Hey, guys. Back with another chapter. I'd like to thank the lovely guest who corrected my grammar on the title. I fixed it! Thanks for the reviews, and if you liked, please review, it helps me continue the story.

Ch 14

Kenny almost lost his job again. He showed up to work half an hour late, a sore look on his face. His manager noticed.

"Sorry, I got caught in traffic." Kenny lied.

"Traffic? In South Park?" Rick laughed heartily. "Ken, what's really going on with you?"

"I just…" Kenny trailed off.

"Boy," Rick sighed, pulling him aside. "Tell me what's going on."

"I'm just, not myself lately." Kenny mumbled. "I think I need help, but I don't know how to ask. And Karen…" he trailed off again. Rick raised an eyebrow. "…I feel like we're drifting apart. I feel like I need to be there for her since she just had a miscarriage and-"

Rick cut him off. "Go to her now. She needs you. I'll tell someone you had an emergency and I'll let you off of work for a few days. You need to recuperate, kid. You seem so… detached."

"I feel like it's hard for me to face her now. She's upset with me, I know." Kenny replied. "I am so out of it. I feel bad that I just came back and now I'm leaving again."

Rick put a hand on Kenny's shoulder. "Boy, I understand your predicament. Don't feel guilty. You're a hard worker. You just need to recover for a few days."

I need more than a few days, Kenny thought bitterly.

"Thank you, sir."

I can't do it.

Kenny stood in front of Karen's door, his hand formed into a fist, about to knock. Kenny was knocked out of his thoughts when a hand brushed against his back. "Hey there, handsome." A devious voice said behind him. Kenny spun around, an annoyed look on his face. Lucy. Kenny groaned inwardly. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question." Kenny tried not to growl. "Stan said to stay away from us. Especially Karen."

"I was just going to…" Lucy trailed off, eyeing Kenny's bruised cheek. "What happened, darling?"

"I got into… an issue. It's none of your business."

Karen heard the conversation outside as she passed her kitchen. She raised an eyebrow.

"Poor baby…" Lucy cooed, moving closer to Kenny. "I could make you feel better." She grabbed one of his hands. Kenny pulled away.

"Stop, please. I told you I'm not interested." Kenny's voice had a hint of warning in it. Lucy narrowed her eyes.

"You like Karen. I know."

"Then why do you insist on flirting with me still?" Kenny snapped. "Just, leave me alone." Kenny moved to his apartment door, about to go in. Karen opened the door to her apartment, stepping out into the hall.

"Lucy, what are you doing here?" Karen tried to keep her composure. Kenny turned around to face Karen, his features softening. He looked down, taking his hand off of the door knob. "You've caused enough trouble with us."

"Oh, Care Bear, don't be such a drag." Lucy waved a hand, her eyes closed.

Karen was trembling with rage. She took a deep breath, exhaling. "Leave Ken alone."

"You don't own him, Karen. He's not even your boyfriend. You just fucked him and he left you for a week." Lucy jeered. Karen's face turned a deep shade of red. Kenny couldn't tell if it was humiliation or anger. He rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassment showing as a light shade of pink on his cheeks.

"You bitch…" Karen was fuming now. "You don't know what happened…"

"Neither do you, sweetheart." Lucy raised an eyebrow, smirking. She tapped her foot, looking proud of herself. Karen looked like she was about to throw herself at Lucy. "Kenny, what really happened, my love?"

"That's none of your business." Kenny growled. His hands were shaking slightly.

"Was it because Karen got pregnant and you couldn't take that?" Lucy clasped her hands together and batted her eyes.

"I said it's none of your business!" Kenny shouted, his voice crackling with anger.

Lucy gasped. "So it is. I can see it in your eyes, Kenny."

Kenny narrowed his eyes, balling his hands into fists.

Karen stepped in. "Lucy, just leave. Please. You're upsetting him." In truth, Karen was afraid of how violent Kenny could get in his anger, as she had seen before. "Leave."

"Oh, sweetie, but I was just getting started." Lucy pouted. Her features contorted into a nasty smirk.

"You're a fucking instigator, is what you are." Karen breathed. "Ken, let's go." She grabbed Kenny's hand and willed him into her apartment, shutting the door.

"What, are you going to fuck him some more?" Lucy shouted from the other side. Karen locked the door, covering her face in her hands. She trembled slightly, and Kenny thought he heard her start to cry. She let out a frustrated groan and sighed.

"K-Karen?" Kenny whispered, walking to her. Karen quickly wrapped her arms around Kenny, sobbing into his chest.

"K-Ken, is it true?" Karen said between sobs.

"I-is what true?"

Karen pulled away and looked up at Kenny. "That you left because I was pregnant, and had a miscarriage? That it was too much? And that's why you've been drin-…" Karen cut herself off, swallowing. She looked down, bracing herself for a scolding.

"I didn't leave because of that." Kenny whispered.

"Then what is it, Ken? What is it that you aren't telling me?"

I wish I could tell you.

Kenny was silent for several seconds, the shadows playing on his face, an unreadable expression. "I'm sorry."

"S-sorry for what?" Karen inquired.

"For everything." And with that, Kenny left, shutting the door quietly behind him.

The next day, Kenny hesitantly knocked on Karen's door. She opened it slowly, peeking out.

"Hey." Kenny smiled slightly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was uh, wondering if you want to go out with me tonight."

Karen opened the door, returning the gesture. "Where to?"

Kenny hesitated, going in for a kiss. Karen looked slightly surprised. She placed a hand on his cheek, kissing him back softly. She pulled away after a few moments, her cheeks a dark shade of pink. "What was that for?" she whispered. Kenny looked at her lovingly. He's never been this affectionate. Karen's thoughts echoed. Kenny pulled her into his chest. Karen listened to his heartbeat. Kenny stroked her back. "I love you." He whispered. Karen's heart rate escalated. He's never said those words to me before.

"I love you too." Karen whispered back.

"I-I want to take you out on a date," Kenny mumbled. "Because I think you deserve it." Kenny felt nervous.

A date? Karen's thoughts echoed. "So, what do you think?" Kenny snapped her out of her thoughts.

"That would be lovely." Karen smiled. Kenny beckoned her to the stairs, a hand lightly placed on her back. The two walked down the stairs and into the chilly Colorado night. Karen shivered.

"I've got a hoodie in my car for you." Kenny said. Karen smiled, nodding. Kenny fished out his keys from his jacket pocket and unlocked the door to his car, opening the door for Karen. He helped her inside. Kenny hopped into the driver's seat and started up the engine. He grabbed his orange hoodie from the back seat and handed it to Karen before she buckled up. She slipped it on and smiled.

"I missed this hoodie." She whispered, a blush creeping on her cheeks.

"I've been wanting to give it to you." Kenny replied. "I know you like it a lot, so, you know… you can have it."

"Thank you."

Before Kenny pulled out of the driveway, he grabbed Karen's hand carefully. "Are you doing alright? I want to know how you've been feeling."

"I-I'm feeling a lot better." Karen's smile was weak. "It's just… taking time for me to recuperate."

Kenny nodded. "I understand that. I just… I'm really sorry for the way I've been acting. And treating you terribly… I just want you, Karen. I care about you a lot, alright? I don't want you to leave and never talk to me again because of the shitty way I've been treating you." Kenny covered his face in his hands. "God, I've been terrible to all of you…"

"Ken…" Karen swallowed. "It's honestly going to take time for me to… trust you again. I'm still very worried for you. Very, very worried. I was devastated when you left for a week; I thought I would never see you again."

Kenny nodded, his face still buried in his hands. "Of course." Kenny looked up and out the front windshield, observing the clouds of exhaust coming from the running car. "Stan knocked some sense into me." Kenny rubbed his bruised up cheek. It was still pretty swollen. "I needed it."

Karen looked down. She didn't know what to say until moments later. "Yes, y-you did need it."

Kenny's features softened, a small smirk playing on his lips. "I'm glad you agree." He pulled out of the driveway.

The two arrived at the restaurant, it was nearly packed. Kenny opened the door for Karen and helped her out. He held her hand as they approached the building. Karen squeezed it. I love this. She smiled inwardly. The two were seated and immediately were asked for drinks.

"Can I interest you in some of our fine wines?" the waiter asked.

"No," Kenny said quickly, looking uncomfortable. "No, thank you."

"You know, I haven't seen Mysterion in a while," Karen said as the two walked back into the apartment. "I still need to thank him."

Kenny shrugged. "Maybe he moved on to another town or something."

Karen looked down. "I sure do miss him."

I don't.

"Do you want to, uh," Kenny started, rubbing the back of his neck. "Come to my apartment and… stay with me tonight?"

Karen blushed. "I would love to." she held Kenny's hand as he fished his keys out of his pocket with his free hand. He unlocked the door and beckoned her inside, apologizing for the mess. Karen ignored the half empty bottle of Jack Daniels on the coffee table in front of the couch. Kenny tried his best to ignore it too. He shed his jacket and threw it over the arm of the couch. Karen kept Kenny's hoodie on. She loved the way it smelled. It smelled like him. Cheap cologne and mechanic grease. Karen wrapped her arms around Kenny. She leaned into his chest and sighed. "I'm tired."

"Me too." Kenny replied drowsily. "Come on, um, let's move to the bedroom."

"I don't have anything to sleep in." Karen frowned.

"You can use one of my t-shirts." Kenny replied. Kenny felt a blush creep on his cheeks. He cleared his throat and looked away. Karen noticed his reaction and giggled. Kenny moved to the bedroom and Karen followed behind. He grabbed a t-shirt from an open drawer and handed it to her. Karen slipped off the hoodie and began to change into the shirt. She turned away from Kenny, embarrassed to show her scar and stitches. Kenny frowned, slightly disappointed that she was turned away from him.

"Well? How do I look?" Karen twirled around to show off her new attire. It was a plain black t-shirt, drifting down to her thighs.

"I think," Kenny came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her, closing his eyes. "You look nice." He whispered. "You're beautiful the way you are, no matter what." He was referring to her injury. "So don't be embarrassed." He wrapped his arms carefully around her midsection. He placed his hands on her stomach, kissing her neck. Karen sighed.

"I think you would have…" Karen trailed off, careful of what she said. Kenny still had his eyes closed.

"What, dear?" he whispered. Karen blushed at the word.

"…You would have made a terrific father." She finished.

It had just hit Kenny. I was going to be a father.

"Well, you would have made an excellent mother." Kenny replied.

"I wasn't ready to become a mother, Ken." Karen whispered, tears glistening in her eyes.