Karen is initially introduced as the mother of Lucas Scott. At the end of her senior year in high school, she became pregnant, however her boyfriend Dan Scott decided to go to college on a basketball scholarship leaving her alone while pregnant with their son Lucas. Meanwhile Dan met Deb Lee and she also became pregnant with a son Nathan, however Dan married her and ignored Lucas and Karen. When Lucas was very young, Dan asked for joint custody but Karen refused. Karen also set up her own caf