Author's Notes: I have never been to New York, and I could not find a restaurant by the name of "The Rose Garden" on Google Maps, so as far as I can tell it is made up. I thought about using the name of an actual restaurant, but this one was so pretty. P.S. Sexy chapter!

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.

Hereafter And Forever

Part 14: Hourglass

(May 11, 2013)

Jack and Karen walked arm and arm into one of their favorite restaurants, The Rose Garden. Mia followed close behind, very well behaved for her age. She smiled at the people as she walked past them, and waved to some as well. When they were taken to their table in the corner, Mia crawled into her chair and scooted herself right up to the table, even picking up a menu and looking at it as if she were grownup.

Jack nudged Karen to look, and she smiled. Mia could read fairly well, but they were both sure the large confusing words on the menu were pure gibberish to her.

When the server came over to take their drink order he smiled at Mia. They went ahead and ordered their food, both of them getting their favorite meal, and a special adult meal made in a style for children, for Mia.

Jack held Karen's hand under the table, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand.

Mia continued to study every little detail around her. The color of the floor, the etchings in the design of the table, the light fixtures hanging overhead. She stopped when she looked down and saw a pair of men's shoes standing near her chair.

She looked up into the big brown eyes and curly dark hair of a man she didn't know, but he smiled brightly at her.

"You must be Mia."

"Randall!" Jack exclaimed.

He stood up to hug the other man.

"Good to see you Jack." Randall said, "And I assume that this is Karen. Jack, she's every bit as beautiful as you said she was."

"Jackie, are you bragging about me to strange men?" Karen giggled.

"This is Randall Connors, he was the choreographer for that show I did a couple years back." Jack said.

"Actually, I'm glad I ran into you." Randall said, "I have something I'd like to discuss with you, if you have a moment to step away from the table."

"Oh, sure." Jack gave Karen a quick kiss on the cheek before getting up and walking to the front entry way with the younger man. Karen watched them through the large picture window that looked out at the street. Randall seemed very friendly with Jack, putting an arm around his shoulder, touching his leg.

Karen felt a pang of jealously.

But she wondered why she would. She knew Jack was committed to her. This guy was just flirting, shamelessly, and getting nowhere. Karen smiled to herself.

At that moment Jack happened to look over and catch her watching him, he waved and she waved back. No, she had nothing to worry about.

Their conversation lasted a few more minutes, and Jack came back inside just in time for their server to bring their food. Jack sat back down in his chair and gave Karen another kiss on the cheek once he returned.

He didn't mention a thing about his outside conversation, and they simply enjoyed their meal together.

~~~~**~~~~

Later that night, Karen's thoughts were racing as to what that Randall character could've been talking with Jack about. She was pacing. Jack noticed her fidgeting.

"Karebear, sit down. You're making me nervous."

"I'm sorry honey, it's just….well, what was that about, poodle?" Karen asked.

"What was what about?"

"That guy, at the restaurant?"

"Oh!" Jack said excitedly, "You know that show I did before? The one Randall choreographed? Well, it turns out they're touring, and they had a guy drop out, and Randall wants me to come back and reprise my role! Isn't that great?!"

"Great! Yeah…um…touring? Like, to other cities?"

"Yeah." Jack kept his head down, "It's almost an eight month commitment. They're doing a month of rehearsals, and then taking off."

"When do the rehearsals start?"

"Beginning of June….in San Francisco."

"San Francisco?! Wha? But…Jack, you're not going, are you?" Karen asked.

"No! I mean…I told him I would think about it. But if you don't want me to go, I won't go."

Karen sighed, "Jackie, do you want to go?"

"Yes."

"Then go."

"Karen, I don't want to…"

"Jack, I will be fine. Mia and I, will be fine. We'll have Rosie, and Grace, and Wilma I suppose if things get really bad. I mean, it's not as if you're going off to war or something."

"But…that's almost a year without seeing you, without seeing Mia, I don't know if I can do it."

"Jack." Karen climbed in his lap and put her hand on his chest. She could feel his heart pounding rapidly beneath his shirt. "If you don't do this now, you'll regret it later. I know poodle. I once had the opportunity to be a figure skater. I could've been one of the best. Another Brian Boitano…except with boobs. But, no, I was too scared to go to Canada for the six months of Olympic training. And so, I never made it."

"Karen? You never told me that before? Is all that true?"

"No it's not true, but it made you re-think it, didn't it?"

Jack shook his head, "I…I don't know, Kare. I'll miss everything. Mia's birthday, Christmas."

"Jack McFarland, for the last time, shut up and do this. We both know you want to. Don't try and make me happy, poodle. I'm a big girl. I can handle it." She pulled him into a kiss, her lips caressing his . His hands slid up the back of her shirt and he felt her smooth skin beneath his fingers, sighing deeply as her tongue begged for entry into his mouth.

They could both see where this was going.

~~~~**~~~~

Jack managed to turn the doorknob and get the door open as he and Karen tumbled in. Jack tugging at his shirt to get it untucked, and Karen fumbling with the buttons on her sweater, her lips still fighting to stay against Jack's.

The door shut with a slam, and for a moment Jack paused and looked up.

"Mia's asleep right?"

"Yep. Sound asleep." Karen replied.

"Good."

Jack pushed Karen down onto the bed, pulling his shirt off over his head. Even though they were already into what most people would call middle-age, Jack kept his physique. Karen's eyes lingered minutes on his pectoral muscles, then came down. She reached her fingers up to run them down his abdomen.

Her sweater came open, her breasts bare as she had forgone wearing a bra today. The cold air already making her nipples erect, Jack's tongue assisting in the rest.

Jack wasted no time in tugging Karen's pants down from her hips, leaving her black lace thong. His lips slowly brushed down her stomach, tracing kisses lower and lower until he reached her thighs. He kissed softly at the sensitive skin there, the slight stubble on his face grazing the inside of her legs, her arousal growing wetter by the second.

Karen leaned her head back into the soft plush comforter, her fingers entangling in the sheets and gripping them tightly. She felt Jack's hand pulling her underwear down, his fingers brushing against her. Jack kissed the area around her labia, but not going where she wanted him.

Karen sighed loudly, her hand reaching down to pet Jack's hair. There were times being with him like this still amazed her. He slipped his arms under her legs, pulling her hips forward. His head bent, he lapped at her, his tongue savoring the taste of her. Karen felt a chill go down her spine, and she moaned softly.

"Jackie…"

Jack continued to suck and lick at her swollen clit, his own arousal straining against the pants he still had on. Karen kept making tiny pleasurable noises, which only made it worse. Jack moved back up her torso, and with fumbling fingers he managed to get his pants unzipped and pulled down, his mouth not wanting to leave her skin.

"I feel like I haven't touched you in days." Jack said.

"Try weeks, honey."

"No."

Karen nodded, "It's been a couple."

"God, no wonder I've been aching for you."

He kissed her lips again. She shivered as she could feel the tip of his member pushing at her entrance. When he moved his body up and thrust himself inside her, her fingers tensed up as she clutched his shoulders, her fingernails slightly digging into his skin.

She smother his face and neck with kisses, her lips hot as she caressed him. Jack's fingers entangled in her hair as he held her tightly against him. Karen rocked her hips back and forth, moving against him, creating friction that already was sending minor shockwaves through her body.

"Oh…Jack.." she moaned.

"Karen."

"Oh yes, honey….mmm." Karen sighed breathily, nipping at his ear lobe.

"Karen…"

"Yes."

Jack grabbed her wrists and held them above her head, continuing a steady motion as he moved in and out of her. Jack could feel his own climax building, as he quickened his pace and Karen gasped as she felt him thrusting harder. Her fingers held to nothing, though she wished she could reach her headboard around this time.

Jack took heavy breaths as he reached his edge, Karen feeling his release in her own body. But she wasn't quite there yet, and Jack knew.

With a sly gleam in his eyes, he moved down and inserted a finger into her. Karen moaned loudly. Jack slowly worked his finger around inside of her, his tongue flicking out to taste her and lick at her skin.

"Jack…Jack…I'm gonna…oh!"

When Jack slid a second finger inside of her she found her release, crying out in the ecstasy of her lover's touch.

When Jack finally stopped and Karen was able to catch her breath, she laid still on the bed trying to get her bearings.

"Oh my god. Honey…I swear you get better and better at that. You haven't been getting outside practice, have you?"

"Please." Jack said, "As if I could find anyone else good enough. I'm all yours, Karen."

"Good." Karen reached for him, and he crawled up and cuddled up next to her, his head on her chest. He could still hear her heart pounding loudly. Karen gently petted his hair and Jack sighed happily in his own content little world.

~~~~**~~~~

(Two weeks later)

The day had arrived for Jack to fly out to San Francisco with the rest of his cast members and begin the rehearsal period before the show would start touring. Karen, Rosario, Mia, and Grace had all come to the airport with him. He was sure Mia didn't understand what was going on, not that he would be away for so long. The girls weren't allowed to come past the security check with him, so Rosario and Grace said goodbye to him at the door, and they let Karen and Mia walk with him the rest of the way.

Mia seemed delighted by the airport and all the activity. Jack was keeping a tight grip on her hand as she wanted to run off and look at everything.

Karen hadn't said anything yet, just holding his hand.

When they got to his gate, Jack turned to Karen. He smiled, and she threw her arms around him.

"Karen! It's only eight months. It'll go by so fast, you won't even know it."

"Honey, we haven't been apart a day in almost fifteen years, except for that one summer we didn't talk. And I never told anyone, but that was a really bad summer for me." Karen said, her lips pouty. "Go…go and be an actor. It's what you've always wanted."

"Then I get to come home to you." He pulled her into a long kiss, taking in every scent of her. When they parted, he knelt down to Mia. "Your turn, Blueberry."

Whether or not she knew he was going, she gave him a big hug and he kissed her cheek.

"You take good care of Karen for me, ok?"

"Sure." Mia said happily.

Jack slowly stood back up, patting her head, "I love you."

The announcentment for the boarding call came over the intercom, and Karen scooped up Mia. Jack both his girls' one last kiss, whispering to Karen a sweet 'I love you', and he grabbed his luggage and walked through the security gates to the plane.

Mia watched him go until she couldn't see him anymore. She then turned to Karen, her head titled quizzically.

"Come on, let's go find Auntie Grace and Rosie, then we'll all go home."

Karen silently walked the rest of the way out of the airport.