Thanks for reviews molly, khloe, jenna, caroline, jordan, lauralynn3, elle, stagediva23, tp404, wordsmeaneverything, megan, sb1218, lauren, emma, h23brock, simy, amy, blair, minervaann, rafap, arubagirl0926. Those reviews were SO QUICK! Thanks a million!
BIG THANKS to tp404 for being my 100th reviewer for this story! :)
Unfortunately for you readers (not really unfortunate for me because I look forward to this trip ALL YEAR, EVERY YEAR), I'm heading out on vacation for two weeks with my big huge crazy family. Then right when I return from that, I set out to Maine for a week with my 2 BFFs :) So this means barely any writing and maybe no updates. Who knows if I'll even have internet (the house is very tempermental with wifi connections). So I'm warning you now. This is probably the only update you'll get until at least August. I'll try to post something mid-vaca if I can. But no promises!
I REALLY really really appreciate any and all reviews, however big or small, so still review even when I'm gone. I will read them ALL when I can!
I'll be brainstorming future chapter contents and dialogue all vaca, I have great plans for the Bakers coming up!
But for now, enjoy this one!
AGE 3
Brooke walked into the house from getting groceries and placed all the bags she could carry onto the counter. Instead of getting the rest, she searched those few bags for the most important item and pulled it out. Then she walked towards her bedroom where she heard Julian and the boys' voices.
"Okay!... I've got something here for Mommy's big - - aaugh!"
Brooke stopped dead in her tracks and dropped the package in her hand. That same hand flew to her mouth.
"We're doin' it, Mommy!" Davis beemed with pride.
"Julian! What the-?"
In the middle of her gorgeous master bathroom, her three boys were gathered around the toilet with their pants down, grasping their manhood, and peeing into the toilet.
"Daddy's teachin' us!" Jude yelled.
Julian laughed but then saw his wife's face. He zipped up, washed his hands and walked over to her.
"I thought this is what you wanted?" Julian was puzzled. They'd talked about starting potty training today. He thought he'd get a jump on it since he was the man of the house with sons. It's not like Brooke had his kind of experience or equipment...
"Julian, I bought them their own little potty today and it's in the trunk of my car. They're supposed to use that and sit down until they get the hang of things. Just in case."
"They are? That's wierd." Apparently he hadn't read the parenting books at all.
Brooke shook her head and went over to Davis and Jude.
"Are you boys all done?"
"Yep!" Davis smiled.
Brooke leaned over to button and zip Davis's shorts when she was distracted by what was in the toilet.
"Cheerios?" She looked at Julian.
"They're good for aiming," Julian shrugged.
Brooke couldn't help but laugh.
"Well let's get your hands washed. And then Mommy can show you your new training underpants that she just bought."
Brooke and Julian each picked up a boy so they could reach the sink and then the boys scampered out of the bathroom.
"These are fo' babies," Jude protested as he was the first to pick up the package of huggies that Brooke had dropped before.
"No way, jose! They're not for babies. They say "for big boys" right on the front!" Julian pointed to a random word, but the non-genius boys didn't know how to read obviously, so they believed their father.
"Otay," Jude accepted it and the boys walked out of their parents' bedroom, leaving them alone.
"You're unbelievable, you know that?" Brooke laughed.
"Don't deny that you didn't love what you just saw in there," he pointed to the bathroom. "You thought it was adorable, didn't you?"
Brooke tried to give her husband a serious look. He could be so goofy and unhelpful sometimes (a true man!), but at least he was here. Since Jude's asthma scare, Julian had done his best to slow down the process of getting his movie to filming so he wouldn't have to travel just yet. So far it was working wonders. According to the original schedule, he was supposed to be traveling to Europe for shooting, but they were so far behind schedule, that probably wouldn't happen for another few months. Brooke was very glad he wasn't traveling, but dreaded the day when that happened. It was inevidible and unaviodable.
"Maybe."
"Brooke...? Come on now." Julian raised his eyebrow. "Lying is bad."
Brooke couldn't deny it. She couldn't hide her smile from him.
"Just help me get the rest of the groceries, you goof..."
;
After a whole month of potty training, things were still pretty rough for the Bakers. Brooke had cleaned up so many accidents, she thought she was going to literally go crazy. Laundry was becoming her worst nightmare. She wanted to just put them back in diapers, at night especially, but now that 'big boy underpants' was in the boys' minds, there was no going back. They refused.
"Mom..." Davis walked into his bedroom to see Brooke changing his soiled sheets from the night before.
"What's up handsome?"
"Tummy hurts.."
Brooke turned and sat on his freshly stripped little mattress.
"Come here, bud."
Davis walked towards his Mom and she felt his forehead.
"Uh oh. You feel warm. Why don't we go put a movie on in the living room and you can rest, huh?"
Davis nodded.
That was the sign. Usually her boys refused to sit still, but when they actually agreed to resting, then they were really feeling sick.
Brooke sighed as she got Davis settled, put in Cars 2, and went to her medicine cabinet.
This was becoming an unwelcomed cycle in their house. The twins gave each other every germ they had to give. First one of the boys would get sick, and soon enough the other had the same thing. Last month it was a nasty cold that passed from Jude, to Davis, to Julian. The month before was bad ear infections all around. Now Davis's symptoms seemed mild so far, but it could go either way as to whether it would get worse and spread to anyone else. Brooke was determined to not let that happen.
"Mama, I pooed on da potty!" Jude galloped over to her.
"You did?"
"Uh huh. Daddy wiped my butt."
Brooke let out a laugh. "Awesome man!"
She went in for a high five but stopped short. "Did you wash your hands?"
"Yup."
Brooke nodded and let Jude complete the high five. Luckily he hadn't inherited his father's version of the action...
"Your brother's on the couch because he doesn't feel well, so don't go trying to play with him, okay? Stay away."
"Fiinnneeee," Jude said as he left the room. She let him leave even though she knew he wouldn't listen. Jude got bored very easily, especially when he was playing by himself. But since his asthma made his sicknesses worse than normal, catching something bad from Davis could prove to be even worse on Jude.
"Is Dave okay?" Julian asked as he passed Jude and approached Brooke.
"Yeah, hopefully. I'll take care of it. He just has a tummy ache. We'll see what happens." Brooke explained. "And I from a reliable source that you're the best butt wiper in town.." she teased.
Julian shook his head as he walked out of the bedroom. That was the last thing he ever thought he would be doing at age 30.
;
In the middle of the night Davis came rushing into his parents' bedroom.
"Mommy! No feel good!" He yelled.
Brooke and Julian sat up.
"I'll take him to the bathroom." Julian went to stand.
"Blaaaaaaaaaah!"
Before anyone could react, Davis threw up all over the floor. It was impressive projectile for such a small boy.
"Oh god!" Brooke bolted up as Julian grabbed their son and rushed him into their master bathroom.
Poor little Davis couldn't stop gagging and wretching, but managed to squeak out a little "Sorry..."
"Shhh buddy, it's okay. Everything's okay." Brooke told him as she reached him and started rubbed his back, glad now that he was standing over the toilet rather than soiling the rug in her room any more.
Brooke ended up getting up two other times that night with Davis to throw up. She refused to sleep if Davis was up. She told Julian to go back to bed.
During the 'breaks in the action', Brooke rocked him in the big rocking chair in the boys' room or cuddled with him in her own bed so they didn't wake Jude.
"Mummy, another popsicle?" Davis asked as she rocked him back and forth, in the boys' bedroom this time.
"Shhhh." Brooke pointed to a sleeping Jude. "In the morning, okay? You've had two already." Brooke just wanted him to sleep.
Davis figited so he had his back resting on Brooke's stomach and she wrapped her arms around him. He was usually not like this, but the sickness made him hot and restless.
Brooke just rocked him for as long as it took and she listened to her sons breathe. They were practically in sync. She figured it was a twin thing. She loved how bonded they were and although she would probably understand that bond, she was so glad they would always have each other.
In no time, an exhausted Davis was breathing evenly enough that she was sure he was asleep again. So Brooke allowed herself to fall asleep too.
;
"Brooke... wake up." Julian jostled her shoulder slightly.
"What?" Brooke shot up in her chair, almost frantic. "Where's Davey?"
"He's okay. I just thought you'd want to get up since it's almost ten. He's just having breakfast with Jude."
Brooke stood up. "No!" She headed for the kitchen.
"Brooke, what's wrong?" Julian followed her.
Brooke didn't answer him, but when she got to the kitchen, she made a beeline for Davis, who was sitting right close to Jude and was barely eating his cereal at all. She saw he looked flushed and placed an open palm on his forehead. He was even hotter than before.
"Great... Come on, Davey." Brooke picked him up and brought him back into his room.
Julian kept asking what was wrong but Brooke just put her hand up and wouldn't talk to him.
Brooke took Davis's temperature, which was now 102 degrees F. She tucked him back into bed and went to get medicine and a cool cloth for his forehead. She gave Davis the medicine and told him to try to take a nap. She went back to her bathroom to find the number for the doctor's office on their bulletin board.
In the bathroom Julian confronted her again.
"Brooke? Why are you mad?"
Brooke turned on a dime.
"WHY am I mad? He should be in bed, Julian! His fever is high and...the last thing he should be doing is sitting next to his brother! Do you want them both to be sick? Davis is bad enough but Jude getting sick could send him back to the hospital! Is that what you want?" Brooke yelled.
"No, of course not. Brooke, be reasonable."
"Do NOT talk to me like I'm crazy. This is serious, Julian."
"Mumma... I'm sorry." Jude walked into his parent's bedroom wiping his eyes.
"Jude, why are you crying?" Brooke bent down to him.
"I peed.." Jude looked down at his wet shorts. He was doing so well this week. He was very embarrassed. "I sorry."
"Oh handsome, it's okay. Don't cry. Mommy will change you. Go into the living room while I get you some fresh clothes but don't sit on anything, okay?"
Jude nodded and left.
"I'll do it, Brooke."
"No," she said shortly, "I'll just do it all."
"Excuse me?" Julian knew the meaning behind her words. "And why is that? I'm offering to help."
"Because I'm their mother!" Brooke yelled angrily.
Julian knew Brooke was overwhelmed with potty training and sickness and still getting used to Jude's asthma and those added risks, but this was going overboard. It was like she wanted to do everything herself and throw Julian out of everything. They were supposed to be in this together, but Brooke seemed to break up the team every chance she got. When he offered to help, she pushed him away. When he didn't offer, he became the enemy and the recipient of her anger.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He narrowed his eyes.
"You do nothing around here! I do everything for them!"
"Are you kidding? Do you think I sit on my ass and twittle my thumbs all day? I am doing the best I can! I may work outside the house a lot but I am not incompetent as a father. Plus, you never let me help even when I try! You have to control everything, don't you?"
"Because you do everything wrong!"
Julian shook his head and his voice got low. He didn't always do things exactly how she liked them or wanted them to be done, but he wasn't wrong. He wasn't a bad father.
"You of all people should know that I'm a better father than some."
Brooke's jaw dropped slightly.
"That's just mean. Do not bring our own damn fathers into this!" He knew thinking of her absentee father always hurt her.
"Fine I won't." Julian turned to leave grabbed his keys off their nightstand.
"Where are you going?" Brooke asked, suddenly concerned. He didn't answer her.
She knew she overstepped a bit, but she couldn't take it back now. She just hoped he wasn't doing what she thought he was doing.
He couldn't actually be leaving, right?
.
Brooke followed Julian to the living room.
"Come on, Jude. You and Daddy are gunna go for a ride."
Jude got excited and trotted towards the door. He loved riding in his Dad's old truck.
Brooke was shocked. She followed them out onto the porch and touched Julian's arm but he pulled away. The two J boys headed to the car.
"He's still wet, Julian! AND you don't have his inhaler!"
Brooke knew that Julian had been quick to get extra inhalers to put in each of their cars and for emergencies. She was just trying to get him to stop and not leave. But this just made Julian more upset. Anger filled him.
Jude got in the backseat and Julian strapped him into his carseat. He closed the door and turned to address Brooke again.
"Contrary to what you believe, Brooke, I know what I'm doing. I have whatever he needs in my truck and I can take care of my son just fine, thank you! I won't kill him, okay? Is that what you're worried about?"
They stood in silence for a moment and Julian took that to mean 'yes'.
"For god sakes, Brooke! I know it was always your dream to be a Mom and everything, and you have that now... but you've been treating me like I'm a damn sperm donor or something! Like nwo that I've done my job, you can throw away my file and forget me. But no! I'm your husband and I'm their father, and even if you'd like to change that, you can't!... At least not the last part, you can't.." Julian hesitated on that part but got the courage to finish strong. "So start acting like we're partners in this, because I've never stopped thinking that!"
He rounded his truck to get to the driver's side as he mumbled, "...Until now."
Julian slammed the door of his truck closed and started the engine. Within seconds, his truck was out of sight.
Brooke couldn't move. Her face contorted to cry but she tried to force the tears back inside her head.
That wasn't the way today was supposed to start.
;
When Brooke had gone back in to check on Davis, he was asleep. She hoped he hadn't heard any of that fight. She wondered if Jude was scared or upset from what he heard. They probably didn't understand what the fight was about, but kids still picked up that kind of negative energy.
Brooke filled her time that morning and into the afternoon with cleaning and cleaning and cleaning. She called and talked to the boys' pediatrician's office, who told her to give Davis fluids and some generic medicine and to bring him in if his fever didn't go down before tomorrow or it got suddeny higher.
She also called Julian's cell a few times as well, but got no answer. This was bad.
"I'm hungry." Davis staggered out of his room at two P.M.
Brooke motioned for him to come over to her and he sat on her lap.
"Well I don't blame you. You've been sleeping all the live long day... Do you feel any better?"
She felt his forehead and he seemed cooler, thank god. Davis shrugged.
"Daddy make Mac&Cheese?" Davis asked.
Brooke swallowed. Julian made this amazing fresh alfredo macaroni and cheese that the boys loved more than anything. He made the sauce from scratch. But she didn't know how to make it.
"Daddy went out, buddy. I'm sorry. I'll make you whatever else you want."
Davis frowned and then looked around. "Ju gone?"
"Yeah, honey. He went with Daddy."
Brooke knew Davis would be upset that Jude got to leave with Julian and he couldn't.
"Mommy's gunna make you something else to eat, okay?"
She scooted him off her lap and went into the kitchen to come up with a tasty meal. After a minute, Davis walked into the kitchen.
"What's up, baby?"
Davis walked up to her legs and held one leg with one arm and reached up with the other. Brooke knew that was her sons' universal sign for 'pick me up'.
So she did. Brooke picked Davis up and he wrapped his little arms around her neck in a hug.
"No mo' yell, Mumma."
Brooke almost cried when she heard that. Davis did hear the fight between her and Julian. He knew she was upset and angry before... She hated that she ever put her boys through what she experiences, even once, as a kid. The memory of constant fighting and screaming and throwing things like her parents did. That was the absolute last thing she ever wanted to pass onto her children.
Davis kissed her cheek, which she loved. He could tell she was upset and flustered.
"I'm sorry, buddy. That won't happen anymore, I promise."
She hoped she wouldn't have to break her promise.
;
After a whole day away from the house, Jude was cranky even though Julian had tried to do some really fun things with him.
Jude wanted to go home. Julian didn't.
When they pulled up to the house, all the lights were on outside waiting for them. Brooke greeted them at the door. She asked Jude if he had a good day and he nodded before going to play with a toy in the playroom. Brooke told him to go start to get ready for bed, but he was slow to do what he was told. Brooke addressed Julian.
"Davis is in bed already. I think he'd really like it if you read him a story before he went to sleep."
Julian sighed. "I'm not staying, Brooke."
"What?" Brooke was confused and upset. She didn't think that fight this morning would last more than just today.
"I'm not staying here tonight. I think I'll just stay at a hotel or at a friend from work's place."
"Julian... please. We need to work this out. You should stay," Brooke whispered, not wanting a nearby Jude to know something more was wrong.
"I want some time to cool off, okay?"
"And this whole day wasn't enough?"
Julian didn't answer.
"Julian, do it for the boys. You have to stay. We need to talk about this. We can fix this! I know we both said things.."
"No, Brooke. You yelled at me and tried to shut me out and I defended myself." Julian said calmly.
"Julian..."
"You don't want to change, Brooke. I can see that... Ever since his asthma attack," Julian whispered that part and pointed to Jude subtly, "you've been so overprotective and strict and mean, especially to me. I just don't know if I can take it anymore."
Julian went to turn and Brooke followed him out onto the porch. She took a firm grasp on his upper arm with both hands.
"Please don't go. I'm sorry, Julian, I'm so sorry. You know this is never what I wanted."
"I'm sure it's not."
The conversation paused.
"When are you gunna come back? What do I tell the boys?"
"Tell them that I'm at work and that I'll see them tomorrow."
"But- -"
"Let me go, Brooke."
She saw the look in his eyes and then looked down.
"I don't want to," Brooke said quietly.
Brooke's grip barely lightened but Julian pulled away. He walked to his truck and drove away without looking back.
;
In the morning, their big kind size bed felt so empty without him.
Brooke had done her best to put on a happy face for the boys going to bed, but she broke down as soon as they were asleep and she got to the priacy of her bedroom- their bedroom. She didn't sleep well at all because her dreams were filled with Julian walking away and not looking back. He didn't turn back even when Brooke was attacked by a dog or when she screamed for him or when she was struck by lightening or when she begged and pleaded for him not to. She pictured the boys never seeing their dad again, and them hating her because it was her fault. She pushed him away. After waking suddenly, she fell back into a new dream where Julian was with someone else and all three of her boys loved this woman more than her. Some skanky man stealing woman who treated Julian like a king. The way he deserved to be treated by her.
When Brooke awoke, the sun was blairing through the blinds right into her eyes. She rolled over onto the side of the bed and rubbed her eyes before walking into the master bathroom. She was immediately hit by the smell of Julian's cologne and aftershave. It always smelt like this, but it was bittersweet today. She already missed how he always complemented her and how he always got up with her in the morning, even if he had the opportunity to sleep in before work.
She missed him.
She just didn't realize how much she took him for granted before. She usually only reminded herself about not taking her children for granted, since she was lucky to conceive in the first place, but now Julian would be at the top of that list. He should have been all along.
She was lucky to have ever found him.
Even from in her room, she heard the slight click of the front door lock and the creak that it made when it opened.
For a second she got scared. Was an intruder on his way in? And who did she have to protect her? Not her husband.
She grabbed her robe and went out to the living room. She almost grabbed a lamp for protection when she realized it was Julian coming through the door. Julian turned and saw her as well.
"Hi."
"Hi." Brooke gave him back the same comment, only weaker, raspier, and higher pitched.
She watched Julian close the door behind him and go to sit on the couch.
"I didn't think you'd be back so early," she admitted, not meaning anything by it. It was just an observation.
"I couldn't really sleep without being in my own bed." Julian dropped his hands in his lap and studied them.
The silent tension could be cut with a dull knife.
Before Brooke could say anything, Davis walked out of his room.
"Good morning baby, how are you feeling?" Brooke asked.
Davis ignored her when he saw his father.
"Daddy!" He rushed over to the couch and Julian pulled him up on his lap.
"Hey bud. Are you still sick?" Julian felt his forehead. "Nope, cool as a cucumber," Julian smiled.
"You worked?" Davis asked him, refering to why he was gone last night. Julian didn't want to lie, he didn't know what Brooke had told them, so he changed the subject.
"How 'bout I make you and Jude some breakfast?" Julian stood up from the couch with Davis still in his ams.
"Mac&cheese?" Davis gave Julian back his signature grin.
"That's not a breakfast food, man!"
"Mama no know how yest'day..." Davis told him. Julian looked to Brooke.
"We need you around here." Brooke hoped he knew that her statement had way more meanings than just one about cooking macaroni and cheese.
Julian nodded.
"Well mac&cheese it is. Now go wake your sleepy-head brother."
Julian put Davis down, who ran to get Jude, leaving an awkward silence between the parents.
;
Brooke backed off all morning while Julian cooked, and she watched as the boys laughed at his narrations. He was acting like he had his own cooking show and was teaching the boys. He let them help stir things and pour things, too. Davis and Jude loved how Julian always made up funny character names and voices all the time. Brooke knew that his love of TV and movies as a kid had prepared him to be the funniest and coolest dad to a little boy, but in the future he may become a bit embarrassing to them. But that was the future, it was certainly uncertain at the moment. Right now, the boys adored their father more than anything. Probably even more than her.
"There's more than enough for you, if you want some, Brooke," Julian told her as he placed two bowls down in front of his sons.
Brooke cleared her throat before she spoke. "I'm okay for now.. I don't really have an appetite." It was true.
Julian frowned and looked from Brooke to the boys and back. He gave her the 'we should talk now' look.
"Uh boys. Don't you move from your chairs, okay? Daddy's gunna go help Mommy with something..."
Davis and Jude were too engrossed in their yummy meal to inquire what their parents were up to, so they just kept eating while Brulian went into their bedroom to talk.
Brooke sat down on the bed, ready to agree to work on things and herself and everything as long as he didn't run away or try to move out or insist that they take a dreaded 'break'.
"Julian, I- -"
"No," Julian interrupted her. "Just let me get this out."
Brooke nodded silently as Julian paced in front of her before stopping and turning.
"Yesterday did not go the way I planned it going..." he told her. "I've just been dealing with these issues by myself for awhile now and I've tried to deal with it, I've tried to suppress my feelings so things wouldn't turn ugly, but it just made me explode on you yesterday when you were mad for no reason... because I couldn't handle it anymore. I've just been so frustrated and hurt because you keep shutting me out and saying that you do everything for the boys when all I've tried to do is be your equal as a parent. But I had all last night to think about what I should have said and how I should have stayed, but I just couldn't stay without us both saying even more hurtful things that would just have made this worse."
Julian paused and finally looked into Brooke's eyes. She took her chance to say something.
"I know I haven't been treating you the way I should, Julian. I see your side of things now and I promise that will change, Julian. I won't be that control freak anymore. I won't be that wife who you grow to hate because she can't see how amazing you are and how lucky she is to have you as her husband and the father of her children. I've just been so scared and stressed lately and I took it all out on you. And you didn't deserve it at all."
"I appreciate you saying that."
Julian was a bit surprised that she said any of that. Brooke Davis (Baker) was rarely one to apologize, for anything.
Brooke was planning to tell him more while staying calm, but her emotions got the best of her and she couldn't stop herself from crying.
"Please don't leave me, Julian.." she sobbed.
He sat down next to her in a faint state of shock from her comments. He put and arm around her and pulled her into his side.
"I am not leaving you, Brooke. Never." He put two fingers to her chin. "Look at me."
She did.
"We're in this together and I can't imagine my life without you and me and our boys together. I just needed to be alone last night to realize that I hate being away from my family even when you drive me up a little nutty."
Brooke looked at him with teary vision. But she could still see right down deep into the soul of the man she fell in love with. The man she was still in love with, and always would be in love with until the day she died, and maybe even beyond.
"So you're only gunna sleep at home now, right, even when we argue?"
"Even when we want to rip each other's hair out..."
"Thank god," Brooke buried her head in his shoulder. "Because last night really scared me."
"I'm sorry, baby." He kissed her forehead. "You and me, we're going to be just fine."
LIKE IT? A major Brulian fight, and (quick-ish) a reunion. Just like what was suggested of me BY YOU, the readers/reviewers.
I hope you enjoyed, please tell me in your review! And I hope everybody's enjoying summer tooooo :)))
~Haley :)