Teaser

This had become her favorite pastime since they moved to this town. Standing in the shadows watching him and savoring every stolen moment where she got to take in that breath taking smile of his was like heaven on earth. After all she was the boy's mother and had every right to be in her son's life even if he didn't know it. Unfortunately as wonderful as it was to be so near to her beloved son it was still a struggle for her seeing him and holding her baby boy at arms length. It tore her apart more then words could ever express each and everyday she was forced to witness a hug or loving words shared between him and the woman who raised him, knowing that she was his mother and that she was the one whom he should be giving his affections to.

In fact she could vividly remember the day he was born and what it felt like to hold her son in her arms for the first and what would be the last time. Her mind held onto the sharp images of his bright hazel eyes as they stared into hers with pure and true love, trust and innocence. Tears streamed down her face as she remembered how he held on to her fingers with all the strength that his little body would allow, almost as if he knew that their time together was limited. In fact it was this very memory that got her through the past sixteen years and though her heart ached for the boy, she knew better then to act on those feelings. Caring for him as her son wasn't even an option. No, she had to be careful other wise the man responsible for her pain would ruin her life even more then he already had and would go on to make her son's life a living hell even more so, if that was even possible.

The evil bastard made it clear to her a long time ago that her boy wasn't the one he wanted and that if she ever told any one about what really happened the day both his sons were born that he would be forced to go to the police with the information that he had on her and she couldn't let that happen. For now she had to continue living this lie and deal with the pain of the past if only to keep her son safe.

FLASHBACK

Tears slowly streamed down the nineteen year old mothers face as she looked down at the small infant child that slept soundly in her arms. He was so pure and innocent that it was hard to believe that the monster sitting beside her was his father.

The man in question was pure evil personified with a blackened soul that tainted everything and everyone he came in contact with and now she was forced to give up her child and raise another woman's baby just so he can have the son he wanted along with the woman who benefited him the most. It was never about love for him and she doubted he even knew the meaning of the word but that was irrelevant at the moment. All she knew was that her life was no longer her own and because she was so caviler with the giving away of her heart and her trust she was left to suffer the consequences.

"It's time" she heard the cold voice of her husband's accomplice call out to her as a second incubator was brought in.

Nested inside was a dark haired boy that she was to raise as her own but she didn't want to waste the few seconds she had left with her son looking at another child. After taking one more quick glance in the child's direction the woman turned her attention back to the baby boy in her arms and smiled at him sweetly, hoping that he would remember that she was his mother not the other woman who's arms he was to lay in soon. But deep down she knew her efforts were in vain but that wouldn't stop her. These were her very last moments with her son and she was going to make the best of it.

"I love you my sweet angel" she spoke through sharp intakes of breath, trying her best not to cry. Her baby needed to know how much he meant to her and that she loved him, even if she would never be able to speak these words to him ever again. "Mommy will always love you no matter how far apart we are, ok my sweet baby" the heartbroken mother spoke through tears, failing at her attempt to keep her emotions in check.

"Enough already, just give him the damn kid" the cold and callous voice of her new husband commanded as she instinctively tightened her hold on the infant.

"Please don't do this Dan. Please, don't make me give up my baby"

"Now Deb are you really going to make me tell the police about your little dirty deed?"

"Dan…"

"We had a deal Debs and backing out now will only land you and Daddy in a whole lot of trouble and let me assure you honey, pretty little things like you don't do too well in prison"

As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. If she backed out now not only would the lives of she and her father be ruined but she would have no way of ever seeing her little boy again. But knowing this didn't make it any easier to hand him over to another woman.

"Besides we don't have time for your whining Deb now give Dr. Genovese the baby or I'll be forced to take drastic measures and I promise you, you won't like the outcome" he warned.

The man then signaled to the doctor whom of which instantly stepped forward and proceeded to take the child from his mother's arms. When the woman only took a firmer hold on the newborn the doctor turned his gaze to the man that he too feared as his beeper went off.

"It's her again" he said giving Dan a meaningful stare. "She probably wants to see her son and I can't put it off much longer"

"You have got to be kidding me right? Do I have to do everything myself" the man surly replied before walking over to the woman and snatching the child from her arms resulting in shrilling cries form both mother and son.

"NOOO!" the woman yelled before trying to lunge forward while fighting against the doctor who was restraining her. "No, please doctor you can't let him do this. You can't let him give my son away"

"I don't know what you're talking about Mrs. Scott. Your son is right here next to you" the doctor responded rather loudly as not to alert anyone that may have heard the woman's pleas. He then pulled out a syringe and injected its contents into her vein.

As her body became limp and the images around her started to blackened she heard bits and pieces about the changing of birthdates and places of delivery right before her senses faded out and the world around her became as black and empty as the hole in her heart that would always long for her little angel.

End of Flashback

"Deb hey, what are you doing here?" questioned a voice that she loved hearing.

"Oh hey Lucas I was just going for a walk. I needed to get some air"

She could see the concern in his eyes and it killed her. Her son was standing right in front of her and she couldn't reach out to hold him and tell him that everything was ok and that Mommy was going to be just fine. She could once again feel hot pellets of water streaming down her face but she couldn't lift a finger to push them away or move her feet for a fast get away. In that moment she became paralyzed by her own emotions and fear of how being this close to him would force her to react. This was her boy and she couldn't even touch him or tell him that she loved him and never forgot about him for one second. She couldn't tell him that his whole life and the life of his brother had been one huge lie created by the devil himself. She wanted to take him into her arms and vow to make life better for him and to make up for all the lost years that were stolen from them as well as Karen and Nathan.

It was then that she felt his hands upon her skin for the first time in sixteen years. The boy lightly brushed a gentle finger across her cheeks causing the drops of water to disappear. He then drew her into a tight embrace and did his best to comfort her as she released year's worth of pain and frustration over a situation that she was to blame for almost as much as the man who blackmailed her into a marriage made in hell.

"Shh, shh it's ok Deb. Whatever it is just know that you have people in your life that care about you. You don't have to go through this alone" his soft husky, yet angelic voice spoke into her ear.

She could have stayed like that forever but she knew that every minute they shared together was dangerous and with Dan on one of his rampages she never knew when he was watching so she had to be careful for her safety as well as his.

Knowing that it was best to put a quick end to the moment the woman reluctantly pulled away from the boy and smiled at him fondly.

"Thanks a lot Lucas. I really needed to hear that" she said as she took his hand in hers unable to resist the opportunity. "You're an amazing young man u know"

He smiled coyly and turned an adorable shade of red before replying "Yeah, well you have your savvy business partner to thank for the amazing young man you see standing before you"

"Right. Well I can say with all certainty that it doesn't matter who raised you Lucas, you've always been an angel" at the completion of her sentence she could see the confused and intrigued look in the boy's eyes and knew that it would be best to leave while he was still speechless. "Umm I think it's time for me to get going so I'll catch you later"

"Ok, bye" the boy replied as she walked away.

For the first time in her life she felt as if she could breathe again and that everything was going to be okay.

If only she knew that someone had just witnessed her moment of happiness with great distain and malice.

On the other side of the river court Dan Scott sat in his car gripping the steering wheel in front of him tightly while swearing profusely and grinding his teeth together. He couldn't believe this. The nerve of that bitch to defy him and spit in the face of his power and authority, who the hell did she think she was? Now he would have to waste his precious time teaching her a lesson and reminding her of exactly who was the more dominate partner in their relationship or rather business arrangement.

Suddenly the sound of a ball hitting the hard pavement brought his focus to the blond haired boy on the basketball court.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Mama's boy" he grinned wickedly as he began to formulate a plan to put his wife back in her place.

He then pulled out an old picture from his high school years and stared deeply into the eyes of the image it captured. "I'm sorry to do this to you Karen but Deb has to remember her place in all of this and unfortunately I'm going to have to use Lucas to do it"