"So how are your folks?", Joshua asked his girlfriend while they were walking to their class.

"Well, it's cool. Although they are a little overprotective.", she rolled her eyes and squeezed his hand a bit, "So Josh. What are we up to this weekend? I really, really have to get out.", she pleaded.

"Well, how about Tric?", he asked looking smiling down at her. Of course Phoebe did not know that Brooke had spent most of her high school times there as well.

"Sounds perfect to me.", she gave him another kiss and then they went into separate rooms to their classes. Julian widened his eyes and did not pay attention to his surroundings and crashed into Haley who looked stunned at him.

"Julian?", she said confused "What are you doing here?" Of course she had a clue why he was at school.

He felt a bit unsure what to say, "Well, I...I...was just nearby and I thought I'd say hello. So hello Haley!", he lied. Actually not a good lie.

"Ah. I see. Phoebe seemed to have awoken some fatherly instincts in you, right?", she smiled and patted his arm. She found it kind of cute how he reacted when it came to Phoebe.

"Nooo, it's just..", he looked down at Haley who waited for the answer.

"Don't worry Julian, okay.", she had to go into her class and greeted her pupils.

"Don't worry?", Julian whispered to himself and rolled his eyes. Of course he had to worry. There was no way that he would allow his Phoebe to go out at night. No way!

xxxxxxx

Brooke was having a meeting with her mother, "Okay Brooke. Basically I want you to draw more for the new teenagers' line." Victoria acted as if everything was okay between them.

Brooke widened her eyes "How come? I thought you did not like it at all?", she said harshly.

"Don't be such an idiot. Liking has nothing to do with it. I have very much success with this line, so I want you to draw more. That's it.", Victoria said back.

"Victoria. You know that you're not my boss any more and I don't actually have to do what you say, right?", Brooke said proudly but immediately received the answer.

"Yes my dear. And you know that you're not really capable of handling all the financial stuff alone. So as long as you continue not using that little brain inside of your head, you will be stuck with me." Brooke felt hurt again. She hated it that her mother still found her soft spot, "And by the way. Tell Phoebe to call me."

Brooke shot up immediately, "Why?", she asked confused and immediately felt protective of Phoebe.

"None of your business!", Victoria ignored her oldest daughter as usual.

"No, no, no, no!" Brooke walked after her mother when she wanted to get out, "there is no way I'll let her call you."

"Brooke, she is still my daughter. Not yours.", Victoria bitched back.

"I am fully aware of that. But I am also well aware of the fact that you did not care for her at all for her whole life. Eleven years long. So there is no way you just get to come into her life now when everything is working out really great for us.", Brooke screamed at her mother losing her temper. Victoria looked into Brooke's eyes with a smile on her face. Brooke hated that smile; it always showed that her words did not have an effect on her.

"Honey. I am her mother. I have the right to get to know her. And as far as I can see, she is the more intelligent daughter with a brighter future than yours." Brooke did not know what to answer. This was just another mentally kick from her mother.

"What do you mean by that?", she hated that she stuttered a bit.

"Look Brooke. I don't want to hurt you. But do you really think you can raise your sister? Look at you. You look exhausted. Your sketches are not as good as they used to be. And I don't think that it would be good for a 11-year-old one to live with a hysterical sister under one roof. You're not good for her. And neither is she."

"Why now Victoria? Why now? For 11 years you did not care whether she even got a roof to live under or not. And now..."

Victoria interrupted her "Okay. This conversation is ended. I will not talk to you when you are being your old drama queen.", she went out of the store and did not look back.

Brooke just stood there and did not know what to do instead of screaming loudly.

xxxxx

Brooke was still at the store and tried to call her husband. Finally he answered the phone. "Honey. I think I'll be late home today.", she talked into the phone with her cracked voice sounding very sad.

"Brooke. What happened?", he immediately asked and could feel her sadness.

"It's just...my mother.", she answered "I'll tell you later." Brooke let out a tear. Sometimes life did not seem to be fair.

xxxx

"Okay kiddo. So, today's Friday. Do you have any plans?", Julian asked trying not to reveal that he already knew what she was about to do. Phoebe looked suspiciously at him and then answered, "No. Not really."

"Oh ok. So just the two of us can spend some time together?", he sat down besides her and smiled heavily.

"Why? Um…isn't Brooke coming today?", Phoebe asked shocked not having planned Julian wanting to spend time with her tonight.

"Later. She has to work a bit more. Didn't sound very happy. The mother of yours, Victoria, came by, you know.", Julian answered.

"Makes me shiver every time I hear that name.", Phoebe laughed unsure.

"Okay. How about a game?", he asked and jumped up.

Phoebe nodded after a while "In a minute okay. I…first have to call a friend."

Of course Julian knew who she was going to call, "A friend?"

"Yes, a friend!" Phoebe answered feeling that Julian knew something. She ran into her room and closed the door, "God Joshua.", Joshua was standing outside her room and waited for her. Phoebe looked down at him and whispered, "We have a problem."

"What is it?", he asked and climbed into the window.

"It's called Julian. He won't leave me alone for a sec."

"Well then just spent some time with him and afterwards we go ok? Just don't let me stuck in here too long." Phoebe nodded and smiled "Great." So she went back to Julian. "So what game?", she asked. He was already preparing for monopoly.

"Nah. That game is so long Julian and I am kind of tired.", she faked a yawn.

"C'mon Phoebe. It is Friday and you love that game.", he insisted on playing it.

"Gosh. This will be a long night" she whispered to herself. An hour later Phoebe stood up and pretended to go to the bathroom, "Joshua. I don't know what to do.", Joshua laid bored on her bed.

"Just let us go out, ok?", he answered.

"Okay. I think of something.", she went out of the room immediately and back to Julian. Julian actually found it a bit funny how Phoebe was stressed by the situation and enjoyed it.

Luckily Brooke entered the house, "Hey you two.", she said sadly and received a big smile from Phoebe, "Heeeeeey favorite sister. Your man here was waiting for you.", Phoebe pushed Julian towards Brooke.

But Julian did not pay attention to Brooke, "No, actually I was not.", and Brooke could see how Phoebe rolled her eyes.

"Guys. What is going on?", she asked confused and took off her shoes.

"Nothing.", both of them said promptly.

"Ooookay.", Brooke smiled. "Well, I am going to bed. I am too exhausted."

Phoebe clapped her hands in joy, "Great.", she laughed, "I mean. Sleep tight. Julian you look tired as well."

Julian shook his head "No, actually I am not. How about a movie?", he asked Phoebe but Phoebe faked another yawn, "No thanks. I am tired myself. I think I am going to bed."

But Julian just hugged her tight from behind, "C'mon Phoebe just one movie. Pleeeease.", he asked.

Brooke shook her head "Just leave her alone, Julian." Julian looked pissed at his wife who did not understand anything.

"Tomorrow, ok?", Phoebe smiled at him and then ran to her room and closed the door behind her.

"What was that?", Brooke asked astonished. Julian just pushed her aside and put his ear on the closed door, "Why on earth...", Brooke walked after him but he put his hand on her mouth, "are you doing this?", she whispered.

xxxxx

Phoebe on the inside took her hand over Joshua's mouth, "Don't talk", she whispered, "I know that he is eavesdropping. He must somehow know about our plan."

xxxxx

On the outside Brooke still did not get it, "I heard her in school talking to her boyfriend and she wants to go to Tric today with him."

"What?", Brooke asked shocked, "There is no way she…"

"I know.", he said and was surprised when the door opened promptly and he fell down the floor and pulled Brooke along with him who landed on top of him. Brooke and Julian looked up at Phoebe who was in her PJ's and pretended to be shocked.

"What?", she asked.

"Sorry, we just wanted to say good night to you.", Brooke stood up and gave her a kiss and took a short look at her room. Julian did the same and then they went to bed. "Maybe it's too late now and she won't go?", Julian asked Brooke while holding her in her arms and being fully awake.

"No way Julian. It is never too late for Tric. Trust me, I know that.", she answered and thought of her old times.

"So what do we do?", he asked and searched for a plan.

"Just wait a minute.", Brooke smiled at him but did not know that Phoebe was now the one eavesdropping at their door. She tiptoed back into her room and opened the closet. "You can get out now. But don't talk too loud.", Joshua tried to suppress a laugh.

"God. They are worse than my parents."

"I know. And what is worse, they know about all. I just don't know how.", Phoebe whispered and let her fall to the bed with crossed arms, "Okay, just think" she said to herself.

"So what do we do?", Joshua hold her tight and looked down at her. "Just wait a minute.", she answered with a smile on her face.

xxxxxxx

So, what do you think? Who is going to "win"? Oh, I had so much fun writing this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it a bit cause that would make me smile ;)!