Author's Note: Well, the recent reviews and e-mails have been rather interesting to say the least but I totally expected it. Some of you are pretty upset with me because you didn't see the latest twist coming...good. And trust me, there will be more to come. I warned several chapters back that the next few might be a doozy. Hope I was right. But obviously you're still reading and still enjoying too and that's what matters most. Also, many of you question if this is a true "Brucas" and if the characters will be together at the end. I will NEVER tell! You just have to keep reading and keep trusting me, lol! But you guys are ALL awesome, even though you're probably ready to strangle me right about now. But I love you so keep tuning in! And one last comment...I would like to thank the person who signed on annonymously and reviewed as "Vega". Thanks for the compliments and kind words but more than that, thank you for truly understanding this story and "getting" me as a writer!!

P.S. Ann, if I don't talk to you like soon, I am going to ram a dagger through my heart, lol! For some reason, I cannot e-mail you. Please write me when you can. This stupid page won't let me put in an e-mail address so I'm going to do it anyway spelling everything out... airforcechic2001(at)yahoo(dot)(com).

P.P.S. Jess, quit reading and trying to figure out the ending of this and do some work!! : )

No one moved or spoke for what seemed like an eternity. After a day and a half of searching, praying, agonizing and fearing the worst, there was Brooke alive and well, looking as fabulous as ever, huge grin plastered on her face in the arms of an equally happy Felix Colwell.

"Where have you been?" Peyton asked, finally finding her voice.

"Hong Kong", Brooke laughed. "It's a totally long story and I'd love to tell you all about it, Friend but first of all would you mind telling me why there is a reunion in the middle of my living room?"

"We…we thought you were missing."

"Missing?"

"Yeah…missing, like as in kidnapped, vanished, something horrible had happened to you…"

"Why would you something like that?" Brooke asked, slightly amused.

"Because that seemed to be the only explanation as to why you disappeared and no one knew where you were, you left your car, your cell phone and more importantly your child!"

"Peyton…"

"And while we're all worried about you and searching in garbage cans for your raped and mutilated body, you're off having a grand old time shopping in Hong Kong."

Brooke removed the smile from her face. That's when it hit her as she was staring at a room of the angriest, confused and most disappointed faces she had ever seen in her life. All of a sudden it wasn't a joke or a funny coincidence. It was very real and judging from the death glares, something was very wrong.

"Brooke, I think you better start explaining", Mary said.

"Um, I worked a half day Friday and I came home a little after noon, and Lucas was here for a little while before he went to work out. Felix called me about a party in the Village and I said I would go. We went to the party, had a good time but I, uh, I guess I had too much to drink. Anyway, I passed out and I was really woozy and out of it and somehow in my drunken stupor, Felix managed to convince me to fly to Hong Kong with him for some business. He worked, I shopped and I really don't see what the big deal is."

Lucas felt like he might literally explode. Never in his life had he ever dreamt of hitting a woman but at that one moment it was all he had not to choke the life out of Brooke.

"The big deal?" he asked. "The big deal? What about our daughter, Brooke? Is Harmony a big deal?"

"What are you talking about Lucas? Look it was only a day and a half. Look, you get to travel the country all the time. I want one break in six months and all of a sudden I'm the bad guy?"

"Yeah but when I take a break I make sure someone is watching my kid!"

"Excuse me?"

"How the hell could you leave her alone, Brooke? What the fuck were you thinking? Wait, let me guess, you weren't thinking. You haven't been since you hooked up with that loser behind you!"

"Leave who alone? Lucas, what are you talking about?"

"Harmony, Brooke! Harmony Joy Scott, you know our daughter? Yeah you leave our six month old alone so you can go party with your new boyfriend! You…you stupid bitch!"

"Lucas…"

"No! Do you know what could have happened to her? She's just a baby, Brooke! What if she had gotten sick or rolled over and got tied up in her blankets. Or what, maybe she was just supposed to starve to death waiting for her sorry ass Mommy to get back from fucking Hong Kong!"

"Lucas, I…I didn't leave Harmony alone. I…"

"Do you know what it was like to come home and have a message on my machine from the police telling me to go to the station? And when I get there, Child Protective Services has Harmony and the cops tell me that she was found crying and alone in our house with the front door and gate wide open! Do you know the panic I felt when I thought about what could have happened to Harmony and what probably did happen to you? No, Brooke I don't think you can understand what that felt like because I can't even describe it to you. And we looked everywhere for you and I called everybody and as you can see, they dropped everything and flew in from all over because they love you and they were concerned. And now, as you also can see, we were about ten seconds away from a press conference begging the nation for your safe return."

Brooke felt like her brain was on overload. It was hard enough to comprehend Lucas's story about the police and a search party looking for her and rewards and press conferences. All she could process was that her baby, her beloved, innocent, precious baby girl had been left alone.

"Oh my God! Where is she? Is she okay? I have to see Harmony…"

"Over my dead body", Lucas spat. "You just stay away from her Brooke. All of a sudden you're oh so concerned but she's fine now. Mrs. Patterson is putting her down and…"

"Mrs. Patterson is here?"

"Yeah and thank God. I don't know what I would have done without her."

"She was here the whole time, well I mean, she should have been. I still don't know everything that's going on but she can clear up this whole mess…Mrs. Patterson! Mrs. Patterson!"

The older woman emerged down the steps, baby Harmony close to her bosom.

"Mrs. Scott! Oh my God! Thank God, you're okay! We were worried sick about you!"

"What are you talking about? I talked to you this morning and last night and yesterday…"

"Ma'am, I'm sorry. There must be some sort of mistake. I…I haven't talked to you since Friday when you told me I could go home after Mr. Scott left."

"Friday? Hel-lo! Did aliens come and abduct your brain or something? Friday I told you that I needed you to stay on because I would be out for a late evening with Mr. Colwell. And yesterday, Saturday afternoon when I woke up on his plane, the first thing I did was call you. And you said that everything was fine and Harmony was fine and that Mr. Scott had gone away on business and that you'd be able to stay on until I got back today. And I called you a few times this morning and you even put the phone to Harmony's ear so I could sing to her."

"Mrs. Scott…I'm sorry. I…I don't know what to say. Ma'am that…none of that ever happened. I haven't spoken with you since Friday and you told me I could go home."

"No that is not what happened. What is going on here? I feel like I'm in the freaking Twilight Zone. I have been in contact with you all weekend! And there is no way, no way in hell that I would ever just leave my baby."

"Mrs. Scott, maybe you should have a seat. You don't look well, dear."

"I don't need to sit down and I'm fine! Maybe you should sit down because it looks like you're the one with amnesia. Now give me my baby."

"Don't touch her, Brooke", Lucas spoke up. "After everything you've done this weekend as horrible as it is, I don't what's worse…what you did or the fact that you stand here like Little Miss Innocent Perfect Mother and lie about it in front of everyone. That's a child, Brooke…our child. And you put her safety in jeopardy to be with your friend, Felix. Now tell me if it was all worth it?"

"I can't believe you", Brooke said, her eyes filling with tears. "Don't you believe me? Why would I do something like that? Why would I lie about it? Lucas, you know me better than that."

"I want you out of this house and far, far away from me and my daughter."

"Lucas…"

"I'm not kidding, Brooke. Felix, you wanted her so bad? Guess what buddy? Now you got her."

"Lucas…"

"Brooke, don't talk to me. I don't even want to hear you speak my name."

"Guys! Wait, you know this is all a big mistake. You know I'd never do something like this! Nathan…Haley?"

The couple hung their heads but said nothing.

"Karen…Deb…Keith…Dan?"

More silence.

"Jake…Pey?"

Jake just shook his head, Peyton's eyes unable to meet Brooke's.

"Mom?"

"Maybe we should go, honey. Brooke, you should uh, lie down…"

"I don't need to lie down, I need for you guys to believe me. Chantal…Gordon, Gordie, come on. You know me."

"I thought I did", he said quietly before grabbing his keys and leaving.

Brooke had never felt so awful…or so alone.

"Why are you doing this?" Brooke tearfully asked the nanny. "Why? You're lying. Why are you lying? Why don't you just tell the truth?"

"Mrs. Scott, I…I am."

Felix gave her arm a little squeeze.

"Maybe we should go for a while. Give everything a chance to simmer down", he whispered.

"No!" she yelled. "I didn't do anything wrong. I'm not leaving here. Not without my baby!"

"Brooke Davis Scott?" Officer Duckett asked.

"Yes."

"Ma'am, you're going to have to come with us."

"What? Are you fucking kidding me? I'm under arrest? For what?"

"Mrs. Scott, it's just best that you cooperate. We need to ask you a few questions. When we get to the station, you can call your attorney."

"This is crazy! I didn't do anything wrong! Mrs. Patterson, please…"

"Ma'am we won't cuff you but you are under wanted fro questioning about the willful neglect and endangerment of a child and by law I am required to read you your Miranda rights. You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Do you understand?"

"No…"

"Brooke, just go with them and do what they say", Felix instructed. "It's okay. I'll be right behind you and I'll call my lawyers and get all this straightened out. It'll be okay, I promise."

She could only nod as fresh tears fell from her eyes.

"You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Anything you do say may be used against you in a court of law. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during questioning now or in the future. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you before any questioning if you wish. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"If you decide to answer questions now without an attorney present you will still have the right to stop answering at any time until you talk to an attorney. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

She had answered "yes" to all the questions but truthfully, she understood none of it. None of it made sense. How had everything happened? She hadn't done anything wrong? And why would Mrs. Patterson lie about everything?

The group watched as the police led a sobbing Brooke away in a squad car. Silently, somberly, they all dispersed, secretly trying to make sense of her actions. Mrs. Patterson, who stood next to Dan, reached into her pocket and pulled out a cell phone, discreetly, slipping it into the pocket of Dan's own jacket. As Felix left, Dan stood glaring at him. Slowly, almost unnoticeably, the corners of his mouth relaxed upwards into a smirk. His eyes cast to his right and Mrs. Patterson shared a similar expression. All Felix could do was stare at the floor.

Phase one of the plan had been set in motion. It was working out brilliantly and Dan found it hard to conceal his satisfaction. It was perfect and they all had fallen for it just like he knew they would. No one was on to them, no one would ever figure it out…

Off in the corner a few feet away, Mary stood trying to take in and understand the events of the day. Her daughter was back, safe and alive. That was the good thing. But had she really walked out on her child to be with Felix Colwell? None of it made sense and Mary had warned her stubborn daughter of the man's reputation. She knew a relationship of any kind would only lead to trouble. Why hadn't Brooke just listened? Pig headed, yes, flaky…sometimes but Brooke was no liar and she'd never just abandon Harmony. Even though all signs pointed to her obvious guilt. Something wasn't right and Mary planned to get to the bottom of it although she had no idea where to begin. The beginning would come sooner than later when she saw the look on Dan Scott's face. It was a sinister smirk that gave her chills. What chilled her even more were the two people standing next to him.