"Are you sure this is the right place?" Karen asked.

She looked up, craning her neck all the way back so she could get a better view of the high rise. You certainly didn't see buildings that tall in back in Tree Hill or any part of North Carolina for that matter.

"This is or at least according to the address on this piece of paper", Haley said. "Come on."

The women entered the 5th Avenue complex. A big bellied doorman stopped them almost immediately.

"Ladies, may I help you?"

"Um, we're here to see a Mr. Felix Colwell", Karen answered politely.

"Very well then. Let me make a few calls and see if Mr. Colwell is available and taking visitors at this time…"

Karen looked dejected until Haley stepped in.

"Barry is it? Hi, Barry. Haley Scott, wife of Nathan Scott and it is very, very important that I see Mr. Colwell right away without any interruptions."

With a sweet smile she pulled a crisp one hundred dollar bill from her purse and tucked it carefully into the lapel of his jacket.

"Without interruption", Barry nodded with a cheesy grin, stepping aside and allowing the two women unlimited access.

"Where did you learn that?" Karen asked with a bit of a dumbfounded giggle.

The smooth, sweet and fast talking, high tipping wife of a millionaire athlete had certainly come a long way from her humble, shy, Tutor Girl beginnings.

"Nathan always says that it never hurts to drop a name and well, in this town money does talk."

They took the elevator to the penthouse suite, knocking as they arrived. Felix answered the door almost immediately.

"Haley…Ms. Rowe, is it? What do I owe the pleasure, ladies'?"

"I'd like to see my daughter in law, please. I was told that she's here."

"Yes, Brooke is here but I'm afraid now is not a good time for an unannounced visit. She's resting."

"Karen and I came all this way and we haven't been able to talk to Brooke and we're really worried. If we could just see her for a minute…"

"I'm afraid that isn't possible."

"Well when then?"

"You know the drill, Haley. You're an elite member of the rich and famous club. Just have your people call my people for an appointment", he grinned, beginning to close the door in their faces.

"And you're an elite member of the jerk and asshole club", Haley said, stopping the door with her foot. "We want to see Brooke and I am not in the mood for your excuses."

"Brooke doesn't want to see anyone right now."

"Yeah? That's what you said that day at the police station and every single time since when I've tried to call her. I'm not buying it."

"Felix? What's going on?"

They all turned to the figure dressed in the silk, white robe at the top of the stairwell.

"Brooke, I, uh…I was just telling your friends here that you were resting and now maybe wasn't the best time to disturb you."

"Haley, what do you mean about the police station and calling me?"

"I…we've been trying to contact you for weeks now but uh, let's say Felix has been making that rather difficult."

"Is that true, Felix?" Brooke asked.

"Yes, it is", he nodded. "But I was only trying to protect you. You're going through so much and I just didn't want to add any more stress to your load. I apologize if I overstepped my bounds."

"It's okay", she said softly as he left the room to give the three more privacy.

There was an awkward moment at first but Karen, fresh tears in her eyes, sprang forward and immediately wrapped her arms around Brooke. Haley joined the hug as well.

"So I guess we're just one big happy family again, huh?" Brooke mumbled sarcastically.

"Brooke, we're sorry about everything but there are so many unanswered questions still in the air. Honey, what is going on?"

"Now you want to hear my side? Why don't you read about it in the Enquirer or better yet the police transcripts taken from my interview after my arrest?"

"Look, we know it seems like we blew you off but…"

"It doesn't just seem that way, you guys did blow me off. All of you. Once again people can screw Brooke over but a simple apology is supposed to make everything better."

"Brooke…"

"I did not abandon my baby for a party or for Felix or for a shopping venture to Hong Kong. I did not and would never just up and leave my child like that for any reason. I know the situation looks bad but anyone who knows me, truly knows me like you two have for all these years, would know I am not capable of that."

"I know", Haley said. "That's why we're here. Brooke, yes it does look bad but yes we do know you. And our hearts and minds and gut reactions tell us that this isn't you. But that night everything had happened so fast and we were so emotional and everything was just crazy and you showed up and it looked…well, bad. Sweetie, I don't know what else to say. You don't owe us anything but there has got to be some logical explanation for all this."

"Yeah and it's Mrs. Patterson, you better believe it. The truth comes down to her. She is lying."

"Brooke, if you say so but…"

"But what? But nothing! My word against hers? That should be the end of it. Why the hell are you people taking her side?"

"It's not about taking sides, Brooke. We love you and we believe you."

"Yeah but Lucas doesn't believe me."

"He wants to", Karen spoke up. "God, you have no idea. This whole thing is tearing him apart but…"

"But?"

"His attorney had Mrs. Patterson's cell phone checked. There is no evidence that you called her at all that weekend."

"Yes, I did. Maybe she did something to the phones. Maybe…"

"There was no record from the plane or from Hong Kong either", Karen said softly.

"Dammitt!" Brooke yelled! "Dammitt! What are you doing to me? Why is this happening? Are you people trying to drive me insane? Because if you are, then it's almost working! What you are sitting here telling me cannot be possible true. I was there! I made the calls! I know what I did!"

"Okay. Brooke, just calm down, honey. No one is accusing you of anything. We're just trying to help. We are trying to get to the bottom of this."

"Great. Now everyone wants to be a detective. Everyone wants to help solve the big crime and exonerate poor Brooke. Isn't that sweet? But you know what? When I needed you guys, when I was being stuffed into the back of a police cruiser and questioned for hours and made to sleep on a cold bench in a dirty old cell…well, where the hell were you Perry Mason wanna bes then?"

"Brooke, we were shocked and confused…okay, that's not a good enough excuse but we did come down to the station to see you and try to post your bail. Felix shooed everyone away."

"Because he's my friend and he looks out for me and he protects me."

"Do you really believe that?"

"Yes, I do because actions speak louder than words and he has proven his loyalty to me over and over again. He is always there when I need him. I know I can count on him."

"You can count on us too, Tigger", Haley said softly using one of Brooke's childhood nicknames.

"Can I really?" Brooke asked as she brushed a tear away.

"Yes, you can. We've all made mistakes…all of us. But we're sorry and we love you and we're here now and willing to do whatever it takes to help you."

"How…how's my baby?" Brooke asked in a voice barely above a whisper.

"She's great", Karen answered. "She's really beautiful and happy and healthy."

"I miss her."

"We know. She misses you, too."

"You know, over the past year or so, I've slowly begun to lose everything. My husband, my family, my friends, my job…my reputation. As much as that hurts, as much as it sucks, it isn't nearly as bad as the thought of losing Harmony. I just can't bear that."

"You won't."

"Then why do I feel like I already have? I want to be her mother. I want to be the biggest part of her life. I want to take care of her and love her and guide her and help her like a real parent is supposed to do. Both of you know how it was for me growing up. My parents were never there…never. There was always plenty of money and cars and new clothes and everything to go around but where the hell were they? Where were they on my first day of kindergarten? Or all 239 games that I cheered in since the time I was eight. Where were they when I got an A in Biology of all things on my report card or when I cried my eyes out the first time a boy broke my heart? They weren't there. I always knew that they loved me and I love them but it was always a little less because I resented them for making me miss out on so much. That hurts and it affects me and everything I do up until this very day. I don't want it to be like that for Harmony. I always told Lucas that whenever we had kids, that no matter what, it wouldn't be like that for them. I wouldn't allow it to happen to a child of mine. Now look. Look at us all and at our crazy, messed up lives. I just…I don't want Harmony in 26 years to look back and resent me and love me less because I wasn't there."

"She won't", Karen said. "Brooke, she won't because you will always be there and so will Luke. Harmony will always have two parents that adore her and put her needs first."

"I've screwed up a few things in my day but I can't screw this one up. I can't bungle being a good mom."

"Oh Brooke", Haley said. "You won't. You're a great mother and despite everything that has happened, we all know that."

Karen gently wiped the tears on Brooke's face.

"Thank you both for stopping by. Um, it really means a lot. I…I'm gonna be fine."

"We know you are", Karen said, placing a kiss on the girl's forehead. "We know you are."