AN: Hey guys! This is my new Karen/Derek multi fic. For those who have read my other Smash fic Wolf, I'm really sorry but since series two has aired I can't complete it. This new fic is set three years after the season two finale and hopefully will help make up for the fact that it ended before people were with who they were supposed to be with. Enjoy and review if you can.

It felt strange to be back here, in this office. Hell it felt strange to be back in this city, the city he had called home for well over a decade. Eileen's office. He could honestly say this was where his life had changed. He had met people he would never forget, he would work on musicals that would change his career and ultimately it led to him fathering a child. It was strange because it had not changed other than the exception of a Cabaret poster, featuring Ana, added to the rest of Eileen's productions. It was as though the last three years of his life hadn't happened. It could have been the last four years, and he could pretend that it was before Bombshell, before the life changing musical, because it was the exact same people sat in the office.

"So are you in?" Asked Eileen, bringing his thoughts back to what was at hand. "We need an amazing director and you need a production to show that you really are back in Broadway."

"Are you sure you even want me?" He asked, avoiding the question for a little while longer and pointedly looking at Tom. "If I am to work on this I don't want any backseat directing."

Tom rolled his eyes. "You'll have full reign. I'm going to be in LA for most of rehearsals anyway so you won't hear a peep out of me."

"You going to be with lover boy?"

"As a matter of fact yes I am," answered Tom, with a grin. "He's shooting a movie over there and as most of the songs are already written it would be a bit redundant for me to be here. Julia's already finished the book and I've added a few songs to it. I'll fly back for any workshops or major dilemmas but the rest I can just Skype."

"And you're alright with this?" Derek asked Eileen.

"Like Tom said, the music will only need a few tweaks to it and if we need any songs added later he doesn't actually need to be in New York to work on them."

"Derek, we've got it covered," assured Julia. "We just need to find our director and I for one, want it to be you. You are back in New York for good now, aren't you?"

Derek wanted to be back in New York for good, he really did but being out of the Broadway game for three years made him wonder if he was cut out for it still. Of course he'd worked on the West End in London, and even done a couple of film adaptions for the BBC but that was different. In London, he could leave the Daisy dilemma and the sex scandals behind and literally start a new life with Ivy and their son Jacob. Ivy had missed New York though and she had never wanted to leave her Broadway career for good and so they had returned. He was hoping that everything that had happened had died down and the prodigal director would be allowed to return unscathed. He knew however this would be unlikely, no matter how much he had changed, and so doing a production with his old friends would most likely be his only option. If this musical was a success, like he envisioned it could be, then he wouldn't have to worry about finding work.

"I'm definitely interested," said Derek carefully. "I'll need to read through the book first of course, but if its as strong as the movie version then I'm in."

"I want this musical to be issue free," warned Eileen, although the twinkle in her eye showed she was pleased. "No squabbles, no sleeping around and no defecting to other musicals. I want this to be smooth sailing all the way to the Tonys."

"Thinking that far ahead already?" Asked Derek, his eyebrow raised.

"Always."

"We need to start calling up some agents now," said Tom. "Get the ball rolling while I'm still in New York."

"I think we should go for unknowns," commented Derek. "The story is well known enough to pull it off."

"Actually, we've already cast Satine,"admitted Julia, delicately.

Derek frowned. "Who?"

Eileen glanced at Julia before answering. "Karen Cartwright."

Derek could feel his heart thump loudly in his rib age and he sincerely hoped nobody else could. He had thought about Karen during the years, had followed her blossoming career and had missed her terribly. More than what he had anticipated. He had known he would see her again but he hadn't expected to be working with her, for her to be his leading lady once again.

"Why?" Asked Derek, still trying to get his head around it. "We don't need a big name for this production."

"We don't need a big name but it sure wouldn't hurt," replied Eileen. "Karen is Broadway's sweetheart; audiences love her, investors love her and you know she's extremely talented. She's coming to the end of her contract with 'Alice in Wonderland' and she wants something she can sink her teeth into. She wants the Tony as much as I do."

"She's already got a Tony," said Derek, somewhat sullenly.

"As a supporting actress, she wants the big prize and I think she and the rest of us can achieve it," explained Eileen. "I don't see what your problem is. We're not compensating for a name over substance like we did with Rebecca Duvall. Karen is a Broadway star who has branched out into movies and tv, not the other way round. I have to say, Derek, I never thought I'd be defending Karen to you."

"Yeah I thought she was your 'muse'?" Asked Tom, air quoting. Derek took a deep breath, it was coming back to him quickly how testing Tom can be.

"I get it, Derek," interrupted Julia, sensing his discomfort. He sent her a grateful smile. "You came back to make a fresh start and I understand that but you know Karen is the best actress for the job. You pushed us all those years ago to see that."

"Sorry it's just that I didn't exactly part on good terms with her," admitted Derek.

"You didn't part with her on any terms because you didn't tell her you were leaving," corrected Julia.

Derek winced. "Does she even want to work with me again?"

"She thought about it for a while but she's a professional and got past whatever it is you had to get past," said Eileen. "I just hope you can do the same."

"Of course," said Derek, furrowing his brows. "Look, I know I did some stupid stuff when I was working on Hitlist. I hurt a lot of people; Ivy, Karen, Ana, and even Daisy in some respects (although she got what she wanted). It's not just my name to ruin now though, it's Jake's. I know exactly what it's like to have a father who's gossiped about and I don't want that for my son."

Julia smiled. "Being a parent is amazing. I can't wait to see him again, he was still so tiny when we opened Bombshell in London."

Derek pulled out his wallet from his inside coat pocket and slid out the latest picture he had of Jake. He smiled as he heard the awes from his companions. His son was cute. Ivy's cherub face, his green eyes and messy spiky blonde hair he had the best from both parents. "He's looking forward to seeing aunty Julia and aunty Eileen and even Uncle Tom."

"What do you mean even?" Scowled Tom. "He sees his Uncle Tom all the time on Skype." Whilst Derek and Tom had somewhat forgiven each other all those years ago, he'd not really kept in contact with him. However Ivy had, meaning Tom was very much Uncle Tom to his son.

Derek rolled his eyes. "I'm joking, Tom. Jake loves you, he'll be sad your heading west so soon."

"Well, we all seem on board with this project," smiled Eileen. "The matter of casting Christian is important though, he's an equal lead to Karen. I'll set up castings for late next week, I'll email you the details beforehand. After a few rehearsals I want to have a party for the investors and give everyone a taste. Luckily, unlike Bombshell, we're not short of funds so we can start without a major investor."

"I was thinking if we have a number of callbacks, we should get them to duet with Karen," said Julia. "It's important they have chemistry otherwise they'll both fall flat."

"And he'll need to match her in talent," added Derek.

Eileen nodded. "There has to be someone out there."

"We'll we here we go then," exclaimed Tom, clapping his hands together. "Welcome, to the Moulin Rouge."

"Ivy, I'm back," called out Derek, letting himself in the apartment and shrugging his coat off as he did so. "Have you and Jake eaten already?"

"I've fed Jakey," smiled Ivy. She was in the kitchen area, placing what he presumed was Jake's dirty dishes in the dishwasher. "I've just put him down for his nap."

Derek sat on the couch with a sigh. He felt Ivy's arms snake around his neck, hugging him from behind, her head resting on top of his. He placed a hand over hers, feeling himself relax in the familiar embrace.

"How was the meeting then?" Asked Ivy brightly. "Do you think you'll take the job?"

"I think I have very little choice to be honest, darlin," drawled Derek. "The likelihood of me walking into another production as easily as I can into this is very unlikely, despite the fact all I've done is good work in London."

"I'm worried it will be the same for me," admitted Ivy.

"You're an extremely talented Tony winning actress who has been in constant work in England," said Derek, giving her hand a squeeze. "You've got nothing to worry about. I thought you were going to take a break for a while and help Jake settle in first anyway."

"Of course," nodded Ivy. "I've got so many people to catch up with as well that I want a bit of time. But I still need to get back in the game at some point. I'm going to wait until I can audition for something amazing. It's a shame we agreed we wouldn't work together because this musical is going to be amazing. There's so much you're going to be able to do with the choreography and the sets."

"We've already cast the lead."

"Who?"

"Karen Cartwright."

He felt her whole body tense for the smallest of moments before she relaxed again and took a deep breath. "Karen... Wow! That's good, you guys work great together."

"Are you sure you're okay with this?"

"Am I particularly happy? No," admitted Ivy, moving around the sofa to sit next to him holding his hand. "But when we made the decision to move back to New York I knew we'd see her again, we work in the same business. We're all grown ups and all the fall outs were so long ago and they seem so petty now. I meant what I said, you guys do work great together, much better than we ever did. If this production is successful then we know we made the right choice to come home."

Derek still had this brow furrowed. He was listening to what Ivy was saying and he believed that she meant it but he just wasn't sure if she could follow through. He was probably going to be spending more time with Karen than he would be with his own family. It was the nature of the business; the rehearsals, the parties, the interviews. He didn't want Ivy to resent him. "I'm giving you the choice to veto, darlin. Once I've started I won't pull out."

"Derek, we're fine," said Ivy firmly. "Me, you and Jake are happy here. Nothing, and I mean nothing is going to stop that."