Brooke was pacing back and forth in the master bedroom. Nathan's words were still ringing in her ears. It made her physically sick to think that anyone would hit a child, much less his own child. There had to be something she could do for Joaquin and for Peyton. The only thing left was for Brooke to figure out what exactly she was going to do. And how she was gonna pull it off.

"Let me get this straight," Brooke finally spoke, "Joaquin told you that Jaime hit him?"

"Yes. Brooke you should have seen the look on his face when he answered me. It was as if he thought I was gonna punish him. We have to do something. I can't sit back and watch this happen when I know what I know," Nathan replied.

It was still severely bugging him that Joaquin and Peyton were both getting abused. Nathan sat there silently mulling things over when something finally clicked. Peyton's pleading with him not to tell Brooke she was coming to visit with Joaquin wasn't just because Peyton missed Brooke. She was running from Jaime and decided that now was as good a time as any to see Brooke and Nathan and the boys.

"I know you wanna help and I do too but you know Peyton. She's stubborn. She's not gonna ask for help."

"But she is asking Brooke. Just by being here with us. Do you really think she wanted to just suddenly come visit because she missed you?"

"Of course I do! Why wouldn't I?"

"You're right, my mistake. But sweetheart you didn't hear her on the phone when she begged me not to tell you they were coming. I'm not usually good at hearing emotions on the phone unless it's you I'm talking to or my brother but she was crying Brooke. I mean really crying. None of it made sense until now. She's running from Jaime. I think she does know where he is and wants to get as far from him as possible and keep Joaquin with her."

Brooke didn't know what to say to that. There had to be something they could do for them. More than just letting them crash with them for a while. It didn't bother Brooke or Nathan to have Peyton and Joaquin around but things were gonna have to change. And Brooke was determined to get the truth out of Peyton before the day was over. There was only one other person she could think of who could get her to talk—Lucas.

"Luke," Brooke barely said out loud.

"What?" Nathan asked bewildered.

"Luke, we have to tell Luke. Maybe she'll talk to him. Whenever she wouldn't talk to me she'd always talk to Luke. It's worth a shot Nate."

"I dunno. She might get pissed that we're bringing another person into the mix."

"It's Lucas or nothing babe."

"What about Haley?"

"Are you kidding? I think she's still too pissed at Haley for how she treated me after my mom died to even think about opening up to her."

"Ok, we can talk to my brother but if she gets pissed just remember this was all your idea."

"Thanks babe."

"You're welcome. I dunno know about you but I'm not a big fan of facing the wrath of Peyton Sawyer."

"You're such a chicken."

"Oh no, it's not just Peyton's wrath I'm afraid of. It's the entire female population's wrath that scares me."

"Are you kidding me? Nathan Scott is afraid of all women, since when? I've never seen you shy away from me."

"You've weakened me."

"A likely story."

Nathan just laughed.

"Ok I'm gonna go call your brother. You go check on the twins?" Brooke said as she bounded out of the bedroom.

"Sure baby," Nathan agreed as he followed her out of the room and made his way toward the nursery.

He pushed the door open and was surprised to find Peyton in the rocking chair holding a sleeping Nate. Jamie was laying in his crib eyes open as he looked up at the basketball mobile that hung from his crib.

"Oh hey Peyton," Nathan said a little uneasy.

"Hey Nathan. I was in the other room and I heard this little guy making some noise so I thought I'd check it out for you," Peyton replied.

"No problem. Brooke and I had to talk about some stuff."

"Nathan, I'm not stupid. I know you were talking about me in there. Please, just stop. I can take care of myself and my son."

Nathan groaned as he lifted Jamie from his crib and sat in the other rocking chair. He figured now was the only shot he was gonna have at getting Peyton to open up without having to get his brother involved.

"No one said you can't take care of yourself or your son. Being with Jaime isn't safe. I know you're running from him. Why else would you beg and plead for me not to tell my wife who happens to be your best friend that you were coming to visit if you weren't running from him? Explain that to me Peyton because I don't get it."

"I don't have to explain anything to you Nathan."

"No but you should talk to Brooke. She's worried about you and quite frankly after what your son told me, so am I. I'm worried about both of you. This isn't good for either of you. I'm not saying this to be an ass or try and tell you how to live your life. I just want you to be safe."

"I'm fine Nathan. Now if you'll excuse me, I really don't feel like talking anymore."

Peyton placed Nate in Nathan's lap as she turned to leave the nursery before the tears that were threatening to fall could escape. She didn't want Nathan to see her crumble. That wasn't her style. Nathan watched silently as Peyton closed the door behind her.

"Damn it," he whispered harshly to himself.

Lucas was relaxing in his Colorado home when his cell phone went off. He shifted to reach around the sleeping form of his girlfriend, Kelly Lloyd.

"Hello," he said quietly.

"Luke it's Brooke, why are you whispering?" Brooke asked.

"Sorry, Kelly's sleeping right next to me. What's up?"

"Something's going on with Peyton. She won't talk to me or Nathan we've both been trying. I need your help. It's really bad Luke."

"How do you know it's bad if she's not talking?"

"That's exactly how I know. Lucas, you know Peyton just as well as I do. The worse something is the quieter and more determined she is not to talk about it. Please. I don't know who else to ask."

"What about Hales?"

"What is with you and Nathan? Do you really think she's gonna talk to Haley if she won't talk to me? Please Luke! That would never work. Luke I'm not asking you to do this for me. I need you to do this with me."

"Ok, when do you want me to talk to her?"

"See that's the thing. I was kinda thinking maybe you and Kelly could come out to Jersey for a little while and maybe you could talk to her then."

"You want me to ambush Peyton?"

"No. Well yes but Luke you're the only other person I can think of that she trusts besides her dad and there's something in me that says not to go there."

"You know I wanna help but Brooke I'm not sure ambushing Peyton is the smartest way to do it either."

"Ok Mr. Smart Guy what do you suggest we do then?"

"Maybe you could give her some space and wait for her to come to you. I'm sure there's a good reason why she's not talking yet."

"No there isn't! Luke you know Peyton. She's just being stubborn. The longer we wait the harder it's gonna be to get her to talk to anyone. You know what, fine. Don't help me."

"Brooke, calm down. I didn't say I'm not gonna help. I just think there has to be another way to do it. You've made it clear that waiting for Peyton to open up isn't gonna do the trick and I should know that."

"Thank you. Okay, maybe the whole you and Kelly coming to Jersey thing wouldn't be a bad idea. I miss you and it would be nice to get to know my future sister-in-law better."

"Well isn't someone a bit presumptious?"

"What you don't think Kelly's it for you?"

"Oh no, I definitely think that. In fact, I know she's it for me. I was just teasing you."

"Don't do that. It's cruel."

"Stop that."

"So are you at least gonna come out to Jersey for a couple days or something?"

"I'll talk to Kelly and see what she thinks and let you know. Okay?"

"Okay thanks Luke."

"You're welcome Brooke."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Lucas closed his cell phone and put it on the table next to the couch just as Kelly woke up.

"Hey babe, did you have a good nap?" Lucas asked as he kissed her softly on the lips.

"I did until my pillow moved," Kelly teased.

"Sorry about that. I had to answer the phone."

"Who was it?"

"My brother's wife Brooke."

"Oh."

Lucas rolled his eyes. It always seemed to him that Kelly was a little bit jealous of his sister-in-law who also happened to be one of his best friends but he could never figure out why.

"Kel why don't you like Brooke? You don't even know her."

"Sure I do. She's a sugar coated back stabbing little bitch."

"What? You couldn't possibly believe that. Brooke is none of that. She's one of the best people I know and one of very few who've stuck by me through some of the hardest times in my life but you wouldn't know that since you don't seem to have an interest in getting to know her. You know what? I was gonna ask you how you felt about going out to Jersey with me to see my brother and Brooke and my nephews but you made your feelings towards Brooke quite clear. So forget it. I'll be back in a few days."

Lucas didn't bother waiting for Kelly's response. He was too upset with her to care what she had to say. All he could think about was getting to Jersey and talking to Peyton. Brooke had sounded pretty frantic on the phone and there wasn't much that terrified him more than to hear someone he loved sounded like they were frantic and didn't know what to do.

Brooke walked into the living room and found Peyton staring blankly at the tv screen. She drew in her breath as she sat down on the couch gearing up to try and get Peyton to open up one more time. Maybe all Brooke needed to do was get her talk about something else and wait and see if Peyton opened up about what was going on with Jaime on her own.

"Hey Peyt," Brooke said casually.

"What Brooke?" Peyton shot back seeing right through her best friend.

"Can't I hang out with my best friend without having a reason?"

"Of course you can but I know you. This isn't just one of your "I wanna hang out with Peyton" acts. You have something up your sleeve and I can tell you right now if it's a ploy to get me to open up about things with Jaime without having you actually mention it you might as well stop now because I'm not gonna fall for that. I told you before I don't wanna talk about it."

"Peyton please. I don't wanna fight with you. All I wanna know is why won't you talk to me? Why can't you tell me what's going on?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"How do you know that if you won't talk to me!"

"Because you don't know what it's like. You have this perfect little fairy tale life with Nathan, Jamie, Nate and the girls. There's no way you could ever know what it feels like to live in constant fear of where your next meal is gonna come from or if Nathan is gonna come home or not and if he does come home will he be sober or not. You know how I know you wouldn't understand Brooke. Do you really? Because you're not me! You don't know what I've been through and you'll never understand. There's no point in talking about it because no amount of talking about it will make you understand either."

"That's what you think this is Peyton? A perfect little fairy tale life. Well let me tell you something. It's not. Don't get me wrong, I love the life that I have and I love Nathan and our kids but this life is anything but perfect. You think I have nothing to fear because Nathan is a big time NBA rookie living out his boyhood dream? You don't know how wrong you are! I might not have to worry about him getting high or something like that but that doesn't mean I don't worry that there are girls throwing themselves at him when he goes on the road."

"Don't be ridiculous. Nathan only has eyes for you. He would never cheat on you."

"I didn't say he would. Look we're not talking about me and Nathan."

"Well we're not talking about me either so what's left?"

"Damn it Peyton. Please, why are you being stubborn about this? All I'm asking is for you to tell me what's going on with Jaime. And why Joaquin told my husband that his father hit him! This is serious Peyt!"

"You think I don't know that? Brooke I know this is bad but you don't understand how much more it hurts when I have to talk about it. Please, don't make me do it again. It was hard enough telling my dad."

"Oh good so at least you told someone."

"Brooke I can't tell you everything."

"Why not? Don't you trust me Peyton? What could possibly be so bad about telling me what's going on?"

"I don't want you running off telling Haley that I screwed up and how much I suck at being a mother because I let my boyfriend who also happens to be the father of my child beat us both. I just don't wanna hear it and I don't wanna see the look on her face when she knows."

"First of all, you do not suck as a mother. If you did you wouldn't have gotten away from Jaime. Second of all I can't believe you think I would run to Haley and say something like that. We're not in kindergarten anymore Peyton. This isn't like a kindergarten crush or something. Haley doesn't find out unless you tell her."

"And another thing, what the hell were thinking calling Lucas? Did you think I wouldn't find out about that Brooke? You and I both know there are only three people in this world I trust—my dad, you and Lucas."

"What was I supposed to do? You wouldn't talk to me and you keep yelling at Nathan when he tries to talk to you. I just thought maybe if you talked to Lucas you might feel comfortable telling him what's up."

"Why so you can get the information out of him? That's real low Brooke."

"No that's not why, Peyton. I told you, this isn't about me. I don't care who you talk to, I just wanna make sure you're talking. Granted it would be nice if you would talk to me but whatever that's your choice. I get it, you don't wanna talk to me about it. I'm done trying. Good night."

Brooke stood up and left the room leaving Peyton to think about what she had just heard. Both girls were frustrated. Brooke was frustrated with herself for once again not getting Peyton to open up to her and Peyton was frustrated with Brooke for once again trying to force her to talk about what was going on.

Nathan was in the basement working out but he had heard everything Brooke and Peyton said to each other. He was almost angry at Brooke for her comments about him being on the road but wasn't surprised when she quickly redeemed herself. It bothered him to hear his wife and best friend screaming at each other but he was done trying to get Peyton to talk to him. He was obviously not the person she wanted to talk to and apparently neither was his wife which made no sense at all to Nathan. He was so focused on his workout that Nathan hadn't noticed the screaming had stopped. Nervously he put the weights away and jogged up the stairs. Peyton was in the kitchen and nobody was in the living room.

"Where's Brooke?" Nathan asked casually.

"I dunno," Peyton answered.

Nathan opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water before jogging up the stairs again. He had an idea of where she might be. His suspicions were confirmed as soon as he approached their bedroom door.

"Brooke what happened?" Nathan asked as he lay down next to his wife who was clutching her pillow and sobbing.

"She doesn't trust me," Brooke choked out.

"That's crazy. You didn't do anything wrong."

"No, according to Peyton, calling Lucas to ask him for help was wrong. But she accused me of doing that just so I could get the info out of him later. Is that why I called him Nathan? Was I really just hoping he would tell me what's going because she won't tell me herself?"

"Baby, no, you just wanted to make sure Peyton talked to someone. I know you would like that person to be you but you're recognizing that it might not happen. You just wanted to make sure it was someone you know she trusts. Don't beat yourself up over this. Peyton will come around. She'll realize you were doing this because you care and not because you want to piss her off by making her talk."

"What if she doesn't talk to Luke either?"

"Shh, baby, don't think about it. Just close your eyes and get some sleep. I'm gonna go see if the boys need anything and then I'm gonna take a shower."

"No, the boys are fine. I checked on them before I came in here. They're both fed and changed and the monitor is on. Stay here with me."

"Brooke I really need to take a shower."

"Please baby, I don't care if you smell right now. I just need you to hold me right now."

"Oh now that's not fair. You know I can't say no to that."

"Exactly."

Nathan laughed as he laid back down and wrapped his arms around Brooke's waist and kissed her gently. She smiled as she snuggled into Nathan's embrace and closed her eyes.

"I love you, Brooke," Nathan whispered in her ear.

"I love you too," Brooke said as she fell asleep.

Peyton sat at the kitchen table thinking about the conversation, or rather, fight, she and Brooke had just had. She knew Brooke just wanted to help her out but no amount of talking was going to take away the pain in her heart. No amount of talking was gonna take away the guilt of knowing she had stayed with Jaime for too long. Peyton felt like because she stayed for as long as she had that she didn't deserve to be helped. It was up to her to get them away from Jaime and to keep them safe. Now she would just have to make Brooke and Nathan understand that without fighting with Brooke yet again. As Peyton sat at the table her cell phone rang. She thought about ignoring it but didn't.

"Hello," she said wearily.

"Hey baby, it's me," Jaime said on the other end.

"Don't baby me! I have nothing to say to you except call your asshole of a PO and tell him where you are so he can stop bothering me."

"I did call him. He knows where I am. Baby I called to talk to you because I miss you. When are you and Joaquin coming home?"

"Stop calling me baby. You lost that right the first time you hit me. And then again the first time you hit my son."

"He's my son too!"

"You don't deserve to have him call you "daddy" but he's only two years old. But I promise you I will tell him just how much of an asshole his "daddy" really is. Good-bye."

"Fuck you, you ungrateful little bitch!"

Peyton just laughed as she slammed her phone shut and threw it down on the table. She couldn't believe Jaime would be stupid enough to call her and yell at her. Whatever, he's the one that's gonna pay she thought to herself. Peyton sat at the table for a few more minutes before she picked up her phone and went upstairs to the guest room. It didn't surprise her that Joaquin was sound asleep. She smiled at him as she changed into shorts and a t-shirt before getting into the bed on the other side of the room.

And now there are two new chapters! One more, maybe two and then look out for the sequel.