Disclaimer: I do NOT own Desperate Housewives or any of the characters. I do not own the songs I named the chapters after. No copyright infringement is intended.

Hope you like it! ;)

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Chez Antoine was very crowded. However, as it usually happens with classy restaurants, there was enough space between one table and the next one, so that people could concentrate on their conversations without hearing the neighbours.

'Nice choice, freckles' Karl grinned 'Why didn't we come to this place before?'

Bree shrugged with a smile. She was dressed very elegantly in a yellow dress and wearing pearls around her neck. As soon as he had seen her, Karl had saved no words to tell her how amazingly beautiful she looked. If he had known what her intentions were…

The waiter came to take their order, interrupting their small talk. But Bree was too concentrated on finding the right words to focus on the food. There was something she needed to tell Karl, something that was not going to be easy at all…

'You're so silent today' he observed 'Are you alright?'

'Yes, I'm good' she said 'Just a little… tired'

'I understand, you're a very hard-working woman. You know what? I think you should take some time for yourself to relax. I know this beautiful hotel near the lake. We could go there for the weekend… just the two of us'

As he mentioned that, Bree had to remember how years before she had planned a romantic weekend with Katherine that never happened… because a man had got on the way. Was she going to let that happen again? Bree was not a big fan of clichés, but she had to be quick…

'We need to talk' she interrupted him.

Karl looked puzzled for a second. Then he cast one of his cheeky smiles to her.

'Oops, that doesn't sound too good… but being you, I let you say it. You're not like the rest. Probably it doesn't mean what it usually means…'

'It does mean what it means'

'What?! No way, freckles!' he laughed 'Are you dumping me? Why?'

'Yes, Karl. You've been really good to me and I… I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me. But let's face it – this relationship has no future'

She just could not look him in the eyes. It was difficult for her and all she wanted was to do it quickly and get over with it.

'What do you mean by that?' he asked.

'Haven't you realized how different we are? I don't think we're looking for the same things'

Karl snorted.

'What is it with you women? Why can't you see that I've changed and I'm not the asshole I used to be? Look at me, Bree. You've changed me. You're a very special woman and I'm absolutely sure that I want a committed relationship with you. I want compromise and love. I want to love you and protect you. Or isn't that what you want?

Bree sighed.

'That's exactly the problem. I don't know what I'm looking for. I need some time on my own to think and figure things out. My life has changed dramatically in the past few months. It's confusing. I need… distance. I need to be alone for some time to understand what I really want. And even though I really enjoy you company… being with you just confuses me even more.

'But that makes no sense, freckles. Weren't you afraid of being alone? How comes that now you don't know what you want?'

'It's… complicated' was all Bree could say.

The bewildered expression on Karl's face suddenly turned into anger.

'Oh my god! Now I see it! You disappoint me, freckles. What's his name?'

'What are you talking about?' Bree wondered, pretending to be puzzled.

'Oh, come on, I'm not that naïve' Karl insisted 'There's someone else, isn't there?'

'Karl, please…'

'Just answer the question'

'I'm not answering!'

She tried to make him believe that she was offended and that it was not the case, but deep down she wished she had been a better actress.

'Then that already shows me that there is someone. Who is it? Don't tell me you're going back to that bastard Orson!'

'No, it's not Orson' she replied.

'Then who is it? Come on, just tell me!'

'That's none of your business!' she snapped.

'I'm afraid it is, freckles' he said seriously 'If I'm being dumped for someone else, at least I'd like to know who that is…'

'Karl, please, stop it… it's not the time or the place…'

'Oh, I see, so it's the perfect place and time to humiliate me, but when it's your pride that's at stake, you just shut up' he shouted angrily 'Have at least the decency of telling me. So, who is it? Your best friend's husband? Your electrician?'

'Karl, please, you're making a scene…' she begged him to stop.

'Well, I have the right to. But hey, who am I kidding? After all, it's my fault'

'What?!' she exclaimed.

'I created you. It's just the classical story of daddy's little girl meeting the bad boy and becoming bad as well. But at least, if you're going to be the bitch I've turned you into, be an honest bitch and tell me. Who is it you're screwing?'

Bree could not stand that anymore. All those hard words and accusations, the whole restaurant staring at them curiously… She stood up.

'You're sick' she whispered 'Goodbye, Karl!'

She turned away from him and headed for the door to leave the restaurant. Karl also stood up.

'You know what you are, Bree Hodge?' he shouted fiercely 'You're just a slut! Yes, you've heard me! Just one more pathetic whore who tries to hide below her prudish appearance, do you hear me?'

But Bree could not hear him anymore. She was already outside, looking for a taxi to take her home. All her worries and reservations about leaving Karl were gone. The way he had reacted had proved to her that he was clearly not the man for her. She was not feeling guilty – in fact, she was feeling completely liberated and wondered why she had not done so before. In one thing, though, he was right – he was the one who had turned her into a bad girl. And she had to be thankful for that.

Those were her thoughts as she had got on the taxi. As they drove around the streets of Fairview, looking through the back window of the vehicle, Bree felt that a whole new world of possibilities was opening to her. But there was especially one that was appealing to her more than anything else.

'Could you please leave me here?' she asked the taxi driver as they reached Katherine's driveway.

'Yes, ma'am' he answered.

Smiling thankfully, she paid for the lift and got out of the car, ready to finally do what she had wanted to do for so long…

To be continued…