"I'm so excited Karebear!" Jack giggled as they walked out of the doctor's office. Karen had hit her three month mark of pregnancy and Jack had accompanied her to her second doctor's appointment. "We should celebrate! What do you feel like buying?" she laughed and took his hand as they walked down the sidewalk.

"I don't know, honey. We can eat Chinese."

"Okay. I likes me some orange chicken." He replied and pulled her faster down the sidewalk. They arrived at a small restaurant and ordered from the menu. Jack sat smiling at Karen for a moment before she gave him a look.

"What?"

"I'm just wondering what happened to you."

"Poodle, what are you talking about? I'm fine." She was startled by his inquiry. He hadn't ever been one to ask a meaningful question in public so it came as a shock when he did.

"I know you're fine, but I mean with your past. What happened with your mom and how did you end up divorced and stuff like that?"

"Why does it matter?"

"Well, I was talking to Will and he said that you told him all about your life and everything. Why haven't you told me?" he had a sadness in his eyes and she immediately felt regretful for never completely opening up to him. She reached across the small table and laid her hand on his.

"Jack, I don't mean to shut people out. It's just the way that I am."

"But we're friends. I'll keep your secrets. I love you, Karebear."

Karen smiled at the man sitting across from her and squeezed his hand tighter with her own. He was sweet and caring when he was with her and she felt a warmth envelope her heart. He broke the eye contact that they had maintained up until that point and shrugged, obviously embarrassed by his sentiment.

"I love you too, Poodle." His eyes met back up with hers and the corners of his mouth turned upward. "What do you want to know?"

"How old are you?" he asked, testing her with a question that he knew that she didn't want to answer. She only laughed.

"You get right to the point don't you?" her laughter subsided and she cleared her voice. "I'm forty-one. I had Felicity when I was twenty-three."

Jack began asking her questions about her life and she answered them truthfully. If he had known that all he had to do was ask then he would have been able to put his curiosities to rest a long time ago. But he somehow felt that she would have left some parts out before she met Will. He had changed the way that she felt about certain things. He had made her more normal and Jack knew that she was finally happy.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Felicity and Karen had stayed home one evening and decided that it would be a mother-daughter night. Ever since the young woman had landed a new job they had hardly spent any time together. So they set the night aside and watched movies.

"So have you talked to John since your date the other night?" Karen asked as she finished painting her daughter's toenails. The girl smiled and giggled like a child.

"He came to visit me at work today. I walked into my cubicle and it was filled with roses. I couldn't even find my chair."

"Aw, honey, that's so sweet. Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"I don't know, but I really like him. It's like we've known each other forever."

The women continued to giggle and talk about the younger one's love life for a little while until Grace burst through the door of their apartment. She had an indelible smile on her face that could brighten up the cloudiest sky. Karen smiled back at her friend before asking what she thought was a much needed question.

"Who put the smile in your pants, honey?"

"I got married!"

"What?"

"Nathan and I got married!" Karen stood from the couch and walked over to her overly excited friend.

"When did this happen?"

"Okay, Kare, you can stop with the eyes of judgment. We were coming back from his parents' house and we saw a little chapel on the side of the road. He asked me if I wanted to marry him and I said yes. Isn't that spontaneous? Oh, it was so romantic."

"Honey, I don't think you're using that word the right way. Romantic is when a guy fills your work cubicle up with roses. You've only been dating him for like three months." Grace pulled her hand out of Karen's.

"Look, I know that you're trying to be the voice of reason here, but I'm so happy. I love him and we're married and I'm moving my stuff into his place tonight."

"But, honey, this is really soon. You know that relationships typically don't last when you rush into things."

"You fucked Will after being with him for a weekend. Are you two going to last?"

"Damn it, Grace, stop it."

"Just let me be happy and be happy for me. Please. If we start having problems then I'll let you say that you told me so." Karen cocked her head to the side and looked at Grace, the happiness filling her eyes. She smiled and pulled her friend into a hug.

"Congratulations honey."

"Thank you." She pulled away from the hug and giggled. "Now, I need a few people to help me carry boxes so you two should get some shoes on or something." She pecked Karen's lips before she ran out of the apartment and back to Will's to begin packing. Karen and Felicity were left wondering how they got roped into helping.

"Well, so much for tonight being all about us." Felicity joked as she walked into her bedroom to grab a pair of shoes. Karen giggled and went to her own room to do the same. Grace's marriage may not have been completely supported by her friends, but they all hoped that she was doing the right thing.

----------

"Karen, put that box down!" Will rushed over to her and pushed a box of clothes from her arms, causing her to gasp in surprise and jump backwards.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" She chastised as she bent down to refold some of the articles of clothing that had fallen from the box. He leaned down as well and pulled the clothing from her hands. She tried to snatch them back, but he wouldn't let her have them. "Will, let go."

"You should be sitting down or something. You don't need to be lifting things."

"Why not?"

"What about the baby?"

"Honey, I'm three months pregnant. I think I can lift a box of clothes." She tossed the remainder of the clothes back into the box and tried lift it again only for Will to pull it from her hands.

"Why don't you go and fill another box with her shoes or something?"

"You mean, do women's work. I can't believe you're sexist." She joked as she grabbed the box, but he still wouldn't give up. He held on just as tightly and they were soon in a tug of war for a small box of clothing, neither of them realizing how outlandish they were acting. "Let go!"

"No! You need to take better care of yourself!"

"Fuck off!"

"You fuck off!" Jack rushed into the apartment and ripped the box from the hands of his best friends. They turned their angry looks towards him and he returned the look.

"Why don't you both fuck off? Grace needs our help, not your bickering." The lovers caught their breath for a moment, taking in the childishness of their actions. They were uncertain as to why they always chose to fight instead of talk about their concerns. "Stop acting like children and start acting like you're having one." Jack walked out of the room with the object of their argument, leaving them to feel ashamed.

"Karen, I just think that you should slow down."

"Honey, don't you think I would know if I needed to slow down?" He looked down to his feet and shrugged.

"I just don't want you to risk anything. It's still early, what if something happens?"

"Will, I know that you're worried." She began as she stepped forward and placed her hand on his cheek. "But, honey, we will never be able to do this if you start hovering over me like you just were. I know when I'm fine and when I'm putting myself at risk, okay?"

"I'm sorry, but I really think that you need to take it slow. I've been reading this book and it says that the first few months are risky for women your age. I just don't want you to overdo anything, sweetie."

"Then talk to me about it instead of snatching things out of my hands."

"I'm sorry." He sighed and pecked her lips, lingering only for a moment. He held her tight to him once they broke the kiss and embraced her. "What's so funny?" he asked when he felt her begin to shake with laughter.

"Honey, are you really reading a baby book?"