Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

"Not already," Brooke groaned as she turned off her alarm and groggily rolled out of bed. She padded into the bathroom and emerged 45 minutes later fresh and ready to take on the day.

Brooke walked into the kitchen and smiled as her front door opened and Julian appeared with 3 cups and a bag from Coffee Cafe. "Good morning, beautiful," Julian said as he kissed Brooke and held out her coffee to her. He lifted up the bag, "One blueberry muffin for you and one chocolate muffin for Sam." Brooke melted, "Julian Baker you are TOO good to me." "Only the best for you Brooke Davis," he replied. "Mmmm," Brooke cooed as she set her coffee down and melted into Julian's arms. "I wish we could do this all day." "Ok...don't make plans on Saturday," Julian said as he smirked at Brooke. "Tempting'" Brooke teased back. "And now...it's 7:00 time to wake the beast!"

Brooke gently opened Sam's bedroom door and walked over to the side of her bed. "Sam, honey, it's time to get up," she said softly as she switched on the lamp.

Sam stirred and eventually sat up, staring blankly into the abyss. "I hate mornings!" she grumbled. "My sweet little ball of sunshine," Brooke chuckled as she ruffled Sam's bedhead. "Julian is here and he brought you coffee and a chocolate muffin. Come on." "Well that makes it a little bit better," Sam responded flatly. Brooke smiled as she followed Sam out of the bedroom.

"Good morning, Samson!" Julian belted out cheerfully. "My ears," Sam quipped while covering them with her hands. "How are you like this in the morning?" Julian shrugged as he sat Sam's breakfast down in front of her. Brooke and Julian laughed as the trio sat together at the table.

An hour later Brooke and Sam were on the way to Tree Hill High. "It's Friday!" Brooke cheered as they pulled into the drop off line. "Yeah, except it's not that exciting for me. I'm grounded, remember?" "Mmmmm, well, do your time honorably and next Friday will be more exciting, huh?" "I suppose so," Sam replied. "Hey remember, you're going to ride home with Aunt Haley after school today. I'll pick you up at her house after I close the store." "Ok," Sam said as she opened the door to head into school. "Have a good day, Sam. I love you." "Ok. I love you too," Sam mumbled as she headed off to class.

Just after 6:30 that evening, Brooke let herself into the Scott home and was greeted by a very excited Jamie Scott. "Aunt Brooke!" squealed Jamie as he ran into Brooke's arms. Brooke grabbed Jamie, twirled him around, and planted a kiss on his cheek before sitting down on the couch with him in her lap. "How's my favorite man in the whole wide world?" "I'm awesome, Aunt Brooke! Sam taught me how to draw Catboy! Do you wanna see?" Brooke smiled warmly at Sam as she walked around the corner. "I absolutely do little man!" "Ok!" cheered Jamie, "Let me go get some paper...and my favorite marker!" Jamie ran off eagerly as Sam came and sat down by Brooke.

"Hi, my girl!" Brooke greeted her, "how was your day?" Sam responded, "It was ok...you know, just a normal school day." "Mmmmm," came Brooke's response just as Jamie rounded back around the corner with his paper and marker in hand. Hailey joined them and they all watched with exaggerated excitement as Jamie followed the steps to draw Catboy while Sam coached him through it. When he was finished, he held up his drawing, the biggest grin splayed across his face. In Jamie's 5 year old handwriting at the bottom of the picture it read, "To Ant Bruk and Sam frum James Lucas Scott, age 5." Jamie held out the drawing to Brooke and she lavished praise upon her precious godson and told him of the perfect place it would occupy on her refrigerator.

"Brooke, Sam also helped me cook dinner. We are hoping that you can both stay to eat with us," said Hailey. "Wow...Sam, that's awesome! What did you help with?" Sam smiled a small proud smile toward Brooke and responded, "we made chicken stew and I boiled and cut the chicken while Aunt Hailey worked on the vegetables. She taught me how to do it." Brooke patted Sam's leg as she said "I can't wait to try it!"

The Scott family, along with Brooke and Sam enjoyed dinner together followed by ice cream with all the toppings. After dinner, Brooke helped Hailey clean up while Jamie dragged Sam upstairs to his room to work on more drawings.

"Brooke, I know things with Sam haven't been easy, but I want you to know that as her teacher and as a family friend, I see SUCH an improvement in her. You are doing a really great job with her, Brooke and I am very PROUD...of you both!" Tears sprang to Brooke's eyes, "Thank you, Hailes, truly. It's been both the hardest and the best thing I have ever done. I love that girl so much I could burst...and Julian is amazing with her. He was made to be a father, Hailey. He is incredible." Hailey wrapped Brooke in a huge hug as both of their hearts warmed and thankfulness coursed through them both.

Brooke walked up the stairs and into Jamie's room. She smiled as she saw Sam helping Jamie build an epic Lego fort. "Hey you two, that's pretty cool!" Jamie grinned and blurted, "yeah, it's the COOLEST!" Brooke's heart melted straight to a puddle as she said, "well, Buddy, I'm afraid it's time for Sam and I to go home." Jamie's grin fell a little bit as he asked, "can I come sleep at your house tonight?" Brooke replied, "I tell you what kiddo, Sam and I have some things to do tonight, but how about tomorrow night? Does that sound good to you?" "YES! Jamie yelled as he bounded down the stairs and screamed, "MOM, DAD, I'M SLEEPING AT AUNT BROOKE'S HOUSE TOMORROW NIGHT!"

Hailey caught Jamie at the bottom step. "Sounds great, Buddy. Maybe we can make our favorite cookies tomorrow so you can take them with you and share them with Sam and Aunt Brooke." "YES! shouted Jamie."

After everyone said their goodbyes and goodnights, Brooke and Sam were headed home. Brooke turned to Sam with the warmest smile and said, "Sam, I am so PROUD of you. The way you helped Hailey with dinner and showed Jamie how to draw and build shows a lot of kindness. It shows that you truly put others before yourself today and THAT shows just how WONDERFUL you are, Sam." Sam's heart swelled. She had never had anyone tell her that they were proud of her before. For the first time in her life, Sam actually felt good. She felt happy. She felt safe. She felt peaceful. She felt loved.

"Thanks, Mom," Sam replied with a smile. Brooke's heart soared as well. Any time Sam used the word, "Mom," in reference to her, Brooke felt as though she would fall apart right on the spot.

Once they got home, Brooke said, "why don't you go get into some comfy clothes and we can sit together on the couch to chat about a few things." Sam looked a little nervous and responded, "um, ok." Brooke softly chuckled, "Sam, you're not in trouble sweetheart. I just want us to get on the same page about some things, that's all! We're going to work TOGETHER on this, ok?" "Ok," Sam responded with more ease this time.

Brooke went to change into a pair of sweats and put last nights left over cookies on a plate. She made herself and Sam each a mug of hot tea and sat it on the coffee table. Brooke switched on the TV to catch up on the news while she waited on Sam.