Thanks for reviews tp404, ghostwhisperjimel, stagediva23, h23brock, caroline, sb1218, melissa, megan, wordsmeaneverything, lindy, molly, candace, laura, lauralynn3, vfbfan, callmegeneralawesome, khloe, anne, jenna, lostinwriting, jordan, simy, and elle! I got more reviews for the last one than i expected from it since it wasn't drama-ish at all. It makes me so happy! I can't resist posting this earlier than planned because I wrote it so fast. I told you, review motivate! :)

Here comes the drama...

ENJOYYYYYYYY! :)

AGE 2 1/2

(Jamie is 8 1/2 years older than twins, Lydia is 10 months older)

Brooke knocked and fast, light footsteps could be heard running to answer the door. It swung open.

"Hi Aunt Brooke!" Jamie greeted his 'favorite girl'.

The 11 year old loved his Aunt Brooke, but if he ever admitted his Mom or Lydia was his favorite girl, he was certain it would break her heart.

"Jamie!" Brooke's two boys shouted at him as they freed themselves from Brooke's hands and invited themselves inside. Like their parents, Davis and Jude loved Jamie.

"Hey Brooke," Haley greeted as she approached the open door. "Come on in."

The twins immediately followed Jamie wherever he went and Brooke followed Haley to the kitchen.

"Hey Little B!" Brooke saw Lydia Bob Scott sitting on the counter and ran up to hug her.

"Mommy and me are making brownies for you!" the almost three and a half year old told her.

Brooke's eyebrow immediately went up in suspision.

"Aunt Taylor's brownies?"

Haley shook her head while Lydia seemed confused.

"No, I'm making them, Aunt Brooke." Lydia told her again.

Brooke smiled and nodded. "Okay, good! I can't wait to have one."

Lydia smiled and swiper her fingers in the mixing bowl before licking the chocolate covering.

"Hey! Hands out of that bowl, missy." Haley scolded her daughter slightly.

"So who's running Karen's today?" Brooke asked Haley.

The two had been running Karen's Cafe for just about three years now and their partnership was still strong. They had hired some great workiers that reminded them of young versions of themselves to run things some days. It gave Brooke and Haley a lot more free time for their kids and other projects (like music and clothing design) which is just what they wanted.

"Emma and Brayden." They were practically the Lucas and Haley of years past.

"Oh good. I don't think we can put Brayden on with Molly anymore. She's been hitting on him rather than working." Molly was practically high school Rachel: i.e. slutty.

Haley chucked but agreed. She put the brownies in the oven and set the timer.

"Let's go see what the boys are up to, shall we?"

Brooke nodded and grabbed Lydia around the waist to pick her up.

"Boys are gross."

"Oh honey. Soon enough, you'll be like a crazy love sick puppy around boys." Broke told her.

"No way, that's silly." Lydia giggled.

Brooke smiled, knowing she was right. Hell, Lydia Scott could actually end up with one of her boys some day... or maybe Melodie McFadden? Wierd.

The three girls found the three boys outside in the yard. Davis was chasing Jamie with a stick sword while Jude was sitting alone on one of the swingset swings. Brooke put Lydia down and walked over to him.

"Do you want me to push your swing, J?"

Jude stood up and shook his head. Brooke crouched down to his level. She noticed how sunken and tired his eyes looked. That was wierd since he actually did take a nap when Davis wouldn't today.

"Why aren't you playing with Jamie and Davey?"

Jamie ran over to Brooke.

"He was but then he started coughing wierd."

"Are you feeling okay, buddy?"

Jude shrugged. "It hurted." Jude touched his chest.

"You have a tummy ache?"

"No..." Jude pointed again.

"Your chest?" Brooke was confused. That was wierd.

"Okay well how about you sit out of playing for a bit. Come sit with Mommy."

Jude listened and Brooke and Haley talked on the patio, each with their youngest child in their lap.

After a half hour, the timer went off and Haley went to get the brownies. The moms and all four kids each had a delicious brownie out on the deck, while they enjoyed the beautiful summer day.

"So where's Chuck and Madison today, Jame?" Brooke asked about Jamies best, but annoying, friend.

"He got grounded."

"Oh god. I can only imagine what for."

"He snuck out of the house and went to the Rivercourt in the middle of the night. His Mom didn't even know he was gone until the cops brought him home."

"Okay Jamie. No giving the kids any ideas," Haley joked.

"And Madison...?" Brooke repeated in a teasing voice. As Jamie got older, his love for Madison only grew. And everybody knew it. But they weren't official or anything, they're only just starting middle school this coming fall.

"I don't know every detail about where she is all the time, Aunt Brooke."

"Likely story.." Brooke teased. Jamie switched the subject fast.

"Hey Lyds. Let's show Jude and Davis how I taught you to do a layup on your little basketball hoop."

Lydia stood up and dropped her brownie crumbs on the deck.

"Yeah!" She scampered towards the fense gate that led to the driveway in the front yard.

"Come on guys!" Jamie encouraged the twins. "I can teach you, too."

Both boys jumped up and followed Jamie.

"Don't let anyone leave the driveway, Jamie!" Haley called.

"I won't!"

"I guess he's feeling better," Brooke said, watching Jude run alongside his twin.

"They bounce back pretty quick, don't they?" Haley laughed.

"Oh yeah. Everytime one of them takes a nose dive, I think they're gunna start bawling, but they jummp right up and keep playing. They're pretty tough. I have no idea where they got that from," Brooke said, making fun of her husband slightly. Haley totally got the joke.

"So where is Julian today?"

"Uh, he's starting pre-production for some movie. Whenever they finish casting and prepping and they pin down a location, he'll be filming. They're planning on shooting for five or six months somewhere close, but then they're going to a location overseas for a month. I'm not looking forward to it."

Haley frowned. "Ugh I know how you feel. Nathan's been traveling for the agency more and more but he's been home for a few months straight now, which has been a welcomed change. How soon could Julian be leaving?"

"Six months or so from now, I guess. I just hope he's not gone for the boys' birthday."

"He wouldn't do that, Brooke. He loves those boys. He wouldn't miss it."

"Yeah...It's a good movie, I've read the script. I just hate that us living here mean he has to travel to get work. We were lucky that they got a local studio for most of the principle filming. Julian having to go for only a month is practically a miracle."

"It will all work out, Brooke."

"I hope so." Brooke sighed and took a final bite of her second brownie.

"MOM! AUNT BROOKE!"

Jamie ran in through the gate at lightening speed. "HELP! COME QUICK!"

Brooke and Haley suddenly got very scared and alarmed. They each bolted off the patio and ran after Jamie, thinking the worst. Thinking one of the other three kids got hit by a car or something.

"What happened?" Haley yelled before they reached the driveway.

"I-I dunno! He just can't breathe!" Jamie was panicking.

Brooke gasped as the scene came into view and she rushed to her son who was lying on the pavement at the top of the driveway.

"Jude! Baby?" Brooke let herself fall to his side and she grabbed his shoulder.

"I'm calling 911!" Haley pulled out her cellphone.

"He just started coughing and making wierd noises. And then he fell."

Brooke noticed Jude with his hands crossed over his chest.

"Is it your chest, baby?"

Jude's body swayed front to back as he was lying on his side. He gasped for breathes.

Brooke's mind was racing. Her son couldn't breathe. Her husband wasn't here. Her other son and niece were crying nearby. She heard Haley tell the 911 dispatcher that the little boy was struggling to breathe and to hurry up and get an ambulance here. She was helpless. She had no idea what to do. It was all too much. She moved her son into her arms and rocked him while also rubbing his chest. She spouted off little phrases to him, not really remembering what she was saying, but just trying to be supportive.

Jude was scared. Tears streamed from his eyes and Brooke tried to calm him as best she could, considering that she wasn't calm herself.

It was the longest ten minutes of their lives until the ambulance arrived and an ER team took over. They lifted Jude on a stretcher and into the ambulance quickly. Brooke shot a glance back to Haley as she jumped in the ambulance.

"I'll call Julian," Haley shouted. Brooke didn't make any move of acknowledgement. But Haley knew.

Brooke also knew that Haley would take care of Davis. She obviously needed to be with Jude right now.

;

Although Brooke thought Julian was still at work, he was fed up with his staff today and decided to cut out early to get a few beers with a friend.

"Hey Nate," Julian sat down at a bar stool. He was obviously fed up with life at the moment.

This friend just happened to be Nathan Scott.

"Hey.. bad day? Your text was direct and desperate sounding," Nate joked.

"Casting for this movie is a nightmare. No one can agree. I picked my lead teen actors but the production office says these kids are too unknown. I think that's a good thing, but they obviously don't see it that way."

"Weren't you a producer before you started directing? You know this stuff, right?"

"Yeah, but I still don't see eye to eye with them. It just makes for horrible meetings."

"Well, first round's on me." Nathan flagged down the bartender who took their order.

"Good, thanks. So how're Haley and the kids doing? I think Brooke and the boys were going to stop by your house today."

"Yeah I just talked to Haley and she said they've been there for awhile now."

"I bet Brooke's all over Lydia. She loves that girl. I can tell she wishes we had a little girl that she could dress up and take shopping. The boys don't last two minutes at the mall."

"I know you had that bad experience with adopting, but you could try again, right? This time there could be less pressure since you already have two children."

"Maybe.. but the boys are a handful enough already. She hasn't mentioned it; I can just tell she wishes she had a little girl but she doesn't want to be ungrateful. We were so lucky to get the boys at all."

"Maybe it's not the right time. Or maybe you could still have another pregnancy. We weren't planning for Lyds, but I couldn't imagine life without her now."

"She is very adorable. I have to give you that."

Nathan nodded and turned. "You would be good with a daughter, Julian. You're sensitive enough," Nathan teased.

"Gee thanks."

"Maybe we should head over to my house soon and meet up with the fam. I'm sure Jamie would like the break."

Julian laughed. "It's great that the women can get together and we can hang out and the kids are entertained by Jamie."

"I know, right? I would've never thought that having Jamie so young would help us so much in the long run. He's the perfect babysitter and we don't even have to pay him."

Julian laughed. "That won't last long."

"Tell me about it."

Just then, Julian's cellphone buzzed. He looked at the screen.

"Why is your wife calling me?" Julian asked Nate.

Nathan shrugged while Julian answered.

"Hello?... ... What?... ... ... Haley, slow down!"

;

In the ambulance Jude was given an oxygen mask as he thrashed about, looking for his mother.

"I'm right here, baby." Brooke grabbed his little hand as she sat on a thin bench beside the stretcher.

"Let him help you." Brooke told Jude, refering to the EMT.

The man told Brooke that it looked as though Jude was having an asthma attack, but she said this had never happened before so she didn't know what to do. Neither of the boys had had any trouble breathing after leaving the NICU as babies.

The parametic administered a shot of a medication called epinephrine to help Jude's inflamed airway. Everything the parametic did seemed to be helping, and Brooke couldn't have been more grateful.

When they got to the hospital, Jude was rolled away quickly and Brooke was ordered not to follow him. She fought the nuses, but when they told her that there was nothing she could do for him right now but cause unneccessary distractions for the doctors trying to save his life, Brooke sombered. She had to let the professionals help him.

Although it seemed like forever, it really wasn't long before a doctor came and found Brooke anyways. He guided Brooke to Jude's cubicle while explaining to her that he did in fact have an astham attack. The doctor opened the curtain and she saw Jude was sleeping now. They had given him a sedative to calm him down so he could rest for a little bit. Brooke went and grabbed his hand. Jude woke up slightly and figited.

"Just rest, Jude. Mommy's right here, baby."

After a minute, Jude settled back down and his medically induced sleep continued.

"Nothing like this has ever happened to him before. How did this happen?" Brooke asked the doctor.

"Asthma can start at any age, especially to kids under ten. He was probably exposed to a large amount pollin or other irritants that caused his airways to narrow. Swelling of the lining, tightening of the muscle, and increased secretion of mucus in his airway is what caused his wheezing and choking," Brooke was told. "It can also be brought on my increased activity."

"He was playing in the yard. He was running around with his twin and his cousins."

"That combination of the two is most likely the cause. The outdoor allergies have been pretty dense lately. We've seen a lot of cases this week alone."

"Is my son going to be okay?" Brooke asked desperately.

"He's going to be just fine. We're going to keep him overnight for observation and we'll have the nurses educate you on the facts of asthma and perscribed drug nebulizer treatment you will now need to carry with you at all times. His inhaler can be used if he has any more scares like this in order to help control his breathing and avoid another hospitalization."

Brooke nodded, taking everything in as best she could. "Thank you."

The doctor nodded. "The nurses will be in soon to move him upstairs to his own room."

The doctor left.

When the transfer was complete and Brooke knew Jude's floor and room number, Brooke sat down in a chair next to Jude and pulled out her phone. She was surprised it didn't fall out of her pocket during all the comotion.

She had a missed call from Haley and three from Julian.

Brooke texted Haley: He's doing better. I'll call when I can

She texted Julian: he had an asthma attack, third floor, room 323

;

Julian got to the hospital quickly and frantically ran around the hospital until someone pointed him in the right direction. He looked throught the small window on door #323 before opening it.

"Brooke..."

Brooke looked up from Jude, thinking it was a doctor or nurse. When she saw her husband she threw her chair back slightly and ran into his arms.

Julian held the back of her head with his palm while she cried.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you when this happened."

"He was so scared... I was so scared!"

"I know honey. Everything's gunna be okay."

Brooke pulled back and nodded.

They sat down and Brooke told Julian everything the doctor had told her. Then the nurses came in and gave them countless pamphlets about their new life with an asthmatic child.

"Mama?" Jude woke up when the nurses had left. He started to get nervous and shaky when he didn't know where he was. But his parents knew that it was kind of an okay thing since he hated doctor's visits and hospitals by extension. Jude would know that soon enough, but right now they just wanted to keep him calm and resting.

"Baby, I'm right here... You're okay; everythings gunna be okay..." She rubbed his head.

"Hi buddy," Julian waved to his son. "How are you feeling?"

Jude took a deep breath and smiled because he could actually do it now. Before he definately couldn't.

"Okay," he said softly.

"Honey, what happened today is called an asthma attack.. you have a condition called asthma that makes it hard for you to breathe sometimes."

"Why?"

"It happened because of some dusty stuff in the air and because you were running around a lot."

"Again?" Jude cowered and looked even more scared. It was scary how quickly their little spitfire could turn so small and fragile. Brulian knew he was asking if it would happen again, soon or ever.

Julian answered. "We're going to try to make sure you never feel that scared or struggle to breathe like that ever again."

Jude was still hung up on the fear and he started to cry. Brooke stood up and leaned into the small bed so she was holding her son in her arms.

"Sshhh Mommy and Daddy are here. It's okay."

;

The next day, Jude was discharged with many instructions and medications and information about his newly diagnosed condition. He now had an inhaler, which the nurses spend hours teaching Jude and Brulian how to use. Jude didn't really like it, but when the adults explained that this would stop his 'episodes', he warmed up to it pretty fast. The adults did their best to explain to Jude that he couldn't do things exactly the same as before. He had to take it easy when running and playing, he had to stay away from smoke, he had to be carefuly outside where allergins ran rampant, his sicknesses would hit him harder than most. It was a real wakeup call for Brulian, even though Jude really didn't understand.

"Mommy!" Davis ran to their car when they pulled up to Naley's house. Haley and Jamie walked out to see Brulian and Jude.

Brooke opened the back door so Davis could see Jude was inside and safe.

"Were you a good boy for Aunt Haley?"

Davis nodded and started talking to Jude, or "Jew" as Davis calls him.

"He was very upset and scared for his brother but Jamie was really good with him." Haley told Brooke.

"Thanks J-man," Julian put a thankful hand on Jamie's shoulder.

Jamie nodded.

"How are doing, Jude?"

Jude smiled and gave a thumbs up from his carseat.

Julian belted Davis into his own carseat and then the Bakers left for home.

;

For the rest of the day, Brulian and the kids stayed in the house and just hung out. They tried to make some low-energy fun for the kids, like watching movies and playing games, etc. They sat the boys down and explained some of what Jude's asthma was all about, but they also didn't want to overwhelm the boys with the information. That night, after everyone went to bed, Julian turned over to find Brooke missing from her side of the bed. He got up and went out to the kitchen where he saw a faint white light coming into view. Then he saw his wife's face, lit up by the laptop.

"Brooke, what are you doing up?"

"I'm reading all these horror stories about asthma. It's crazy. The inhaler is supposed to help but some people use daily inhalers, some say that's dangerous, others say inhalers hurt the lungs more, but others say not using inhalers is dangerous too-"

"Brooke, it's the internet. People can put anything up. You can't take it as fact."

"I just wanted more information."

"And that's good, we'll get countless opinions and recommendations..." Julian pushed the laptop closed. "But now it's time to sleep."

Brooke looked down and the tears started.

"I was so scared..."

"I know.." Julian knelt down beside her chair and wiped her cheek. "I wish I had been there to help."

"How did we not see it? Nobody saw it coming. He even went to the doctor's for his two year checkup and he was fine. How did this come on so suddenly?"

"Asthma symptoms are pretty general... headaches, coughing, bad colds. Every kid gets those but it doesn't mean he it's not normal."

"But he had chest pain before the attack happened. But I let him play anyways."

"Brooke... you can't stop the boys from wanting to run and play. They're boys."

"I never want to see that happen ever again. He's never playing sports..."

"Jude is like you, Brooke. Not me.. he's gunna want to play sports and be active and popular. His medical problems can't stop him, they didn't when he was born and they never will. If someone had told you that you couldn't be a cheerleader, would that have stopped you?"

Brooke smiled. "No.. I just-"

"Kids play sports with asthma all the time. He just needs to be aware of his limits and he needs to be smart about it. We'll teach him that. There's nothing he can't do."

"You're right."

Julian smiled. "Wait, what was that? Are you saying I was right and you were wrong?"

"I wouldn't go that far..."

"Oh yes I would! I totally win. I'm the rational one!"

Brooke stood up. "Don't get cocky my friend. You're only good at calming me down when I'm worried and stressed."

"Well I'd say I'm also good at some other things as well," Julian seductively eyed her and smiled.

Brooke laughed and nodded. Her husband was always there for her.

"Mommy?" A little voice disrupted Brulian's banter.

Julian turned around. "Davis? What are you doing up? It's three A.M."

Davis's little feet padded over to his parents. He rubbed his eyes with his little fists.

"Did you have a bad dream?"

Davis nodded. "Bout Ju," he admitted. He couldn't get the image of his brother struggling to breathe out of his mind.

"Do you want me to take him?" Julian asked, offering to stay up.

"No, I've got him."

Brulian kissed and Julian went back to bed while Davis and Brooke snuggled on the couch together. Brooke rubbed his light brown/almost blondish curls as she felt Davis sniffle against the left side of her chest.

"I know what you saw yesterday was very scary, but it's over now. Jude has some medicine a little tube called an inhaler that will stop that from happening again, okay?"

Davis didn't respond, but he was still awake. He was like that. He was a boy of few words, most days. But he was also extremely loving, sweet, kind, and sensitive. Jude was those things too, but he was way more adventurous and talkative and dirtier and sneakier than Davis.

So Brooke sat there quietly with Davis. The way her arm wrapped around his body reminded her of when she used to hold him and sketch while he slept or just relaxed (end of 8x22 lol). She could never do that with Jude, he was way too squirmy. But Davis was good with just chilling out with Mom. Brooke would always cherish those memories. And she was thankful he would still let her hold him like this now. She didn't really think it would last much longer, but she secretly hoped it would.

When Davis finally fell asleep, Brooke began whispering to him. She was mostly talking to herself and reminding herself how precious and fragile life is and how she would never take advantage of that ever. If she had to be that overprotective mother, she wouldn't be ashamed of it, as long as her kids were safe.

"Mommy's going to protect her baby boys. No matter what."

REVIEWWW! How'd you like the health scare? This will affect Brulian in the year to come!

Next chapter comes more, but different DRAMA! :)

~ Haley :)