One night after about a year and a half, Mandy and Lucas have Haley, Nathan and Karen over for dinner, something they have done infrequently. Mandy’s cooking skills have improved considerably and she is always excited for anyone to sample her food. She has cooked barbecue chicken with mashed potatoes, peas and an apple pie. Everyone loves the meal and they play a fast paced game of scrabble afterward.
“Hey no medical words,” Lucas says tickling Mandy. Everyone laughs.
“Wait that word in the scrabble dictionary,” Karen says defending her.
“See,” she says sticking her tongue out at Lucas who begins to tickle her. Nathan and Haley take the chance to kiss and Karen realizes how much she misses Andy. The baby, Tristan, is staying at Peyton’s tonight so Karen can have a night off. She loves the new baby but between him and work she is glad Andy is on his last out of town trip for a while.

“Oh my gosh,” Haley says noticing Mandy’s engagement ring.
It is a three diamond platinum antique style ring and Mandy holds it up for all to see after Haley’s reaction.
“Wow,” is Karen’s reaction.
“I’m impressed Bro,” says Nat Lucas just laughs as Mandy blushes and holds him close. Shortly afterwards, Karen decides to leave and Nathan and Haley follow suit.
“We had fun and thanks for the great meal,” Haley says and Karen and Nathan nod in agreement.
“And congrats,” Haley says giving them a hug as they stand at the door and watch them leave.

Karen is attacked as she arrives at her house. She fights off her attacker and he runs away. She phones 911 and is at the hospital when Lucas and Mandy arrive. She has minor scratches and bruises from fighting with him.
“Mom what happened, are you okay?”
“I’m fine I am so glad the baby wasn’t with me, can you let Peyton know she may have tried to call me knowing I would probably be home around eleven or so?”
“Sure Mom you just relax.”
Lucas goes to make the call and Mandy stays with Karen just holding her hand. Lucas also gives Andy a call and he says he will get the first flight back from New York. “No, I think you should just call her on her cell, she will be upset if you have to miss a meeting because of her,” Lucas says.
“She is my wife, and I should be there, Lucas I am coming back,” he insists.

Lucas is quiet on the ride back, Mandy is also thinking about what happened to Karen.
“That is so scary; I never thought these small towns were especially violent.”
“No one is safe anywhere, Mandy, I want you to be more careful okay, this can happen to anyone,” he says.
“I will be careful,” she says.
“I’m sorry this happen to Karen,” she adds.
Lucas checks all the doors and windows when he gets to the townhouse and the next day he let all the neighbors know about what has happened so they can be careful too.

It’s just after Lucas and Mandy start looking for a house when Mandy is walking to the building with an armful of groceries when a man with a mask on attacks her. She has just opened the door when he pushes her inside. She immediately starts kicking at him and on the walls making as much noise as possible. He throws her on the floor is about to rape her but she knees him in the crotch while he is unzipping his pants. Because of this he puts a knife to her throat about that time he is hit in the head with a bat. The neighbor next door had come in the open door and saved the day.

Mandy is at the hospital when Lucas comes to check on her; she has a cut on her neck, a busted lip and bruises on her wrists. Lucas kisses her gently on the lips and then puts on some ointment for the cut. The doctors say she will be fine physically.
“You okay?”
“I’ll be fine, sweetie, I’m tough right?” she says trying to smile though it hurts.
He is afraid of hurting her with a hug so he holds her hand.
Karen comes in the room with tears in her eyes.
“Thanks for stopping this guy,” she says.
“It wasn’t me it was the feisty neighbor of ours,” Mandy says.
“You are safe because our neighbor was dressing to leave instead of having her daily nap,” Lucas says, “It is amazing and I am so very thankful for her,” he adds. Karen hugs him. They keep Mandy over night for observation. She remembers that she saw her assailants face when the police took him away but she is not ready talk about it. She just snuggles down under the covers to indicate she is tired. Lucas stays with her all night.

When they get home the next day Lucas makes the sofa comfortable for Mandy so she can rest. He has taken the day off and her hospital family has recommended that she take a few days off also.
“Lucas I have to tell you something.”
He sits beside her on the sofa.
“I saw who the guy was when they took him away and he is someone I knew in Texas.”
“Okay, but why would he want to hurt you?” he asks.
“I don’t know it was years ago, but maybe it’s my fault he attacked Karen, maybe to get back at me.”
“No Mandy, it is not your fault people make their own decisions.”
“I slept with him years ago,” she says starting to cry.
“It’s okay, baby, we all have a past, he made the bad decision to come here and hurt you, it’s not your fault,” he says holding her close as she tries to hold back her tears.
“Lucas, I am pregnant.”
“You are? When did you find out?”
“Yesterday, I was going to make a celebration dinner last night,” she says trying to smile. “I am happy, baby, are you?”
“Yes, I love you so much,” she says.
“Great timing at least you won’t be showing for the wedding in two months, I wouldn’t want you to be uncomfortable,” he says.
“You sure it’s not because you don’t want people to think we are marrying because I am pregnant.”
“Wait I know this is a hormone thing so I wont dignify that with an answer,” he says with a grin as he kisses her and she pouts.

Everything is coming together for them despite the assault. They are looking for a house, getting married in two months and pregnant. Unfortunately, Brooke does not understand defeat and without the knowledge of what has been going on in their lives she is still under the illusion that she can get Lucas back.

She shows up at Lucas’ job the next week anxious to get him to see her as the one he really loves. She makes sure he is alone in the shop before approaching him. He is sitting at Keith’s desk on the computer.
“Hey,” she says.
“Hey yourself did you need something?”
She stands behind him and bends down to kiss his neck. He turns around and accidentally hits her with his foot.
“What are you doing?”
“Ouch.”
“If you are here to try and lure me back than it won’t work, I am with Mandy for good.” “Did you know I aborted your baby?”
“What?”
“You heard me I didn’t want a brat while still in high school,” she says.

He can’t believe what she has just said to him.
“Yea, well looks like you got what you wanted then.”
“You don’t care?”
“Well if it is true then you took care of it, why tell me now?” he says focusing on the computer again.
She is indignant.
“If you didn’t give me the courtesy of telling me then, then why bother now?”
“Just thought you should know,” she says.”
“Well thanks for telling me you are a murderer, anything else? I am busy here,” he looks at her. She walks out.

Lucas can’t stop thinking about what Brooke told him. He calls Haley later that evening after he tells Mandy about it.
“I don’t know Lucas, she never said anything to me, and she is probably trying to confuse you. You know she thinks she can get you back, right?”
“Yea, that isn’t ever going to happen. Did Mandy tell you about the baby?”
“Yes, it is great, you two have done well together, just forget Brooke she will get over you eventually,” Haley says.

Mandy is waiting in bed for him; she bites her lip the sultry way he loves when she sees him. She holds out her arms for him to come into. “When I stopped wearing the patch, and we started using condoms haphazardly I didn’t know I would get pregnant so soon.”
“But you are happy?”
“Sweetie I am more than happy,” she says as they make love.
“That’s good,” he says.
“Very good,” she echoes.

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