April 19th 1997

"What do you want with me?"

Karen turned her gaze from Grace to the ground beneath her feet when she spoke. The darkness of early morning hours hindered her sight to begin with, but even so, she couldn't look at her for very long. She blamed her for the way this week has gone. It didn't matter that Karen was the one who didn't call, that Karen was the one who didn't show up, that Karen was the one to virtually end it with Will without him knowing. She didn't care about that. It was Grace's fault.

She kept telling herself this so she wouldn't feel worse than she already did.

"Will was talking to me. He was really worried about you, said you wouldn't return his calls or meet him at nights. He didn't know what to do. But I figured it out. I thought I heard someone come out towards the living room that night when I was there. I'd be pretty suspicious too, if I saw that."

Karen scoffed. "So I guess he made you come out here to tell me that it was nothing and I should come back?"

Grace smiled at her a little. "Well, you're half right. He doesn't know I'm here. He started talking to me about you, and let it slip that you two come here a lot. I figured that I should start here. But he has nothing to do with it, it's all me."

"Then why are you here?"

"Because I see how much you mean to him. He hasn't been this happy in a long time; he doesn't want to lose you." Grace paused for a moment, trying to figure out how she should continue. "I was having boyfriend problems that night. Danny…he's just really immature more times than not, and I couldn't take it anymore. I went over to Will's because he's more levelheaded than I am when it comes to things like this. He talked me down, and after I felt better about things, I left. The next time he calls me, he's frantic, trying to figure out why you didn't show up at your date. I don't think he heard you in the hallway."

Karen looked at her once again. "Am I really supposed to believe that? You know I'm married, right? I mean, I guess it's only fair for him to have someone else, too." She stood up. "Look, it's generous of you to come out and try to get me to come back. But you can have him back. I'm done."

"I'm not dating Will!" Grace yelled a bit too loudly. She heard voices from other parts of the park, yelling back at her to shut up and let them sleep. She grabbed Karen's arm and pulled her back down to the bench. "We tried that once, like twelve years ago. Didn't really go very well, lasted about three months. I'd rather not go into the details right now." She let go of Karen's arm and started hugging herself again; the cold was getting to her. "I didn't come here because he told me to, I didn't come here because I'm dating him. I came here because I wanted to tell you the truth. He's miserable without you."

Karen was silent for a moment. The thought of Will flashed through her mind. She had been longing to just touch him, or talk to him at the very least. But she never thought of him as miserable without her. Her voice failed her as she tried to speak. "Why should I believe you?"

Grace looked Karen right in the eyes. "Why would I lie to you? I don't even know you."

She had a point.

Karen stood up again and started heading back the way she came. Grace wanted to follow her, but instead called out to her. "Where are you going?"

She turned to Grace, didn't stop moving. "To Will's." She ran towards the arch, hailed a cab, and made her way uptown.

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Karen leaned against the interior walls of the elevator, fishing in her pockets for the key. She knew that she tried to give it back to Will when she left, but he refused. He wanted her to keep it so she could feel free to come over whenever she wanted. She felt the metal against her palm and closed her hand around the key, looking up at the numbers flashing, telling her what floor she's passing next.

At the third floor, she wanted the elevator to speed up. She wondered if he was actually home when she got to the fifth floor. Passing the seventh floor, she was starting to have second thoughts. Once she got to floor eight, she wanted to go back down to the lobby and run through the doors.

The elevator opened to reveal the door to 9C. She knew it was late. She knew that if he was home, he would most likely be asleep. But maybe he couldn't sleep, and when she walks in, she'll find him on the couch killing time. Maybe he couldn't sleep because of her, because he wants her by his side. But she shook that thought from her mind. She shouldn't expect something like that from him. She treated him so horribly this past week. She didn't want him to be hung up on her like that.

Karen twirled the key around her fingers outside his door. She looked down at her clothes, the things she wears with Stan. It seemed as though she erased everything about the week she spent with Will. But she was in such a hurry to get out of the house, that she didn't even think about what she was wearing to the park. She didn't care. Will's seen her like this before, and he still loved her.

She put the key in the lock and opened the door. It was pitch dark; she knew Will was asleep. Knowing him, the door would be open. Maybe he would hear her out here and walk out. But she didn't want to wake him up. Karen sat down on the couch, leaned her head back and sighed. She knew she made a mess of things. She wouldn't be surprised if he didn't forgive her.

"Karen?"

She turned around to find Will at the end of the hallway. She stood up and ran over to him, took him in her arms. "I'm so sorry," she said, over and over. Karen had planned to say something more, something with substance. He pulled away a little to look her in the eye. She had tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I was so worried about you." He paused for a moment before speaking again, not sure if he wanted the answer. "Why?"

"I thought you and that woman were dating. I saw you two late at night when I was staying here, and I just jumped to conclusions."

"You mean Grace? Oh, sweetie…"

"I know, I know. She found me at the park tonight, told me everything. I'm such an idiot. I'm so sorry." She buried her face in his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. "It's been hell without you," she said, her voice muffled by his shirt.

Will kissed the crown of her head. "Does that mean I get to have you back?" he asked softly.

She looked up at him. "If you want me."

He brushed his lips against hers, all the answer she needed. "Spend the night with me. You're already out, I don't think he'll notice." She smiled at him, brightening up the dark room. She took his hand in hers.

"What are we waiting for?"