Thanks for reviewing wordsmeaneverything, bdazzle, lostinwriting, isabel camilla scott, ace5492, caroline, sb1218, h23brock, arubagirl0926, grace, hailey, stagediva23, minervaann, ashley, janet, and cullentreehill.
So now I'm sick as a dog. And it is killing me to do anything that requires concentration so getting this next chapter out has been difficult. Looking at the computer screen has given me such a headache but im powering through. I wanted this out yesterday but obviously that didn't happen. So here it is now. Enjoy and thank you all for being such great followers.
PS. I've been looking at all the OTH finale pics and tweets online and its making me that much more depressed during my sickness. Nathan has wrapped for good and Haley and Jamie wrapped today too. The show will be done within the next few days uh it makes me so sad.
#GoodbyeOneTreeHill You've given me such great years and I'll never forget you. I'm just thanking god a million times over that there are 13 more episodes until I truely have to let the show go... [ at least on TV, not on fanfic ;) ] Maybe waiting till January 11th isn't such a bad thing now since otherwise OTH would have been aired and over before Christmas.
I hope you like how I've solved last chapter's riddle ;)
.
AGE 8 1/2
Brooke was putting the finishing touches on a wrapped gift while Julian made breakfast. Brooke was going to take Davis and Jude to Riley Kensington's birthday party today and Julian was going to have some quality father/daughter time at the zoo.
"You'd think the smell of pancakes would have gotten them down here by now," Julian joked.
As if on cue, Jude came racing down the stairs.
"I love chocolate chip pancake Satudays!" he beemed.
"Well where's Davis? He likes this just as much," Julian said placing a plate down in front of Jude at the counter.
"I don't know but he kept waking me up last night."
"Why, Jude?" Brooke asked.
"He kept coughing and stuff."
The parents shared a glance and Brooke went to investigate.
;
The mother found Davis in the boys' bathroom looking in the mirror.
"Good morning handsome."
Davis looked towards his mom and she could immediately see the paleness of his face and the small bags under his eyes.
"You feeling okay?" Brooke moved and touched her palm to his forehead. "You don't feel too warm.
"I didn't sleep good cuz I can't-"
Davis's thought was interrupted with a coughing spell. Brooke grabbed a little dixie cup off the sink and turned on the tap.
"Drink this and try to take a deep breath."
Davis suppressed his cough long enough to take a sip.
"I couldn't stop coughing. Jude yelled at me to stop but I couldn't."
"It's not your fault baby. You probably just have a little bug or are getting a cold. Go to your room and I'll be in in a second with some cough medicine."
Davis nodded and did as he was told.
It wasn't even five minutes until Brooke entered the boys' room and she found Davis asleep, slumped over the side of his bed. He must have fallen asleep sitting up. Brooke smiled sadly and helped Davis's little body to lay down on its side and she covered him with this favorite blanket before going downstairs.
"Well he was up but he fell back asleep before I could even get him cough syrup."
"You think he'll be well enough to go to the party?"
"I don't know. Jude might have to go alone." Brooke looked at her other son as he was about to put a big piece of pancake in his mouth, but stopped.
"WHAT! No way. Riley is his friend... and there will only be girls there besides us. I don't want to go to a girls' princess party without Davis!"
"It's not princess themed. I'm sure," Julian laughed. He'd met Riley. She was girly, but had a toyboy side to her. She was definately not the type to be princess obsessed.
"She invited both of you Jude," Brooke reminded him.
"Yeah, and I'm sure there will be other boys there," Julian said but got a nervous face from Brooke. They didn't really know if that was true, but they were hoping Julian was right.
"It will be a good chance to meet some new people from your new school too."
Jude and Davis had been moved to Riley's school mid-way through the year last year, so being the new kids, Jude and Davis kind of stuck to themselves. They didn't make many new friends besides already knowing Riley, so Brooke wanted them to meet new people too. She wanted to be certain that the transfering schools was a good idea.
"Fine, I'll go..." Jude gave a signature identical-to-Brooke-Davis-annoyed-face and hopped down off his stool.
"Go get changed but try not to wake up Davis please..."
Jude heavy footedly stomped up the stairs with his 'yeah, yeah' response and Brooke shook her head. Julian laughed.
"Wow, he'll be fun a teenager."
;
"Rise and shine sleepyhead."
Brooke let the light in through her daughter's door as she opened it. Just like Sam, Avery was not an early riser but she had to get up some time.
Avery turned her little body over and hugged her pruple monkey tighter as she moaned.
"You can't sleep the whole day away, honey. Daddy made breakfast for you."
Brooke sat on the ende of the small bed and moved the wisps of hair out of Avery's face.
"Daddyyy...?" Avery sat up slowly.
"Yeah he's in the kitchen and you two are gunna have such a great day together."
"You too Mommy?"
Brooke sighed. "Nope. Just you and Daddy today. I'm taking the boys to a birthday party remember?"
"But I wanna go with you!" Avery's arms flailed about.
In the morning, the child could get really cranky, but over the past few months, it had become a little too familiar. Avery was clinging to Brooke more often now. She hated to be away from Brooke... It probably had a lot to do with finding out about Sam.
"Ave, stop honey. You're gunna be just fine with Daddy. I promise you're gunna have so much fun."
Brooke wrapped her arms around her daughter. Avery's hands formed and unbreakable bond around the back of her neck and her head hit Brooke's shoulder.
Brooke took a deep breath. This was getting worse..
;
When Jude went to get dressed, he tried to be quiet but he failed. When he opened the closet door it made a big creek and Davis stirred.
"Sorry."
Davis sat up.
"What are you doing?"
"Getting dressed. Mom said if you're sick I have to go to Riley's party by myself... So you better get up now."
"No I have to go!"
Davis stood up and went to the closet, pushing Jude out of the way.
"Why do you want to go to the party so bad? I wish I didn't have to go."
"Because!" Davis disgarded his pajama tshirt, grabbed the shirt he had picked for the party, and pulled it over his head.
"Because of Riley? Why do you like her? Girls are gross!" Jude made a face.
"I don't like her." Davis defended.
"You love her cooties!" Jude teased.
"I do not! She's my friend! And she likes boy stuff too."
"Suuuuureeee."
Jude laughed as they both got dressed.
;
When the boys bounded down the stairs, they found their parents in their bedroom getting dressed. Before her shower, Brooke had to pry Avery off her side but now the little girl was content just sitting on the bed and watching.
"We're ready to go!" Davis smiled.
Brooke turned.
"Oh Davey, I thought you were sleeping, babe. I don't know if you should go to the party and risk giving everyone else your germs."
"No, I'm fine," Davis whined. "Can I please go, Mum. I'll be careful. You can stay and talk to Riley's mom anyways," Davis tried to make a deal so he could go.
Julian shrugged towards Brooke. She sighed.
"I feel much better now, Mommy." Davis said nicely. "Please...?"
"Well since you're Dad's going out with Avery, I guess you have to come along for the car ride at least."
Davis smiled. He really really wanted to give Avery her special present, one that was separate from and more significant than the box his mother had wrapped.
;
His lawyer said he had a case.
Not for full custody, but for visitation rights. The right to take Avery alone and have days with her. Probably not more than an afternoon at a time, but Jack was going to take what he could get.
He hadn't told Brooke and Julian what he knew. He had learned a few months back, when he secrely took a paternity test, that Avery was his biological child.
So now what?
Jack's childhood sucked. His mother died when he was seven or eight and his dad always worked and got drunk. That left Jack under the supervision of his troubled druggie jack-ass older brother Xavier way too much. And then one day his dad never came home, so Jack was still left with a bitter and angry jack-ass, idiot brother. Needless to say, Jack got pushed around a lot. There were many incidents with the police and X stealing things and hitting Jack, but he didn't leave. And Jack had no place else to go.
But the incidents with Brooke and Sam were the worst off all. Then he finds out his brother had truely gone over the edge: he was a murderer.
By then, Jack's childhood was over. He stayed with a foster family for a few years but then struck out on his own. He got a full-time decent job in a respectible town, got an apartment in a decent neighberhood, and left his past behind him.
So now that Jack had some new family connection: a link to an innocent, kind, smart, beautiful child that HE had made with Sam, he wasn't about to let that go. Jack wanted Avery to know that she shared his genes.
Since he found out the paternity, he had been planning. He had to go about this the right way or it would end in a fight for Avery in court. And Jack knew the Bakers would never forgive him for that.
;
When Brooke and the boys arrived at the party, Riley's mother Lauren was there to greet them.
"Brooke hi!"
"Hey Lauren," Brooke hugged the other mom, since they'd become fast friends.
"Hey boys. Thank you for coming. Riley will be really excited to see you."
"Here's her present. It's some girly clothes that my mom made..." Jude said, extending the box towards Lauren.
Brooke shook her head. Jude was such a boy.
"Oh great. I'm sure she'll love it then," Lauren laughed and took the box.
Jude looked at Davis. "I told you she's girly," he whispered.
Davis stuck his tongue out.
"Davis!" Riley ran over with a little strawberry-blondish redheaded friend when she saw Jude and Davis. "Hi Jude."
"Happy birthday Riley," Brooke smiled at the newly nine year old.
"Thank you... This is Penny. she was on our soccer team too. Do you remember?"
The boys shrugged.
"Hi," little Penny Jagger smiled.
"Hi," the boys said politely. Jude rolled his eyes in the process... 'another girl.. great', he thought.
"Come on, boys, come play!" Riley said as she and penny turned to walk away.
Davis looked to his mom. His coloring looked better and that puppy dog face got her everythime. So she nodded. Then Davis ran after Riley towards the back yard.
"You should go play too, Jude," Mrs. Kensington told him.
"Are there only other girls here?"
The mothers laughed. "Nope. Your friend Ethan from your old soccer team is here, too. He'll be in your class this fall I think too."
"Really?" Jude got excited.
Lauren nodded.
"Go play, honey," Brooke smiled.
Jude ran off to find the other kids.
"Can I help you with anything, Lauren?" Brooke asked.
"No I think I'm all set... But there's a more adult party in the kitchen with wine, if you'd like to join me?" Lauren suggested.
Brooke smiled. "I'd love to."
;
Avery and Julian's car pulled into the parking lot and Julian turned to look at Avery.
"You ready to have some fun?" Julian tried to get her excited.
Well Avery wasn't really feeling it. She wanted to be at the party with her brothers, but with Brooke mostly.
"Come on, Ave. This is fun. We're gunna have so much fun!"
Julian got out of the truck and opened the back door.
"Where are we Daddy?"
"I told you, silly girl. We're at the zoo. And we're gunna see so many cool animals. I loved the zoo when I was a kid."
"You did?"
"You betcha. Now can you walk the whole time or should I bring the stroller."
"Walk!"
Avery was never a stroller kind of kid. Neither was Jude..
They would always slump over the side and whine and drag their feet if put in the stroller. They had a desire to walk by themselves, which usually meant that they ran off as fast as their legs could carry them.
"Well as long as you promise to stay with me..."
"I p'omise."
Julian paid for two tickets into the zoo and grabbed a map.
"What do you wanna see first, Ave?"
The girl shrugged as Julian studied the map.
"Oh I know..."
The two walked a few feet and Julian stopped at a fense.
"Look in there, Ave. Do you see them?"
Avery tried to look but the barrier was too tall for her to see over. Julian picked her up.
"Horsey!"
"No, honey. That's a zebra. They have black and white stripes."
"Oh..."
Avery lost interest with each animal fast so they moved through the park pretty fast. They saw zebras, and hippos, and a momma and baby giraffe, and monkeys (which Avery got a kick out of), and a tiger, and bears, and every other animal that she knew of.
Avery was growing tired so Julian figured it was almost time to leave. They needed to go get some food anyways.
As they walked back towards the front of the park, Julian's daughter was dragging her feet. He hoisted her up onto his shoulders and sighed as she put her cheek on the top of his head. Before they got to the exit, Julian stopped.
"Look Ave."
"Huh?" The little girl felt herself slide off of Julian's shoulder and he set her on the ground. She was then led by the hand into a glass greenhouse.
"This is the butterfly room, Ave!" Julian was hoping this would excite her.
Avery furrowed her brow when she stepped inside the tent. All she saw was plants and leaves blowing around. But then her little brain realized that they weren't actually leaves.
"Whoa!" The little girl had never seen so many butterflies in one place and it definately woke her up. One flew by her arm and landed on Julian's elbow.
"Daddy! It's touching you! Catch it!"
Julian laughed. Avery was getting as much pleasure out of butterflies as he did as a child. Paul would say it was because he was too girly.
Well Avery was all girl.
Julian held out his hand and a black and orange butterfly came to rest on his finger. He crouched down to show Avery.
"I wanna hold it."
Julian took his daughter's finger and tried to transfer the butterfly but it flew away.
"Uh hold on."
Julian picked up the child and held her against his hip. He helped Avery stick out her arm as the butterflies flew all around them. Finally, after a minute or so, a light blue butterfly decided to take a break from its flight and rested itself on the back of Avery's hand.
"I did it Daddy!"
Julian smiled at how happy his baby girl was. He hoped she'd always be this easily entertained and this young and this happy.
;
Jude walked around the backyard of the Kensington house and made his way to the snack table. When he was his favorite snack, cheese puffs, he made a B-line to te bowl. Just as his arm extended to grab a hanful of the snack, someone else's hand hit his. The boys looked at each other and laughed, each grabbing a piece of the snack one by one.
"You're Jude, right?" the other boy asked.
"Yeah. Hi. You're Ethan?"
"Yep."
"Cool!" Jude smiled. "We played soccer together I think."
"Uh-huh. That's how I know Riley. Our older sisters are friends too."
"Oh. My brother is Riley's best friend... I guess."
"Having girl friends are wierd..."
Jude nodded. "Yeah!"
"I'm glad you're here. I thought it was gunna be just me and all girls."
"I thought so too. I'm glad you're here."
Ethan smiled.
"Wanna play cops and robbers?"
"Sure."
Jude and Ethan ran off with a handful of snacks to play. What they didn't realize was that this would ultimately be the start of their 'best buds' friendship.
;
When all the kids were brought together and Riley blew out her birthday candles, everyone settled down at the picnic tables to eat their piece of cake. Being a mom, Brooke offered to help and was the ice cream scooper for all the plates while Riley's mother cut pieces of cake.
"What kind do you want, Davey?"
"Mom...!" Davis didn't like his nickname in front of his friends. He prefered when his Dad called him Dave because it wasn't so babyish.
"Sorry... so what kind?"
"Chocolate cake with M&M.."
Brooke grabbed a plated piece of chocolate cake and scooped the M&M ice cream onto the side before handing it to her son.
Davis left the main table to go find a place to sit. He saw Jude sitting with his cake, but he was laughing and talking to Ethan and there weren't any seats near him. Davis looked to the other table and saw one of the other kids stand up, leaving a chair open next to the birthday girl. He acted quick and took a seat as Riley took another bite of cake.
"Hi Riley."
Riley laughed and chewed as she tried to say hi.
Davis stared at the cake in front of him but he didn't want to eat it yet.
"I got you a birthday present."
"I know my mom pointed out which one it was. Jude said your mom made me clothes," Riley smiled. She had some clothes from Brooke's kids' brand, but she knew Mrs. Baker probably made her something special. Brooke always loved to do that for her nieces and daughter, and now she loves to do it for her kids' friends (except boys don't really appreciate clothes as a gift).
"Uh.. no," Davis stuttered. "I got you something else..."
He fished through his pockets as Riley's interest was peaked.
"I found this... and it made me think of you."
Riley put out her hand as Davis dropped the small object into her palm.
Riley studied the item and realized it was a heart-shaped rock.
"I know you like hearts cuz you always draw them on your papers at school and stuff... then I found this... and I washed it and everything..."
"Thank you Davis," Riley smiled. She closed her fist so she wouldn't drop the gift and leaned over to hug the boy.
"You're my best friend, Davey."
Davis leaned into the hug more and smiled brightly. With Riley, he didn't much mind the nickname.
;
After leaving the zoo, Julian drove himself and Avery to the diner in the center of town for a good meal and some dessert. As they sat and ate their meal, Julian found himself staring at his daughter, unable to eat.
"Daddy!" Avery laughed as she caught him staring. "Eat!"
"Sorry. My baby girl is just so beautiful."
Avery laughed and Julian picked up a french fry. All he could see across the table from him was Sam. The day he sat here and watched her pour way too much sugar in her coffee. The day they talked about her writing, and about Brooke doing costumes for the movie.
"Daddy? Can I sit on your side?" Avery asked. She was done eating and Julian was slow.
"You just want my extra fries, don't you?"
Avery laughed and jumped off her side of the booth. "No!"
The little girl snuggled beside her Daddy and he wrapped his arm around her as he kept eating. It didn't take long before the activity of the day brought her down.
"Do you want dessert, Ave?"
The little girl groaned against his side. Julian turned to the waitress and smiled.
"We'll just take the check please, thank you."
As the waitress walked away, Jack Daniels sauntered into the diner, looking inconspicuous.
Facing the door, Julian saw Jack immediately and smiled. Jack approached the table and saw Avery, practically asleep.
"Busy day?" Jack sat down on Avery's original side of the table.
"Just a trip to the zoo that was way too much fun," Julian nodded.
Jack put the folder of paperwork he had in his hand on the bench beside him.
Really, this meeting had not been accidental. Jack had gone to the Baker house, planning to serve them with the paperwork about the custody issue. But no one was home. As he drove back through town and saw Julian's truck, Jack thought he'd do this in a public place so it was less likely the Bakers would make a big scene. But they probably would anyways. They wouldn't care about who was listening and who was around, they would care about the fact that Jack wanted to take some power over Avery away from them. That's what they'd ultimately care about.
But in the diner, Jack only found Julian with the little girl herself.
"I'm glad I ran into you... I'd like to talk to you and Brooke about something...but maybe I'll just do it now."
"Okay...?" Julian said, not really understanding Jack's wierd tone. '
"I did something and I have to tell- -"
All of a sudden, Jack was interrupted by a small whimper from Avery. Now she was curled up on the booth with her head on Julian's knee and her face looked pained.
Julian looked down and rubbed Avery's back.
"Shhh. Ave, wake up honey."
"Is she okay?" Jack asked.
Julain frowned.
"She hasn't been sleeping well these days.. and she's been really clinging to Brooke. But she's probably just over tired.
But then Avery whimpered again. And then it turned into a cry.
Julian shook Avery gently.
"Ave, wake up. You're okay baby. Are you having a bad dream?"
Suddenly Avery jolted from her frightening dream and shrieked loudly.
"Ave, you're okay!" Julian turned to face her and tried to get her to look at him. He grabbed her and hugged her tight.
"DON'T LET THEM TAKE ME AWAY, DADDY! DON'T LET HER TAKE ME! I WANT TO STAY WITH YOU AND MOMMY!"
Jack was taken aback. Here he was about to take action to get rights to Avery and she was crying about not wanting someone to take her away.
"I want my Mommy!" Avery sobbed more.
Julian stood up with Avery and dropped a twenty dollar bill on the table.
"Sorry, Jack. We gotta go. We'll talk later, okay?"
Jack nodded. What else could he do? This was a sign.
;
After the birthday party, Brooke drove two very happy boys home.
"Did you guys have fun?"
"Yeah, Mom. Playing with Ethan was awesome. He doesn't like girls either."
Brooke laughed.
"And you Davis?"
"I had a lot of fun."
"Good, I'm glad," Brooke smiled, glad this had been a fun day for all.
Or so it seemed...
When Brooke and the boys came through the door they heard the wails.
"Julian?" Brooke called out.
She heard his footsteps coming towards her until she saw Julian with Avery over his shoulder.
"Why didn't you pick up your phone!" Julian semi yelled. He was as upset as Avery almost.
"What happened? Is she hurt?"
Avery heard her mother's voice between her shrieks and turned.
"MOMMY!"
Brooke rushed forward.
"It's okay, baby. Mommy's right here. What's wrong?"
Avery threw herself from Julian into Brooke's arms and made an unbreakable lock on her neck.
"Don't let me go!" Avery cried.
Brooke shushed Avery, but she was still so confused.
"Boys can you go upstairs and play for a little while, please. I'll take you and your bikes to the Riverfront in a little bit, just give us a little while, okay?"
The boys nodded and headed upstairs. They knew more than to stick around when Avery was this upset.
The parents and daughter went into her room and Brooke sat down in the rocking chair.
"Calm down, Ave. Deep breathes." Brooke said soothingly.
The mere fact that she was in Brooke's arms made Avery feel better.
"What happened?" Brooke asked both her husband and baby girl.
"She fell asleep at the diner and she must have had a nightmare because she woke up screaming for you and wouldn't stop..." Julian said.
"You had a bad dream?"
"Yeah.." Avery whimpered.
"Well nightmares aren't true baby. Can you tell me what scared you?"
"Sam took me away!" Avery started to cry again and her parents were speechless.
"What?" Brooke rubbed Avery's back.
"When she woke up in the diner she started screaming to not let anyone take her away and that she wanted to stay here with us. She must have had a dream that Sam came and wanted her back," Julian realized.
"Oh Avey-cakes, is that true?"
Avery nodded slowly.
"Oh baby. That's NEVER going to happen, you here me. You're our baby and nothing can ever change that. You're staying her for as long as you want."
"Forever and ever?" Avery asked.
Brulian laughed and nodded.
"Well I'd like that very much," Julian said sarcastically, thinking about how college, a husband and/or just her life would cause her to move out someday.
This made Avery feel better and she calmed in Brooke's arms.
"I don't want Sam to come here ever," the tiny child voiced.
Julian's eyes wandered as he thought the same thing Brooke was.
Brooke just rocked her. She couldn't guarantee that they'd never see Sam again, but she would do her damndest to make sure no one ever threatened to take this child away from her home.
;
Jack Daniels sat at his kitchen table and stared at the writing on the papers in his hands.
Petition for Visitation/Custodial Rights of a Birthparent (totally just made that up lol)
He'd been staring at them for over two hours and all he could think about was Avery's screams in the diner.
Don't let them take me away Daddy!
The sparkle in her eyes left when she was upset. He didn't want to be the reason she lost her her happiness and her spark of joy.
I want to stay with you and Mommy!
Avery may like Jack and look forward to seeing him, but he could never take the place of Brooke and Julian. They were her real parents, in the eyes of the law, and in the eyes of the only person in the world in which it really mattered. It was true in Avery's eyes.
So Jack lifted the papers and extended his arms out in front of him before ripping the stack in half.
Don't let them take me away Daddy!
And in half again.
I want to stay with you and Mommy!
And again.
Don't let them take me away!
And again.
He threw the scraps left in his hands onto the ground and walked out of the room with a sniffle.
Brooke and Julian were being so good to him. They were still allowing him to see Avery and be in her life, even if it was just in a small way. That hadn't changed.
He decided now that he won't push it. He won't risk losing her altogether.
He is her birth father. Right now, that doesn't matter much.
But someday, Avery will know. Whether or not he's the one to tell her, she'll find out.
Someday.
.
Click Review!
~Haley :)