Chapter 11

Karen had to know for sure. Her womanly instinct was kicking in.

She arrived at Will's apartment door, completely nervous. She didn't know what to say, or what to do. But she knew she needed the companionship of the person on the other side of the door.

After smoothing her skirt and checking her hair once again in her powder case mirror, she knocked on the door.

She couldn't believe she was doing this.

The person she was expecting to see opened the door and flashed her a winsome smile.

"Grace isn't here, you know that. She's at work." Will asked.

"Oh, honey I know. I mean come on, I work for her." Karen rolled her eyes and laughed as she pushed her way through the door and in to the apartment. "Listen honey, I need a favor."

"What now, Karen?" Will's face looked wearied by the burden which was now sitting on his couch. He took his time closing the door, before crossing to the kitchen where he got a water bottle out of the refrigerator. "Anything for you?" He asked absently.

"No." Karen shook her head.

Will gave her a puzzled look, but thought better of it, and exited the kitchen, taking a seat on the opposite side of the couch.

"Well, what do you need me to do?" Will asked, crossing his legs as he opened the bottle.

"Well, honey, I was kind of wondering if you would come with me."

"Come with you where?" Will was completely confused by now. Karen never asked him to go with her anywhere. "And why don't you take your new hubby with you? Why do I have to go?"

Karen shifted uneasily in her seat, delicately moving a bang out of her face with her right ring finger. "Well…um…we never spend anytime together?" She winced as she delivered the line.

"No," Will shook his head. "No, I am not going with you."

"Why not!" Karen's mouth gapped open.

"Because." Will protested, not really knowing why he was dragging his heels.

"Please." She put on her most child like poor-me face and Will shook his head.

"Well, if it's so important to you, I guess I'll go." Will rolled his eyes and got up. "I'm just going to go get changed and then we'll go. Where ever it is we're going."

"Yay!" Karen clapped her hands and smiled after Will. She was glad he was coming with her. Something about his presence always gave her a reassuring feeling. She was glad he was tagging along.

When Will finally emerged from his room he opened the door for Karen and out they went. When they got in to the limo, driver seemed to know exactly where he was going without Karen having to say a word.

The two of them sat in the back, hardly saying a word to the other. Will was still slightly angry about having Karen talk him in to coming with her, but when he happened to glance over, he noticed Karen looked rather panicked. She was staring out the window, her hair half up; the rest cascaded down her neck. She was unknowingly fidgeting with the hem of her skirt and the corner of her mouth moved ever so slightly as if she were deep in thought.

Will frowned. Something was going on. This was not normal Karen behavior. Something must have really been bugging her.

Karen suddenly turned, a smile forming on her face. "Thanks for coming, honey."

Will nodded. "No problem." He continued frowning. "You're sure you're okay?"

"What?" Karen gave him a light, yet confused smile. "Honey, I'm fine." She shrugged.

When they finally arrived, Karen slipped out of the limo, followed by an extremely confused Will. What was Karen doing here? He wondered. They went in, up the elevator, and to an office. Once they were inside, Karen was practically whisked away in to a room. It seemed her name and known richness got her special treatment. Will followed her in and frowned. What was all this about?

After a nurse came in, did all the normal check-up procedures, and then left. Karen crossed her legs, folded her hands over her knee, and then rocked back and fourth, trying to avoid Will who was sitting in the extra chair in the room staring at her, his mouth gapped open. He seemed to be putting the pieces together. And if he said anything it would make it real and Karen was afraid that it was real and that it would be lost again.

Will started to speak, but Karen shushed him. "Don't talk." Karen continued to look everywhere except for over at Will.

Will seemed to sense that Karen actually did want him to talk, to comfort her. Why else would she have invited him to come along? She needed someone, she was scared, and he was there to help her through. He understood her logic. Sometimes Karen Walker actually had more sense than Will gave her credit for.

"Karen, it's going to be all right." Will offered.

"You can't say that." Karen snapped, giving him a testy look.

Will held back, but then got up, took her hand in his own and held it. He held on to her, let her know he was there and supported her. She slowly allowed him to do this, feeling better, more secure. Yet there was still that doubt hovering over her.

The doctor came in. Will retreated to his seat and watched as the doctor had Karen lie back on the bed. She looked frightened, unsteady. The doctor began talking to her in a soothing sort of way to get her to relax. She just nodded, the fear never leaving her face. Once the tests had been completed, the doctor left the room. Moments later he came back, and smiled. "Congratulations, you're pregnant."

Karen just nodded, neither sadness nor happiness registering on her face. She was just blasé about it. The doctor went to the counter top and set his clipboard down, flipping it open and reviewing some notes. He noticed the miscarriage in the documents. Just as he was about to say something, Karen worked up the courage to ask.

"What are the chances I'll miscarry again?"

"Mrs. Walker, can I be frank with you?" The doctor turned in his rolling chair, pushed his glasses down his nose and stared over them at Karen who nodded. "You're over thirty-five, which puts the pregnancy at a higher risk, however a miscarriage is not likely."

Those words seemed to lift burdens off of Karen's shoulders. There was hope. But it still frightened her. She wasn't quite to her first month of pregnancy, so she would have to wait, and she knew she wouldn't believe there was actually a child growing inside of her until she got through the first few months without a problem and then delivered a healthy baby at the end of nine months. So, still shaken, she got off the table, with Will's help. Will wrapped his arm around her back and the two walked out to the limo. Once inside Will grabbed on to Karen's hand.

Karen looked at him and smiled. "Thanks."

"It's no problem Karen." Will gave her a smile. "Hey, why don't you have dinner at my place tonight? We can have a dinner like we used to have with Grace and Jack!"

"Yeah, honey, that sounds like fun." Karen grinned, feeling her spirits rising again. She couldn't wait to have dinner with her friends.

When they got back to Will's apartment, Karen stood idle in the kitchen, watching as Will began preparing food. She loved watching his meticulous motions as he cooked. He glanced over at her once in awhile, watching her face as she watched him work his magic. He frowned, something was missing from her character. Ah yes, a drink. Will set his sautéing dish down and went to the refrigerator, pulling out a water bottle. He handed it to her and she held it in her hands.

This was what she was reduced to. Drinking actual, flavorless water. She glanced at the bottle, then down at her stomach. She knew changes had to be made. She wanted this child to work.

Carefully she unscrewed the lid and gingerly placed her lips on the bottle, sipping the cold substance. Water, it tasted like water. She shrugged and drank some more, her attention going back to Will.

"How was my Gracie while I was gone?" Karen asked, moving to the other side of the kitchen and sitting on the countertop.

"Good. I think she missed you, but she got over it. She's seeing someone; I forgot what his name is. He's really nice. I've met him once her twice."

"Cute." Karen was glad to find out that Grace had moved on.

Will was dying to press Karen about how it felt to be pregnant, but he knew he shouldn't try out the subject. She obviously was very uneasy about it all. He knew she was scared about it. She probably wouldn't tell anyone about it either, not until she knew for sure it was going to happen. It was their little secret. There was an unspoken pact between them; he knew not to mention a word of it to Grace or Jack, or anyone for that matter. He was sure Nathan would know in due time.

Easy conversation flowed throughout the course of preparing the meal. Karen and Will's bonding time, however, was cute short by Jack, who came bouncing in. He strode up to Karen, after making a few snide remarks to Will, and wrapped his arms securely around her shoulders, the two exchanging a peck on the lips.

"Oh, Jackie. I missed you while I was away." Karen sighed, allowing him to help her down off the counter. The two went in to the living room and sat on the couch. Jack seemed not to notice the absence of her normal drink or what was in its place.

"I missed you, too, Kare. But Grace and I got along swimmingly at the law firm." Jack smiled, crossing his legs and smiling.

Will, who was still standing in the kitchen, frowned. "You do know that I work at the law firm and Grace works at the design shop."

Jack turned, giving him a so-what look. "What's your point Truman?" Jack shrugged.

Will just shook his head. Karen smiled. She seemed to play dumb, but here the key word was play. She was smarter than she looked, she just didn't let on. She often jumbled stuff up, more likely than not because she had been drunk at the time, but in reality she knew what she was doing. She understood.

"Where is Grace, by the way." Karen frowned, glancing around as if Grace was standing in the room somewhere, hiding from the other three.

"Oh, I think she was closing up shop and then coming home. She should be here in a few minutes." Will glanced at his watch.

Just as he spoke those words, the red head appeared in the doorway, a bright smile lighting her face as she entered. She noticed the whole gang was there and her smile brightened even more.

"Speak of the devil." Jack muttered as Grace hung up her coat and went to sit on the couch by Karen.

"Hey, guys." She sighed.

"Long day at work?" Will inquired from the kitchen.

"The longest. I don't think I've had that many clients since…well let's just say there were a lot of people in New York searching for a new look for the chic apartments." Grace rolled her eyes and turned to Karen. "I am so glad you're home."

"Me, too. I missed you, honey." Karen leaned in and the two kissed.

"Gross." Jack sang out, glancing away.

"Oh, that reminds me." Karen reached in to her purse and pulled out her cell. Flipping it open she dialed Nathan and held it to her ear. Every eye in the room was on her, but she didn't seem to notice.

"Karen." Nathan's voice beamed over the line.

"Hey, honey." Karen smiled.

"How's my girl?" Nathan asked.

"Good. Hey, listen. The girls want me to have dinner with them, so I thought I would."

"Oh, well that's fine. I'll just find something at the penthouse, no big deal. Maybe Cook and I can have dinner together."

"Oh, honey no. Don't eat with the help." Karen said, painstakingly.

"Well, if I do…will you punish me?" Nathan put on a school girl guise.

"Oh, honey…" Karen's voice had dropped several octaves, and she absently began fanning herself. Grace and Jack exchanged glances, a smile flirting on both's face.

"Maybe afterwards we can have a little dessert…in bed." Nathan purred.

"Oh!" Karen started laughing. "You dirty, dirty man." She ran her hand down her front, leaning forward as she did, suppressing her building excitement.

"Well, I guess I'll see you later. Love you." Nathan stopped his sultry talk abruptly, catching Karen off guard, but she loved how he grounded her so quickly.

"Oh, okay." Karen breathed. "Love you too." She hung up the phone a bit flushed and flustered, glancing around, noticing for the first time that all eyes were on her.

Dinner was lovely, as it always was with Will Truman. They ate, laughed, talked, shared. Karen finally decided she wanted to learn more about this man candy Grace was toting around, so she brought up the subject. "Gracie, I hear there's someone new. Tell me more." Karen leaned towards her, a smile on her face.

"Oh," Grace looked from her to Will, "You told her?" Will nodded. She glowered at him, but then turned back to Karen. "Yes, his name is Mark, we met at a party I went to while you were away. Some client invited me. He's actually an interior designer too." Grace picked up her wine glass and blushed. "We were actually fighting over the job, and well all of the sudden we were just going at it like rabbits." Grace grinned.

Karen nodded. "Oh, well…that sounds…great." She had never understood Grace's love to fight with her male partners all the time. Maybe fighting did make the sex more enjoyable…hmm…maybe Karen would try that with Nathan.

Jack talked about each date he'd been on, his son Elliot, what Will had done while Karen was away…random stuff. Karen nodded and half-listened to her poodle. Her mind was miles away, in bed, with her hubby.

But she held off, held off until it was time to say goodbye. She kissed each one goodbye, lingering a bit too long on Grace's lips (but she seemed to like it), and then she was off.

Back at the penthouse, Karen found Nathan was in their room. She began ascending the stairs, pulling her heels off as she went. When she got to the room, she slowly opened the door and found Nathan, laying in the candle light, completely naked. He'd gone for the clichéd romantic night with the rose petals all around. Beside him was one of Karen's favorite things, strawberry powder. Powder you could put anywhere and lick off.

"Oh, honey." She sexily, stood on the other side of the room, stripping for Mr. Gorgeous in her bed. He watched her, intently, longingly.

That night they had amazing, sweet (literally sweet) sex.

TBC...You guys are too intutitive for me. You totally guessed it. Well maybe I can write something more shocking next time. :D