I'm sorry, I haven't updated in a while. I had SATs' yesterday and I've been cramming for them. I know where I'm going with this and I hate to say this, but this story only has about ten chapters left. But, I'm happy to say that everything will definitely work out. The next chapter will DEFF be longer and have lots more drama. I just like having this chapter add to the fluff.

Chapter 9: She Will Be Loved

One Week Later

Brooke isn't exactly sure what she should do.

According to Ms. Lauren, Sam's been acting up in class. She's been made to sit in the red chair several times during class. Apparently, Ms. Lauren has sent four letters' home regarding the child's behavior but Brooke doesn't remember signing a single one of them.

Brooke knew any child of her and Liam's would be absolute trouble and had anticipated several meetings with her teachers. But, hadn't thought her five year old could cause this much trouble in kindergarten of all places.

Haley had pleaded with Brooke, Ms. Lauren, and Principle Lyons about having Sam and Jamie in the same class. In fact, Brooke knows Teacher-Mom scared the living crap out of poor Principle Lyons. The guy was shaking in his boots by the time she was through with him.

Those awful high school students' must be raising hell. Brooke glances in the rearview mirror, studying her daughter's easy-going behavior. Whenever Jamie gets in trouble, he looks nervous. Brooke suddenly wonders why her daughter isn't worried about being in trouble.

Unfortunately, Brooke has to do a few things at the store. "Alright princess, we're going to my store for a little while. When we get home, you and I are going to have a long talk." Brooke announced sternly as she unbuckles her seat belt and swiftly helps the five year old out of her car seat.

Sam doesn't know what to say. Nobody's ever spoken to her like that before, Uncle Mattie and Rosie didn't really know how to discipline her. With mild reluctance, Sam follows her mother into the clothing store.

Millicent is standing by the counter jabbering on her phone, with no doubt, Victoria's lawyers fighting for the company. "Hey, I think Victoria's lawyers are trying to be as…" she catches herself just in time. "They think the company belongs to them."

"Samantha, sit down over there and wait till I'm done." Brooke ordered wearing a solemn expression as she turns her attention to Millie who raises an eyebrow; her Boss is acting really strange.

Brooke sees her employee's look. "She got in a fight with another kid today and according to Ms. Lauren, this is her fifth fight. She's already sent home four notes about it, but I never got them." The brunette whispered in a hushed and obviously annoyed tone.

Millie makes a sympathetic face, all little kids get in trouble sometimes. She had a hunch her Boss' daughter would be a little trouble-maker. Anyone related to Brooke Davis has to be a trouble-maker; it's in their DNA or something. The kind of trouble Brooke's causing with Victoria frightens and amuses Millie. She personally doesn't particularly like the elder Davis, she considers her the biggest bitch and hates the way she treats Brooke.

"Uh-uh, no feeling sorry for her. You can't feel sorry for her. What she did was wrong, really wrong." Brooke sneaks a peek at the couch seeing her daughter swing her legs back and forth looking angelic. "Oh crap, Millie I really don't know how to discipline her."

"Why don't you ask Matthew what he did?"

"I don't want him to think, he made the wrong decision"

"He didn't. Your Brooke's mother and anyway, even if he doesn't agree the court's already granted you full custody"

"I just…I wish I could do this. It's easier when we're having fun," Brooke murmured softly her eyes becoming full of remorse and hesitance. She loves Sammy more than anything in the entire world, but can she really be a mother when she has no idea what she's doing?

Brooke taps her fingers against the counter wondering if she should call Teacher Mom, she disappears into the back room. A gorgeous blonde haired teen with ringlets of curls rushes into the clothing store.

Emma blinks, slightly surprised by the presence of a little girl swinging her feet back and forth on a sofa. "Hey kid, where's your Momma?" she asked with a flash of concern forming on her face.

"I don't have one, but I have a Rosie and a Brooke." Sam reasoned with a toothy grin. "Do they count?"

"Depends, which one is here?" Emma takes a gander around the retail store wondering if she has the right address. The flyer at school said, there was job opening here and all that jazz.

Sam grumbled, "Brooke."

"Awesome. Could you get her for me, kid?" Emma asked, she doesn't want to be rude and go looking the back for Ms. Davis, but she really needs this job; like a lot.

"Uh-huh, but my name's not kid. It's Samantha Peyton Walker-Davis," Sam corrected sternly causing Emma to chuckle at her gall. When she was this kid's age, she hardly ever spoke a word.

Brooke squints and glances away from Millicent, she strains to hear what's going in the front. Suddenly, a shock of fear explodes inside of her and she dashes towards the front. "Sammy, who're you talking to?" she asked worriedly and heaves a sigh at the teenage girl.

"Umm hi, my name's Emma Chance and…and I'm…I saw your help wanted sign hanging outside and I was wondering if I could have a job."

"There are applications online," Brooke replied tiredly. She doesn't want to be rude, but it's been a long day and she doesn't need this right now.

Emma has decided to be straight with this woman. She may as well know what she's getting into, if she hires her. "I don't think you understand. I really need this job…I've already been to Sadie's and the grocery store."

"They didn't hire you?" Brooke knows the store's manage; Lucy Mayfair is considered a kind-hearted woman around Tree Hill. She's always offering up jobs to local teens, even though she knows they can be flaky and rude.

"Mrs. Mayfair doesn't like me, probably cause she thinks I stole Sophie Mayfair's position, which totally isn't true; I'm just better." Emma rolls her green eyes huffily. "I play soccer, but we're off this season and I really need this job." She added realizing that tidbit is vital to her story.

Brooke asked, "And the grocery store?"

"That worked for like half an hour until I mislabeled some milk, knocked over a shelf of soups, and made out with a customer." Technically this entire mess is Quinn's fault, if he wasn't so god damn sexy.

"Okay, well it's a good thing we don't work with food here." Brooke stated with a small grin flickering in her eyes; this girl reminds Brooke a lot of herself. "Just don't make out with anyone here."

Emma asked, "You're really gonna gimme the job?"

"Can you work flexible hours?" Brooke rubs her chin, however much she wants to smile with this girl; she knows she has to be tough.

"Yeah, sure! I can work full-time." Emma's offer causes Brooke to feel more than a little unease. No way in hell, is a kid going to quit school for some stupid retail job.

Brooke offered sternly, "You can either work part-time or not at all." God the job of being a parent never ends, does it?

"But, wouldn't it be better if I just worked from eight to six?" Emma's confused, she thought Ms. Davis wanted a girl who could work flexible hours and eight hours is a hell of a lot better than six.

"School's important to me, Miss. Chance and if you're working for me. You aren't going to waste your life for a job," Brooke replied smoothly. "That's not to say this job isn't important; it is. You'll be paid eight twenty five an hour, alright?"

Emma's eyes brighten in excitement. "When can I start?" she demanded practically bouncing up and down with joy in her eyes.

"How does tomorrow sound?" Brooke struggles to resist the urge to smile; Millie however, can't keep the grin from dimpling onto her face. This teenager may be persistent, but she's adorable.

"Amazing," Emma remarked gratefully as she watches Millie and Sam play patty-cake together. "Thank you so much, Miss. Davis. I swear, I'll work really hard and I won't disappoint you."

"I know you won't." Brooke smiles warmly at the young girl.

"Emma, what could you possibly need in-" Victoria stops short and swallows hard, attempting to offer her biological daughter a terse smile. "Well, I see you've finally found a job."

"Mother, what's going on? How do you know this kid?" Brooke demanded standing protectively in front of Emma while Millie ushers Sam into the back area of the store.

Victoria introduced, "Brooke, this is my daughter Emma." The older brunette knows using Emma is a despicable thing to do, but Brooke hasn't returned any of her calls and she wants to get to her. "Perhaps we should have a play-date, considering you have a daughter now too."

Emma raises her eyebrows at the word daughter, but surprisingly she's more than a little amused. Nobody's ever used her as leverage to get someone else angry before and frankly, it's kind of funny. You know, most rational people would be pissed about something like this. But, Emma isn't, this only makes her feel more secure.

"Mother, you don't have any other children. You had your tubes tied, when I was born to get to Dad." Brooke reminded the older woman, who instantly regrets telling her daughter that.

"There are plenty of other ways to get a child, Brooke." Victoria countered giving her eldest child a smirk. "Emma will be adopted soon enough and will legally be my child."

"Not a child," Emma commented dryly.

The adults ignore her and continue bickering. "Who in their right freaking mind would give you a child?" Brooke is close to shouting and doesn't even notice the look of fear on little Sammy's face.

Her mother replied, "I could ask you the same question."

To this, Brooke isn't exactly sure how to respond. Instead, she shakes her head and lifts Samantha into her arms. "Emma, be here ready to work after school tomorrow." Brooke ordered shakily, giving Victoria a glare as she carries the five year old out of the store. Millicent disappears into the back of the store, she needs to get a few things done anyway.

Victoria watches her daughter go, feeling like a complete failure. Why can't she ever do anything right? Every time, she attempts to reconcile with Brooke; things always end up messed up.

The fourteen year old folds her arms over her chest wearing an amused, incredibly cheeky smirk. "So, I'm your daughter now, am I?" the teen asked wanting to sound like a bitch, but that isn't her style.

Victoria doesn't know what to say, Emma must be so disappointed about this entire arrangement. "I hadn't meant to drag you into my problems regarding Brooke, Emma. That was incredibly irresponsible of me."

"No worries, Mom. Believe it or not, that was fun. I gotta ask you something, though." Victoria motions for her to hurry this along, she has several meetings to get to. "Why are you nice when nobody's around? I mean, it's like you wanted to piss Brooke off."

"I don't piss anyone off and if you use that word again, I'll reconsider the whole soup mouth-washing debacle." A tiny piece of Victoria likes hearing Emma call her, Mom, even if it is in jest. "I just find…you know, Emma, I wasn't a very good mother to Brooke when she was young. I suppose, it's only fair she resent me."

"She doesn't seem like she resents you, though." Emma stated sounding extremely serious, which shocks Victoria; she always believed Emma was an adorable jokester. "She seems like…like she loves you, but…you push her away and you know it."

Victoria shakes her head. She does not need her foster child behaving like her therapist. "You're far too young to be having this conversation with me. Why don't you go play or something?" Victoria may have phrased that like a question, but Emma knows it's an order plain as day.

"Fine," Emma relented reluctantly. "I'll see you later." She starts for the door wearing a somewhat annoyed expression. "You know, Victoria, you're a good mother; if you just tried not to piss your kid off, I think she'd like you. I like you and I've only known you for like a month."

With that being said, Emma departs from the store. Victoria leaves not long after her; neither of them realizes Millicent heard everything. The brunette chuckles, she never knew the Ice Queen had a heart.

Mason has started calling Julian, Dad.

Sometimes…when he's really tired or in a sour mood, actually when he's pouty; he sarcastically mumbles it. He's been doing that; mumbling statements under his breath and acting like a regular seven year old. His therapist says this is a vast improvement from when he rarely spoke, at least now with him misbehaving and sassing; it's an improvement.

And Julian couldn't be more pleased.

Right now, though, he isn't happy at all.

Apparently, Mason got into an "interaction" with some little girl. He leans into the chair and listens to the Principle ramble on and on, until his eyes widen. "Wait-it wasn't Mason's fault?" Julian asked, when he got called in; he expected this to be all Mason's doing.

Principle Lyons raises an eyebrow. "No, of course not, Mr. Baker, Mason is a delightful little boy. The girl he got into a fight with…well, she's a new student and I think a little upset."

"Oh, well…is Mason okay?" Julian suddenly realizes his son is actually his son; he used to get beat up by girls' all the time. And he also knows that most fathers would be disappointed, but he isn't. He's actually a little awed by how much he and Mason are alike.

"He has a few cuts, but other than that; he'll be fine. I just called you in here, because…because I was wondering if maybe you'd consider enrolling Mason in the mentor program." Over the past six weeks, Principle Claire Lyons has been pushing for a new program called Little Helpers; it's where high schoolers volunteer to be a big brother/sister to a troubled youth.

Julian asked unsurely, "The what?"

"Mentor Program…Little Helpers, it's a new event where high school students' mentor a special elementary student." Many of the parents, Claire Lyons have spoken with don't seem to like the idea of their children getting mentored by some teenage delinquent.

"Special?" Julian doesn't like that word, especially when it's associated with his seven year old son. Mason may be a little different, but he's not a complete nut-case. His mother died, that's it.

"Adjusting," Principle Lyons explained, she knew Mason's mother Rebecca quite well and knows what Mason was like before her death. "Mason is still reeling from his mother's death. I think a little time with an older brother type person would be good for him."

Julian purses his lips together, before nodding. "If you think that'll help him, then I'm all for it." He agreed as his eyes wander to the PHD in Child Psychology Diplomas placed neatly on the wall.

Several hours have passed since the store's little incident, after dinner and right before dessert; Brooke's decided now is as good of a time as any to talk to her little princess about what happened at school today. It's delayed, but Brooke honestly doesn't know what to do about it. This is the first time, she's ever been called anyone because her daughter's been misbehaving.

"Sammy, c'mere we need to talk." Brooke pulls Samantha into her lap and holds on tight. She remembers when she was five and whenever she got in trouble; she ran for the hills. "Sweetie, you can't go around pushing other kids down and misbehaving during school."

"But, he started it." Sam lied weakly, she was the one who started this entire mess by calling that stupid seven year old mute names.

"That doesn't mean you should push him back." Brooke said evenly. "Do you like your school?" From what she understands, Sam was quite popular at her old school. Brooke just figured she'd make friends fast. But, the only friend she's made is Jamie.

Sam doesn't hate it, she likes her teacher and thinks the kids are okay; she just misses her old friends and life. "I guess," her response is dull and full of slight worry.

Brooke asked gently, "Then, why are you misbehaving?" She doesn't want to scare Samantha or anything. Brooke wishes Sam had known her from the beginning, she'd know how to handle this then.

Sam replied quietly, "I don't know." And really she doesn't know why she pushed that mute boy. He was just eating his lunch and she pushed him, for no reason too.

"Samantha," Brooke warned finally having enough with Sam's refusal to answer a question honestly.

"I don't," Sam insisted attempting to get out of her mother's firm grasp, but Brooke holds on tight. "He just got me mad."

"Alright, well no ice-cream for the rest of the week. C'mon, let's get you to bed." At Sam's pouty face, Brooke takes a book from the shelf and curls into the bed with her daughter. "I love you, you know that right?"

"Uh-huh…" the five year old makes a face as a new thought explodes in her mind, one that hasn't left her alone all week.

Brooke nudges her. "What's the matter, cupcake?"

"I'm gonna miss ice-cream." Sam lied, what she really is thinking about is why she can't call Brooke, Mommy like everyone else. These thoughts drift from her mind as her mother cradles her in her arms and begins reading.