Author's Notes: This starts 5 years after H&F. The song mentioned is "All The Way", and my favorite version is sung by Frank Sinatra and Celine Dion. It was mentioned because "When Somebody Loves You" by gracie3 was the first Jack & Karen fanfiction I ever read.

Disclaimer: These characters are property of NBC and their own creators; as is any piece of an episode needed for the chapter. I make no money from this. Any song lyrics used are also property of their own creator.

In Our Time

Part 1: Family

(October 17, 2020)

Upstairs, the sound of soft giggling could be heard from the bedroom. Jack pulled the covers over his head as he came down to kiss Karen, lingering on the taste of her lips. Karen smiled up at him, her fingers playing with his hair.

Downstairs, the sound of the front door closing was heard, followed by a young girl's voice.

"I'm home!"

"Jackie! Jackie, stop. Mia's here." Karen protested, attempting to push him off of her.

"She's downstairs. We've got like…three whole minutes."

"Oh…Jack. Why do you do this to me?"

"Because you're sexy when you're frustrated……which is a lot. I'm really turned on all the time."

Karen smiled. She had to admit, he did know exactly what to say.

"Papa? Karen?" Mia's voice called again.

"Come on Poodle, get up."

"No…I don't wanna." Jack whined, burying his face in her shoulder. Karen sighed as Jack started kissing her bared skin. He even slowed down to nip at it slightly, his teeth gently grazing her.

Karen moaned softly, "Honey…we're never going to get out of here if you keep this up."

"That's the plan."

"Jackie, our daughter is home from school, we should go see her."

Jack sighed, "You've really gotten grouchy in your old age haven't you?"

"Old age?!" Karen reached back and grabbed a pillow, coming around to hit him with it. Jack laughed as he sat back putting his arms up to shield his face.

"Ok! Ok! I'm sorry! I take it back! Stop!" He yelled, as Karen continued her assault on him. He smirked wickedly as he snatched the pillow away from her and grabbed her around the waist, picking her up and holding her tightly against him.

"No! No!" Karen laughed as she squirmed to get away from him, for fear he was certainly about to tickle her. "Jackie, don't. Okay. Let's go downstairs."

Jack only smiled, leaning his head in to touch hers. He softly kissed her cheek.

~~~~**~~~~

Jack and Karen walked downstairs, where Mia had Rosario cornered in the living room, showing her the drawings she had done at school. Rosario looked relieved when she saw Jack and Karen coming through the door. Mia noticed her looking and turned around.

"Papa! Karen!" Mia ran to hug them both.

"Hey Blueberry." Jack hug her tightly, "Are you excited for your birthday tomorrow?"

"Yeah!"

"You get to stay home from school, you know?"

"I do?"

"Don't you always?"

"Yeah. Because I'm awesome." Mia hugged Karen, and Karen petted her hair affectionately.

"Tomorrow is all yours, honey. What do you want to do?" Karen asked.

"Go shopping, and out to lunch. And then, I want to go see Uncle Will…and see Auntie Grace."

Jack and Karen exchanged glances.

"Honey, Auntie Grace is away right now with Leo and Laila. Remember?" Karen said.

"Oh. Oh yeah." Mia thought a moment. "Well then I want to see Uncle Will and Uncle Vince. Oh…and I want to do one more thing."

"What's that?" Jack asked.

"I want you to teach me something new on the piano."

"Mia. You haven't played the piano in months." Jack said.

"I know." Mia replied, looking rather bashful. "But I've started to miss it, and I miss spending time with you. Please Papa, please?"

"How can I say no to my girl?"

"You really can't."

Jack chuckled, "Okay Blueberry. New song tomorrow."

~~~~**~~~~

The next day Karen woke to the sound of the piano being played. She smiled, she hadn't heard this in a long time. The music was soft and pleasant for a moment, then she heard a wrong note being struck, followed by Mia's laughter.

"Mia!"

"What?!" Mia laughed still, as Jack sat looking frustrated. Her fingers at her mouth in a bashful manner, though Jack knew she was anything but.

"I think you're missing on purpose."

"Who me?"

"Yes you. Now, try it again."

Mia took a deep breath and sat up straight, her fingers gracefully playing the first few keys. Jack nodded in approval, then came that wrong note again. Jack groaned.

"Blueberry!"

"I'm not doing it!"

"I know you can get this." Jack said.

"This is a hard song. Let's do a different song. I'll work up to this later."

"No, this is what we're doing."

Karen stopped at the entryway to lean against the door frame, grinning at the sight before her. She was still in her white satin nightgown, her long matching robe hung loose on her body, falling slightly off her shoulder.

"Happy birthday Mia." Karen said.

Mia turned around with a bright smile, "Karen! Come sit with us! I'm really good."

"Yeah, I heard how good you were all the way from upstairs." Karen remarked, walking over to join them on the piano bench. Jack pulled Mia into his lap so Karen would have room to sit down. Jack said nothing to Karen, only gazing at her contentedly and leaning over to give her a small kiss.

"Ok, this time I'm gonna really do it." Mia said.

She started playing again, and Karen listened. She suddenly gasped, and turned to Jack.

"Is that…"

"You recognize it?" Jack asked.

"All The Way?"

"Of course…it's our song."

"Jackie."

Jack leaned his head against hers and softly sang, "Who know where the road will lead us, only a fool would say."

Karen chimed in with him, "But if you let me love you, it's for sure I'm gonna love you all the way."

She leaned over and kissed him.

"Don't mind me." Mia said.

They parted and laughed, as she continued playing the notes.

~~~~**~~~~

It was late afternoon when Jack and Karen took Mia over to Will's. She barged right in without knocking, which caused Jack and Karen to exchange a glance and snicker. Will was in the kitchen cooking something, and Ben was on the couch with his nose buried in a book.

"Hi Mia." Ben said.

"Hello Benjamin." Mia said mockingly.

Ben rolled his eyes and returned to his reading.

"Hey!" Will said, "How's my favorite girl? Happy birthday!"

"Thanks Uncle Will. I'm ten now. That's both hands!"

"So, does that mean you can do a lot more stuff, like come taste my soup and see if it's any good?"

"Sure!" Mia ran into the kitchen.

Will handed her a spoonful of spoon, and she tasted it, then made a face.

"What? No good?"

"Understatement."

Will was a little surprised to be getting such brutal honesty from a ten-year old delivered in such a manner. But then he remembered who her parents were, as they stood innocently in the living room. He should know better.

"Ok. We'll scrap the soup."

"Now Will, don't let her discourage you. I'm sure it's not that bad. Have Karen taste it." Jack said.

Karen looked back at him, "I'm not eating that. You taste it."

"Well I would but um…my mouth is….incapacitated."

"Not all night I hope." Karen smirked.

"Guys! Kids in the room remember?" Will said.

"Relax. They don't get it." Jack said.

"No, we really don't." Ben said, "Nor do we care."

"Oh my god. He said nor. He is your kid."

Will and Ben both smirked at Jack's statement. Will decided to continue making his soup, and Ben got up from the couch and went into his room. Mia had wandered out onto the terrace to look at the plants. Jack scooted out to keep an eye on her, while Karen wandered into the kitchen with Will.

"So what's new Karen? You and I never talk." Will asked, taking a sip of his soup.

"Oh I don't know. Since Grace isn't here I really haven't…" she trailed off and looked over at Will, "Hold on. What's your game Wilma?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I know you. You and Jack are exactly alike. You corner us and then you pounce. Tear our clothes off and then…"

"Ok, ok, ok! Stop! I just wanted to know how things are going."

"How many times are you going to ask that question? You ask me, you ask Jack. Are still waiting for our relationship to fail? Because you'll be waiting a long time."

"No! Why would you think that? I'm very happy that you and Jack are together. I always have been."

"Have you? Because sometimes I think you're jealous. That you feel like somehow you lost Jack."

"Karen, you're crazy!"

"Hey." Jack poked his head in from outside, "What are we doing in here?"

"Nothing." Karen said, "I think we should be going. Mia, let's go!"

Mia ran back inside, dashing past them all and to the door, "Bye Uncle Will!" She yelled back at him.

Jack gave Will a quick hug and followed her out the door. As Karen walked out, Will grabbed her arm and she turned around.

"Maybe I am a little jealous. I'm not really close with Grace anymore, and I see what you guys still have. I miss it. And I just want you guys to keep that, you know?"

Karen smiled, "Oh don't worry Wilma, I'm not going anywhere."

"Bye Karen."

"Bye."

~~~~**~~~~

Night came, and Jack was tucking Mia into bed. She pulled her covers all the way up to her chin and snuggled down beneath her blankets, staring up at the spinning ceiling fan above her.

"Sometimes I think it's gonna fall, and crush me."

Jack looked up, "The fan?"

"Yeah."

"Every kid was afraid of that at one point or another. Even me."

"You too?" Mia asked.

"Yeah. So how does it feel to be ten years old?"

"Kinda the same." Mia sighed.

Jack laughed, "Well don't worry. Things will change before you know it. Goodnight Blueberry." He leaned down and kissed her cheek.

"Goodnight Papa."