A/N: Thanks to the reviews and special thanks to my beta Leeese! Another long chapter (or do you prefer it split into two?). I hope you enjoy it!
xxxxxx
Ted, Julian and the boys were in the guestroom and were in the process of painting it pink. Julian was relieved that it made the boys stop whining that their mom wasn't at home. Brooke had been in the hospital for six days now and both boys missed her a lot. Julian had realized in the past six days just how hard it must be to be a single parent. He was looking forward for his wife and Penny to come home. Finally the room was done and all of them nodded happily.
"It looks like a room for a princess!" Davis said in an unimpressed tone, but he then smiled as he turned out the light and said. "I think she'll like it. Especially the stars on the wall."
"And the bed. It got so many pillows and it looks like there's the heaven above it." Jude said proudly as he turned the light back on.
"Yup. We did a good job, boys!" Ted said as he high fived them and then patted Julian's shoulder. "It'll be okay."
"I know." Julian answered. Nevertheless he was very excited. He wondered how everything would change now. He wondered if Penny would live with them for longer than a couple of weeks. All those questions kept running through his mind.
~X~
Brooke held the sleeping girl by her hand and was relieved that she didn't have a high fever any more. She looked at Penny's bag again and asked herself whether she should look in it. Penny would sleep for at least another hour. Carefully she stood up and retrieved the bag. She found some wallets in it and immediately knew that they were hers and Nathan's. There was also something to eat and a letter. At first she didn't want to open it but when she read what was written on the front, she couldn't resist. She took the letter out and began to read.
Penny,
I hope that when you will be reading this letter you're living with a lovely family. A family that loves you and takes care of you. You are an amazing daughter. I'm so sorry that I could never give you the life that you deserve. I wished I could be a better person. I wished you could have a mother that could take better care of you. I'm so, so sorry. I will always love you. Please forget me.
Your mother.
Brooke wiped her tears as she looked at the small girl led in the huge bed. She could tell that writing this letter hadn't been easy for Penny's mother. She decided to call her family and pulled her phone out of her pocket. She called her home and the phone was answered almost immediately.
"Hey it's me." She greeted.
"Mooommmmy!" Davis screamed happily into the phone.
"Hey Davey-baby, how are you?" Brooke asked with a laugh.
"When will you come home? We painted…" Davis began. However, Jude immediately held his hand over Davis' mouth and pouted.
"It's a surprise. You can't tell mommy!" he told his brother. He then took the phone and whined. "Mommy, we miss you. Please come back!"
"Oh sweetie, I will. Tomorrow I'll be home again." Brooke told him.
"But I want you today!" Jude whined as he started to sob. Julian immediately turned the phone to the loud speaker.
"Honey, how are you?" he asked her eagerly.
"I'm good and Penny is getting better with every day." Brooke told him. It was good to hear his voice.
"Can we play with her when she's home?" Davis asked excited. They were very excited to finally meet her.
"Of course you can. She'll love that. But she's still a little sick and needs her rest when she comes home." Brooke replied.
"I want you now, mommy!" Jude cried into the phone and crossed his arms in front of him. He couldn't understand why his mother had to take care of a girl that he didn't even know.
"She'll be back tomorrow, you crybaby!" Davis told him. Jude immediately kicked Davis who kicked him back.
"Boys! Stop that." Julian said firmly as he pulled each one on one side. Brooke smiled slightly as she pictured what was happening at the other end of the phone.
"I know it's not easy for you two but I'm very proud of you, boys. Tomorrow I'll be back and we will spend a lot of time together. I miss you too!" Brooke told her boys.
"Mommy!" Davis asked.
"Yes, honey?" Brooke responded.
"Can you bring us some candy?" Davis asked excited and Brooke had to laugh into the phone.
"Sure, I can do that but only if you promise me to brush your teeth after you eat it." She told them in an amused tone.
"I promise!" Davis answered promptly.
"And you, Jude?" Brooke asked. She knew that Jude was missing her very much and couldn't understand that she had to take care of Penny. Of course she had thought about leaving Penny for some hours but in the end Penny's eyes showed so much sadness and hopelessness that she just couldn't.
"I don't want candy!" He cried into Julian's chest. They continued talking until Jude stopped crying.
~X~
The next day Victoria watched Brooke and Penny in the hospital bed. Brooke was reading a book to her while Penny sat on her lap and sucked her thumb. She felt guilty that she had never had such moments with her own daughter. Now she wished that she could turn back time and start again and be a better mother. Penny had started to talk a little more but nevertheless everyone could tell that she was confused about the whole situation.
The first two day she had cried a lot and sometimes Brooke just wanted to cry with her because she could feel the pain the little girl was in. She just wished that she could take it away by holding her tightly and showing her that she was there for her. Penny asked for her mother quite often, but Victoria could also tell that she already was attached to Brooke and Brooke to her. They definitely looked like mother and daughter and Victoria knew that it would break Brooke's heart to have to let her go. She finally went inside and walked over to the two.
"Hey Penny. This is my mom Victoria." Brooke said as she introduced Victoria to her.
"Hello Penny, I've heard a lot of good things about you. You must be the bravest little girl on the whole planet," Victoria told her in a kind tone. "I have a huge surprise for you. Do you want to know what it is? I'm here because it's time to leave this hospital. I'm going to take you home to where Brooke and her family live!"
"Is Bruno there?" Penny immediately asked happily as her eyes went huge and sparkled with hope.
"Of course he is. And so is my husband Julian, my dad Ted and my sons Jude and Davis. You don't have to worry. All of them are very, very nice and they are looking forward to meet you." Brooke reassured her. Penny nodded shyly.
"My mom can come and get me at your home!" Penny said in response. Brooke looked pitiful at Penny but nodded as she stroked her hand through her hair.
"Yes, maybe!" she said as she looked at Victoria with a worried expression.
~X~
"Come on, you don't have to be afraid." Brooke said to Penny. Penny held Brooke's hand and didn't take a single step forward when they stood in front of the house. Fortunately the door opened and Bruno ran outside. He immediately knocked Penny down and licked her face happily.
"Bruno!" Penny laughed as she stood up again and slung her arms around his neck.
Davis and Jude ran towards their mom.
"Mooooommy!" both boys said happily as they slung their arms around Brooke's waist and looked up happily.
"Hey boys!" Brooke greeted as she gave each one a kiss on the forehead and stroked a hand over their hair. "Oh, how I missed you two!"
"We missed you as well!" Julian said as he kissed her lips lovingly. He then looked down at Penny who was almost hiding behind Bruno. She looked up shyly at him. Julian went to his knees, stroke Bruno a little and smiled at the small girl. "Hey, do you remember me? I'm Julian and…"
"You made my heroine sign." Penny whispered.
"Yes, that's me. It's really nice to see you again," Julian replied with a friendly smile as Jude and Davis walked to his side. Brooke could tell that Penny was a little overwhelmed by the attention and took her hand. "These are Jude and Davis. My sons. They were already looking forward meeting you."
"You are really small!" Davis said. The boys were a head bigger.
"Aaaaaaaaaaa!" Jude screamed as he flung his arms around Julian. Bruno had started to bark because another dog in the vicinity was barking. Davis laughed loudly and even Penny had to smile a little.
"I like your dog. Did you name him Bruno?" Davis asked Penny again and Penny nodded shyly. Davis smiled back and then took her hand into his and pulled her into the house fast. Jude ran after them and made sure that Bruno wasn't close to him. "Look! We painted the room and we bought you stuff. Do you like it?"
"Oh my god! You did this?" Brooke gasped as she walked in after them and saw the room.
"It's for Penny because she lives with us now. Until her mom gets better anyway. Do you like it?" Jude asked as he looked down at her. Penny didn't know what to say. But the boys quickly pulled her to the cupboard, bed and showed her everything else. Brooke thought that it was cute how Davis put his arms around her as if he was protecting her.
"Do you want to see our room too?" Davis asked hopefully and Penny nodded. Davis then practically dragged Penny towards his and Jude's room.
"I missed you mommy? It was mean that you left." Jude said as he sat on Brooke's lap and cuddled with her. He wasn't as excited as Davis that Penny was with them now.
"I know honey but I had to. Penny was alone and you had grandma, grandpa and daddy around you. It wouldn't be fair if she was all by herself, right?" Brooke explained. Jude didn't answer. He just held onto Brooke tighter, like he was stopping her from leaving again.
"When will she leave?" he asked sounding a little glum. Brooke knew that it would be more difficult for Jude to adjust. He wasn't good with changes.
"We don't know, baby. But Penny needs someone who can take care of her. Imagine if you had to stay with a different family. How would you feel?" Brooke asked him.
"Scared." Jude whispered and leaned his head on her chest.
"Right. So how about we help her feel welcome? She's really nice and you will like playing with her." Brooke assured him. She stroked over his soft hair as she held him tightly.
"Okay!" Jude answered but stayed on Brooke's lap to cuddle with her.
"I'm very proud of you." Brooke told him as she kissed his forehead.
"I'm like a big brother then." Jude asked as hesuddenly looked at her with a huge smile.
"Yes, just like a big brother." Brooke confirmed as she smiled back.
"I can teach her stuff." Jude said happily.
"I'm sure you can." Brooke smiled proudly at him. She was relieved when he climbed off her lap and walked into the room to Davis and Penny.
~X~
Julian and Brooke looked into the boys' room some hours later and saw all three sitting on the floor and playing with Lego bricks.
"We can build a high tower." Davis suggested and Jude immediately agreed. Penny sat there and watched them as she stroked Bruno.
"Do you want to help us?" Jude asked Penny and gave her another brick. He then explained. "You have to add it there. Why doesn't she talk?"
"Maybe she can't talk. She's still a baby." Davis replied as he looked at his brother and shrugged his shoulders.
"I'm not a baby," Penny whispered. She then held up four fingers on her uninjured hand and added. "I'm four."
"Oh! We thought you can't talk because you don't say anything. We're five." Jude told her as he kept a watchful eye on Bruno to make sure he wasn't getting too close to him.
"But we turn six soon." Davis added.
"Not soon!" Jude argued and gave Penny another brick. "Do you have a brother or a sister?"
Penny shook her head and took her thumb into her mouth and leaned back against Bruno.
"We can play your brothers!" Davis said and smiled at Penny. Brooke and Julian were extremely proud of their boys at that moment but nevertheless Penny was still sick and needed to rest. So they went inside.
"Mommy, daddy. We built a huge tower!" Jude said happily. He immediately clung to Brooke when she went to Penny to see how she was doing. She could tell that he was a little jealous but could understand it.
"Wow. That is really huge!" Brooke said as she kissed Jude's cheek. She looked at Penny with a worried expression. She wasn't saying a word and held on tightly to Bruno as if she was afraid that he would leave her.
"Can we play outside a little?" Davis asked immediately and stroked Bruno.
"Maybe that's not a bad idea. The doctor said that Penny should get some fresh air and we could all walk to the Lego brick museum. How about that?" Brooke suggested and laughed when both boys high fived each other.
"The museum is really cool and we can eat ice cream afterwards." Davis explained to Penny. He and Jude then ran into the closet to pull out their shoes that they were going to wear. Penny stood up tiredly and rubbed her eyes. Brooke could tell that she would fall asleep in the museum and held out her hand. Penny didn't hesitate a second and took it.
"I'm ready!" Jude screamed excited. "Can we go now?"
"In a second!" Julian said as he helped Penny to do her shoelaces. He then headed to the garage and took the old stroller out.
"Why are you taking the stroller?" Jude and Davis asked in confusion. "We're not babies any more."
"You aren't but Penny is still a little sick and isn't allowed to do that much." Julian explained and smiled when Brooke walked outside with a sleeping Penny in her arms. She sat her into the stroller, put a small blanket over her and then the whole family started walking to the museum.
~X~
"Can't we wake her up? She'll miss all the fun!" Jude asked. Penny was still sleeping in the stroller while he and his brother were running around in the museum.
"Peeeeennnnny!" Davis yelled as he almost knocked down the stroller when he shook her.
"Davis! Stop that." Julian told him firmly. He then pushed him softly away and saw his boy smiling because Penny was awake now.
"Hey cutie, do you want to get out and walk around a little? We're at the museum." Julian asked her. Penny climbed out of the stroller and Brooke and Julian had to smile when Davis and Jude each took a hand. Davis held the hand to the arm that was in a cast and was extra careful not to hurt her. Brooke and Julian were happy that they obviously accepted her.
"C'mon. Look at this. This is a dinosaur." Davis said in an enthusiastic tone.
"It's a rexie. He's the worst one because he eats the other dinosaurs." Jude explained to her. Both of them took it very seriously that they were older. It was cute watching their interaction.
"He's so big!" Penny looked up at him with an open mouth. She then pointed up. "Look at his teeth. They are blue and green and red."
"But they were white in real life." Jude explained again. "Just like ours!"
Julian and Brooke held hands while the three kids ran around in excitement. Penny was finally opening up and laughed happily with the boys. She had the loudest and cutest laugh. Although she was still bruised and a little weak, she ran with the boys and was as excited as they were.
"Aren't they cute?" Brooke said as she wrapped her arms around Julian's waist and gave him a soft kiss.
"Yes, they are and you are too." He replied as he wrapped his own arm around Brooke's slender waist. Then together, they walked through the museum.
~X~
"Ice cream, ice cream, we want ice cream!" Jude and Davis sang happily.
"I want chocolate and strawberry with lots of whipped cream." Davis said enthusiastically as he pointed at it behind the glass counter.
"I want vanilla and chocolate without whipped cream." Jude followed.
"And you?" Brooke asked Penny.
"Vanilla and strawberry with whipped cream." Penny said excited.
"Hey, look who it is!" Haley said as she walked over to the five. Lydia immediately said that she wanted ice cream too and finally all the kids were happy. Haley then asked. "How is it going?"
Haley looked at Penny as she asked. Penny was obviously happy and laughed with the others when Davis' scoop of ice cream fell onto the floor. All their faces were covered in ice cream.
"She's opened up a lot. Still a little shy and she asks for her mom from time to time but she seems okay." Julian told her.
Haley smiled when Lydia let Penny taste from her ice cream and the scoop fell onto Penny's white shirt. The girls made a grimace and tried to put it back into the waffle cone but in the end it all landed on Penny's pants and even shoes. Brooke, Julian and Haley turned around when all the kids were laughing loudly.
"I guess we have some little ice cream monsters, here." Haley said with a laugh.
"Penny and Davis are the biggest monsters!" Lydia laughed "They have ice cream everywhere!"
"Whooaaaaaw, then we can scare you!" Davis jumped up and made a grimace. Jude and Lydia immediately screamed and ran away in joy. Penny followed Davis and the grown-ups could only shake their heads.
"She's adorable. Do you know how long she'll stay with you?" Haley asked while she looked for handkerchiefs. Brooke and Julian shook their heads.
"Her mother is in rehab and they found some videos showing Penny's abuse that could play a role in whether she'll even be allowed to get her back. I don't want her to go through any abuse again." Brooke replied sadly. Julian saw that Penny looked like she was in pain but didn't stop running. He worried that she would do too much and called her.
"Penny, come here please," He called and Penny hobbled to him happily. Obviously it really hurt her to be that active. He wiped her face with some napkins as he spoke to her. "You are not allowed to play that much just yet because your body is still hurt and you're a little sick."
"I wanna play." Penny whispered sadly.
"Some other day, when you feel better." Brooke promised as she pulled her onto her lap. Penny took her thumb into her mouth immediately as she leaned back against Brooke and watched the other kids. Davis came over with the stroller and had an idea.
"Sit down!" he told her. Penny immediately sat in the stroller with a huge smile.
"Hey, hey, hey! Stop you two. What do you want to do?" Brooke asked as she pointed at her boys. She knew that they had all kinds of ideas that could get them into trouble!
"I just want to push her a little. This way she can play with us without walking." Jude explained.
"That's not a good idea." Julian said firmly as he shook his head.
"But daaad." Davis whined.
"No! Someone will end up being hurt," Julian told them as he claimed the stroller back from them. "It's time to go home anyways."
"I don't want to go home. I want to stay outside and play!" Davis said as he sat down in the stroller with an angry look on his face. The adults overheard his comment and let him pout a little while Jude and Lydia still ran around.
~X~
"Okay, kids. Brush your teeth now!" Julian immediately told them when they came into the house.
"Can't we watch a little TV?" Davis asked hopefully but his parents shook their heads.
"No, it's almost your bedtime. But we have a surprise for all of you!" Julian told them.
"What is it?" Davis asked as he turned around in excitement.
"You have to brush your teeth first." Brooke insisted as she smiled at Julian. Jude and Davis ran into the bathroom and almost knocked each other down.
"I got a super, super cool toothbrush for you, little lady." Julian said to Penny as he gave her a Disney's Ariel one.
Both he and Brooke loved her reaction. She immediately took it and ran after Jude and Davis and tried to brush her teeth, but somehow nothing was working right. She was too small to get the toothpaste or water and her cast was making it difficult as well.
"I help you!" Jude said proudly and took her toothbrush and then held her chin. "Open your mouth!"
Penny did as she was told to and let him brush her teeth. Both of them laughed loudly the whole time when he accidentally brushed her cheek as well. Finally all three ran to the couch and showed their brushed teeth.
"Very good! So, who of you loves Spiderman?" Julian asked pretending to be confused. Jude immediately raised his hand. "Right, you do! So we got this for you!"
Julian gave him a small package. Jude took it and eagerly began to open it.
"Who likes Ariel?" Penny raised her hand and looked at her package with huge eyes. Julian smiled as he handed it to her. "And who likes Superman?"
"I do. I do!" Davis jumped up, grabbed his package and almost ripped it in two.
"You can open it now, kids!" Julian told them, even though they had already begun opening them.
"Is today Christmas?" Davis asked confused. He didn't really care for the answer. The boys had their presents opened very fast and were happy.
"Cooooool." Both said and looked at their new pajamas.
"C'mon, I'll help you!" Julian said to Penny who had problems opening hers because of her cast.
"Ariel!" Penny smiled happily as she saw her pajamas.
"So, get into your new pajamas and then into bed. We'll read to you!" Julian told them. Brooke watched their interaction with a fond smile on her face. The three children then began to change right where they were. Jude and Davis looked shocked at Penny's body when they saw all the scratches and bruises.
"Ouch. Did you fall?" Jude asked and Penny immediately nodded.
Brooke and Julian knew that it wasn't true and shared a sad look as they helped her to get into the new pajamas. They then sat down on the couch with the kids and started reading a book. Julian always loved reading to his children and he enjoyed that all of them laughed when he made different voices. Jude was sitting on Brooke's lap, while Davis was in between Julian and Brooke with Penny by her side. Penny laid her head against Brooke. Brooke placed her arm around her and watched how Penny tried to stay awake and sucked her thumb. A minute later her head lay against Brooke and she was sleeping.
"Goodnight! Have a great dream!" Brooke told Jude and kissed him while Julian did the same with Davis. Then they switched.
"Can we do something fun tomorrow again?" Jude asked hopefully.
"Yeah, today was cool!" Davis joined the conversation and yawned.
"You liked it today, huh?" Brooke asked her sons and smiled down at them.
"Yeah." Both boys smiled.
"We are so proud of you two. You were really great today with Penny." Julian told them proudly.
"I think she likes it with us. At first she didn't talk at all but when we ate ice cream she talked a lot. And she's really funny." Davis said as he smiled and Jude nodded.
"Yeah. Why doesn't her mommy want her?" Jude asked confused "She's nice."
"Honey. Her mother is sick herself. She can't take care of her but she still wants her." Brooke tried to explain to him.
"Where do we go to when you are sick?" Jude worried but Brooke squeezed his hand tightly.
"You don't have to worry, honey. We won't get sick and we will never give you away." Brooke assured him.
"And we got grandma and grandpa and Aunt Haley and Uncle Nathan. They can take care of us too," Davis added.
"Right. So, it's time to sleep now." Julian told them.
"Goodnight mommy and daddy!" the boys yawned and closed their eyes. Brooke and Julian then began the task of putting three sleepy children into their beds.
~X~
"I'm exhausted." Brooke said as she slumped down the couch while Julian brought two wineglasses and a bottle. He gave her the filled glass and sat down as well and took her feet onto his lap and started to massage them.
"How's your body?" Julian asked concerned. "Are you sore?"
"Actually I feel quite okay. My ribs are still a little sore but other than that I feel fine. Well, physically." Brooke replied with a small smile.
"And emotionally?" Julian immediately asked as his brow creased with worry.
"Julian, what do we do with her? She's four and already she's had to go through so much. How can they even think about letting her live with her mother again?" Brooke asked with a sigh.
"You're already thinking about fostering her longer, huh?" he asked.
"You know me." Brooke smiled with a cute blush. Julian pulled her into his arms so that she was led on top of him. He had almost lowered himself over her but realized it would have been too sore for her.
"Yes and that's what I love about you. You're the most caring, beautiful and lovable woman and mother," He said as he kissed her softly. He then admitted. "And I already thought about it too."
"I know you have! That's why I married you." Brooke snuggled closer into his arms and enjoyed the calm that his arms gave her.
~X~
Before they went to bed Brooke checked on her boys and then on Penny. She heard a soft sob coming from Penny. At first she thought that the little girl was just dreaming but then she saw the sad and teary eyes.
"Oh honey, can't you sleep?" Brooke asked as she climbed under the blanket with her. Penny immediately snuggled closer. Brooke realized then that the bed and Penny's pajamas were wet and immediately knew what had happened.
"There was a monster!" Penny said as she cried hard.
"Come on. We'll change you into clean pajamas and you can sleep in our bed." Brooke told her.
Five minutes later Penny was sandwiched between Brooke and Julian and was sleeping soundly once more. Brooke and Julian held hands and just watched her sleeping peacefully. They already knew that this little girl had stolen their hearts.
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Please review if you read it! I would just like to know how many of you guys out there are actually still reading my story. Somehow I'm running out of time and I've got so much work to do...
THANKS