Chapter 6: Living Life

Peyton and Catherine left the hospital two days later in top condition, and it had been a month since Catherine had been born. She was a good baby, and Peyton was enjoying motherhood, so she said.

Brooke was now 4 1/2 months pregnant, and her doctor's appointment was soon. She was going to find out the gender of the baby, and she was totally excited- she obviously was hoping for a girl. She had thought of names, but none had really struck her.

Haley and Nathan were leading normal lives, watching their son grow day by day, and they were very happy.

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"Brooke…appointment's in 30 minutes, shouldn't we get going?" Lucas asked.

"Relax, baby, you're so tense…just chill, I'm finishing some papers up"

"Ok, I'm just anxious to get there on time"

"I know…"

Finally, Brooke finished, to Lucas's immense relief, and they got into their car and drove to the doctor's office. Brooke had butterflies in her stomach, eager to find out if she was going to be blessed with a baby boy or girl.

They signed in and then sat down on the chairs in the waiting lounge.

"Broody, I'm bored…" Brooke whined.

"Cheery…you're nervous, not bored…chill"

"I'm chilling…and chilly. It's like a freaking refrigerator in here!"

"I know, I know…doctors office's are always freezing"

"Mine isn't"

"Well, you're special like that" Lucas said, kissing her and watching her fill out the required paperwork.

"Broody, what's my social security number?"

"Uh, you should know that…I have absolutely no idea"

"Where's your wallet?"

"In my back pocket"

"Ooh, I'll get it!" Brooke said enthusiastically, but Lucas laughed and got it out before Brooke could get it.

"Uh…" Lucas repeated the social security number to her.

"Brooke Scott?"

"Yah?"

"Follow me" the nurse instructed and led Brooke down a hallway into a white room, where a doctor was waiting for her.

"Ah, Mrs. Scott… and Mr. Scott, I presume?" the doctor looked at Lucas over her glasses and told Brooke to lie down on the bed and let the nurse do everything.

15 minutes later, the doctor was ready to tell Brooke the gender of the baby. She moved the ultrasound over Brooke's stomach, and a fuzzy image appeared on the screen.

"Mrs. Scott, looks like you have a healthy baby girl on the way" the doctor announced, smiling and Brooke and Lucas and removing the ultrasound thing.

"I want to see you in a month for a checkup. Right now, your baby is growing fine, acting fine, eating fine, in excellent health. You, also, are doing fine…gaining weight as expected, et cetera, and both of you are in fine condition…so I will see you next month" the doctor smiled and ushered Brooke and Lucas out of the room. In the car, they discussed everything that had gone on.

"Oh my God- a girl! I'm so excited!" Brooke shrieked.

"I know, I'm excited too…she'll be the best in the WNBA"

"No, she'll be part time hooker like me" Brooke giggled at Lucas's alarmed face.

"Watch her be good at basketball"

"Watch her be better at doing…what I do" Brooke sputtered

"You're so cute Cheery"

"I know"

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"Catherine, baby, why are you fussing?" Peyton asked worriedly, glancing at Catherine in the rearview mirror. She was twisted and whining, and her face was red.

"Baby, its ok…mommy's here, don't cry baby…Catherine, what's the matter?" Peyton felt her panic level rise. She knew she shouldn't have taken one month old Catherine out by herself.

"Baby, mommy will pick you up soon, I promise…baby, don't cry…its ok, it's ok…5 little ducks went out one day, over the hill and out to play…" Peyton sang Catherine's favorite lullaby softly to her as she turned into Wal-Mart. Peyton stopped the car in the parking space, and got out to get Catherine. When she picked her up, Catherine was burning up, and now she was full on crying. Red faced, hot, and screaming was the not the combination Peyton needed. Her hormones were still out of control, so Peyton broke down and started crying, right along with her baby. All thoughts of grocery fled her mind as Peyton got back in the car and buckled Catherine in tightly, and drove at top speed home. When she got home, Peyton found the house empty. There was a note saying Jenny and I went to the park…be back in 2 hours…love you! –Jake. Peyton understood that Jake had a responsibility to his other child, but she needed him NOW. Catherine was seriously sick! Peyton quickly dialed her pediatrician's number, but the nurse put her on hold and Peyton hung up in anger.

Peyton, though her panic level was subsiding, was still shaky. Sitting down in Catherine's favorite rocking chair, Peyton gathered the baby in her arms, and positioned her to rock her to sleep. Catherine was now calm and not screaming, though she was whining a little. She wasn't red anymore, and her eyes were slowly closing from sleep. The poor little girl had cried herself to sleep. Peyton sighed and continued rocking Catherine. That had been one hell of a scare. As Peyton felt herself fall asleep, Catherine stirred and woke up. The little girl starting crying and screaming again and she was starting to get hot. Peyton dialed Jake's cell number, but she heard the phone ring inside the house. Now, Catherine was out of control shrieking, and Peyton couldn't figure out what on earth was wrong and where she was hurting. I need to call someone; I need help before I get frustrated. Brooke and Haley were the first to come to mind, and Peyton dialed the first number that her fingers would type.

"Hello?" she heard Lucas's voice.

"Hi, this is Peyton, can I please talk to Brooke?" normally Lucas would have teased her but he heard the panic in her voice.

"Peyton, is everything alright?"

"Catherine's sick and she's screaming and crying and Jake left his cell phone and the doctor isn't responding and I'm so scared and-" Peyton broke off in sobs, because Catherine was still screaming and crying and she was now kicking her legs and twisting her body.

"Peyton, relax, ok? We'll be right there…Brooke, grab your purse, we're going. Catherine's sick, no one's home, and Peyton's freaking out…come on!" Brooke grabbed her purse and ran to the car. Lucas pressed on the pedal, and they were at Peyton's house in record time.

"Peyton! Oh my word, Catherine…" Lucas took Catherine gently from Peyton and rocked the little girl, carrying her out to the pool house and sitting on the swing. She was still crying, but not as loudly as before.

"Peyton…" Brooke said, hugging her best friend tightly and wiping her tears. "Its ok, she'll be fine…you scared me, I thought Catherine was like dying"

"I'm so worried, I cant do anything to help her…"

"Its ok, Lucas has her now, you need a break. Here, I'll get you some water"

"Thanks so much for coming, Brooke"

"Don't even mention it" Brooke made Peyton drink 2 glasses of water and then made her lie down on the couch.

"Now me and Lucas have got Catherine, ok? You need to sleep, and I want you to sleep as much as you want"

Peyton nodded sleepily and rolled over and fell asleep. Brooke stepped outside to the pool house and sat down on the swing by Lucas, who was now holding a sleeping, cooler Catherine and rocking her gently back and forth.

"Well, that was interesting" Lucas commented, handing Brooke the baby and shifting his position.

"I know, I don't know what happened and why Catherine was so upset, but she just was…and Peyton's stressed out, Nikki called Jake yesterday, and Catherine's sick and oh, my poor girl…I told her to sleep soundly, we have Catherine"

"Definitely…I don't know what happened to Catherine…it was random"

"She's fine now, just a little hot. Peyton told me to use this cloth to cool her forehead down" Brooke wiped the damp cloth over Catherine's forehead and gently rocked Catherine. She stirred and woke up again, but was content this time.

"Hi bunny, you're awake, aren't you baby?" Brooke put the pacifier in the baby's mouth and Catherine cooed and rolled over in Brooke's lap.

"She's so cute"

"I know…she's better now…good girl, you scared the crap out of your mommy when you cried like that" Brooke changed Catherine's diaper and clothes and laid her down in her carrier to play with the mobile twinkling on the handle. She played with the mobile for some time, while Brooke and Lucas discussed stuff…like the baby's name.

"So I don't know what to name her, Lucas…I kinda have to look at the baby to name her, you know? But do you have any suggestions?"

"Well, Caitlin has always been a favorite of mine"

"I like Caitlin, but I don't like it as a first name, for some reason…I know I'm random"

"Hmm…I dunno then. I guess you just have to wait for the perfect name to strike you"

"Yah, I guess. Aw, look Broody! Catherine's asleep again…that means I'm gonna go to sleep" Brooke laid her head down on Lucas's shoulder and Lucas pushed the ground with his foot gently to move the swing until both him and Brooke had fallen asleep.

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"Anthony, look over here at daddy" Nathan was filming Anthony and Haley, and Haley was trying to get Anthony to walk…even though he was only 9 months.

"Here baby, take a step…take a step" Haley instructed, laughing at Anthony's feeble attempts to walk.

"Anthony, look at daddy"

"Dada"

"Yah, Dada…omg he said Dada!"

"Yah!"

"Mama"

"Yah, where's mama?"

"Dada"

"Yah…Anthony, how does mommy call Brookie?" Anthony put his hand on his ear and Haley giggled and kissed Anthony. Nathan smiled and continued filming.

"Anthony, find Donald duck, baby" Nathan said. Anthony reached down and picked up Donald Duck and held it up and giggled. Haley laughed and picked him up and swung him around. Anthony giggled and laughed. Nathan shut off the video camera and came over to Haley and Anthony. The three of them played on the couch for a little while, laughing and having a good time. Eventually, Anthony got cranky and Haley put him to bed.

"I can't believe he talks now" Haley said, laying her head down on Nathan's shoulder.

"Hales, he doesn't talk…he babbles" Nathan laughed and hugged Haley. She giggled and snuggled up to Nathan, and in 5 minutes, her breathing was even. Nathan stroked her hair till he fell asleep.

Ok guys sorry this chapter took so long and it sucks so bad- I'm having serious writer's block here. Umm, I would like name suggestions for Brooke's baby. I have a pretty good idea of what its going to be, it would be nice to have other names incase I end up not liking the name I currently have chosen lol…um review, please, I love reviews! Everyone who's reviewed so far has motivated me to continue, so thanks SO much! And obviously if you have any ideas, suggestions, or comments…I'm totally open to them :0)