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

Nathan had fallen asleep on the couch in front of the TV again. Cooper Lee couldn't help but smile as he looked at his only nephew. He was Deb's brother but there was well over ten years difference between them and he actually been closer in age to Nathan. They had always been close over the years and everything had changed the summer Deb let Nathan spend a few weeks with his uncle in South Carolina.

The Lee's were a respected and prestigious bunch with educations that came from the finest colleges and occupations that included judges, doctors and lawyers. They contributed to charities and chipped golf balls at the best country clubs. Naturally David and Virginia Lee had expected the same from their offspring.

He was a judge who had served on the Georgia Supreme Court at one time. And she was the beautiful Southern socialite business woman who served as director for a foundation established by the DAS or Daughters of the South. They had married in a beautiful ceremony at one of the largest Baptist churches in the country and settled into life on what used to be a Savannah plantation. After several fruitless years and even more followed by a string of heartbreaking miscarriages, Deborah Helen Lee had finally been born.

She was a darling child, with classic beauty and striking features. An accomplished equestrian, she was a straight A student at an all girls private Christian Academy. Deb, as she was called, was popular among her female classmates and the gentlemen callers from other equally prominent families. But she loved church and often would turn down dates to baby sit for the neighborhood children. When she was 12, there was an unexpected addition to the family. Cooper Allen Lee.

If Deb had been David and Virginia's pride and joy, the proverbial "good child", Cooper would be the exact opposite. He was a fussy baby and an outspoken, spoiled toddler. He was a good kid underneath but his quick temper and quicker fists always seemed to land him in the middle of trouble. He did as he pleased, leading a reckless life of fun on the edge. School was not important, as he was kicked out of five in one whole year. He loved the women and pedigree and background were not a factor. He jokingly called himself the "equal opportunity fucker".

Deb graduated with honors and went on to attend the University of North Carolina. There she was expected to enter pre med or pre law or business, and meet a nice man from a respectable family and marry well and have lots of children. It was a plan that was destiny but the tables turned. Deb did meet a handsome, young man with a promising future from a well to do family. But just months into college, she found herself pregnant. And the father was long gone, leaving only a note as he went to his hometown to marry his pregnant true love…

Deb sat nervously in the chair of her father's study as he paced back and forth while Virginia stood with a terse frown on her face.

"I had a talk with Royal Scott and it seems that Daniel has gone and married someone else", he said with a pipe in his mouth.

Deb cringed. So it was true. Dan had actually gone through with it.

"How could he?" she sobbed.

"He's a man", Virginia answered in her strong accent. "What did you expect, giving yourself to him like that? It's a disgrace before this family, this town and God."

"But Mother…"

"Leave her be, Virginia", David commanded. "Deb, I have figured a way out of this. There is a home in Alabama for girls like you, girls that find themselves in trouble, so to speak. I have made some phone calls and arranged for you to go there first thing in the morning. Once the child is born, it will immediately be placed for adoption and you can be reinstated at UNC next year. To avoid gossip and scandal, we will say that you are spending the semester and summer studying abroad."

Deb shook her head. She couldn't believe it.

"No", she whispered.

"What did you say, girl?" Virginia asked, hands on her hips.

She took a deep breath. She had always done what everyone expected of her. She was polite and accommodating, gracious and timid. But now it was time to stand up for herself.

"I said no", she repeated a little louder. "I love Dan and he really hurt me but I can't give up my baby. This child is a part of me and I love him or her already. I can't just give my baby up and I won't."

"What will you do?"

"I can go back to school. And by the time the baby is born, I can figure out something with child care and…"

The Lee's were horrified. What would people say?

"Nonsense, Deb. You will board that airplane to Alabama in the morning and never speak of this incident again!"

"And if I don't?" she asked, tears falling down her face.

"Then you're a fool. And not only are you throwing your life away, you're taking our money with it."

It was an impossible choice. Obey her parents and give up her child, then go along with the perfect life planned for her or simply walk away alone to the unknown. For Deb, there was never a second guess. She stood and left and never looked back…

Cooper looked at his handsome nephew. He had always respected his older sister for having the balls to walk away from it all. They had remained in touch and the minute he turned 18, he had gone to stay with her and Nathan for a while. College was not on the agenda and he wasn't interested in law or medicine or politics and business. There were two things Cooper Lee loved…women and cars. He had decided to become a professional racecar driver.

That decision in itself put him in the same boat of ostracism as his only sibling but Cooper was not phased. He drank a lot of whiskey, slept with a lot of women and worked his way up in the sport he loved so much. He wasn't in the big leagues yet but his reputation and record were established and he was beginning to make enough to earn a decent living.

Deb worried about him and was even more worried when Nathan followed suit. She had tried in vain to discourage him but it was no use. His mind was made up and he went to Charleston to pursue his dream. He was a good kid, quiet and intense who kept his troubles to himself. But he was smart and a hard worker and his ambition paid off. He had done well. Cooper and Nathan had always gotten along even when the two became roommates. He was proud to have him as a driver, a nephew and a friend.

The telephone rang and Nathan didn't even flinch. Cooper laughed out loud. Lazy bastard, he thought as he answered it.

"Hello?"

"Coop, where is Nate?"

Cooper grinned.

"And hello to you too Luke. What's shaking, man?"

"I need to speak to Nathan. Now! Is he around?"

Cooper sighed. It must be a brother thing. He shrugged as he woke up his nephew.

"Get up, man. Phone for you."

"Who is it?" Nathan asked as he wiped the sleep from his eyes.

"Lucas and he doesn't sound happy."

Nathan grimaced. It was the confrontation he knew would come.

"What's up, bro?"

Lucas laughed a sinister laugh.

"What's up? What's up, you ask? Oh nothing much man, except that you ruined my fucking life!"

Nathan sighed.

"Sorry…"

"How could you?"

"I thought she knew. She said you told her everything!"

"And you just had to verify, huh?"

"Look, man, I don't want to be involved…"

"Involved? Are you high? Of course you're involved! You're the reason I'm homeless and my wife is probably filing for divorce as we speak! Nice going dick head!"

Nathan bit his lip.

"Don't call me that, man."

"What? You prefer jackhole? Fuck around? Asswipe? Come on, I can keep going."

"Just shut up!"

"You shut up, idiot!"

"Luke, you can call me all the names you want but who's looking like the idiot now?"

"Oh I get it. You're just loving this, aren't you? You couldn't wait for my marriage to be over!"

"Dude, that's a crock of shit and you know it."

"Is it? I bet you couldn't wait to Haley. Well congratulations, fuck face! You did it! We're through and now you get to have her."

"I don't want her", Nathan lied.

"Bullshit! You always have."

Nathan felt his blood boiling.

"Yeah? Well, maybe if I had married her, she would have been treated like a freaking human being. I wouldn't have lied to her or cheated on her."

"Oh no. Not you. Not Saint Nathan."

"Don't put your shit on me, man. You screwed this up. Not me."

Lucas was so mad he couldn't see straight. He knew his little brother was right but it was too hard to accept complete responsibility himself.

"Fuck you, Nate!"

"No. Fuck you, Luke. This is your own doing."

"You're pathetic. You still love her."

"Maybe I do. At least one of us does."

"I love Haley."

"No, you don't. Lucas, you love yourself. If you loved her, you wouldn't hurt her. Face it, the only reason you married her is because you knew how I felt about her. It was just a dig at me."

Lucas smiled.

"Still crying after all these years? Just forget about it."

"I've tried but you won't let me. You can't. You love reminding me, man. All our lives you've gotten everything and I got nothing. I never complained. I tried not to hold it against you. You are my brother and I love you but I think you're a piece of shit for what you did to Hales. And for your information, it was no thrill telling her. Know why? Because I knew it hurt her. When she's hurt, I'm hurt. But that's something you'd know nothing about, would you, you selfish prick?"

Lucas shook his head. What could he say?

"Whatever. Just watch your back, little brother", he spat.

Nathan hung up the phone.

"I always do", he whispered to no one in particular.

"You cool?" Cooper asked as he rounded the corner.

"Yeah, man."

"I heard yelling."

"Lucas is pissed. He and Haley split up."

Cooper laughed.

"Again?"

"I think it's for good this time."

Cooper studied the serious but thoughtful look on Nathan's face.

"You okay, little man? I mean, how do you feel about that?"

Lucas cheating. Nathan breaking the news. Haley hurting. It was all so complicated and mixed up.

"I don't know", he sighed. "Honestly, I don't know."

And for the first time, he didn't.