- T h i r t y - f o u r -

Disappointment was a feeling Peyton Sawyer had vastly become accustom to. It was her belief that opening yourself to the people around you would ultimately lead to the realization that they were in fact flawed and distorted from the image you once held of them. In effect, they were human.

She briefly wondered how being less of a person made you more human. How your bad decisions and judgements were to be rationalized as being within your nature. A human trait. Expected but not necessarily wanted.

The fleeting questions were soon pushed from Peyton's mind, as she herself pushed through the small crowd while following Brooke, who led with less tact and grace than she and Jake.

"Will you move it." Peyton heard Brooke demand to one of her peers, who was currently being an obstruction in their path.

Whether it was due to who spoke or the tone used, Peyton was unsure but it only took a second to jump that hurdle and find themselves approaching the finishing line.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Brooke glared at Theresa, as she stood steadily in front of the member of her squad and Lucas.

"I invited her.." Lucas returned sharply, glancing between the pair and Jake, who remained silently behind them. "..as my date."

Peyton couldn't help but scoff at the notion, which drew attention to her from the unwanted brunette. "Sorry." she stated with a light laugh. "..I just find this very ironic. I mean where's Nathan? Last time I saw you, you were his shadow."

"Things change." Theresa sneered in return, looking from Peyton to Brooke.

"I bet." the blonde replied with a roll of her eyes before settling on agitated blue. "Come on, Luc, are you seriously this dumb?"

"No, I suddenly see everything for what it is." he answered with a clenched jaw and his back firmly straightened.

"Then you're blind." Brooke cut in.

"Thanks Brooke." Theresa spat sarcastically, glaring at her captain with a look of disdain.

"What? It's true." the brunette shrugged, staring at her team member unashamedly. "I tolerate you on my squad, Theresa, but you stopped being a friend a long time ago. I know your games and I know what you're capable of.."

Theresa scoffed at the condemnation and shook her head, trying to keep her gaze from wavering. "You know very little." she sneered. "You walk around like you own the place but you know what, Brooke, you're as worthless as the rest of us."

"Do you always talk this much shit?" Peyton questioned forcefully, moving to stand in front of the other girl, while ignoring the growing crowd. "Brooke's worth a hell of a lot more than ten of you. To be honest a pissed up hobo, begging for change, is worth fucking more than your scrawny ass."

"Brooke, think you could get your lap dog here to sit." Theresa spoke through gritted teeth, as she stared into shadowing green eyes.

"Lap dog?" Peyton laughed callously, leaning in closer to the dark haired teen's ear threateningly. "Careful. This bitch bites."

Suddenly, the blonde found her proximity to Theresa had shifted and she was now being blocked by the stoic body of Lucas. Glancing up to the taller boy, Peyton couldn't help the smirk that appeared across her lips. "Captain Ass to the rescue." she quipped.

"Back off." he firmly returned, keeping himself between the two girls.

"I could tell you the same thing." Gavin announced, stepping out from the crowd and pulling Peyton behind him. "Now get the fuck out of here."

Lucas' expression morphed into one of surprise as he studied the older male before him. "What?"

"You heard me." Gavin returned, taking a step forward. "Take your trash…" he continued, sending a disgusted look toward Theresa, before returning back to Lucas. "..and get out. You're lucky I'm giving you a warning, rather than have you leave in a body bag."

Lucas glanced from each of his friend's faces, finally settling on Haley's. "Fine." he scoffed, raising his hands in defeat as he took a step back. "Happy birthday, Brooke."

Taking Theresa's hand, the pair turned to the front door as the silence now became more prominent and caused the sound of the wood slamming to reverberate loudly throughout the house.

"Okay people, let's party!" Gavin instructed to the gawking crowd, as the music was turned back up to full volume. Gradually the atmosphere picked up as everyone realized the show was now over, even as the small group still stood together.

"Thanks Gavin." Brooke grinned, offering the taller guy a quick hug.

"I could have taken her." Peyton stated, folding her arms over her chest and eyeing Gavin a little aggravated.

"I know.." he nodded, noting the questioning look from Brooke. "…I would just prefer for you not to get into unnecessary trouble."

"Seconded." Haley chipped in, appearing beside Gavin and glancing at the two girls a tad sheepishly. "It would really not be worth it." she added, while Gavin smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer.

"Yeah, well, I guess we'll never know." Peyton retorted, before she spun on her heel and disappeared into the throng of teenagers around them.

Having heard the same response last time Peyton clashed with Theresa, Brooke looked on in confusion, eventually turning her questioning gaze to Gavin.

--

Jake, who became painfully aware of his uselessness once Gavin stepped in between Peyton and Theresa, had skulked off towards the kitchen intent on forgetting and was incredibly grateful when no-one seemed to have noticed his disappearance.

Reaching for his choice in alcohol, the young dad chugged back the contents before reaching for a refill.

"Okay people, let's party!"

Jake scoffed at the command coming from the other room, bringing the burning liquid to his lips once again.

"Not to sound cliché but you're not gonna find any answers that way."

Turning to face the direction in which the soft voice floated from, Jake briefly grinned and shrugged his shoulders. "Can't blame a guy for trying."

Erin smirked, as she approached him. "I guess you can't." she replied lightly, while reaching over the taller brunette to grab the vodka bottle. "Can't blame a girl either."

Jake watched as her delicate hands lined up two shots of the clear substance and once finished, pushed on toward him slowly. His eyes flicked between the small glass and the intense gaze Erin offered, as she swallowed the bitter liquor. Meeting her stare once again, Jake followed suite, trying to not show the burn he felt in his throat for a passing moment.

Erin smiled at his willingness and began to line up another round. "So, Jake, what are you trying to escape from?" she questioned curiously, although she had an incline of what was the cause of his behaviour.

"Nothing." he beamed cheerfully, downing the second shot poured for him.

"Uh huh." Erin returned, clearly not believing his statement.

"Really." Jake laughed falsely, before his eyes caught the somewhat intimate looking chat between Haley and Gavin in the other room.

Watching the smile diminish from the brunette's face, Erin glanced over her shoulder and found the source of Jake's sudden change. Turning back to face him, she smiled somatically. "Been there, buddy." she attempted to console, pouring their third shot.

"Is it me?" Jake abruptly questioned, catching Erin by surprise. "I mean, am I just one of those guys who will only be useful when there is no-one else?" he continued to rant, catching the attention of some of the people who were getting themselves drinks.

Erin glared at them for their lingering glances, which caused one particular teen to usher the rest of her friends out quickly.

In this time, Jake shot the fiery liquid down his throat and enjoyed the warmth it created in his stomach. "I know most think they are unlucky in love and relationships as a whole…but, God, for me…" he continued, pointing to himself for effect. "..it's becoming pathetic. I like a girl; they like someone else. I get the girl; I get her pregnant and she leaves me holding the baby."

The tanned brunette looked on as Jake reached for her shot of vodka, once again allowing it to flow eagerly to his stomach. "I love Jenny with everything I am. I just prey she's luckier than me." he pondered thoughtfully for a minute. "Although if she was unlucky that would safe me some hassle."

By now Erin could detect the slight slur to his words, even if it took none of the conviction and honesty away from them.

With an easy smile, Erin grabbed for a bottle of whiskey, tiring of the vodka and filled the two glasses up for another round.

"Jake.." she finally cut into the strangely comfortable silence. "..I'm going to give you one piece of advise I have come to find very therapeutic…"

The young dad accepted the drink being passed to him, while raising an eyebrow in Erin's direction, waiting for her to continue.

"Love sucks." she stated, before downing the brown liquor.

"That's your advise?" Jake questioned, as Erin refilled her glass with a nod of her head as an answer. "That's not advise."

"I guess you're right.." the brunette nodded, briefly smelling the alcohol when raising it to her face. "..but it doesn't make it any less true."

Jake mulled over her words for a moment, before holding his shoot glass up. "Okay, I'll drink to that." he announced, causing a grin to spread on both their faces and Erin to raise her own glass. "Love sucks."

The pair downed their substance in one swift movement, followed by pulling the appropriate expressions as the new liquid entered their bodies causing a number of effects.

"Love sucks." Erin giggled, throwing her arm over Jake's shoulder.

--

"Gavin." Brooke announced stepping beside the older boy and Haley, earning both of their attention. "Sorry. Have you seen, Peyt?" she questions sheepishly, knowing she had interrupted the pair.

"Err…no, afraid not." Gavin answered, turning slightly to acknowledge her presence and not to appear rude.

Brooke glanced earnestly in Haley's direction, hoping she could shed some light on the missing teen's whereabouts.

"I haven't. Sorry." the tutor replied, while searching the room from her spot.

"I don't get it." Brooke vented, raising her arms and allowing them to fall, frustrated by her current state. "She's been in this mood all day…and at first I thought it was my mother but she said…." Sighing heavily, she briefly surveyed the room again. "Why act like this?"

Gavin turned to face the shorter brunette more fully and couldn't help the growing indignation he had felt for a number of days now. "Maybe Peyton had different expectations for your birthday than this." he snapped, lifting his arms to indicate the party.

"What do you mean?" she queried, as a frown covered her expression, while glancing to Haley once again for any information.

"Exactly what I said." Gavin shot back, folding his arms across his chest.

"Gavin." Haley cut in surprised and agitated by his behaviour. Brooke, however, seemed to have been silenced not only by his tone but also her confusion over what was being said.

"What?"

"Stop being an ass." the auburn haired girl replied with a sigh, which was mirrored by Gavin, as he turned back to Brooke.

"You need to talk to Peyton." he stated, before heading to the kitchen with both girls watching him go.

Brooke groaned, while running her hand through her hair. "Obviously." she muttered in response.

"Sorry, Brooke." Haley spoke up, noticing the deflation in the other teen.

The head cheerleader smiled half-heartedly. "Not your fault, Tutor-girl. Just gotta find Peyton….and bitch her out."

--

"I'm so getting a GPS attached to your bony ass."

Peyton turned at the huffed out greeting and couldn't help the involuntary grin that appeared on her face at the sight of Brooke, as she slinked over in her direction. The blonde, having needed an escape, had scurried to the comfort of the shadows in the backyard, finding the quaint seating area a distance from the pool and out of direct view, most appealing for herself and her thoughts.

"Collar and a bell could suffice." she replied with a smile.

"That only works if you're on the move." Brooke returned, taking a seat on Peyton's lap, her legs now hanging over the arm of the chair and feeling instantly comforted when the other girl wrapped her arms around her waist, securing her in place. "..and you clearly have not moved in a while." she lightly chastised.

"Been looking for me?" Peyton questioned a tad fearfully, while receiving a nod for her answer. "Sorry."

"I'll forgive you if you tell me what this is about." the brunette stated, tilting her head and watching Peyton closely.

The curly haired teen glanced down for a moment before looking back to meet Brooke's gentle eyes, begging for some sort of reasoning. "I just needed a breather." she replied softly.

"A breather is usually a few minutes, Peyt. You look as if you're set to sit out here in the shadows all night."

"I like it out here." Peyton smiled with a shrug of her shoulders, before she moved her head so it was a breath away from her girlfriend's. "More so now." she whispered against Brooke's lips just as she claimed them with her own.

Brooke, for her part, allowed her questions and concerns to be pushed aside, while Peyton's tongue run the length of her bottom lip. The music from inside drowned out the stifled moan as the kiss deepened and hands became less dormant. Brooke tugged on the blonde's neck gently bringing her closer, when Peyton's hand moved over the fevered skin of her lower back and side.

"Strip Twister!"

The cry from inside caused the pair to pull apart in surprise, having completely neglected the thought of their current location. Peyton, having glanced around them, turned back to Brooke, who furrowed her brows in thought.

"I don't own Twister." she confusedly stated to the other teen, who chuckled.

"Does sound fun though." Peyton mused with a smirk.

"No. No, no, no." Brooke replied quickly. "No. If you're getting naked. No one sees but me." she finished seriously, only causing Peyton's smirk to grew considerably.

"That could be arranged."

Peyton leaned in, her lips sealing over Brooke's once again. However, it did not last nearly as long as the previous embrace before Brooke pulled back enough to look into the younger girl's face.

"You're distracting me like you did earlier." the brunette almost whined.

"No I'm not." Peyton laughed.

"Yes you are and I'm not going to let you."

"Really?" she smirked, purposely running her thumb over Brooke's exposed skin beneath her hand, while the other girl became thoughtful.

"Peyt, what did you have planned for my birthday?"

The sudden question halted Peyton's ministration and her eyes grew a fraction bigger in response. "Nothing. Just me and you at my place, remember?" she rebuffed swiftly, directing her gaze to her hand, which still held Brooke.

"Gavin said you had different expectations. What was you expecting?" the older of two probed, now forming ideas of her own as she considered Peyton's frustrations and their current setting. "Was it sex?"

"What?!" Peyton practically shrieked, her eyes snapping back up, with a mixture of emotions flowing through them. "No."

"It's just Gavin…"

"I'm going to kill him." she snapped, trying to move Brooke gently from her lap without verbally requesting for her to move.

"Peyton, relax." Brooke instructed calmly, holding the other girl's shoulders.

"No. He should keep his mouth shut. He's made me sound like a complete and utter sleaze, as well as making you doubt me." she fumed, even as the voice in the back of her head was telling her she was being a little irrational. "Now, will you please move so I can disfigure his pretty boy face."

"No." the cheerleader replied resiliently.

"Brooke."

"Nope. Tell me what you planned and why Gavin seems to be pissed off with me for it." Brooke instructed firmly.

"Pissed off?" Peyton suddenly questioned in puzzlement.

"Yep. Now talk."

"Look, it was nothing. I just wanted to do something nice for your birthday and I asked motor-mouth for help. Last time I do that, by the way." Peyton explain, mumbling the final sentence with an eye roll.

Brooke gazed at the blonde for a long moment. "Why didn't you say anything?" she finally asked, now feeling guilty for the effort that had been made.

"It was to be a surprise." Peyton shrugged, her eyes shifting from soft brown, somewhat embarrassed. "…and either option wouldn't have worked."

"You do realize…" the older girl began, leaning her forehead against the blonde's lightly. "…I would have blown this all off if you had said you wanted to stay in like we had planned."

Peyton nodded with a small smile. "I know…but Bevin went to a lot of trouble."

"So did you by the sound of it. Why else would Gavin be mad at me?"

"He shouldn't be…but it's okay.." she answered with a pat on Brooke's hip. "…I plan to mess his good looks up. I'll shave an eyebrow just for you."

The older girl laughed, before leaving a chaste kiss on Peyton's lips. Slowly she stood from her comfortable position and held her hand out for the blonde to take. "Will you tell me what it was?" she asked, while pulling Peyton up.

"Nope. There's still the possibility of Christmas. Reusable plans and gifts, gotta love 'em." the taller of the two smirked.

"So not funny." Brooke muttered, as she pulled Peyton toward the house. Stopping, she turned to face the blonde and stood close. "I wanna spend the rest of my birthday with you. We can hide away in my room, until this dies down."

"Who am I to deny the birthday girl." Peyton smiled warmly. "But are you sure?"

Brooke mirrored the expression for a moment, before offering a small nod. "Give me five minutes. I just want to find Jake, okay?"

Nodding herself, Peyton placed a quick kiss on the brunette's cheek before heading toward the door. "Should I grab the Twister mat?" she teased, while stalling at the entrance.

--

After giving Peyton's remark the proverbial brush off, Brooke set out to find Jake and was slightly surprised to find him still laughing with Erin. Approaching, she noticed how the pair seemed to have already spotted her as their grins grew.

"Birthday girl!" Erin called, holding up her beer bottle in greeting. "Jake and I were just saying that no one has sang happy birthday to you yet."

"And we feel this is a disgrace.." Jake continued for her. "…so without further ado…"

"Guys." Brooke cut in, just as both Jake and Erin took deep breaths, readying themselves. "I need a favour."

"Can we sing first?" the older girl asked, glancing between the two brunettes.

Brook grinned in response and shook her head, amused by the exchange and the almost drunk state they were both in. "How about a rain check?"

"Fine but Jake's awesome with the harmonising. He might not be so awesome later."

"Yes I will." the young dad argued, a slight glare in his expression.

"How can we help you, Brookie?" Erin chirped, wanting to change the subject. "Did you find the punk-princess we all know and love?"

"I did." Brooke nodded. "..but I just need you to help with the lock up later. Once everyone's left, if you can? I mean, there'll be a free bed in it for ya." she grinned, while pleading with Jake, knowing he would be easily swayed.

Turning to Erin, the teen smiled goofily. "Wanna help?" he asked.

"Sure." Erin shrugged. "Free bed. Plus getting home seems like a mission right now." she explained, resting her head onto Jake's shoulder.

"Great." Brooke beamed in response. "If you need me, give me a shout." With her finally statement, she spun around and breezed through the crowd as she headed for the stairs, where the odd couple sat contently.

"She really will not want us to shout." Jake smirked perceptively, glancing at the girl beside him.

"Could be fun though." Erin laughed, watching as Brooke disappeared.

--

"We really need to sort out your music collection." Peyton stated, hearing the bedroom door close and the noticeable sound of the lock clicking. She glanced over her shoulder to watch as Brooke lent up against the wooden barrier in relief. "What's going on?" she asked from her position in front the cheerleader's shelving.

"Nothing." Brooke smiled pleasantly, before pushing herself away from the door. "Just dodging Bevin."

"That's mean." Peyton smirked, turning to face the other girl more fully.

"No. Mean would be starting a conversation I had no intension of finishing….or actually starting in the first place." the brunette replied, moving over to Peyton.

The younger of the two rolled her eyes mockingly. "I would say both are relatively bad."

"Fine. I'm a bitch." Brooke sighed playfully, while wrapping her arms around the blonde's neck. "Now where's my present?" she grinned.

"Well the flowers on your pillow look like weeds when you compare them to McIntyre's." Peyton answered sulking, watching as Brooke turned from her in surprise and noted the two roses perched on her pillow. One red and the other white.

Brooke turned and pecked Peyton's lips before disentangling herself, heading for her bed.

"I've de-thorned them and have the tiny cut on my finger to proof it." the blonde informed her, offering a quick pout when she glanced over her shoulder.

"You're so sweet." Brooke sighed with a grin, picking up the roses and breathing in the scent.

"That's not all of it, obviously, but I'll give you the rest of your gift tomorrow."

"Thank you." she replied, as she moved to the bathroom to get some water. Passing Peyton, she placed another kiss on the other girl's lips, this time lasting just a little longer. She was temporarily grateful for the gentle beat of the music coming from downstairs as it masked her hammering heart.

Peyton watched as she hurried away and began to shrug of her jacket, before removing her shoes.

"So…" Brooke called from the adjoining room. "..I know what the red means but what's the significance of white?"

"Well…" Peyton began, falling on to the brunette's bed semi-gracefully and allowing her eyes to close. "..the meaning actually varies depending on the intention."

"What's your intention then, Goldilocks?" her girlfriend replied, while leaning up against the doorway, a mischievous smile decorating her face.

Peyton's head turned in her direction and she smiled gently. "I was planning on the rose saying it for me." she explained, while sitting up on her elbows. "I guess you're gonna have to do your own research, huh?"

Placing the glass of water with the two long stems inside, Brooke moved over to the bed and sat on the opposite side, facing Peyton. "I don't think I'll need to." she softly stated, tilting her head slightly as she spoke. "Your intentions are always good."

Peyton leaned forward and pressed her lips to her cheek, before leaning her weight back onto her hands.

"I do have one question." Brooke laughed faintly. "I didn't see them earlier. Where'd you get them from?"

"I'm sneaky." Peyton stage whispered, sitting forward once again and pulling Brooke to her.

The embrace started tender and as it deepened, so did the passion. Before long Peyton found herself with her back against the mattress once more. However, she vastly became less aware of her surroundings as Brooke hovered above her, their lips infused intensely as the heat created outside in the quietness of the garden magnified in the sanctity of the room.

Her hand began the fevered path along Brooke's back, itching the brunette's shirt higher.

Breaking away for much needed oxygen, Brooke softly grinned to the girl below her, which was instantly mirrored. Flipping her hair to one side, she moved forward once again and stole Peyton's breath quickly, while her hand pushed tenderly into the blonde's hip.

That little action lead to Brooke suddenly finding herself in the reversed position and Peyton to have a gentle grip on her wrists, before her fingertips began to run the length of the inside of her arms ever so slowly.

Along with the movements of her hands, Peyton edged her way from Brooke's mouth, claiming her jaw line with little nips.

Brooke's hands moved the length of the blonde's sides, gradually shifting the clothing to expose the heated skin she found. A sharp nip to her neck caused her to press firmly once again on Peyton's hips, eliciting a husky chuckle right against her ear from the other girl.

"Happy Birthday, B."

Peyton's words were followed by her mouth taking a hold of the brunette's earlobe, before moving back down her jaw.

Ignoring the clear mocking tone, Brooke moaned softly, not aware of the effect that had on the younger teen. Unconsciously, her hands began to rake along the fabric of Peyton's top and before long, she found it to only be a nuisance. Gripping the hem, while her collar bone was lavished, she pulled smoothly until Peyton got the hint and sat up to some extent.

The top discarded, Brooke tugged on Peyton's chin, effectively claiming her lips once again.

Peyton increasingly touched Brooke's stomach, pushing her shirt away, as she began her descent down the toned body below her. Taking a quick breather, the blonde pulled Brooke's shirt over her head and throw it behind her. She smiled, which was automatically reciprocated, before continuing, leaving delicate butterfly kisses against the faintly quivering muscles, while hands moved through her lively hair.

Caught up in listening to their breathing patterns, Peyton was jolted back to reality when she heard a muffled cheer from downstairs. It was then that she could hear the mixture of a door closing down the hall and the odd yell of excitement, followed by the more noticeable group chanting.

Leaving a lingering kiss on Brooke's stomach, Peyton found the other girl's hands and intertwined their fingers, before sitting back.

Brown eyes fluttered open in a state of confusion, especially when they fell on the seemingly peaceful green gaze.

"What's wrong?" Brooke questioned a tad hoarsely.

Peyton smiled again, bringing both of the teen's hands up to her mouth, where she kissed each set of knuckles delicately. "Nothing." she answered.

"Then why…?"

Still smiling, Peyton laid down so her head rested on Brooke's stomach, while keeping their hands still linked. Kissing the uncovered skin once more, she looked up to the placated but nonetheless perplexed expression.

"I want this. I do." the younger of the two whispered, her lips again meeting Brooke's stomach as if to show her. "I just want it to be more…special, I guess."

Steadily a smile broke through the uncertainty in Brooke and she watched the blonde adoringly for a lengthy time. It was then that she too noticed the hollers and thumps from within the house. She wanted nothing more than for it to just be them and she was endeared that Peyton clearly felt the same.

"I love you, you know." Brooke beamed.

Peyton grinned in response. "You're my B. Davis, right?"

"Always." was the barely whispered reply.

"Good." she sighed happily. "I love you too."

Brooke laughed, before pulling on their intertwined hands. "Come here." she encouraged, which Peyton gladly followed after leaving one final kiss on the toned abdomen.

Wrapping her arms around Brooke, Peyton laid her chin on top of the silent girl's head.

"Brooke?"

"Hmm." she only just about acknowledged, while resting peacefully against Peyton.

"Don't make any plans for next weekend, okay?"

Hey! How's everyone? Sorry for the delay once again! I'm working on it. Swear.

Anyway...thanks to the amazing people who review! You guys make the world go round. Teske (Glad you enjoy and you're incredibly sweet.) craftyns99 (No fist-fights but snarky-ness was there, lol. Glad you liked!) othnaleyfan4 (Lol, do you realize that you could re-read your review. Might help with the deciphering. Are you confused right now?? Anyway, thank you very much and grinning at the fact you still like!) I'mAnOverachiever (It's extra long!! Please say that gives me some points!? Please?? Also Extreme measures? Please enlighten me, lol. Thanks as always and hope everythings going well.) musicjunkie12 (Thank you and I'm glad you like!) cellochick373 (No beatings, sadly. Hope you still like anyway, lol. Thanks for the review!) idaatje (Yah! You're all caught up, lol. Glad you made it and your speculations I would love to answer...but where's the fun in that! Hope you're are not too bored and thanks again!) Alexz6 (Dude! How's the laptop??...and you of course, lol. Why must we have stupid people in life? It's unfair. Also stinky donkey?? That is so gross...but yes, you could say it stinks. I'm still a little sniffy but it's going. I wanna discover the cure for the common cold...other than Vodka. Anyway...hope all is well in drummerdom and I'll catch ya soon!) yaba (Calm before the storm? Could possibly be...but the storm has a few rain clouds to gather yet, lol. Glad you enjoyed and sorry for the lack of violence in this chap, lol. Thanks for your continual support.) drumstiix (Thanks for the review and I'm happy you still enjoy!) SawyerAfterMe27 (You equals incredibly sweet. Thank you!) and spashley20 (Thank you for your review. I would have to agree on the Victoria and Lucas thing, lol. Thanks!)

Marley - I have a PM with your name on it, lol. I'll reply soon!

To all who read...thank you for continuing to do so!