Chapter 17

The next day Karen was released. She was happy to get out of that dump of a place, and off those damn machines. Rory seemed pretty happy too. He seemed glad to be able to be with her. He would start fussing if someone else tried to hold him. He'd get over it though. He seemed to like Grace and Jack. But for some reason was particularly keen about Will.

They arrived back at the penthouse and Karen realized there wasn't really a room for Rory.

"Oh, well, Karen. There's a little surprise for you." Grace smiled.

"Yeah, come with us." Jack smiled.

"All right." Karen took Rory out of his car seat and placed him on her shoulder. She kissed his forehead and followed them up the stairs. They turned the corner and came to a closed door.

"Are you ready?" Will asked from behind Karen as he smiled at Rory and wiggled his little fingers.

"Yes, I suppose." Karen sighed, not necessarily liking surprises.

"Okay," Jack opened the door and an entire nursery lay in front of them. It was blue, with designs and patterns. A crib, changing table, teddy bears, books, everything imaginable for a baby and into his toddler years. Even a rocking chair set in the corner.

"Wow! Thank you guys. How'd you pull it off?" Karen asked stepping in and looking around. At the back of the room was a closet full of clothes.

"We didn't," Grace said.

"I did." Lorraine stepped in and smiled at Karen, who smiled back.

"Oh! Well thank you, Lorraine." They embraced, and Lorraine smiled at Rory, who had been squished between them.

"I had to do something for you after what my Daddy put you through, so I called up Rosario and she agreed to let me do it." Lorraine explained, looking around at the finished product.

"And I'm glad she did." Karen was still beaming.

Lorraine and the rest of the gang stayed for dinner. Everyone sat around and ate and chatted about the last few days. Karen listened, but was mainly focused on Rory, who she was holding in her arm. He had fallen asleep, but she knew he'd want to nurse soon.

She was glad that he had finally gotten out of her. Being pregnant had sucked at times. But there were certain things that made her glad she had gone through with it. Like when Rory had kicked for the first time, or they way everyone had been so tentative to her.

She noticed he'd started to stir, and knew he would be up soon. She looked up and smiled at her guests. "Will you excuse me, I think Rory's getting up, and its time to eat." She explained, pulling herself up.

"Sure." Jack smiled at her and then went back to talking to Lorraine and Will about his new catch, Rory. Grace was partially listening, but decided to go talk with Karen, who would probably be better company. She got up, excusing herself to deaf ears, and then followed Karen to the study.

Before she made herself known, she stood at the door and watched Karen handle her son. She was so careful, but seemed as if she knew exactly what she was doing. She pulled her perfectly, wonderful, despite just having a baby, breast out and leant it to Rory, who gladly took it.

"Well come in, Gracie." She smiled, covering her breast slightly with her shirt.

"How'd you know I was there?" It was rhetorical, and needn't be answered. She smiled back at Karen and sat across from her. "So what's it like?" Grace asked.

"It's like getting your nipple sucked on by a toothless person." Karen grinned. "No, it's absolutely wonderful."

Grace smiled, feeling somewhat jealous of her friend. "Well I'm happy for you." Grace looked down. "So, when do you think you'll come back to work? It's awfully quiet without you around."

"Why Grace Adler, I think you miss me." Karen said slyly.

"Well just a little." Grace laughed. "But we could make the swatch room like a little nursery and you could bring him."

"Hey, that's a good idea." Karen nodded. "Well, honey, whenever you want me back. I suppose I'll need a few weeks though. You know to get used to the whole thing."

"Whenever you want, it's up to you." Grace smiled.

"So, why'd you follow me here?" Karen asked, after a brief pause in their conversation.

"I don't know. I guess I was bored by Jack's pointless talk about his new catch." Grace shrugged.

"Yeah, he can be pointless at time's but I love him." Karen smiled and looked down at her son again, missing Grace's slightly odd reaction.

For some reason Grace wanted to hear Karen say that about her. Why was she suddenly jealous of Jack and Karen's relationship? It was probably because her own relationship with Mr. Perfect, Leo, hadn't worked out.

"Honey," Karen had noticed Grace's sudden silence.

"What?" Grace looked up.

"Whatcha thinking about?" Karen asked, meeting Grace's eyes.

"Nothing. I guess I just miss having someone tell me they love me." Grace sighed, and sank deeper into her seat. She couldn't believe she had just told Karen that.

"Well, honey, you know I love you." Karen smiled and reached out across the studies desk for Grace's hand. Grace took hers and smiled.

"I know, Kare." Grace whispered, a warmth spreading through her at Karen's words. "I love you, too."

"Hey, how about you stick around after everyone leaves. Jack has a date tonight so he'll be away. He was worried I'd need him, but I reassured him he'd been with me enough." She smiled. "Yeah, we could have lots of fun. Stay up late, talk, drink, whatever."

"Aren't you not suppose to drink?" Grace eyed Karen.

"Well I could pump and give him a bottle. Don't worry honey. I'll figure something out." Karen reassured her.

"All right, I'll stay." Grace grinned. She was looking forward to that night, and the time she would get to spend with Karen. "So, is he done yet?" Grace asked as Karen pulled her hand away from Grace's to adjust her shirt and check her son.

"Almost." Karen smiled. He finally fell back to sleep and Karen reclasped her bra and buttoned up her shirt, determined not to wake Rory up. "Ok, let's get back to dinner." Karen stood up and cradled Rory in her arms, reaching for Grace's hand. Before they left she turned to her and kissed her cheek.

TBC...