OMG it's November... wow. October you suck.

I AM SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SORRY for this wicked, wicked (it's a very common New England thing), way too long wait for this update. I'm so sorry! My play went so well but the hell week and extending crazy weeks came about following that. I have to say I has feeling less than inspirted for this chapter so that did play a role. And it seemed like every free moment when i went to write, I'd get distracted and then feel guilty that I wasn't doing actual homework. So I'm sorry again, and a million times over. I'll try to be better.

But it wasn't ALL my fault. IDK if it made news anywhere but here, but New England, specifically northern MA and southern NH, got SLAMMED with snow! IN OCTOBER UGH! My house got at least seven inches and we had it easy. Including my house, 80% of my town alone lost power for at least 4 days... some more, some less. And my dumb laptop cant hold a charge so it was dead and i couldnt write. AND stupidly, i still had classes because my campus is dumb and was the only place in a 15 mile radius with generators... Needless to say, a ton of generators were sold this week and last. My hometown and every surrounding town's public schools were out for at least 3 days. My old high school was out every day last week! UGH the one time i wanna go back to high school... waah.

Thanks isabel camilla scott, stagediva23, new reader, sarabeth08, bdazzle, wordsmeaneverything, ace5492, lostinwriting, ghosewhispererjimel, simy, arubagirl0926, cullentreehill, and caroline for reviewing.

This one's a lot about Avery and I'm sorry if you don't like it, but I had a hard time with this one and I had Avery ideas and I just wanted to get it out so you wouldn't have to wait even longer for an update. I was a bit stumped for ideas for Age 8, but i have great ideas/plans for future years so I didn't want to pull something and write it too soon.

Stick with me people! You guys are truely amazing.

This almost reached 6K words so that's always a plus :)

ENJOY! :D

;

AGE 8

Fall was in full swing and the colors of the trees always made Brooke smile. She didn't like when things got all brown and fell off, but for right now, leaf-peeping was so fun. The boys were in school, second grade now, and it was officially the last year before Avery would start school herself. Brooke and Julian didn't like to think about it, but they kind of had to because they had to start thinking about where Avery would go to school. They wanted to put her into private school like the boys, but schools can get pretty competative at a young age.

"Did you like visiting the play group today, Ave?" Brooke looked in her rear-view mirror at her four year old.

Avery shrugged. It hadn't quite hit her that she had to actually go to school next year like her brothers. She just wanted to stay at home and play with Mommy. She didn't think she needed any friends. Brooke was her best friend.

"You're gunna like school next year and you're gunna meet so many friends. But we have a while until then, okay?"

Avery didn't answer right away, but interjected with her own question.

"Are we almost at the park, Momma?" Avery had a very unique and special friend in mind.

Brooke took a breath. She still didn't really know if she was happy or nervous and upset about this subject. Everything was going well and all, but Brooke was waiting for the other shoe to drop. And all Brooke knew was that Avery being so excited about this, scared the crap out of her.

(flashback in italics)

Five months ago.

Julian heard the doorbell as he stood in the kitchen making breakfast. It was eleven o'clock but his family generally slept late on the weekends, so breakfast was happping pretty late today.

Julian made his way to the door and opened it, never expecting what was behind it.

"Hello?"

Julian thought it was a traveling salesperson or something. The man's back was to him.

"Can I help you?" Julian didn't want to buy anything, but he was going to be civil.

As the man turned around, Julian had a realization.

"Hi."

"Jack?"

John "Jack" Daniels cleared his throat and looked down.

"Hi Julian. It's been awhile."

Julian had no clue what to say.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was hoping you... well actually, if Brooke, would talk to me. It's about Sam."

Julian's deadpan expression gave himself away.

"Uhhh... I'm taking it you haven't seen Sam for about... four years, right?"

With that, Julian closed the door in Jack's face. He locked the door and turned his back to it. He then raced to his bedroom.

Brooke was just finished drying her hair and couldtell something was wrong by Julian's expression.

"What?"

"I just slammed the door in Jack Daniel's face."

"He'd here? But why?"

Julian frowned. "I don't know, but he mentioned Sam... I think he knows about Avery."

"What?"

Brooke didn't know what was going on but she walked to the front door herself. Thankfully her children were up in the boys' bedroom.

Brooke opened the door. Jack was still there.

"Jack?"

"I'm sorry I just freaked Julian out. I'm just trying to find Sam... I didn't mean anything by the 'four years' comment."

Brooke was so confused. But she caught one part of that.

"You've heard from Sam?"

"Kind of... I think she's in trouble."

"Daddy! I'm hungry!"

Brooke and Jack just stared at each other as Avery came bounding down the staircase.

Jack's gaze went to Avery and he smiled.

"Hi sweetheart," Jack initiated.

"Who's that, Mommy?"

Brooke stepped back and kind of blocked Avery and Jack from each other more.

"This is a friend of Mommy's, Jack."

Most people called him John now, but Avery could call him whatever she wanted...

"Hi." Avery smiled.

Julian touched Avery's head.

"Food's all ready for you, Avey-cakes."

Avery turned and followed Julian to the counter, leaving Brooke and Jack alone.

"She looks a lot like Sam..." Jack said blatently. "What's her name? Avery?"

"Jack...how do you know? Did someone tell you?"

"No. I didn't... I just... I see Sam... I see a lot of Sam in her actually. And I also see some of me, maybe?"

Jack was looking for an answer. One that Brooke didn't necessarily have.

"I think you need to leave..." Brooke got scared.

"Brooke, please. I didn't know Same got pregnant. I havent seen her in over four years. Since right after we slept together just one night, alright, and the next morning Sam was gone. And then I got a mystery call from her last month crying and saying she's sorry and that she lied. I thought she was in trouble so I came back here to see if you could help me find her... Obviously what she lied about was our daughter."

"She's not your daughter, Jack."

Jack put his hands up.

"Biologically she could be, and if I am, then Sam didn't give me a chance to be a father. I can be a good father."

Brooke planted her feet.

"She already has a father. Julian is her father and I am her mother," Brooke said sternly.

"I know, I know. But I want to be in her life. I can still be in her life. You can still give me that chance that Sam obviously didn't want to give me or want herself. I'm not that same kid who slept on your couch and whose brother beat you up. I've changed a lot in the past nine years. I can do this, Brooke. Please let me see her."

Brooke shook her head.

"What if someone gave your child away without telling you about it?" Jack questioned, knowing how mothering Brooke was with Sam and how she must be so good with Avery.

"Sam specifically said you weren't the father, Jack."

"Then why do I already feel so connected to a little girl that I've only laid eyes on for minutes... And how many times did Sam ever lie to you?"

"Jack, I think you're getting way too ahead of yourself. I need you to leave..."

"But Brooke..."

"Please leave my family alone."

Once again, Jack Daniels got a door slammed in his face.

;

Brooke and Julian had a very long talk that night about Jack and Sam.

"What if he is her biological father? Can he demand rights?"

"She is legally ours, Brooke. You don't need to worry about that."

But they were both still worried. Brooke had googled the name John Daniels and had come up with nothing. No police reports, no criminal record, just the brand of alcohol...

"Could she really be his? They don't even look alike."

Julian frowned. He knew Brooke was trying to talk herself out of what her mind was thinking.

"That doesn't mean he didn't give Avery half her genes."

Brooke closed the computer and took a breath.

"If you were Jack, what would you do?"

"I'd want to know if I had a kid out there that I wasn't told about. And if I found her, I'd do anything I could to stay in her life."

Brooke looked down. "Yeah... I was afraid of that."

;

Jack of course came back when Brooke called him on the phone. They met at a neutral location, at the park. Consequently, it was the same park that he used to sleep in as a teenager.

Julian walked up to Jack, who was early for their meeting time.

"Where's Avery?" Jack asked.

"First we set some ground rules..."

Jack nodded.

"Avery doesn't really understand that she's adopted yet, so we would appreciate it if you did not mention anything about it. That is our job to tell her and we've been explaining it to her with books but we're still on the small steps."

Jack nodded.

"Avery doesn't know anything about Sam, either."

Jack nodded. "I assumed so."

"Next," Julian took a breath. "This is my family, Jack. And if you do anything to make my daughter or my wife feel uncomfortable, you will never see Avery ever again, do you understand me?"

"Yes, of course. I really appreciate you giving me this opportunity. I won't let you down."

"And lastly, Avery is not your daughter. And theres always the chance she may not even be biologically... But either way, Brooke and I aren't ready to know that for certain yet. We'd like you to respect our decision."

Jack looked down, but still agreed.

Julian nodded. "Good."

A few minutes later, Brooke arrived at the park with the kids in tow. The boys ran to the swings but Avery ran to Julian.

"Daddy, will you slide with me?"

Julian smiled. "Daddy's a little to tall and old to do that, baby. I'm sorry."

Avery looked at Jack.

"Hi Avery. I'm Jack, do you remember me?"

Avery nodded.

"You know Mommy."

"Yes, I do. We go back a long time before you were born."

Avery nodded and then pulled her dad's arm again.

"Daddy pleeeaaasssseee!"

Jack coughed. "I'll take you, Avery. Is that okay?"

Jack looked for the little girl's response, as well as her parents. He didn't want to push too far too soon.

Brooke came over, taking a seat next to Julian.

"It's okay with me but it's up to you, Ave," the mother nodded.

"Okay," Avery hesitated, but then grabbed Jack's hand and pulled him towards the slide.

Julian put his arm around his wife.

"That was very selfless of you."

Brooke frowned as she leaned into her husband.

"I just hope we don't regret it."

;

(end of flashback)

Julian headed to the twins' school at two o'clock for pickup duty. He parked his car and got out, as usual, and walked to the school yard where all the kids were playing. When Julian went to check in and sign the boys out, he noticed Davis standing at the far end of the playground with a boy in front of him. He didn't know the other boy so he watched their interaction. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the other boy pushes Davis hard. As Davis falls, he smacks his head on the metal fense surrounding the school yard. Julian is not the only one to see this, as a teacher begins to run towards the scene at the same time as Julian. But someone got there before the adults. Out of nowhere, Jude charges at the boy who pushed his brother and tackles him to the ground.

"Don't hurt my brother!"

Julian gets there next and picks Jude up off the other boy while he's mid-punch. He didn't even know his son knew how to punch.

With Jude in one arm, Julian bends down to Davis, who is crying and holding his head. The teacher grabs the other boy by the shoulder of his jacket and stands him up.

"What do you think you're doing over here?" The teacher yells.

"He hurt Dave!" Jude points. Julian covers his younger son's mouth but gives up and lets go of him to tend to Davis.

"Talk to me buddy. Come on Davis..."

Another teacher comes over, and she and Julian try to calm Davis. The boy sits up on his own but has a pretty big bump on his temple.

"He... always..." Davis couldn't get the words out.

"Kevin always hurts and picks on my brother!" Jude yells.

"That doesn't mean you get to hit Kevin back."

Julian turns.

"Why has this not been handled if it's happened before?"

"We're very sorry, Mr. Baker. We've talked to the boys many times."

"Come on, Kevin." The other teacher says. "Let's get you inside please... your mother will love to hear about this."

"I'd like to speak to his parent so we could handle this..." Julian suggests.

"I'm sorry. But Principal Murray is in a meeting all afternoon, but we can surely set something up soon."

"Wait? His mother is the principal? No wonder he keeps attacking my son! He gets no punishment!"

"Mr. Baker. The boys will be disciplined appropriately, I assure you."

"But my boys did nothing wrong. Davis is being bullied and since the teachers won't do anything about it, my other son felt the need to come to his defense. I can't believe you're giving me this bullshit!"

Jude laughed out loud when he heard his dad use a bad word.

Julian knelt down.

"How are you feeling, bud?" he asked Davis.

"I'm okay."

"Good." Julian and Davis both stood.

"We're leaving. And don't expect another dime of double tuition from me!"

Julian took his boys' hands and walked away from that school for good.

;

"Jack!"

When Avery saw Jack get out of his car, the little girl ran up to him.

"Hey skinny mini," Jack smiled. Avery was so skinny, and was the mini-me of both Sam and Brooke, ironically.

Brooke looked Jack up and down. He was wearing a nice button down shirt and slacks.

"Nice attire for the park."

"Yeah, well I just came from my first day of my new job. You're looking at the new boss man at Raytheon."

Brooke smiled. "You got promoted? That's great!" She was truely happy for Jack. He hadn't lied when he said he'd changed.

"Yeah..." Jack stopped what he was about to say when Avery grabbed his pant leg.

"Aren't you gunna play with me?"

Brooke was noticing more and more each time they came here (which had been about twice a month) how attached Jack and Avery were getting. And how much Avery geniunely looked forward to seeing him. It was clear that went both ways, too. They acted like an older brother and a younger sister. But Brooke knew it was more than that.

"Give me and your mom a minute, okay? I'll be right over."

Avery nodded and went towards the jungle gym.

"I'm so happy for you, Jack."

"Yeah... and I get to travel to different locations sometimes for meetings. I've always wanted to travel. It just seems so... adult."

"You are an adult, Jack." Brooke sighed.

"Yeah... but it doesn't feel like I'm pretending anymore."

Brooke chuckled.

"Brooke?"

"Yeah?"

"I just wanted to thank you again for letting me get to know Avery. I really do love her, you know."

"I know that."

"Do you think we'll ever see Sam again? That she'll ever come back here?"

"I don't know... But the way she came and left Avery so suddenly didn't give the best indication."

"Yeah.."

"JACK!"

"One second patience," Jack laughed.

Brooke put up her hands. "She gets that from me."

Jack stood up next to Brooke and unbuttoned his shirt. Underneath was a white tshirt, but it rose up a bit when he turned and Brooke saw the round dark birthmark on his back. It was almost in the exact same place where Avery had one...

"Oh Brooke... I meant to ask you about something important..."

"Okay, what is it?"

Jack was about to say something when Brooke's phone rang.

"Sorry..."

Brooke hit 'talk' on her phone. "Hello? Julian slow down... Well is he okay? ...Oh good... no, just take a breath, I'll come home now."

Brooke hung up.

"Avery! We have to go honey."

"NO!"

"Brooke, you just got here. What's wrong?"

"Something happened with the boys at school and Julian seems upset."

"Are they okay?"

"I guess so, but I should really get home... Come on, baby."

"I don't wanna leave Mommy!"

"Honey we have no choice."

"I want to stay with Jack. He has a car too!"

Avery was way too smart for her own good. And really, as much as Jack was proving himself worthy, Brooke was still unsure of ever leaving them alone.

"No, skinny girl. You have to go with your mom. I'll see you again soon."

Jack grabbed Avery and the little girl gripped around his neck. He carried her to Brooke's car.

"Thank you, Jack."

"No problem. I'll call you later to make sure everything's okay."

"Okay, thanks."

"Bye Jack," Avery pouted.

When Brooke's car pulled away, Jack's cell phone rang. He picked it up.

"John Daniels. Yes, how are you? Uh huh, I have what I need... I'm on my way."

;

When Brooke first heard the story about the principal's bully son, she thought Julian was overreacting again. He'd done this the last time he wanted to switch the boys out of their school. But this was different because it didn't have to do with a teacher suggesting something, this had to do with a classmate hurting their son.

Brooke had Davis up on the counter, pressing ice to the swolen bump on the side of his head.

"You should've seen me Momma. I stopped Kevin from hurting him!" Jude jumped around at her side.

"No, Jude. This is very serious. I know what Kevin did was wrong, but you are not allowed to tackle and hurt people."

"But!-"

"No but's. If this ever happens again, you'll be in big trouble."

"Okay," Jude frowned.

Davis just sat there quietly.

"You okay handsome?" Brooke rubbed his knee.

"Kevin's always mean to me."

"I'm sorry baby. I wish you had told us."

"He told me! I saw it and I stopped it." Jude said proudly.

Julian stopped his pacing nearby and joined the conversation.

"What did your Mom just say Jude?"

"Yeah, I know..."

;

While Brooke and Julian talked about what they were going to do about this whole situation, Jude, Davis and Avery were playing in the family room.

Avery was watching the boys play Super Mario Brothers on the Wii. They rarely let her play because they said she'd slow down the game. She really didn't know how to play anyways, but she asked every time regardless.

"Wanna play red light-green light with me?" Avery walked in front of the screen.

"Avery!" Jude groaned.

"Please Ju-Ju please!"

Davis walked towards Avery and tried to move her out of the way.

Avery saw him coming and ran away with a little shriek.

"That's a baby game."

"No it's not. Please play! Jack always plays with me and he's not a baby. And he's a boy!"

"Why do you always get to go to the park with Jack and we don't?"

Avery shrugged.

"What is he your babysitter?" Jude joked.

"No... Mommy always stays with me when we see him."

"That's wierd..." Jude gave her a wierd face.

Avery didn't realize before this that the boys never get to see Jack. Even when they're not in school, they don't come to the park with them. It's always just Avery that gets to see Jack besides her parents. And where did he come from anyways? All of a sudden she met him and he stuck around.

But why?

;

At dinner Brooke servved a plate to each of her kids and then sat down to eat.

"So your mom and I have been talking about what's going to happen after what happened at school today."

Brooke sat down.

"And we've decided it's best if maybe we get you away from Kevin for a while."

"No mom! We can't run away from a fight!" Jude knelt on his chair.

"Jude Nathaniel! We do not fight people, do you understand me?"

"Where'd you even hear that phrase?"

"Chuck..."

Brooke scoffed. Of course her nephew's ill-chosen friend would be an influence on her energetic son.

Davis finally spoke up.

"Can we go to Riley's school, Mom?"

Brooke looked to her sensitive son and smiled.

"I think that would be a great idea."

"What! He has friends there and I don't!"

"Other kids from your soccer team go to that school too, Jude," Julian pointed out. "And you'll make more friends in no time."

"Oh okay.."

"Do I get to go to school there too?" Avery asked as she took another bite of her mashed potatoes.

Julian smiled at the fact that Avery acknowledged that she'd be going to school in the future. Brooke smiled sweetly at her growing baby.

"If you want to, of course you can."

;

When the three Baker children had their pajamas on and were settling down for the night, they all congregated to Brooke and Julian's room. Brooke was taking off her jewelry and pulled on an old sweatshirt of Julian's.

"Mom, can we watch a movie tonight?"

"Only if I get to choose..." she smiled.

"Aw man, but it'll be a girly movie.."

"It's too late to start a movie now anyways. We can watch TV though, or play a game or something."

The four of them walked out into the living room to hear Julian laughing hysterically at something.

"What happened, Dad?" Davis asked.

Julian pointed to the TV because he couldn't voice the words. The Tv then replayed a slow motion clip of a guy on Wipeout flipping and bouncing rediculously and hilariously over the big red balls obstacle and plummetting into the water.

Jude and Davis laughed.

"This is a dumb show."

Julian caught his breath.

"This is the best show on television."

The family sat down together but two groups formed. The boys couldn't take their eyes off the show, while Avery snuggled up with Brooke and her baby doll.

The little automated doll began to cry and Avery shook the doll. When that didn't work, she turned it over and turned the on/off button to the quieter setting.

"Well that's not how you stop a baby from crying silly." Brooke shook her head.

Avery giggled and then rocked he doll back and forth in her arms.

"That's better."

Davis heard what his mom said and turned.

"Where do you get babies like that?"

Jude turned.

"From the toy store, duh."

Avery laughed.

"No," Davis corrected. "I mean real babies..."

Brooke's jaw dropped and she looked to Julian. Everyone's eyes turned to Julian. So he gave the first distracting response he could think of.

"Stork bro." Just like he's said to Jamie all those years ago.

"WHAT, whoa!" Jude exclaimed.

"Really?" Davis's eyes widened.

"Daddy's just teasing you baby." Brooke shook her head no.

"Then how?"

Avery chimed in. "An a-dope-tin!" She was so happy she knew the answer.

With her three kids' eyes now on her, Brooke knew it was time.

"Well, a mother and a father make a baby together, and the baby grows in the woman's tummy."

"That's wierd," Jude pointed out.

"It is wierd, isn't it.." Julian agreed.

Avery looked down at her baby doll.

Brooke continued. "But sometimes people can't take care of their babies, so they let someone else be the Mommy and Daddy and take care of and love the baby."

"Like in the books you read to Avery?" Davis asked.

Brooke nodded yes.

"I was in your tummy?" Jude gave a funny face to Brooke.

"You and Davis were in there together." Julian commented and then laughed at the boys' reactions.

"I had a very big belly," Brooke told them.

"Me too?" Avery looked up from Brooke's lap.

Brooke hugged Avery's little body tight. She couldn't lie.

"Avery, honey, you came into this family like the children in our books do. And Mommy and Daddy were so happy to meet you and we all love you so so much."

The three Baker boys looked for Avery's response, but they got nothing.

"I wasn't in your tummy?"

"No, but you're still my baby."

Avery looked at her doll. "Oh."

Brooke and Julian knew they had to talk to Avery alone now, so they asked the boys to go upstairs. The twins didn't put up a fight since they knew this whole situation was serious.

"Davey and Ju were in your tummy, but not me?"

It seemed that was the most upsetting part about all this to the four year old.

"That doesn't matter, baby. All that matters is that I am your Mommy and Daddy is your daddy. That's all that matters, okay?"

"But... why?"

Julian knelt down in front of the chair his girls were sitting on.

"Because you were our gift. You picked us, Ave."

"Who's tummy was I in?"

"Avery..." Brooke started, but the little girl's questions kept coming.

"Where was I before here? And you're still my mommy and daddy right?"

"You've always been our baby, Avery." Julian started.

Brooke finished. "And you always will be. Forever and ever and ever and ever."

The parents nodded vigorously.

"Good," the little girl mumbled.

;

Julian went to tuck the boys in so he could then get back to focusing on the girls.

When he got to their room he half-smiled. The boys were sitting together on Davis's bed.

"Hey boys, time for bed."

"Is Avery okay?" Davis asked.

"Everything's fine. Just a little hard for her to understand. She's the same age you were when she was born."

"I remember when she came... I didn't like her at first," Jude admitted. "But I love her now."

Julian chuckled. "I remember."

"I hope she's not sad and that she knows she's still our sister." Davis said quietly.

Julian knelt down to their level.

"Well you should tell her that in the morning and again and again as long as she need to hear it. Mommy and I will too."

"Yeah."

"Okay."

The boys smiled.

"But in the morning.. Now it's time for bed."

;

Julian found Brooke and Avery in their bedroom, on the king size bed. Beside Brooke was the box of Brooke's old pictures. The one she hid in the closet.

"I thought I should wait for you..." Brooke said. Julian sat down on the bed as Brooke pulled out a picture.

"This is your birth mother, honey." Brooke handed the picture to Avery and pointed to the teenager.

"Her name is Sam." Julian said.

Avery studied the girl in the picture who's arm was wrapped around Brooke's arm.

"Why?"

"Sam knew she couldn't take care of you so she made sure you had a great home here."

Julian had been waiting a long time to fulfill his promise to Sam so he took the opportunity.

"And she wanted us to tell you that she loves you more than anything, and that she thinks about you every single day... She wanted to give you a family that would love and care for you and protect you forever, because she couldn't."

"Where is she?"

"We don't know, honey. We haven't seen her since you were very little."

Brooke rubbed Avery's little back. The child stayed silent.

"Are you okay, baby?"

Avery looked up.

"Can I sleep in here with you?"

Brooke smiled. She was hoping Avery would say that.

As the four year old drifted to sleep that night, wrapped in her mother's arms, her subconscious little mind was trying hard to figure out what had just happened. But she didn't dream about this mysterious Sam person. She dreamed about the only family she'd ever know. The only family that truely mattered: Davis, Jude, Brooke, and Julian.

;

A few days later, Jack walked into the clinic and up to the female desk worker.

"Name?"

"John Daniels... I was here the other day."

Jack coughed. He was nervous.

He had done it. He had taken one of her small delicate hairs that had already detached and fallen onto her jacket.

He was going behind their backs. But he had to know. He had to be certain. The unknown was killing him.

"Um.. I'm here to get the results of a paternity test."

;

Review please!

Ideas/suggestions are ALWAYS welcome :D

~Haley :)