It was already well after dark the next day and Lucas hadn't slept one wink. How could he with everything that had happened? Brooke was…missing. Just the very word itself made him nauseous with fear. Social Services had agreed to let him take Harmony home and Mrs. Patterson had graciously volunteered to stay the night with them. Even with the nanny on site, it was almost impossible for Lucas to let his daughter out of his sight. Around dawn, just when he thought he couldn't take it anymore, he had gone out around the neighborhood to look for her. There was no sign of her anywhere. Desperate and distraught, he began making early morning phone calls. Within hours the spacious home had filled with many familiar yet solemn faces. Mrs. Patterson quietly tended to the baby while Deb, Karen, Keith, Dan, Nathan, Haley, Chantal, Mary and Gordon tried to busily make themselves useful. Never had a room been so quiet. There a knock on the front door and Peyton, Jake and Jenny entered. Immediately Peyton hugged Lucas.

"Luke, what the hell is going on?" she asked. "What happened? Where is she?"

"I don't know. Like I told you over the phone, I came home and there was a message from the cops. I get to the station and there is Harmony with Child Protective Services because she'd been in the house for hours alone. We called Mrs. Patterson who left the house maybe a half hour after I did. She said Brooke was there and she was fine then."

"Are the cops trying to find her?"

"Yeah. Her car is here and we found her cell phone upstairs. They've searched the immediate areas and stuff but they have to wait 48 hours before it becomes a full fledged missing persons report."

"48 hours? That's bullshit! No, we need to find her now!"

"Something awful has happened", Mary said as a tear slid down her face. I just feel it in my bones. Somebody has my Brooke."

"You mustn't say that", Deb said softly, wrapping her arms around her. "We'll find her, Mary."

"Well if the cops don't want to do anything yet, I say we do our own search", Keith said. "We can get some flashlights and stuff and look around here."

The others nodded, desperate to do anything to help. They searched by car and foot, calling out Brooke's name. Hours and hours everybody looked all to no avail. It seemed hopeless, a nightmare becoming more and more painfully real as each minute passed with no sign of Brooke. Tired, cold, hungry, and at the point of giving up, the group returned to the house.

"What about the people from work?" Peyton inquired.

"No one has seen her", Chantal answered.

"And that Felix Colwell guy?"

"Mr. Colwell is out of the country."

More dead ends.

"We need a good offense", Nathan said. "I say we go public, get on TV, put up like a 5 million dollar reward or something. That way it brings attention and there will be other people looking for her. And if someone has her…then maybe the prospect of all that cash might give them a sudden change of heart."

"That's exactly what we're gonna do but we have to wait until tomorrow evening. At least that's what the police want."

"I know it's difficult honey but let's try to have faith and let them do their job", Karen added softly as she patted her son's arm.

"This doesn't even feel real", Lucas said to no one in particular. "I can't stop thinking about it. I mean, where the hell is she? Is she cold or hungry? Man, it's killing me. She must be so afraid right now."

"We'll find her, Buddy", Haley said, burying her face in Luke's chest to conceal her tears.

"I love that girl", Gordon said in a shaky voice. "She's my ace, my little homey…my diva. And I…I don't know what I'd do without her."

"Stop this! All of you stop it now. You're talking about Brooke like she's already dead or something. We have to think positive. And worst case scenario and someone does have her, Brooke is the strongest person we know. If anybody can get through this, she can. Now she's counting on us to find her and we have to remain strong. Now I know Brooke and I haven't always seen eye to eye but she is my daughter in law and the mother of my grandchild and…", Dan's voice choked a little as tears fell from his eyes. "I can't sit around like this anymore. I know we searched everywhere but maybe there are some places we overlooked. I…I'm gonna go out looking for her again."

-------

The others remained silent, trying to be upbeat and keep the faith all the while secretly pondering the worst. When sleep came, it was no more than an hour or two of fitful rest. Most of the group remained camped out in the large living room. Lucas sat in the dimly lit quiet staring out the window, a million and one thoughts racing through his mind.

"Son, you should try to get some sleep", Dan said in a low voice, careful not to disturb the others.

"I can't sleep. I can't do anything except think about her and wonder where she is and what she's doing…"

"Luke, don't torture yourself."

"I fucked up. I fucked up big time. Everything bad that's happened has been because of me and my one stupid mistake. It's like I literally opened up Pandora's box or something."

"You can't change the past and God knows you've apologized enough for it."

"I know. But I can change the future…one possible future because there won't be one if I don't have Brooke in it. I love her. I love that girl with all my heart. She's the mother of our child. I promise that if God or somebody just makes this all okay and she comes back to us safe, I'll do right by her. This divorce bullshit is gonna stop and we're going to be together and raise our child and I'm going to take care of her and spend the rest of my life making her happy."

"You're a good man, son. No matter what, my little granddaughter is damned lucky to have you for a father."

"No, she's lucky to have Brooke for a mother. You should see them together, Dan. Brooke was so beautiful when she was pregnant and when she gave birth…man, I've never seen her so happy. And the way she looks at Harmony and the way they are together…it's magical. What if she…what if Brooke doesn't come back?"

"Lucas, don't do this."

"How am I supposed to raise our little girl alone? How will Harmony ever know how kind and funny and beautiful and warm her mother was? How will she ever know what Brooke went through just to give birth to her?"

"It's going to be okay."

"Don't say that. I wish everyone would just quit saying that because it's not okay and we don't know if it's ever gonna be okay. I'm scared, Dan. I am so scared and I know she must be scared too", Lucas said, finally giving in to the tears and emotion that had been enveloping him for hours.

"Come here, son. It's okay. Let it all out, Luke. It's okay", Dan said as he hugged his oldest.

"What am I gonna do, Dan? What am I gonna do?" Lucas sobbed.

-------

"What are we waiting on?" Karen asked.

"The cops, the media, and then the Victim's Advocate rep", Gordon said, taking charge. "Basically, it will be a quick press conference. The important thing is to show Brooke's friends and family united. Lucas will speak on behalf of everybody, a short prepared statement pleading for Brooks' safe return. Then we'll run a physical description, date and time and circumstances when she was last seen along with fliers and recent pictures. Last, they'll advertise the 10 million dollar reward for her return and lower dollar amounts for any information leading to her whereabouts."

"Wow", Karen breathed. "I can't believe this is all happening. I'm glad you're here to take charge, Gordon."

"That's my job, Ms. Rowe. I am a publicist. Usually it's press conferences for good and happy stuff like parties and fashion shows but this time…I don't know. Whatever brings my Diva back home safe and sound."

"You're a good man", she smiled and patted his hand.

"Okay people", Gordon said, beginning to organize all the bodies. "Just like we talked about. Take your places, please."

A somber mood loomed over the gathered loved ones as they stood stoic and united behind Lucas. This was it. This was the moment to let the world know and maybe someone, anyone out there would have a heart and do the right thing.

"We tape in 10…9…8…7…", the camera man noted.

As Lucas took the deepest breath of his life, the knob of the front door turned. All eyes turned in that direction as they heard the faint sound of familiar giggling. The door opened slowly and there was Brooke looking gorgeous as ever in jeans, a fitted pink sweater and Uggs boots.

"Diva!" Gordon yelled, running and grabbing her.

"Hello to you too, Gordie", Brooke laughed. "And…Peyton is that you? What the hell are you doing here? Mom? Karen…"

The small crowd dispersed and rushed her, tears flowing as they smothered her with hugs and kisses.

"Nate…Hales, Deb…what is going on? It's not my birthday or anything so I know it's not a surprise party."

"Diva, we thought you were gone forever!" Gordon cried.

"Gordie, what are you talking about?"

"Sweetheart, it's so good to see you", Mary hugged her. "We were so scared. We didn't know where you were and if you were okay and who had you and what they were doing to you…"

"Brooke!" Lucas shouted, running over to her. "Oh baby. Are you okay? I am so glad you're here. I didn't know if I'd ever see you again. Babe, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for everything. I love you so much and nothing else matters, okay?"

Brooke stared at everyone like they had three heads. Were they on Candid Camera or something?

"Honey, where have you been?" Deb asked.

"I…"

"You see the next time I let you go shopping in Hong Kong. Jesus, Brooke did you buy enough stuff?"

Eyes focused at the male voice at the door and all mouths dropped to the ground as a smiling Felix Colwell wrapped his arms around Brooke's waist.