A week passed since Grace left her husband, and she had finally moved back into her old bedroom at Will's apartment. They spent nights talking, catching up on old times. It was so nice to have her back in their lives, and Karen could feel the easiness of their old lives returning. It was such a relief.

She lay panting heavily on top of Will's chest as his hands gripped her back, leaving small crescents where his fingernails had scratched her in ecstasy. She kissed his chest, moving toward his neck, moving her hips a bit. He sighed and kissed her forehead, her cheek, until he found her lips.

She ran her hands over his hips, tickling his skin beneath where her legs lay around him. They had made love slowly, which was an odd occurrence between them. It was usually rough and hard, intense. But he insisted they take their time, and they did. She couldn't have complained either way. She loved being with him no matter which pace they found.

"I have to talk to you about something. It's kind of important." She looked into his eyes and lifted her hips so he could pull out, but she didn't move from on top of him. It made her nervous and she wanted to remain touching. She placed her lips against his neck and left tiny kisses. "I met someone."

"Oh." Her lips stopped and she pulled away to look into his eyes. She began to sweat a little more, swallowing hard. "Should I go?"

"No, I wanted to talk about it."

"Oh." She moved to lye next to him. Suddenly it didn't feel right to have her legs around his waist. He didn't allow them to get too far away from one another. He rolled on top of her, her breasts pressed tightly against his chest.

"I don't want us to stop, but I don't think it'd be fair to him if I didn't give him one hundred percent, you know? But, I'm so addicted to you."

"We aren't in a relationship, Will. You don't owe me anything."

"I feel like we're more than just sex."

"Then let's be friends, just like we were before." It was fair, she supposed. They each knew it wasn't going to last forever, but it felt as if it was just too soon. Her body still ached for him almost every day, and she wasn't sure she could live without his warm hands.

"I'm going to miss this, Kare. Honestly, I am.

"Honey, I understand why. It's okay." He leaned down and kissed her lips, tenderly. Her palm came to caress his cheek as he deepened the kiss. They made love once more before she said goodbye, leaving a gentle kiss upon his swollen lips.

----------

Her heels clicked hard against the pavement, which resembled glass since the rain had stopped. She was rushing, needing a way to escape what had just happened. Will had called their relationship off. Even though she understood his reasoning, she still didn't want it to be true. She had some kind of vision of a life they could live, just as they were. She wanted to remain lovers forever, even though she knew how silly it sounded.

The bells jingled as she opened the door of the bar. She hadn't set foot inside the bar for almost a year, almost the duration of time she had spent with Will. There was no need to drink when he was in her life, but she saw no need to stay sober when she had no one to stay sober for. She sat on the stool she used to regularly occupy and slammed her hand on the bar.

"Smitty, martini, and I want it dry." She saw him do a double-take, having to make sure it was really her.

"Ms. Walker, you're here."

"And I didn't come to chitchat, so start shaking, honey." He began to make her drink, staring at her with widened eyes, surprised.

"You haven't been here in quite some time, ma'am. What are you doing here?"

"Just getting on with my life." She smiled, very fake, and took her martini from his hand. The liquid burned a bit as she swallowed her mouthful, but she only sighed. Life always seemed to take her back to the same things. Nothing ever changed.