I wanted to thank Kilian07 for her help with the translation from English to French. Hope you enjoy and once again I do not own Smash.

"No, no, no," Derek yelled. The director had been observing quietly for the past few minutes but after watching Darren, Ivy and Karen, struggle with the same dance sequence over and over again, his patience snapped. Rising from his seat Julia and Eileen observed as he approached the three in the center of the studio.

"Mr. Scott," he said looking directly at his male lead. "Do you not know how to count? Bloody hell you're coming in early every time and thus throwing everything else off." He seethed. "And Ms. Lynn, surely with your experience you can grasp the simple concept of staying within your own space. Several times your heel nearly caught Darren's when you overstepped." He noted before turning to his wife. "Ah Ms. Cartwright," he smirked. "I expected so much more out an Oliver winner. Did the trip across the pond suddenly rob you of your talent?" Karen looked at Derek and nodded her understanding.

"You said it yourself," Ivy was the first to respond. "If Darren got his act together, I wouldn't be having problems." At her last words she glared at the young man who looked as though he wanted to be anywhere but there.

"That's enough Ivy," Karen's voice startled the room. "It's not only his fault. If you and I had done our parts flawlessly, then an early entrance shouldn't have mattered. We each need to take responsibility for our mistakes if we plan to make this work." She lectured her voice firm and demanding. The ensemble smiled at their leading lady. Knowing what she had shared with them about her relationship with the director; Derek's harsh criticism and Karen's openness to accepting it, was not what they had expected from the couple. Looking at her husband she questioned "well Mr. Wills, are we going to just stand here all afternoon or are we going to run the sequence again?" Her eyebrows raised in challenge.

Derek smirked "you heard your leading lady, let's take it from the top." Darren shot Karen a thankful smile as the three along with the ensemble took their mark. Eileen and Julia more than impressed with Karen's leadership. As the song came to an end the scene while not flawless, was a marked improvement from where they had been thirty minutes before. When the director heard the studio door click, he looked at the clock and knew exactly who would be running through at any minute. "Good job everyone, let's take a well-deserved break. Thirty minutes I expect you back here ready to run through the last two sets of the day."

Just as the last words left his mouth two excited voices were heard coming from the door. "Daddy!" The ensemble watched in awe as the man who just a few minutes earlier had been yelling out harsh critic, lifted a dirty blonde girl with curls and big brown eyes in his arms.

"Oh my god, aren't they adorable?" Ivy heard two girls standing next to her express. "They look exactly like their parents." One of the girls observed.

"Who are their parents?" Ivy asked hoping her suspicions wouldn't be confirmed.

"Karen and our esteemed director," the girl with black hair replied. "Their married, she told us at lunch. You didn't know?"

Married, the word sent Ivy's world a mist. Her worst nightmare had come true. How dare he move on so easily while she had been stuck in New York unable to find success again. Realizing she hadn't said a word she finally answered "no, I didn't know. How long have they been together?"

"Six years but this is their first show together. I think it's pretty amazing how they manage to keep professional and personal life separate. If my husband yelled at me that way, I'm not sure how I would react." They laughed. "But would your husband look like him?" The other girl asked as she motioned towards Derek. "Look at him, he's hot."

Ivy couldn't take anymore and excused herself from the conversation. Needing air she left the studio into the hallway. Inside, Karen took a minute to introduce Theo and Jacqueline to everyone. "Hello Theo and Jacqueline, I'm Darren."

"Hello it is nice to meet you," they both greeted.

"Your mom told us it was your first day of school today, did you like it?" A female member of the ensemble by the name of Amber asked. The children's smile immediately widened.

"We like it very much," Theo looked to his mother for assurance. "We make lots new friends." He beamed.

"Your accents are so cute." Another actress by the name of Emily commented.

"Je parle un peu français." Darren informed.

"Really?" Theo inquired. "You speak French?"

"C'est un très bon moyen pour séduire les femmes." The actor continued earning a giggle from the young boy. Unfazed, he continued on with his conversation "Je parie que tu trouves beaucoup de jeunes demoiselles en parlant français. Tu sais qu'ils disent que c'est la langue de l'Amour."

"Darren," Karen laughed. "Do not teach my son to be a ladies man."

Theo gave a confused look "Qu'est-ce qu'un homme à femmes?" he asked. "Mon père dit que c'est par tes actions que tu prouves ton amour à une femme." At Theo's remarks, it was Darren's turn to be lost. Looking to Karen she interrupted what her son had said and every female oohed and awed in appreciation.

"What about you Jacqueline, what did you like about your first day?" Someone in the group asked.

"I like my friend Miguel." She replied in broken English. "He speaks Spanish." She smiled. "He teaching us and we are teaching him French. Do you want to hear?" She asked her eyes big with excitement.

"Sure," her mother answered.

"Somos amigos" She beamed. "That means we are friends."

"That was very good sweetheart." Karen kissed her cheek. "I'm so glad you had fun today."

"Alright everyone, let's get back to work." Derek called out. "Theo, Jackie, come over here with me please."

Ivy re-entered to the studio but was far from focused. All she could think about was the word married. Of all the things she imagined Derek would do during the six years he was away; getting married and having a family was never one of them. For so long she had justified the lie she told him by telling herself it was needed because without a reason, Derek was incapable of settling down. When he discovered the truth and left her, Ivy willed herself to believe it was his fault saying he would always place himself first and could never love anyone. Now, looking at Karen and the two children sitting up front, she was forced to face the truth. Derek had been very capable of offering everything she ever wanted; he just wasn't willing to offer them to her. The truth hurt more than she could ever have imagined and her unresolved feelings came to the forefront. Dancing was the last thing she wanted to do right now. Deep in thought she was suddenly startled by a loud thump.

"What the…?" she heard Darren's angry voice. When she finally regained her focus, she saw the actor sprawled on the floor with Karen trying to keep herself from falling on top of him.

"I'm sorry," Ivy replied. "I was distracted."

"That's stating the obvious," he retorted grabbing his ankle. Derek and Josh were both hunch over him while Karen and the other members stood by watching.

"Where does it hurt?" Derek asked. The young actor pointed to the outer part of his ankle. Derek gently moved it from side to side. "It's not broken but it is sprained." Helping the actor to his feet he asked "can you put any weight on it?"

"Yeah, it actually doesn't hurt that bad." He replied.

"Good," Josh answered. "That means it's not a bad sprain. Hopefully with some ice and tapping; tomorrow you will be okay."

Derek looked to Ivy, "where's your head today Ms. Lynn? Get it together or I promise you we can find someone who will." He informed. Ivy was about to reply but the director cut her off before she got a word out. "And before you think of coming up with an excuse, don't bother. I've had enough for one day." Running a hand through his hair, he looked to Julia and Eileen.

"Maybe we should call it a day?" Julia suggested. "I think a lot was accomplished for the first day." She smiled. Derek knew the writer was trying to keep the peace and he appreciated it. He had to admit the group had covered a lot of material for the first day. He nodded in agreement and heard Eileen release everyone from rehearsal.

He returned to his seat at the table and began working on notes. Theo and Jacqueline were both quietly doing their homework so he wanted to try and use the time to complete as much work as possible in the studio. He was in the middle of sorting through notes of the morning vocals when his attention was requested "Derek," came the familiar voice. Looking up he saw Ivy standing in front of him. "Can we talk please; alone?" She asked in a voice that betrayed a hint of desperation.

Derek replied with a frown "is it about work Ivy; because if not, I have no interest in trying to become friends."

At his coldness Ivy was on the verge of losing control. "I want an explanation." She demanded.

The Brit looked at her in confusion "an explanation as to what?"

"Why you left me."

"You can't be serious." He commented. "Did you forget the fact that you lied about being pregnant with my child?" He asked. "And then lied again about having a miscarriage; what exactly did you expect me to do. Did you think I was going to forgive and suddenly proclaim my love for you?" He seethed. "At that point in my life, I had made so many mistakes and had hit rock bottom with my career that the only thing I was holding on too was the thought of being a father. When you took that away, there was no other reason to stay in New York. And there sure as hell was no reason for me to ever want to see or speak to you again. There is your explanation." He finished.

The room was deathly silent and Ivy remained frozen where she stood. That was definitely not the ending to the first day of workshop anyone anticipated. The remaining members of the ensemble quickly exited the studio and without a word, Karen walked passed Ivy to help her family get ready to leave. Eileen and Julia each remained seated taking a minute to absorb the information they had just heard. What was going to happen next was a question the group would have to work out tomorrow.