They slept alone once again. The nights were filled with tears and tissues. Work had been a drag and social life seemed to not matter and died down. Malcolm had chosen to move out and insisted for Karen to stay at home. Karen on the other hand couldn't bare living in the house if he wasn't around. Grace, Jack and Leo alternated nights at the Widmark home to look over Karen throughout the nights. Leo, Will and Jack would speak to Malcolm and encourage him to give Karen a chance to explain. Will had taken most of the fault for it and begged Malcolm to hate him but forgive Karen if it had to be that way. He'd even offered moving out of the state if it would be the only way to make them happy again. He knew he'd screwed up and after all he did feel like an ass.

Karen wasn't herself and it was beginning to show. At a point she arrived at work in silk pajamas and fell asleep or times she wouldn't even show up for work. She'd wake up in the middle of the night crying hysterically and who ever was by her side that night would try their best in calming her down. She was a complete wreck and it wasn't doing her any good. Malcolm had been out of the house almost a month and Karen had been in and out of the hospital since then. She had Low Blood Pressure, fainting, vomiting excessively, fevers and she wasn't eating. The doctors advised for her not to be left alone. She wasn't allowed to take anti-depressants because of her pregnancy, but if she continued the way she was there'd be no baby. She spent her evenings under her covers crying and thinking out loud. She'd lie there as if to be lifeless for hours at a time.

"Sweetie, I don't want to scare you, but Karen isn't doing at all well. I spoke to her doctor today and he said it's not likely the baby will even make it to its fourth month." Leo held his wife's hands in his.

"Leo, do something. I can't let that happen to her. She'd kill herself." Grace cringed at the thought of Karen if anything happened.

"You need to talk to her, Grace. I'll do my best to keep talking to Malcolm. It isn't doing any of then any good being this way."

"I know…what else can I do… she was really in love with him. If anything she's hating Will the most. Not to mention the fact that Malcolm wouldn't hear her out. I'll try my best." She kissed his lips before entering Karen's darkened room.

She walked in slowly not knowing in what state she'd find her friend. The room was in complete darkness, but she could hear tired whimpers coming from a mound on the bed. She left the door open to illuminate the bedroom a touch to find her way to Karen's bed. She slowly stepped across the cushiony carpet and around clothes. "Karen?" she called out as she stood in front of her curled up body. Her sobs became louder as she realized it wasn't Malcolm yet again. "Karen sweetie look at me please and listen." She begged as she turned on the lamp and sat on the edge of the bed. She slowly removed the covers to where she could see her face and she was taken aback. She wasn't the same person anymore. She had black rings around her eyes, they were swollen, she was extremely pale and she was thinning, her nails were all broken, her lips were chapped and she was freezing. "Karen…. Dear God what have you done to your self! This is it! I can't take this anymore!" she pulled Karen into sitting position and Karen whimpered in pain.

"No Grace…leave me alone! I like being like this…" she dropped her head.

"Dead?" she used sarcasm.

"It seems right." She said plainly.

"Karen you can't be doing this to yourself you're hurting the baby. And I'm not going to let this stupid separation ruin the chances of seeing you be a mother! So you're going to sit up and listen to me!" she held her by the shoulders. "I love you, Jack loves you, Leo loves you, we all love you…Even Malcolm.

"No he doesn't…" she went off weeping once again.

"Yes he does! He may not be showing it right now, but he sure has a good damn reason to be steamed. Karen you cant let this eat you up! Show Malcolm that you can still be the strong vibrant woman you were when you met him. Do it for yourself and the baby…do it for Malcolm. You've been here curled up in the same position everyday for a month now and who has it helped? NO ONE! You're killing yourself….you're killing your baby. So come one lets go take you a shower and get something to eat." She smiled.

Karen looked at her a smile ripping through her tears. The thought of winning Malcolm back made it all the better. "I am a little hungry." She winced as she moved her feet off the bed.

"That's a good start. I'm going to stay here with you until your back to your old self. Even Leo has been planning on staying here until that day comes."

"Oh Gracie your sweet. You're just doing it to live in luxury." She smirked.

"There we go! That's the Karen that's been M.I.A.!" she hugged her.

"Whoa honey careful." She stood feeling the carpet shaping under her feet.

Grace gasped as she saw how skinny Karen had become in just one month. "Karen you're so skinny! Hey, but what do we have here?" she said noticing Karen tiny baby bump. Karen smiled at the excitement of her dearest friend. She was so helpful and caring. She had become like a sister to Karen.

"Let's hope Malcolm will feel the same." she frowned as she made her way to her bathroom.

"Do you want Leo to get you something to eat?" Grace asked standing at the bedroom door.

"Sure sweetie what are you all getting?" she looked back from the bathroom door.

"What do you feel like eating? Chinese?" She suggested.

"What's with people with Chinese?" she recalled all the time s in the past three months she had or almost had with people.

"So no?" Grace looked confused.

"Well I guess…something good… Orange Chicken or Sesame Chicken…with Chow Mein" she smiled. "Oh…Egg Roll! Please?" she smiled brightly.

"Sure anything you want, Kare." Grace smiled as she looked out the door to make sure Leo got her order.

"I'm off!" Leo yelled as she walked down the corridor to the brightly lit home.

Karen walked into the bathroom and looked around for her robe. She sat by the tub as best she could. She felt pain all over and around her. Physical and mental pain ran through her exhausted body. She ran the hot water and a tad bit of the cold one. The steam rose and caressed her face she shut her eyes and began to undress. There was a light knock on the door and she opened her eyes. Grace came in and looked away as Karen slipped into the tub. Karen moaned at the entangling warmth of the water, her body loosened in. Grace walked over with a small bottle of relaxing bubble bath. The smell was released with the steam and Karen shut her eyes as her body let go. The water and suds covered her entirely but her face. She began to feel revived as the bubble baths essences seeped through her pores.

"Oh honey this is great... Thank you for staying with me Gracie." She found her friends hand leaning on the side of the tub.

"No problem, Karen. I wasn't for one second going to let you stay alone. I care for you too much." She elevated Karen's hand to her mouth and planted a sisterly peck on it.

Karen smiled and shut her eyes and the let water take over her body. Grace couldn't keep her eyes off her. She looked so different; sick and dead like. Karen lowered her hands to her belly and began to make circular motions on it. She wondered if she could feel her baby move yet. Her movements ceased and her hands lay on her belly. She waited for a few seconds and her eyes shot open.

"Gracie! I felt it kick!" she smiled from ear to ear.

"Oh Karen that's not kicking... It's the umbilical cord." she pouted.

"Oh.... Well it was close." she gave a sly smile.

"Soon you'll feel it kick."

Malcolm sat at his desk yet again. He'd been in his chair for over twelve hours. He didn't speak just stared at his paper work. Sectaries came in and out trying to get his mind off work, but nothing seemed to persevere. He was depressed, but angered; he couldn't believe anything had happened. He'd had Leo in his office countless times pep talking him. He didn't deny his love for Karen, but he couldn't stand the fact that she had cheated after all the love she'd pronounced for him. It didn't seem quite right or logical. He didn't doubt the baby was his, yet there was that little something at the back of his mind telling him to think twice. He had to see her, but it hurt too much to even think of her let alone face her in person. He picked up the phone and dialed uneasily the number he had began to forget. It rang twice and a familiar voice answered.

"Hello?" Her voice filled his ear.

"Grace? Did I dial the wrong number?" he asked.

"Malcolm, no I'm at your place." She said.

"Did something happen? Why are you there? Where is Karen? Is she ok?" his voice filled with panic.

"She's alright. I brought her home because she'd been vomiting. She's very nauseated and well she hasn't been herself. She needs you, Malcolm." She said softly into the phone seeing as Karen was close by. He heard coughing in the distance and Grace's foot steps. The door opened and Grace saw Karen squatting in front of the toilet once again. She sighed and rushed over to her.

"Give me a sec will ya?" She spoke into the phone. "Karen sweetie calm down. Breathe for me honey." She talked to her soothingly as she saw Karen begin to sob as she couldn't stand it any longer.

"I can't take it anymore!" She cried. "I need Mal I can't do this by my self. I hate not having him hold me at night. It's not the same having you or Leo or Jack help me." She leaned over the toilet again. "Honey I need my husband by my side. I don't want to raise this baby alone." She cried before leaning over again.

Malcolm heard her cry and speak as the sickness got to her. He just wanted so much to get out of his seat and run to her. His heart broke in millions on meaningless particles as his only love fell apart due to his absence. He truly did want to be part of his child's life, but he was in need of trusting Karen again. He got up from his chair.

"Karen sweetie, please get up come on." She pleaded Karen as she lay on the cold tile. "Let me call you back."

"I'm on my way!" he said impulsively.

Grace dropped her arm with the phone down to her side. She looked at Karen on the floor and looked at the bathroom door. She clipped the phone on her waist and bent down to pick Karen off the floor. "Come on sweetie…let's get you in bed." She said so caringly.

"Oh Gracie, I can barely get up in sitting position." She said balancing on her palms to look up at her.

"Oh believe me you'll want to be up in a bit." She gave a sly smile.

"What are you hiding, Heidi?" she said sitting up slightly.

"Nothing lets get you changed into something more comfortable."

She helped her up and into a new change of clothes. Karen slipped into a pair of black yoga pants and a white Spaghetti strap shirt. She lay on her bed with pillows elevating her legs and her back. She put on her earphones and began dozing off while listening to her classical music. She got rid of the pillows under her legs and pulled the throw over her body. She turned on her side and sleepily closed her eyes shut. She instinctively placed a hand over her stomach and rubbed her bump. She sighed and began to drift off into sleep.

Grace sat watching television down stairs as she waited for Jack to arrive. It was about 7:00 p.m. and she fed Joshua as she watched the ending to "Sleepless in Seattle". She wiped away a few tears just as she heard a car drive up the pavement and into the garage. She stood and walked down the hall into the kitchen. She waited for the door to come open. She heard the footsteps come up the steps and the door flew open. He rushed in past her. "Malcolm! What are you doing here?" She asked surprised.

"I told you I was on my way. Where is she?" He asked as he rushed out of the kitchen and into the dinning room.

"She's in her bedroom." He turned around as he heard her serious tone.

"I need to see her but then I don't. I love her but she betrayed my trust. I haven't been able to sleep without her! I'm a mess Grace! Do you see that? My hotel bed feels cold with out her. Her sleepy smile in the mornings, her little hands in mine as she falls asleep to the beat of my heart, her lips on mine. I can't do it! Life with out her... isn't life at all. But I hate her! I love her so much that I hate her! It's impossible to explain. She makes me crazy! She hurt me in a way I thought she never would and yet I still love her. I believe her or I want to believe her. I just need to see her. I heard everything she said while you kneeled next to her. She needs me as much as I need her. Just let me see her... Even if all I do is watch her sleep please?" A single tear slid down his face.

"Well Malcolm it's your house I can't stop you. You two need each other more than ever right now." She smiled sweetly. "Go talk to your wife! Win her back." She encouraged.

He smiled and spastically went to kiss her on the cheek before running down the hall and up the stairs. He paused midway as he thought of the possibility of her being awake and not wanting to see him. Karen was known for being proud and not admitting to her true feelings. He inhaled and slowly made his way to the top of the stairs. He stalled to see if he heard any movement. Nothing. He walked slowly down the corridor and felt awkward walking through it. It had been a month or more since he'd passed through it. He came face to face with the oak wood door to their bedroom. He placed a hand on it and rested his forehead on it. He smiled to himself as he remembered all the times Karen was a tease and he'd pin her to the door until she gave up. He lifted his head, shook it off and turned the knob slowly. There was a lamp lighting her side of the bed. She was fast asleep, curled up under a throw. She faced the wall across from him so there was no telling if she was awake. He slowly stepped his way over to the other side of the bed. To his luck she was asleep as he'd assumed. Yet there was that disappointment of seeing her asleep. He wanted so much to see her awake and smiling at him.

He looked down at her for the first time in nearly two months. She looked so different in many ways. Her face looked thinner; she wore her wedding bands around her neck due to her thinning fingers. She wasn't wearing her usual sleep wear. He lifted the throw slightly off her body to catch a glimpse of her stomach. She was showing to his surprise. He hesitated to touch it. He lowered his hand slowly and made sure he didn't force his hand upon her swelling belly. A smile made its way across his lips as he felt it for the first time.

"She is yours you know?" her sleepy voice startled him.

"Karen…I though you were asleep?" he asked caught off guard.

"You've forgotten I'm a light sleeper?" she turned over on her back stretching slightly.

He didn't speak as she sat up. He looked away and she looked down feeling the awkward moment seep through them. She bit her lip thinking of something to say but nothing came out.

"Mal?" she called out still looking down at her lap. She looked up when she felt the weight on the bed shift and he was holding her in his arms. He enveloped her in his arms tightly. His sobs became loud and overbearing; she on the other hand was stunned. If anything she was the one that was suppose to be crying in his arms and asking for forgiveness. "Malcolm, Malcolm, sweetie don't cry, please." She managed to loosen his grip on her and wrapped her arms around him.

"I know I shouldn't be crying….I should hate you for what you did." He managed to let out. Karen didn't speak only nodded her head. He let his grip on her go and he looked her in the eyes. "You're hurting too and I know I promised I wouldn't leave you, but it's the best thing to do now." He said wiping tears away. "I love you Karen I do, but I can't do this. Not now. Not like this." He stood still looking down at her. "I can't stay here. Not yet. Give it some time and it will only tell." He said beginning to walk away.

"Malcolm, don't go…I need you. Please stay?" her eyes were hopeful. She made her way off the bed and stood in front of him.

"I cant Kare, I need time to adjust to all of this."

"You've been gone two months. I need you."

"I need you too, but I cant right now. I will come back…just not now. It's just that…" he looked away.

"Is there someone else?" she looked at him in surprise. "Malcolm…is there?"

"Of course not…I'd never do that to you." He said fatigued. She didn't speak just stared into his eyes. "Does this prove it?" he pulled her close and lowered his lips to hers in attempt to convince her. Once their lips touched the feeling of proving anything went away. She wrapped her arms around his neck bringing him closer. He parted her lips with his and entered her mouth sensually. Her heart raced; his heart raced. She could feel him relax as he ran his hand down her back. Suddenly he pulled away. "Convinced?" he said breathless.

"Very…"she smiled.

"Very well then…I'm off." He said uneasily. She turned away and refused to see him go. "Karen…."

"No just go, Malcolm." She said still giving her back to him. He looked at her looking away and he noticed she looked at their wedding picture hanging over the half table up against the wall. He sighed as a pain of guilt hit his stomach. He walked up behind her and gabbed hold of her upper arms.

"I still love you…if that's what you were worried about." He kissed her cheek and left before she could say anything. The door closed behind her with a harsh echo in her heart.

"I love you too…" she said looking at the picture; she dropped to her knees.