I love writing this story! It's so much fun with all the twists and turns I can add! One thing I have to say. I did not fully pick out the name Braden Michael by myself, Braden I did but some other story (Sorry forget which) used Braden Michael and I liked it so much that I decided to use it too. Didn't want to take any credit for that one. I also think that Josephine Marie was Joey's name in Dawson's Creek, though I am not 100% sure.
Would you like the baby to be a boy or a girl? It's you're choice.
CAcherrycola: Sorry can't kill 'em off. I guess I'm just too nice, but some might not be around much longer. I will definitely concentrate more on Brucas. Thanks for reviewing!
Tardychick06: Thanks as always for reviewing! You keep me motivated with all your happy comments (this goes to everyone else too)
Marissa-Xtreme Piper Fan: I love the idea of Peyton and Jake together so I had to get them together fast. Glad you liked it!
Blukay2008: Glad you liked the chapter too! Keep reviewing!
RockerChick45: Sorry the last chapter was a little shorter. This one is longer so...yeah! Hopefully some of the writers will read these and get inspired!
Keep reviewing and enjoying! Also look for my new OTH fics coming out titled Think About it and When Tomorrow Starts Without Me coming in the next few days.
"Thanks for driving me over Jake," Peyton said getting out with a kiss.
"No problem," Jake looked over at Madison's house, "It doesn't look like anyone's home."
"Madison likes the dark." Peyton told him, filling him in with the minor details of his new friend.
"I only like the dark when I know you're there too." Jake joked nibbling her ear.
"I'll call you later." Peyton said getting out of the car, "Bye."
"I'm going to wait until I know she's home." Jake felt that something was wrong, but didn't feel like worrying Peyton.
"Okay daddy." Peyton joked shutting the door.
She walked up the pathway to the front door and went to ring the doorbell. Before she was able to she saw a stack of letter addressed to Lucas, Brooke, Haley, Nathan, Jake, and herself. She didn't get what's going on. Why had she left notes? She bent down and picked up all the notes and ran back to Jake's car frantically.
"What's the matter?" Jake asked seeing the distress in her face.
"She's gone." Peyton knew she was gone before she even opened her letter, "She left notes for us though."
"Well aren't you going to open them?" Jake urged her.
"Open yours first." Peyton handed him the letter with Jake neatly scripted on the envelope.
"Dear Jake," Jake cleared his throat, "Good luck with Jenny and Peyton! You deserve them both. Love always, Madison"
"That was sweet." Peyton tried to put off opening her letter. She did not want to read her letter. She already knew what it said.
"Your turn," Jake was anxious to see what Peyton's said.
Peyton fumbled with the envelope before she was finally able to open it. She, unlike Jake, did not read it out loud. She knew her's would be more personal than Jake's and she didn't want him to hear anything that Madison didn't intend for him to hear. Peyton, I know I've just met you but we've had so many talks and they've helped me so much. Thank you for being there for me when I needed someone to talk to. I hope things get better for you too. 3 Madison
She felt the tears coming down her cheeks. How could she have not said goodbye. Peyton was not prepared for this, not yet. She still needed Madison to talk through all those hard days. There was no one that could take her place.
"You okay, Peyt?" Jake touched her shoulder bringing her back to reality.
"I didn't get to say goodbye." Peyton whispered. This reminded her of the day her mother died. She regretted not being able to tell her mother how much she loved her and needed her and worst of all she didn't get to say goodbye. She still needed Madison and thought of her as her sister. She couldn't make her stay or come back but she could have at least said goodbye.
"Peyton don't worry." Jake brushed a lose curl off her face, "She'll come back."
"How do you know?" Jake didn't know Madison at all. How could he know if she would come back or not?
"No one can stay away from you for long. You're magnetic." Jake tried to make her laugh but he failed miserably.
"I wanted to talk to her so bad though." Peyton had so much more she needed to tell Madison but now she had no one.
"You can talk to me." Jake flashed his adorable boyish grin.
"It's not the same." Peyton let the tears slide down her cheeks. Madison had taught her it was okay to cry so Peyton found herself crying more often, "You're not her."
"No, I'm not her," Jake thought for a minute, "I'm better."
"How do you figure?" Peyton had to laugh.
"Well I'm more attractive and irresistible and," Jake paused and kissed Peyton gently on the lips, "I can do that without freaking you out."
"You do have a point there." Peyton leaned in and kissed him again.
"So you want to talk to me?" Jake asked after they parted from a long series of kisses.
"I don't think I can; not yet, I mean." Peyton looked guilty, "But I promise you, in time I will."
"I'll be waiting." Jake started the car and drove Peyton home. He had one last meeting with his lawyers to sign the final custody documents and then Jenny was all his.
"Where's the bottle, Lucas?" Brooke yelled from the living room where she was trying to calm the hungry Jenny.
"I'm coming!" Lucas ran in with a bottle full of milk in hand.
"God, that took you forever." Brooke joked as she fed the now quiet infant, "Are you going to be like that with our baby?"
"Nope," Lucas smiled that famous Scott smile, "I'll be more frantic and jumpy than this."
"Oh, great," Brooke said sarcastically, "I have so much to look forward to."
"I'm going to be the best damn father their ever was." Lucas retorted sternly, meaning what he said.
"I know you are Lucas Scott." Brooke leaned in and kissed his lightly on the cheek.
"And you, Brooke Davis," Lucas tucked her hair behind her ear, "Are going to be the best damn mother."
"Of course I am." Brooke replied a-matter-of-factly.
They both watch as Jenny downed her bottle making soft gulping noises as she drank. After she was done she cooed in content before falling asleep. She lay so peacefully in Brooke's arms, which gently rocked her back and forth and back and forth. She looked like a little angel, sleeping softly, dreaming of something happy and pretty. Brooke carefully set her down in her crib and watched her tiny chest rise and fall in a steady rhythm. She stared for a few minutes before cuddling on the couch with Lucas.
"Imagine," Brooke whispered softly, "In five more months, we're going to have one of those."
"It's crazy." Lucas said in awe, "Can't we keep it in there for a few more years?"
"Do you really think I'm going to stay fat for a few more years?" Brooke exclaimed loudly, causing Jenny to stir a little before settling back into her dreamland.
"I was just kidding Brooke." Lucas laughed at her reaction.
"I can't be held accountable for my actions; it's the hormones." Brooke sunk deeper into Lucas' chest. Her head fit perfectly into his very toned and muscular chest that she loved touching all the time.
"You realize five months isn't really a long time." Lucas said after a long pause.
"Did you really have to remind me?" Brooke sat upright and stared at Lucas.
"We have so much we need to get and do." Lucas pulled his hands free and began counting the things they needed to do before the baby was born, "We need to find a place to live. We need all that equipment. Clothes, diapers, bottles..."
"Names..." Brooke wanted to name their child right there so she didn't have to call it baby anymore.
"We don't even know the sex." Lucas' mind was still on all the other things he had to do before the baby arrived.
"So we can choose two names, a boy and a girl, so that we at least know that we have one thing checked off our list of the many things we need to get and do." Brooke put her hands on her hips. She wanted to name her baby and she wanted to do it right now.
"We've talked about the names we like already, what more do you want?" Lucas didn't want to dwell on the small stuff.
"I want two definite names right now." Brooke gave him a look where there was no back away from.
"Fine what do you think?" Lucas finally gave in realizing he'd lose the battle either way.
"I want a Josephine." Brooke had loved that name since she was a little girl. She once had a cousin named Josephine but she died at birth and ever since it's been her favorite name.
"Josephine Scott." Lucas said trying the name out, "It does have a nice ring to it."
"I thought it was a mouthful." Brooke teased remembering the remark Lucas made the first time they talked about names.
"Nah, I like it now." Lucas smiled, repeating the name over and over in his mind.
"I'm glad." Brooke ran her fingers through her hair, pushing it out of her face, "I was thinking a lot about the name Braden. It's not really that common and I think that's why I like it so much."
"I've always loved that name." Lucas smiled, glad that Brooke liked the name he picked out.
"Braden Scott doesn't sound too bad either." Brooke shrugged trying to imitate Lucas' cool attitude about Josephine.
"So are we decided?" Lucas asked cautiously, "Josephine for a girl and Braden for a boy?"
"They'll need middle names too." Brooke smiled widely. She loved messing with Lucas.
"How about you pick the girls and I'll pick the boys." Lucas suggested seeing how they had each picked out their respective gender's name.
"I want to pick the boy's," Brooke whined, "You pick the girl's."
"Fine, have it your way." Lucas really didn't care which name he picked out, as long as it was a good strong name.
They sat in silence for a while, both deep in thought. Brooke began pairing Braden with many other boys' names to see which pairing sounded the best. Lucas however thought of how they would sound in his head, not wanting to disturb Brooke's train of thoughts.
"I got it!" Brooke finally exclaimed.
"Are you planning on sharing it with me?" Lucas asked waiting for her answer.
"Braden Michael Scott." Brooke said proudly rubbing her growing stomach.
"You want to hear mine?" Lucas asked.
"No I want to use my telepathic powers and read your mind." Brooke answered sarcastically.
"I didn't know you could read minds." Lucas joked, "Maybe you'll pass it on to the baby."
"Not funny Lucas," Brooke said getting annoyed, "Just tell me what it is."
"Josephine Marie Scott." Lucas finally told her.
"I love it!" Brooke rubbed her stomach again thinking about the unborn infant growing inside of her, "Hello Braden Michael or Josephine Marie Scott."
"Brooke, do you really think it can hear you?" Lucas laughed at the sight of Brooke Davis talking to her stomach.
"I read that talking to the fetus or even reading to them helps them develop better and makes them smarter." Brooke said knowingly. She was doing her homework.
"What else have you been reading about?" Lucas asked curiously. He didn't think Brooke read much except that time they made that deal where Brooke had to read a Brooke of his choice but then he was all hers for one night. That's ultimately how they met and got together and Lucas was glad it all happened.
"Well, music is supposed to help babies too..." Brooke began her long list of things that would help with the development of a child. They went on and on about this until Jake arrived home an hour later. They decided to take their heated debated on whether these things were true or not when Jake handed them an envelope with their names on it.
"What's this man?" Lucas looked puzzled at the envelope.
"Just open them; you'll find out." Jake walked over to Jenny's crib and watched her sleep.
Dear Brooke and Lucas, I'm sorry about trying to ruin what you had. What you have is truly special. Don't let anything or anyone come between you two again. Good luck with your baby and life together. Madison
Brooke and Lucas were confused. How can someone that had tried to spoil their live turn out to have a heart after all?
"What's this all about?" Lucas finally asked after a long awkward silence.
"She's gone." Jake explained and then attended to his screaming child.
She left without so much as a goodbye, only a letter that they would always remember.