It had been four months since Brooke told Nathan that she was pregnant. Today they were going to the doctor's office to find out the sex of the baby. Brooke was convinced that this baby was going to be a girl while Nathan believed that once again they were going to have a son. They were getting Jamie and Nate ready to go with them to the doctor's office. Brooke had thought about asking Haley to watch the twins but Nathan wanted them to go. It was a family thing and Nathan felt that the twins should be there too when they found out the sex of the baby. As corny as it sounded Brooke couldn't disagree with the idea.

"Are you ready Brooke?" Nathan asked as he walked into the nursery.

"I just need to get the boys in their car seats and grab their bag," Brooke replied.

"I'll get the boys in their seats. You just worry about their bag. I don't want you over doing it."

"I'm not. Nathan, I just wanna put the boys in their seats. I knew you weren't gonna let me carry either of them out to the car. Please just let me put them in their seats?"

Nathan sighed reluctantly and nodded his head yes. Brooke's response was to squeal and then she kissed Nathan quickly before turning around to lift Jamie and Nate out of their cribs and into their seats. Jamie's seat is green and white striped. Nate's seat is blue and white striped.

"All right boys, now that Mommy put you in your seats let's go find out if you're gonna have a little brother or sister," Nathan said as he lifted the two car seats off the floor. Jamie and Nate both made gurgling noises at Nathan. To which Brooke and Nathan both smiled at.

As the four Scotts were in the car, Brooke was silently looking out her window. Nathan reached over and grabbed her hand and squeezed. Brooke turned and looked at Nathan and gave him a half smile.

"What's wrong babe?" Nathan asked.

"I'm just not sure I'm ready for this," Brooke whispered.

"Ready for what?"

"Another baby. I don't know if I can do this. Jamie and Nate will just barely be a year old when this baby is born. Nathan, I'm scared."

"Brooke, listen to me. You can do this. I have complete faith in you. And what have I told you about never having to worry about being alone? You'll always have someone there to help you. Even when I can't be there to help, you'll have Hales. Baby, everything is gonna be ok. We're ready. You're ready. You're a wonderful mother to our children and you'll continue to be a wonderful mother to any and all children we have."

"Nathan, I can't help it. I know I'll have you and Hales and anyone else I ask to help me. But it doesn't scare me any less."

"What do you say after we have this baby we wait a couple years before we try for more?"

"Ok."

It wasn't long before they reached the doctor's office. Nathan shut off the engine and helped Brooke out of the truck and then got the twins out of the back. Brooke insisted on helping Nathan and he relented, allowing her to carry one of the twins in their seat while he carried the other twin and their bag.

Brooke and Nathan had just sat down in two of the hard plastic chairs in the waiting room when an older looking woman emerged from behind the closed doors and said, "Brooke Scott."

Grabbing a seat and their bag, Brooke and Nathan stood up and walked toward the door to be led into a room where Dr. Scott would join them in a little while.

"How are you feeling today Mrs. Scott?" the older woman asked sweetly.

"Much better now that the nausea has seemed to pass," Brooke replied with a genuine smile.

"How about you Mr. Scott?"

"Please, call me, Nathan. And as long as my wife and children are in good health then I have nothing to complain about," Nathan answered.

"Well here we are. Dr. Scott should be with you in a few moments."

Brooke and Nathan nodded as the woman turned to leave them in the room. Just as the door was closed Jamie stirred and let out a wail. Nathan got up from the chair he was sitting in to life Jamie out of his seat and walk him around the room, hoping that would settle the boy down. Nathan was still trying to calm Jamie down when Dr. Scott entered the room. A smile spread across her face when she saw that Nathan had been able to accompany Brooke and the twins to the appointment today. It had been a while since he had been able to with his tough schedule.

"Brooke, Nathan. Nice to see you. How are you doing?" she greeted them warmly.

"I'm doing great now. Nathan is too," Brooke said answering for both of them.

"And the twins? How are they?"

"Healthy as can be but right now Jamie seems to be a bit cranky."

"I bet he's just excited, today's a big day for you guys. Nathan I'm so glad you could be here today."

"Me too Dr. Scott. If there's one thing other than the birth of this baby I don't want to miss it's being here today," Nathan replied as Jamie finally quieted down.

"Let's get started shall we. Brooke can you lay back on the table for me while I get the ultrasound set up. Remember, the gel is cold."

"Aw man I thought you were working on fixing that for me," Brooke laughed.

"I tried but they all think I'm crazy."

"Men."

"Hey!" Nathan scoffed.

"Baby you know I'm kidding. I love you but you have no idea how cold this stuff is."

"I'm sorry sweetheart but there's not much I can do about that for you. Unless you wanna find a way to take the baby from your stomach and have them put it in me so I can go through it all for you."

Brooke and Mikayla burst out laughing at Nathan's response. It wasn't the first time Nathan offered something like this to Brooke and she was sure it wasn't gonna be the last so long as they stuck to their plan of having a big family.

"Babe that's sweet of you to offer but I can handle this," Brooke said as Dr. Scott squirted the cold gel on her stomach causing her to draw in a quick breath.

"Sorry I should have warned you," Dr. Scott laughed as she put the gel down.

"No it's fine."

"Ok, Mom and Dad. Look's like your little one wants to say hi."

"Nathan, look. That's our baby," Brooke said with a smile.

"I know. I love you," Nathan said as he leaned down to kiss his wife.

"Oh wait, hold a sec. No, it couldn't be," Dr. Scott said suddenly as she stared closer to the screen.

"What? What is it?" Brooke and Nathan both asked.

"How would you feel if I say it happened again?"

"What happened again?" Nathan asked as Brooke's jaw dropped in understanding.

"Are you serious? Twins again?" Brooke said.

"I believe I am."

"Oh boy."

"Not this time."

"Girls? They're both girls?"

"Yes. This time they're both girls."

"Ha! Now we're even."

Nathan just laughed at Brooke's reaction. Being even wasn't important to him. Having a healthy, happy and safe family was all he wanted.

"Did you hear that Jamie? You and Nate are gonna have two little sisters. Now you have to make sure that they don't get in trouble and watch out for them around boys. Especially when Daddy's not around. As the oldest Scott it's up to you to watch out for your brother and sisters. Mommy and I will always be counting on you to be there for them," Nathan said to his oldest son who just stared up at Nathan with a grin.

"How many copies of this two beauties would you like? Another 8?" Dr. Scott asked.

"Eight would be perfect," Brooke said with a smile.

"Great I'll get that done and you guys can be on your way."

"Thanks Mikayla," Nathan said genuinely.

"No problem."

"Twin girls. I can't believe it. This is going to be so great," Brooke gushed as soon as Mikayla had shut the door.

"I'm glad you feel that way baby. I wouldn't want you to feel like you can't handle this. I know how freaked out you were getting at the idea of being pregnant again already as it is. But we can do this. We will do this. No matter what it takes I'll be there to help you as often as I can. Maybe next season you and the kids can come on the road more," Nathan said.

"Maybe after a while but not right away. I don't know if all that travel would be good for them. It's a great idea though."

"All right, here we are. Eight copies of Scott twin set number two," Dr. Scott said as she walked back into the room and handed the pictures to Brooke.

"Thank you so much," Brooke said.

"You're welcome. Take this out to the check out and let them know I'll wanna see you again next month."

"You got it. See you next month."

"Bye Mikayla, hopefully I'll be able to join Brooke and the boys next month as well," Nathan said as he carried both the boys out as Brooke grabbed their bag with a tiny scowl on her face.

"That would be great Nathan. I look forward to seeing you again. Have a great day you guys. Be careful."

Brooke and Nathan nodded as they left to schedule the next appointment before they went back to their house for a few hours.

"Girls. Nathan we're having girls," Brooke whispered happily.

"I'm gonna go gray before I'm 40," Nathan laughed.

"Shut up, you will not."

"I will if those two are anything like their mommy."

"Hey! What does that mean?"

"Nothing I was playing. If they're anything like you it will be the greatest thing to happen to me since our wedding day."

"Stop it you mush ball."

"I can't help it. Brooke I love you and our sons and I'm gonna love our daughters just as much. I can feel it. This is right, all of this. You, me, Jamie, Nate and the girls. Nothing has ever felt so right to me before."

"I love you." Brooke leaned across the front seat and kissed Nathan's jaw.

"I love you too." Nathan turned and took Brooke's chin in his hand and leaned in for a soft slow kiss before the light turned green again and the car behind them honked to get their attention. Nathan laughed as they broke apart and he continued on toward their house.

Just as Nathan pulled into their driveway Brooke's cell phone went off. She grabbed it and smiled when she saw "Hales" flashing on the caller id.

"So what's the deal Tig?" Haley asked without even saying hello.

"Well hello to you too, Hales," Brooke laughed.

"I'm sorry. I tried to wait for you to call me but I couldn't help myself anymore. Now tell me, what's the verdict? Boy or girl?"

"Girls." Brooke waited for a few seconds to see if Haley would catch on.

"Wait, what? Brooke did you just say girls?"

"Yes I did Haley."

"You're having twins again? You are having twins right? It's not triplets or quadruplets or something is it?"

"No, no. I'm having twins again."

"Aw Brooke that's so great. How did Nathan take it?"

"He's excited and already told Jamie that it's up to him to protect his brother and sisters when they're older, especially with the boys. Hales you should have seen it, I thought my heart was gonna melt into a puddle of nothing."

"I'm so glad Brookie."

"Thanks Hales."

Haley was about to say something else when she heard a scream.

"Brooke I gotta go. One of the girls is screaming and Jake's not here."

"No problem Hales. Go take care of your kids. I'll see you later. Maybe Nathan and Jake can take the kids one night and you and I can hang out with Peyton."

"Sounds like a plan to me."

"All right cool. Love you."

"Love you too."

"Was that your Latin lover?" Nathan asked as he snuck up behind Brooke.

"Oh shoot, you know about that?" Brooke laughed as she turned around to face him.

"Of course. I am Nathan Scott, world's smartest man."

"Oh please. And if you must know, that was Haley. She wanted to know how the appointment went. Curiosity got the best of her patience."

"Yup, sounds like Haley. What did she say?"

"She said that she thinks it's great and you know what? So do I. But I would have thought two more boys was great too. As long as you and I are together and these babies belong to you, I don't care what their sex is."

Nathan smiled as they walked into the house where Nathan had already taken the boys in and put them in their cribs for their mid day nap. Peyton was sprawled out on the couch watching some soap opera while Joaquin played with his trucks on the floor in front of her. Brooke bounced into the room and plopped down on the couch next to her best friend.

"Let's go shopping!" Brooke squealed.

"What for?" Peyton asked.

"Please, Peyt, since when does Brooke Scott need a reason to shop?"

"You're right. I'm sorry. Let's go. Besides I want to hear about this appointment and how you managed to once again carry twins only this time of the better gender."

"You told her?"

"Was I not supposed to? You were outside on the phone with Hales. I figured she would wanna know," Nathan said defensively.

"Babe, it's fine. I was just kidding. Don't forget to tell your brother he's gonna be an uncle to twin nieces and tell him to be excited even if he has to fake it or I'll make sure he never has kids again."

"Don't you think that's a bit harsh?"

"No."

"Ok, my mistake. You girls have a good time. I'll stay here and watch the boys. Joaquin and I can get to know each other some more."

"Hey Joaquin, come here buddy," Peyton called to her son.

"Yes?" he said politely.

"Mommy's gonna out with Auntie Brooke for a while. You're gonna stay here with Uncle Nathan and your cousins. You be a good boy."

"I will Mommy. Have fun. Bye Mommy, bye Auntie Brooke."

The girls waved good-bye to Joaquin and Nathan before making their way out to Brooke's car.

"Uncle Nate?" Joaquin said timidly.

"Ya pal?" Nathan replied.

"How come my daddy doesn't be nice to my mommy and me?"

Nathan drew in a deep breath. He wasn't sure if it was his place to have this conversation with Joaquin but he also knew that he couldn't lie to the boy.

"I don't know why your daddy isn't nice to you and your mom. But what I can tell you is that your mom loves you and she'll never let anything bad happen to you."

"How come she lets bad things happen to her? I know that Daddy hitted her. I saw him do it!"

Nathan was really stuck now. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. His two year old nephew watched his father hit his mother and already knew it wasn't right. Sighing inwardly Nathan lifted Joaquin onto his lap and laid back in his recliner. There must be something he could say to the little boy but at the moment Nathan was at a loss. Despite Dan's mean streak Nathan had never witnessed him hitting his mother and he was pretty sure that was one line Dan Scott wouldn't even cross. At least he hoped that was a line Dan had never crossed. Especially not with his mother.

"Uncle Nate?" Joaquin asked again.

"Ya?" Nathan answered.

"Do you love Auntie Brooke?"

"Of course I do."

"And you don't do mean things to her?"

"Like what?"

"You don't hit her right?"

"No, of course not. What makes you think I would hit Auntie Brooke when I love her?"

"Daddy telled Mommy he loved her whenever he hitted her."

Nathan looked at his nephew and saw tears in the little boy's eyes. Nathan's heart shattered for him and for Peyton as well. He had no idea how bad things were but clearly Joaquin knew more than Peyton could have guessed.

"Oh buddy, that's not love. I'm sure at some point your daddy did love your mommy but if you think you show someone you love them by hurting them, that's wrong. Let me tell you a secret. When you're older, there's going to be a girl you like and may even fall in love with. If you want to show her that you love her, promise me you won't ever hit her. In fact, I want you to promise me you'll never hit any girls. Okay?"

"Okay Uncle Nate. I promise. I not hit any girls."

"Good. Now, I have to ask you something and I want you to tell me the truth okay?"

"Okay."

"Did your daddy hit you?"

Joaquin hesitated nervously. He remembered the feeling of Jaime's fist slamming into his stomach and the sting of his hand as it flew across his face. And the screaming, the threats on his life if anyone found out what was going on. Joaquin didn't want Jaime to find out that he told someone what happened but Nathan wanted the truth.

"Buddy? Did he hit you?" Nathan asked again.

"Yes," Joaquin whispered as he stared at the floor.

Nathan felt anger toward this guy he had never met rise up inside of him but he had to do everything in his power to stay calm. He didn't want to scare Joaquin or make him think that he was gonna hit him like his father did. That wasn't the kind of man Nathan Scott was and that's not the kind of man Nathan Scott wanted to be.

"I'll protect you," Nathan whispered in Joaquin's ear as the boy drifted off to sleep in Nathan's grasp.

Nathan stood up slowly from the chair and walked up to the guest room to lay Joaquin on the bed so he could rest. He bent down and kissed the boy on the forehead before leaving the room to go check on Jamie and Nate. They were both still sound asleep so Nathan left their door open just a little bit before going back downstairs. It made him physically ill to think that someone could lay a hand on his child in a harmful way.

"Brooke it's me baby. Call me when you get this message. We can't let Peyton and Joaquin go anywhere near Jaime again. Hope you girls are having a good time shopping. Be careful, I love you," Nathan said as he got Brooke's voicemail.

Sighing heavily Nathan flopped onto the couch and switched the tv on. After about five minutes he realized there wasn't anything on so he turned the tv off again. A few minutes later he was out cold on the couch and that's how Brooke and Peyton found him after they returned from their shopping excursion.

"NATHAN!" Brooke shouted as she swung the door open with Peyton two steps behind her.

When he didn't answer Brooke kept yelling his name until she spotted him sound asleep sprawled out on the couch. She had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing at the sight. Peyton followed her and had a similar reaction.

"Wow I guess Joaquin wore him out," Peyton laughed.

"Guess so. I wonder where he's at," Brooke said.

Suddenly there was a look of terror on Peyton's face. It hadn't occurred to her that she didn't see her son anywhere until Brooke had mentioned it. Without warning Peyton took off up the stairs in search of her little boy. A feeling of relief washed over her when she opened the door to the guest room and found her son sleeping on the bed.

"Peyton are you ok?" Brooke asked when her best friend walked back down the stairs.

"Ya I just got nervous when I didn't see Joaquin. But he's fine. He's upstairs sleeping. So I guess they wore each other out," Peyton replied.

"Hey girls," Nathan said a minute later as he walked into the kitchen. His clothes were ruffled and his hair was a mess.

"Hey did you and Joaquin have a good day?" Brooke asked as she walked over to kiss her husband.

"Ya sure I guess you could say that."

"He didn't misbehave did he?" Peyton asked nervously.

"No, it's nothing like that."

"Then what is it?"

"I think we need to talk."

Peyton shook her head. She didn't want to talk. Not if it was about what she thought it was gonna be about and not with Nathan. She wouldn't even talk to Brooke about it.

"No, I can't Nathan."

"Peyton. We need to, I don't care if you can't. Don't do it for yourself, do it for Joaquin. He needs you to do this."

"Nathan don't push it."

"Damn it Peyton!" Nathan slammed his hand down on the counter in frustration. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep what Joaquin had said to him while Brooke and Peyton were out shopping inside of him. If they didn't talk soon Nathan was sure he would explode and that wasn't the approach he wanted to take with any of this.

"Nathan what is your problem?" Brooke snapped.

"I wanna talk and now I'm the bad guy? I don't believe this. Whatever! I'm out of here," Nathan shot back as he left the house.

Brooke stood in silent shock, just staring at the door while Peyton sat at the table and cried. It was like a tornado had ripped through the Scott house because suddenly there were three ear piercing screams coming from the second floor. Almost as if they were on auto pilot Brooke and Peyton raced up the stairs to their boys, leaving the other by herself.

"Shh, it's ok baby. Mommy's here, don't cry. Daddy's just upset," Brooke said as she carefully tried to rock both Jamie and Nate.

Meanwhile in the guest room Joaquin was clinging to Peyton and crying in her shoulder while they both lay on the bed. Peyton wasn't sure if there was anything she could say to make her son stop crying. Instead she just held him in her arms and let him cry until he went back to sleep. When she was sure that Joaquin had gone back to sleep Peyton tried to loosen his grip on her shirt only to have him stir again.

"Mama," he whimpered.

"It's ok baby, I'm not going anywhere. I love you," she whispered in his ear. Soon after they were both sound asleep.

Brooke had finally gotten both boys to calm down so she stood up with one on each hip and walked down the hall to the guest room. She was worried about Peyton and Joaquin. Something wasn't right and Nathan's outburst made Brooke believe that he knew what was wrong but ever the stubborn one Peyton refused to talk about it.

"Peyton, it's Brooke, can I come in?" she said.

"Sure," Peyton answered.

Brooke opened the door and sat on the bed handing Peyton one of the twins.

"What's going on Peyt? Why won't you talk to me?" Brooke asked cautiously.

"Please, Brooke. Don't do this now," Peyton pleaded.

"When Peyton? When can I talk to you about whatever it is you're hiding from me?"

Peyton didn't answer her. She didn't know. If she could have it her way, Brooke would never find out but that was impossible, Brooke had ways of finding out things even when you didn't want her to know something. That was just the kind of person Brooke was. And right now, Peyton hated her for it.

"Fine, don't tell me. I'll find out anyway. You know I always do."

Again Peyton said nothing. Although this time she wanted to yell at Brooke, to tell her to get away from her and let her do things her way but that wouldn't go over well. Peyton had come to see Brooke and it was obvious to Brooke that something was wrong so there was no use in Peyton trying to deny it.

The two girls were still sitting in dead silence in the guest room with the three boys when Nathan came back. He was drenched from head to toe in sweat and rain water. He had just run up the stairs when Brooke came out of the guest room carrying Jamie and Nate. She spotted Nathan standing there and smiled at him.

"Is everything ok?" Nathan asked, knowing that nothing was ok.

"I don't know. She won't talk to me," Brooke replied.

"Come here, I need to talk to you."

"What is it?"

"Just come here."

Nathan took Brooke's hand and led her down the hall to their bedroom and shut the door behind him.

"Nate if you wanted to have some fun all you had to do was say so," Brooke said with a goofy smile.

"Brooke listen to me. This is serious," Nathan said trying not to grin.

"Ok, I'm listening. What's going on?"

"It's about Joaquin."

Ok so I'm the worst person ever! I can't believe it took me almost a month to update. I hope you don't think I forgot about this story or my faithful readers…have no fear for I am back. I think I'm gonna do a few more chapters and then there will be a sequel. You know what to do!