Last BL Chapter people! And I made it extra, EXTRA long just for my loyal and supportive fans. 8K words! :)
Thank you wordsmeaneverything, arubagirl0926, mary garland, stagediva23, melissa, lostinwriting, demsam (I would reply to your reviews but you don't have PM, sad), and hailey for reviewing the previous chapter. And a genuine THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to everyone who reads and reviews this last one AND everyone who has read any/all of my stories and chapters along the way. I love you guys so much.
I'm planning to extend my 8x22 oneshot into a full story to get us all through the OTH haitus for awhile. I'll probly take a break between this and that, but it won't be too too long. Truthfully, we all have to get to waiting for OTH to come back in January so we should get used to being patient lol. I'm thinking I'll add 20 or so more chapters, representing different moments of each year of Jude&Davis' lives (age 1, age 2 ... age 18, etc). I have a lot of ideas on my own (I have a great trick up my sleeve for some good drama to come) but it's still hard to fill in the 'middle years' on my timeline, like ages 6 to 13ish. I'd love to hear about what ideas/storylines you'd want to see with the boys :) Just normal kids stuff that would be cool to see Brulian and family deal with. And also! When would you say the twins' birthday is? The show didn't really indicate that... spring? fall? IDK So let me know what you think here, by PM, or by reviewing We've been Waiting for You itself. The more messages I get the more I an motivated to update!
Enjoy the last Baker Life chapter!
Ugh, that kinda hurts to type. You're right arubagirl0926, it is bittersweet!
Chapter 56
It's been two months since Julian's cancer diagnosis, and guess what? He's already in remission.
Yes, Julian's radical prostatectomy surgery happened very quickly after his diagnosis and it was a great success. The surgeons were able to remove his whole prostate, all the cancer cells, and no other organs were affected or damaged by the ordeal. The doctors used the method of a laparoscopic surgery so the only evidence of Julian's cancer were several small healing incisions in his belly. After surgery Julian was very groggy and felt extremely sick for the first few days in the hospital. Julian's doctors decided to do one round of radiation just to be sure, and Julian really felt the effects of that as well. He didn't lose his hair or anything, but he was very nauteous and weak and sick for a week or so. But all that was over now. He's been recovering for seven weeks now and normal life was restored to the Baker household. They weathered the storm and they did it together.
This fine morning, Brooke rolled over when she heard the boys in the living room talking and blasting the TV way too loud for this early in the morning.
"Ugh.." But she looked up at the clock and realized it wasn't as early as she thought.
"Ten-forty A.M! Crap!"
Brooke's outburst and struggle to escape from the covers of the bed woke Julian.
"What's wrong?" He mumbled.
"It's almost 11 and I couldn't afford to sleep late at all! I have so much to do today, it's unreal! Ugh. You should get up too."
Brooke went and stood by his side of the bed and pulled his sheets down.
"Noooo, I'm cold."
"Please get up."
"Lay down with me. Don't you remember what today is?"
"Sorry pretty boy I can't lay back down. And yes I do remember. Today is prom and that means it's Nolan's day. I have to get myself dressed, get the kids fed and dressed, I have to sew a few last minute touches on the dress, I have to paint Nolan's toes because the color she picked yesterday at the salon didn't match the dress as well as we thought, I have to do her hair which will take forever with her mane of blonde hair, and I have to help with makeup and shoes and whatever else she wants before Reid gets here. Then we have to take pictures and send them on their way. AND I have to do all this while making sure she's totally happy." Brooke took a deep breath after she was done. She just wanted this day to go off without a hitch.
"Well after all that you better have some time for your husband."
"And why is that?" Brooke smiled since she already knew what it was.
"What I was really talking about is that today marks the end of the restrictions from after my surgery."
"Oh, are you sure about that?" Brooke joked.
"I've been counting the days..." Julian grabbed Brooke's arm and pulled her down. Brooke giggled as Julian kissed her forehead.
"I'm going to make love to my wife again tonight," Julian whispered.
Brooke smiled. "You sure are."
;
As Brooke sat and stitched the last bead onto the dress, Brooke couldn't help but smile. She had been looking forward to this day since pretty much the day after her own prom.
She'd made Nolan's prom dress and tonight was the night everyone else would get to see how beautiful Nolan looked in it.
Her daughter was going to prom with the boy she loves: that's far more than Brooke ever got herself. Yes, she went to prom, two proms in fact, with Mouth. Of course she loved Mouth and Mouth loved her, but she wasn't in love at prom. Nolan would get to have that. And since she was back to her happy and energetic ways, Nolan had also been eager to plan and make the dress with her mom. A COB Brooke Davis Original that no other girl could dream of having for prom.
Nolan and Brooke sat down to plan it all out, they sketched it, and they picked the fabric before Brooke took over with the whole 'making' part. Nolan had picked up some unavoidable fashion do's and don't's over the years because of Brooke's designer status, so Brooke and Nolan didn't have any trouble agreeing on what the style should be. And regardless of the the fact that it wasn't 'modest' in Julian's sense of the word, the two girls had a plan so Julian couldn't disapprove.
(Flashback to last month)
"So what's your dream dress, Nolan?" Brooke asked as they sat down on the couch in the front of the COB store.
"Ever since I was little, I had this picture in my mind of the perfect dress. I don't know where it came from, a picture or a dream maybe or something, but I just know it's what I want."
Brooke pulled out a binder of all her designs, going back many many years. Nolan noticed how Brooke's hand went right to the bright pink tab at the top that was marking a page.
"Is this what you're thinking of?"
Brooke turned to binder towards Nolan and she gasped.
"It's perfect." Nolan looked up shocked. "How did you know?"
"The first time I met you, you had run into the store when you saw a pretty pink dress in the window. You were by yourself and you were so beautiful and determined and you ran over to the mannequin immediately. You called this dress your 'bubblegum dress'. Then your Dad walked in looking for you and the rest is history."
Nolan stared back at the page. "It finally fits," she laughed, remembering how upset she was that the dress didn't come in her size at age 7.
"Your fashion sense brought our family together, Nolan. I never wanted to forget that and I didn't want you to either."
"You saved this picture for me all this time? I mean this was like..."
"Ten years ago," Brooke finished. She smiled and grabbed Nolan's hand. She felt tears forming.
"I love you so much Nolan. I have since the very moment I met you. I just wanted to keep this for you if you ever wanted it. And I think you would look amazing in this dress at prom. Obviously we'll need to make it a little more formal and we'll add some beading or whatever you want, but... you're going to look so beautiful. This is your princess dress and I'm so excited to make it for you."
"Thank you, Mom. I was so lucky to get a chance at having a real Mom in my life, especially one like you. I love you more than you'll ever know."
Nolan leaned in and brought Brooke into a genuine hug.
"Oh I think i have an idea."
Nolan leaned back.
"Do you think Dad and Reid will like it?" Nolan asked.
Brooke was happy Nolan included Julian in the equation. Brooke didn't think Nolan realized just how much Julian adored her.
"They're both gunna love it."
Brooke held up the dress when she was completely done. She had never been so proud of a dress in her whole career.
;
Jordan skipped by Nolan as she walked out of the bathroom from her shower in a bathrobe and had a towel swirled up around her hair.
"Hey sis. Can I help you with anything?"
"Why are you so happy? And yes, you can grab me my silver heels out from in there," Nolan pointed with her white french tipped nail.
Jordan walked to the closet and tried to control her smile.
"A boy at school asked me to be his girlfriend yesterday at recess."
Nolan smiled. "And you're just telling me this now! I've told you almost everything about the guys I've dated. Now it's your turn."
"I'm sorry, I guess I was just trying to process it."
"Oh my God, that's so exciting! So who is it? What did you tell him?"
"His name's Riley."
"Okay, girly boy name, but it's fine. You have a boyish girl's name," Nolan mumbled as she squirted lotion into her hand.
"Hey! I do not! And you're one to talk," Jordan defended.
"I'm just messing with you. From your big smile I can tell you said yes, right?"
"Yeah." Jordan nodded. "But I don't know what to do now."
"Well Junior High dating usually means you won't talk to him again until you break up."
"What?"
"It's just the way it is. But if you want, you could try to just sit with him at lunch or hold hands at recess and stuff. Maybe talk on the phone. That's pretty much it for now."
"He's really cute. I think I'd like doing that."
"Okay, good. And when you need more advice I'm here."
"Good. I'm glad I'm not the oldest 'cause you're better at this stuff than me."
"I just have more practice. You'll get there. You'll be doing this for Sienna soon enough when I'm away at college."
Jordan laughed. "Don't let Mom and Dad hear you say that."
"Oh I know. They're in denial that we're growing up. They always will be."
"Thanks for this Nolan. Now I can't wait for Monday at school."
"I bet." Nolan smiled. It was nice to see her little sister so giddy with excitement.
;
The time flew by that day and it was time to put the finishing touches on makeup and to make sure those cameras were charged and ready to go. At quarter to six, Julian answered the door to see Reid in a very distinguished black tux with a white shirt and pink tie. Reid smiled nervously.
"Hello Mr. Baker. It's a beautiful night, isn't it?"
Julian had dreaded having a child old enough to go to prom. He thought he'd have another year at least, but he didn't. Julian knew Reid was refering to the weather, not the momentous day for a father of a beautiful teenage daughter, so he nodded and gestured to Reid to come in.
"Come on in, Reid."
"How are you feeling these days, sir?" Reid said, refering to Julian's health.
"Much better, thank you." He changed the subject quickly. "I think Nolan's almost ready. The girls have been locked away upstairs for hours."
"Yeah I bet. I remember the day of my older sister's prom. It was chaos... Have you seen the dress yet?"
"Nope. I'm not allowed to see it until she comes down those stairs, but I can assume from your tie that it's pink."
Reid looked down and chuckled. "Yeah, all I got was a two inch piece of material that I was told to match. I hope I did okay."
"I'm sure you did just fine. So what are the plans for tonight?"
"Um, my mom wants to see Nolan and take pictures at my house, then we're meeting some friends before we drive over to the country club. There's this beautiful bridge at the venue that everyone takes pictures at and then the dinner and dancing begins."
Julian chuckled. "Oh yeah, dancing was never my thing..."
"Yeah me neither, but Nolan's excited about it. I guess I can try it."
"And after Prom?"
Reid looked down. Crap.
"Ugh, a big group of us is staying at my friend Grant's beach house, sir. Nolan said she got permission..."
Julian had been convinced by Brooke that it would be alright for his daughter to spend the night at a beach house, (probably in the same bed which he hated) with her boyfriend and all of his friends. He just had to hold his tongue even though he loathed the idea.
"I know. I was just checking. Just be careful driving and everything. And NO drinking and driving anywhere near my daughter."
"Of course not. I would never let that happen, sir."
"Good."
Julian and Reid stood by the stairs awkwardly as Julian flipped the camera back and forth in his hands, but then Julian finally spoke up.
"Look, um. I know you and Nolan went through... something... before and I want you to know that I am glad you're back. You're good for Nolan. You make her happy and you're kind to her, I can see that. I just want you to treat her the way she deserves to be treated. She's my little girl and I have to make sure the people around her are what's best for her. Including you. That's my job."
"I understand and appreciate that so much, sir. And I'll protect her heart. You don't have to worry about me."
Julian sighed. "Good fathers are always worried about their daughters. You'll understand that someday. I will always worry about my daughters."
Before either man could say anything else, Jordan came squealing down the staircase with Brooke behind her.
"She looks so great!" Jordan told them. "Hi Reid."
"Hey Jord."
"She's just grabbing her purse. She'll be down in a second," Brooke informed them. Brooke called the other kids into the foyer and they waited for Nolan together.
"So... I'm ready. What do you think?" Nolan called from the top of the stairs and all eyes turned to her.
The little kids "Ooo'ed and Aahh'ed" for effect and Jordan grabbed the camera from Julian and snapped away.
"You look stunning, honey. Just gorgeous!" Brooke told her for the millionth time.
"You look so beautiful," Reid said almost immediately, although he was having a hard time getting the words out, he was so awestruck.
When Reid saw her, he knew this memory of her would be burned in his mind forever, even if they ever parted, even if they were old and grey and forgetful. He would remember this. She was just so... perfect tonight.
Julian had a similar reaction as he realized how grown up his baby girl was. She wasn't little anymore. He quickly thought back to the memory of a very similar dress.
(Unexpected Life Chapter 2: Miracles of Life and Love. The AU story behind this BL sequel, reread it if you forget!)
Julian was enjoying the beautiful day when he suddenly realized that Nolan was no longer in front of him. He began to panic, turning around to see where she was. A few yards behind him, Nolan (age 7) was stopped dead in her tracks staring into a store window. Julian quickly backtracked, ready to scold his baby girl, when he suddenly understood what had happened. Nolan was staring through the window at a beautiful long pink and sparkly gown. If Julian thought it was beautiful, he was not surprised that his fashion-obsessed offspring was mesmerized.
"Daddy…it's so pretty. I wish I could fit into it!"
"You're too little baby. When you're older, you will have plenty of dresses like that."
"Do you think they have my size?"
"I..." Before Julian could even answer, Nolan rushed towards the door and disappeared behind it. Julian began to follow her in when the logo on the door caught his eye. He had been here before.
C
B
Julian knew COB sounded familiar, but until he saw who was behind the exterior of the store, he simply could not place it. Inside, Julian came face to face with a fairytale. Nolan was in the arms of none other than Brooke Davis. Brooke was holding his daughter up so she was at eye level with the mannequin which held her new favorite pink dress. Brooke was laughing at Nolan, eyes wide, staring at the dress.
"Uhh…Nolan, what are you doing?"
Nolan turned to her father. "Daddy, look! This is the store where Aunt Jocelyn's magazines come from!"
Brooke looked up and locked eyes with her date from the night before. All morning, she had been trying to forget about him. For a second, she thought she was imagining him. But he was real. He was here. And this small child was calling him…Daddy?
"Brooke."
"Julian. Wow."
Nolan was now distracted by other pieces of clothing in the store. She slinked out of Brooke's arms and ran to another section of the shop.
"You…uhh…you have a..."
"... She is my daughter."
"Oh…When she came in she said she had to try on the bubblegum dress and that her daddy was outside, but I'd have never guessed…"
Julian remembered that day. It was always special. That's when it all changed. His future was set from that moment on.
Julian was pulled from his memory as Nolan got to the bottom of the stairs.
"Do I look pretty, Daddy?" (a line I just loved in the My Sister's Keeper movie, even though the end was bad and different from the book)
"You are the most beautiful gi-" Julian paused and let out a breath "- most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
"Thank you." She leaned in and hugged him genuinely. "I love you, Daddy" she whispered, not knowing why she was tearing up.
Maybe it was the thought that he could have really been sick and she could have lost him forever. She was so scared when her parents told her and her siblings that he had cancer. She was so scared when he was in the hospital after the surgery for a few days and he was so weak and sick. She was so thankful when the tests came back saying the cancer was gone.
She hated to admit it, but her Dad was her whole world. He was the only family she had for the first seven years of her life. He was her rock and, while she thought about it, her father was her real first love, not Reid. She loved him more than any man and she knew he would always be there for her. She could always count on him for anything.
"I love you too, Nolan. You have no idea how much."
Nolan nodded and smiled before Brooke whisked her away so she could get as many pictures as possible before the couple left for prom.
;
After Nolan and Reid had left, the family stayed outside while it was still light out and the kids played and rode their bikes up and down their long driveway.
"Daddy can we ride our bikes to the Rivercourt?" Bentley asked.
"Yeah! Can we all go?" Jeremy smiled.
Julian looked back at the girls and smiled. "Wanna come, ladies?"
"I do." Jordan stood up.
"Brooke?"
"Why not? Let's go, Sie."
Sienna jumped off her Mom's lap and went to get her bike. Julian grabbed Brooke's arm to help her up.
"We can just walk if you want," Julian suggested.
"Sounds good to me."
As they made their way along the sidewalks to the Rivercourt, the kids sped ahead on their bikes with Jordan leading the pack.
"Don't go too far, Jordan!" Brooke yelled.
"They're fine, babe. They're right in front of us." Julian squeezed her hand tighter.
"I know. This is just what Moms do."
"And what an amazing mother you've become."
Brooke nodded. "Thanks Daddy." She leaned into Julian as they continued walking.
When they got to the Rivercourt, the kids went nuts and raced all around the pavement and the grass. Bentley found a stray basketball under the bleachers so they even got to shoot around a little bit. Julian actually made a few shots from the free throw line.
"Hey Baker! Stealng my equipment, are you?"
Brooke and Julian laughed when they saw Nathan approaching with Haley and their three youngest kids, twins Quentin and Brian, and Rylan (I named her before Lydia was born lol) behind him.
"Hey guys, fancy seeing you here," Brooke joked. The Scotts were always here. It figures that the basketball was also theirs.
Haley ran over and sat next to Brooke.
"So Nolan's off to prom tonight, right?"
"Oh yeah they left about an hour ago."
"So how you holding up?"
Brooke laughed. "I'm fine."
"Okay. Well I was a wrech when Jamie went off to prom. I was just so nervous about the night in general. Things can get so dangerous on these nights."
"Well you're Tutor Mom. I'm trying to stay positive and I know Nolan and Reid will be as safe as possible. They're good kids."
"Yeah so was Jamie. I was just nervous about the other idiot kids at their school."
Brooke laughed, she actually thought the same thing.
Just then Sienna and Rylan ran over to them.
"Momma? Can Sienna sleep over?" Rylan asked Haley.
"I don't think so, baby. We've got to get in the car early tomorrow to go up to Jamie's baseball game."
"Oh okay. Is Kelsey gunna be there?" Rylan really liked her brother's long time girlfriend. She was really nice to Jamie's baby sister.
"I'm sure she is, honey."
"How's Jamie been doing?" Brooke asked as she played with Sienna's hair.
"He's good. He said he has some big news to tell us."
"What news?" Brooke raised her eyebrow.
"Uhh... I think news about getting e-n-g-a-g-e-d," Haley spelled quickly.
Brooke's eyes widened. "Wow. That's unbelievable. It was just yesterday I was sneaking him two scoops of ice cream when you had told him no already."
Haley tilted her head and laughed.
"You don't do that for me, Mommy," Sienna noticed.
"Well that's because I was just the cool Aunt Brooke back then and I didn't know how to be a Mom yet."
Sienna frowned.
"What's in-gagged mean, Momma?" Rylan asked, butchering the word Haley had spelled.
"Ugh.."
"Don't worry about it, sweetie. It's what adults do sometimes." Brooke helped.
Rylan shrugged her little shoulders since she didn't understand, and she and Sienna scurried off their Mom's laps and went to run around the court.
"Thanks for that." Haley sighed.
"Any time."
'
Across the pavement, Nathan and Julian were watching Jordan and the five boys, Tristan, Jeremy, Bentley, Quentin, and Brian, shoot hoops 3v3.
"Hey so how's everything with your recovery going?" Nathan asked.
"Good. I'm off all my restrictions as of today."
"Oh wow. Then why are you here and not at home in bed with your wife?"
Julian laughed. "I'm actually a little worried about that. Of course I want to, but I'm not sure if it's gunna... work."
"But they removed your prostate and that was it, right? It shouldn't mess things up for you."
"Yeah but they said every guy reacts differently. I'm just hoping nothing changes because being with Brooke before was... amazing."
Nathan stifled a chuckle. "I'm sure nothing will change. Don't worry about it," he forced out through a laugh.
Julian shook his head. "Oh don't go there, man." Julian had learned a long time ago about Nathan's high school sex tape with his wife and he didn't like it at all. He guess that Nathan also had a little experience of how great Brooke was in bed.
Nathan changed the subject when his son Quentin shot the basketball. "A little more followthrough, Q."
"Okay."
After that shot, Jeremy grabbed the ball and shot for himself. It swished right throught the net.
"Hey Julian, you sure that kid's yours? He'd be great on a little league basketball team."
Julian pushed Nathan's arm as the boys laughed at him.
;
By the time Reid and Nolan made their rounds to all the different houses and by the time Reid found a parking spot at the country club, prom was in full swing. Nolan actually thought it was cool that they were 'fashionably late' and that everyone else was there already. Reid's face hurt from all the smiling but he took countless pictures with and for Nolan. Whatever she wanted. It was his prom and all, but he wanted her to have fun too, especially since she didn't hang out with many people in his grade. Yet he would surely do it all again next year with her and her friends. Well, hopefully.
After they ate, it took a few songs before Nolan finally convinced Reid to go out on the dance floor with her. They danced for awhile, they laughed at other people who were dancing insanely and who were obviously drunk, they saw girls cry and storm off when their dates were looking at other girls, they grinded like any couple would, they kissed. In short, they were really able to enjoy and experience prom.
After a handful of songs, the DJ made an announcement. "Okay everybody I'm gunna slow things down a bit for just a few songs. We gotta have some nice slow dances for the happy couples out there. So grab your date and sway along to this one..."
After only a second, the song Boston by Augustana resounded through the speakers in the function hall.
In the light of the sun, is there anyone? Oh it has begun...
Oh dear you look so lost, eyes are red and tears are shed,
This world you must've crossed... she said...
You don't know me, you don't even care, oh yeah,
She said
You don't know me, and you don't wear my chains... oh yeah,
Essential yet appealed, carry all your thoughts across
An open field,
When flowers gaze at you... they're not the only ones who cry
When they see you
She said...
Reid and Nolan's body faced one another as they danced slowly and they both thought immediately of Reid's college plans. They were back together of course, but their future was still uncertain after this coming summer. They let the song play out for a while before Reid said anything.
You don't know me, you don't even care, oh yeah,
She said
You don't know me, and you don't wear my chains... oh yeah,
She said I think I'll go to Boston...
I think I'll start a new life,
I think I'll start it over, where no one knows my name,
I'll get out of California, I'm tired of the weather,
I think I'll get a lover and fly him out to Spain...
Oh yeah
"I heard this song on the radio today and I didn't know if maybe it was a sign or something, about schools I mean."
Nolan looked down as she danced against his chest, thinking she knew what was coming next.
"You're going to Boston, aren't you?" Nolan asked quietly.
and I think I'll go to Boston,
I think that I'm just tired
I think I need a new town, to leave this all behind...
I think I need a sunrise, I'm tired of the sunset,
I hear it's nice in the Summer, some snow would be nice... oh yeah,
"No actually" Nolan's hopes picked up again when he said no. "I realized snow wouldn't be that nice to me."
Nolan laughed nervously, thinking it was just a joke. So Reid continued.
You don't know me, you don't even care, oh yeah...
Where no one knows my name...
Where no one knows my name...
"But seriously, the real reason is because I'm not like that kid in the song. I don't want to be in a place where no one knows my name or who I am. Especially if you can't be there beside me."
"Really? You're serious?"
"Really. I talked to UNC this morning. I'm going to play soccer for the Wilmington Seahawks," Reid smiled.
"Oh Reid!"
"I get to play the sport I love and I get to stay near the girl I love..."
"I'm so happy for you!" Nolan jumped up on her tip toes immediately to kiss him in the middle of the dance floor. Wilmington wasn't far away at all, and she would get to see Reid as much as she could. Plus maybe she would go to UNC Wilmington next year, who knows? But one thing's for sure, she was definately applying there now.
"For us." Reid whispered to her.
Boston...
No one knows my name.
;
When the sun was down, Brooke, Julian and the kids made their way from the Rivercourt back home. Although it was dark, there were plenty of streetlights to light their way home. Julian led the pack as he carried Sienna 'piggy back' style. He led her little bike along with his hand and when he looked up, Sienna was sleeping with her head slumped on the back of his shoulder.
Behind Julian, Bentley and Jeremy rode side by side on their bikes. They were tired too, so they didn't feel the need to pedal fast. They just pushed themselves slowly behind Julian.
And bringing up the rear was Brooke with an arm around Tristan and Jordan on each side of her. They pushed their bikes along as well.
"Do you think Nolan's having fun at prom?" Jordan asked.
"I'm sure she is."
"Will we not see Reid anymore when he goes to college?" Tristan frowned.
"Uh. I don't know really. If he stays around here, I'm sure we can go watch his soccer games if you want."
"That'd be cool."
Tristan laid his head against Brooke a little more and stifled a yawn.
"You tired, buddy?"
"No." Tristan tried to shake it off.
"Well I am. I slaved all day helping Nolan," Jordan stated, although both she and Brooke knew she loved every minute of it. Jordan couldn't wait until it was her turn to go to a formal dance with a fancy dress that her Mom would make.
"I know! You're such a good kid. And I'm sure she appreciated it," Brooke praised her.
Jordan nodded.
When the group got back to the house, they put all the bikes in the garage and filed into the house. Brooke helped Julian get Sienna down off his back without waking her and Brooke carried her to her room. As the three boys walked by her, she told them to get into their PJs.
Brooke set Sienna down on her bed and got a fresh pair of PJs out of her drawers.
Sienna rubbed her eyes and sat up.
"Let's get you out of your play clothes, okay princess? Then it's bedtime."
Sienna nodded and let Brooke undress and redress her. When Brooke was done, Sienna's little arms wrapped around her neck.
"Mommy. Will I always be your little princess?"
Brooke rubbed Sienna's small back and smiled.
"Always."
Sienna liked that answer and laid down in her bed. Brooke fixed the covers and went in to kiss her.
"Goodnight baby. I love you."
"Can you stay, Mommy?"
Brooke shook her head.
"You'll be okay on your own. Even though your my princess, I know you're a big girl too."
Sienna smiled and nodded. Brooke went to the door and shut off the light.
At the last second, she heard Sienna yell to Brooke, "I love you, too," causing her Mom to smile.
Brooke went into the boys room and thankfully Julian had gotten all three boys changed and ready for bed. But still, the boys had found their second wind and were attaching Julian. They had jumped on top of him and wrestled him down to the ground so he was on all fours.
"Mom help us!" Jeremy yelled.
"No, no. It's time to leave Dad alone." She feared for his health after surgery, even if a lot of time had passed since then.
Julian staggered to get up and grabbed Bentley, throwing him onto his bed playfully. Jeremy saw what his Dad did and ran to his bottom bunk to escape. Tristan laughed and climbed up the stairs to his top bunk.
"Hey! Doesn't Mom get a kiss?"
Tristan rolled his eyes, but still leaned down and over far enough so he could kiss Brooke's cheek.
"I love ya, big guy."
"I love you too."
Brooke and Julian tucked Jeremy and Bentley in and said their 'I love you's' before shutting out the lights.
"Goodnight boys." Brooke said.
"And don't think we can't hear you talking when you should be sleeping."
The boys sighed and laughed.
"Aww man!" Bentley shouted.
"Goodnight!"
Brooke and Julian closed the boys' door and tried to find Jordan.
"She wasn't in her room when you were with Sienna?" Julian asked.
"No, I don't know where she went."
Brulian quickly searched the house looking for Jordan and soon found her in Nolan's room. She was sitting on the extra bed that used to be hers but now was a guest bed for Nolan's friends.
"What are you doing in here?" Julian asked. Jordan looked up.
"I think I wanna move back in here with Nolan."
"Why's that?" Brooke sat down beside her.
"I mean... we only have one more year before she goes to college. I'd kinda like to get as much time together as we can."
"Well that's really sweet. You're gunna miss her aren't you?"
"Yeah.." Jordan admitted. "I just want to make the most of this year."
Brooke knew Jordan would take it hardest when Nolan eventually moved into a dorm somewhere next year. It would affect all of them, especially Brooke and Julian too, but Jordan and Nolan have always been super close sisters regardless of any fights they have.
"Well, I'm sure Nolan wouldn't mind." Brooke replied.
"Plus then I can spy on her and her friends and I'll have my own room finally once she moves out."
Julian laughed. "She's definately out kid, isn't she?"
Brooke nudged Jordan's arm. "Oh yeah. It was meant to be."
Brooke kissed Jordan.
"Goodnight sweetheart" she spoke as she stood and walked to the door.
"Sleep tight, Jord," Julian said.
"I love you guys," Jordan smiled and laid down.
"We love you too." Brooke and Julian said in unison before they closed the door.
;
Ten minutes later, Brooke walked out of the master bathroom and smiled at the scene. Julian was lying on his back on their bed in just his boxers with his his eyes closed.
"I thought tonight was a special night?"
Julian opened his eyes and sat up. "It is... you just take so long in there," he joked.
Brooke gasped, pretending to be offended. "Watch it mister."
Brooke plopped down on the bed beside her husband on her stomach.
Julian took a deep breath.
"I don't want you to be disappointed tonight...don't set your expectations too high."
"What?" Brooke laughed slightly but was confused when she saw how serious Julian's facial expression was. "Why would I be disappointed?"
"Because I don't know if things will work the way they used to... with sex."
"Julian..." Brooke sat up. "You know what the most important thing is to me?"
"What?"
"That you and the kids are healthy and happy. But mostly healthy... That's all that matters to me. And if we have to maybe tweak or change things in bed for that to be true, then who cares?"
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. Plus it's practically like we get a fresh start. Like we're two teenagers finding our way. We'll need lots of practice."
Brooke licked her lips as her dimples emerged.
"That could work for me," Julian raised his eyebrows and leaned in to kiss his wife. In one fell swoop, he turned their conjoined bodies so he was on top of her. She let out a little squeal before they kissed again. Then Brooke used her hands to push his chest and separate them just enough so she could look into his eyes.
"You could never disappoint me."
Julian grinned his signature grin before making love to his wife. Successfully, I might add.
;
After prom let out, Reid drove Nolan and four other friends to Grant's beach house on the coast. They laughed, sang to the music really loud, and screamed to people still walking or driving on the streets at midnight. They piled out of the car and met the other cars that had followed them when they got to the beach house. Nolan grabbed Reid's hand as they neared the entrance.
"Let's have some fun, shall we?" Nolan said. "We only live once, right?"
Reid lifted his eyebrows. "That's what I've heard."
He smiled before picking her up and carrying her inside.
Of course, it was prom night, so there were beers and shots to be had on this fine night. Reid's friends and their dates got pretty drunk, and a few hooked up in respective beds or on the floor or whatever, but no one got in any trouble, no one drove, and no one died. And to top it all off, they were even all conked out by five in the morning, except for Reid and Nolan. They left the house and walked the small path to the beach where they sat down in the soft sand. Their legs intertwined as they sat face to face and Reid leaned into her. They didn't want to have sex on the beach, since it was pretty cold and awkwardly sandy, but that doesn't men they could enjoy the moment and be together in a more PG13 way. Reid brushed his hands on his shorts and lifted them up to cup Nolan's face. They kissed gently and continued to make out for at least a half hour. Why not? They had the beach to themselves. They ended up lying on the sand and holding hands as they kissed. After a while, Nolan sat up. Reid followed her lead.
"Since when does the sun start to come up this early?" Nolan asked.
"I don't know. I guess we're just never up to see it."
Nolan nodded and looked out at the horizon, which was lightening up. Then Reid laid down again so his back hit the sand. Nolan did the same and she leaned into him.
"I can't believe you're graduating next week. And I'm gunna be stuck in school for another two weeks! Nevermind a whole other year."
"Oh you'll be fine. Plus you're gunna have so much fun next year. After the hell that junior year puts you through, senior year is the best" Reid assured her. (ITS SO TRUE!)
"I can't wait to see you all spiffy in your cap and gown."
"I do look good in hats, don't I?"
Nolan hit his chest playfully as they laughed.
"And in royal blue," she added, picturing his graduation attire.
The couple sat up a bit and held themselves up by their forearms as they stared out at the horizon.
"At this moment everything just seems so perfect" Nolan noticed.
"I know," Reid agreed. "I love being here with you." His hand moved over to grab hers before continuing. "I just wish it didn't have to ever end. But at least we have the whole summer, and you can visit me at school and I'll come home some weekends. We'll make it work."
"Reid?"
"Yeah?" He looked at her again.
"I think I'm gunna love you forever." She nodded. "And whatever happens down the road, I just want you to know that that's true."
"I believe you," He smiled. "And I feel it too."
Nolan leaned over to kiss him softly once more.
If this was as good as it ever got for them, then it was pretty damn great.
;
Julian had no trouble sleeping after a great night before like the one he just experienced. He was no longer nervous about how the cancer and prostate removal and surgery would affect the rest of his life. He wouldn't let it affect him anymore. That ship had sailed and he wouldn't let it return.
When he woke up on his own, he felt refreshed, yet it was still only seven thirty A.M. The sun streamed lightly into their window, signifying the beautiful weekend day ahead. Julian turned on his back and tilted his head toward Brooke to find her eyes already open as well. She had been watching him sleep.
"What are you doing, awake?" he asked.
Brooke smiled. "I don't know. I just woke up."
"Me too."
Brooke turned her body to face him.
"Last night was great."
"Not amazing?" he wondered.
"It was amazing," Brooke assured him, making sure to emphasize the word.
Julian nodded happily. He opened his arm up for her to scooch closer to him and she put her head on his chest.
"I wish all mornings could be like this," Brooke said.
"Yeah. But no matter what, I'm just so glad I get to spend every single one of them with you," Julian stated genuinely.
Brooke smiled up and him and leaned up to kiss his cheek.
"Have I told you I love you yet today?" she played.
"I don't believe you have."
"Well I want you to always know that I love you every single second of every single day, and that still doesn't begin to describe it."
"The same goes for me, too, wife."
They said it even though they didn't have to. They both just knew. Brooke and Julian had that connection with each other and their children that just transcended through each one of them. They all had a special relationship with each other family member and they all shared in this one great life together.
"I love you, Brooke Davis Baker."
"And I love you, Julian Baker."
And what a life is was.
.
THE END!
Baker Life signing off.
Thanks to all readers, but especially reviewers!
Thanks for the love.
~Haley :)
