"Brooke's run away." Ted said, looking a lot older now than he had a few hours ago.

"I don't blame her. God how did things get so bad so fast?" Karen asked as she held him in her arms comfortingly.

"I knew that Victoria was a bitch but… I never thought she would literally abuse Brooke. I sent my little girl into a situation that she had no business being in." Ted cried angrily, still reliving seeing Brooke being yanked by her hair and getting alcohol poured over her face. Could still hear Brooke pleading for her to stop, could hear the absolute fear in her voice.

"Lucas is gone…none of his friends know where he is. He hates me so much now…" Karen cried, needing comfort too.

"He's just a kid. He'll get over it and forgive you. You're his mother Karen and we were doing what we thought was best. One day they will realize that."

Karen wiped the tears from her eyes, "I hope so. I really hope so."

Meanwhile…*

Lucas barely wanted to leave Brooke's side but he knew that he had to. He was running low on cash and they needed to eat. So he went out and got a day labor job so that he can take care of her without asking for help from anyone. So far they had about four hundred dollars saved up which was okay but in order to get both of them home he needed almost five hundred dollars.

After working all day Lucas found Brooke gone and was about to panic when her and some pretty young woman with glasses walked into the room with a bunch of Brooke's stuff in tow.

Lucas strolled to her and kissed her cheek, avoiding her mouth because of the split in it. He wanted to taste her there so badly but he didn't want to hurt her. "God you scared me! Where have you been?"

"Millie was helping me get my stuff from the house. Thank God Bitchtoria was in an alcoholic slumber or we would've had a problem!" she said as she set her things down. "Lucas this is my only friend and neighbor Millicent Huxtable. Millie this is Lucas Scott aka Broody."

"Aka love of Brooke's life. It's a pleasure to meet you Lucas Scott." she said with a pretty smile as she shook her hand. "I'm sorry that I couldn't do more…but she wasn't allowed to leave other than to check the mailbox and that's when I would interact with her. The last time scared me to death…I found her unconscious near the mailbox and she was bleeding…" she said as she started tearing up, "when I rushed her to the hospital that's when we found out about—"

"The baby…" Lucas said, his voice strained.

Millie nodded, "Brooke I'm so sorry I couldn't have done more but I'm very happy that you're leaving. And I am gonna miss you. Call me when you need to talk. Okay?" she said as she hugged her carefully.

Lucas felt gratitude towards her and had hugged her. "Thank you for everything. If it hadn't been for you she wouldn't be standing here. So thank you."

Millie smiled and parted from him, "Anytime…I gotta get back to work. Goodbye you guys." she then made her exit and was gone.

Brooke looked at him, her eyes slightly less dulled than when he had first seen them when they reunited. "How was work?"

"Oh the usual… only I got to drive the machinery. It was kinda fun. Although I was tempted to swing the wrecking ball into the dick that's been giving me a hard time."

Brooke giggled for the first time in a long time and it felt good to hear. "I missed that."

"I missed doing it. Both giggling and doing it." she said with a smile.

Lucas laughed and took her into his arms. "Well as soon as you're healed up I promise we will be back to doing that."

"I've missed you so much Broody. You were the only reason I stayed sane. While she was hitting and kicking me over and over and over I would think that I needed to stay here for Lucas. I have to see his face again."

Lucas kissed her on her forehead and met her eyes. "Thank you for not giving up…I don't know what I would do if there wasn't a Brooke Davis in the world. I know that I would probably lose it."

"You deserve someone better than me. I'm worthless."

Lucas eyes widened in hurt shock, "Hey! I don't ever want to hear you speak like that about yourself again!"

"Why not?! It's true! If my own mother said it it must be true!" she cried. "I couldn't even keep our baby!"

Lucas closed his eyes, praying that he could get her through this. "You are priceless Brooke…I don't know what that bitch drilled into your head but whatever she said is not true! You're my Pretty Girl—beautiful inside and out." he exhaled to calm down his anger and said calmly, "You know you love someone when they're the last thought on your mind before you go to sleep and the first thing on your mind when you wake up. Brooke you are that for me. You are my life…and in essence you just called my life worthless. And I know that's not true." he said as he rested his forehead against hers.

"I'm sorry…I'm just fucked up Lucas…why did this have to happen to me?" she sobbed so hard that they brought her to her knees. He went down with her, holding her, comforting her.

"I know you're broken baby but we will get through this…together. Only together can we beat this. Team Brucas remember?" he said with a strength he wasn't sure he had. "Let me love you past your pain Pretty Girl…"

Brooke closed her eyes, relishing the feel of his strong arms around her again. She nodded and embraced him back. Needing this more than she thought she did.

After a week of working and taking care of Brooke Lucas was finally able to get them back home. Immediately after touching down and retrieving his keyed truck, that Brooke had asked about, Lucas knocked on Nathan's door, his hand holding Brooke's as they waited. His brother opened the door and a relieved look fell over his face.

"Thank God you got your ass back here! Karen's been calling every damn day!" Nathan said as he hugged his older brother tightly, his way of saying that he was worried about. His eyes then took in Brooke and grinned, despite noticing the fading bruises on her face. "Welcome home Davis!"

"It's good to be home Hotshot." she said with a small smile.

Nathan shook his head a happy smile on his face, "Get your asses in here!"

As soon as Lucas and Brooke entered his apartment they sat down on the couch. "We were wondering…could we stay here until we can get on our feet?"

Nathan nodded, "Hell yeah…I'm sure that Haley wouldn't mind either."

Lucas exhaled a breath he hadn't realized that he had been holding. "Thanks man. I didn't think it was the best idea to go back home after everything that's happened."

"No problem. You know how much I was going through with my selfish ass parents and their need to control my life. Being emancipated was the best decision of my life. Sure shits harder but trust me it's worth it. Maybe you guys should consider doing that?"

Lucas nodded, "Maybe we will."

A couple days later Brooke enrolled herself back in school and it was the first step that she felt that she was on her way back to being normal. Upon walking the halls she saw Peyton and Bevin talking and laughing. Brooke didn't want to deal with drama so she ducked off into the library.

Haley noticed that she was hiding and walked up to her, "Hey Brooke…what's going on?"

"Peyton's out there. I don't want her to see me like this…with my confidence at an all time low… I won't be able to handle her."

Haley held her and said, "I could handle her for you. I could just…" she then did a phantom punch indicating that she would punch Peyton out.

Brooke laughed, "No that's okay…it's just I don't feel up to hearing how big of a slut I am after living with her." Referring to Victoria.

"It's going to be okay Tigger…" she said softly, still hugging her friend.

"I hope so Hales…I really hope so." she said as she laid her head on her shoulder.

Lucas walked down the hallway and almost turned around but then thought differently and continued walking towards his next class, determined to ignore Peyton and Julian who were busy making out against somebody's locker.

"Aw look who it is! Hillbilly Luke!" Peyton said with a nasty smirk.

"Aw look who it is Peytwhore and her pet Julian!" he said attempting to walk passed them. Usually he was above drama but after everything that Peyton's pulled—all bets were off.

"I heard you went missing for almost a month. Wherever you were you should've stayed there because now everyone knows just how nasty you and your little skank of a sister are!" Julian said with a smirk.

Lucas saw red. He didn't hear Peyton's scream of alarm. He didn't even know how he made it to them so fast. All he knew was that he was pummeling Julian's face repeatedly. He wasn't even aware that he was being pulled off.