A/N: I nicked the remark Will makes about Jack from the show, but everything else is mine!

Chapter 3

"Please tell me you didn't."

Karen hesitated before answering. "I…I didn't." she said sadly.

"Oh, thank god!" Grace sighed.

Karen continued, "I sat there and they called my name but I just kept thinking about this little life that's growing inside of me and I…couldn't. Does that sound crazy?"

Grace smiled, "No! Of course not! I was so worried you were going to go through with it. I thought, what if I'm too late? I know it's your business so it's got nothing to do with me and I know that you probably don't want to talk about it but…"

"Honey?" Karen asked.

"Yeah?"

"Shh." And as she spoke she placed a finger on Grace's lips. "You're babbling."

"Sorry! But Karen, seriously, if you need to talk about it, I'm here! I mean, I know we argue and stuff but I am your friend and you can talk to me about anything."

Karen smiled at her. A real smile. "Thanks, honey."

And before she knew it, Grace had enveloped her in a hug.

"Hey hey hey! I said we could be friends, not lovers!"

Grace laughed as she let her go. "So…" she said, returning to serious mode. "What are you going to do?"

"Well, right now, honey, I'm going to go home and crucify Rosario!" Grace couldn't help but laugh. "But…yeah, I don't know. I guess I'll have to tell Stan. Please, Grace don't tell the others yet. I need to…I…"

She nodded, understanding that Karen needed time to sort her feelings out before she dealt with Jack and Will.

Karen started to walk down the steps towards her waiting car but stopped half way down.

"Grace?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

"You're welcome, Karen."

And with that, Karen descended the remaining stairs, entered her limo and drove off. Grace was left standing on the steps, alone.

"You're home!" Will called as she entered the apartment, rushing from the kitchen to the door where she stood. "Where were you? I came back here soon after lunch but you're mom said you'd taken off somewhere! Grace, I'm really sorry."

She smiled. "I know. I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have reacted like that."

"Friends?" he said, arms open for a hug.

"Of course!" she said, kissing his cheek and hugging him.

"Oh, get a room!"

They broke apart. "And how are you, Jack?" Will said, a look of amusement on his face as the other man entered the apartment, heading straight for the kitchen as he always did.

"Gorgeous but that's not the point. Gracie, have you talked to Karen today?"

"Erm…why?" she said, unsure of whether Karen had told him yet or not.

"Well, I just spoke to her on the phone and she sounded kinda funny."

"I told her to stop eating little kids!" Will said jokingly.

"Will!" Grace yelled, hitting him on the arm.

"What?"

"Just…don't, ok?"

"Ooookaaay!" Will looked puzzled, when did Grace care about Karen? But he decided to leave Grace to her bizarreness.

"Erm…I haven't, no. Sorry Jack."

"Ok then. Well, you're boring so I'll catch you two ladies later!" Jack left the apartment thinking nothing more about Karen, but Grace was still worrying.

"Ahh Jack. Cute as a button, but not quite as smart." Will remarked.

"Uh-huh." Grace said, but not really paying attention to him.

"Grace? What's up? You're not still mad at me are you?" Will sounded concerned.

"What? No, I'm fine. I think I'm just going to go to bed. I'm tired."

"Ok, if you're sure you're fine…"

"Yes! I'm fine!" Grace walked into her bedroom and shut the door. She tried to sleep but she couldn't, she just lay in bed thinking about how different everything was going to be.

Across town, Karen was laid in her bed thinking the same thing.

Would she be able to cope?

How would she tell Stan?

How would Jack react, she'd already told him the test was negative?

Would anything ever be the same again?