A/N: This takes place about six months after the finale. I've always preferred for Karen and Derek to eventually be a couple and for Derek and Ivy to just be friends. In this fic, Ivy had a miscarriage shortly after the Tonys, and Derek and Ivy were together for awhile after that, but they recently broke up and are now trying to remain friends. This will likely feature many of the characters from the series. This is my first attempt at a "Smash" fanfic, so feedback is always appreciated! I would especially be happy to hear any ideas for musicals. Thank you for reading and reviewing!

Disclaimer: I do not own the sadly canceled "Smash" or any of the characters. I am only borrowing them, and I would plan to return them, but there is unfortunately no longer a series to return them to. Thus, they live on in fanfic.


Karen stared at herself in her dressing room mirror. She couldn't believe that this was her last week with "Hit List." It didn't seem like it was that long ago that she was sitting with Derek in Kyle and Jimmy's apartment, listening to Jimmy describe the musical.

It still made her sad to think about Kyle. He loved musicals so much, and he never got to see "Hit List" make it to Broadway. As much as she loved "Hit List," it did seem like so much sadness and misfortune had surrounded it: Kyle's tragic death, Ana losing her role because of Derek's awful mistake, all of Jimmy's drug problems and his arrest. Ana at least had her role back, but Jimmy would still be in prison for several more months. Derek had seemed happy with Ivy for a little while, but after Ivy's miscarriage, their relationship had slowly fallen apart.

Karen hadn't talked to Ivy recently. She wondered how she was doing. They weren't exactly friends, but they were friendly enough. She wondered what it would be like working with Ivy again. This time, they wouldn't be competing for the same part, but being co-stars might not be easy.

Karen was just about to put on her jacket when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," she said.

"So, darling, are you ready for your final performances as Amanda?" Derek asked as he walked into her dressing room.

Karen shook her head. "I'm sad to leave. I mean, I'm excited about our new show, but it's hard to leave everyone here behind. This was my first time in a Broadway show."

"And now it's time to move on to a new one," Derek said. "Lisa will do very well in your part, though she won't be as good as you, of course."

Karen smiled as she put on her jacket and picked up her purse. "I'm sure she will be wonderful. I know 'Hit List' will be fine without me. I'll still really miss everyone, though. And, I won't get to work with Ana every day."

"You'll still see plenty of her," Derek pointed out. "After all, you live with her."

"Well, yes, but it's fun working together," Karen said.

She couldn't believe now that she had fought with Ana over her getting to sing a few lines from "Broadway, Here I Come." It seemed so ridiculous now, probably because it was. She really appreciated getting to work with her best friend after she had been stuck working with Daisy for weeks. She still hated thinking about Daisy going up on stage and accepting that Tony award. Sometimes this business was really unfair.

Ana was already signing autographs when Karen walked out with Derek.

"Are you going to Table 46?" Derek asked.

"Of course," Karen said.

"I'll see you there, then," Derek said as he turned to walk down the street.

Ana smiled at Karen as she started signing autographs.

"You won't be doing this too much longer," Ana said. "You'll be back in rehearsals again pretty soon."

"I know," Karen said as she handed a fan's program and pen back to her. "I'll miss 'Hit List', and I'll miss getting to perform with you every night."

"I'm really going to miss pretending to hate you," Ana said. "I might just have to start picking fights with you at home."

Karen hit Ana playfully on the arm. "I think we already spent enough time fighting. Are you heading to Table 46?"

"Nope, I've got a date with a hot musician," Ana said, pointing to a good-looking man standing near the end of the row of fans.

"Well, have fun," Karen said as they both finished signing autographs.

"I will," Ana said with a smile.

As Karen headed toward the restaurant, she thought about what next week would be like. After all of these months performing with "Hit List," she would be back in the rehearsal space, learning new music and scenes and choreography. She was a little nervous, but it was also exciting to be starting something new.