Dan made his way downstairs to the coffee pot that was seemingly calling out his name. It was the last and usual pit stop before another profitable yet busy day in the office. It was early and he was surprised to find his wife sitting at the table, eating eggs she had scrambled.

"You're up early, my dear", he observed.

Deb just grunted an inaudible response.

"I see we're in a talkative mood", he joked, pouring coffee and bringing the steaming mug to his lips. "Karen have you scheduled for the early bird shift?"

"I'm not going to the café today."

He opened his mouth to make yet another sarcastic comment but his smirk quickly disappeared when he looked over in the corner and saw packed luggage and her purse.

"Going on a trip?" he prodded.

"No, Dan."

Finally he gave in.

"Where are you going?"

"Away from you", she never missed a beat.

He rolled his eyes.

"Leaving again, eh? We're still on this? The idle threats are getting pretty old, Deb."

She finally turned to face him.

"That was the problem before, Dan."

"What?"

"My threats…they were just threats and you're right, idle ones at that. But no more. I'm serious this time. I'm leaving you…for good."

"Why?" he took the bait.

"Because I've had enough."

Dan just nodded as he stared at what was left of the vibrant, beautiful blonde he had wed so many years ago. He had loved her. Not of course like he had loved Karen but in time his feelings grew. She was a pretty face with the proper social and economic background and more importantly, she was the mother of his son. For a while that had been good enough for him but in time it became more. She became more.

They'd shared many good times. She had been a more than enjoyable companion on business trips and family vacations. She was a good wife and a good mother…or at least she had tried to be. It must have been tough though at the time he hadn't given it much thought. He was too busy building for a successful future. Business was booming and through his ventures, he could provide the expensive clothes, fancy cars and mansion on the hill. He could give her the life she was accustomed to, the life they all deserved. Wasn't that important? Wasn't that enough?

For the first time as he sipped his gourmet brewed java, the notion passed through his mind that maybe it wasn't. It hadn't been enough. She had already strayed from their union twice…once with a handsome, business associate and later with his very own brother. And somehow over the years time had taken away that gorgeous smile, the one that lit up her whole face and made her eyes twinkle. And hadn't she blamed him when a brief addiction to prescription painkillers had nearly cost her everything?

Maybe it was his fault after all. Maybe he had spent the majority of their marriage chasing after the wrong things. The children had grown up and moved with sometimes tumultuous and dramatic lives of their own. Now older, wiser but still young and good looking enough to be in their prime, it should have been the time of their lives. They should have been whisking away to romantic cruises, tropical islands and European paradises. They should have been enjoying what was left of their youth after raising their son. But there was none of that. Deb had had enough. She was a woman fed up. Maybe it was too late after all.

"Deb…"

"No…don't try to talk me out of it."

He took a step back.

"Where will you go?" he finally asked.

"Away from you. The beach house is empty. The kids flew back to New York last night."

"You don't have to do this, you know", he said as he straightened his custom made jacket and tie.

It was the Royal Scott in him. It was the only way he could plead with her not to leave.

"I do have to do this, Dan. I should have done it a long time ago."

And with that she calmly stood and scraped the remnants of breakfast into the waste basket. He watched as she rinsed the dishes before methodically loading the dishwasher. When all was said and done, she brushed past him and picked up her things. It was really happening. She was really leaving.

"Deb…"

He smiled at her and it made her sick. It was his way of calling her bluff. She knew his game all too well. They had been playing it for a lot of years. Dan Scott was a master manipulator. There he was, all shaved and handsome, dressed for work, coffee in hand. His eyes danced, without speaking, telling her to put the bags away and stop being ridiculous. With open arms he approached for a hug and a kiss. Deb was repulsed. She put her hand up.

"Not this time. It doesn't work anymore, Dan."

He opened his mouth to speak but she was gone before the words came out. He watched from the bay window as her Lexus pulled out of its space and headed down the paved drive. He watched until she was out of sight and even then, long after the vehicle had disappeared, he stood there holding the now lukewarm cup of coffee. It was the sudden vibration of his cell phone that jarred him back to his present reality.

"Dan Scott", he muttered.

"Mr. Scott", said one of his personal secretaries.

"What is it Beth?"

"I'm sorry to bother you, sir but your 10:00 is here…Mr. Purkiss. Shall I have him wait?"

Dan breathed into the phone.

"Reschedule."

"Reschedule?" she asked, rather puzzled.

"Yes. I won't be in today."

He hung up immediately, he just as surprised that he had actually said it as Beth was to hear the words coming from him. Dan Scott wasn't the type to just take a day off work.

Putting the cup on the kitchen counter, he ventured to the living room his wife had put so much time, energy and love into decorating. Family photos adorned the entire area. As if seeing them for the first time, he studied each frame carefully. His parents wedding picture, almost 50 years old stared back at him. His father's handsome but unsmiling face. Then Dan's eyes moved to the one of he and Deb. Once again, no smile. And next to that was Nathan and Megan. Big surprise…no smile there either. Dan was beginning to notice a serious pattern. Then his eyes befell upon Keith and Jules. No smile. That made Dan grin. Of course Keith and Jules were happy now but it had been a long road. He had almost ruined their lives and any chance at happiness for a future. He was so close but last minute Lucas had stepped in and begged his father to leave it alone. Reluctantly, Dan had. He'd done it in order to keep the newly formed relationship with his eldest. Eventually, Keith and Jules came clean with each other and worked out their differences. In that wedding photo Keith wasn't smiling because he was scared. Vulnerable…fragile…hurt. Dan loved every minute of it. As far as he was concerned, Keith deserved whatever heartbreak he got. If Lucas hadn't stepped in, he was prepared to take him down all the way. But it hadn't gone down that way, still Dan took satisfaction in knowing that he could have sabotaged it all.

Touching the photographs, he sighed. His deep breaths seemed to echo. His fingertips brushed against the mount and a single picture that had been tucked away fell to the ground. He picked it up. It was the faded amateur wedding photo taken by Jim and Lydia James of Nathan and Haley at the beach. Dan just stared at it before placing it face down with the others. Hhhhmmmm, he thought to himself. Two real smiles. That was certainly a first in Scott wedding photographs.

Dan took a seat on the plush leather sofa staring out at nothing but emptiness. It seemed to envelope him as he quickly thought about all the things he'd loved and lost. Of course his mother would always be there for him, the sweet matriarch who loved and took care of everyone. And Royal…well, Royal was just Royal. Intimidating, brash, unemotional, no nonsense. He was who he was and a huge part of him lived on his younger son.

Then there were Dan's own boys. Lucas, all grown up, super successful, kind, responsible and level headed. He had done exactly what was expected of him. He had always seen the best in everyone and even in Dan's darkest days and most troublesome of deeds, it had been Luke who had remained by him…defending him, loving him, trying to understand and somehow make sense of his actions. And Nathan. The first golden boy, the prodigal son. One so blessed who had so much given to him at an early age. Nathan Scott, tormented, troubled, complex.

And Deb. She had been true to her word. She had walked out that door. Deborah Helen Lee Scott. College bride, devoted young mother, adulteress, saver of the world through her charity work, friend and confidante to Karen, café partner, pill popper, grandmother…there were so many different sides to her. Over the years they had come to see the many sides of each other. Now he had seen the final side. The one where she had turned her back and left him. She was gone and he was alone.

Dan stood and walked over to the mini bar, helping himself to a stiff, pre noon drink. He needed one. Hell, he was overdue. As he nursed it, he fought back tears, products of an overwhelming and new sense of loneliness and even fear. Quickly he swallowed and with the ingestion his smile reappeared. He was Dan Scott. And she would be back. Sooner or later, they all came back.