Yes, another chapter without Brucas. For those of you who've emailed about the lack of Brucas in every chapter, I hate to tell you that it's going to happen. This is a story that focuses on the family dynamic and not just a teen romance. That means there are chapters that don't have Brooke and Lucas together. Those pesky adults tend to show up and get involved in the kids lives.

A Season in Purgatory
Chapter 35

The sun shone brightly in the mid morning sky as Royal Scott stood on the sidewalk outside of Karen's Café. Having just arrived in town, he'd dropped May off at Danny's for a much needed rest before heading out to speak with his favorite girl. He hesitated a moment, letting the cool fall breeze wash over him. He was never sure how these little meetings would, though few and far between they'd been over the years.

Hearing the bell on the door ring, Karen looked ready to greet a customer with her trademark warmth. Her smiled faltered a bit as she recognized who was standing in the threshold. "Aren't you dead yet?" She asked, only half joking.

Roy smiled at her, hearing the affection in her otherwise terse words. "People like me never die, Karen. Hell's afraid we'll take over." He moved toward the counter and gave her a light hug. He pulled away and stared at her for a moment. "You still look like a kid," he said, as he slid onto a chair at the counter.

She automatically poured him a cup of black coffee, still knowing his preferences after years of disconnection. "Flattery won't get you any where, Roy." She smiled at the older man, still retaining some for of affection for him after all the strife between her and his family.

He slowly sipped his coffee, savoring the taste even as he tried to nonchalantly assess her mood. "You've done well for yourself," he acknowledged, gesturing around the Café. He'd thought she was crazy when she told him of her plans to open a café to support his grandson. Being a business man himself, Roy knew that 50% of all new restaurants failed in their first year. She was taking a huge risk, forging out on her own, rather than continuing her education and finding a normal job. But now, even Roy had to admit she'd made a success out of her considerable cooking talents. He'd always had the highest respect for the girl and had spent years eating her food. Karen had done an amazing job with the few opportunities she'd been given in life.

Karen put down her coffee cup and leaned toward Roy, a conspiratorial gleam in her eye. "I've done well enough that I should be able to end our agreement a few years early," she revealed, taking great pleasure at the look of shock on his face. Apparently, his sources around town were not correct regarding the woman's financial status. Roy had watched as she and his grandson had struggled to stay financially afloat. It had caused him great concern and even greater fights with Danny. It was hard for Roy to respect a man who let his own child suffer while he himself lived like a minor king.

"I've been saving like crazy the past few years and I should be able to pay back your entire investment in a few months," she proudly informed him. Karen hated that she owed a member of the Scott family anything, let alone a huge chunk of the capital used to finance her Café. Once she had that taken care of, Karen would be able to start saving for her son's college education. He would have the education and future that she'd missed out on.

Roy leaned back in his chair and gazed at her for a moment. "It was a no interest loan, Karen. I hope you haven't neglected my grandson in order to pay me back early."

Her brows wrinkled a moment, recalling all of the times she'd forced Lucas to go without a toy or new shoes. While the loan had been a secret kept from everyone including his wife and son, she'd wanted to get out from under Roy's thumb before he called in her debt to him in the form of visitation with Lucas. "Going without extras is far better than living a life in the obligation of a Scott." Her tone wasn't harsh but clearly conveyed the long, complicated history she shared with the man in front of her.

"Obligations like child support?" Roy challenged, still upset that Karen hadn't forced his son to take responsibility for Lucas. She was one of the few people who'd ever been able to control Danny. Roy had encouraged her to force him to pay child support, but even at 18, Karen had been a stubborn, prideful woman. She wouldn't force Dan to take care of his son and later on, she wouldn't let him get involved even when he'd wanted to.

Karen's shoulders tightened, a symptom of anger that said much more about her than her words. "I've heard this before, Roy. I can't change the past," she offered, knowing that he and May had been collateral damage in her fights with Dan. And they'd lost a grandson due to it.

Roy smiled at her words. "But you can change the present. May and I are pleased that you and Dan are speaking again," he stated, sensing her surprise that he knew the latest gossip in Tree Hill. He'd always put his money on Dan and Karen being together in the end. He'd felt that Deb was nothing more than an unfortunate distraction from his son's true soul mate. There was a mixture of fire and steel in both of these people, one tempering the other, forging a strong relationship of will and chemistry.

He watched as she moved from behind the counter and sank down in the chair next to her. She gently touched his shoulder, as to reinforce her point. "We aren't together, Roy. Too much water has passed under the bridge for that," she concluded, knowing that Dan's parents had always wanted her to marry their son. "But we are trying to be civil toward each other for our sons' sake."

"About time," he grumped, having spent years telling Dan the same thing. His demeanor grew softer. "Danny's not had it easy, Karen. Losing both Deb and Daniel really affected him."

Karen nodded in understanding. "He's told me a little bit about that time," she replied, taking in his shocked expression. "What? So we talk about stuff," she softly said, knowing that it was a solid fact that Dan Scott rarely talked about anything personal.

Roy raised an eyebrow at her defensive ton, as if she was justifying talking to his son. "Dan never discusses that subject with anyone. I'm glad that he's found the perfect person to confide in," he playfully said, knowing a matchmaking project when he saw one. Danny had been a fool to ever let Karen go. And if he and May could somehow use their son's new found interest in Lucas to that end, he was more than willing to exploit it.

Karen pulled back, determined to stop any plot that Roy might be hatching. "It's all about Lucas, Roy."

He smiled at her, glad she finally acknowledged the elephant in the room. "Speaking of my oldest grandson, how is he doing?" Roy had been pained by the lack of relationship with the boy, but Dan had insisted that he and May stay away from the boy, not wanting to get involved with Karen after her custody demands. They'd briefly considered suing Karen for visitation rights, but had concluded that eventually she'd give in and let them see Lucas. Unfortunately, that had taken nearly 16 years to accomplish.

Karen gave him a steady glance. "He's fine. Great grades, slutty girlfriend, obsessed with basketball," she tersely replied, not very pleased that her son was involved with Brooke.

Roy's eyes lit up at her words. "A slutty girl! Well good for him. Every teen age boy needs a girl that friendly."

"Roy! I don't need anyone else encouraging my son's behavior of late," she remarked, still upset with the tension between her and her son. Lucas was nearly mute the past few weeks, only speaking to her when spoken to. The tension was something they were both unaccustomed to and it seemed to grow every day.

"He's been so difficult lately, especially toward Dan. And that girl has him going to parties and getting drunk," she said, emphasizing the last words as if she were a Baptist minister during a Sunday sermon.

Roy laughed at her parental tone, knowing full well that Karen and Dan used to drink at parties back when they were Luke's age. He'd dropped her off at home barely capable of walking more than once.

"Karen, that's how boys are. They drink and fight and carouse," he informed her, as if 16 years of child rearing hadn't taught her that already. "Trust me, I raised 2 boys and that's just the way they act."

Karen shook her head, knowing that this wasn't normal teenage rebellion. "You'll see when you meet him at the wedding. He's surly, sarcastic, rude….he's not the boy I raised." A part of her knew that these changes were serious. And that a lot of his anger was directed at her. But the alcohol issues scarred her. Karen's own youth had been spent avoiding her drunken parents. Her worst fear was that her son would inherit the worst of her parent's traits.

"Surly and sarcastic? Sounds like he's Danny's son for sure," Roy joked, trying to lighten Karen's mood.

She shrugged her shoulders out of frustration, knowing that Roy knew her worst fears about the past. "I was hoping that getting to know his father and brother would be a good thing."

Roy nodded, saddened that he'd let Lucas drift for so long. A close family was the most important thing in life that a person could have. He'd tried to ingrain that into both of his sons, with mixed results. While Keith seemed to inspire loyalty in those around him, Danny tended to alienate them.

"Let Dan help you discipline the boy, Karen. He can provide a stronger sense of control than you can," he offered, failing to see that Dan's hands off discipline style had done nothing for Nathan over the years.

"You aren't seriously suggesting that I need a man to control my son?" she asked, anger coloring her words. She'd managed to discipline her son over the years with little to no trouble. It was only due to Brooke's influence that her control had waned over the past month.

"Not better, Karen, different. It's a man to man thing. I just think getting a bit of a father's involvement might help Lucas settle down," he quickly corrected, knowing he'd pissed her off. "Just for the record, you've done a great job as a single mother. I've always respected you for that."

"Well, you'll get to see it first hand for yourself tomorrow at the wedding," she said, nearly afraid of what her son might do.

He stood up, signaling that he was ready to leave. "I look forward to meeting him. Are you going to go?" he hesitantly asked, knowing the complicated past between her and his oldest son. It couldn't be easy for Karen to watch yet another friend get married.

Karen nodded. "I wasn't going to go, but Keith really wants me to attend," she explained, not wanting to look petty. "And Anna is very nice, so I don't want to offend her for no reason."

"Well, I'm actually off to meet our blushing bride," he noted, still not sure that he approved of this girl or a quickie wedding. Only time would tell if his sons had picked the right women to fall in love with. He turned toward her with a sparkle in his blue eyes. "Have faith, Karen," he cryptically said, before walking out of the Café.

Music softly filtered across the room as Brooke stared at the gilt full length mirror, assessing the crimson red gown that draped her body. Her brow furled a moment, not sure that it was appropriate for an informal daytime wedding in the park, but not caring when she totally looked so hot in it. The crimson silk had a deep v in front and a high slit on the side, showing off her exceptional figure. She'd pick up the dress last summer in Milan, a trip and shopping spree gratis of her guilty father. Brooke glanced at the envelope on her vanity table, yet another generous check from her father. He and his trophy wife were in the Bahamas, "missing her dearly". Right, as if the man ever gave her a second thought.

She was caught up in her thoughts, missing the sound of footsteps on her black and white marble floor. Brooke jumped when she felt the hand on her bare shoulder.

"Brookie, you look good enough to eat in that dress," Trey suggestively said, his leering reflection staring back at her in the mirror. "You should wear your hair up and borrow your mother's ruby necklace," he suggested, placing a small kiss at the nape of her neck to emphasize his suggestions.

She tensed, feeling his hands slide down her torso, grazing the sides of her breasts before coming to rest at her waist. Fighting for air, she forced herself to remain calm, resisting the urge to futilely scream for help. There was no one to hear her screams or pleas for help, just like there had been no one to help her that night with J.J.

"Stop!" she said, abruptly moving away from the mirror and his roving hands. He stood there in shock, not used to her being so spirited. She avoided his surprised look by busying herself with her cell phone, checking her messages.

"Are you going to an event with that boy?" he asked, hinting that he might have more to tell her mother at dinner than usual. He took her slumped shoulders as an indication that his suspicions were correct. She was defying her mother's orders to stay away from the Scott boy."

"Don't you have a secretary to go harass?" she asked, finding the courage to challenge him a bit more than usual. Something about being around Nathan and Luke gave her a bit more confidence in herself.

He walked up behind her, again violating her personal space. "Aren't you spunky tonight?" he asked, leering yet again at her. He liked them young and feisty. "I'll tell you what. I'll do you a favor and stay silent about your event with the Scott boy," he said, moving up behind her, his hands roving over her bare back. "It can be our little secret," he murmured into her ear, before abruptly turning and leaving her room.

A tear slid down her face, as she collapsed on her bed once she knew he was gone. Her dress was now wrinkled and tear stained, but she didn't care. All she cared about was the fact that she never knew when or how to say "no" when it mattered the most.

Thoughts? Comments are always appreciated, especially in light of the show totally sucking this season.

Next:

*Weddings and grandparents!