She entered through the back of Deb's Den with her key. The kitchen was in its normal late night hustle and bustle so no one really paid attention to the additional presence bundles up warmly in a coat. At least the place was in one piece she smiled. And to her surprise it was relatively clean.

She walked about checking around. The office was neat and the main accounting book lay open on the desk, all the correct numbers annotated where they wee supposed to be. Business hadn't been too shabby in her absence and that was a good thing.

Next she checked the logs next to the restrooms, supply room and freezer. There were dates, times and initials to account for any time the rooms had been opened for any reason and to indicate when they had been cleaned. Deb smiled. It looked like everything was going as well as to be expected.

"Hey, Nathan. We've got a problem over at table 12", Brooke pointed out.

Out of sight, Deb ducked in the shadows to just watch.

"What's up, Brooke?"

"The customer is complaining about the way the ribs were cooked."

"Okay. Find out what the deal is, see if you can take the plate back to the kitchen and if all that isn't good enough, the meal is on the house. Got it?"

"Got it."

"Where's Haley?"

Brooke motioned to the corner.

"Someone broke a glass and surprise, surprise it wasn't me", she grinned. "Anyway, she's cleaning that up."

"Okay, when she's done, see if she can help you out. Your tables are filling up pretty quick."

"Actually, Haley's section is full."

"Well, go find Christina."

Brooke shrugged.

"I don't need to. I mean, I'm cool. I've got everything under control."

She smiled and said it so breezily it made him think she did. Boy had someone come a long, long way.

"Um, okay. I'm gonna go help out at the bar. Just holler if you need anything."

"I'm good…oh wait, I need to refill the Sprite at the fountain. Someone said it was going out earlier and I tasted it and it was like drinking Alka Seltzer."

"It's cool. Go back to your customers. I'll take care of the Sprite", he winked.

"Thanks, Nate."

"No, Brooke. Thank you. I don't know if I've said it enough lately but you're doing a real good job around here. I mean that."

The smile on her face was one of pure pride and that made Deb happy. It had been a bumpy start for the food service and domestically impaired brunette but she had improved by leaps and bounds. When most would have given up on her and said she couldn't do anything, it was Deb who believed in her. Now Brooke could believe in herself and that made Deb prouder than anything.

But it wasn't just Brooke. Nathan had been making his mother proud since the day he was born and his latest accomplishments were of no difference. She beamed as she watched her son. He was so handsome and he just had a wonderful presence about him. Mother and son shared the same chatty almost flirty type of personality that endeared the customers to them. He was also good at problem solving and multi tasking.

Deb just stared at the tall, handsome boy with the dark hair and blue eyes as he joked with the patrons and made someone a drink. Her heart swelled with love. She just stood there letting her mind reminisce. He handled himself so well it took her back to a time when he was about ten or eleven. Deb was working at one of the supermarkets and when she had gotten off particularly late, she was shocked and a little scared to find Nathan wasn't home. Before going into full fledged panic mode, she walked down to the River Court. He had to either be there or at Haley's house. And sure enough there he was bouncing the ball alone on the cool pavement. Just as Deb was about to go get him, it happened. She remembered it clear as day…

The kids had come out of nowhere. It was a couple of boys in the neighborhood that were a little older than Nathan. They had bad reputations for being bullies and Deb had warned her son about playing with them. There it was after dark and Nathan found himself face to face with a gang of four.

"What the hell you doing down here after hours, Lee?" the leader sneered at him.

"Playing ball", Nathan answered.

"Playing ball by yourself? That's stupid."

Nathan made another shot.

"Well, I ain't bothering you so why don't you just get out of here?"

"Why don't you make us?" the boy asked, pushing Nathan.

"See, he ain't so tough without Skills and Fergie and Junk", another piped in.

The leader eyed Nathan up and down.

"I want your ball, man", he demanded.

Nathan looked at him like he was crazy.

"No!"

"Give it up, Lee."

"No", Nathan said again.

"Look at him. He's a big old chicken", the others laughed.

The leader smirked.

"How about this? You think you're so bad ass on the court, why don't you put your money where your mouth is…or at least your ball."

The kids were so close to Nathan and they had already shoved him around. Deb wanted nothing more than to run to her son. But something held her back. Something made her watch to see how he would handle it.

"Uh…alright", Nathan hesitated.

He took on the leader with the big mouth. They played one on one while the others cheered and jeered. Nathan Lee and his talent were legendary in Tree Hill, especially on the River Court, which he and his friends practically owned but the big mouthed, smart talking bully outmatched the prodigy that night. It was the worst beating Nathan had ever taken on the court and it hurt.

"I win, punk. Now hand it over."

Deb watched with tears in her eyes as Nathan rolled the ball in his hands. She wondered what he would do next, how the other children would react and what she would do. She didn't have to wait long. Nathan slowly backed away and finally threw the ball into their waiting arms. Then with his head hung, he turned in the direction of home.

She knew her son well, better than anybody. She could only imagine what he was going through. The loss in itself had to be tearing him apart. Even at that young age, male pride and ego was a prominent factor. But it was more than that. It had to do with the ball. Why that ball? Why had he just given it up?

Deb grabbed her son by the arm on the deserted street, startling him.

"Nathan Lee, what just happened?"

He made a face and jerked away.

"What, are you following me now?"

"When you don't come home at a decent hour and I have no idea where you are, yes. And those boys?"

Nathan looked away.

"Did…did you see everything?"

"Yes", his mother nodded.

"Then you know why I gave up that stupid ball."

But Deb didn't know why. Nathan loved that ball. It was more than just a ball. One Christmas when times were for the most part, tough and there wasn't a lot of cash for presents, Keith Scott had stopped by. The two adults harbored no animosity but the man had never taken an interest in his nephew before and that made Deb weary. But he was nice and the visit short and pleasant. Best of all, Nathan seemed to be okay with him. Keith had brought over a ball and the two had played with it for a couple of hours. Afterwards, Keith let him have it. He never came around much after that and Nathan never spoke of the incident again but deep down Deb knew how important that ball was to her son. Whether he admitted it or not, it was the lone, sacred tie to the family that had largely ignored him.

"No, I don't know why, Nate. You shouldn't have. You should have…"

"Should have what, Mom? Run away? Fought them all?"

"Nathan…"

"He challenged me to a game, Mom and I couldn't back down. If I did, I'd have to live with that forever. You never back down from a challenge. We bet my ball and he won it fair and square. He outplayed me so I had to let him have it. Because if I didn't…if I didn't, then I'm just as bad as Dan."

Deb's eyes widened.

"What did you say?"

Nathan kicked his feet against the sidewalk.

"I said I'm just as bad as him."

"Honey…"

"He's not a man of his word, Mom. And he's not honest. And more than that, Dan Scott is a coward. I didn't want to give up my ball but I had to because it was the right thing to do if I wanted to keep my word. It sucks that I lost my ball but it would suck worse if I knew I was just like him."

"Nate.."

"You always taught me to stand up and do the right thing and tell the truth, right?"

Deb swallowed hard.

"I sure did."

"Well then. Look, can we go home?"

At that moment it all clicked for her. He was still a boy but one wise beyond his years. He was giving and kind and honest. And he was more of a man than his sorry excuse for a father would ever be. Deb wanted to cry.

"Yes", she cleared her throat, putting an arm around him. "Let's go home, my boy."

Together they walked the short distance.

"Sorry about staying out after curfew", he mumbled.

"It's okay", she said with another squeeze. "Just don't let it happen again. And tomorrow, well, I', going to buy you another ball."

"You don't have to."

"I want to."

"But we can't afford it, Mom", he looked at her with sad blue eyes.

Her heart melted. She didn't care if she had to go without food for a week. Her son deserved a new ball. It might not mean the same as the other one but at least he would have it. No matter the cost, no mater the sacrifice. And the next day, that's exactly what she did…

It had always been her and Nathan against the world. The memories made her both happy and sad. He had been an exceptional child and now he was proving to be an exceptional young man. At that moment Deb very well could have turned on her heels and gone back home. It was clear Nathan had everything under control. But the Den was her baby and she missed it. She couldn't stay away even when she tried.

"Deb", Haley smiled, the first to see her. "Oh my God. What are you doing out of bed?"

"I couldn't very well stay there forever. Besides, I missed you guys and this place."

"We missed you too, Boss Lady", Skills said, giving her a warm hug from behind as he returned to the doorpost.

Nathan turned to see what all the fuss was about. He was surprised to see his mother.

"Mom, what are you doing here?"

Deb smiled, took off her jacket and replaced it with an apron.

"If it's okay with you, I'm here to work."

"I don't know…"

Deb folded her arms.

"Last time I checked I did own the joint."

"I know, I know but I just want to make sure it's alright. Did the doctor say it was okay?"

"The doctor said it's fine and honey, I feel great. If I sat around that house one more minute I'd go stark raving mad."

Nathan sighed.

"I guess I can't stop you."

"No, you can't", she teased.

"Then welcome back."

He smiled and she returned it, hugging her only child.

"Nate, I just wanted to tell you you've done a phenomenal job around here. I mean it. You have to wear many hats and you're doing it all with ease. I am so proud of you and so very thankful."

"It's nothing. Just doing my best and I had some pretty big shoes to fill. Anyway, don't get crazy and overdo it but I'm glad you're back. We really missed you and the place hasn't been the same since you've been gone."

She nodded and took her usual place behind the bar to thundering applause.

"It's good to have you back, Debbie", one of the locals held up his frosted beer mug.

Deb looked around at the same old crowd and smelled the familiar stench of cigarette and cigar smoke mixed with stale beer. If she had ruby slippers on she would have clicked them together. There really was no place like home.