Hey guys, sorry it took me so long to update. Story is almost done and will try to complete it promptly. Thank you once again for all the reviews. Hope you enjoy this chapter =)
Chapter 8
Janet sighed contently as she gently swung on the porch swing. The middle of summer now, the oncoming night promised to be another hot one. Dusk had come and it was nearly gone, taking with it the magnificent colours of the sky. Cradling between her hands a tall glass of cool iced tea Janet looked up enjoying the sight of the rich pinks, oranges, and indigos mixed in together with the tiny twinkling specks that had begun to slowly appear in the fast darkening sky.
Jack had called earlier and told her he was busy and wouldn't make it for dinner. Janet could count on one hand the times he had actually missed dinner with them. For the first time in a long time, Janet was feeling good about where she was at that point in her life. Not completely at peace, yet, but good. Calm. Much better than a few months ago for sure.
Janet kept on swinging, watching her son in front of her play with his toy cars. They had both enjoyed an early dinner. She smiled as she remembered her earlier phone conversation to one of her good friends and ex-co worker in Irvine. They had talked for almost an hour, catching up and promising to get in touch with Janet's other friends so they could all get together and go out for lunch sometime soon. Janet thought of how many months had gone by and she hadn't even noticed that she had not talked or seen any of her friends for quite some time. She had been so engrossed with Jack and all the changes meeting him had brought about in her life, that time had just flown by. Thinking about her friends in Irvine, brought her thoughts to the people she had known and had been good friends with, right here in Santa Monica. Specially Terri.
Terri. Her smile faded when she thought about her. She still thought of Terri as her best friend. Besides Jack, Terri was the only other person whom she had completely confided in. She missed Terri and their heart to heart conversations they'd have every once in a while. Because no matter how much she had confided in Jack too, there were some things that only another girl could understand.
Janet also thought about Chrissy, they had been close too, however, it had been more like a younger-older sister relationship. It was natural that Janet had then gravitated towards Jack once he had started living with them. Trusting him more and more, their minds becoming more in sync with each other, specially with one of their very many crazy situations. It had always been Janet and Jack finding the solutions, unless it was Janet herself, trying to get Jack out of the deep water he had gotten himself into. That brought a smile back to her lips.
When Chrissy had left, then Cindy had briefly come and gone, it had been Janet and Jack. Always the two of them. The only constants in each other's life for almost a decade. It had brought them closer still. Janet could probably say that the time in between Cindy and Terri had been when her and Jack had truly become best friends and confidantes. However, when Terri had come along it had been different from the start. Janet had clicked instantly with Terri. Not so much Jack. Although amusingly enough it had been because of Jack that Janet had met Terri. Janet chuckled lightly out loud remembering how Terri had mistakenly thought her Jack's wife. Had they really been that close? Worrying and arguing with each other as any married couple would?
However, Janet, always being the cautious one, hadn't let down her walls completely around Terri. Wary and on guard, waiting to see how Terri would handle living with Jack. Then, after explaining to Terri the big house rule, Janet found out how easily Terri's friendliness and sincerity had won her over. Janet sighed again, knowing full well that at some point she had to call Terri. Specially now, that Jack had more or less become a part of their lives. She knew he kept in touch with Terri and talked to her every now and again. She also knew that she must brace herself for whatever Terri might tell her. Knew that Terri would more than likely be upset. Just like Jack had been. She didn't blame her. Janet just hoped that Terri would understand and forgive her.
Those thoughts brought her full circle to the one person whom had captured her daily thoughts since she had met him a few months ago. Jack. They needed to talk. This time it wouldn't be about their son, or who would be doing what to give him a happy, stable home life. Those things had been taken care of. They needed to talk about themselves and their relationship. Where did it stand? Should she just forget about him and move on or would Jack reciprocate her feelings? Jack had not said anything about them, and neither had she. Janet had come to the conclusion that they were both emotional cowards. Was he dating someone else? Was that the reason he hadn't said anything? She didn't think so, however she didn't spend every waking hour with him. After he closed the restaurants, how did she know if he went straight home or out on a late date? Janet dismissed those thoughts as being paranoid. Jack would surely have told her if he had started to date someone. Hadn't they agreed upon that some months ago?
Suddenly, Janet noticed a car pulling into the driveway and wondered who it was. It was definitely not Jack's. The car parked and a young girl got out. Janet thought she might be in her early 20's maybe even as young as 19. As she got closer Janet noticed her eyes were a light warm caramel brown, her wiry, curly hair a fiery auburn, almost red and her face full of freckles giving her that extra young appearance. What would she want with us? Janet thought curiously.
The girl approached. A friendly smile on her face "You must be Miss Wood" Janet, surprised that the girl knew her name stood up and said "Yes, I am. Can I help you?" The girl still smiling said "Oh, my name's Gail. Mr. Tripper sent me. Here, this note's for you." She took out a small folded piece of paper from her purse, gave it to Janet and turned to look down at little Jack "Hey you must be Jack! I'm Gail, we're going to have fun tonight!" The little boy who had stopped playing with his cars and had been watching his mom talk to the girl smiled brightly at her and said "Hi!, you wanna play with my cars? You can be the cop car" . Janet briefly noticed that her son wasn't as shy as he used to be. Could it be the male influence that only a father brought to a household?
Janet opened the note and read it. She immediately recognized Jack's hand writing. He had scribbled quickly telling her to get ready. He'd pick her up in about an hour for a night out on the town, and he wasn't taking no for an answer. They both deserved a break He wrote about Gail. She was one of his part-time waitresses, but not to worry, she also babysat other kids once in a while to make extra cash. She was going to sit little Jack for them. Janet smiled, immediately thinking, Oh my! a night out… alone… with Jack. It would be the perfect time to talk…
Janet shook Gail's hand and invited her in. She said she'd just go and get ready, already heading up the stairs thinking of what to wear. Janet felt excitement and trepidation fill her body. She was excited that she'd be alone with Jack for it wasn't very often that they got to be alone. Their son was always with them, a sort of buffer preventing any meaningful talk between them. The few times they had been alone, it had not been for long, either their son coming into the room they were in or Jack having to rush out to the restaurants. With Jack mainly working afternoons into the night, and her working days, even though it was part time hours, and not living together, well it didn't leave much room for any private time between them.
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Jack was quickly getting ready in his apartment. He too was excited about the night ahead. He hoped Janet would accept and not think that he was 'being bossy' as she sometimes put it. He smiled to himself as he looked in the mirror thinking of Janet's voice and the tone she would take, her eyes bright and chin tilting upwards, in her signature defiant way.
He stopped shaving, the razor held up in mid air. Jack took a real look at himself. Was this relaxed smiling man staring back at him, really him? His blue eyes were clear, sparkling in anticipation of a night out with his Janet. Jack found he was happy, almost. But he was also nervous because what Janet didn't know was that he had received the official papers stating that he was his son's biological father, as well as the papers with his son's name change. His son finally bared his last name. Reading those papers had made Jack take the decision that tonight after he told Janet, he would broach the subject that they had both been putting off for so long. Their relationship. Their one night together and what had it actually meant to both of them. Jack hoped that Janet was ready. He felt that he had been prudent and waited a good amount of time. Given Janet enough time to process and get used to him being back in her life. Also, he felt that it was time to climb the last mountain standing in their way. For better or for worse, he needed to know where they stood with each other.
Jack quickly finished shaving, cleaned his face of the extra shaving cream, splashed his usual after shave cologne and with a light spring to his walk grabbed his car keys and left, a smile still lingering on his face.
True to his word, Jack arrived in exactly an hour. Janet had showered, changed and applied a little make up. She was blow drying her hair when he arrived. Her son knocked on the bathroom door and said "Mommy, dad's here. He says to hurry up!" Janet smiled as she said through the bathroom door "Tell him I'll be right out sweetie, thanks".
As Janet came down the stairs Jack's breath caught in his lungs. She looked beautiful, radiant. This is the Janet I remember, he thought. Now that everything had calmed down, more or less, she had gained some weight, and had a relaxed aura about her. That, combined with her summer tan gave her an extra healthy glow. Jack noticed she was wearing her favourite colour. A light blue strapless summer dress that brought out her tan even more and hugged her curvy figure in all the right places.
Jack met her at the bottom of the stairs and gave her a quick peck on the lips "You look fantastic. Thank you for coming out with me tonight" Janet let out a nervous giggle "Well…it's not like you gave me much choice….and I'm glad." She quickly added so Jack wouldn't think she was angry at him. "You look great yourself" Janet said shyly as her heart raced I'm flirting as if I were 15! She thought as she felt like she was back in high school going out on her first date. As their eyes met, they felt the instant attraction. That magnetic pull that had been building steadily throughout the months. Getting stronger each day regardless of their doubts.
Janet looked at Jack. He was wearing light beige slacks with a black polo shirt, open at the neck. He too sported a nice summer tan from taking them to the beach almost every Sunday. His golden color brought out even more his blondish highlights and the blue of his eyes. Those eyes that she could never get enough of. Even now as she kept on looking at him, she would gladly drown in that azure ocean.
Her excitement was building steadily. With great difficulty Janet broke their eye contact , she had to, or she wouldn't be responsible for what she'd do perched on that last stair, bringing her almost to Jack's level. His eyes burning into hers, his lips that much closer. However, looking down proved to be no safer territory as she could see his chest hairs peeking out from his shirt. At that sight, Janet experienced another jolt of attraction as she pictured his bare chest and could almost feel her hands tingling with the memory of their softness.
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Jack was no better than Janet where nerves were concerned. His stomach was full of knots and butterflies all at the same time. His nervousness from before taken up a few notches now that Janet was in front of him. As he looked on at Janet, he could see the pulse at her throat fluttering rapidly and he wished to place his mouth over it. To cover her soft throat with kisses and feel with his lips it's erratic beating. His hands fisted at his sides, trying to control himself and not give in and do what he'd been longing to do since Janet had come down the stairs. Thread his fingers through her raven gloss as he pulled her to him and crush his lips against hers. Man, I need a cold shower! Jack thought as he hoped that once they had cleared the air between them, she felt the same way as he did. If that was the case he would have his Janet back in his life, not only as his best friend, but as his lover, as his wife!
"You ready?" Was that really his voice cracking? Jack asked himself as he saw her nod her head. With a gentle hand on her lower back he guided her to the door. There they stopped to give Gail Jack's beeper number just in case and they both kissed their son goodbye.
Jack took Janet to a quiet piano bar. They ordered drinks and sat down at one of the patio tables overlooking the now darkened ocean. Over the soft piano music, they could hear the distant waves breaking. Back and forth, ebb and flow and the hiss of the spray as it hit the shore. It was a welcoming soothing sound to their nervous anticipation of what the night might bring.
They were talking quietly, Janet asking Jack about his work "I thought you were really busy tonight. I wasn't expecting to see you until tomorrow…" Jack smiled "Well I got some paper work done sooner than I thought, I still have more but…" Jack sighed feeling a little awkward for he had not really told Janet of his true intentions. Regardless, he plundered on "Truth is Janet, I've wanted to do this for a long time now. Take you out I mean, on a real date".
Janet blushed. She felt the awkwardness too as she thought, not for the first time, that they had shared a bed, shared a child, but had yet to go out on a formal date. She said quietly, smiling "Well…I guess that computer date we had didn't count much as a date.." and she quietly chuckled breaking some of the tension, remembering at the same time how they'd tried to make it into a real date. Jack too chuckled at that memory "Well, now it's real. No machine set us up, we're here because we both want to be…" Janet looked into his gentle blue eyes and nodded her agreement with a soft smile on her face.
Jack cleared his throat, not knowing how to start the long awaited conversation. He had thought that he had been nervous when they'd had to talk about little Jack's future and his role as his father. However, this felt a thousand times more nerve-wracking. Maybe it had to do with the fact that this conversation would be the catalyst to their relationship. Jack would soon know where he stood with Janet. He found that now that they were on the verge of actually defining their future, part of him didn't want to know. Wishing to leave good enough alone. Maybe all the attraction he had been feeling lately was one sided. As doubts plagued his mind, deep down he knew they needed to do this. He looked at Janet, holding her gaze steadily in his and said "Janet, I received Jacky's papers today. He's officially a Tripper now" He gave her a little awkward grin, not knowing what he could expect from Janet.
Janet smiled. The soft light emanating from the floating candle in the middle of their table softening her features, making her eyes warm and deep. She quietly said "I'm glad Jack. I really am" Janet had read into that grin and needed Jack to know that she had meant what she had just said.
Jack let out a breath, not realizing he'd been holding it, waiting for her reaction to his news. Not that Janet didn't know about the application and paperwork, they had both signed it. However, this was another change in their lives. A binding change for Janet, for with their son now being a Tripper, Jack knew that Janet knew she wouldn't be able to just up and leave. Now Jack had as much right to their son as she had and Jack had not been sure how Janet would react to that when the time came. But Janet seemed genuinely happy and calm. He decided then to keep going with his original plan of finally getting the answers to his questions and hesitantly asked " Janet, you know there's still a conversation pending between us…"
Janet once again nodded. She too, knew this conversation was long overdue. She had actually expected it sooner than this. However, here they were. Ready to talk about their passionate night and that fateful morning that she had left without a single word to anyone but a lie on a note. She looked down at the table. Her fingers nervously toyed with her napkin. Looking up at him again she answered nervously "Yes Jack, I know…" her voice was quiet, but a little edgy, as her big eyes looked steadily at his and held his gaze back.
Jack heard the nervous tone in her voice and instantly became alert. If this was too hard for her still, or she wasn't comfortable talking about it, he could always wait a little longer. He didn't want to push her away from him. He needed her to trust him. Jack knew she did, but not completely. There was always that hint of reservation in her. Could it be because of their newfound friendship? Knowing Janet it could very well be. Wasn't it Janet that had made their number one household rule about not getting romantically involved with either roommate so it wouldn't ruin the friendship? Jack knew her thoughts were not unfounded. Many a friendship had been lost because of a romantic involvement. But in their case Jack felt that they were different. That they were right for each other and could work it out. He had felt it on that morning and right now he still felt that their friendship would not be severed. However, he would still leave the choice up to her. It was the gentlemanly thing to do, he figured. So he quietly said. "Hey listen Janet, I don't want to spook you. I don't want us not to be friends if we have this conversation. So just say the word. If you're not ready, I'll wait, but like I told you before, just don't make me wait forever." and in a softer voice that came out sounding more like a plea he continued "But I need to know Janet…I deserve to know …" Jack wasn't willing to lose all the ground he'd gained with Janet in these past months. If she wasn't ready to talk about their night and that morning she'd left just yet, then he was willing to wait.
Janet couldn't help hearing the pleading note behind Jack's words. She knew he needed answers that only she had. Just like only he had the answers to her questions. Janet smiled thinly, but without any waver in her soft brown eyes, looked straight into Jack's "It's ok Jack. I'm ok. We can talk about it. I just want you to know that whatever the outcome, I want us to be friends too. We were best friends once and now for our son's sake, I feel we should remain as such"
Jack truly liked the sound of that. If at the end Janet decided to tell him that she no longer had romantic feelings about him, at least they were promising to keep their friendship. Could he ask for more? Unfortunately no. But he could live with that, he guessed. Janet as a friend was better than no Janet. Jack had been through that path and he had been at the most miserable point in his life. He smiled brightly and simply said "Sounds good to me"
Janet took a sip of her chilled white wine. She inhaled deeply, the salty sea air filling her lungs, as she saw that Jack was waiting for her to begin. Oh goodness where to begin? She asked herself and irrationally thought why did ladies always have to go first? She was running through her mind the many ways to start their conversation when Jack's beeper went off.
Jack looked up at Janet "It's the house number…" Janet immediately got up from her chair. Panic written all over her face "oh Jack! Why would Gail be beeping you unless something terrible has happened? We just got here"
Jack too was surprised, and frustrated at the same time. Janet had been about to talk! Finally giving him a glimpse of what had actually gone through her mind that had made her bolt. Damn it! Jack thought. He told Janet not to jump to conclusions. He would make a call to the house and see what was going on. Maybe Gail couldn't find something that little Jack wanted. Janet didn't say anything, she just followed him to the bar where they had the phone. She had a feeling it wasn't going to be good news.
Jack asked the bartender if he could use the phone and the bartender quickly extended the phone to him. "Hello? Gail? It's Mr. Tripper ….oh I see… ok, we'll be right there, don't worry" and he hung up. Janet already had his arm in a death grip asking what was wrong. Was her son ok, was he hurt, had he fallen, etc. Jack put his hands on her shoulders "Janet, relax, Jack is fine. He's not hurt, Gail says he seems to be running a fever. She hasn't given him anything because she wasn't sure if she should. I told her we'd be right there"
Jack paid the bill and once again with a hand at the small of Janet's back, guided them quickly to his car. "Does he get sick very often? Since you guys have been here I haven't noticed him get sick" Jack asked Janet who was very quiet. She told Jack that their son was a very healthy child. That only once had he been very sick but it had been due to chicken pox, and that was it. "He gets the odd cold, but he doesn't even run low grade fevers, and usually the cold is gone by the third day. He doesn't even have to miss school!" She finished, an anxious note to her voice.
Both Jack and Janet were worried. What could it be? Janet told Jack she had noticed that he had not eaten well today at dinner but she had assumed it was due to the heat of the summer days. Should they take him to the hospital? Would the hospital see him over just a fever? They discussed these things as Jack drove as quickly as it was safe for him to do so.
When they arrived, Jack thanked and paid Gail after she told them how she had noticed that he had become quiet and a bit lethargic. When she had touched his forehead he had felt quite hot and clammy and had beeped them immediately. Janet quickly ran to the living room couch where she found her son lying there, sleeping restlessly. His face flushed with the fever. She crouched down beside him and touched his forehead. He was burning hot.
Jack came and stood behind her crouching figure and said worriedly "He does look clammy and flushed…" Janet told Jack to stay with him while she went to get the thermometer. He bent over and touched his son. Jack couldn't believe someone could feel this hot.
Janet ran back down and put the thermometer under her son's tongue. Jack had him on his lap, while Janet knelt on the floor in front of them and looked impatiently back at the wall clock. Then she remembered she didn't have anything for fever since little Jack never got them. As they waited, Jack felt like he was out of his depth. He didn't know what to do. This was a totally new situation for him, specially with a sick child. But this was his child that was sick and he was going to make sure he offered any help that Janet might need.
Janet finally looked at the thermometer. She gave a little gasp "Oh Jack, it's quite high! I don't have anything to give him. He's always so healthy…" Jack saw the real worry in Janet's face and that made him worry even more. Janet had lived with their son his entire life and if she was this worried, it meant that this was serious. He immediately asked her what could he do and she told him to pick up some fever medicine at a drugstore. She gave him the name and off he went.
While Jack was gone, Janet carried their son to his bedroom. She took off his clothes until he had nothing on but his underwear. She knew she needed to cool down his body. She ran to the kitchen and filled a bowl with lukewarm water and got a washcloth and proceeded to bathe his body. Why was Jack taking so long? Little Jack needs his medicine. Janet desperately thought, while she kept on bathing his little body. The boy gave little moans here and there. Janet would hush him quietly, talking to him sweetly, telling him that she loved him very much.
Suddenly she heard the front door and heard Jack call out to her. "I'm up here Jack" she answered quickly. Thank God, thought Janet. Jack approached her and gave Janet a small bottle "Here, I got him this. I talked to the pharmacist. He said to give him two of these chewables and that the fever should go down within the hour. But if it doesn't, we should take him to the hospital…." Janet looked up when she noticed he hesitated "and… what else did the pharmacist say Jack?" Jack hadn't wanted to say this to her. He knew it would make her more nervous but he had to "He said that if the fever got higher, he could convulse.."
Janet let out a gasp and with tears already pooling in her eyes she said "Oh Jack! What should we do?" Jack had to calm her. He knew Janet. She would panic and work herself up until she was in tears. Just like when they thought Chrissy was dying, Jack mused. For being such a level headed person Janet could really turn into a bundle of nerves when things were out of her control.
"Well, let's wake him and give him these chewables. The pharmacist did say they should work" He told her calmly. Janet tenderly shook little Jack awake. He woke up but was disoriented "Mom?" "Yes sweetie, it's me…here can you chew these two tablets for me? They'll make you feel much better" "I'm not hungry" the boy whined in a low voice.
Jack sat down behind him putting him on his lap saying "Hey cowboy, you have a fever, chew these tablets, they taste real yummy, just like bubble gum. You're gonna feel much better, I promise" His son looked up at Jack and shook his head no. "Jack, you need to take the medicine. Here I'm going to put one in your mouth, now open up" With his stern tone, his son looked up and obediently opened his mouth. He had never heard his dad use that tone with him.
Janet looked at Jack and was about to say something about his tone of voice, specially on a sick child, but Jack looked at her and shook his head 'no.' He pointedly looked down at his son, making Janet follow his eyes and she saw that their son was already chewing the second tablet. Janet understood in that moment that all little Jack had needed was a stern voice telling him this was no game.
"There you go. I promise you're going to feel much better soon, sweetie. Try to sleep now. I love you" Jack said in a much quieter voice to his son, running his hand lovingly on his head. He laid him back down again as he got up from his bed. "Love you too dad" little Jack mumbled. He was already half asleep, face still flushed.
Janet still sitting down by her son's side looked up at Jack and smiled warmly at him in silent thanks. He winked at her and sat at the foot of the bed watching Janet who kept on bathing their son with the cloth. Both Jack and Janet stayed like that for a very long time.
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Janet slowly noticed that her son was sleeping more peacefully and his face was less flushed. She got the thermometer and took his temperature. It was down to normal. It had taken a little over an hour for the medicine to work but finally it had. She let out a long sigh of relief.
She looked at Jack who had fallen asleep in a semi sitting position against the foot of the bed frame. His arms crossed at his chest and his chin drooping towards it. She smiled tenderly. A warmth spreading throughout her body as she thought, this wonderful man is my son's father! and not for the first time thought how glad she was that it had been Jack whom she shared a child with. She knew that he was still upset about her running that morning six years ago, but what could she have told him…that she had been waiting for him to declare his undying love for her? She knew Jack Tripper. He hadn't rolled that way back then.…and quite frankly, she didn't know if he rolled that way now, although she was highly suspicious that he didn't. Janet sighed.
She grabbed the bowl and washcloth and put them in the bathroom. She came back into her son's room, and went to get him clean underwear and a clean undershirt. Janet was changing her son, who was sleepily going through the motions when she heard Jack wake up.
With a start Jack woke up, immediately asking Janet "Is he better? Did the fever come down? Sorry, I fell asleep" Janet looked around, smiling at Jack's sleepy, but worried face, whispering "Yeah, the fever's down. I'm just trying to get his clean undershirt on so he can sleep more comfortably" Jack got up and went to the other side of the bed and helped her get the shirt on his son. After, they each kissed him on the forehead and went down to get some juice. They were both exhausted. Jack pondered at how someone could feel so tired and drained when only a little over an hour had passed. He instinctively knew that it had to do with being a parent, and that the worry came with the territory at having a sick child.
Jack looked at Janet, she looked tired, and in need of some sleep too "Janet.. You don't mind if I stay the night do you? I don't feel comfortable leaving you to deal alone with him. He's sick, I can help. I'll take the couch or sleep in the empty room on the carpet.."
Janet smiled at Jack "No, I don't mind. I plan to watch him for a while longer so why don't you just take my bed? You don't have to cramp up on the couch. You must be more tired than me, I didn't work today, you did…" she saw that he was going to protest so she told him quickly with a forward motion of her hand "Go on Jack, I don't mind. If I get tired I'll sleep with him. If his fever goes up again, I'll be right there"
Jack tenderly looked at her and said "No Janet, if his fever goes up, you come and get me. I'll take care of him too, you're not alone anymore. And thanks for letting me crash on your bed" He walked towards her and lightly pecked her on the lips saying goodnight.
She stood there pondering his words you're not alone anymore and found them comforting. She did feel support where little Jack was concerned. Even a few moments ago, she had confirmed what she already knew, that her son did indeed need a father. It had taken Jack's stern voice for their son to take his medicine.
She went into her son's room and sat by his side. Touched his forehead and found him cool to the touch. Relief. She decided to leave only his night light on. As minutes went by, she found herself getting sleepy and she lied down exactly where Jack had been sitting before, at the foot of the bed. Just for a little bit she thought sleepily.
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Jack woke up to a sound. He quickly got up. Was his son running a fever again and Janet hadn't wanted to wake him? He peeked in the bathroom, since the door was ajar, the light on, and found his son. He was drinking water out of his cup. He told his dad he was thirsty. Jack gave him more water and then took him back to his room. He touched his forehead and found his skin cool and dry. But he noticed that his undershirt and underwear were damp due to his sweating. Jack quickly went to his son's dresser and took out a clean shirt and underwear and told him to put them on.
He noticed that Janet was sleeping soundly, but in a very uncomfortable position at the foot of his son's bed. Horizontal style, feet dangling off one side, her hands resting on her tummy. He smiled as he warmly looked at her and decided that she needed her own bed.
Jack quietly whispered to his son "Mommy doesn't look too comfortable here. Do you mind if I take her to her bed?" his son giggled and said "No, I don't mind. You can take her daddy. I feel much better" Jack kissed his son and then effortlessly picked Janet up in his arms.
She curled into him putting her face into the nook of his neck mumbling something unintelligible and sighed. Jack held her close to him as he walked the short distance to her bedroom. He didn't want to let her down but he supposed he should. He gently placed her on her double bed, took off her slippers and carefully so as not to wake her brushed a stubborn lock of hair off her forehead. Jack stared at Janet a little longer and sighed, pulling the covers over her.
He hesitated a bit, debating whether he should now go sleep on the couch, but what if his son woke up again? Janet hadn't even heard him. She had always been a heavy sleeper. He decided to take the other side. It was a wide bed, they were adults and their son was sick, he reasoned. Deep down, it felt good to know that Janet would be sleeping right beside him. Jack didn't think he would get any sleep now, but as he laid down, his hands under his head, listening to Janet's even breathing, he felt his eyes drooping and soon was fast asleep
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For the third time that night Jack awoke with a start. He felt someone watching him. He looked over and found his son staring at him. He looked at the bedside clock, it was a little past 5am. Jack quietly asked his son if he was feeling alright. His son giggled softly and said "I'm good" and kept on giggling. Jack wondered what was so funny and asked his son. Little Jack replied "You and mommy" and he let out a louder giggle.
Jack hadn't noticed that both of them had somehow gravitated towards each other and were now in the middle of the bed. Janet had curled into him. He had his arm wrapped around her and she had her head on his shoulder, her small hand on his chest. He smiled tenderly at her and with a finger on his lips told his son to be quiet and not wake mommy up.
His son didn't move and Jack asked him if he wanted to lie down with him and mommy. Little Jack smiled wider and said yes. Climbing in bed on Jack's other side, he laid his head on Jack's other shoulder after Jack had put his arm around his son. He looked at Janet on one side and his son on the other. For the first time in years, he felt whole. Complete. This felt right. It was like hearing a small piece of a jigsaw puzzle clicking into place. Father and son soon fell back asleep, right along with Janet.
Jack woke up to loud voices, he was disoriented at first but then noticed that he was still on Janet's bed. She was still sleeping beside him. She had draped one of her legs on top of both of his and her arm was now over his stomach. He smiled, and hugged her closer, feeling her bare shoulders as she was still wearing her strapless dress from the night before. Ahh, I could die a happy man now. Janet Wood is sleeping in my arms. Jack thought tenderly.
Jack noticed that his son was sitting at the foot of the bed, happily watching cartoons on Janet's TV. "Hey sweetie, I guess you're feeling fine if you've decided to watch T.V. but do you mind turning down the volume? Mommy's still sleeping" He looked at the clock again and noticed it was 10:30am.
"Mommy never sleeps this late" his son said happily coming up to Jack and sitting close to him after having lowered the volume. Jack smiled as he remembered having done the same thing every Sunday morning with his parents. It had been his favourite time to look forward to. He quickly touched his son's forehead and noticed he was still cool. He whispered "Are you hungry?" his son said he was and he wanted pancakes. Jack smiled and said he'd make them, but they needed to be quiet so mommy wouldn't wake up because she was very tired.
Jack didn't really want to get up and disturb Janet, he liked having her draped over him. She hadn't even stirred, but his son was hungry. So regretfully, he slowly started to remove her arm from his stomach and suddenly Janet woke up. Opening her big brown eyes. He could tell she was confused by seeing him beside her and then he knew the exact moment she noticed that she had draped herself on him…
He smiled "Good morning sleepy head". Janet blushed furiously, quickly disentangling herself from Jack and sitting up, pulling the sheets up to her chest. She was mortified at what she had done. "Hi" she said shyly, then noticed her son watching her. "Hey sweetie, come here let me touch your forehead" her son groaned telling her that dad had already done that, why did every body need to keep touching him. Janet and Jack both chuckled.
Janet looked over at Jack and said "Sorry…about …the way I sleep. I'm not used to sharing…my bed. I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable?" Jack smiled at her "Not at all. Actually, I slept like a baby" and he truly had. Jack couldn't remember having such a rested night even though it had been interrupted several times.
Then she noticed that she was on her bed and not her son's. "How did I …get here?" she knew the answer before the full question was out of her mouth, but she asked anyway. Their son, having heard their conversation put in "Daddy carried you mommy. You were so sleepy you fell asleep on my bed. You looked funny!" and he giggled. Then he said "I'm hungry daddy, make me pancakes!" Janet blushed furiously as she pictured Jack carrying her.
Jack got out of bed. He was still dressed the same as the night before, but now he was a wrinkled mess. He looked down at himself and chuckled out loud. Janet smiled too and said she could make the pancakes if he wanted to go home and change. "No way, my son here wants pancakes, and I'm gonna make him my famous blueberry pancakes a la Tripperrr!" This last said in a French accent. His son gleefully cheered "yeah, alright!" and he stood on the bed and told his dad he wanted a piggy back ride down to the kitchen. Jack obediently turned around and let him hop on. "Let's go cowboy!" Jack said as his son pealed with laughter at the funny horse noises his father made.
Janet just said after them "Both of you are silly! Careful going down the stairs!" Jack now half way down said "Don't worry mommy!" Imitating a little boy's voice.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oo
Janet was in the shower. Her mind racing. Was something changing in their relationship once again? Jack hadn't seemed upset that she had pretty much draped herself all over him. In fact, he had looked downright happy. Glowing almost. She honestly couldn't remember rolling towards him during the night, let alone hugging him.
She had woken up to find a normal family scene. As if her and Jack had lived together always. Well, they had been roommates for almost 8 years…and it wouldn't be the first time they shared a bed. But what amazed her most was that her son hadn't said anything about Jack being in her bed. Did her small child, not yet six instinctively know that this was the way a mommy and daddy slept? Did he sense that this is how it was in a typical family?
As she changed into clean clothes her body tingled remembering how she'd been hugging Jack in her sleep and how he had been hugging her back, his arm holding her close to him. It had been very intimate. Janet decided that they should have that long awaited conversation soon. Get it over with. No more doubts, I can't stand it any longer She thought. Too bad they'd been interrupted yesterday. But she had a feeling, not sure if it was good or not, but a feeling of a change that was once again coming….
Janet found Jack and her son, both wearing aprons, setting a stack of pancakes on the table. "You're just in time mom, we were going to start eating without you if you took any longer" Jack said winking at her. "Yeah mommy, you were taking soooo long" her son put in dramatically. Janet smiled widely and kissed her son on the forehead, ruffling his hair "Sorry sweetie, I needed a shower"
Jack didn't know if she meant that she needed a shower because she had slept in her clothes and felt exactly how he was feeling, all wrinkled, or if it was because of her having slept with him and needed to wash him off of her. That thought put a damper on Jack's happy mood Stop reading too much into things, Jack-O He chastised himself.But Jack decided at that moment that him and Janet needed to talk. Clear up the air between them once and for all, and finally get the answers he wanted, answers that he needed.
Jack and Janet had both unknowingly decided to finally set things straight. As usual their minds in sync with each other. In the past all they'd had to do was look into each other's eyes and they would know what the other was thinking. Throughout all their years as roommates they had become quite adept at it, helping them out many times specially as trouble always had a knack of finding them.
After breakfast, Jack told them that he needed to go and change and catch up on paperwork. His son came up to him and hugged him around the waist, his head barely past it "Aww, you're not coming back today? Why can't you live with us? Mom tell him to stay, I want him to live here too".
Janet was shocked, where had that outburst come from? Her son had put her on the spot. It wasn't like him to blurt things out like that without asking her first if it was ok. Had waking up and finding his father for breakfast for the second time in as many months triggered something in her son? A little voice in her head piped up saying, Jack's his father. Jacky senses that this is where he should be, and he needs him…
Jack looked at Janet, then at his son. He smiled and crouched down to be at eye level with him. "Sweetie, I have my clothes at my apartment" "Why can't you bring your clothes here?" his son said with a small pout. In his child's mind this was a simple solution.
Janet quickly thought, oh what's the harm. He could stay every now and again. As long as he had no other commitments... Am I insane?! But went ahead anyways "Jack… if you want, we could set up the third bedroom for you and you could stay every now and again….it's ok" she pointedly looked at their son, and in a quiet voice added "He needs you around. Bring your paperwork. If I can, I could help you…"
Jack stood up, his son hugging him around the waist once again "Yeah dad, bring your clothes and after we can play Sorry" Jack looked at Janet, questions in his eyes.. "Are you sure…?" Jack's eyes asked. Janet, staring into Jack's eyes nodded and smiled, reassuring Jack that it was alright. He smiled warmly back, never taking his eyes off of hers, silently thanking her as he added out loud "Thanks Jan" Janet was once again feeling that now familiar warmth spread throughout her body, her knees turning to jelly at hearing Jack use his shortened form of her name. That she could remember, only Jack had ever called her Jan.
Within hours, Jack had brought what Janet thought were a lot of suits, everyday clothes and an inflatable mattress he said he had borrowed from Larry, until he could purchase a bed, Jack informed her. The spare bedroom was quickly beginning to look used, and very masculine. Luckily they had not turned it into little Jack's play area as they had originally planned.
Janet thought she'd feel panicked and suffocated as she had when Jack had first become a part of their daily lives, but instead Janet found she felt safe and comfortable knowing that Jack would be spending some nights with them.
Later in the evening, their son already sleeping after a pizza dinner and a fun game of Sorry, Jack said to Janet that he needed to start his paperwork. He had put it off too long already and tomorrow he needed to give it to the accountant. Janet nodded and said she could help him. Jack told her not to worry, she had to go to work in the morning.
Jack would stay with their son during the morning, take him to the paediatrician to see what had been the cause of the fever, and wait until she got back. By that time Jack would be right on time to go to his restaurants and see the accountant. Their schedules were working out perfectly. Too bad that their conversation would have to be, once again, postponed.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooo
Janet had been asleep when she heard some noise downstairs. She looked at her bedside clock and saw it was 10:30pm. She was scared at first thinking that someone might have broken into the house, but quickly remembered that Jack was staying the night.
She tossed and turned a few more minutes in her bed, not finding a comfortable position to fall back asleep. Her bed suddenly feeling too big and lonely now after sharing it with Jack last night, she decided to get up and see what he was doing after hearing more noises.
She found him sitting at the dining room table, pouring over papers still, absently stirring his coffee, which was probably the source of the noises she had heard as he made himself a cup. "Jack, when do you plan on going to sleep?" he looked up startled "Janet! I didn't hear you come down. Sorry, did I wake you? Go back to sleep hon, you have an early morning tomorrow, I don't" Jack thought she looked adoringly cute and sexy at the same time, with her long glossy hair all tousled from sleep. But as he took a look at her pyjama's he was sure Janet would notice his eyes bulging out in surprise. Silently he wondered when she had stopped using her more conservative cottony jersey style pyjama's for this kind.
Janet had a black nightdress style pyjama with thin satin straps leaving her shoulders almost bare. However, it wasn't low cut, and the black material went all the way down to her calves, not revealing much but at the same time the satiny material enticingly clung and outlined enough of her curves every time she moved, that it quickly put Jack's mind into overdrive. With a small smile on his lips, Jack thanked his lucky stars that she had obviously forgotten her robe. He longed for her, longed to feel her wrapped up in his arms as she'd been throughout last night. He felt his blood quicken in his veins, and thought of all the years he'd missed her.
Janet looked at Jack, coffee mug on the table, his hair a little dishevelled, probably from raking his fingers through it many times, Janet guessed, as was his habit whenever he was frustrated. He looked tired. Whether he had an early day or not, he needed sleep. "Do you need any help? I'm good at sorting out paperwork…remember?"
Jack looked at Janet and smiled widely, remembering all the times she'd helped him with the paperwork from the bistro when he'd first opened it up. Dismissing all erotic thoughts of her from his head, he answered "Well, if you're willing to help…" Janet took a chair beside Jack and he leaned into her, one arm behind her on the chair back. He showed her the paperwork, explaining how to do it. As he did so, he caught a whiff of her faint perfume that still clung to her. Jack knew he was going to have to concentrate very hard to not just lean that much closer and nuzzle the soft skin of her neck as he was longing to do so right at that moment.
Unaware of Jack's thoughts, Janet listened intently as he explained what she had to do, and as usual, Janet always keen and bright, grasped everything right away. Sorting dates, calculating amounts, etc. They both got down to work and an hour and a half went by without either of them noticing it.
Finally putting down the last paper, Janet yawned and looked at the wall clock "Goodness Jack it's midnight! But we're done" This last said as she stretched her arms out and gave another yawn.
Jack stretched too "Yeah, I thought I'd never get it done, thank you for all your help" Janet smiled getting up from her chair saying "No problem. Well I'm off to bed.." Jack got up too, came up to her and said "Goodnight Jan" and he lowered his head towards hers.
He had meant to give her a small peck on the lips, but as his lips touched hers, he suddenly couldn't get enough of her. Having her in his arms last night and sitting so close to her just now had been an overload on his senses. He quickly circled her back with his arms and pulled her towards him, making her body flush with his. He deepened the kiss as he felt Janet's lips respond. The silken feel of them and the sweetness from the juice she'd drank against his own lips drove him insane.
Janet let out a soft moan, circling Jack's head, threading her fingers through his soft hair as she felt his lips suddenly leave hers only to land on her throat, then travelling up to gently nibble on her earlobe and back to her lips. She pulled him closer to her. Jack touched the inside of her mouth with his tongue and instantly Janet felt she was on fire. Flames licking at every nerve ending in her body. Her body once again awakened to sensations she had thought she'd never feel again. Her minds eye quickly giving her snapshots of their night together. A night she had dreamed about endlessly, wishing, longing for it to be repeated, but back then, thinking it could never be. Did she dare think different now?
Jack had splayed one of his hands on Janet's throat, wanting to feel her pulse beat hard, pleased at knowing he was the cause of its quickening. His other hand running up and down her back. The silkiness of her pyjama arousing him even more as he could feel her hot flesh through it. Their kiss deepened even more, tongues once again sparring, remembering the velvety feel of each other. Remembering another night, a night never to be forgotten.
Through the lust haze in his mind Jack thought, no, we need to talk first. I can't do this to her again. It nearly destroyed us before, now it would kill us. Reluctantly, he slowly released her lips giving them a last soft tug. He looked deep into her bottomless brown eyes, putting his forehead against hers, his hands on either side of her face, thumbs gently caressing her jaw. Janet had her hands on his. Looking straight into his eyes she noticed his pupils dilated making his blue eyes seem almost black with desire. Both panting hard. Breathless from their kiss. All sleepiness gone.
Quietly Jack whispered "Janet, we need to finish our conversation from yesterday…" Janet's mind came down very fast from the cloud she'd been on. Her eyes coming into focus, she nodded her agreement.
They both went to the couch and sat down, facing each other. Janet spoke first, her voice didn't waiver as she firmly said "What do you want to know Jack. I don't want any more secrets. I want to finally be able to turn the page of that part of my life and move on" Jack immediately caught the words 'move on' and thought, oh well, if she needs to move on, at least I'll finally know why she doesn't want me. But her kiss was so passionate….
So he simply asked the question that had been plaguing and torturing him for six long years "I want to know why you left, Janet. Why did you run out on me that morning?" Jack held his breath as he braced himself for what was to come.
Janet swallowed hard, this was tougher than she thought. Recalling that morning, Janet started out quietly after a couple of minutes "When I woke up that morning, Jack, everything that had happened the night before slammed into me. I don't know if you could understand but I felt ashamed. I was engaged to someone else and I had gone to bed with my best friend." She paused and Jack didn't know whether he should say something or just wait. He opted to wait, he was scared that if he said anything at all right now, she'd clam up and that would be the end of that. He waited and sure enough she continued.
Janet cleared her throat "My head was spinning…it was as if I were ticking off a mental checklist. Engagement, broken. House rule, very broken, cheating on our partners, done, our friendship, gone!…I couldn't live with the person that I had become for that one night….I had become the other woman. I kept asking myself, how could I have let us get to that point? Or even worse, how could I have let my best friend instead of my soon to be husband be my first?"
Jack didn't know what to say, the only thing that came to his mind was that Janet had felt shame and regretted their one night. He felt winded. Like all life had been sucked out of his being. All these years of wanting her, hoping that one day he'd get a second chance with Janet and now it was all coming to an end "…you regret that night?" was all he could ask, his mouth dry, his heart heavy. A strange burning sensation behind his eyes.
Janet fidgeted on the couch, looking down. How could she tell him that she'd never regret that night, but at the same time make him understand why she had ran? "You see Jack, it's complicated…like I said, I was ashamed. Shocked. I had cheated on Phillip, I had been the cause of you cheating on Vicky. And not to mention Terri, our best friend. After I stressed to her that it was a big no-no to get romantically involved with you when she first moved in, I not only break our household rule, but I felt that I had just trampled all over our friendship…I panicked ….and…I knew you Jack…" Janet went on in a semi-strangled voice "You'd tell me the next morning that it had been great, that you still respected me, but our lives would continue as if nothing had happened. I couldn't bear to hear that from you Jack. Not from my best friend who knew how much my saving myself meant to me. To just think that you might flippantly turn it into just one more of your one night stands….. I thought, I'd rather take the sweet memories and run, and that's exactly what I did" There. She'd said it, getting at the crux of the matter.
Jack was speechless. Shock didn't describe what he was feeling at that moment hearing that Janet had thought that he would have taken her to bed and dismissed it the next morning as one more notch under his belt. Finally he found the words "Janet, when I woke up the next morning I felt…I felt like I was a new man. I wanted to share that with you because you were the reason for that feeling. If you would have stuck around, I would have told you how much I loved you!" Janet's eyes went wide with shock. Had Jack mentioned the word LOVE? Now it was her turn to be speechless.
Jack went on, grasping Janet's small cold hands in his "You see Janet, that morning I realized that it was always you. Yeah I flirted with Chrissy, Cindy and Terri. Girls came and girls went. But it was YOU. You, who intimidated me. Who made me want to be the best man I could possibly be. You, who helped me out of so many wild situations and cheered me up whenever I'd lost hope. You who always understood me best. Whom I always turned to first for an honest opinion." Jack quieted for a minute, needing to gather his thoughts in his head before he went on. He needed Janet to understand just like he had come to understand that their night had not been a spur of the moment, a lust filled whim, or a sleazy one night stand. He needed her to understand that it had been all his feelings for her coming to the surface, coming together and there having been only one possible outcome. Them. Jack and Janet. Together. As friends and as lovers.
"You see Janet, when you announced your engagement and soon to be wedding to Phillip, I almost died! Why did you think I got so upset that morning that you told me and Terri in the kitchen? That news burned in me for days and it was because I suddenly realized I could not picture my life without you…. That's why I took that chance and made love to you on that evening. To have you respond… ah Janet, to have you respond was complete bliss. For me, making love to you was, I guess, my way of admitting how much I loved you, for I knew you were not like those other girls. I knew that taking you to my bed meant a serious relationship, a commitment, although I hadn't quite thought my feelings completely through until the next morning."
Jack cupped Janet's cheek as he saw she was blushing fiercely, probably at remembering their night just as vividly as he was "I was shocked, but also delighted when I found out I'd been your first lover. I knew, like you said, how much that meant to you. I thought that morning as I was coming awake, that you must feel something for me too, if you had given yourself so completely to me." Jack grew quiet again, then in a near whisper he continued "But you were gone. You left without ever giving me a chance. Only leaving that stupid note." Janet's eyes were downcast, listening to Jack, not daring to look at him as he spoke.
Then more forcefully he continued "I turned to hug you to me, to tell you that for the first time I had actually made love to a woman, and found only an empty bed. How could you have thought, after living with me for 8 years that I would take what happened between us lightly? Treat you like it had meant nothing? Didn't you know me?" Jack looked down, taking his hand off her cheek and placing it once again in Janet's hands. Quietly he summed up what his life had really been like for six long years. Looking into her eyes intently, he softly said "That morning,….that morning, you broke me Janet. Not just my heart, but all of me" His quiet voice cracking a little at the end.
Janet looked into Jack's blue eyes and saw raw pain. She tightened her hands on Jack's, tears in her eyes because for the first time she'd had a glimpse of what Jack's life had really been like after she'd left. She could kick herself for putting both of them through six years of hell. She whispered "Oh….Jack" Then continued "It was because I knew you that I thought what I did. You, always coming and going with different girls, never serious, …and then Vicky came along and it looked that you were finally being serious and I messed that up for you…and, and our friendship, that mattered more to me than any romantic relationship where if anything went wrong, we'd both lose….I was scared"
Jack shook his head "I can see how you would've thought that, but not with you Janet. You were completely different. I should have said something that night, I admit. But I was in so much shock at the depth of my feelings for you, shocked that you were actually responding to me that I got carried away. Then you left….I've had this anger building up in me for six long years, vowing to myself that if I ever saw you I'd only want my answers and then walk away and never look back again. But the minute I saw you running for that bus, I knew that I had to find you….and have you back in my life. After I found out I was Jacky's dad, and it all sunk in, I was ecstatic that it was with you that I'd had a son" Jack smiled tenderly at her, cupping her cheek once again.
Janet didn't know what to say. Everything Jack said made sense. She, once again, had jumped to conclusions and had assumed that Jack wouldn't want to commit to her. Assumed that their friendship would be ruined if they ever went any further. When now, here they were, friendship building stronger than ever, even though they had already been lovers. The world had not caved in or ended as Janet had once thought would happen the minute they crossed that line.
Jack was looking at Janet, tenderly holding her hands again, his thumb tracing gentle circles on them. She had finally answered his question of why she had left. He had never looked at it from Janet's perspective. However, knowing Janet, he now could see exactly why she thought what she did, and left. But he needed to know if she actually regretted their night. If she had looked back these six years and felt like she had made the biggest mistake of her life. So once again he repeated his question "Janet, did you really regret our night?"
Janet blushed. How could he think that I regretted our night? She looked straight at him. She could see his anxious expression, waiting for her answer. She smiled sweetly and tenderly looked into his eyes "No Jack, even though I felt ashamed and dishonest, deep down I didn't regret it. Not one bit… Not at all. You see Jack, when you looked at me that night, after nearly colliding with each other, I knew I couldn't marry Phillip. I knew I was in love with you. Had been for quite some time, probably since that night that you made me sing you a lullaby and we shared my bed." They both smiled at each other at that memory, and Jack squeezed her hands signalling for her to go on. Janet did, in her quiet voice "My thoughts kept going back to that night for some reason, and my unreasonable anger at you for having thought that we had made love, after all, it had all been one big misunderstanding and even though you apologized after, I realized I was still a little angry and frustrated not because of what you had thought but because if we had you wouldn't have remembered it. Why the anger though? I kept asking myself, and never coming up with an answer. I guess subconsciously I tried fighting my feelings, but then, on our night, the minute you kissed me like you'd never done before, I stopped thinking. There was no more reasoning in my head. What happened next didn't even register in my mind until the next morning" There, she'd said it. Had stripped her mind, barren her soul to this man that could easily shatter her heart into a tiny thousand pieces if he chose to tell her that he didn't love her now. That by leaving she had killed any romantic feelings he could have once had for her.
Jack was stunned, his bewildered thoughts screaming in his head Janet had loved him?… for quite some time? Probably since that night he couldn't remember a single thing?! And now, having his final question answered in such an honest and direct manner, as had always been her style, finally lifted the last of his burdens, cleansing his soul. But he needed to be sure of her feelings, so he asked "And now…do you still feel the same…?"
Janet looked down, her face went pale, but she knew she had to be honest, even if he didn't feel the same. With a slight move of her head she barely nodded her head yes. She kept her eyes downcast looking at their joined hands, too scared to look into his eyes and see pity and rejection.
Jack sensed her distress. He could feel it in the tremor of her hands, her eyes looking at his one moment, then looking down at her lap the next. She was pale and had caught her bottom lip in between her perfectly white teeth…. And had nodded YES! With a light heart beating wildly in his chest Jack brought a finger under her chin making her look at him "Janet" He said softly. She looked up, her eyes wide, anxious.
He was surprised to see that she was scared, why? "Honey, I had no idea that you felt like that about me for a while. And I guess if I were you, I wouldn't have said anything either looking at my track record with girls. But I want you to know that after our night, that stopped. I realized for the first time what being in love was really about. Worse, being in love and not having the one person you love right beside you. Janet, my feelings haven't changed one bit for you either. I love you, my little Jan"
Janet kept on looking at his face, surprise written in her expressive eyes. Jack immediately understood that she had been preparing herself for his rejection, not his love. He went on "You silly girl, couldn't you tell how much I love you from our kisses? Didn't I just tell you that the minute I saw you I had to have you back in my life? Janet, I want to spend the rest of my life with you and our son…if you'll have me?"
Janet couldn't believe her ears. Jack had just confessed his love and sort of… proposed? She was the happiest woman on earth. Her dream was coming true right in front of her. She smiled widely. That smile that Jack had always loved. It lit up her eyes, softened her features and showed off her perfect Colgate smile. Janet daringly, put her hand on his cheek, looking straight into his blue eyes she loved so much "Jack, I love you the same way I did as when we were roommates.…. I never stopped. Even though I had lost all hope of this, of you and me, one day coming true. I too want to spend the rest of my life with you. I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be"
Relationships change in an instant just like Jack and Janet's was at that very moment. As each confession was made, as each looked into the eyes of the other, they felt its shifting. They looked at each other some more, holding hands still, each not believing their ears. Fearing to move and have all this be a sweet dream that might shatter at any moment.
Finally Jack spoke "C'mere" he said gruffly as he enveloped her in his strong arms. They held onto each other in a tight embrace. Jack sighed and huskily whispered into her ear "God Janet we were so blind" She answered back "Not anymore sweetheart".
Jack gave in to what he'd been longing to do since Janet had come down earlier that evening. He nuzzled her neck and inhaled deeply, smelling Janet's faint perfume mixed in with that unique essence that made Janet, Janet. That familiar smell that reminded him of clean, crisp air on a winter's day; that scent that had haunted him for so long. The same one that now was putting his senses into overdrive once again. Jack looked at her then, his hands cupping her face again, thumbs gently caressing her cheeks. His almost black eyes burning into hers, silently telling her how much he wanted her, loved her, desired her.
Janet's hands were on his chest, lightly travelling over it. Her eyes lost in his, showing him all her love for him. She noticed Jack's head slowly dipping and instantly knew he was going to kiss her. When his lips gently touched hers she knew this kiss was different from any other they'd shared. It was not rushed or fevered or out of the blue. It was tender, and sweet. It was knowing. An acknowledgement of their love for each other. It was coming home.
They broke the soft contact and looked at each other once again. Jack smiled tenderly into Janet's eyes. Hers had pooled with unshed tears at the softness and sweetness of their kiss. "I love you Janet" Jack whispered to her. Janet thought her heart would burst with joy as she answered back "And I love you Jack"
Jack dipped his head once again. This time his kiss was more forceful. Deep. Passionate. Janet responded in kind. They deepened the kiss even more until they were like two people who were drinking water after a long drought. Jack hugged her closer still. Janet wrapped her arms around his back, her hands travelling up and down, feeling his muscles move as his arms held her close. After a while Jack let her lips go only to start placing tiny kisses on her cheeks, eyelids, ears, on the tip of her nose, her chin, throat. He had Janet chuckling with delight.
Jack kept mumbling all the while "Thank you, thank you for loving me still" Janet was now outright and openly giggling like a schoolgirl. She kept telling Jack over and over that she did indeed love him. He hugged her even closer to him, eventually putting Janet on his lap. They kept on kissing each other. Caressing. Touching. Now with their feelings for one another finally confessed, it was so much easier to be this close and feel the rightness.
Jack looked at Janet and in one swift motion he put one hand under her thighs and one on her back and stood up, carrying her in his arms. Janet was stunned, only now realizing that this was a side of Jack she had never known as only his roommate and as his one time lover. She found that he was a very affectionate man. Always touching or caressing. Genuinely warm. Janet found that she really liked this side of Jack and was going to have fun discovering the many facets to Jack Tripper's character .
Jack carried Janet up the stairs as she quietly giggled, placing tiny kisses on his neck and along his jaw line. Feeling the shadow of his beard that had begun to appear. Hearing his breath catch every time she kissed a sensitive spot and filing it away in her mind for later use. Jack smiling looked at her saying "Well since I can't carry you over the threshold, at least let me carry you to OUR bedroom." and he kissed her soundly again.
Jack put Janet gently down on the bed. Janet semi lying with her elbows holding her up, watched Jack as he closed the bedroom door. Janet giggled again saying "You know we're going to have to be very quiet.." a mischievous smile on her face. Jack chuckled "Oh don't worry honey, we're going to be ve-e-e-ewy quiet, I've finally caught my wabbit eheheh" he finished, badly imitating Elmer Fudd, from the cartoons he'd watched earlier with his son, as he came towards her. Janet giggled even harder.
Jack had started to peel away Janet's pyjama and she was quickly pulling up his t shirt, when she looked at him wide eyed "Oh Jack, I …don't take any ..you know…protection…" Jack smiled and said "Honey, don't you think Jacky would really welcome a baby sister or brother? " and Janet squealed as he lunged for her.
Jack needed Janet like he'd never needed no one in his life. He needed to have her, know that she was finally here, in the flesh. He needed her within his arms, and know that she wasn't going away. That she was finally his forever. All these years of yearning for her, made him appreciate this moment more. His wait finally over. His questions answered. This was the moment of their true beginning.
Janet looked up at Jack. She placed both her hands on either side of his face and smiled into his eyes. Jack looking down at her smiled back. Love shining in both their eyes. Jack lowered his face and kissed Janet on the tip of her nose "For six years I've longed to have you like this, in my arms. I love you Janet Wood and I'm never letting go" Jack finished softly.
"Oh Jack, I've wanted nothing more than this all these years too. I love you too sweetheart. You don't know how much I've missed you". They kissed again. Gently and very passionately. "Mmmm… I can't believe I actually survived all this time without your kisses.." Jack whispered looking down at her tenderly as he brushed some stray hairs from her face. She giggled quietly and looked into his once again, darkened blue eyes. Desire and love spilling from them. She draped her hand around his nape and brought his head down again towards hers "Then don't stop kissing me, don't ever stop…" this last was cut off as Jack once again took Janet's mouth in a sweet passionate kiss whispering against her lips "Never…"
Janet's last coherent thought before she was lost in paradise was that Jack had not lost his sense of humour after all. It had been hidden under so much anger and pain. Pain she had caused by running. Pain he had caused by not talking sooner. Anger and pain that fortunately they had both been able to erase.
Jack and Janet made love slowly and gently in the silence of their room. Taking their time, caressing their bodies. Relearning them. No more words were needed. They had both done enough talking. Only looks and gentle touches were needed. Her body arching against his, speaking her feelings. His body responding to hers, bringing about soft moans from her. That was all that was heard for a very long time as they gave in to their love.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooo
Sometime during the night Jack awoke. He panicked at first, disoriented and then instantly calmed down when he felt Janet right beside him. Her nude body draped over his. Her breath fanning his chest, evenly, peacefully. He hugged her close. She instantly pressed herself closer. Still asleep. My Janet Jack thought possessively. Call him a caveman, he didn't care. But when it came to Janet Wood he became territorial. This time she was staying right where she belonged, in his arms. Vowing to never let anything come between them or separate them ever again.
He smiled as he looked at Janet sleep. Through the faint moonlight that filtered through the window he could make out Janet's delicate brows now relaxed and her long dark lashes against her cheeks. She looked like his personal angel, come down from heaven to save him. He gently bent his head and kissed Janet on top of her head. Content, with the woman he loved in his arms he felt sleep claiming him and as he slowly drifted off he thought he could hear Etta James' famous song At Last playing somewhere far away.
Epilogue to follow….
