"I shouldn’t have let him hurt you," Brooke explained.

"You didn’t let him do anything. I was defending you and Mom and well, shit happens," Sam told her.

"I still can’t believe that was my father," Brooke sighed. Sam stared directly into Brooke’s remorseful hazel eyes.

"He never…did he…growing up was he…" Sam stumbled. Brooke knew what she was trying to ask and shook her head.

"No, he wasn’t, I swear," she promised Sam who let out a relieved breath. "I’ve never known him to be violent, Sam. Loud on occasion when he was really angry but he never hit me."

"Thank God," Sam breathed. She hated the thought of Brooke suffering like that. "And thank God Mom’s not going to marry him."

"Yeah, I know," Brooke agreed.

"Brooke, time to go," Terri walked up behind them. "You know your father is going to call the house to make sure you’re there. And if you’re not…" she let the statement hang. Brooke nodded.

"OK. I know," she sighed. "That man missed his calling as a stalker," she muttered. She looked back into Sam’s face.

"I have to go now, love," she said quietly as tears fell down both their faces. "But I’ll make sure that we see each other again soon. Only for much longer next time." Brooke kissed Sam deeply to seal the promise.

"’kay," Sam whispered not wanting to let Brooke go but knowing that she had to. "I love you."

"I love you too, Sam. With all my heart and soul."

**

Lily smiled. She had spoken to Brooke during English class and was beyond happy to hear that the cheerleader had had the chance to see and talk to Sam. Brooke even looked a little better than she had in recent days. A little bit of her shine and energy had returned.

(Now) Lily thought. (If I could only talk to Niki)

But an ocean and a few thousand miles seperated her from her blonde lover. It was going to take more than a helpful aunt to make Lily’s dream come true.

"Hey, Lil’ Lily," Mary Cherry chirped, plunking herself right down next to Lily in the lunchroom. A move that was odd in itself but make stranger by the fact that Mary Cherry was talking to her politely.