Author's Note: Flashback scenes written in Italics...

Deb sighed as her plane landed and she made her way through the throngs of other passengers to retrieve her luggage from baggage claim. Traveling always put her mind into perspective. It made her think. It made her evaluate her own life.

It was her 43rd birthday. When she looked in the mirror, she looked better than most women half her age. Not too many 43 year olds could actually say that. Her tan was natural and her wrinkle free, tight face was proudly Botox free. Her boobs, as firm and perky as they were enormous, were the real deal and the flat stomach with its 26 inch waist bore no bearings or marks that 24 years prior, an eight pound baby had rested there.

Yes she was a beauty with her stylishly cut dyed blonde locks, expressive blue eyes and warm, sincere smile. Every year she drove around town in the brand new car of her choice, she lived in the biggest home in Tree Hill and her youthful clothes were from the trendiest and most expensive designers. She was at the center of the Southern elite social circle, one of the most envied women in all of North Carolina. Gorgeous, sweet disposition, married to the handsome, charming and wealthy Dan Scott. To the outside world, her life was the fodder dreams were made of.

But who was Deborah Ann Lee Scott on the inside? Who was the woman behind the soft voice and shy smile? She had grown up in Raleigh to privileged parents, her only sibling, a younger brother named, Cooper, who joined her when she was eight years old. She was a pretty child, an exceptional student and the all around square who favored babysitting as opposed to dates with cute boys. She was a former girl scout, a cheerleader, Debutante of the Year. She enrolled in college ready to take on a new life. Then she saw him…

The story is legendary how two people eye one another from across a crowded room. That's exactly how it went down for the two freshman during their orientation. He was tall and lanky with a slightly muscular build. His brown hair could have used a cut and he was as goofy as he was cocky. But there was something about him. Something sweet yet dangerous at the same time that endured her. If ever love at first sight existed, it did for Deb Lee and Dan Scott. He invited her out for a hot dog that evening. They had their first official date that weekend. By the following week they were inseparable. By the next week, they were sleeping together exclusively.

It was the start of the chain of events that would change and sculpt her life. Dan, who bragged about a future in the NBA, blew out his knee with an injury. And as if his news wasn't earth shattering enough, Deb would soon have a mind blowing headline of her own.

She made excuses when her period was late. She blamed the morning sickness on the flu. But two pink lines on a home pregnancy kit confirmed her worst fears. There were decisions to make of course but for Deb there was only one real decision. As terrified as she was, she couldn't see herself aborting her unborn baby. And there was no way she could carry a child for nine months only to give it away to be raised by strangers. There was only one thing to do.

Her mind was made up. She was having her baby. She would tell Dan and see what he had to say. She knew him…he loved her and he would do the right thing. They would get married and finish college and raise a family together. Her parents would be disappointed but as long as she was a wife before she became a mother, she knew she would have their full fledged financial and emotional support.

And just like how she envisioned it, it happened. A shotgun wedding and an off campus apartment. Dan dibble dabbled in several business ventures before finally deciding on an automobile dealership that the Lee's gladly invested in. The acquirement would lead the young family back to his roots of Tree Hill.

Deb was happy. Those first years were the happiest of her whole life. She was a young stay at home mom and wife, devoted to her husband and child. The marriage was happy and the long hours Dan put in at the office were compensated by the time she got to spend with their little boy, Nathan Daniel. It was suburban utopia but it would all change with the move back to Tree Hill.

Lovable, sweet, tender, caring, sensitive Dan was replaced by a distant, cold, ruthless, bitter, down right nasty jerk of a man. He wasn't the husband he used to be and most father son moments were spent with Dan the dictator relentlessly coaching a little boy prodigy who could barely bounce the ball that seemed to be bigger than him.

What had happened? Why was her life seemingly falling apart before her eyes? Deb had questions and she wanted, she needed…no, she demanded answers. She'd never forget that stormy night she waited for him. The thunder rolled outside but it was even louder in her heart and mind. It was unyielding. Standing there watching the near identical bags circle around the luggage rack, Deb could remember the conversation like it was yesterday. Perhaps it was the most defining moment in their marriage and maybe in their lives.

"Who is she?" the 23 year old blonde asked her husband coldly as he entered their home.

"What?"

"You heard me, Dan. I know you're having an affair, now tell me who she is."

Dan rolled his eyes in typical Scott fashion as he made himself a drink.

"Please, Deb. Spare me the theatrics at least for one night. I swear if you don't lay off the soap operas or Oprah or whatever is putting these ludicrous ideas in your head, you're gonna wind up with a one way ticket to the looney bin for desperate, deranged and spoiled housewives."

"Karen Rowe", she simply stated.

He stopped and his blood ran ice cold.

"What did you say?"

"You heard me. Now I want to know who she is."

"It doesn't matter…"

"The hell it doesn't!"

"What do you want from me, Deb?"

"How about the truth, you selfish, lying son of a bitch?"

"Lower your voice before you wake Nathan."

"Don't you even mention our son's name. Not as long as you're having your dirty little affair. Now who is she? Someone from work? Or let me guess, the country club?"

"You have no idea what you're talking about."

"Fine. I want you out of this house. I'm not going to be one of those wives letting you get away with murder while everyone in this godforsaken town knows you're cheating on me. I want a divorce, Dan! You'll never see me or Nathan again."

"Deb, you're talking nonsense. Just shut up."

"Get out now! Go be with your little whore, Karen."

"Dammitt, Deb, I am not having an affair with Karen Rowe!"

"Then who is she?"

He sighed.

"Someone I used to know a long time ago. My girlfriend before you. I see while you were rummaging through my affairs, my business affairs, that is, your Sherlock Holmes snooping neglected to discover that I am filing a petition to take her to court."

"Court? Why?"

"There are things I haven't told you. Secrets I kept to protect you and Nathan but now your curiosity has forced my hand. Sit down, my dear…I have some rather explosive news and it's going to hurt."

"Dan…"

"Karen and I dated in high school. After graduation and before college, she told me she was pregnant. I chose not to be a part of her life…or her child's."

"What?" Deb whispered in disbelief. "Are…are you telling me…"

"I fathered another child, a little boy born before Nathan. I am suing Karen for visitation."

He said it almost nonchalantly. Hell, the son of a bitch was even smug about it. How could he do that to Karen? What made Deb different? Why had he never told her of this other child? And didn't it all at least warrant a conversation before he was so bold to sue for joint custody?

That changed everything for Deb. Their fights because of the matter became legendary. She didn't know if she was angrier because he had kept it secret from her or just because the secret itself existed. And custody? But it would never come to that. Karen stood her ground. She didn't want Dan or his money and after the lawyers made it clear that he had a snowball's chance in hell of winning due to the abandonment, reluctantly, he gave up. It was one of the few times he would ever admit defeat in his life.

They moved on but just across town were the whisperings of Dan's dirty little secret. At times his behavior became more impossible to live with. She grew sullen, bored, angry…restless. Worst of all, Nathan was growing up and mother and son were growing apart. Another baby wasn't the answer…Dan and Deb had long ago decided not to have any more children. But her growing unhappiness proved too much to bear so she assumed the challenges of a new job, headlining a local board that raised funds for various needy charities. It was a position she excelled in and the newfound calling took her away on many travels across the country and abroad. She needed that break from suffocating stronghold Tree Hill had enveloped around her being and soon a handsome, dashing sales director would remedy the suffocating, stronghold Dan Scott held over her heart.

A sexual relationship with another man was the last thing she expected. But he was so handsome and sincere and genuine. He showered her with attention, affection and gifts. Her opinion mattered to him. He was sweet and funny and caring…all the things Dan Scott no longer was. A new man offered her a new life, which was fine for a while expect the fact it was impossible to escape her old one. Dan was on to the affair. Much to her surprise, he wasn't angry, vengeful or forceful. Instead he was wounded and apologetic, doing whatever it took to bring her home and restore the love they once shared. She did still love him but more than that, she missed her son. Nathan was her whole world. It took a while but she soon realized the error of her ways. A pre mid life crisis had caused her to abandon the things that actually meant the most.

Dan forgave her, or as much as Dan was willing to forgive anyone. They moved on. She continued her work with the foundation, staying faithful but the absences grew longer and more frequent. One day she returned home to a son she hardly recognized. He was aggressive and angry, brooding and surly. Trouble seemed to follow him wherever he went and most times he welcomed it, a mean spirited, arrogant bully knowing either his basketball talents or rich daddy would bail him out of whatever debacle he had managed to wriggle himself into.

The rest was a blur. More like a movie someone was fast forwarding through. Nathan nearly dying from abusing performance enhancing drugs in order to impress his dad on the court. The merger of Lucas and Karen into their lives. Her unlikely friendship and connection with Karen. Separating from Dan. Filing for divorce. Nathan's emancipation. Nathan's teenage marriage to Haley James. Dan's heart attack and HCM diagnosis. Deb's one night indiscretion with Keith. The aftermath. Her dependency on prescription drugs and the subsequent rehab. God, a person could go nuts thinking about it all. But it was her life.

Yes, it was her life, she sighed as she hailed a taxi that would take her back to the mansion on the hill. She didn't bother calling her husband. She didn't feel much like seeing him although that would be inevitable. His smirk would surely be waiting on her, watered down whiskey in hand.

Fresh tears welled in Deb's eyes as an anger she had never felt raged deep inside her. She was tired. Her mind was tired and so was her soul…not to mention her heart. She had long hoped and prayed for some kind of change. She yearned for something better, something more…happiness. She had resolved herself to the fact that it may never happen. As a mother and grandmother, she'd gladly sacrifice her own contentment for their joy. But still it was harder and harder to go back to that huge, lonely, empty house. To go back to him.

"Deb", Dan said rather startled as she entered the back. "You're home…"

"I live here, don't I?"

He smirked just as she knew he would.

"It's nice to see you too, sweetheart."

He leaned in for a hug but she put her hand up, stopping him.

"Dan, please…"

He cocked an eye at her and extended his hand in a business like shake. She shook her head.

"I take it you weren't off attending the seminar of good manners", he quipped.

"Just save it, Dan."

She dropped her bags and swung open the refrigerator.

"What now, sweetheart?" he cooed.

"Oh please. Whatever you're up to…"

"What makes you think I'm up to something?"

"You're always up to something, Dan. I'm sick of this! All of it! Of this life, this house…you! You don't love me! You don't love me and you don't appreciate me…"

Dan hung his head as his wife continued her rampage. A smile crept to his lips. Should he warn her that their children, family, friends and half of the population of Tree Hill was just a few feet away out on the patio? He shook his head. Nah! That would be too easy. Instead, he slowly walked outside knowing she would be hot on his heels still ranting and raving.

"Are you finished, Deb?" he asked quietly, taking a sip.

Her blue eyes widened and her face grew hot with anger.

"Am I finished? Hell no, I'm not finished! And don't you dare interrupt me, Dan Scott!"

"Honey, please. If I could just…"

"No, you can't!"

"But I was going to say…"

She brushed by him and found herself face to face with the stunned crowd of friends and loved ones.

"Surprise!" they managed to meekly yell finally.

Deb wanted to die! She turned around and looked at her miserable, shrugging, smirking, snake of a husband. He had done what he had set out to do. He had humiliated her or better yet let her humiliate herself. She wanted to murder him!

"Happy Birthday, darling", he grinned.