Chapter 7

Grace practically moved in with Karen, catching her when she slipped, helping her get through the rough times. Karen had her moments, and as hard as it was for Grace to help her through these, she got her through. Every now and then she'd catch Karen in a low point, sitting on the bathroom floor, a cigarette in hand. She was a mess, but soon she began to straighten out. Her normal comical air was beginning to return and Grace could see a drastic change. There were less mood swings, less alcohol. Grace knew that soon she would no longer be needed to care for Ms. Walker. She would have to go about her own business and let Karen patch up her lost relationship.

Somehow Grace knew it wasn't over. Yet, something wasn't sitting right with her. The thought of leaving Karen made her feel empty. She had grown accustomed to sitting around with Karen draped over her, comforting her when she was down, laughing with her when she was up.

It was something, but whatever that something was it had to be ignored. Nathan needed to reenter the scene.

"Karen, I think I'm going to go check on my business. I haven't been there for awhile, I asked Jack to try and cover for me, but we both know how useful that was." They laughed.

"Yes, Jackie's not one to keep shop." Karen chuckled, fingering Grace's hair, which had just been recently pulled back after a long shower. "Well, if you must leave me. I'm feeling much better today. I might take a walk around the penthouse."

Grace smiled, ran her hand down Karen's cheek, and then leaned in for a good bye kiss. "I'll come back later tonight."

"Okay, honey." Karen nodded, shooing her away. "Well go on. I'm going to be fine. I've got Rosie to watch over me. Go."

Grace grinned, and then stepped out of the room, walked briskly down the hallway, down the stairs, and out of the Walker Penthouse. However, her little design shop was not where she was headed at all. Instead, she went first back to Will's apartment. It took her quite a bit of searching to figure out where exactly it was she was going. She went off of little hints Karen had given her.

Back out on the street, she hailed a cab and told the driver where to take her. When they arrived, she stepped out, climbed the stairs to the building, found a name on a plaque which told her which floor to go to, and then climbed on to the elevator. When the door dinged open, Grace stepped out and went to where a secretary was sitting. The secretary looked up, "Can I help you?"

"Yes, I'm looking for Nathan Kingsley." Grace smiled.

The secretary pointed towards an office down the hall and Grace followed her finger, beginning to fear what would happen. When she stepped in she found Nathan on the phone with a client. He didn't look up, at least not at first. Instead he went on talking, finally hanging up. When he did, he did not look up but instead began writing something down. Grace cleared her throat, not sure if he hadn't noticed her or didn't want to notice her.

He looked up, however, at the sound and she saw his face soften. He looked relieved to see her. "How is she?" He asked, obviously very concerned.

"Better." Grace shrugged. "She misses you, I can tell."

"I miss her." He admitted. Thank God, Grace thought. He still wanted her. She figured he would have moved on by now, or forgotten about Karen, but she could tell he still had feelings for her.

"You should try talking to her." Grace suggested.

"No, I couldn't." He quickly shook his head. "I mean I failed her."

"What? No, you didn't."

"Yes, I did. I let her drink herself silly. I watched her. I didn't try to stop her. I mean how am I supposed to be with her if I can't even care for her?" He was obviously beating himself up about this.

"Oh, no, Nathan. You're inexperienced with her. There's more to Ms. Karen Walker than most think. You didn't know she would do that, you didn't know she could fall in to that dark hole." Grace tried to reassure him. "I'm pretty sure that if you went back to her right now, she would take you back. And you would see a completely different woman. She was just hurt about the baby, and she was as unsure about the relationship as you were." Grace guessed he had been uncertain. He seemed nervous about it all.

Nathan glanced down, not knowing what to say, not really knowing what to do. He had not as much as looked at another woman after he'd stormed out of the Walker penthouse. He spent every waking hour thinking about Karen, he could feel her silky skin pressed against his body. It drove him crazy that he wasn't with her. But he had failed her and he just couldn't go through it again. He didn't trust himself, he felt unworthy.

"I can't." He finally replied. "I just can't."

Grace's shoulders fell, her whole persona dropped. She nodded. "Okay." And then turned, leaving the office, feeling like she had lost. Failed to deliver hope for Karen and Nathan's relationship.

That night she returned to the penthouse. She wasn't as cheerful, but she tried to put on a façade for Karen. She didn't want to see how down she was about her failed meeting with Nathan that day. She wondered how Karen would take it if she knew Nathan didn't want their relationship. Since Karen seemed to be building up the want and the drive to get him back, how was she going to react when he didn't want her?

All Grace could do was cuddle with Karen and act happy for her recovering friend.

TBC...:D See I'm trying to post. When I write chapter 9 I'll post again. :d Thanks for all the reviews guys, you're great.