Because Of You

By: TracyCook

Disclaimer: I own nothing. These characters belong to the creator of One Tree Hill.

Couple: Deb/Karen

Authors Note: Another one! For my dedicated Deben fan!

Rating: M

One Day

You don't know how you shine…

I guess no one told you.

A knock at the door distracted the blonde who was currently making her and Karen some coffee, the brunette mother busy in the shower. Thoughts of which had been plaguing her mind the entire time she filled the coffee pot with water and watched the brewing process start. That was until the abrupt sound from the living room had brought her out of her steamy fantasies and the steaming coffee pot.

Rushing toward the front door with a large smile on her face she reached out to the knob before pulling it open. He smile immediately fell at who she saw standing at the door. The source for her attempted suicide and her addictions. "What do you want Dan?" She practically spat bitterly at her ex-husband.

The manipulative man wore an all too common smirk as he shrugged his shoulders lifting up a bottle of wine practically shoving her addiction in her face as he pretended to be nice. "I wanted to see how you were, I brought a peace offering."

Brown eyes glared at the bottle contemplating what she should do with it, Deb opted for nothing as she stood in the doorway preventing him from entering the house. "I'm a recovering alcoholic Dan, how did you figure a bottle of wine was going to help me with my recovery?"

"I guess I figured it was a perfect gift, Boozy." He stated with laughter before pushing his way past his ex-wife. The blonde mother followed him into the house in protest.

"You need to leave now, nothing you do has ever helped me!"

"Where is Karen?" He asked without paying any attention to the blonde. "She must be completely stressed having to babysit you. I know how stressful it can be I've been doing it all my life, so I thought I would show her out to a good time."

"Dan, you need to give up on these delusional fantasies, she wants nothing to do with you. Could you please just go before I have the urge to relapse and stab you in the throat?" Her voice shook with spite and agitation as she squinted her eyes at him. Nothing in her facial expression gave off the feeling that she would not do as she said.

"If you do not mind is this not Karen's house? She should be the one to kick me out. If she wants that is."

"She's in the shower."

"Ooh, even better." He stated teasingly waggling his eyebrows suggestively. "Reminds me of the good ol' days."

"Get out." She stated again.

So let me be the first to show how I,

Love your eyes when you smile.

Can't resist you even when I try…

As Karen exits the bathroom she holds the towel around her body snugly and smiles at the scent of coffee as it rushes to her nose. She had honestly grown used to having Deb around with her, it had grown to be a ritual between the two of them, making the coffee while the other showers. Despite how she wished she could deny it she enjoyed the comfort and thought it felt almost as if they were dating.

A lot of this feeling was intensified by the fact that lately every time the older woman would come out of the shower dressed in only a towel she would want nothing more than to rip it off of her and see her exposed body. The thoughts caused a deep blush to form on her cheeks and her body to heat up as her mind wandered to how Deb felt when she saw her wrapped up and wet.

"Get out!" She heard a scream and knew immediately who it belonged too.

Worriedly the brunette rushed toward the kitchen, large brown eyes widening at what she saw. There stood Dan and Deb conversing. From the looks of things they were about to get rather ugly. "What are you doing in my kitchen?" She asked angrily, he had some nerve to make his way into her house unannounced and harass the woman she cared for and was trying to help.

"Oh, isn't this a sight for sore eyes, I was getting tired of looking at blondie here." He eyed her exposed body lustfully and as she caught on that she was only wearing a towel the brunette woman pulled it around her even tighter. "If you must know I figured I would come by and offer you another date with me, since our last was rudely interrupted." At the last word he glared in the blonde's direction, who returned the glare.

One day you'll see.

One day you'll believe me.

"Dan I want nothing to do with you. You are mean, manipulative, rude, and a downright ass, so will you please get out of my house?" She said it calmly and as nice as she could possibly muster despite her anger rising and the way that her body heated up as he threw the date in Deb's face. It was mean of him yes, but for some reason she was even more upset because she did not want the blonde to think of it as a date. Since she had moved in Karen had been making certain that she knew it was never romantic between herself and Dan. Not since high school at least.

"Ooh strong words for someone so weak." He laughed before lifting the bottle of wine to the brunette. "Take this gift Karen and please don't let boozy drink more than half of it."

"I don't want your alcohol Dan and neither does she. Now get out before I call the police."

He looked at her as if the threats were empty. Honestly, they probably were considering that he was the mayor of Tree Hill and he had a way of controlling everyone and getting them to bend to his will, but she would not hesitate to call the police. "I am not playing around." With that she headed to the phone and picked it up.

Still laughing at her behavior he shrugged. "Karen, no need to go to such lengths, I'll get out of your hair. But when you wake up and smell the flowers and realize how much better I am than your little alcoholic girlfriend over here, give me a call." With that he left still laughing.

As Dan made his way out of the house both girls let out sighs of relief before looking across the kitchen at each other. Brown eyes meeting brown. For a moment they simply held the look before they both burst out into laughter and embraced each other joking about how stupid Dan had looked. It was so strange how something so evil could bring two people so close together. For a moment Karen allowed herself to watch as Deb laughed and smiled and she realized in that moment just how much that smile meant to her.

I don't know why they laugh.

I won't ever understand foolish hearts and careless hands.

I'm not like the rest of them,

I'll be here forever,

Til my last breath.

"Karen this is a Disney kids show…" Deb stated hesitantly to her friend as she watched the playful banter between the main character, a brunette, and her best friend, a blonde. It would have reminded her of her relationship between her friend if it were not so childish. Smiling she realized that Karen was actually pretty childish.

"Oh, come on Deb, I figured it would lighten the mood! Plus I love this show it always makes me laugh!" Nudging the blonde she tried to convince her completely ignoring the feelings that she felt when she returned the smile. 'She is so beautiful…' Blushing she focused on the show "ooh! Look that's my favorite!" Both girls laughed, Deb laughing at her friends immaturity, and Karen laughing at the show.

"Ooh look!" The older mother said laughing and just as the brunette was about to agree with her she turned to glare at the smirking blonde.

"Very funny, mock if you must, at least you are smiling again. That is all that matters." The admittance was almost too much for either girl to understand. Deb felt herself blushing as did Karen as they both focused intently on the television ignoring their growing romantic feelings for one another.

Finding herself watching the brunette and the way that her eyes shined with every joke, her laughter absolutely adorable, and the innocence intriguing, Deb watched her more than the actual show itself. She knew how she felt, she loved her.

All I know is that I've found what I've been looking for.

Held you once, and took a chance, and asked for a little more.

You don't know how you light up every room or how you shine.

I guess no one told you,

So, if you don't mind.

Both girls had found their way into each other's arms as the show continued, much like they had grown used to snuggling in the room together, they were now snuggled up in each other's warmth. Deb had been sleeping for a while now and Karen was simply enjoying watching the beautiful girl as she tried her hardest to sort her feelings. It was confusing to say the least, she had always held a soft spot for the blonde, she always cared for her and wanted to help her through her addictions, but these feelings meant more to her. These feelings were love.

Perhaps it was simply her dependency on the blonde lately. How close they had gotten and how used to her company she had grown. After losing Andy, Karen felt that she would never have someone that close to her again. Then over night the two girls had grown to be very close. Not quite as close physically as her and Andy, but the thought did not repulse her.

In fact allowing her brown eyes to wander over Deb's smiling slumber lips she blushed at the thought of kissing them. The thought not only did not repulse her, but it actually excited her. She did not understand the reasoning behind her heart speeding in her chest at the thought of it, she could not put a thumb on what exactly she wanted, all that she knew was that she wanted more with Deb.

One day you'll see

One day you'll believe me…

One day you'll know

One day I won't have to show you…

O T H O T H O T H O T H O T H O T H O T H O T H O T H O T H O T H O T H O T H

Authors Note: Here is another chapter, been sick lately… I hope that y'all like it! Please read and review! I'm trying to add another chapter to all of my multi-chaps but it is really hard on some haha. Still, keep your eyes out.

-Tracy Cook