Now is not the time to be a smartass.

"Just calm down." She suggests. "Try and enjoy the time now and he'll be here before you know it."

She nods, agreeing to Haley. She won't let this ruin her mood.

But it's just so unlike Julian that she has a hard time dropping it. And if she didn't think something seemed fishy before, well now she definitely does.

And she's not sure she likes where this is going.

"I'm such an idiot." Julian says to himself as he sits in the car on the freeway…in bumper to bumper traffic. Obviously there would be traffic jams on Christmas Eve.

Brooke is going to kill him. He's sure of it.

He glances at the dashboard and curses, seeing that it's already four. He's running late…way late.

Figuring he can't do any more damage, he decides to give Brooke a call.

When she answers, he feels screwed. She sounds like she's in an amazing mood…and he's about to ruin it…for now anyways. He's sure that once his plan falls into place and works, everything will go perfect. It'll be the best Christmas Brooke has ever had.

…But that's if everything goes according to plan…and things aren't looking so bright right now.

"Babe, I hate to say this but…I'm running a little bit late…I know, I know and I'm so sorry. I promise it won't be that much later…just trust me, okay?...Look, I got to go. I'll be home as fast as I can. I love you."

He hangs up the phone and despite being stuck in a ridiculous traffic jam, he grins. Because even though he's pretty sure Brooke is more livid with him than she ever has been before…that's all going to change in a few short hours.

And she has no idea what's about to come.

A/N – How was it?

Leave a review with your thoughts :)

Anonymous Review Thanks:

Lia – Thanks for the review! Glad you liked the first chapter.

Becky – Thank you! I'm happy to see you're interested in the story.

Caroline – I love Brulian stories too! Thanks for the review.

Mackenzie – Thanks for the review! And yes, I don't plan to have much focus on Naley. It's mainly Brulian, don't worry!

Thank you!

-Melissa