Author's Note: I am really truly sorry about the time it has been since I last updated, I really have tried but my family has been moving and then with the actual move it has just been way too hard to update but… I'm back now!!

READ!!- Okay this is gonna be kind of confusing Karen Hargrove and David Davis are Brooke's parents but Karen remarried Andy Hargrove and had Lilly. Lucas and Nathan Scott are both Dan and Deb Scott's children.

Thank you and once again I am really truly sorry about the wait. Please review.

Personal Replies:

mcgirl6541: Thank you so much for your review I greatly appreciate it. I am so sorry it has been so long since I last updated my life has been far beyond hectic. Thanks for your review please continue to review.

tanya2byour21: Thank you very, very much for your review it means a lot. The reviews it what keeps me going with writing and posting. I am sorry about the time it has been since I updated but my life has been so hectic. Thanks for saying it is such a great story lol I really appreciate it. Please keep reading, enjoying, and reviewing.

Paternal Instinct

Chapter Seven

Truly At Peace

--Lucas POV--

"This place is nice" I say sincerly. "I really believe we are gonna like it here" I tell Brooke as we walk past the local high school.

"I'm glad" she says smiling cheerfully. "So this is where you're gonna work, I actually graduated from here" Brooke tells me smiling as we look at the school.

"It seems nice, not to small, but not huge... really different from my old school" I say laughing. "Sooo... where exactly do you work. I mean I know the agency and everything but what do you do once you aren't staying with me and the kids anymore" I ask curiously?

"Well to be honest we each are assigned one family and stick with them until they leave the area or tell us to leave them alone, I mean I am stay with you guys until you are comfortable then when I go back to my place I still do weekly checkups and that kind of thing. So I'm stuck with you until you decide to leave or if you do" Brooke explains.

"Oh but like what do you do during that time" I ask her still not fully understanding?

"Anything you need, if you do not feel comfortable hiring a sitter then you can use me as a babysitter for all I or the agency cares, but I'm all your's" she said laughing.

"Good to know" I respond smiling at her. She was really sweet and I truely believed if one person could help me and the kids become a happy, stable family... it was Brooke. "What did you do before you had us though I mean are there more families in the program around here" I ask?

"No not really I actually just moved back here with my best friend Rachel we had been out of state we were here for about a month. As soon as they got a new client out the other side of the country, you guys, they figured might as well send you out here to me" Brooke explained to me.

"Is Rachel a nice lady" James asked out of the blue? Him and Maddie had been talking and I didn't even know if they had been listening to us but apperently they had.

"Yeah she's a really nice lady, funny too" Brooke told him taking his hand. "She actually has a little girl about your age who's really pretty cute her name is Katie" she said winking at him. "Then my other bestest friend Millie has a little boy about your age and another one about Maddie's age" Brooke told Jamie.

"That's cool" he told her and you could tell he was depressed. His best friend/cousin Dean was my brother's son and he could no longer talk to him.

"Umm Brooke if it's not to much to ask do you think maybe..." I started but she interuppted me.

"Say no more. This Friday I'll invite all my bestest friends and their kids over. It can be like a welcoming party for you all" Brooke said cheerfully as if reading my mind.

"Thanks Brooke" I told her sincerely. It was going to be hard enough for us three to settle into this town and into our new life; it would really help if we met a few people, especially the kids.

"Okay guys here is where we stop and eat, this place is the best I swear" Brooke laughed.

"Brookie Brookie" hollered a little dark haired girl running at us.

"Lilly Bear, I have some people I want you to meet. This is my good friend Lucas Roe, and these are his kids Jamie and Maddie" Brooke said smiling as she picked up the little girl who could have been no older than five. "Guys this is my little sister... well half sister... Lilly. JLuke when you start school you'll probably be in Lilly's class" Brooke said sitting her down.

"Hi Jamie, you wanna be my friend" Lilly asked smiling at my son with big bright dimples?

"Yeah" James said his eyes brighter than I had seen them in a very, very long time. "Please Daddy, can I go and plays with Lilly" James begged pouting and with his bright blue eyes and sad puppy dog face I had to give in.

"Yeah sure, just, be save" I told him. I know I was probably sounding paranoid but I couldn't help it. I was afraid for my children. Anything could happen to James, but Brooke was here... he was going to be okay... hopefully.

--Meanwhile Narrators Point of View--

"Okay listen to me you bitch where in the hell did that dick take my brats" Peyton Sawyer-Scott screamed!

"Get the hell out of my house" Lucas's sister in law Haley Scott said quietly tears in her eyes. Haley and Lucas even before her and Lucas's brother Nathan got together had been best friends. Lucas and Haley's mothers had been in birthing classes together and they were born merely days apart. It was as if it were destiny. "Lucas is my best friend and you need to just go Peyton, if you think I would tell you anything... even if I did know which I don't... you're wrong" Haley told her.

"You bitch when I find out where he took those brats you're never gonna see any of them again" Peyton said smirking as she finished her statement.

"You touch them you'll be sorry" Haley groweled. They were her family and she would do anything to protect them.

"Is that a threat" Peyton asked pushing Haley?

Before Haley could respond her husband, Lucas's brother Nathan walked in. "Get the hell out of my house now" Nathan screamed upon seeing her!

"Make me" Peyton said pushing Haley again.

"Okay that's it" Haley finally screamed getting ready to respond but Nathan stepped in.

"Get the hell out of here Peyton before I take care of your ass myself. Because of you my niece and nephew cry everyday! Because of you I can no longer talk to my older brother and for that... Just, Just get out of here now" Nathan screamed!

"What the hell ever if you hear from him let me know" Peyton said walking out.

"Mommy why weres you and Daddy screaming" their five year old son Dean came out of his bedroom having just woke up rubbing his eyes tiredly?

"Oh it was nothing sweetie" Haley quickly said changing her tone and as she picked up her son had to hold back tears. It wasn't nothing , it was a very big something she may never see her best friend again and it was all that bitch's fault.

--Lucas POV--

"I freakin exhausted" I groaned laughing as I fell onto the couch after a full day of sight seeing.

"Well why don't you relax, let me take the kids upstairs for a little bit" Brooke offered.

"Not it's fine really they're my kids" I said laughing slightly but serious all the same.

"Lucas I really want to, I love kids and really wanna get to know them" Brooke insisted smiling sweetly.

"I guess but only for a little bit the second you get bored or they start acting up just holler down for me" I told her as I gave up my argument. It was odd I had known Brooke for less than fourty eight hours and here she was having spent more a lone time with James and Maddie than Peyton probably ever did.

--Brooke's POV--

I really liked this family, the stuff these kids have been through is so horrible and yet they are two of the best children I have ever met.

"Brooke" James said in a questioning tone.

"Yes JLuke" I responded ruffling his short blonde hair.

"Are you helpin us stays aways from Mom" he asked me?

My face fell. "Yeah buddy I am" I told him softly.

"Is she gonna hurt us again" Jamie asked?

"Oh no James I promise your mother is never gonna hurt you again I won't let her I promise" I told him picking him up and holding him close. I felt so bad for these kids.

"Thanks Brooke" he whispered.

"No problem" I whispered back. "So Maddie you having fun" I asked turning my attention to the baby playing with her blocks beside us?

"Ya Bwocks" she said in her adorable baby voice knocking her small block tower over and giggling as they all collapsed.

I laughed and picked her up and hugged her.

--Lucas POV Later That Evening--

I picked up the remote softly and turned down the television so that it was no longer audible. I moved my arm from behind Maddie where I was holding her small sleeping body and grabbed the blanket on the back of the couch and threw it over Brooke and James. Brooke was a few inches away and James was in between us resting asleep on Brooke's lap as she slept quietly. I debated about waking everyone up and having everyone go to bed but I changed my mind when I saw them all sleeping peacefully I couldn't do it. I spread the blanket as far as it could go over all four of us and for the first time in... well since my children had been born… I felt at peace.

Authors Note: Thank you, and once again please please review. I will try and update again as soon as possible.