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Riza-4789-You saw James Lafferty? I almost fainted when I read your review. I am soo jealous! What was he doing?

Disclaimer: No, sniff I don't sniff own these beautiful characters. sniff

"Tragic Declarations of Love"

The day arrived when a very nervous Keith prepared to pick up Karen from the airport. Lucas and Audrey were of course tagging along, but Keith wouldn't let her follow in her own car.

"No, you don't need to drive that thing everywhere. Plus, a waste of gas." Audrey was upset, because she really loved her car, but decided Karen was worth it.

Her father wasn't the only one who hated the car. Lucas complained about Dan everytime he went for a ride in the pink convertible. Audrey felt horrible, because he was Dan's son, and she was only his neice, but it wasn't her fault she was dote upon was it?

Brooke and Jake, on the other hand, loved it. Brooke was jealous, even though she had the adorable pale blue Beetle convertible. Jake thought it drove great, and loved riding shotgun.

Keith not only hated the car, he viewed it as a threat. He knew he couldn't give his daughter anything better, or even in the ballpark with a custom convertible. He felt inadequate, and he didn't like to be reminded of his younger brother's sucess.

Deb pulled out another beer from under the counter.

"Are you sure you should be drinking?" She asked hesitantly. Keith smiled.

"I'm just nervous. There's something I never told you, but when Karen left, she kissed me."

"What?" Deb and Audrey said at the same time. Audrey had just walked in with Lucas in tow.

"That's great!" Deb said. Audrey and Lucas high-fived each other and smiled. They had been plotting to get Keith and Karen together for months, years even. And now it was finally happening.

"Well," Audrey said, standing up again. "We are picking her up in 2 hours. I'd better start getting ready." She left, skipping happily. The three laughed at her and continued chatting about Karen and Keith's newfound romance.

Audrey looked into the mirror to make sure she looked good. A black sheer turtleneck over a black tank, comfortable jeans, converse, and a long pearl necklace. Her hair was pulled into two braids. She smiled, wanting Karen to think she looked older, or more mature. Something. She wanted to have improved as a person in the past 6 weeks. Though she hadn't. She had sort of been slumming, rejecting Jake, sleeping with Tim and a couple other guys, and going out with a different guy every night. It just wasn't her. And Karen would know how to make her feel better.

"Ready to go?" Keith and Lucas stood in her doorway. She nodded, and they headed out the door. In the car, they pleasantly discussed Karen and Keith's kiss.

"So was it a "your like a brother" kiss, a sweet and slow "we should date" kiss, or a frenchie?" Keith laughed at his daughter's crazy question.

"The second one I think." Audrey clapped.

"Yay!" This time it was Lucas turn to laugh. He turned to look at Audrey, but she was sitting directly behind him, so he really couldn't see her. A rock song came on the radio, and Audrey began playing Air Guitar. Keith was watching her in the rearview mirror and cracking up. Lucas laughed too, and turned to his right as Keith pulled into the intersection.

"Keith look out!" Audrey screamed and the car hit them, full impact on their right side. Keith struggled to get out, and Dan leaped out of his car to help them.

"Keith! What happened?"

"Get...Audrey...and Lucas." Dan ran over to the side of the car and pulled out both Audrey and Lucas, who where both in horrible shape, into his car. Lucas had blood coming from his ears and mouth, meaning there was internal bleeding, and Audrey had a huge bloody gash in the side of her head.

"Dad.." She called out feebly. He turned sharply, though it hurt him, to stare at his daughter.

"Audrey?" She grabbed his hand, and her eyes closed tightly. Tears streamed down his cheeks as Dan pulled up to the Emergency Area.

"They were in a car accident!" Dan said, leading Keith, carrying his daughter, and directing towards Lucas. The nurses and ER doctors took them.

"They both need surgery. Are you legal guardians?" They both nodded, and took the surgery consent forms.

Lucas and Audrey were put into hospital rooms right next to each other. There were both currently unconcious. Dan called Deb and Nathan to tell them about Audrey. Keith called Karen, Haley, Jake, and Whitey.

Karen rushed to the hospital as fast as she could, and Jake did the same. His parents were out, so he had to bring Jenny, but it didn't matter. He refused to leave her side, and he didn't say a word. He sat, and stroked and held her hand, and stared at her stitched up face. Keith sat in the corner, crying and beating himself up. Deb and Dan tried to comfort Keith, and Karen sometimes came in to see Audrey.

Audrey was in a coma for about 24 hours before waking up. It was around 9:00 PM, and Jake and Jenny were the only ones in the room. Jenny cried out and reached for Audrey's hand. Audrey blinked a couple of times.

"Jake?" She said quietly. He smiled hugely as tears fell from his eyes. She strained to sit up.

"Jake, I'm so sorry! I-I," She fell back onto her pillow. "I love you. I do. I want to be with you." She cried as Jake hugged her and kissed her forehead. She pulled him close and kissed him softly on the lips.