I do not own Smash or any of its characters.

Story is set after Karen's 1st preview

The Setup

As I sit in my dressing room I realize that aside from taking off my wig and dress, I haven't moved since I left the stage. My mind has been racing at the thought of the words he whispered in my ear "I do understand love" I want to cry but a knock on the door startles me. I open it to the bubbly squeals of Bobby and Jessica with Sam and Dennis following behind. "IOWA, you were amazing!" they cheered. "We always knew you could sing but that last song WOW!" Dennis continued. "I give the Dark Lord credit, he could see what everyone else didn't" Sam said. "You deserved this Karen, congratulations"

"Thanks guys I really appreciate the compliments" my face reflecting only a half smile. "What's wrong IOWA?" Jess asked "You should be on cloud nine yet you look like you just lost your best friend" Bobby exclaimed. I couldn't take it anymore I had to tell someone and why not my friends (at least I think their friends) "I think I may have made the biggest mistake of my life and I don't know how to fix it" Karen replied as tears started to stream down her face. "What happened?" Sam asked as Jessica reached out to pull Karen in a hug. "Does it have to do with Dev?" Sam continued.

"Dev and I aren't together anymore" I tell them "We broke up two months ago when workshop started" "Sweetie we're so sorry" Bobby said "He was here yesterday and we just assumed everything was alright" "You haven't seemed sad before today." He finished "Dev came to ask me to come back, he asked me to marry him." "Wow" Dennis said "What did you say?" "I told him I couldn't just go back to the way things were; I told him I couldn't think about us right now. I thought he left Boston." "Then today I heard Eileen tell Derek she wanted Ivy to go on. I tried to compose myself so I went back to the dressing room where I found the engagement ring Dev had shown me lying on the counter in front of my mirror. I turned to Ivy to ask who had placed it there and of course she was more than happy to tell me she had. Dev had left it in her room after he slept with her last night." The four of them looked at Karen in shock. "Ivy" Bobby mouthed "That's why you ran?" Sam asked "Yes, but then Derek found me"

"So what mistake did you make?" Jess asked in confusion "I mean you got rid of a loser and showed everyone how strong you are" she continued. "Derek" Karen whispered. "Derek?" Dennis asked even more confused. "After Dev and I broke up, Derek saw me putting an index card on the bulletin board asking for a roommate. When I told him what happened he offered to let me stay at an apartment he owns that was vacant. These past two months he's been the one person who has been completely honest with me and has believed in me unconditionally. He never tried anything or asked for anything from me except my friendship. When he found me, I was upset and I told him he wouldn't understand what I was feeling because he didn't understand love." "Iowa" Sam said "We've always told you that the four of us are the eyes and ears of this production. We joke about the changes we see in Derek but that doesn't mean what we say isn't true." "The way Derek looks at you and the way he will go out of his way to make you smile" Bobby said "He definitely has feelings for, maybe even loves you Karen" "Are you worried what you told him will change that?" He asked. I nodded my reply. "I can't believe I'm actually saying this" Dennis stated "But Iowa, if you feel the same way about Derek as we know he feels about you, then tell him and if he doesn't listen then show him" He exclaimed. "Let's get you ready" Jess squealed "So the Dark Lord can get his surprise"

"Thanks you guys, you don't know how much your support means to me. I was so afraid you were going to lecture me or get upset." I say as I take a deep breath "Karen, you may be new to Broadway" Sam said "But we all know you are the most genuine person; so if you have feelings for Derek and he has feeling for you then who are we to object." With that the four helped me get ready. I put on my black dress which fell just above the knee. It was v-neck in the front showing what Bobby said was just the right amount of cleavage. The back swooped low revealing my bare skin. "Karen" Jess and the others said as they looked at me in the mirror "You look stunning" "Thank you" I said and gathered my things so we could go.

The Moment of Truth

The after party had been going for half an hour and the critics were starting to get restless waiting Karen's arrival. "Where is she? Eileen asked as she approached Derek, Tom and Julia. "She's coming" Tom answered to Derek's surprise. "A few members of the ensemble wanted time to celebrate with her alone before all the bright lights" He continued. "Sam text to say they are around the corner"

Tom pulled Julia aside and whispered "It seems our suspicions were right" he smiled "It looks like Derek's recent change for the better is because of love and according to Sam, our Marilyn is about to tell him she feels the same." Julia was stunned but couldn't help the grin that appeared across her face. At that moment the door to the small restaurant and bar opened and in walked Karen flanked by Jessica, Bobby on one side and Sam , Dennis on the other. Once inside the doors, the four stepped to the side and cameras immediately began to flash as Karen was left alone in the center as cheers enveloped the intimate surroundings. Eileen was the first to head over to greet Karen. Julia and Tom started to move but noticed that Derek was still sitting. He appeared to be lost in a daze as the two moved closer to him. "Derek" Tom said as he touched Derek's arm. Startled for a minute Derek gained his composer and said "You two go ahead I'll catch up with her later" "Are you kidding me" Julia said facing Derek. "It's you she wants to see" Julia smiled at him "Don't think we haven't noticed" she continued. "For once can you let someone in who can be good for you" She finished grabbing his hand to pull him along. Stunned Derek followed.

As Julia, Tom and Derek approached Karen; Julia could see a look a relief on Karen's face when she saw them. It was clear the cameras and questions were overwhelming her and Julia quickly turned to Tom. She whispered in his ear to get Derek to intervene. Tom turned to Derek and said "Director, I think your star needs help, don't you think you should step in. If you leave Eileen to it, Karen will be there all night." Derek smiled at Tom and took a step forward. "Guys" He said as he approached Karen sliding his arm around her waist so that his hand sat at small of her back "I know you are all anxious to speak with Ms. Cartwright and I assure you in due time you will get your chance but for right now can you allow her the opportunity to at least enjoy a toast." The crowd begrudgingly agreed and feathered out so that Julia, Tom, Eileen and Derek were the only ones left.

Eileen thanked Karen again for her performance and left the four to mingle. Julia hugged Karen saying "Sweetie you were wonderful, everything we could have hoped for and more." Karen blushed at the compliment. "Julia is right Karen" Tom echoed "And for my part, I'm sorry that I doubted your ability." "It's ok" Karen remarked "I can't say I didn't doubt myself today too" she said. She then turned to Derek and grabbing his hand said "I couldn't have done this without you, you believed when no one else did including me." "That's my job" Derek said. Julia who was standing next to Derek hit his arm to the surprise of all three of us. "Can you just accept a compliment" She asked in an exasperated voice. I laughed "Or can you at least let me share a toast with you" I smiled. The three of us turned towards the bar but when we finally reached it, I realized Derek and I were alone.

I handed him a glass and said "I guess it's just you and me" Derek smiled back "I guess so" "Here's to a new Star" he stated raising his glass. "Derek" I began to say "There is something I want to tell you" "Ok" he said with a raised eyebrow. "As I sang my last song tonight I couldn't help but think about everything that's happened in my life these past two months. I mean emotionally it's been a roller coaster ride. I've been at the lowest and highest time of my life. But when I thought about being happy, every memory included you." I finished taking a sip of wine. I looked at Derek wanting to gage his reaction and I can see his green eyes growing darker as he tries to register what I'm saying. My mouth opens to speak again when suddenly a critic appears out of nowhere. "Ms. Cartwright, Derek can I ask you a few questions?" he asks.

I politely smile and begin to answer the questions, all the while stealing glimpses of Jess and the others across the room anxiously waiting for me to finish my declaration. Finally the critic leaves. I turn back to Derek and putting my hand on his cheek I say "Derek, what I'm trying to say is that being with you is what makes me happy. What I want to know is whether or not you were talking about me when you said 'you understood love?" I ask. Derek looks at me and I can tell from the glint in his eyes what his answer will be.

I can feel his hand reach for mine and I look down as our fingers intertwine. My heart races and I can't stop the grin playing on my face. "Yes, it's you." He says "You made me understand love." He continues "But Karen, I'm afraid. I'm not good at letting people in and I don't want to hurt you." He continues "I couldn't bear it" He looks at me with concern on his face. "Derek, ….." I start to say when Julia and Tom approach. "Hey you two" They smile "Did everything get worked out?" Tom winked at me. It was at that moment I realized Sam must have told Tom of my intentions on the way from the theater. "No" I say in frustration ( Dennis' words playing over in the back of my mind) "show him if you have to; he had told mer" "We keep getting interrupted" I tell them "So I think maybe actions in this case will speak louder than words." And without taking the time to think about what I'm about to do, I lean into Derek and placing my hands around his neck, tenderly kiss his lips. "How about I take the lead then" I whisper in his ear "A smile spreads across my face as I kiss him again. This time I can feel Derek respond. He's moved his hands are around my waist and is pulling me closer to him. When we finally brake apart I can see cameras flashing and Jess and the gang cheering "WAY TO Go IOWA!" I can't help but touch my lips laughing as I do. I look at Derek and notice blushing. I can hear Julia and Tom playfully comment "Is the Great Derek Wills blushing?" They grin at him and he turns a deeper shade of red "I guess I am" he says and he gives me the most gorgeous smile.

The next chapter will be under M rating as you can guess where the evening will take Derek and Karen