Karen stood by Larry as his face healed from emergency reconstructive surgery!

In early 1969, a fire erupted in one of the hospital storage rooms, where Larry was napping. While Karen was able to bravely pull him to safety, Larry�s face still sustained serious injuries�so much so that he required immediate cosmetic surgery. Weeks later, when the bandages came off, Larry had a brand new face! Though still in angst over his and Merrie�s dissolved relationship, Larry warmed to Karen, resulting in the two making love.

A short time later, a healthy Merrie returned to Llanview, upon having been given a clean bill of health. Larry rejoiced at Merrie�s return, especially when she revealed to him that she was hopeful that they could reconcile. Before they could start over, though, Karen presented Larry with some shocking news: she was now pregnant with his child! With a heavy heart, Larry resolved to do the proper thing and marry Karen.

As Merrie reeled from being forced apart from Larry, she befriended an amnesiac, whom she found aimlessly wandering near Llanfair. When he was unable to provide anyone any kind of clue as to who he was, Merrie brought him home with her and benevolently called him �Tom Edwards,� after her cat. Victor, oddly, approved of the young man�s presence at Llanfair; resolving to treat him like a son. In the meantime, Larry was granted a reprieve when Karen suddenly miscarried their child. By then, however, it seemed too late�Merrie and Tom were now engaged. When Tom, whose memory had since returned, ultimately saw how much Merrie and Larry meant to each other, he selflessly allowed her out of their engagement so that the two could be together at long last.