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Chapter 41 - Chapter 41 - Lighthouses and Diamonds

Samuel lay with Karen in his arms with his eyes closed. He was completely relaxed and the sheet covered them both.

"Oh, it wouldn't take much for me to fall asleep." He told her as he rubbed her back with his fingertips.

She played with the hair on his chest. "Did you sleep at all last night?"

"No." He told her and kissed the top of her head.

"Rather play with my necklace?" She teased.

"It caught my attention." He told her as he ran his hand up her chest to feel of it. He realized she wasn't wearing it. He jumped back and looked at her. "Where is it?"

She smiled at him. "I took it off this morning. I decided that maybe it would help you sleep if you didn't have such a distraction."

He rubbed his eyes. "I doubt it will help. If I'm honest, I was looking at you."

She giggled. "I don't know why-"

He turned his head so he could look into her eyes. "Oh, come on. You know."

"Maybe, I just like to hear you say it."

He rolled over to face her. "You are so beautiful. Completely lovely."

She smiled and repeated quietly, "Lovely."

"Six months?"

"Samuel. Are you serious? I-"

"Completely serious. I can't imagine my life without you."

She sat up, holding the sheet up to cover her bare breasts. "Samuel. Maybe we should think about this."

He sat up and nodded. "I agree. Tell me your thoughts."

She dramatically fell back onto the pillows and groaned. "Samuel!"

He looked back at her and mocked. "Karen!"

She giggled at him. "I think you've lost your mind."

"So, you're going to take the entire six months to think about this?" He nodded, "I think that's a good plan. Sort it all out."

She rolled her eyes. "Samuel. We've known one another a week."

"No, eight days. A week is seven-" He insisted.

"You've never even met my family-"

"I've met your Mum-"

"Well, not my Dad-"

"You haven't met mine." He reasoned.

She sighed. "Samuel."

He took her hand in his and kissed it. "Look. I'm not going to press you on this. It's completely your decision. I've made mine. But, if it's not something you want. That's okay."

"I'm trying to be practical-"

"See. That's what you shouldn't do." He teased.

She sat back up, holding the sheet over her chest again. "See, how would that even work?"

He rubbed his head and pointed at her. "See. This is something I really love about you. You, are very…."

She rose her eyebrows at him. "Very what?"

"Analytical. Logical."

She shook her head and laughed. "This is the oddest 'after sex' talk, ever."

He took her hand again in his. The familiar sensation continued. "Karen. If you eliminated, everything logical. Everything that actually made sense. Just, went with what your heart told you."

She smiled. "I wouldn't have you wait six months."

He looked shocked, "You'd make me wait longer?"

She playfully pushed him down on the bed. "No!"

He laughed and pulled her down to him. They laughed together and snogged.

"Let me ask you a question, Samuel."

He kissed her lips and wrapped his arms around her as she lay on top of him. "Certainly."

"Why are you asking me? Why now?" She could feel his hands on her bum.

"Because…I love you. Because, you love me. Not Samuel Smith. Because, you….see me….as me."

She smiled, "My Samuel."

He chuckled, "The nutter."

She insisted, "Completely crazy."

He tickled her sides. She laughed and they playfully wrestled until he was lying above her, looking into her eyes again. He became serious. "I really do love you. More than I have ever loved anyone in my life."

She stroked his face, "I love you. My Samuel."

He beamed at her, "I love that."

She smiled up at him. "We need to get ready. You have to-"

He groaned and dropped his head. "Ugh. I don't want to go anywhere."

"Come on. We'll take a shower and get-"

He caught her lips again with his own. She held him tightly to her as he snogged her proper again.

He looked into her eyes.

She spoke quietly to him. "Samuel."

He rubbed his nose against hers. "Yes, Karen?"

She pointed towards the bathroom. "Shower."

He groaned and climbed out of the bed. "Alright. For you. See what I do?"

She giggled as they walked together into the bathroom. After a warm shower, she had put up her hair and had begun to put on her make-up. He leaned against the cabinet, in his pants, watching her. She was wearing the fluffy white robe.

"So, what are we doing?" She asked.

His arms and legs were both crossed. "Ah, something for my Grandfather. Well, and me. We….like to have little projects that we do together."

She looked back at him, "Is that meant to sound vague?"

"Does it sound vague?"

She looked back at him.

"Am I bothering you?" He asked. "I like watching you do that."

She looked back at him and smiled. "No. I really like you standing here talking to me."

He grinned. "Yeah? In my pants?"

"That's the best part." She smiled as he leaned over to kiss her. "What time is it?"

He ran his hand through his hair. "3:04. I need to get dressed."

She looked confused at him. "How did you do that? You didn't look at your bracelet."

He rubbed his chin. "Ugh. I had looked at it before." He lied.

"Really?"

He shook his head. "No. That's not true. I'm sorry. It's a thing I can do. I know what time it is. Everywhere. All of the time."

"Really?" She teased. "What a strange super power, Batman."

He chuckled, "Six months, then."

She smiled. "That's what we agreed."

He looked away and nodded.

"Maybe we should change it. What feels right to you?"

"No. You have to pick." He insisted.

"Why me?"

"Because, I've already made up my mind. I want you to give it a proper think."

She sighed. "What if I'm made up my mind?"

"This is too….hypothetical for me."

She giggled and went back to putting on her make-up.

He watched her. "Let me know, before you are going to put on your lippy."

She laughed under her breath. "I need a translator with some of this."

"Lipstick." He said slowly.

She looked back at him. "Okay, this I need to know."

"If a British-American dictionary exists? Probably." He laughed.

She rolled her eyes. "No. If you came back in a time machine…"

"Yes?"

"Then you'll need to go back."

He was already shaking his head. "No. I'm not returning."

"But, why not?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "Why would I want to?"

She turned and put her hand on her hip. "Your life is there-"

"My life is here-"

"Your family is there-"

He shook his head. "There are more here. I'd rather stay."

"Who is missing?"

"Well, for starters, you."

She smiled. "Who else, Samuel?"

He sighed, "It doesn't matter. I don't want to return. And I don't plan to. It's not something you should worry about. This is where I am now."

She nodded. "Okay. What about the rest of you?"

He shook his head. "I don't know. Genie said she wouldn't. Legate will stay with her. Arles….he might. Tony Tyler. No way. He's too into what he's doing here."

"Determined, huh?"

"Hell bent on it."

She looked back at him, "That doesn't sound good at all."

He turned and looked at himself in the mirror. He played with his hair, "It's not. I really hope he's not gotten himself killed. Him, what with that, ginger temper."

She stopped putting on her make-up and watched him play with his hair. She began to laugh.

He looked back at her, "What?"

"Stop playing with your hair, and get dressed."

He looked at her face and grinned, "May I have a kiss before the lippy?"

"I'm not going to wear lipstick. I'll wear lip gloss. How about that?"

He continued to smile. "You're lovely without any of it."

"And I can tell where this is going already." She playfully smacked his chest and laughed. "Put on some clothes."

He groaned, "Complete opposite words that I want to hear from you."

She smiled and he leaned in to kiss her. She brought her hand up to his chin. The current of electricity was renewed through both of them.

He smiled as he looked back at her. "I love that feeling."

"It seems to be….staying with us. At least with me. Do you feel it? Even after we aren't touching?"

He nodded, "Yes. Wouldn't it be brilliant if it was always there?"

"Yes, it would."

He scratched his chest and walked into the bedroom. He had put on his trousers to his suit and slipped on a t-shirt as his phone rang. He accepted the call and Pepper's face filled the screen.

"Hey Sam. I got your message." She smiled.

He reached over to grab an oxford he had worn the night before. He pulled it on and didn't bother to button it up. "Yeah. I didn't know anyone else that might know how to write a proposal."

"What do you need a proposal for?"

He walked into the sitting room and sat down on the sofa. "It's for Karen. Not me. She's written this paper that had gotten a lot of interest at UCLA. They want to sponsor a dig for her."

Pepper looked confused, "So, this imaginary boy was actually you."

"Tony said he talked to you about this-"

"How long have you known that man? It stayed in a…..."

Samuel glanced up and saw Karen standing in the doorway of their bedroom. She had gotten dressed in a simple blue dress. She was beautiful and took his breath away.

"Samuel?" Pepper asked.

He shook his head. "I'm sorry. What were you saying, Pepper?"

He looked up and waved Karen over to join him. She quietly walked over and sat beside of him on the sofa. He took her hand in his and held it tightly. He could feel the soothing sensation wash over him.

Pepper spoke as she looked on the desk. She hadn't noticed Karen had sat beside of him. "Well, anyway. Tony told me about this entire, situation. And, you know how he is. He completely used it to his advantage."

Samuel grinned and rubbed his eye brow. "Yeah, he told me."

Pepper looked up and upon seeing Karen, smiled. "Is this Karen?"

Karen held Samuel's hand tighter. He smiled proudly, "Karen, meet Pepper."

"It's nice to meet you." Karen smiled.

Pepper smiled warmly. "And you. So, getting back to this proposal."

"Well, I have never written one. You're the first person I thought of that would know how."

Pepper sat back at the desk, "Well, I haven't written one in a long time. I usually have other people do that. I read them all day long."

Karen found her voice, "Miss Potts, I know you are busy and appreciate any help you can give me."

Pepper smiled warmly. It was clear she already liked Karen.

Karen continued, "Does it follow a format?" She became nervous and looked back at Samuel. "You know, we shouldn't have bothered her. I'm sure I can find the answers on the internet."

"Don't do that." Pepper insisted. "Some of those, will make your eyes bleed they are so badly done. Let's do this. Send me the paper. And put together a general list of what you think you'll need. Over estimate everything. I'll hand it to one of my secretaries and have them do it."

Karen smiled, "Thank you. I really appreciate it."

Pepper smiled. "I'm happy to help. Thing number two, Tony told me to get you tickets to some Broadway show. It's tonight, if you want to go."

Karen covered her mouth in surprise. "Oh, wow. Thank you."

Samuel asked, "What's playing?"

Pepper shook her head. "I don't even know. And thing number three-"

"Three things? Damn, I'm glad I rang."

Pepper laughed, "Me, too. You are both coming to the Expo tomorrow night, right?"

Samuel nodded, "Yes."

Karen looked back at him in surprise. "We are?"

"Well, you said you wanted to go. Do you still want to?"

She covered her mouth in surprise. "Yes! Of course I do."

Pepper smiled. "I'll have someone come fit you for a tux in the morning, Samuel. What color dress do you prefer, Karen?"

She looked back at Samuel. "What do you think?"

"Brown. She prefers brown."

Pepper considered. "Brown. I've not worn a brown dress in a while. Huh. Well, I'll send some dresses, too. Pick whatever you want."

Karen was delighted.

Samuel shook his head. "Hang on, Pepper. You said a tux?"

"Yeah. Tony is wearing a tux."

"I don't wear tuxedoes."

"Are you are weird as John?"

"He says they are bad luck!" Samuel insisted. "Are you sure about this?"

"You can wear a regular suit if you want to. Tony is wearing a tux."

Samuel groaned. "Well, I might as well wear one."

Karen rubbed his arm. "You'll look nice."

He smiled back at her. "As I die."

Pepper rolled her eyes. "That's an odd superstition of John's. I don't want it clouding Tony's head. He'll blame everything on that and drive me crazy."

"Sounds like he's driving you a bit mental now."

She leaned on the desk. "Arcite just came down here. Do you know why?"

"I have no idea."

"Tony convinced him that I enjoy having opera sung to be every afternoon at 2 pm."

Samuel laughed, "Oh my gosh."

Karen giggled. "Did he really?"

"Oh, believe it." Pepper groaned. "He went on for 15 minutes. Everyone in the office wanted to know what in the world was going on."

"Well, how did he sound?" Samuel asked.

She pointed at him. "Don't take Tony's side on this-"

"I didn't!" He insisted.

She laughed under her breath and shook her head. "He's insane."

Samuel laughed.

Pepper groaned. "I'm nearly done here. But, Samuel, if you speak to Tony before I do, tell him that I've met Karen."

"Ugh. Why do I feel that isn't going to be a good thing?"

She grinned, "Oh, you know me too well."

She ended the call and Samuel laughed. "Oh boy. Tony is in trouble."

Karen was nervous, "What did she mean by that, 'She's met Karen?'"

He shook his head. "I had spoken to him about you after that first night. I wanted to know if I should send you flowers, or what would be appropriate."

"And he didn't know?"

"He, goes over the top with everything. He has no idea."

She nodded, "Right. Like someone sending a treadmill?"

"In my defense, Pepper told me to never buy you anything you wouldn't buy yourself. That's how she left it with me."

Karen laughed, "So, I would buy myself a treadmill?"

"Wouldn't you?"

She laughed and stood up. "Samuel."

"What?"

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Karen went with Samuel that afternoon to attend to his errands. She wore a lovely dress with his wool coat, while he was back in a nice suit.

Samuel held her hand tightly as she went with him to an office. She never really caught what he was doing, but told them he was there as a representative of Peter Tyler's. They handed him a few papers, which he signed, thanked them, and they were on their way to the next place.

Timon and Adriano served as their bodyguards. As they got back into the limo, Samuel put his hand on Karen's lap. "Are you warm enough?"

She smiled, "I'm fine. I have on hose."

"Hose? Stockings?"

She giggled, "Yes."

He inhaled slowly. "Oh. I didn't know you had those. I want to see them later."

She told him quietly, "I'll let you take them off."

"I might not want to do that." He grinned. "Maybe just take everything else off."

She looked back at him and smiled. She held his hand in both of hers.

"I can still feel it. Can you?"

She whispered to him, "Samuel, it feels so good. That's all I want to do."

He grinned. "Me too. I started to just forget these errands and take you back to the bedroom."

She giggled, "There will be time when we get back."

The car stopped. Timon looked back. "And we're here."

Someone opened the door and Samuel got out. He turned and took Karen's hand. The cold wind blew as they walked into Tiffany's. Timon stayed with the car, and Adriano joined them.

As soon as they walked in, Karen shivered.

Samuel looked back at her, "Alright?"

"I didn't realize how cold it was out there."

He kissed her lips quickly. "Adriano will stay with you. Look around. I won't be long."

Adriano smiled at her, "Want to go look over here?"

She agreed and Samuel walked over to a clerk. "I'm here to pick up an order for Stark and Smith."

The clerk nodded. "Certainly, sir. I'll have to go get it. I'll be straight back."

Samuel thanked the clerk and turned back around to see Karen looking at something in the case. He walked over to join her.

She hadn't taken her eyes off whatever had her attention and didn't notice when he stood next to her. He finally put his hand on her back and asked quietly, "What have you found?"

She pointed. "A lighthouse. Look at it."

There in the case, Samuel spotted a beautiful gold ring with a lighthouse lying parallel to the band. In the place of the light, was a diamond. Three smaller diamonds were positioned at the base.

"That is lovely." Samuel told her.

"I love how they have used the diamond as a light."

Another clerk came over. "Can I show you something?"

"No. We're just looking-" Karen said quickly.

"She wants to see this ring here." Samuel told the clerk.

The clerk smiled and pulled the ring out of the case. Samuel took it, and slipped it on Karen's finger. "Fits perfectly." He smiled and kissed her hand.

She looked up and him and smiled. "Samuel."

Samuel asked the clerk. "Could you recommend a necklace with this?"

The clerk smiled, "Certainly. There are two." She moved down the case and pulled out two necklaces to show them. One had a lighthouse that hung at the end of a thin, gold chain. Again with a diamond as the light. And the other necklace had the lighthouse hung sideways like the ring.

Samuel looked back at Karen. "What do you think?"

She smiled, "That's beautiful. I love that one."

Samuel looked up at the clerk. "She'd like that one, with the sideways lighthouse."

The clerk smiled. "Certainly, sir. I'll box it for you."

"Another clerk was getting an order for me." He handed her his ID and she walked away.

He turned and looked back at the ring Karen wore. "I love this. It's what I would have probably picked for you."

She looked at it in disbelief. "I'm not even going to ask how much it cost."

"You're worth even more." Samuel smiled and kissed her lips. "Did you see anything else you might like?"

"Samuel!" She held onto his arm.

"A heater?" He suggested.

She giggled and shook her head.

The clerk returned with Samuel's ID and three bags. "And I have your order here. Thank you, Mr. Smith."

Samuel smiled up at the clerk and put the bags in his pocket. "Thank you."

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