"No, Jack! We are not about to play strip poker!" Karen shouted as she walked through the living room of the manse.
Jack followed her from the next room. "Come on, Kar! Why not? It'll be fun…." he said, using one of his trademark expressions.
Karen smiled at him, but shook her head. "Why not? Let's think, Jack. I am eight and a half moths pregnant, I can't see my feet, none of my clothes fit me, and I have to have Rosie help me out of bed in the morning. That is why we're not playing strip poker."
"Fine. Then what do you want to do?"
"I don't mean to burst your bubble, honey. But can we just stay in the manse? I'm feeling kinda tired and I don't wanna go too far." She said, placing her hand on her stomach, and furrowing her brow for a moment.
Jack had a look of concern on his face. "What's wrong, Karen? Are you alright?"
"Hmm? Oh, honey, yeah. I'm fine. I just get these dull pains in my stomach every once in a while. It's nothing. Come on, let's lie down and watch a movie."
"Alright." Jack said, taking her hand. "But if you start to feel any more pains, promise you'll let me know?"
"Promise, Poodle."
Jack helped Karen lie down in bed. Climbing up beside her, she grabbed his hand and placed it on her protruding stomach. They began watching a movie and before Jack knew it, Karen had fallen asleep on his shoulder. Not wanting to wake her, he moved off the bed as slowly as possible. Walking into the hallway, he quietly shut Karen's door behind him and left the manse to return in the morning when Karen woke up.
He had taken to spending every day with Karen, at least for a few hours, for the last three weeks. When Karen hit the eight month mark, Grace told her that she was free to take as much maternity leave as she wanted. It would be more comfortable for her to rest at home instead of reading at a desk all day. Meanwhile, every day at lunch, Will and Grace joined them at the manse to spend time with Karen and bring her whatever foods she was craving that day.
Three days later, Karen was woken by a pain in her abdomen. Rubbing her stomach in an effort to make the pain go away, she was met with a hearty kick from her daughter.
"Well good morning to you, too." Karen chuckled.
Rosario appeared in the doorway. "Miss Karen?"
"Morning, Rosie."
"Morning, mami. Mr. Will is here to see you."
"Okay, honey. Send him up." Rosario began to walk out. "Hey, Rosie!"
"What is it, lady?"
Karen looked at her stomach, then at Rosie. "Can you help me up, please?" she asked, lifting her arms.
Will walked into her bedroom as Karen was pulling on her robe.
"Morning, Karen."
"Hey, honey, whatcha doin'?"
"Sorry to just show up without calling, but I really need your signature on some papers for Walker, Inc." Will said as he opened his briefcase, pulling out several contracts.
Karen continued to rub her stomach as she looked over the papers. "Looks good to me, honey. You got a pen?"
Reaching into his jacket pocket, he grasped the pen that Karen had bought him for his birthday last year. Karen sat at her vanity, signing the different contracts when she suddenly doubled over in pain.
Will was at her side in a moment. "Karen, what's wrong?"
"Nothing honey. I'm fine, honest. Just a little-" she was cut off as another wave of pain hit her. "shooting pain in my stomach."
"Karen, I think you're having contractions. We have to get you to the hospital."
Karen nodded. "Okay, but I'm not going out dressed like this. Can you go in my closet and grab my hospital bag and the clothes that are laid out on the chair next to it?"
"Absolutely." Will said standing up and rushing over to her closet. He returned to Karen, setting the clothes down on her dresser.
"Honey, I think I'm gonna need some help." Karen said shyly, looking away.
Will helped Karen get changed and then stood her up. Wrapping his arm around her waist and slinging her hospital bag over his shoulder, he helped her walk down the stairs and out to the limo.
"Where to, Mrs. Walker?"
Karen was once again having a contraction and was doubled over in pain. Will held her hand and rubbed her back.
"Mount Sinai, Driver. And quick!"
