Remembering the 9/11 victims today. I was in fourth grade. Nine years old. But i will never forget what happened that day and where I was and what I saw. No kid should have to experience that, but we all did. It was a horror movie come to life. And it's just crazy that I had to comprehend such blatent terrorist attacks. Hopefully the New York Memorial can bring some peace and some closure to people's hearts. But this day will never ever leave us. It will always be a part of me and everyone else. It's a binding hold that brings all Americans and even supporters in other countries, everyone who strives for peace and love rather than war and hate crimes, together as one.
I'm taking the time today to tell those who I love that I do. And I'm praying for all those souls who lost their lives. I'm sure they know they'll always be honored, and will never be forgotten.
;
Thanks arubagirl0926, ghostwhispererjimel, caseyjr, wordsmeaneverything, molly, jordan, whitney, sorry . but, monervaan, h23brock, cullentreehill, oreopeanutbuttermacaroni, dylin, tp404, lauralynn3, rockiewriter, sarabeth08, sarah, bugsym39, sb1218, simy, isobel camilla scott, vfbfan, stephieboo, kate, anna, stagediva23, and onlyyoujarly. The great, the good, the bad, the critical, the ugly. I'll take it.
And I knew what I said in my author's note would cause a stir, but i'm done with it. Please don't go after each other. You are all my reviewers but I'd rather not have you attack each other's opinions. They have their own opinions just like you do. 'Sorry . but' I would totally PM you, but you're anonymous as well so I can't, but it's over now. I take your comments and move on. And to everyone else who came to my defense, it was very generous of you to defend a stranger. I'm choosing to let it go and you should too. It's not worth it. So now Please keep the reviews strictly about this chapter and beyond. Thanks.
We're part of the fanfic (mostly brulian loving) OTH loving family, and it's a pretty great feeling to know this tiny 'show that could' has brought us together. From all different backgrounds, countries, and cultures, OTH has made us one. And had given me some pretty cool stories and OTH fantasies to share in :)
Anywayssss. With all that out of the way: Some people (quite a few) asked to see more of the full OTH cast, and I agree! I confess, I actually got caught up in the 'Baker bubble' and forgot all about everyone else for a while. But not this chapter. It's still soley Brulian based but it gives you different character interactions that we all love. I don't think I'm the best as depicting other OTH people, but I think I did a pretty good job on this one. And it's LONG too :)
I think you readers will really like this chapter. Or at least I hope so.
Enjoyyy
(Jamie is 8 1/2 years older than the twins, Sawyer is 3 years older, Lydia is 10 months older)
AGE 6
It was mid December and holiday fever had snuck into the hearts of the Baker family. The boys had started kindergarten, again, at a different school this past September, and things were going much more smoothly this year than last. The boys loved their teacher and their new friends and everything was going so well. This was where they belonged.
This afternoon, Brooke walked through the door to her home with tons of bags in hand. She had just done some major Christmas present shopping and she had to hide everything ASAP before she went to get the boys from school.
"Mommy!" Avery yelled for help as she entered the house dragging a shopping bag. It was way too heavy for the two year old to handle.
Brooke turned and her eyes bugged. "Oh baby, I got it."
Avery dropped the bag and walked away. Brooke took the bag and quickly put it in her room with the others. Luckily Avery hadn't snooped to see what was inside. There were actually some things in there for her as well.
Christmas shopping was hard with a two year old who asked the big question 'What's that?' just about 24 hours a day, but the mother got lucky. No ruined surprises this year.
"Ave come on sweetie, we've gotta go get your brothers." Brooke reached out her hand for the child.
"Leavin' again?" Avery asked, she was pretty beat from all the shopping they'd done this morning.
"I know, I know. But Mommy's work is never done," Brooke smiled, walking out to the car and rebuckling Avery in her carseat.
When they got to the school, Brooke waited in the line for the boys to come out. Davis spotted her immediately, knowing she parked almost in the same place every day. He opened the door of Brooke's SUV and hopped in the backseat.
"Hey honey, how was school?"
"Good," Davis muttered as he unwrapped a lollipop. "Hi Ave."
"Where'd you get that?"
"St. Nicholas came today and put candy in our shoes!"
"What? That must have made for a stinky classroom with barefoot students running around."
"It was just until recess, Mom."
"Oh, fine, sorry. I'm so glad you got more candy," Brooke said sarcastically. They were pretty much set for life after this past Halloween.
Brooke could see Jude talking to another little boy and Brooke put her arm out the window.
"Jude, you coming?"
Jude turned his head and then waved bye to his friend. When he jumped in the car, he too had a lollipop.
"Sorry... Hi Momma, hi Avery."
"Buckle up you two."
"Buck up!" Avery repeated.
Brooke began to drive.
"Mom? Do you think it'll snow on Christmas?" Jude asked.
"I don't know bud, but it doesn't usually get cold enough here during December to snow."
"Oh, okay."
"Why do you ask?"
"'Cause I want it to snow on Christmas. I think it might."
"Maybe it will."
"Snow?" Avery questioned. She didn't have much experience with snow. None that she could remember anyway.
"It's so much fun to play in snow, Ave. You'd like it," Davis told her.
"Snow!"
"Oh geez, don't get her hopes up boys, we may not see snow this winter."
;
When Julian got home from work a couple hours later, Brooke was struggling with Jude.
"I don't want to wear what he's wearing!" The middle child screamed. (credit to stagediva1218 for the idea that the boys didn't want to match anymore)
"Hey, what's going on in here?" Julian asked, reaching the boys' bedroom.
"Hi daddy," Davis ran over and hugged him.
"Daddy! Make mommy stop!" Jude yelled.
"Whoa, whoa. Lower your voice," Brooke warned. "All I want you to do is to wear this for an hour, tops."
Brooke held up the green dress shirt to match his nice pants. But Davis had the same outfit on and Jude didn't like it one bit. He was sick of the matchy matchy outfits.
"Jude, do you want to give Santa your list or not?" Julian asked.
Yes, the family was heading to the mall to see Santa.
Jude's face changed. "Santa doesn't care what I wear."
The whole 'Santa's watching your behavior' ploy that parents used really wasn't phasing Jude at the moment.
"I just want one picture, please," Brooke asked again.
"No! I hate you!" Jude grabbed the shirt out of Brooke's hand and threw it before running out of the room.
"Jude! You come back here right now and apologize!" Julian yelled and went after Jude. Brooke just stayed there, crouched down, stunned.
It was now just Brooke and Davis in the room and he knew she was upset. Davis went over and hugged around her back.
"I love you Mom."
Brooke brought her hand up and touched his hair. "Thank you."
Julian came back with Avery in his arms a few minutes later.
"Well he ran down the stairs like a banchi and woke Avery up. I put him in time out in the kitchen."
Brooke finally stood, taking Avery from Julian.
"I'll go change her."
Julian knew Brooke was crushed. That was an 'I hate you' first in this house, and it wasn't a first parents looked forward to.
"He didnt mean it Brooke. It's obviously not true."
Brooke just took Avery and left the room.
;
When the family of five got to the mall and into the line to see Santa, Brooke still hadn't spoken a word to Jude. Jude was actually scared to even look at her right now. He knew he had been really bad. It was just a shirt... and he was wearing it now anyways, so it was really a waste to fight it.
Brooke took Avery out of her stroller and fixed the girl's little red dress. It has almost the same pattern on it as the boys' green shirts, so they looked adorable together.
Brooke wondered how Avery would react to Santa. This was the first year she was aware of her surroundings and could talk and voice her opinion. She recalled how Davis had cried hysterically at that age, but Jude had just studied Santa's face, looking awestruck. Brooke hoped this went more smoothly than getting here had been.
"Okay, you guys are next," the elf lady told the boys. "Do you have your lists ready for Santa?"
The boys nodded, turning to Julian, who handed their lists over. Then Julian took the camera out of his bag to get the great picture that Brooke wanted.
When the family in front of them was done, the elf let the boys walk over to Santa and they each jumped up on one of his knees.
Brooke approached behind them with Avery clinging to her side.
"Hi Santa. Can the kids get a picture with you?"
"Of course," the old man Santa replied.
Brooke gently pulled Avery off of herself and placed her down on Santa's lap.
Avery looked up and him and felt his beard, but didn't seem afraid.
"Okay look over here and smile!" The elf cheered.
"Avery look at Daddy!" Brooke called to her, hoping Julian wouldn't only get pictures of the side of her head.
Julian snapped a few quick pictured, and when he looked at the screen, he had a few good ones of the boys smiling, and even Avery was smiling and looking in the right direction.
"Great, thank you, Santa." Julian said.
"Ho ho ho!" Santa yelled, bouncing Avery up and down a little.
Now this freaked her out. The loud, deep 'ho ho's all of a sudden caused a piercing scream to come from Avery's little voice box and the tears came quickly. Avery squirmed out of Santa's grip and Brooke was on her way over to comfort Avery quickly.
While Brooke comforted a frantic Avery, Santa asked the boys what they wanted for Christmas.
"Daddy helped us write it down for you so you won't forget," Davis smiled and held out his letter.
"Ho, ho," Santa chuckled. "Thank you very much. So have you been good boys this year?"
The twins looked at each other, thinking of what happened in the house today.
Santa saw the exchange. "Well if not, you'll need to be extra extra good until Christmas, and promise me you'll be good all next year so you can earn all the great presents you want."
Jude and Davis nodded. "We will Santa."
"Good! Now here's a candy cane for each of you, and bring one to your sister too."
"Thank you Santa."
The boys jumped down and exited Santa's village with their father. The boys reunited quickly with Brooke and Avery, who was more calm now.
"Please tell me you got a good picture," Brooke hoped.
"I sure did, don't worry."
"Thank the Lord."
Brooke then felt a tug on her leg and looked down at Jude.
"I'm sorry Mumma. I didn't mean it."
Brooke took a breath. "You really hurt Mommy's feelings."
Jude looked down. "I know, I'm sorry."
Brooke put her hand on his shoulder. "Thank you Jude. Apology accepted. And maybe we can cut back on matching outfits a bit."
;
A few weeks had passed and Christmas eve was finally here!
As the Baker family exited the car, Jude was the first one to make it to the door. He knocked loudly and soon Haley James Scott opened the door to greet her guests.
"Merry Christmas everyone."
"Hi Aunt Haley."
"Hi Hales, Merry Christmas," Brooke leaned in to hug her as they made their way inside.
The three kids quickly scatted off in different directions, Jude and Davis finding Jamie almost immediately, and Avery politely saying hello to the whole room, going person to person with her adorable 'Mewy Kis Mis!'.
"Aunt Brooke!"
Lydia ran to her cool Aunt Brooke. Jamie had told her so many storied about how Aunt Brooke would get him anything he wanted, but now that she had kids of her own, she didn't see the Scotts quite as often.
"LB my darling! You look beautiful! Merry Christmas."
"Hey Julian!" Nate called over. "You've got to come settle this argument..."
As Julian walked away, Brooke, Haley, and Lydia sat down at the 'girl's' table with Peyton, 'Miss Lauren' Taylor, and a very pregnant Quinn James Evans.
"Any day now, huh ?" Brooke smiled.
"Don't jinx me Brooke! This little guy is not being born on Christmas!"
"Sorry, sorry." Brooke put up her hands. "You've got another two weeks I'm sure."
Brooke then winked at her , because no adult woman in this room thought Quinn would make it another three days tops.
As she saw Avery running towards the staircase, Brooke stood.
"Oh no! Brooke sit down... Lydie, you're on Avery duty, okay?"
Lydia smiled, happy with her assigned job, and ran to help Avery up the stairs to show her room.
"She doesn't have to do that, Haley."
"Don't be silly. Lydia loves it."
"Yeah Brooke, Sawyer will keep an eye out for her too," Peyton commented, thinking of her less-girly girl.
Haley stood. "I'll get you a drink."
"Thanks guys. Not too strong, though. Not if Julian's gunna go toe to toe with Clay and Skills tonight. I'll have to drive home."
"You're lucky I'm not making the drinks," Quinn joked. "I'm so in the mood for a cocktail. I'd make 'em so good, you'd hit Santa on the way home."
All the girls laughed.
"Is Alex coming?" Brooke asked as Haley handed her a drink. She didn't even know if Alex was in town.
"I told Chase about the party but I don't really know what's happening with those two."
"Oh I forgot. Mia told me she was visiting her sister in Raleigh, but she said thanks for the invite," Peyton told Haley.
The doorbell rang again and Haley went to stand.
"Nope, Hales! I'm already up to pee," Quinn said, "I'll get it."
Brooke stood too, to see who was here.
Quinn opened the door and put her hands on her hips.
"Ho bag! We didn't think you two were gunna show."
Alex stepped in. "Don't call me a ho bag, just congratulate me, bitch!" Alex cheered, holding up her brand new engagement ring.
Brooke gasped and ran over to Alex as she and Quinn squealed in a hug.
"Oh my god, Chase! It's about time!"
Chase just let his new fiancee and her friends have a freak out as the other guys came to stake his hand and offer him a beer.
;
"What's going on downstairs?" Sawyer squinted her nine year old eyes and looked around the playroom she was in with Lydia, Davis, Jude, and Avery.
Jamie had let Davis and Jude follow him around for a little while, but the fourteen and a half year old just wanted to play video games in peace, so he threw Jude and Davis out. But he was kind about it... this is still Jamie Scott we're talking about.
"It sounds like they're screaming." Lydia wasn't used to her mother screaming.
"It's my mom. She always does that," Jude said nonchalantly. The Baker kids were used to that, especially when Brooke was around her friends.
"Baby!" Avery grabbed one of Lydia's American Girl dolls and swung it slightly.
"Oh no, Avery, be gentle. She's my favorite!" Lydia took the doll back from Avery and handed her something different.
"I hope I get the American Girl Doll clothes and bunk beds I askes Santa for." Lydia told Sawyer.
"Cool.." Sawyer agreed with her cousin, but was very skeptical about Santa's gifts these days.
"What did you guys ask Santa for?" Lydia was curious.
"A soccer net!" Jude yelled.
"Yeah, a soccer net." Davis agreed.
"Soccer? What's that all about? You should play basketball or baseball like me." Jamie entered the room.
"Mommy signed us up for those too! But we really like soccer," Jude told Jamie.
"Jamie get out!" Lydia yelled at him. "We're playing!"
"This isn't even your room, Lydie." Jamie grabbed Lydia and flipped her upside down. Jamie had grown quite a bit in the 10 to 14 age time frame, so he doubled Lydia in size.
Lydia laughed, used to her brother's antics, while Avery pulled at Jamie's pant leg.
Jamie placed Lydia down. "What Avery?"
"Me!"
Jamie smiled, knowing once he did it once, he couldn't get off the hook.
"Alright just once."
Jamie flipped Avery over his shoulder and figured he'd make that one turn a good one. Jamie ran out of the room and Avery screamed out a laugh. Sawyer, Lydie, Davis and Jude followed him quickly. Jamie ran right down the hall, down the stairs, and into the family room where all the adults were.
"Jamie! Put her down," Nathan told his son.
"She asked for it, Dad."
Avery got her two feet on the ground and she dizzily ran over to her Daddy.
"What did Jamie do to you?" Julian asked, hoisting the two year old up onto the counter.
"Fun Daddy."
"She's gunna want you to carry her like that now." Jamie, pat his Uncle Julian on the shoulder. "Good luck."
"Don't go anywhere, guys. We're almost ready to eat." Haley announced to the kids.
"Thanks a lot, Jame. That's all we need," Brooke said as she approached the men. "Come here, sweetie. Unless one of your favorite men wants to change you?" Brooke suggested.
"I think Madison's calling me..." Jamie pulled out his cell.
"I have to help Haley..." Nathan stepped away, glad to be rid of diapers in his household for a good four plus years now.
"That's not what Skills stands for, yo," Skills shook his head.
"Quinn's in labor!" Clay joked, not ready to start his baby duties just yet.
"I'd do it wrong," Chase shrugged, not knowing the first thing about diaper changing.
Brooke laughed, taking Avery and walking down the hall to where Haley put her purse.
"That's what Mama thought."
Avery giggled.
;
After a great meal and the exchange of 'cousin presents' among the kids, everyone went their seperate ways to prepare for Santa's arrival.
"Get the milk Mommy! Santa wants milk."
"I know, I'm pouring it."
Brooke watched as her boys laid out cookies for Santa, (store-bought, yes but Santa didn't mind!) laughing as they each snuck a cookie into their own mouths.
"I saw that."
The boys' eyes bugged and the ran away from the kitchen.
The boys set the plate of cookies down at Santa's special spot and Brooke brought his cup of milk.
"Don't the reindeer like carrots or something, too?" Julian asked from the couch.
"I put them out on the counter..." Brooke said.
"I put them here but they're missing now." Davis looked around for the missing snack.
"And so is Avery..." Julian mentioned, pretending he didn't know his daughter was hiding behind the couch.
Avery giggled, giving herself away.
Jude stood up and rounded the couch.
"AVERY! You took the carrots!"
Jude picked up his sister around the stomach, as best as his six year old self could, and walked her around to show the rest of his family.
Avery's smile was big and wide as she held a carrot between her teeth and the others in the bunch hung down.
"Don't eat them, baby," Brooke laughed, taking the carrot out of her teeth and separating it from the others.
Davis grabbed the rest and put them right next to Santa's milk and cookies.
"Perfect," Brooke clapped. "Now let's get you to bed before Santa passes over our house because you're not asleep!"
The boys scurried to their room and Avery followed their lead. Julian grabbed Brooke's hand as they followed their children.
;
The next morning, Brooke and Julian got woken up by the twins yelling excitedly for them at the top of the stairs at six eighteen A.M.
The parents had told them they couldn't come downstairs or see what Santa brought until everyone was up, but the boys were just too excited to wait any longer.
"Did you peak?" Julian called to them.
"Davis did!"
"No I didn't! Jude did!"
When Brooke shuffled out of Avery's room with the still sleeping child, Julian smiled.
"Okay you can come down now!"
The boys sprinted down the stairs and wow'ed at their stacks of presents.
Davis's gifts from Santa were always in red wrapping paper, Jude's were always in green, and Avery's were in mostly white wrapping paper.
To make things fair, one of the big gifts was actually wrapped in half red, half green.
"Open the big one first, guys," Julian suggested.
On each side of the gift, the boys began ripping off the paper at lightening speed.
"WHOA!" Davis jumped when he saw the picture on the box.
"A soccer net! Just like we asked for!" Jude loved the gift.
"Thank you Santa!" Davis looked up in the sky, assuming Santa could hear him.
He just didn't realize at this age that the Baker's Santas were in the room with them.
The boys ripped through the rest of their gifts in ten minutes flat, while Brooke helped Avery open hers.
"Check your stockings guys," Julian said, holding the video camera.
"Cool!" Davis pulled out more little lego boxes.
"Socks!" Jude was disappointed with the last thing he pulled out of his stocking.
"Santa must have known you always have cold feet," Brooke joked.
Once the boys opened all their stuff, all they wanted was for Julian to open it all and put everything together.
"No no, we've got to let Mommy open her present, remember!"
Brooke sat down on the couch.
"Julian, I thought we agreed not to get each other anything."
"Well you got me that book I wanted."
"But that's different, I wouldn't picked that up for you anyways."
"Merry Christmas Mommy," the boys handed her each a wrapped gift.
Brooke opened the first one and saw a coffee mug with her kids' picture on it with Santa from this year. It was really a good picture. On the opposite side of the mug it said 'We love our Mommy!'
"Oh thank you guys! This is so great. You know how much I love my coffee."
"Open the other one. Daddy let us help him pick it out," Davis imformer her.
In the other package, Brooke discovered a beautiful diamond tennis bracelet.
"Wow, it's beautiful. Thank you so much."
"You're welcome," Julian said as he leaned over and kissed her.
Brooke put the bracelet on immediately and went to go make some coffee with her new mug.
;
When the morning hours had come and gone, Brooke had gotten the house cleaned while Julian did all the cooking/preparing for the Christmas dinner they were hosting this year. They had seen the Scotts' families last night for a Christmas Eve party and the McFadden's were in New York with Millie's parents, so the only guests for the day were the kids' beloved grandparents, Paul, Sylvia, and Victoria.
Jude ran right to the door when the doorbell rang.
"Grandpa!"
Jude jumped up into his Grandpa Paul's arms, causing the older man to grunt loudly.
"Merry Christmas pal," Paul set Jude down. "Will you help me get your presents out of the car?"
"Yeah!" Jude would do anything for his presents.
"Hi Paul," Brooke hugged him once he and Jude got back inside with three large packages.
"Merry Christmas, Brooke." Paul looked behind Brooke to see his son cooking.
"I hope you don't have the wife working too hard," Paul smiled as Brooke hit his arm.
"Be nice," Brooke warned. Paul always gave his son a hard time about not being manly enough. Julian knew that's why Paul loved spending time with the boys, so he could make them tougher than their dad.
"Merry Christmas son."
"Merry Christmas dad."
"Where are my other little grandkids? Where's the precious angel?"
"She's napping. Her brothers were up a little too early for her liking," Brooke told him.
"Grampa!" Davis came down from his room and gave Paul a big hug just like Jude had.
"How are you, Davey?"
"Where's Nana?"
Paul gave an 'uh' since he really hadn't talked to his ex-wife in a while.
"She's coming, don't worry," Brooke assured them.
"Hello, hello." Victoria sauntered through the door, not bothering to knock.
"Hi mother," Brooke greeted her.
The boys hugged their 'Gram', since Victoria refused to be called anything else. She thought 'Gram' made her seem old enough...
"Hi Victoria," Julian waved while he took the Prime Rib out of the oven. "Everything's almost ready."
"I'll go get Avery," Brooke smiled, walking to her daughter's room.
Brooke stood over the crib for a minute, watching the ruffles of Avery's dress move up and down with her steady breathes. Then she leaned her arm over and rubbed little circles on the girl's tummy.
"Sweetheart... it's time to get up... Grandpa and Grandma are here to see you..."
Avery opened her eyes slowly and turned over onto her side. She was one of those rare little kids that had to be woken up or they would sleep through every meal.
"What have I told you about calling me grandma...?"
Brooke turned her head to see Victoria by the door. "Sorry... Look who it is Avery? Wake up baby."
"Wow, she's more and more like Sam everyday," Victoria noticed.
Brooke frowned. The comment reminded her of how much Victoria had loved Sam, too.
"Yeah... but I hope she's not as sarcastic."
Brooke tried to make light of the situation but Victoria knew it was hard for her.
Victoria waved at the toddler when Brooke picked her up. "Hi sleepy-head."
"Gam," Avery smiled. Victoria wasn't that kind of grandparent that was around every day or every weekend, but Avery knew who she was and recognized her voice from their telephone conversations. Everytime anyone called, Avery wanted to talk on the phone to them. Victoria just so happened to call pretty regularly.
"Want to try a crack at diaper changing, Victoria?"
"Nah, believe it or not I changed a thousand of your diapers years ago. I'll just entertain her while you do..."
"Okay," Brooke smiled.
When the three generations of 'Davis' women came out of the bedroom, there was another grandparent that had just arrived with far too many gifts in hand.
"Avery!" Sylvia scooted right over to Brooke and picked the girl out of her arms, giving her a big kiss attack, like she had done with the twins just moments ago.
"Merry Christmas my little angel. I think you're bigger since I last saw you."
"Nana kissy," Avery wiped the kiss off her cheek, laughing.
"Mom, she's barely grown in six months... I think you're overreacting," Julian told his mother.
"Well she may be tiny but she got one big personality!" Sylvia tickled Avery as the girl kicked her legs.
"Dinner's ready everyone!" Julian announced.
"Daddy? Isn't it lunchtime?" Davis inquired.
Paul laughed. "We've got a smartie-Julian on our hands."
Julian shook his head and addressed his son.
"We're having an early dinner, bud."
As the family sat down together at the table, Paul and Julian took the opposite ends of the table, Brooke and Sylvia sat across from each other on Julian's side. Sylvia insisted Avery's high chair be put between her and Victoria, Jude sat across from Victoria on Paul's right, and Davis sat beside his brother, next to his mom on the other side.
"Everything is fantastic, Julian," Victoria raved.
"That's my Julian, I taught him everything he knows," Sylvia gushed.
"Thank you," Julian said after swallowing a bite.
"You should've been a housewife, son." Paul just couldn't help himself.
Jude laughed at his grandpa and Julian frowned.
"Thanks a lot, Dad."
"Paul... we were thinking that maybe you and Julian could go kick the ball around outside with the boys after. They can show you all their cool soccer moves." Brooke tried.
"Aw, that sounds great."
"You should've come to our games, Grandpa." Davis told Paul.
"No, Dave. You don't want Grandpa there to yell at you, remember." Julian fired back at his dad, reminding his son about how he told Davis that Paul pressured him and yelled at him when Julian was forced to play sports as a kid.
Davis didn't seem to get the tension between his father and grandfather, but the other adults sure did.
"Let's talk about something else," Sylvia tried.
"How do you two like your new school?" Victoria asked Davis and Jude.
For the rest of the meal, Julian didn't say anything but the twins filled the conversation with stories of their new friends and things they did in class.
When everyone was stuffed with food, Paul took the twins outside while the women cleared the table and sat down with a glass of wine. Brooke approached Julian, who was washing off a plate.
"I'll do that, go outside with the boys."
"I can't stand him, Brooke. He's been after me since he walked in the door."
"I know, but you can ignore him. You should go out and make some Christmas memories of all three male generations together with your sons. Do it for them..."
Julian took a breath and knew his wife was right.
"Fine, but if he somehow falls and breaks a hip, it's not my fault."
"Oh kay," Brooke nodded with each syllable.
Brooke started to load things into the dish washer as she looked out the window. Davis was pearched in goal in front of the brand new soccer net the boys received from Santa this morning as Jude fought with Paul for the ball. Paul obviously let Jude win the ball and the boy passed to his father. Paul went after Julian but his son shot the ball gently on goal at Davis. Davis scooped up the ball and threw to his brother.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, little white flakes of snow began to fall over Tree Hill and Jude stopped in his tracks.
"SNOW!"
Jude ran circles around the yard and Davis ran to the door.
"Mommy! Jude was right! It's snowing on Christmas!"
Brooke met him at the door.
"I see. Wow! My son's the weatherman," Brooke joked.
Victoria and Sylvia stood up off the coach and walked over to Brooke with Avery. Victoria set the little girl down and she ran out on the deck.
Brooke grabbed her coat off the hook and helped Avery into it.
"It's snowing, Avery!" Brooke cheered.
Avery clapped her little hands as she ran to the top of the five deck stairs, where Julian grabbed her and helped her down to the grass.
Avery went off running after Davis, and Jude laid down, making a snow angel out of nothing.
But the snow was coming down. It would only be a matter of time before Tree Hill was totally white.
It wasn't a violent snow storm. It was a light sprinkle over the holiday that everyone could enjoy.
;
Julian entered the bedroom that night after kissing the three kids goodnight and flopped onto the bed next to his wife.
"That was a good day," he sighed.
"Yeah, it all goes too fast though. I wish Christmas was longer."
Brooke pulled up her covers and turned out her light. Julian looked at her and sighed.
"I'm too tired to take off my clothes," he laughed.
He'd played with the boys for hours this afternoon outside in the snow with the boys. Even Paul couldn't deny how much fun the boys had and how much they loved their Daddy.
"You can do it, I know you can," Brooke played encourager.
"Help me?"
"Nah, I'll watch though... Do it slow," Brooke teased.
"I'll do my best," Julian stood and unbuttoned his jeans.
Just then, Brooke's cell phone started buzzing on the bedside table. She picked it up.
"Oh God, it's Haley," Brooke said, worried something was wrong.
"Hello?"
Julian stopped when he saw Brooke's expression.
"No way! Oh goodness she must be... Okay, let us know! Okay, bu-bye."
"What?" Julian asked.
"Quinn went into labor tonight. Haley said she's so pissed but she's not too far along yet so she's hoping she'll make it until midnight on the 26th at least," Brooke laughed.
"Whoa. That's crazy. Haley will finally be an aunt."
"She is an aunt!" Brooke looked at him like he was crazy. "You know... Saywer, and out kids!"
Julian laughed. "You know what I mean... Haley's the youngest and now her crazy siblings are catching up."
"Nice try, mathlete, but Haley's older sister and brothers have kids, we just never see them besides crazy Taylor."
"Oh.. well, it's still nice for them."
"Yeah." Brooke smiled as Julian got back in bed and she leaned into him.
"Maybe if she doesn't make it to midnight, Clay and Quinn will name the new kid Jesus," Julian suggested.
"Okay, that's enough," Brooke laughed. "Goodnight crazy."
She shook her head and faced Julian. Julian leaned over to kiss her lips.
"Goodnight my love. Feliz Navidad!"
"Merry Christmas."
Let me know what you thought by reviewing! :)
I don't know why, I just left this was a good age to do a Christmas chapter, I just got the inspiration. And i really liked portraying Victoria, Paul, and Sylvia as grandparents. I thought it was funny to put Grampa Paul and Nana Sylvia together, (I thought it was appropriate to make the names Grampa & Nana not match since Paul and Sylvia have been divorced for awhile and they don't get along) and showing Victoria's sweet, loving side with Brooke and Avery was fun.
I hope you liked it!
~Haley :)