SHOUT OUTS/ANSWERS

Long Live BRUCAS: Thank you. I was trying to show the inner quality that she had on the show before she started drinking/popping pills. Yep. You're just gonna have to read on and see about all that.

DISCLAIMER

Titled inspired by the song by Imani Coppola. One Tree Hill belongs to Mark Schwahn and the CW. I only own the plot. I have absolutely no idea how custody proceedings go, so I'm making stuff up, though I'll try to make it seem realistic. Again, changes POVs. I'm keeping Brooke's mom the same as they've shown her in the series, but completely making up her father. I use one of Haley's season 5 lines for this chapter.

Minutes later, the two were at the police station.

"Can I help you?" the desk sergeant queried. She was around their age with attractive features.

"Yes. My name is Dan Scott, and I recently became aware of the fact that a boy that just moved to Tree Hill, Lucas, is my biological son, and I was wondering how I'd go about getting custody for him," Dan stated.

"Wait, you're talking about the boy whose parents were brought in on abuse charges?" the woman asked.

"Yes," Deb responded.

"Well, CPS was thinking of putting him in a group home, but if you're his biological family---" the desk sergeant stated.

"Now, what about his adopted parents? How do we deal with them?" Deb wondered.

"Lucas is at the age where he can decide for himself who he wants to live with," came the answer.

"I see. Well, what about a judge?"

"No judge will let these people keep custody. We'll just need physical proof that you're the birth parents." Dan and Deb looked at each other.

"Well, I'm not the biological mother, but he is the biological father. He had a girlfriend before me and she got pregnant."

"I see."

"Is that going to be a problem?"

"I don't think so." Back at their hotel, Julian flipped through a magazine. With a sigh, he glanced at the boy sleeping on the bed. Geez. Poor kid. He's been through quite an emotional roller coaster, he thought to himself. The poor kid was pretty spent. It was no wonder that he had gone to bed early. With another sigh, he settled into a new position in the chair. Back at her house, Brooke sat huddled on her bed, hands wrapped around her knees, head ducked, as her parents yelled at each other. Stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it! she screamed silently.

"Dang it, Victoria! I've had it! All you ever do is spend my hard earned money!" her father yelled.

"I get lonely, Chris! And when I get lonely I shop! Goodness knows there's nothing better for me to do!" her mother retorted.

"How about spending time with our daughter?" he suggested hotly.

"Pot meet kettle. When was the last time you spent any time with her?" she countered. This led to another argument. As the adults continued to scream at each other, Brooke reached over to her dresser, grabbed a small figurine and threw it at the wall.

"What in the world?" she heard her father ask right before there came the sound of pounding footsteps. Before she knew what was happening, her father was gently holding her arms and perusing her body. "Brooke, honey, are you okay?" he queried.

"You---you actually care?" she asked softly.

"Oh, baby, of course I care," he answered, pulling her close. How'd we let it get this far with her? he wondered, smoothing back her hair as she started to cry.

"Oh, baby. I'm sorry. I should've realized how much I was hurting you," he apologized.

"I didn't---I didn't think I could talk to you. I just wanted you guys to notice me," she told him.

"Well, this is just great. Go ahead. Sit there and blubber like a baby," her mother snapped. The girl stiffened.

"That's it, Victoria. This marriage is over. I want a divorce," he stated.

"Chris, think of the neighbors. What would they think?" she asked. Chris just stared at his wife. Was she serious? The only reason she didn't want to get divorced because of what the neighbors might think?

"Like they don't already know we're having problems?" Brooke quipped darkly. Despite himself, Chris chuckled. Victoria just stared a moment, and then walked away. Still in her father's embrace, Brooke pulled back.

"Would you really divorce her?" she questioned.

"I'm afraid so, honey. It wasn't just an arbitrary statement. I know I took vows of forever and that you're probably mad at me, but---"

"Actually, I think it's for the best," Brooke interrupted. The man looked at his daughter in surprise.

"Really?" he asked.

"Daddy, let's be honest. None of us has been happy for a long time," she commented. He nodded. This was true.

"Brookie, I just want you to know: none of this is your fault," he told her, using an old nickname.

"I know, Daddy. But thank you for telling me."