Authors note: Hey guys… I know its been forever since I updated, and I am so sorry! I'm actually out of state right now (Kentucky… haha don't ask) but I should be home soon! Thank you guys sooo much for your patience… Luckily I have at least e-mailed myself a few chapters, so I was at least able to get this one up for you guys! I hope you like it! Thanks SOOO much for all the reviews!

"Brooke… Brooke wake up" Lucas yelled for the 3rd time, this time throwing a pillow at Brooke to get her moving. At this point they were already running late.

"No…"

"We've gotta go…"

"Where?" Brooke whined burring herself father under the covers to block the light and Lucas's voice.

"Volunteer… remember?"

"With the germy gross little snotty things?"

"The kids? Yes…" Lucas laughed pulling the comforter off Brooke so she couldn't hide anymore.

"Do we have too?"

"It's that…"

"Or?" Brooke asked hopefully. Lucas made it sound like there was another option and she liked other options… especially ones that meant sleeping late.

"Jail"

"I'm up…"

"Not to mention you've gotta get out of here before the RA sees you stayed over" Lucas said checking out in the hallway to make sure no one was out there.

"Why? We've been fooling him for the past week…" Brooke giggled kissing him before making her way down to her dorm. Even though she'd spent maybe 3 hours in there in the past week.

"I'll meet you downstairs in 5 minutes"

Brooke skipped into her dorm room where Nathan was asleep on her bed… She felt kind of bad that she and Lucas had basically kicked him out the past few nights, although he hadn't been complaining much. Actually Brooke couldn't remember him complaining once…

"Ew cooties!" Brooke whined flipping the light on to wake Nathan and Peyton up.

"Morning to you too Brooke"

"You're up early" Peyton groaned looking at her alarm clock. Even she didn't get up this early and she'd always been a morning person. For Brooke Davis to be up something had to be wrong… or at least there had to be a sale somewhere.

"Needy children await…"

"Ew…"

"See! I told Lucas you weren't fond of children either" Brooke said wishing Lucas were there to hear this. Especially since they had argued about it for 20 minutes last night.

"Didn't believe you?"

"He said you liked Jenny"

"Well you liked Jenny" Peyton added trying to think of at least 1 thing to help Brooke out. The truth was neither of them had ever been huge baby people. Of course Brooke had had her fair share of baby dolls growing up… but from what Peyton could remember when they played "House" or something Brooke always gave them a nanny…

"I know… I told him"

"Did you tell him that if you two didn't stop having sex every 2 seconds he was going to have children of his own?" Nathan asked obviously making a point that he wanted his bed back.

"For your information whiney ass… not that its any of your business, we've only had sex like… 3 times"

"Then what are you guys doing in there?"

"Sleeping… what are you guys doing in here?" Brooke asked proving her point.

"Sleeping…"

"See! So it's not that hard to believe… We're not rabbits, even though Karen likes to tell people we are. We are in a loving, caring relationship which sex is not the main focus"

"Is that what Lucas tells Karen on the phone everyday…" Peyton yawned trying to imagine that conversation… or at least imagine Lucas telling Karen nothing was happening between Brooke…. While Brooke was giving him a hickey at the same time.

"Pretty much… ok Peyton I need to borrow one of your shirts"

"Why?"

"So if the kids get like snot on me…" Brooke said thinking she had made it pretty obvious… all of Peyton's shirts looked creepy and gross anyway… kid snot might actually be helpful.

"No…"

"Please?"

"No Brooke…" Peyton whined pulling the covers back over her head.

"Fine…I'll just wear this, wish me luck"

"Someone should probably wish the kids luck"

Downstairs Lucas ran into Haley while he was waiting for Brooke. According to her story she was there to talk to Peyton about some kind of music project she was doing, but from the look she had on her face, Lucas didn't believe her. He knew Haley and she was definitely hiding something.

"So… you're up early" Haley said shuffling back and forth like she always did when she was nervous. Lucas didn't know why she was trying to lie to him… then again it wasn't like they talked a lot anymore anyway… at least not about anything important.

"So are you… you ok Hales?"

"Fine… Just need to talk to Brooke about something I'm doing for a class"

"I thought it was Peyton for Music?" Lucas asked now sure she was hiding something.

"Good thing I have a lot of friends… there's Brooke now"

"Hey Haley, wanna pretend your names Brooke today and go play with a bunch of precious little children?"

"No… crisis… now" Haley said pulling Brooke as far away from Lucas as possible to talk.

"Right ok… Lucas my love, wanna warm up the car?"

"He was talking about marriage"

"What?" Brooke asked completely confused for a second. Haley had more drama lately than Brooke knew what to do with.

"I know! I don't want to marry him! I was just having fun…"

"Did you tell him that?"

"No… not exactly…" Haley whispered making totally sure Lucas couldn't hear what they were saying… even if he was all the way at the car. She couldn't have anyone know about this but Brooke. She wasn't even sure if she wanted to know about this guy anymore. Everything was just getting too complicated.

"Haley does he even know about you and Nathan?"

"Are you kidding me? No… he'd think I was a Looney if I told him I got married at 16 and was divorced by 18"

"Uh huh…" Brooke sighed stating the obvious.

"I need you to hit on him"

"What!"

"Please! Just so I can see how into this he is… if he flirts back, then we're still good… but if he turns you down, that means he's really serious and I have to break things off" Haley whispered… and basically yelled at the same time. She seemed pretty scared and desperate… not the usual confident Haley that Brooke was so used too.

"Haley! I can't hit on him! Lucas would have a conniption fit!"

"He wouldn't have to know!"

"Oh no… The only way I'm doing this is if I tell Lucas the plan" Brooke said putting her foot down. There was no way in hell she was hitting on another guy and not telling Lucas why she did it… the last thing she needed right now was him mad at her for something that wasn't even her fault

"Brooke!"

"Haley!"

"Brooke!" Lucas yelled from the car pointing to his watch. He was about ready to leave her there…

"Coming…"

"At least think about it? Please?"

"Fine… call me tonight" Brooke whined rolling her eyes at Haley. How did she end up getting herself into these things?

"You're the best Brooke thanks"

"Now go talk to Nathan… he thinks you changed your number because he called and a guy answered"

"Right… have fun" Haley smiled clearly in a happier mood. It made Brooke want to gag… Haley was the one with the issues and she was smiling… and here Brooke was going to work with snotty children… something about this just didn't seem fair.

"Sure…"

The children's home was only a few miles away… but in traffic it took Brooke and Lucas 30 minutes to get there. In which time Brooke managed to explain to Lucas at least 30 things that could go wrong with this day. Lucas was starting to think that Brooke didn't so much hate kids, as much as she was afraid of them. Now that he thought about it, other than Jenny Lucas had never seen Brooke around a baby or a kid. And even with Jenny, Peyton was always there doing most everything. It was definitely going to be an interesting day… especially since Brooke was wearing a Juicy sweat jacket, which would probably be ruined for ever in the first hour. But the way Lucas saw it, there were some life lessons Brooke had to learn on her own.

Once they were there Brooke took a deep breath and grabbed Lucas's hand. She was acting like they were walking into her own funeral or something… he'd actually never seen Brooke this un-sure of something. The whole place wasn't what either of them had expected. It actually wasn't THAT bad. Neither of them would have wanted to grow up there, but at least it looked like they're were toys around…

"Brooke Davis and Lucas Scott?" A woman from the front desk asked seeing Brooke and Lucas walk in. As soon as Lucas nodded to tell her yes, she ran over with name tags for them.

"Sorry we're late"

"No problem, we're just glad you're here… we're so under staffed right now. We'll stick you two with the 2-year-old group. We only have 5 right now… all sweat hearts, follow me"

"Me and you against five 2 year olds? That's worse than 5 Tims" Brooke whispered. This wasn't going to be fun… at all.

"Now the names are Irving talks non stop, He was left here when he was 1, Anges and Archie are twins… watch out for them, they bite. Milton's a loner… and Horace doesn't say a word"

"It sounds like we're in there with a bunch of 80 year olds"

"We try to make sure no child here has the same name… and so sometimes that means giving the poor things, older names" The woman said sadly. Brooke couldn't imagine being stuck with a name like Milton or Horace… even for a boy.

"No girls?"

"Horace… she's the tiny one with the long brown hair and the green eyes. She's really distant though… doesn't connect well with other people. Cute little girl though…"

"You named a girl Horace…" Brooke asked in total disbelief. That didn't seem possible, it actually almost made Brooke want to cry… just the thought of having to go through school named Horace…

"She's been here since she was 3 days old. This old man brought her and told us her mom was a whore and her dad was an ass…"

"That's the worst thing I've ever heard"

"Brooke… she's kidding" Lucas laughed rolling his eyes at his gullible girlfriend. He was proud of her though… so far she was doing a lot better than he had expected.

"Oh…"

"Here we are… Horace will be excited to have a girl in the room, the last 3 volunteers have been guys. Archie…get off the table, good luck you 2"

"How long are we here for?" Brooke asked watching the wild little boys run around and scream. And then there was Horace, a tiny little girl with the greatest hair Brooke had ever seen on a kid. It was long with light soft curls… and with her green eyes. She could be a model or something. She was sitting all alone in the corner of the room, hugging a stuffed pink pony.

"8 hours"

"Oh joy… Hi Horace"

"I guess she doesn't talk either" Lucas sighed deciding to go get 2 of the boys off the table. These people must have been seriously desperate to leave him and Brooke in here alone with 5 kids like this.

"Ok then… first order of business, my name's Brooke, you can call me Brooke"

"I Orus"

"Lucas! She cant even pronounce it… ok, I don't like Horace… lets call you Bella… can you say Bella?" Brooke asked totally thrilled that she had gotten the little girl to say something… this was a lot easier than she had thought.

"Ella"

"Buh- ella"

"E-lla" Horace repeated. Apparently she didn't do the B thing.

"Ok then… Ella, we'll call you Elle for short, now what's your name?"

"Orus"

"No… Elle, ok? Cause its prettier, lets try again… what's your name?" Brooke asked again.

"Or…Elle"

"Good job Chick"

"Brooke… you cant just change her name" Lucas whispered almost laughing. Only Brooke would try and change a 2 year olds name.

"Too bad… I just did, next order of business, clothes… it looks like the 80's threw up and then they dressed her in it"

"Ok… we'll while your thinking of your famous toddler designs, wanna help me with the boys?"

"Nope… I don't do the boy thing, that kid Archie just ate his booger" Brooke gagged. That definitely had to be the grossest thing she'd seen in a really long time.

Nathan, Haley and Peyton sat together in Starbucks… in complete silence. Nathan had had the brilliant idea that they go hang out like they used too… just minus Brooke and Lucas. He figured without Brooke and Lucas, they'd actually have more time to talk and catch up… he'd been totally wrong. Haley was a nervous wreck… Peyton seemed completely pissed at Haley… and if he wasn't mistaken they were both fighting for his attention. It was like sophomore year all over again.

"So Nathan you'll have to come see this gym close to me, they've got the best basketball court I've ever seen" Haley said continuing her talk about Yale. She hadn't really gotten to tell them everything that had been going on lately and it was good to catch up.

"Really? Sweet"

"How'd you find out about it Haley?" Peyton asked glaring at Haley. Nathan was totally confused…

"Oh… you know some of the girls in my classes have boyfriends who go"

"Really… so you don't"

"Not right now no…" Haley said starting to wonder if Brooke had told Peyton.

"So your not seeing that guy you were talking about?" Nathan asked, starting to get interesting in they're little chick fight.

"The one I saw you with outside of here last week"

"He's just a friend"

"Do you kiss all your friends like Brooke and Lucas kiss?" Peyton asked giving Haley an even worse glare.

"He's just a friend now…"

"Uh huh…"

"Cat fight…" Nathan sighed under his breath. He was starting to wish maybe he had just brought Haley… or just Peyton.

"Is that why you came today? Because things didn't work out with old guy and you want Nathan back"

"I don't know Peyton… looks to me like you 2 are together anyway…" Haley shot back

"So I think there's a reason we always had Brooke and Lucas with us"

The next 8 hours went by surprisingly fast for Brooke and Lucas. Brooke of course left Lucas to deal with the 4 wild boys all day…while she played with Ella. She actually had a lot of fun playing with the little girl, and Lucas loved kids as it was… so 4 boys was so problem after he had made a make-shift basketball goal. She was actually a little sad to go when the woman came in and told them they were free to go, and she'd see them tomorrow… and every Saturday and Sunday for the next 3 months.

"Ok… kids tell Brooke and Lucas bye bye… and you'll see them tomorrow"

"Bye…" All the boys yelled, none really seeming to care that Lucas was leaving. Ella on the other hand wasn't having any of it. As soon as the word bye came out of the womans mouth Lucas and Brooke both saw the poor little girls eyes swell up with tears.

"No…"

"Horace…"

"We changed her name to Ella" Brooke whispered just so the woman would know.

"Brooke has to go… now tell her bye"

"Nowa…" Ella cried clinging to Brooke's legs. It was breaking Brooke's heart to see this little girl who had smiled and giggled with her all day to be this upset just because she was leaving.

"I'll be here tomorrow… with much better clothes I promise"

"I go"

"No Horace, you have to stay here, now let go or I will give you a time out" The woman said trying to pull the little girl away from Brooke.

"No…"

"You 2 go ahead… I've got her"

"Nowa…" Ella cried finally loosing her grip on Brooke's legs. By now Brooke was ready to cry herself. How was this fair to these little kids… if anything it was going to make it so they didn't trust anyone… she knew from experience.

"Come on Brooke" Lucas whispered taking Brooke's hand.

"Bye Ella…"

"You ok?" Lucas asked once they were outside the room. They could both hear the little girl still crying and he could tell by the look on Brooke's face she wasn't too happy either.

"I think that's the worst thing I've ever done"

"Work here? You looked like you were having an ok time…"

"No, I mean leave that little girl like that" Brooke said still able to hear the crying.

"She'll forget about it in 5 minutes"

"I never did…"

"What do you mean?" Lucas asked completely clueless on what Brooke was talking about. But whatever it was, it hit her hard.

"When my parents used to leave and I'd cry like that for days"

"She's used to it…"

"So was I" Brooke sighed leaning into Lucas's shoulder so he could comfort her. He was always good at that… usually all he had to do was put his arm around her and kiss the top of her head.

"Lets go get some dinner, you'll feel better… then you can rub my back"

"Sore?"

"Someone left me to chase around 4 boys…" Lucas said letting out a big sigh. He was completely worn out.

"You had fun and you know it…"

"Maybe so… but that doesn't make me any less sore"

"We could just totally screw dinner…" Brooke suggested… she wasn't really in the mood for food anymore, she needed something to get her mind off today.

"And do what?"

"Replace the word dinner in my last sentence with each other?"

"Brooke Davis… How'd you get to be so dirty?" Lucas asked laughing. Only Brooke could be so dirty, and still cry in Chick flicks.

"You have no idea…and if you're still hungry we can always incorporate whipped cream…"

"What have I gotten myself into?"

"You know you love me" Brooke smiled wrapping her arms around his neck so she could kiss him.

"Too much I think sometimes" Lucas sighed gabbing her around her waist and kissing her. Bad day or not Brooke Davis could kiss like no other.

"Alright… come on, you've got me craving whipped cream"