Background Information:

Takes place seven years after high school.

Brooke went to college in New Hampshire while everyone else stayed in Tree Hill.

Brooke is a history teacher living in New Hampshire.

Lucas, Peyton, Jake, Haley, Nathan and Mouth all still live in Tree Hill.

Lucas is the basketball coach and English teacher at Tree Hill High.

Peyton is married to Jake and has opened her own recording label.

Nathan is in the NBA and plays for the Bobcats.

Haley taught for five years but wasn't as happy as she thought she'd be so she is back in school aspiring to be principal of Tree Hill High.

I know that this is extremely minimum background information but I can't give too much away and everything will explain itself as the story goes on, things that seem random at points will have a bigger meaning in later chapters.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Title of fic is the name of the song that inspired me to write this "All We'd Ever Need" by Lady Antebellum.

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Chapter One: What the Hell Happened?

"Brooke!" Owen screamed as he walked in the front door of their house. "How many times do I have to tell you to wait up for me?"

Brooke laid in her bed squeezing her eyes shut praying it was all just a dream and when she opened her eyes everything would be back to how it was six months ago. "I'm sorry." She whispered as Owen stumbled into their room.

Brooke knew exactly what was about to happen. He'd done it every night since he had started to drink and use again six months ago. He'd slap her around until she was black and blue, depending on how he was feeling he wasn't limited to his hands, most of the time he'd kick her or bite her hard enough to draw blood. The first few nights Brooke screamed and cried out in pain but now the physical pain did not hurt nearly as much as the emotional pain. She knew that tonight Owen had a lot of energy so he wasn't just going to slap her around. She knew that being forced to have sex against her will was considered rape. She knew she was going to be raped tonight. She knew that she'd feel dirty and sore after Owen was done. She knew she had to protect her daughter. And she finally knew what she had to do.

Once Owen had finished abusing Brooke, he took a shower and headed back out to the bar. Brooke knew he wouldn't saunter back into their house until six o'clock the next morning so she had five hours to pack up all of her and her daughter's belongings and leave.

"C'mon baby girl," Brooke cooed as she woke up her little girl. "Mommy has a fun trip planned." She said as she packed all of Berkley's clothes and toys into a suitcase.

"Daddy coming?" Her three year old asked tiredly.

"No. Daddy's not coming baby girl, this is a girls only trip." It killed Brooke that she had to take Berkley away from her dad but she knew that she had to protect her. Just because Owen hadn't raised his hand to her yet didn't mean he would never hurt their daughter.

"Where are we going, momma?" Berkley asked as she climbed out of her bed with her stuffed bear.

"I don't know," She answered honestly. "We just have to hurry."

Brooke packed everything she and Berkley owned as well as most of the refrigerator, she knew Berkley would get hungry and she wasn't planning on stopping except for potty breaks.

As Brooke drove through Virginia, she still didn't feel safe. She kept glancing in her rearview mirror making sure Owen wasn't following them. Every time she did she saw the same red car that had been following her since they entered Virginia; Owen's car is black she kept reminding herself. But every time she looked in the rearview mirror she saw the bruises Owen had left her with. She knew she was in no condition to drive especially since her left eye was so swollen she couldn't see out of it. She also knew that she couldn't live one more day fearing for her life as well as Berkley's.

"Momma?" Berkley asked groggily from the backseat.

"Bumble bee?" Brooke smiled.

"What happened to you?" She asked innocently as she looked out the window at the passing trees.

Brooke absolutely hated when Berkley asked her this question. She did it every time a new bruise or scratch appeared on her body. "You know what happened, Berk. Momma just fell down the stairs." She told her.

"Momma," Berkeley said seriously. "You say that every time."

"Berk, let's not talk about it anymore." Brooke said with tears in her eyes. "Do you have to go potty?" She asked, trying to change the subject.

"Yeah," She nodded. "But I'm hungry too."

"There's a ton of food right next to you pretty girl." Brooke said as she glanced at the backseat.

"I know, but I don't like any of that food." Berkley said as she scrunched up her nose.

"Well then, what do you like?"

"Chicken nuggets in a Happy Meal!" She exclaimed.

"Do you want me to stop and get you a Happy Meal?" Brooke asked as she exited the highway.

Berkley eagerly nodded her head as she squealed in excitement.

"You're the best mommy ever!" Berkley exclaimed as she munched on one of her chicken nuggets.

"You're the best daughter ever," Brooke replied. "But what have I told you about talking with your mouthful?"

"Sorry." She replied while still chewing on her nugget.

Brooke couldn't help but laugh at her daughter's innocence. As much as she hated herself for falling in love with Owen, she didn't regret it because without him she wouldn't have Berkley.

"Do you know where we're going?" Berkley asked a few hours later.

"I have an idea." Brooke responded as they passed the 'Welcome to North Carolina' sign.

"Look momma! Horses!" She squealed as she pointed to a pasture.

"Want to stop and look at them?" Brooke asked as she glanced back at her daughter.

"We can do that?"

"Why not?"

Brooke stopped on the side of the back road so her daughter could get a closer look at the horses but she didn't expect the woman who owned the pasture to offer her and Berkley a horse ride. Brooke couldn't possible say no when she saw Berkley's face light up when the woman offered.

"Momma! Look at me! I'm on a real horsey!" She squealed.

"You're doing great, bumble bee!" Brooke yelled from her position on another horse.

Brooke and Berkley had fun in the pasture riding, feeding and brushing the horses but Brooke knew it was getting late and Berkeley deserved to sleep in a real bed instead of her car seat.

"Thank you so much for everything," Brooke told the woman as she and Berkeley headed toward the car. "I really didn't expect this. She just wanted to stop and see the horses."

"I know," The older woman replied. "Everyone just stops to look at them from their car because they don't think they can get any closer but they can. Horses have the power to heal." She said softly.

"How did you know?" Brooke asked as she looked down at her feet.

"The bruises sweetie, you did the right thing. Bring your little girl back anytime, I'll always be here."

"What's your name?" Brooke asked.

"Linda."

"I'm Brooke and this is Berkley." She said as she gestured to the sleeping girl in her arms.

"It was nice to meet you today, Brooke. And I really mean it; don't be afraid to come back." Linda smiled.

"Thank you for everything and we won't. I wouldn't be surprised if Berkley wanted to live here." She laughed.

"Drive safe."

After about and hour or two of driving, Brooke had finally arrived at her destination, Tree Hill.

"Berk, wake up baby girl. We're here." She said softly as she shook her daughter's foot gently.

"Where are we momma?" She asked as she tried to peer out the window.

"We're at a place where everything is better and safe."

Broke helped Berkley out of her car seat and started to walk toward the front door. She knew that the second the door was opened she would be bombarded with questions but she also knew she'd be safe for the first time in what felt like a lifetime.

"Do you want to ring the doorbell?" Brooke asked the sleepy girl in her arms.

Berkley nodded her head as Brooke leaned down so she could reach it. She wondered if Berkley cold feel how fast her heart was beating at the moment. It began to beat faster once she heard footsteps getting closer to the front door.

"Brooke! What happened?" His deep voice asked as he instinctively took Berkley out of her arms.

"I nee to feel safe, Nate." She whispered as she felt warm tears start to flood her eyes again.

"Haley!" Nathan called. "Come here!"

"What's wrong Nate—oh my god! Brooke, honey what happened to you?" Haley asked, shocked, as she rushed over to her former best friend.

"I'm so sorry to just show up here like this without calling or anything I just—"

"Brooke, you have nothing to feel bad about." Haley assured her.

"I know, it's just that I left seven years ago to start over and I never thought this is how everything would turn out. I never meant to turn my back on all of you, I just needed to get away." Brooke rambled.

"Brooke, sweetie what happened? Who did this to you?" Haley asked.

"Momma always looks like that because she always falls down the stairs." Berkeley said.

"Berkley why don't you come with me and I'll introduce you to Jamie, Isabella, Jack and Mia?" Nathan offered.

Brooke watched Nathan carry Berkley to the back room to meet everyone and she felt a feeling of serenity wash over her.

"Brooke," Haley said after Nathan and Berkley had left. "What happened?"

"Can we wait until Nathan comes back?"

"Of course, do you want anything to eat or drink?" Haley asked. Brooke shook her head. "Are you sure? You look really skinny, Brooke."

"I'm sure." She replied.

Haley let it go for the moment but couldn't stop staring at how skinny she was. She was just skin and bones.

"Berkley's playing with the kids." Nathan said as she returned to the family room.

"How did you know her name? Brooke didn't introduce us to her when she walked in the door so how could you know her name was Berkley?" Haley asked.

Nathan glanced at Brooke who stared at her hands. "I've kept in touch with Nathan over the past seven years." Brooke said softly.

Haley stared at Brooke for a couple of seconds before shifting her attention to Nathan.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Haley asked, obviously hurt, her voice cracking.

"I told him not to tell anyone because I didn't want anyone to worry about me. Nathan has always been like a brother to me, Hales I never meant to hurt you. I would never hurt anyone intentionally. I just thought that it would be best this way. I knew that the second I talked to you I would have been on the next plane back to Tree Hill."

"Why would that have been so bad?" Haley asked.

"It wouldn't have. I was just scared that if I came back history would repeat itself and it's not just about me anymore, I have Berkley to think about now. I can't drag her down here, get hurt by falling in love again and then uproot and move again. I cant do that to her. I'm so sorry for hurting you, Haley."

"I know and I don't blame you for any of it, I know that Berkley is the most important part of your life now," Haley said. "Now tell me all about her." She smiled.

Haley and Nathan both noticed how Brooke's face lit up when she was asked about Berkley. "She's amazing, Hales. She's the best little girl ever. I never thought that motherhood would come so easily to me but it did. I can't imagine life without her."

"Is Owen the father?" Nathan asked.

Brooke nodded.

"Did Owen do this to you?" He asked.

Brooke remained silent as she stared at her hands.

"Brooke," Nathan said.

"I don't want to talk about it." She replied.

"Who's Owen?" Haley asked as she looked back and forth at Brooke and her husband.

"I met him the second week I was up in New Hampshire. I was having a hard time being alone and everything so I went to the local bar and Owen was there. We hit it off right away. There was just something there between us that I can't explain. He told me that he was an alcoholic but had been sober for three years and counting. Three years later, things were still going great between the two of us. He proposed and of course I said yes. We bought a house together and then a year after he proposed I found out I was pregnant with Berkley. He was so excited. We put the wedding plans on hold until after Berk was born. Flash forward to seven months ago and Owen was in a really bad car accident on his way home from work. It was really bad. He was so banged up Berkley was terrified of him. He was put on painkillers for the pain and once and addict always an addict. The painkillers led to alcohol and he came home drunk every single night. I would tuck Berk in and then go to bed. He'd come home and slap me around, kick me, bite me, punch me in the face until my nose would gush blood and I couldn't see out of my eyes. Most of the time he'd force me to have sex, the night he didn't he would hurt me even more." Brooke cried.

Nathan and Haley didn't know what to do. They were horrified. Nathan knew about Owen and about Berkley but the way Brooke talked about Owen, he thought he was a good guy. Nathan had called Brooke two weeks ago and she said that the wedding plans were going well and she wished he could be there to see her get married. He now realized it was all a lie. He knew exactly why she had lied to him and as much as it hurt, he knew why she did it. "Did he ever touch Berkley?" Nathan asked.

Brooke shook her head violently. "No matter how drunk he got, he never went near Berkley. He loved her too much to hurt her, but then again I thought he loved me but he's beaten me so much over the past six months I'm convinced he never did. I had to get Berkley away from him because I was scared she'd say something that would make him snap and he'd hurt her. I couldn't let him do that to my baby girl, so I packed up everything we owned and just drove south. I'm so sorry for showing up here after seven years of being missing in action, I just wanted to feel safe and know that Berkley was safe."

Nathan was enraged by the end of Brooke's story. He couldn't believe that Owen, or any man could do that to a woman. He slid closer to Haley who was crying softly trying to think of something to say to Brooke but she was utterly speechless. "Is there anything else you want to tell us?" Haley ultimately decided to go with.

Brooke nodded her head slowly as she looked at her two best friends.

"What is it, sweetie?" Haley asked as she leaned closer to Brooke.

"I've had four miscarriages in the past six months," She whispered her voice shaky and uneven. "And I know it's my entire fault."

"Brooke, it is one hundred percent not your fault that you lost those babies." Nathan told her as he pulled her into his embrace. "Owen is the one to blame because he's the one that abused you and caused you to lose the babies."

"I know, but I stayed with him." She replied.

"Brooke don't blame yourself for this," Haley said softly as she got up and helped Nathan soothe her broken friend. "Why don't I take up to the guest bedroom and you and Berkley can get some rest." She suggested.

Brooke nodded and followed Haley up the stairs while Nathan brought the kids upstairs. He had them all brush their teeth and get into their jammies. He had begged and pleaded with Berkley to go sleep with Brooke but she refused. He gave up and let her sleep with his three year old daughter, Mia. Nathan walked down to his bedroom expecting to find Haley in bed already. Instead he was greeted with an empty bed so he turned around and headed toward the guest room. Inside the room he saw Brooke hysterically crying and Haley trying to comfort her by rocking her back and forth. Nathan rushed to the side of his two favorite girls and tried to help Haley calm Brooke down. After several minutes, Brooke's sobs became softer and her body began to stop shaking. Haley couldn't' leave Brooke's side without sending her into sobs so she laid right next to Brooke in the large bed. Nathan couldn't stand to see the girl he thought of as a sister in so much pain so he laid on the other side of Brooke. Eventually, after being sung a lullaby by Haley, Brooke had fallen asleep. "She's so broken." Nathan whispered. "I know," Haley replied. "What are we going to do?" She asked. "I don't know, Hales. We just have to be here for her no matter what." "Do you think we should tell Lucas?" Haley asked after a few minutes. "I think we have to." Nathan responded.

The next morning, Nathan slipped out of the bed quietly, leaving Brooke and Haley to sleep in. As he stood by the door he couldn't help but stare at the bruises and wounds all over Brooke's body. Her shirt had been pulled up by the blanket so her toned stomach had been exposed. Nathan saw deep purple and blue bruises all over her stomach. He felt sick knowing that four different babies had been killed by Owen beating and kicking Brooke in the stomach. He walked back over to the bed and gently pulled her shirt down so it was covering her skin again. As he walked down the stairs, carefully skipping over the one that creaked when stepped on, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed Lucas' number.

"Hey Luke, I know it's early but do you thin you could stop by in about two hours?"

"Of course, I'll see you soon." Lucas said.

Nathan knew that he would be ambushing both Brooke and Lucas but he knew that Lucas cared about Brooke and he knew that Brooke would be enraged that he had called Lucas but he also knew that deep down Brooke wanted Lucas to know; she just didn't know how to tell him. Haley was the next to get up followed by their four kids.

"Lucas is on his way over." Nathan said as he flipped a pancake onto a plate.

"Right now?!" Haley asked as she stood up.

"Yeah, I called him as soon as I woke up."

"I can't believe you're going to ambush them!" She exclaimed. "Call Lucas back and tell him not to come over." She demanded.

Brooke was on the second to last step when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it." She said as she made her way to the door.

"This is not going to be good." Haley groaned.

"Brooke, why don't you go in the kitchen, I just made chocolate chip pancakes." Nathan tried, but it was too late.

"Lucas." She whispered quietly as tears started to cloud her vision. "I can't do this." She said as she turned and ran back up the stairs.

"What the hell happened to her?!" Lucas yelled as he pushed his way inside the house.

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Hope you all liked the first chapter of the new story! Please review!!