Starr was finishing the dinner dishes when she could have sworn she saw Brody Lovett sneak across the backyard. The encounter this morning must be causing her to see things. However, Starr could feel hope stirring in her after months of dead ends. She glanced around the kitchen. Patrick had fairly cackled when he told her that he was going out for the evening. Starr knew it must mean bad news for someone, but for once, it wasn't her, and she was grateful. Patrick sometimes left a guard at the house. Starr wasn't quite sure if it was to keep her in or his enemies out. She couldn't trust the guards to help her, but most weren't as determined to make her life miserable like Patrick.

Cole was off doing who knows what. While Patrick wanted him to deal to fund the Men of 21, Starr was sure he was his own biggest customer.

An idea formed in her mind, and Starr grabbed the heels from the loaf of bread in the pantry. If anyone asked, she was trying to lure some birds to the backyard for Hope to watch. As she crossed to the back door, she made herself take deep breathes and tried to push down the possibilities spiraling out of control in her mind. Starr wanted to see her parents, her brothers, Daniella, Tea, Langston and Markko, Addie, Dorian, and even David so much! Just a couple more steps to the door, she felt herself begin to hold her breathe as she reached out to turn the doorknob –

Starr crossed the doorstep and let out something halfway between a laugh and a sob. She wasn't sure what she had expected to see, but it wasn't an empty backyard. Shrugging her shoulders and needing to compose herself before she went back into the house, Starr started to break the bread into pieces and toss them. With the last piece in her hand, she channeled all that she was feeling into throwing the piece as far as possible. She turned to walk back in the house when she heard a beeping noise. Starr looked around and saw a small black flip phone tucked underneath the bush next to the door. She reached down and grabbed it, sticking it into the pocket of her jeans.

She stopped in the kitchen – where could she go that Marty wouldn't see her with the phone? Patrick had made sure to remove the locks on most of the house. He quizzed Marty every time he came home as to what she and Starr had been doing the entire time he was gone. He would reward Marty or punish Starr depending on the report. Well, there was one place – she hurried to the small bathroom across from the bedroom she shared with Cole and Hope. Starr turned the faucet on in the shower and leaned back against the door. She reached into her pocket for the phone as thoughts raced through her mind. "Who to call? Who to call?" Starr thought as she flipped open the phone. The screen lit to up "1 new message" – was this one of Patrick's latest ideas to torture her or had she really seen Brody in the back yard? There was one way to find out, she pressed "ok"

S – We were worried after you ran from us today. I did some checking, please reply or call me. I'll be waiting nearby for awhile. – B

Starr slid down the door to sit on the floor, not sure whether to laugh or cry. There was someone she knew in Ireland, in fact close by. Before she could decide if this was a good or bad idea, she punched in the buttons to call the number stored under BL in the contacts. The phone rang twice, and then –

"Hello," a male voice answered, "Is this Luna Thorne?"

It was Brody on the other end of the line. Star gasped closer to crying and losing control – could everything soon be over?

Swallowing hard, Starr managed to whisper, "Brody?"

"I'm sorry. I can't hear you. Is that water running?" Brody smacked the tree next to him. His research today had convinced him that Starr was in danger if she was with the Thorneharts.

"I'm in the bathroom with the water running so Marty won't hear." Starr spoke a little louder.

"Why shouldn't Marty hear you on the phone? Are they holding you hostage? Why did you say your name was Luna?"

"Patrick won't let anyone but him or Cole leave the house. I had to sneak out this morning. I don't know if there's a guard outside now," Starr finished in a rush.

"You picked the right morning to sneak out, but why didn't you come tell us?"

"I didn't have Hope with me."

"Of course, is she there now?"

"Yes, but so is Marty, and I don't know about a guard."

"Patrick leaves a guard to keep you in the house! I thought Marty was the dangerous one, but it's the whole family!"

"You have no idea. How can we get out? Hope needs a lot of stuff."

"Take what you really need. I talked to Rex, and he told me you could stay with us in the Buchanan's London compound until we sort everything out."

"Why is Rex authorizing anything for the Buchanan's?" Starr wondered, "Never mind, just get me out of here, then you can explain it. Did you see anyone standing guard?"

"No, what would happen if I came to the door pretending to be lost?"

"A guard would probably tell you to get lost. I'm afraid of what will happen if Marty opens the door."

"I have a rope with me in case someone has to climb through a window or we could tie Marty to a chair," Brody replied. He took a deep breath. The urge to burst in there and knock Marty out was strong. Brody had worked too hard during his recovery; he wouldn't continue to blame Marty for his break-up with Jessica or plot revenge. "Can you be ready in half an hour?"

"If it means getting out of here, I will be," Starr promised.

"Get your stuff together. If I don't get stopped by a guard, I'll knock on the door, and we will deal with Marty as needed. If there is a guard, find a room with a window for you and Hope, and I'll call you within the hour," Brody told Starr what he could of his plan – a plan containing more variables than he liked. He reached behind his back to check the gun he had tucked into his waistband. He wasn't sure if someone had the house bugged, and he didn't want to give the entire plan away if it was. He leaned back against the tree to run through his mental checklist again as he waited the half hour that he had promised Starr.

Starr bounced on her toes as she stuck the phone in her pocket. She hurried to the bedroom to pack. She grabbed the purse and backpack she'd brought with her from L.A., if Kelly was with the group, they could shop when they got away from here. She deserved it after living through this. Taking money from Brody or Rex would be weird, but Kelly was family. Starr put in a set of sweats, jeans, and a couple tops in the backpack for herself. Hope could have the rest of the space. Starr picked up the couple toys that Hope had in Ireland. Shaking her head, she remembered the apartment she and Hope used to share with Cole or LaBoule – both had been crammed full of Hope's toys. Here Patrick said that toys infantilized children who should be learning to be soldiers for Ireland. Starr was not about to let her daughter be trained to be a guerrilla soldier. Look at how it was destroying Cole! She went to the dresser to pick out a couple outfits and a pair of pajamas. She and Kelly could include Hope on their shopping spree. Starr walked into the bathroom and tossed several bottles into backpack. Pacing back to the room, she looked around to see if there was anything else she needed. She crossed back to the dresser and grabbed the few pounds she had saved today. Was it just this morning she had gone for the milk? It seemed like weeks ago now. The money might not be much but at least it was a start to proving herself independent of Cole and his family. She picked up Hope's jacket and the bags; the half hour was nearly up. Hope was downstairs with Marty. Starr placed the bags on a middle step and took a deep breath before joining them.

"Hope, would you like to hear a story before bedtime?" Starr asked walking into the living room.

"Starr, you forgot to greet Liam," Marty snapped.

"Hello, Liam," Starr said through gritted teeth, while thinking, "who I'll never have to talk to again or your "mommy" if tonight goes correctly!"

The doorbell rang.

Starr forced herself not to run for it, "Hope, do you want to answer the door with me?" She asked in a cheery voice.

Hope nodded.

"Are you allowed to do that, Starr?" Marty snapped.

"Do you want to go? I thought it was the maid's job to answer doors." Starr heard the edge in her voice, but with Brody on the other side of the door she was through dealing with Marty.

"It's the maid's job to do as I command. Stay here and start Liam's story. He deserves one as much as Hope."

"Of course you think that."

Marty glared at Starr as she crossed the room. As soon as she crossed into the foyer, Starr picked up Hope. "Come with Mommy and we'll have a great surprise!"

Outside, Brody knocked again. He was happy that no guard had appeared, but what was taking Starr so long to answer the door? He heard the someone on the other side of the door.

"Brody Lovett, what the hell are you doing here?" Marty spit out as she opened the door.

"I've come for,"

"No, you can't take Liam. He's mine and John's."

"What? No, I'm here for Starr and Hope."

"There supposed to stay here."

Starr appeared around the corner carrying Hope and her couple of bags, "I'm ready."

"No, Patrick will get ma-ad if you go. I can push this button, and he'll come home and punish all of you."

Brody didn't want to get into an argument with Marty since she didn't appear to be stable, and they were wasting time.

"Listen, I don't know what you and Patrick are doing, but it ends tonight. Go sit in the rocking chair so we can talk," Brody slipped the backpack off his shoulders and moved towards the living room.

Luckily, Marty followed his instructions. As soon as she sat, Brody reached into the backpack for the rope that he had. Moving quickly, he bound her hands to the chair.

Marty jerked back as she realized what was happening, but it was too late. "First James, now Brody. My son must have to do drugs to put up with a whore like you."

Brody yanked the last knot tight as Starr gasped. Starr calmly walked over to the chair, "Don't ever say that in front of my daughter again." She reeled back and slapped Marty as hard as she could across the face. "I've been waiting a long time to do that. Hope, Brody, let's go."

"No problem. Hope, would you like me to carry you?" Brody offered.

At Hope's nod, he lifted her into his arms. Starr made a motion, "We should hurry, and you have enough to carry."

"Okay."

As the three left the house, Starr slammed the door behind them.

"The car is parked on the other side of the trees."

Starr silently nodded. Brody appeared in a hurry and quite frankly she was only concerned about getting her daughter and herself away from the Thornehearts. It was less than five minutes until they came to car. She was touched to see he remembered a carseat for Hope.

Brody quickly buckled Hope in to the seat and placed their bags next to her on the seat. Starr was watching from the passenger seat. "Are you ready to go the hotel? Kelly and Gigi are waiting for us. After we pick them up, we'll head to the airport. Kevin has told me the jet will be waiting to take us back to London."

"Sounds good," Starr reached across the console the place a hand on Brody's wrist. "I can't tell you how grateful I am for everything you have just done."

"What else would I have done?"

Starr leaned back into the seat, "You didn't have to do anything." She reached to turn on the radio, unable to sit still, "I'm free, aren't I? Yes!" She bounced in the seat.

Brody looked over and grinned at her, not knowing what waited back at the hotel.

Authors Note: I know this probably seems quick, but Patrick holding Starr captive isn't the story as much as Brody and Starr falling for each other. The romance is easier for me to write then the typical soap opera twists and turns/repeated near misses that happen during the usual kidnapping storyline.

And I know it has been a long time since I updated, but my computer died. I have to write the next chapter then I have the two after that ready to upload.