Chapter 7

"Mono!" Joanne exclaimed, her eyes darting back and forth between the doctor and Tessa. "Mono?"

The doctor nodded with a small smile, "She has mononucleosis."

Maureen burst out laughing, looking down at Tessa who was curled up in her lap.

Joanne turned to her raising an eyebrow.

"Joanne, don't give me that look." Maureen smiled, "I'm so relieved right now. With the way Tessa has been sleeping and all that other junk I thought it was serious."

"This is serious." The doctor said taking a seat back behind her desk.

"Maureen do you know what the other term for Mono is?" Joanne said, not even listening to the doctor, "Some people call it the kissing disease."

Maureen laughed even harder, but then suddenly stopped, looking down at Tessa, "You've been kissing boys, Tess?"

Tessa shrugged, "A boy from school."

Joanne and Maureen's eyes went wide, both of them looking at each other.

"Oh god." Maureen said shaking her head, "Too young Joanne, she's too young!"

Joanne nodded, "It's not so funny anymore is it?"

Maureen shook her head, her face serious.

The doctor cleared her throat, grabbing both Maureen and Joanne's attention back. She explained the treatment for Tessa, and also explained that there were other ways to catch Mono other than kissing, and then sent them home.

"I think we're going to have to have a long ass talk with Tessa when she's feeling better." Maureen said looking at her sleeping in the backseat of the car.

Joanne nodded, her eyes on the road, "Just think, Maureen we could have another grandchild in the family before we know it…"

"Shut up Joanne!" Maureen said, waking her arm.

"Hey. I'm just teasing." Joanne smirked, her face however quickly fell, "I mean…she's nine, kissing a boy form school… these kids are growing up way to fast!" Joanne paused, stopping at a red light and turning to Maureen, suddenly hitting her.

"Hey! Pookie!" Maureen whined.

"She's learning from you!" Joanne said. "I swear if I didn't know any better I'd think you actually gave birth to her she's so much like you."

Maureen smiled, "Like mother like daughter." She said, her smile fading, "We seriously need to have a talk with her…"

Later that evening Brooke and Leah were curled up in bed, Leah running her finger gently up and down the bridge of Brooke's nose.

Brooke scrunched up her nose, lightly laughing, "That's starting to tickle…"

Leah smiled, pulling her hand away, and kissing where her finger just was, "Sorry."

Brooke shrugged, leaning in finding her lips. After a few minutes she pulled away, "Okay, I've got to go."

Leah sighed, keeping her arms tightly around her, "I hate how you work so late…"

"I know babe, but it's my job." Brooke said, "Something you should start looking for." She said poking her in the stomach playfully.

"I know, I know." Leah said rolling her eyes.

"Anyways." Brooke said rolling out of her embrace, "I'll be home around two AM."

"Two AM again?" Leah asked, "You used to never work that late…what the hell?"

"The late, late shift." Brooke shrugged.

"I hate you coming home that late, it's not safe." Leah said, tugging her onto the bed, kissing her cheek.

"I'll be fine." Brooke whispered, "The bouncers walk us to our car at night." She said pressing a small kiss to her lips, sighing when Leah gave her the pout, "Don't give me that look, Leah."

Leah sighed, falling back onto the bed, "Fine, fine. Go."

Brooke smirked, "I will. It won't even seem like I'm gone that long because you'll be asleep during my shift."

"Yeah, yeah, you say that every time." Leah said, "It's still not the same. I like falling asleep in your arms."

"Well you'll wake up in them." Brook smiled, pulling her uniform on. "Okay, peace out lover." She smiled, blowing her a kiss and then leaving.

Leah smiled, pulling the covers up and taking a nap. She woke up an hour later, it was only eight. She walked out into the living room, finding Maureen sprawled out on the couch watching TV.

"You need a job." Maureen smiled eyeing her out of the corner of her eye.

"So do you." Leah teased back with a smile walking over, and sitting on the couch, lying down with Maureen.

"Okay, what's wrong, my daughter who is twenty-two, curling up with her mommy?" Maureen lightly laughed.

"Brooke. Who is working all these stupid late, late shifts." Leah said, "She used to always be home around 11:30…12. They never gave her later than that because they knew she lived the furthest away…like what the hell changed?"

Maureen shrugged, "Who knows. But if Brooke isn't complaining…just leave it be."

Leah sighed.

"You can't be with her twenty four seven." Joanne said overhearing from the laundry room.

"But I want to be." Leah said.

Joanne lightly laughed, shaking her head as she came and sat in the chair. "Ah young love."

"Tyler I said I'll fucking talk to you later!" Haley shouted from upstairs slamming the phone down.

"Apparently doesn't qualify for everyone…" Maureen said.

"No kidding." Leah scoffed.

"Leah…" Tessa whined coming downstairs, seeing Leah with Maureen, "I want to lay with her."

"Too bad, I am." Leah said,

"But I'm sick!" Tessa said poking her.

"I don't care." Leah said, "You can't always get your way. Plus I was here first."

"Leah!" Tessa shouted.

"You know for someone with a sore throat, you sure are screaming loud." Joanne said, standing up, "How about you go lay in your bed. It's late anyway and you need your rest."

"But Mama." Tessa whined.

Joanne gave her the mother look, and Tessa let out an over dramatic sigh, and turned around, stomping all the way up the stairs, and into her bedroom.

Over in the city, fast forward a few hours around twelve. Brooke stepped out of the bar, done her shift, well before the time Leah thought she now finished. She stuffed her hands in her pockets, looking around.

"Brooke?" A male voice called.

Brooke turned around, "Hey." She said, and walked to the man, the two of them heading for coffee at a late night diner.