A/N On a quick note, I just wanted to say thank you to all the people that are reading! This is my first story and I'm so grateful for all the support and kind words. I know it probably seems like I'm dragging it on a bit but I wanted it to be realistic and I do have parts written, it's just me trying to piece it all together! Anyway I won't bore you any longer, thank you again! Emera

Peyton barely left the warmth of the bed during the days that followed, trying to recover from the long birth. Getting a decent night's sleep wasn't an option when you had a baby to feed though. Grace helped her as much as she could over those first days and had been an absolute saviour in every sense. Of course she'd been hesitant to trust the woman, she didn't know anything about her, she didn't know if she was a friend of Ian's but instinct told her she'd not been brought here through choice. Peyton had known her for little over seventy two hours but she could safely say that Grace had found a way into her frozen heart.

'You're Peyton Scott aren't you?' Grace asked quietly. She held the four day old baby out to her awaiting mother. Peyton cradled the infant securely in her arms, concentrating on getting Sawyer to feed. She wouldn't latch on but with a bit of expert advice from the observing midwife, Sawyer Scott was soon feeding perfectly. 'Aren't you?' Grace urged.

Peyton's stare warily jolted to the door, Ian wasn't far away, he never was.

'It only just clicked. You're Peyton Scott'

She loved how that sounded. She was Peyton Scott and she never got tired of hearing her first name with that surname. It was thrilling, for someone to know, to know that, yes, she was very much alive.

She stared into the older woman's wise, dark brown eyes.

'Everyone thinks you're dead, they think you were having an affair, that your husband found out and lost it'

'Lucas would never hurt me and I'm not having an affair, not a consenting one anyway' Peyton muttered drearily.

Sawyer stopped sucking, drugged with milk. Grace gently squeezed the baby's tiny foot. The small action brought her back to life, her eyes remained tightly shut but she began feeding once more.

'My other little girl, Erin has turned five since I've been gone' Peyton ran her forefinger over the baby's forehead and cheek. Peyton teared up. 'I heard somewhere that children, they remember their mother's voice. Do you think that's true? Do you think she'll always remember?'

'Of course she will, she does. She remembers everything'

Peyton nodded. 'This one is all her daddy, Erin's just like me but this one, she's got Lucas' nose, she's all him'

Grace was confused, she'd assumed Ian was the father of this child.

Peyton instantly recognised her mistake, her gaze snapped to the dark haired woman. 'I-I had to make him believe, he would've, if I hadn't he, he'd have-'

'Peyton' Grace shook her head. squeezing the new mother's arm reassuringly. 'Shh, it's alright' Her eyes warily darted to the door. 'It's ok. I understand. I'm on your side. I'm going to help you get out of here, I promise you'

'Don't promise me that' Peyton whispered. 'You have no idea what he's like' She exhaled. 'Do you know where we are?'

Grace shook her head. 'I'd just come off a late night shift at the hospital and then he took me, blindfolded me'

'Where?'

'New Orleans'

'Louisiana?' Peyton's face crumpled, she suddenly felt further away from home.

'Louisiana' Grace confirmed. 'We weren't driving that long, maybe two hours'

'They're never going to find us' Grace pulled her into a sideways hug.

'Don't think like that. Besides he's going to have to let me go- if I don't show up at work people will soon enough start to wonder where I am and when I'm back home, I'll make sure I come get you' She smiled positively.

Peyton nodded anxiously, he didn't have to let her go though, he didn't care for Grace and that was what worried her.

'Are you married? Do you have any children Grace?'

'Widowed. Steven past away last year'

'I'm sorry'

'Don't be. He'd been suffering from cancer for a long time, he's at peace now. I still have my son, Rick, he's twenty four and got married a year or so ago, my grand-daughter arrived shortly after'

Peyton smiled.

'Her name's Katie and she's just started to walk. I have a picture here' She fiddled beneath her blue shirt for her locket, opening the silver pendent and holding it out to an interested Peyton. She'd missed things like this, the simple everyday conversations, meeting new people, exchanging stories. Living her life. She envied this woman, she'd watched her child grow, she had a grandchild. Peyton wanted that more than anything and for the first time she was feeling hopeful that she could have it, this woman had brought her hope, this woman was her only way out and she'd take all the help she could get.

Lucas sat in his cell, the springs of the thin mattress, sticking into him. He ran a hand over his skin head.

Today was meant to be his first visit with Erin.

It had been cancelled.

His behaviour wasn't satisfactory and consequently as punishment, his visitations had all been terminated until further notice.

To say he'd gotten into a few fights was a bit of an understatement.

He couldn't stand it, being here, locked up with so many people that deserved to be here, men that had killed their wives. It made him sick.

His most recent scruff had left him with two stitches above his left eye and a swollen lip. The other guy looked much worse though and it scared Lucas that he held no remorse.

Craig McAdams was 45, jailed for domestic abuse. He'd left his wife on life support and with two kids under the age of five.

The convict was arrogant and held no shame for his crime and took great pride in tormenting anyone who crossed his path.

Lucas Scott happened to cross his path just fourteen hours ago.

He'd happened to find one of Lucas' only possessions, a photo of Peyton.

He'd proceeded to make a few crude remarks concerning her totally fuckable legs.

Needless to say Lucas had flipped.

The only positive outcome to his behaviour was that the rest of the inmates seemed to now withhold some respect toward him, he was no longer the outsider, he was one of them. They'd not made it easy for him, he'd not retaliated till now, he'd let them fight him but he wouldn't fight back. Things were different now though, men were shaking his hands, telling him McAdams deserved it.

Brooke had been angrier than ever when he'd been allowed his one call. She'd ranted at him for his full five minute allowance.

He didn't need her yelling at him, he new it was stupid, he new it wouldn't help her fancy attorney in getting him out but he didn't regret it, in fact, breaking that bastards nose had been more than satisfying.

He hated himself for screwing up though, for ruining his chance to see his daughter. Apparently Erin wasn't coping well, apparently she was clingy and wetting the bed every night.

He slid down the cold wall, his thumb running over the glossy photo. It was one from their wedding day. Erin was standing at Peyton's side in a little cream dress with a blue satin sash, designed by Brooke Davis of course, she'd been two at the time. They'd never been one for sticking to the mould. Erin hadn't been exactly planned but they'd taken the news with open arms and when they'd finally decided to marry, their little girl had been right by their sides and they wouldn't have had it any other way. It was a perfect day and the photo he was staring at was his favourite of his two girls, they weren't looking at the camera. Peyton was staring adoringly at their daughter, his mouth still went dry when he looked at their wedding photos, she looked absolutely stunning in a cream dress that wasn't exactly traditional, it ended at her knees and flared out. Erin's hair was short and pinned back cutely on one side, her cheeks were chubby and she had the innocence of a child, something she'd lost recently. He picked up another picture, one of the few he had, this one was more recent, perhaps taken only a couple of weeks before Peyton's disappearance. It was of all three of them at the park. He couldn't get over how happy they looked. They had been so happy and it had all been cruelly snatched from beneath their feet. He'd have given anything to go back.

The cell door opened and his room mate waltzed in.

Lucas didn't acknowledge him, he curled onto his side instead, facing the dark wall, eager to hide his tears from what he knew would be a non understanding criminal.

He closed his eyes, he couldn't go back in time but he could dream that he was with them instead.

21 days past. Grace wasn't allowed to leave, Ian refused to take any chances, he couldn't risk her telling anyone. Peyton dismissed the niggling worries, dismissed her anxieties over Grace's safety to the back of her mind. She was enjoying every moment of having a friend around.

Peyton laughed, it was joyful and hopeful and real. Definitely the first time her body had shook with laughter for nine long months. It was infectious and Grace was laughing along with her, both their eyes streaming with the effort.

'You didn't' Peyton breathed out between giggles.

'I did' She was telling Peyton about her teenage days and a little incident with her eyebrows and a razor. 'I had to draw them on for a month and when we had swim class they washed off and I was called ET for the rest of school life'

Peyton's laughter that had died out had a sudden burst of life and she snorted childishly.

'Oh come on, don't tell me you didn't have any cosmetic mishaps'

Peyton shook her head. 'You're talking to the girl that has a beauty queen addict as a best friend, she taught me how to pluck my eyebrows by the time I was twelve' Peyton's brow furrowed. 'She did insist on dying my hair when I was about sixteen though, it was naturally blonde already but she died it blonder than blonde. It definitely wasn't my best look, I looked like a barbie for a year' Sawyer gurgled in her arms and she made a funny face at the wide eyed baby. 'I'm sure it looked better than now though, this look tops them all, I look like a vampire. I'm surprised you're not scared of me baby girl' She opened and closed her mouth animatedly and then blew a raspberry on Sawyer's cheek.

'You don't look like a vampire' Peyton gave Grace a disbelieving look. 'Ok, maybe a little' She shrugged a shoulder.

They both laughed again.

Peyton's toothy smile faltered when she noticed Ian watching in the doorway.

'Ian' Her eyes rounded. He looked different. His face was flushed and glazed with perspiration.

It was when he took a step forward that she noticed the gun. His unbridled stare was ferocious and had Peyton shaking and scared in all of a second.

'What're you doing?'

He wasn't looking at her, his target on the women next to her. In a horrible moment of comprehension, Peyton's head jerked in defiance.

'No' She whispered, pushing herself off of the sofa, her hold on Sawyer tightening.

Grace stood, pale and aware. 'Take the baby into the other room Peyton' Her voice was surprisingly steady.

'No. Ian, no. Put it down' Peyton insisted, her courageous tone, fierce and demanding.

He couldn't hear her. He was past the point of reasoning. He wouldn't be stopped or persuaded otherwise. Grace Lorrie had served her purpose. She was no longer needed. She was disposable.

Sawyer whimpered as though she could determine the ending to this tragic story.

'Turn around' Ian demanded, possessed by infatuation.

Sawyer's whimpers broke into a distressed cry.

Grace didn't turn around.

Peyton promptly put her child in the play pen, paying no concern to the baby's shrill screams.

'Ian' She embarked toward him, determination engraved in her features. 'Put the gun down'

He ignored her, aiming the barrel at the women 'Turn around'

Grace stood, frozen in terror.

'Ian' Peyton cried desperately. 'Please, god please. You don't want to do this. You're not that person. Please, for god sake, please' She grappled at his shirt, tugging relentlessly at his arm, trying to get him to lower the weapon. But he stood, tall and uncompromising. 'Stop it' She screamed loudly.

He hit her then and she stumbled back, landing on the hardwood floor with a loud thump, her head bouncing off the coffee table.

The bang that followed was ear splitting and pierced down her spine, sending coldness flowing through her veins and had the hairs on the back of her neck standing up.

Her forehead was bleeding but she was oblivious. Sawyer was still crying, but she was oblivious.

Adrenaline had her head jerking round, had her scrambling across the floor, her mouth open in dismay.

The blood was everywhere and Grace's body was lurching stiffly against the hard surface, her eyes fighting futilely against the endless sleep that was drawing nearer. 'No' Peyton brushed Grace's auborn hair away from her deathly white face. 'You're going to be ok' She said in denial. 'You're ok'

Grace's lips quivered. 'I-I'

'Don't speak' Peyton pleaded.

'I'm g-glad, I-I...m-me-t y-you' her hoarse words were almost unintelligible, but Peyton heard and then in a second Grace was gone. Her eyes were lifeless and staring, her body still warm yet no longer breathing.

'Don't leave me' Peyton choked on her sobs, this women had been her saviour. She was sure she'd been going deranged, she'd not had any company, any contact with the outside world in so long. All communication had been with a psychopath and she was pretty certain she was becoming accustomed to this new life and that scared the hell out of her. Meeting Grace, having Grace had been like she'd been thrown a life jacket, she truly was her saving Grace.

Sawyer was still screaming.

Ian's eye's were staring un-regrettably. Jealously instigated his next move. He strode toward a grieving Peyton, his hand tangling in her wild hair, he yanked her up lividly.

She screamed.

The love she held for the dead women was blatantly evident.

'Get off' Peyton cried, her feet stumbling to keep up as he tugged her, painfully by her hair, toward the basement. She panicked. 'No, Sawyer'

The door slammed and the darkness trapped her. She hit her small, bawled fists at the heavy door.

Sawyer's perturbed shrieks were like an alarm bell echoing in her head. She was just three weeks old.

Peyton struggled to breathe, it felt like the air was being sucked from her lungs. She'd managed to protect this baby for nine and a half months but now, as she listened to the unrelenting cries, she was laden with failure.

What if she cried so hard she made herself sick, it was likely, but what if she choked on her vomit. What if she suffocated? What if she was dehydrated?

Peyton stopped her useless banging, pressing her forehead up against the cold metal door.

Less than thirty minutes ago she'd been smiling and laughing. She'd been happy and now all she could see was her friend's pained face, the blood, her baby girl and with that her hope of escape slipped through her shaking fingers once more.