Plot: I got the general plot and title of this story from the new Madonna movie called The Next Best Thing. In the movie, Madonna's biological time clock is ticking and after she and her gay best friend sleep together one night after a couple of drinks, Madonna becomes pregnant. Then the two decide to raise the child together, with Madonna as the mother and her gay friend as the father, but without getting married or putting an end to their love lives.

In my story, the two characters are Jack and Karen. It's pretty much the same plot, except that Karen would have to divorce Stan. This is also loosely based on the W&G episode, The Unsinkable Mommy Adler, in which Karen fears she may be pregnant, but is later saddened that she's not. My part of this story isn't very funny, mainly because I can't write humour very well. Also, there will be no custody battle, ect. like in the movie. This story is loosely based on the movie.
Disclaimer: "Will & Grace", the show, and the characters belong to NBC and the cast and crew. I'm not sure who "The Next Best Thing" belongs to, but it sure isn't me. Please don't sue!

Part 1
by Kelly

Prologue:

Karen Walker checked her watch again, then sighed and opened her purse. It was one o'clock on a Monday afternoon and Karen was supposed to be on her four hour lunch break. However, Grace had insisted that Karen come with her to the nearby fabric store to select some new fabrics. Of course, this wasn't Karen's idea of a good time, so as Grace sorted through hundreds of different colours and patterns, Karen stood by the door, applying her makeup.

As Karen finished touching up her lipstick, she heard a woman's voice call out, "Young lady, you come here this instant!"

Karen knew immediately that the voice belonged to some kid's mother. Normally, this kind of an event reminded Karen why she kept away from these stores in the first place and usually shopped at Barney's or Gucci. However, she didn't feel herself cringe this time. Instead, as the "young lady's" mother searched in the dressing rooms and behind the counter, she smiled.

As Karen watched the mother running around, she sensed she was being watched and looked beside her. Peering out from amongst the fabrics on the fabric rack, a little face with blue eyes watched her. Karen felt herself smiling at the little girl, whose own face broke into a grin. Her light brown bangs were styled just so they ended just above her eyes. Karen couldn't help but notice how adorable the little girl looked in her pink dress with the bow in front.

Just then, a voice said, "There you are! You are in such trouble little missy!"

Karen turned and saw the girl's mother standing there, hands on hips, glaring at the little angel. The girl's grin immediately faded as she emerged from the racks and reluctantly took her mother's outstretched hand. The girl began to cry.

"Oh, honey, it's okay," her mother said, immediately scooping the little girl up in her arms.

"I'm not mad at you. I just get worried when I don't know where you are. Come on, sweetie, let's go to the corner store and I'll buy you a treat."

The girl's face broke into a grin again and she hugged her mother back. Then the two left, hand in hand, as if nothing bad had happened.

As Karen watched them go, she got the oddest feeling. It was almost a feeling of longing.

How good it must feel to know that you'll always have a smaller version of you to go through life with, caring for, nurturing and loving. She wasn't sure why, but she suddenly felt an ache in her heart.

At the moment Grace showed up, carrying several bags of cloth.

"Okay, thanks for all your help Karen, we can go now," Grace said, heading towards the door. She turned when she noticed that Karen wasn't following her.

"Karen, are you okay?" Grace asked.

"What?" Karen asked, snapping out of her daze. "Oh, yes honey, I'm fine. Let's go."

"All right," Grace said. "You're sure you're okay?"

"Yes," Karen said. "I'm fine."

Later that night...

It was late when Karen returned home to the penthouse in the ritzy part of New York. She was exhausted and slightly drunk after attending a party held by some rich friends. She tossed her purse down on the couch in the lounge, then rubbed her temples with herhand and leaned against the wall.

The penthouse was very still and for a moment, Karen wondered why. Then she remembered. The kids were with Cathy this weekend and the servants had this week off, though Karen couldn't remember why.

The silence was suddenly broken by the chimes of the nearby grandfather clock. It struck 12 times and each chime was like a gunshot to Karen's ears. Sleep was seeming better and better at this point. Clutching the wall for support, Karen made her way down the hall towards the bedroom.

Halfway there, she paused. She didn't feel like lying in the same bed with Stan tonight.

She hadn't for most nights. She had sensed for a while now that Stan was becoming suspicious of their relationship. He had put her on another budget, this one even more strict than the last. He had given half of her clothes to charities and had been giving the staff more time off then usual, so Karen had to fend for herself. (Now she remembered. That's why the staff was off tonight). She knew it was only a matter of time before she either cracked or filed for divorce.

Turning around, Karen headed towards the back of the penthouse, where the help usually stayed. She headed for Jack and Rosario's room as she had for several nights and entered.

Jack had grown accustomed to this nightly ritual and, after hearing Karen's worries about her marriage and her life, he had decided to let it be for a while. In a few weeks he'd be gone anyway, when Rosario finally got her green card.

Karen crawled beside Jack on the bed, still in her evening clothes. She lay her head back on the pillow and felt her mind drift back to what had happened at the store. She couldn't shake that feeling that she'd had ever since she'd seen the little girl in the store.

After a moment, she turned to face him. As she expected, he was awake and was staring back at her. Out of the blue she asked, "Honey, do you think I'd make a good mother?"

Jack blinked and stared at Karen to see if she meant what she'd asked. He smiled.

"Sure, Kare," he replied. "You're great at giving advice and helping those you care about. Why?"

"I don't know, honey," she admitted, sitting up. "I've just lately felt that something's missing in my life. Something important. I think I want to have a baby."

"Wow," Jack gasped, sitting up. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Karen said, after a moment's thought. "I'm positive."

"Well, are you going to tell Stan?" he asked.

"Oh, honey, Stan's history!" she exclaimed. "I can't stay married to him. It's no fun anymore."

Jack smiled.

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