"So when does your flight leave?"

"Four more hours, babe", Haley sighed into the phone. "I can't wait to come home. I really miss you and the boys do, too."

"Not as much as I miss you guys", Nathan smiled. "This house is way too quiet without you. Anyway, how did the visit go?"

"Interesting…to say the least."

"Any startling new developments?"

"Oh yeah. Brooke…well, never mind. I don't even feel like explaining the whole thing and it's probably best if I just keep stuff to myself for now. I think I've run my big mouth enough."

"I hear you. We probably shouldn't get involved anyway. I mean, he's my brother and all but this is their life and their problem. We can always be there for Brooke and Lucas but maybe it's best that we take a step back and let them deal with it on their own."

"Yeah. I guess you're right."

"What's the matter, Hales? You sound really sad."

"Oh I'm fine. It's just that…I don't know."

"You think you made a mistake by going to New York?"

"Yes…no. God, Nathan I don't know. This is all so crazy and screwed up. Honey, I just want to come home. I just want to go back to my normal little house with my perfect little life and my happy little family."

"You'll be here soon enough."

"Can't wait. You'll send a car to the airport for me?"

"Even better. I'll be there to pick up you and the kids myself."

A wide smile crept to Haley's lips. She couldn't wait to be back in Nathan's arms again. She couldn't wait to escape the insanity.

"Awesome. I'll see you soon, honey. I love you."

"Love you too, Haley. Kiss the babies for me."

Haley hung up her cell and took a deep breath. Baby Tristan lay on the bed sleeping peacefully while Aidan seemed content playing with his favorite stuffed rabbit.

"Okay little fellas, home or bust", Haley said, picking up her older son and hugging him.

"Us go home now, Mommy?" little Aidan asked.

"Yes sir. Back home and back to Daddy."

"Yay!"

"My sentiments exactly", she mumbled under her breath as she kissed the little boy's head and sat him gently back on the bed.

She continued gathering their things and breathed a huge sigh of relief when there was a knock on the door. After three phone calls, the Front Desk was finally sending someone up to take care of their luggage. Haley opened the door without bothering to check who exactly was on the other side. It was anyone but hotel staff. In fact, she barely recognized the scruffy looking creature with the baseball cap pulled low over his face.

"Sir, can I help you?"

"Hales, it's me. It's Lucas."

"Luke!"

"Shhh", he quieted her as he pushed into the room.

"Lucas what the hell are you doing here and why are you dressed like that?"

"I needed to talk to you and I didn't want the media to see me here. They've been following me everywhere I go. It's ridiculous. I have to sneak out the back after games and practices. When I leave my house my staff has to send out a decoy car to trick the paparazzi. Man, they're everywhere."

"Lucas, I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say. Um, how did you find me here?"

"Nate told me you were in town, I kind of did the rest on my own. Haley, I have to talk to you."

"Lucas, I don't think that's a good idea. Look, I just don't want to be involved anymore…"

"Uncle Wuke!" Aidan yelled with a grin as he ran towards Lucas.

"Hey little man", Lucas smiled as he picked up the boy and ruffled his hair. "I missed you, buddy."

"Miss you, too."

Haley sighed and signaled for the nanny to watch the children as she stepped into a private adjoining room to talk with Lucas.

"Okay Luke. Make this fast. I don't want to be rude but I have to get the kids together and we have a plane to catch in a few hours."

"I understand. This will only take a few minutes and I appreciate it, Hales. I know this is hard for you and I know I'm not exactly on the top of your 'favorite people' list right now."

"It's not that. It's just…well, dammitt, Lucas, how could you be so stupid?"

"I don't know", he sighed. "That seems to be the billion dollar question these days. Believe me, I've spent every waking moment asking myself that same thing."

"You really hurt your wife."

"I know. Um, how…how is she?"

"Not good."

"Did she, you know, talk about me or say anything?"

"Lucas, I can't get into this with you. I think I've said more than enough already. Really. Nathan and I have been put in a hell of a position being in the middle of all this and it's not fair."

"I know. I know that and I'm sorry, Haley. You have no idea how sorry I really am. I've hurt a lot of people, especially Brooke and that kills me."

"You know, Luke, I don't doubt that you're sorry. That's not the question but sometimes an apology simply just isn't enough. You messed up…big time. And as much as I want to, I cannot allow myself to feel sorry for you right now. You did this. I saw you, Lucas. I sat there and watched well over two hours you sitting with that girl. Talking is fine…having a drink with a fan, okay whatever, but the minute she started touching you, you should have drawn the line. The situation got out of hand because you allowed it to."

"I know. I take full responsibility for that. It's my own stupid fault. I don't even blame the girl for what happened because you're right in that I should have known better. I made a mistake, Hales. I used poor judgment. And in one moment, I let my guard down and lost control and the situation escalate. I regret it and I'll have to live with it for the rest of my life. The guilt tears me apart every single day."

"Good."

"But you know me, Hales. You've known me longer than Nathan, Brooke or anybody else. You know the kind of guy I am. You know that I'm not a liar and a cheater."

Haley fought back tears. He was right. The Lucas Scott she had known all her life was one of the sweetest, most honest, straight forward people she'd ever met. She had seen him be so much better their entire lives.

"I do know that, Lucas. And that's why this all hurts so much."

"Then help me."

"Help you with what?"

"Help me get my wife back."

"Lucas…"

"I love her, Haley. Brooke is my whole world and you know that. She means more to me than anything. Living apart from her and having her hate me is the worst feeling in the world. It's like a piece of me is dying. Yeah I made a terrible mistake and I'm man enough to own up to that but do I have to pay for it for the rest of my life? Hales, please. I cannot lose her."

"Lucas, what am I supposed to do about it? I can't wave my magic wand and make everything all better."

"Just…I don't know. Can you talk to her for me?"

"I've tried but her mind is pretty made up…about a lot of things."

"Yeah, I figured that when I got served with divorce papers already."

"I don't know…"

"You…do you think she'd see me? I mean, she won't talk to me on the phone and she ignores my messages. Maybe if I just went over to the loft…"

"I don't think that's a good idea. Besides, she…she's not there anyway."

"Where is she?"

Haley bit her lip. To tell or not to tell? That was the question.

"She um, took off…"

"Where?"

"I don't know…"

"Hales. Come on. Please."

"Okay, okay. She and Gordon are leaving for France."

"France? For work?"

"No…she, I guess she needs to get away from everything."

"Well at least she's safe."

"Yeah", Haley answered, not so sure.

"Look, I appreciate it. And I'm really sorry I disappointed you, Haley. I promise I'm gonna make this up to all of you. And if you see Brooke, tell her…please tell her that I am very sorry. And tell her that I miss her so much that's it unreal. Tell her that I love her with all my heart and that I'd do anything to have one more chance at a life and a family with her. Can you just tell her that for me?"

Haley's heart sank. She could see both the sincerity and tears in her brother in law's eyes. Maybe he did deserve a second chance.

"Okay…um, I will."

"Thanks", he said hugging her. "I guess I'll see you around."

She watched as he adjusted his hat and turned to walk away. He had only made it a few feet to the corner when she involuntarily called him back. She just couldn't let him walk away like that. He had to know…

"Lucas!"

"Yeah, Hales?"

"Wait. There's one more thing…"

Lucas dashed through the halls of JFK International Airport like a mad man. Never mind the stares from security and other passengers. He didn't care that his hat had fallen off and some overzealous reporter might bombard him. Only one thing mattered.

He had called every assistant and friend of Brooke's he knew of but no such luck. No one knew anything and if they did, then they weren't talking. Just as he was giving up all hope, the last number on the roster proved to be a savior when Chantal answered. Reluctantly she had given him all the flight information she had on Brooke, Gordon and Peyton.

"Yes ma'am", he said breathlessly as he arrived at the counter of Swiss Airlines International. "I need some information about a flight. I need to know if someone has checked in for that flight."

"Sir, I apologize. It is highly illegal for me to share passenger manifests with you."

"I know but…it's my wife. She is scheduled for a flight to Geneva, Flight 37 and I just need to know if she was here."

"I'm sorry. For security purposes, I can't release that to you."

"Please. It's an emergency."

"Mister, I can't. I'm sorry. Now am I going to have to call security?"

"No", Lucas said as he pulled out his credit card, Passport and Driver's License. "Um, that won't be necessary, Miss. I need to get on that plane."

The attendant rolled her eyes before typing a few keys on her computer.

"I'm sorry, sir. All seats appear to be full."

"Can't you do something? Can you bump someone off? Here, I'll pay you", he pleaded desperately, throwing out hundred dollar bills.

"Sir, please get a hold of yourself. That plane has just been cleared for take off. No one else gets on or off. I'm sorry."

"When does the next flight leave?"

"Tonight. In seven hours but that's all booked as well. We have another one leaving tomorrow night…"

Lucas felt hopeless…utterly defeated. It was as if at that very moment, he lost everything he had. He literally wanted to die. The next night would be too late. The only other hope would be to charter a private plane, as the one he owned had been loaned to a friend of a teammate and was somewhere in the Caribbean. Lucas closed his eyes. He could feel everything slipping away. But he had to get to her. He had to get to Geneva and stop Brooke from making the biggest mistake of their lives.

"Thank you", he said in a hushed whisper. "Uh, thank you for your time, ma'am."

"Sir?"

"Yes…"

"Um, I know you are and uh, my boyfriend loves you. If you were maybe willing to sign an autograph and maybe take a photo with me on my picture phone, then perhaps there could be a tiny glitch in the system and who knows? There could be an opening on tonight's flight after all."

"Are you serious?"

"As a heart attack."

"Thank you. Oh man, thank you so much. You are saving my life right now. God bless you."

"Oh…the autograph, picture and a couple of those hundreds you were tossing around earlier", she shrugged with a smirk.

Lucas rolled his eyes and conceded. What were a few measly hundred bucks when the rest of his life was at stake?