Hello everyone. I cannot believe that this is the last chapter: 47 chapters in seven months and I wanted to stop after the third one when no one was even interested or reviewing. And now there are about 200 reviews. Unbelievable. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. I would not have come this far with this story without YOUR feedback! Thanks to everyone who reviewed and read it. I don't know how many exactly stayed with the story but it was always great to see a review of some faithful readers or to know that some added it as their favorites! You know who I mean ;0) now. I am happy that you liked my original characters "Phoebe, Ben"...and read my version of how Brulian became a real little family. I don't want to annoy you with too much rambling now...so here it goes.

The last chapter...*sniff...I think I need a handkerchief...

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Brooke watched her two daughters laughing while they played a game. She could not believe how happy she was. She had two amazing girls and a great husband. They had gone through so much stuff. Sometimes it was like she was looking at a totally different Sam and Phoebe now. Neither of them felt insecure about their love any more. They did not hesitate one second when they called them mom or dad. It was the best present ever.

She remembered how she had met Phoebe the first time. How she had thought of her as a little but sweet brat that annoyed Haley extremely. Sometimes she wondered what would be different if the attack had not happened. Maybe they would not know now that Phoebe was her baby sister? Phoebe was definitely the best her mother had ever given to her.

"Noooo. You cheated.", Phoebe whined and looked at Sam's cards.
"No, I did not you baby.", Sam answered.

"I am not a baby.", Phoebe protested and sat down on the couch with crossed arms.

Brooke thought about how she had reacted when Sam had come to them. She remembered how insecure her little daughter had felt and had run away to the Scotts and to her other family. Brooke hoped that she would meet Uncle Jim and Aunt Macy one day.

Julian saw his wife watching their children and went over to her and took his arms around her shoulders. "Aren't they amazing?", he whispered into her ear and she nodded proudly. Julian watched the two of them as well and looked back at the past. He remembered the time when Sam and Phoebe had fought and how he had feared that their whole family would fall apart. But nothing of that had happened. Now the two of them were inseparable.

And then he thought of Sam's insecurities. How she had not told them that she wanted to be adopted. He was glad that all of those fears were gone and no one doubted any more that they were a family.

They heard the bell ringing and the two girls jumped up and ran to the door. Phoebe slung her arms around her cousin's waist while Sam slung them around his shoulder and kissed him. "I missed you.", Sam said while Phoebe protested that she could not breathe in between them.

Brooke and Julian smiled at that image. Ben definitely had helped their little family to become this close. He played a big role in Phoebe's life. He grew up with her and knew Rebecca, Phoebe's dead sister. But he was also a very big part of Sam's life: Her first boyfriend and big crush. Both of them, Julian and Brooke, loved seeing Sam's smile around him. They knew that Sam sometimes had problems letting someone in and did not have many friends but somehow Ben had changed her a lot too.

Brooke was glad that Sam opened up to her and was looking forward for another mother-daughter-day. She wondered how Phoebe would be in that age. Right now she did not even look like eleven. Somehow they could not believe that this little girl actually had had a boyfriend in the beginning. It was so absurd. They were glad that everything had changed. They had found their family and they were more than happy.

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"Mooooom. Daaaaad.", Phoebe stood in front of them and waved with her hands while her parents were like in trance.

"Yes sweetheart.", Brooke finally asked and took Phoebe's hands into her.

"Did you two hit a home run on your first date?", Phoebe asked innocent. Brooke and Julian immediately looked a little shocked at her and did not know what to answer. "Did you? I've never hit a home run. Maybe I can go with Jamie to the field some time to hit a home run?"

"Where does this question come from?", Julian asked a little shocked but already knew the answer.
"Sam said that you probably hit a home run on your first date.", Phoebe asked and had no clue that she was actually talking about sex.

"Samantha Walker!", Brooke screamed and Sam came into the room not knowing what she had done this time.

"What?", she asked annoyed.

"So you told your baby sister that we hit a homerun on our first date?", Brooke looked madly up at her.

"Um…well…she wanted to know how your first date was.", Sam coughed and had to smile a little.

"You don't even know whether we hit a homerun or not. Don't tell your sisters stories.", Brooke emphasized and Sam just nodded.

"So you did not hit a home run or what?"

"Sure I did honey. I am very good in this sport.", Brooke immediately pinched Julian a little for that sentence, "Oww."

"No you're not dad. I bet if I work out very much I hit many, many homeruns.", Phoebe smiled proudly and knew that she was good in sports. Sam burst out into laughing while Julian stroked Phoebe's hair and hoped that she would never grow up.

"But I don't want my first date to be on a field. That's not very romantic dad. Mom does not care whether you hit a home run or not."

"Oh trust me, she does. Mom loves balls."

"Samantha!", Brooke said shocked.

"She hates balls. She is not even good in playing with them. Most of the time they land in her face.", Phoebe said back to Sam who could not help but burst out into laughing. Sam wanted to answer her but Brooke and Julian looked at her with a mad face and she decided to shut up.

"Can I go to my room now? Maybe Ben and I decide to hit a home run.", Sam laughed hard when her parents looked shocked at her. "It's a joke guys. Just a joke."

"Can I come with you if you're going to hit a home run? I wanna see and try it myself. Pleeeease.", Phoebe looked at Sam with a big smile and wondered why Sam made a disgusted face.
"Ewww…no. You can't. It was just a joke Phoebe. We're not going to play baseball today.", Sam said and went into her room again.

"I really wanna learn how to hit a home run too. Mom, is dad really that good?", Phoebe could just not stop talking about it. She could not imagine Julian as a good baseball player.

"Well, he's okay. Not the best. Just average.", Brooke laughed and could see how her husband looked furiously at her.

"I am the best Phoebe."

"Sweet. Then you can teach me.", Phoebe wondered again why Brooke and Julian looked weird at her. Both of them wanted to change the subject as fast as possible.

"You wanna watch TV now?", Brooke suggested immediately.

"Am I allowed?", Phoebe asked confused and jumped up in joy when Brooke and Julian nodded.

Brooke and Julian kissed while they watched Phoebe laughing at a funny scene on the TV. It was good that Phoebe was still so innocent but their teenage daughter definitely was not.

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Sam lay in Ben's arms and just imagined how her life had changed. She had never been so happy. She finally had the family she always wanted and even a little sister and the best boyfriend she could imagine. She remembered how jealous she had been of Phoebe in the beginning and that she had felt like an outsider but now all those feelings were gone. She loved spending time with every member of her family.

Brooke was definitely someone she could talk to about almost everything. Even about sex. Of course Brooke would react motherly but nevertheless her answers were always honest. And spending time with Julian was just amazing. They could talk about movies and stories for hours. Of course sometimes she thought that he was too protective but on the other hand that made him her dad.

Mom and Dad: Finally she could say those words for the first time in her life.

And then there was Phoebe. She loved her little sister so much and teasing her or explaining something to her was something she loved very much. It made her proud how Phoebe looked up at her and asked for help at times.

Sam looked at the boy besides her and pressed her lips on his. She knew that Ben had helped her being the way she was right now too: Happy.

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Ben smelled at his girlfriend's hair and could not believe his luck. He remembered how they had first met. He had fallen for her immediately but back then Phoebe had pretended to hate her. He could not believe that he was now living in Tree Hill amongst all those amazing people who had given him opportunities he had always dreamt of. He would graduate and soon the Scouts would watch him. And he had the best girlfriend ever and his cousin was finally safe and happy. He felt so grateful in this moment and closed his eyes.

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Phoebe watched the cartoon and had to laugh all the time. "Oh god. This is so funny.", she held her stomach and was happy when her family joined her. Brooke took her arm around her and Julian did the same. Soon the three of them laughed hard and Ben and Sam came outside as well.

"Why are you laughing all the time?"

"Sammy. This is too funny. Come and watch it with us.", Phoebe said happily and stood up to give them some space. Sam and Ben went onto the couch and Sam pulled Phoebe on her lap and kissed her cheek and burst out into laughing as well. Phoebe felt safe and happy in this moment.

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Some days later Sam, Ben and Brooke were at the Scotts and just waited for the other two to arrive to finally celebrate Ben's victory. He had just received the answer that he would start playing pro in the same team as Nathan. All of them were so proud of him. Especially Sam. She admired his strength and was more than happy to have him in her life. Of course she was a little sad too because playing pro meant to be away from everyone at times. But then she looked at his happy face and could not wish for more. They were upstairs in Jamie's room while Jamie went down to get some juices. "I am so proud of you.", Sam almost lay on top of him.

"Thanks.", Ben pressed his lips onto hers and moaned a little when they French kissed but they stopped when they heard someone running up the stairs screaming like a crazy child.

"Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god.", Phoebe opened the door and jumped on top of the two. "You are playing pro. I knew you would make it.", she hugged him tight and then Ben and Sam looked confused at Phoebe who hid her head in Ben's shoulder. They could tell that she was sobbing a little.

"Are you crying?", Ben took his hands around Phoebe's head and smiled when he saw the tears streaming down. "What happened?"

Julian was the next one to come into the room. "She was so excited and feared that you would be disappointed if you did not make it."

"Oh Phoebe.", Ben held the two girls on top of him tight and was happy to feel the love. He definitely felt loved when the Scotts and Brooke and Julian jumped onto the bed as well and it turned into a big hugging session. All of them laughed when the bed suddenly made a loud sound and they landed on the floor.

"Oh no. You destroyed my bed.", Jamie whined a little and told everyone to get up from it.

"So now we can jump on it if it's destroyed right?", Phoebe suggested but received a slap with a pillow. She was not expecting that and fell off the bed with a loud sound. "Owww." She looked madly at Jamie and then jumped on his back and started to tickle him.

"Get off me.", Jamie laughed hard and it did not take long that everyone in this room had a pillow in their hands and chased one another.

"Boys against girls. But outside.", Nathan suggested and Phoebe and Lisa were the first ones who yelled in joy and ran down with a pillow.

"No no no you two. Not without a jacket.", Haley waved the youngest into the house again and gave them their jackets.

"But it's really warm outside.", Phoebe protested but Haley just shook her head, took a cap onto her head and then patted her back and pushed her outside.

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Finally they boys were standing in front of the girls. Jamie looked with a smile at Phoebe and Lisa, Nathan smiled at Brooke while Julian smirked at Haley and Ben at his girlfriend.

"One, two, three.", Brooke immediately did not run towards Nathan but ran away. "Noooo. Stop it.", she screamed when Nathan pulled her over his shoulders and ran around with her.

"Julian! No!", Haley laughed when Julian took his arms around her from behind so that she could not move her hands any more.

"Let go of her.", Phoebe tried to free Haley but her dad was definitely stronger and then Jamie caught her as well. He jumped on top of her and pinned her under her. "Noooo.", Phoebe laughed when Jamie tickled her merciless and she tried to get away. Lisa tried to help her but Jamie managed to make her fall again and again. Meanwhile Ben and Sam did not chase one another but just held each other tight and looked at their happy family. Sam felt so safe in his arms that she did not want to let go of him any more. She leaned back at him and he immediately kissed her head.

Both of them had to laugh hard when Brooke screamed at them, "Don't just watch. Help me.", Nathan was sitting on her back and started to tickle her. Sam and Ben just shook their heads and watched how Julian did the same with Haley and Jamie with Phoebe. They were merciless. Lisa came over to them and sat down besides them. Sam immediately pulled her onto her lap and held the little kid tight.

"Juliaaaaan. Stooooop.", Haley said exhausted and finally the men let go of the girls and high fived. The girls stayed on the ground for a while and had to take deep breaths but then Brooke and Haley looked at each other and knew what to do. They went into the house and helped Phoebe up to get inside as well.

"What is our plan?", Phoebe asked excited but then looked confused at the piece of cake in her hand.

"Right into their faces.", Brooke laughed and finally the three of them ran outside and screamed. Haley managed to get the cake on Julian's face but Brooke failed. Nathan just turned around her hand and it landed in her own face. Phoebe on the other hand did not go after Jamie but shocked Ben and Sam from behind.

"Here you go.", she screamed and the cake landed on both of their faces.

"Oh you'll regret that.", Sam and Ben jumped up and ran after Phoebe.

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Some hours later the Bakers drove back home. They had totally forgotten about the time and Phoebe already slept in the car. Sometimes they wondered how young she looked. Even eleven-year-old kids appeared bigger and older. But obviously she was just not fast in growing.

"How about a movie?", Julian suggested to the teenagers in the back of the car.

"Sure.", they nodded.

"Me too.", Phoebe said without opening her eyes. She definitely did not want to be left out.

"Okay. It's the weekend. Only today.", Julian answered but she was already asleep and did not know of her luck.

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One morning Sam and Phoebe decided to finally give the paper to their parents,"What is this?", Julian asked confused and still very tired.

"Well, you forgot to take our punishment from a long time ago. Here it is.", Brooke woke up as well and looked from Sam to Phoebe. Ben was back with his parents for two days.

"Everything all right?", Brooke asked tiredly and tried to open her eyes.

"Yeah. We were just giving dad our note what family means to us.", Brooke looked at her girls and then sat up.

"Why don't we read it together?", she pulled up her blanket and Sam and Phoebe jumped into the bed with them and the four of them enjoyed each other's company.

"Family is a group of people that belongs together. There are many different family dynamics and I am sure that no family is like another. For me family means that you can totally trust each other no matter what. That you feel safe at home and that you feel like going home after a long day of hard work or school and just enjoy the others around you. But family also means to me that you can fight with each other over anything but in the end you'll always end up laughing and caring for each other. I know that not all families are like that but that is what it means to me and I am more than happy that I finally found mine."

Brooke and Julian had to wipe their tears and held Sam tight. "That was great Sampson.", Julian whispered. Brooke nodded and kissed her cheek.

Now Julian opened Phoebe's and before he read it, he showed it to Phoebe with a questioning look, "Yeah. Yeah. It's a bit shorter.", she hid her head behind a pillow. Julian laughed and started reading.

"My aunt, uncle and cousin are my family. And of course Becca. She made me find my new family: Brooke, Julian and Sam. Ps. And the Scotts. I love my family but I think that we should really get a dog!"

Brooke, Sam and Julian looked at Phoebe who felt a bit unsure, "Could you stop looking at me. I don't have the Julian writing gene in me. Sam does. I know it's not long and...",before she could end her sentence Sam pulled her into her arms and held her that tight that Phoebe complained.

"Owww...I cannot breathe." She looked up into Sam's wet eyes and raised an eyebrow.

"I definitely don't want to be a teenager if I'll be as emotional as you are now." all of them started laughing at her sweet comment.

"I want to change my name when you adopt me, okay?", Phoebe looked at her parents. She really hoped that Victoria would sign the papers one day. "Phoebe Baker. That sounds good."

"Me too", Sam raised her hand "Sam Baker sounds even better"

"Wow.", Julian smiled proudly and looked down at his two daughters, "Of course you can. Phoebe and Samantha Baker. I love that sound.", Brooke nodded and suddenly jumped up on the bed and did not stop jumping.

"I am a mother. I am a mother. I am a mother and I have the greatest kids and husband in the whole wide world."

"Brooke Penelope Baker. If you break that box spring you're sleeping on the floor.", Julian laughed and stood up and looked at his beautiful wife.

"Oh. Daddy's mad.", Brooke looked at him and her daughters laughed hard how their parents interacted, "But there isn't a box spring."

"Oh even so. You get over here before you mess up and I have to raise our daughters alone.", Julian joked and laughed when Brooke jumped into his arms. "I got you you crazy tiggery thing."

"I like it when you got me. I am happy to be gotten.", they kissed while Sam and Phoebe rolled their eyes on the bed. "I love you, you know that."

"Nice to know since I love you back.", he looked at Brooke with a grin and she just nodded and then both of them jumped onto the bed. Sam and Phoebe laughed hard when their parents almost made them fall out of it but then helped them up and soon the four of them jumped on it.

The Bakers: a crazy but lovable family.

Julian suddenly ran out of the room and took the answering machine. "How about we change it now? Whether you're last names are changed or not. You already are Bakers for a long time.", all of them fell on their stomachs and looked at the black box.

"Okay, I start. Then Brooke, then Sam and then Phoebe.", all of them nodded.

"Hello, we are the Bakers.", Julian said and Brooke continued.

"And we are very happy."

"So leave a message.", Sam said. It was Phoebe's turn but she did not know what to say and whined, "You did not leave anything for me to say."

"Okay, again.", Julian deleted it, "How about we just say our names. So…I start. Hello this is Julian."

"Brooke"

"Sam"

"and Phoebe."
"and we are the Bakers.", Julian added and Brooke continued.

"Just leave a message"

Brooke and Julian looked at Sam and Phoebe as if they had to say anything but they just burst out into laughing. The Scotts loved hearing that answering machine. Especially the laugh at the end could cheer up everybody's mood. The four of them stayed in bed for a while and just laughed about anything. One could hear Sam and Phoebe arguing at times.
"Oh you are a baby."

"I am noooooooot."

Brooke and Julian just held each other's hand and loved seeing their two daughters interacting. They finally got the family they wished for. Brooke looked at Julian and whispered, "I love you so much."

"I love you too.", he whispered back.

"Oh don't forget us.", Phoebe immediately jumped in the middle of them.

"We love you toooooo.", Brooke and Julian jumped on Sam and Phoebe and hugged them and kissed their cheeks over and over again. They did not let them go although their kids protested.

"Moooom. Daaaad.", Sam and Phoebe protested but they showed no mercy and pinned them under them. What a family! ;)

THE END

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Author's note: I hope the last chapter showed that they really became a sweet little family! I must admit that I will miss writing about them a little. In my mind all of the exist and my mind is full of many other scenes (even when all of them are way older).

But like I said: There is ALWAYS the option of a sequel.

I mentioned a story where Phoebe gets kidnapped, I am considering of adding a boy (or even more kids) to the family, I think of scenes when Phoebe is a teenager, maybe X will come back and so on...there are a lot of opportunities. It depends a little on how much time I'll have AND a lot on how many of you are actually interested in a sequel. So if you are: LET ME KNOW!

Thanks again guys. You made me smile so often. Just one review can make my day and motivates me to continue writing.

So far so good: Goodbye lovely Bakers and Scotts!

And goodbye lovely readers!

Your CaseyJr.

*May your dreams come true