A/N: This is set the night before the prologue after the show and so explains how they ended up in such a compromising position. Hope you all enjoy and thank you to everybody who has already read and reviewed my story :)

Chapter One: The Night Before the Morning After

She was a star. At least that was what everybody had been telling her since she got off the stage after her standing ovation. She had done it; she had proved Eileen and everybody else wrong. She was Marilyn, and she was on her way to becoming a Broadway star. She simply had to ignore the fact her personal life was falling apart around her. That's why she was sat in her dressing room, Marilyn dress still on, whilst the rest of the company was starting the after party in the bar down the road.

How could Dev do this to her? Nearly sleeping with RJ was something she'd been able to nearly forgive but Ivy? The simple fact it was Ivy, meant they'd never move on from this. She couldn't believe he even had the nerve to propose to her when he'd lost the ring in Ivy's room. She'd checked her phone straight after the performance to find three missed calls from him. She hadn't had the energy to reply, she didn't even know what to say to him other than the fact she wanted nothing to do with him.

"What are you still doing here?"

She looked up in the mirror to see Derek stood behind her leaning against the door frame. He looked as devilishly as handsome as usual in his leather jacket and dishevelled hair.

"I-er-I.." stuttered Karen, blinking rapidly after being dragged out of her thoughts.

"Are you okay?" he asked, uncharacteristically concerned as he knelt down in front of her chair and swung it round so he was facing her.

"It's overwhelming," admitted Karen. "Going from chorus girl to leading lady overnight."

"It was never overnight, darling, you were born for this part," said Derek, taking one of her hands in his. She tried to ignore the tingling in her skin where he was touching her.

"I think you're the only one who thinks that."

"Not after that performance, sweetheart," smirked Derek. "Everyone loves you. Which is why, you should be at your party."

"It's not my party," smiled Karen. "It's the show's party."

He raised an eyebrow. "Either way you need to be there, you deserve to celebrate." He stood up, still holding her hand. "Are you coming?"

He let her pull her to her feet. "I'm still dressed as Marilyn, I need to get changed."

"Okay," he said, dropping her hand and occupying the seat she'd just left.

"Are you not going to leave?" asked Karen, nervously.

"I was sent here to get you," sighed Derek. "You're not leaving my sight until you're at that bar."

"But-"

"Bloody hell, Karen, I'm not going to look," said Derek, rolling his eyes. "The big bad wolf isn't going to get you."

She blushed. She hated being the naïve little girl everyone thought she was. Ivy would probably be giving him a striptease and a lapdance by now. She waited until he melodramatically closed his eyes before reaching up behind her to pull the zipper down. She slid the slinky gold dress down her body and reached for her skinny jeans and black shirt. After speedily putting them on, and her black boots, she reached behind Derek for her lipgloss. To his credit, even when she was close enough he probably felt her breath on his neck, his eyes remained closed.

"I'm ready," announced Karen, her arms swinging limply be her side.

"You'll do," said Derek, upon opening his eyes, in that impatient director tone of his. He crooked his elbow and gesturing for them to go. "M'lady?"

She smiled and laced her arm through with his.

"Our Marilyn has finally arrived," cheered Jessica, as she entered the packed bar with Derek. As the ensemble rushed towards her she had a stab of disappointment as Derek released himself from her and disappeared into the crowd.

"Aww guys," smiled Karen, as they took turns to hug and congratulate her. "Thank you."

"You were sensational," gushed Bobby, shoving a shot in her hand.

"No I can't drink that," protested Karen. "We're performing again tomorrow."

"If you can't perform with a hangover then you're not a true star, Iowa," joked Jessica.

"So I was good on one night, that doesn't mean I'll be Marilyn permanently," said Karen. "I need to be even better tomorrow."

"Girl, if you can top tonight's performance then you're just too hot to be true," laughed Bobby, placing her fingers around the shot glass himself. "One little shot won't hurt you."

"He's right you know," said Eileen, from behind them. The ensemble turned to see their producer with an attractive older guy on her arm. "You should be celebrating. If we were back in New York I'd be treating you to the best martinis in town." She gave a wink to the guy she was with. "As we're here, I think a glass of champagne is more fitting than a shot."

Bobby quickly rustled one up from the bar. "Here you go."

Karen took the glass off him and took a sip of the bubbly liquid. "Thank you, but seriously just this one."

"Karen, dear, can I have a word in private?" asked Eileen.

"Of course," replied Karen. She moved off into the corner of the bar with the producer, aware that Derek was watching them.

"I want to apologise," said Eileen kindly. "You were truly magnificent today; a real star."

"Thank you," said Karen with a blush.

"I shouldn't have said what I did," apologised Eileen. "But you had less than a day and you went missing for some of that. I was… doubtful. Not at your talent, but that you'd be able to learn it in that amount of time."

"I understand," said Karen with an understanding smile. "The show was at stake and the show comes first. Even I would have put Ivy as Marilyn."

"You should really give Derek a big thank you," suggested Eileen. "He was a stubborn ass in his wanting you as Marilyn and usually I hate to admit that he's right but in this case I'm very glad. I look forward to seeing you on a Broadway stage.

"You mean I get Marilyn permanently?" exclaimed Karen, her face glowing with delight.

"You were astounding, we see no reason to look for anyone else," explained Eileen with a smile. "Of course, you'll have to keep it up throughout the next couple of weeks of previews."

"You won't see anyone else working harder than me," promised Karen.

"No, I can't imagine I will," she replied, placing a kind hand on her arm. "Now go and enjoy yourself. This is your night after all."

Karen thanked Eileen before joining her friends with squeals of glee. "I'm Marilyn!"

"Well, duh, did you forget what happened in the last couple of hours?"

She rolled her eyes. "Eileen said I'm not going to be replaced."

She grinned as the shrieks and hugs engulfed her. "I feel stupid for being so happy right now."

"Your dreams just all came true and you think you should be miserable?" snorted Bobby.

"Dev slept with Ivy."

"Oh Iowa, we knew something happened but we didn't know it was that bad," said Jessica, throwing her arm around her. "What a jerk!"

"I know Ivy can be pretty awful but I can't believe she'd stoop so low," said Sam shaking his head. "Tom will be so disappointed in her."

"Does this mean you're finally going to stop being nice to her?"

"I guess," said Karen. "I just tried to be friendly to her and then this happens. I can forget about her but you know he still proposed to me afterwards? I would never have found out if Ivy hadn't gloated."

"You know, the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else," said Bobby wriggling his eyebrows.

"We all know the Dark Lord would be up for it," giggled Jessica. "He does have a thing for stars after all."

"What? Derek?" She could feel her face heating up. She couldn't deny how he made her feel. She had put it down to cliché. He was a hotshot director and she was a girl-next-door newbie. The fact that he was ridiculously handsome and successful also helped. The guy practically oozed charm. When he told her he did understand love, it had felt like something in her stomach had been doing flips. She really wished she didn't have a face that could be read so easily though, as the ensemble's jaws dropped.

"You like him!"

"I don't," denied Karen firmly. "I'm attracted to him but seriously who in this business isn't?"

"He does have a very enigmatic presence."

"And a really nice ass," chipped in Jessica.

"A nice ass that has left already," noted Sam. "He's meant to be the moody director but you think he'd be able to celebrate with us."

"He's probably just exhausted after today," offered Karen. Part of her was annoyed he'd left already. He had said it was her night, and then he wasn't there for her. On the other hand, she could understand seeing as though she wanted to leave as well. "I know I am."

"Are you going to go already?" her friend's asked incredulously.

"Yes," answered Karen. "I'm not as good at drinking and surviving the next day as you are."

"Practice makes perfect."

"Maybe tomorrow, it'll be our last night in Boston after all."

"Alright, see you in the morning, Iowa."

She could have just gone straight to her hotel room and straight to sleep. It's what she'd told her friends she was going to do. It was what she probably needed. Yet she was stood outside his suite building up the courage to knock on his door. She should probably hurry up because it would be so embarrassing for someone to catch her here. Not that they would seeing as they were still getting smashed at the bar. She didn't even know if Derek was here. Just because he had left the bar didn't necessarily mean he was here. Knowing him he was probably at the theatre working. Or in here with another girl.

She took a deep breath. She'd never find out if she didn't knock on his door. Three sharp knocks. Seven seconds of waiting before the door swung over.

"Miss Cartwright, to what do I owe this honour?" he drawled, leaning against the door frame.

"Can I come in?" asked Karen timidly. He raised his eyebrows but didn't say anything as he gestured for her to enter. He closed the door quietly behind her as she sat down on the couch.

"Drink?" he offered, as he poured himself a scotch. She nodded and poured her one as well. He didn't say anything as she drank it all in one, biting down a cough, but she could tell he was surprised. She was surprised at her behaviour too but she needed the dutch courage.

"Would you have slept with me that night?" she asked suddenly. She didn't have to explain; he knew exactly what night she was referring to.

His eyes widened briefly at his abruptness. "Yes."

She nodded absentmindedly. "I could tell that you wanted to. Even I'm not green enough to not recognise that particular body reaction."

"I did have a cold shower after you left."

"Do you still want to sleep with me?"

"Darling, what's this about?"

"It's about me wanting to do something I want to do," said Karen, walking towards him. She took the glass out of his hand, set it on the counter and placed her hand on his chest. "Everyone else around me seems to be having a lot more fun than I am."

"That's because everyone else around you has no morals," said Derek dryly. He may be making witty comments but he had laced his fingers through with hers, holding her hand closer towards him. His dark eyes had their usual dangerous smoulder but there was something different in there as well. Something she had seen that night on his couch and one or twice during rehearsals when he'd gone all day-dreamy. It empowered her to see it.

"I want to forget about everything crappy that happened to me today," said Karen, leaning in. With her high heeled boots on she was nearly the same height that he was and so her lips were barely an inch away from his. "Aside from the performance, the only good bits of today were when you were showing me you were human."

"Don't be daft, I'm the dark lord remember," smirked Derek, but his voice was low and his other hand had wrapped around her waist.

"You cared," murmured Karen, her planting barely there kisses along his adam's apple.

"I told you that I didn't."

"I don't believe that," smiled Karen. "You were nice. I think you're secretly a good man."

"If I was really a good man I'd be sending you back to your hotel room," said Derek darkly. He pushed her towards the bed and she landed on the satin sheets. "But I'm not."