Deb sighed in disbelief as she watched the television. She couldn't believe it. She didn't know whether to laugh, cry, scream or throw up. She shook her head sadly as the door bell rang. The pretty blonde made her way to the door, peeking out the peephole, relieved to see who was on the other side. Karen.

"Hi", she smiled tiredly.

"Hey you", the brunette said. "How you holding up?"

"I'm hanging in there."

Karen looked inside.

"I didn't see Gargamel's car outside so I take it it's safe to come in."

"He's gone, thank God", Deb rolled her eyes. "But even if he wasn't, you're still welcome. This is my house, too. Come in."

Karen entered and followed Deb to the living room.

"Business was pretty slow today at the café and I figured Shelly could handle it so I took off and did a little Christmas shopping."

Deb closed her eyes. Damn…Christmas was around the corner.

"I almost forgot. How does someone forget about Christmas?"

"You have a lot on your mind."

"I do. I barely made it through Thanksgiving."

Karen hugged her friend. They had gone close over the years, more than business partners. Deb was a sweet woman, too nice to be married to the dastardly Dan Scott. Karen genuinely felt bad for her.

"Dare, I say it will get better. I just hope you've been keeping yourself busy. Maybe we can do some shopping this week."

"Maybe but I don't know. I'm just not in the Christmas spirit. And with this damned arm…"

"Well the cast will be off in another three weeks and it'll be fun to get out and have some girl talk. We'll go shopping for the kids and the baby. It'll be fun…"

"Yeah", Deb sighed.

"So what have you been up to today?"

Deb grabbed the remote and pressed the "play" button to take the pause off of what she had been watching. It was the infamous Nathan and Megan Scott interviewed that she had TiVo'd.

"Have you seen this?"

Karen took a deep breath.

"Bits and pieces."

"This is my 12th time if you can believe it."

"Deb, don't do this to yourself."

"I can't help it. Look at him. I can't believe Dan and Royal. Of all the harebrained, ridiculous, devious schemes they have pulled over the years, this one definitely took the cake."

"I feel bad for Nathan…for both of them."

"Those poor kids. They look so uncomfortable. It was totally rehearsed, which is obvious."

"How are they?"

Deb shrugged.

"Not so good. I haven't really talked to them since we got back here, not that I talked to them that much when we were in Charlotte. They aren't in real talkative moods and who the hell can blame them?"

"It's been tough. Hopefully the holidays and then with the baby due in March…who knows? Let's pray that it gets better."

"I pray all the time for them. For all of us. God just doesn't seem to be listening. Things just keep getting worse."

"Is Nathan…you know, still drinking?"

"That's one positive from this whole accident. According to all reports, he hasn't touched a single drop of alcohol."

"That's good."

"Yeah but he's racked with guilt about what happened to me and Michael Sanchez. He won't talk about it, of course, but I know my son. Keeping all the emotions bottled up inside doesn't help."

"How is the NBA thing going?"

"I don't know. We haven't heard anything yet. Dan is working on it feverishly, mind you."

"I'm sure. What about Megan?"

"Same. It's really been rough on her. Poor thing. She has been through hell and back these last few months. I feel so sorry for her. I mean, how much can one person take? And I think she is reaching her breaking point. Nathan really hurt her and she's tired of his crap. Not to mention Dan and Royal manipulating her. I'm sure she must feel like a puppet."

"I'm sorry, Deb."

"Me too. My main concern is for my son and for Meg and especially for my grandchild. You'd think for once Dan could be a little unselfish and have a heart. No, not my husband. He's more into image and Nathan's basketball career. It's so awful. He should be ashamed of himself. You know, I love Nathan more than life and as much as I hate Dan sometimes, I am forever grateful that he gave me our son but I can't help but feel like I failed Nathan."

"You didn't."

"I'm not so sure. I'm a terrible mother."

"No, Deb. No, you're not. You're a wonderful mother."

"Then why does he hate me?"

"Nathan doesn't hate you. He's just in a difficult place right now."

"And it's all my fault."

"How do you figure?"

"For most of our married life, and I don't have to tell you this, but Dan has been a real monster. Nathan has bore the brunt of that for years. I knew it but I was too busy dealing with my own pain. I should have protected him more."

"You did the best you could under the circumstances you had to deal with."

Deb fought back tears.

"That's not good enough, Karen. Now it's too late."

"It's never too late."

"You know, I spent so much time resenting Haley after she and Nathan got married. I was so angry. I was afraid they were making a huge mistake, ruining their lives. But I was wrong. They were in love and in his darkest days, she saved him. Hell, sometimes I think she is the only one who can."

"Only Nathan can save Nathan", Karen said quietly.

"He's so lost right now. Sometimes, I think this baby is his last chance. It's the only thing keeping him going. I just pray that he is a better father than Dan is and was."

"He will be. Nathan is not Dan. And our kids are not us."

"I'm not so sure about that, Karen."

Karen was taken aback. It was something about the way Deb said what she said. Did she know about Haley's baby? How could she? But that was her grandchild. She had the right to know. And things had gotten so bad for everyone, one more thing couldn't possibly be worse. Maybe the real truth would somehow set them all free…

"Deb?"

"Yes?"

"There…there's something I have to tell you."

"Okay", Deb wiped her eyes. "What?"

Karen took the deepest breath of her life.

"Deb…"

"It's okay. We're friends. Whatever it is, you can tell me."

"I…I know. Um, Deb, I just…uh, I, I just want you to know…that whatever it is you're going through, I'm here for you. I mean that."

She chickened out at the last millisecond. It wasn't her place to tell although the earth shattering news was on the tip of her tongue. After all, Haley had trusted her when she had trusted no one else. And Karen had given her her word. That had to count for something.

"I know", Deb smiled through tears. "And I appreciate that. Thank you, Karen. You're a good friend."

Karen nodded sheepishly. She had always strived to be a good friend and just a good person altogether. Those same important values she had tried to instill in Lucas. She just hoped Deb would feel that same way when the shit hit the fan. Somehow in her heart of hearts, she just knew it would. Eventually. It was inevitable.