I've got your votes for the poll, thank you to all that participated, but I will leave it up for a few more days. So if you haven't voted yet and want a say then vote now!

Also, please do review! I love hearing your thoughts.

To On The Hill- I always enjoy your thoughts on the chapters :)

To Guest- there will be lots more drama to come. I just like to switch between drama and fluff chapters for the long stories

Brooke POV

Shutting off the light in my office, I quietly opened the door to see if Peyton was still here. Considering that I drove us here and still have the keys, I don't see how she could have left. I hadn't heard any noise from anywhere else in the building since I locked myself in my office. Glancing at the clock and seeing that it was 8:58 at night, I cringed. I'd been in there for almost 7 hours. I'm sure that having my own personal mini fridge and bathroom attached to my office helped...I didn't even realize how much time had passed while I was stewing over the horrible things my mother said. Even just thinking of it now is pissing me off! Ugh!

Shaking it off, I realized again that it's been almost 7 hours. Oh no, Peyton's been stuck out here alone for 7 hours! Oh she's probably starving and exhausted. Guilt starts to overwhelm me and I rush around to try and find her. Damn it, only a month pregnant and I'm already doing a bad job at taking care of her! Checking the dark front room, I glance behind the counter to only see her abandoned magazine sitting in the room. Moving towards the back again, I check the public bathroom and see it empty too. I sigh and head to my last resort, the break room.

The second I walk in the doorway I freeze and let out a relieved breath. Leaning against the door frame, I take a second to admire the scene before me. Peyton is curled up on the couch, facing the door so I can see the soft features of her face. She looks so relaxed when she sleeps. There's a small smile on her lips as she mumbles something. I walk over to her and lean down to brush some hair out of her face. "Brooke" she mumbles again. I grin and my heart melts with love for this girl.

I look her over, stopping to gaze at her flat stomach. She has one arm wrapped around her stomach, her hand laying flat against it and it almost looks like she's cradling the baby growing inside of there. Once again, I feel love flood through me. Just now noticing the sketch pad sitting next to me on the floor, I pick it up and turn it over. I smile at the beautiful picture that Peyton must have been working on before falling asleep. It's of the two of us. I'm leaning over to her, holding a bundle of blankets that I can only assume is our baby. It looks like Peyton is dressed in one of those hospital gowns with the tacky prints on them. It's a picture of us, right after the birth of our child. It's our family, and it's beautiful. I just have to wonder though, if she really sees the baby as a boy or girl. I know that she says it doesn't matter, but everyone roots for it to be one or the other, even if only just a little. I can't tell from looking at the picture though. It's all done in black and white and the blankets are still pretty plain, the picture obviously not completely done.

Closing the sketch pad and setting it on the coffee table next to the bottle of water that I just realized was there. I ran my hand over Peyton's cheek and placed a sweet kiss in her hair. I whispered gently in her ear, not wanting to startle her, "Peyton, come on sweetie. Time to get up."

She took a deep breath before opening her eyes and yawning. I sat up to give her some room, but still stayed kneeling by here. She looked up at me and smiled sleepily. "Brooke."

"Yea, it's me. Come on baby. It's late. I need to get you home and get you something to eat."

"Hmmm, but I'm comfy."

"You shouldn't sleep on a couch all night sweetie. After you eat, you can go straight to bed, okay?"

"Will you come too?"

"Of course I will Peyt." I smile down to her.

I help her stand and we collect all of our stuff, heading out to the front. We make our way out to my car and I lock up the store before driving us home. When I get in the car, she already has her seat almost laid back all the way. She is turned over slightly on her side, at least as much as she can be with her seatbelt on. Once I get settled in my seat I look over to her with a smile. Her eyes are open but her lids are drooping with exhaustion. She gives me a lazy smile back and curls just a little more into her seat, bringing her legs up onto her chair. She moves her arms up in a sort of 'prayer' position and rests her head down on them. Looking at her, I can tell how tired she must really be and the guilt hits me the car on to get it warm in the chill of the oncoming winter, I leave it in park and turn the music down to a lull. I reach out and rub my hand over the side of Peyton's jean clad thigh.

"I'm sorry baby." I whisper out and watch over her with sad eyes.

"Bout what?" She whispers back just as softly. Her right hand leaves it's job as her pillow and comes to rest over mine. She drags our hands to rest on her hip and lets them rest there, tangling her fingers through the top of mine.

"For my little tantrum. I shouldn't have locked myself up like that. I basically left you stranded in the store. You didn't even have anything to eat. And you shouldn't have had to sleep on that couch. It's not good for you and the baby to be all scrunched up like that. I should have taken better care of you, but I put myself first. I was upset and acted out and I didn't even think about our family and-" at this point tears were gathering in my eyes. My voice had picked up that breathy tone I get when I'm stressed and trying not to cry.

Peyton squeezed my hand and cut me off, her tone comforting and calm. "Hey, you were upset. Bitchtoria was pretty mean, you have a right to be upset. She always did bring out the worst in everyone. I think it's like her talent or something." She flashes another smile at me and I can't help but let out a giggle at her comment. "S'okay Brooke. And you are taking very good care of me and the baby. I couldn't ask for you to be any better." I smile completely at that, comforted that she thinks I'm not doing horrible at this whole thing. "But-" my eyes widen and I'm completely alert, afraid she's going to tell me that I have done something wrong. "-I am hungry. Especially after getting sick earlier..." She trails off the last little bit but I hear it anyway.

"What? You were sick earlier? Are you okay? Do you need me to call the doctor? I can get some medicine on the way home-" her chuckles cut me off.

"No, I'm okay. It was a couple hours ago and I think it was just morning sickness-"

"What!? You got sick at the store!? Peyton! You should have come and got me! I'm supposed to be there for you for this kinda stuff!"

She raises and eyebrow at me. "You're upset because I didn't make you sit with me while I puked?"

"Yes!" I nearly shout. I lean over at this point so I can be closer to her, awkwardly turning in my seat and over the console. Moving my hand to her cheek, I stroke it gently and stare directly into her eyes, being sure that I have her attention. "Peyt, we are supposed to do this thing together. That means I get up with you when you are up all night throwing up. I'll drop whatever I'm doing and run around town at any time of day just to get whatever food you're craving. I'll tell you how sexy you look when you're as big as a beach ball and rub your ankles when they're bloated like balloons. I'll give you a massage, anywhere you want, when you're sore. And I'll be there holding your hand when you push this little baby out, no matter how bitchy you get, or how gross the process is. I'm here Peyton. You're having this baby, for me. So of course, I'm going to be here for you through all of it."

We are smiling at each other, both with adoration and love shining in our eyes. She leans up and I meet her half way. We share a sweet kiss before she pulls away and lays back again. "Well, Chinese does sound good..." I smirk at her smile and turn back into my seat, finally putting the car into drive.

"Chinese it is." I state happily and pull out into the road, off to take care of my little family.