A/N: Thanks to itsnotrightbutitsokay for reviewing the last chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Will and Grace or its characters.
Chapter Seven
Settling Matters
The next morning, Katherine, Jack and Karen got out of the limo and went into the lobby of the Plaza Hotel, where Robert and Sara Riley were staying.
At the front desk, Katherine had the clerk call her brother and sister- in-law's room to let them know they were there. When he had hung up the phone, the clerk said, "Lord and Lady Riley are on the eleventh floor. Suite Eleven Twenty three."
The three then walked over to the elevators and took one up to the eleventh floor.
Katherine knocked on the door of the suite and it was opened soon after by Sara.
"Hullo Kat," Sara said happily, hugging her. "I'm so glad you came to see us before we had to go. Come in please."
"Is Robert here?" Katherine asked, looking around the room nervously.
"He's in the other room there," Sara answered, pointing to a door to the right of her. "Talking with Mr. Henry who watches over our business when we go traveling."
"Sara, there's another reason why I came today," Katherine said. "Besides saying goodbye. Karen told me why Robert kicked off the manor."
"Oh," Sara said quietly, looking down. "Come and have a seat please."
"Why didn't you ever tell me Sara?" Katherine asked while Jack and Karen sat on a couch. "We were best friends and not once did you mention that."
"I didn't know until just after Robert and I were married," Sara said. "And when he told me, he swore me to secrecy."
"I was your best friend Sara, you should have told me," Katherine said a little angrily.
"Well he is my husband!" Sara cried.
"Is everything alright out her-" Robert said, coming out from the room. He paused when he saw Katherine standing next to his wife.
"My lord," Katherine said, nodding her head towards him.
"It's nice to see you here Katherine," Robert said softly. "And you as well Ms. Walker, Mr. McFarland."
"I need to speak with you alone for a moment sir," Katherine said, her voice trembling.
"I'm sure whatever you need to say can be said here," Robert said.
"Why can't you just listen to her for once?" Karen snapped and Jack put a hand on her arm to calm her down, which it did.
"Very well, I have something for you anyway," Robert said. With that he turned and went back into the room he had come out of, Katherine following him.
Inside, Katherine closed the door behind her and leaned against it for support for a moment.
"Well Katherine, what is it?" Robert asked, not looking at her.
"C-could you give me whatever it was you wanted to give me first?" Katherine stammered.
"Very well," Robert said exasperatingly. He walked over to where a small cedar chest was resting on a table and opened the top. He pulled out a blanket and then turned to Katherine. "Sara chided me for not giving this to you," he said quietly as she walked to him.
"Oh, sir," Katherine breathed, taking the blanket into her own arms. "Mum's blanket."
"I know she never got a chance to tell you this, but she made it especially for you," Robert said, again not looking at Katherine. "It's the Scottish plaid for the clan of O'Connor."
"My biological father's last name," Katherine whispered, running her hand over the green and dark blue stripes. "I-I suppose I should tell you..." she then began. "I know why you kicked me out of Eadoin."
Robert seemed to straighten slightly and he looked at Katherine. "Who told you?" he demanded.
"It doesn't matter," Katherine said quietly. "Why did you never tell me?"
A short bark of laughter escaped Robert's mouth and he turned from Katherine, walking over to the window. "Tell you I was in love with you?" he said. "And lose you forever? We were best mates at the manor, you and I Katherine, partners in crime." He looked out and then sighed. "I told Mum one day when I was fifteen. Do you know what she told me?"
Katherine shook her head.
"She said that that kind of love was disgusting and vile. That it was incest," Robert said. "I told Mum that it didn't really count for you and I, since we are not blood related. She told me that it didn't matter, and that I'd best get the idea out of my head."
"Mum was right, but you could have told me," Katherine whispered. "When we were older."
"No, I couldn't," Robert said. "I was engaged to Sara and then we got married. After Mum and Dad died, I thought the best thing for me to do was to exile you from Eadoin, so you wouldn't be around to remind me of the way I felt about you. And it didn't work, because in every room, there was something that reminded me of you." Shaking his head, Robert turned his head back out the window.
Katherine walked over to him and placed a hand on his arm.
"'Tis a fucked up life we lead," Robert murmured.
"I'm so sorry Edward," Katherine said.
Robert looked down at her and smiled slightly. "You've not called me that since we were young Emma," he said.
"Edward, I... There's something I want to do, please don't get angry," Katherine said. She put her arms around Robert's neck and kissed him squarely on the lips.
Robert put his own arms around her and returned the kiss with out a moment's hesitation.
The kiss was chaste and lasted only for a second or two. When the two pulled apart, they looked at each other for a long time.
"If only you hadn't been my sister," Robert said, touching her hair.
"Aye," Katherine said simply.
"Thank you for that Emma," Robert said. "And anytime you want, you and Amber can come back to Eadoin."
"Oh Edward, thank you!" Katherine cried, hugging him tightly again.
"You know that I will never stop loving you," Robert whispered into her ear. "But you'll always be my little sister."
Katherine looked up at her brother and smiled. "And you'll always be my big brother."
The door opened, and Karen and Jack found that the two siblings were hugging each other tightly. Jack cleared his throat suddenly, and Katherine and Robert jumped back from each other.
"I guess you guys patched up everything?" Sara said from behind Jack and Karen.
"That we did," Robert said, smiling. "Ms. Walker... Karen, you are welcome anytime at my family's manor. You and your fiancee."
"Thank you Lord Riley," Karen said, stubbornly sticking with the man's title.
~~~
Later that night, Katherine and Amber were at Jack and Karen's penthouse for dinner.
"So was your brother really serious that Kare and I can go to the manor?" Jack asked towards the end of the meal.
"I think he is," Katherine said. "And Amber and I will be off to the manor this coming summer."
"Can't we go sooner Mummy?" Amber asked.
"I've work and you have school love," Katherine said, answering. "Anyway, you two are welcome to join us. I plan on inviting Will and Grace as well."
"It sounds like fun Kath," Karen said, sipping her wine. "How far is it from a city with a decent designer store?"
Katherine sighed and said, "The nearest city for that is probably York. About two hours south of Eadoin."
"Hmm, I think I could stand that for a couple of weeks," Karen said. "Alright, Kath, we'll go along with you."
"Thanks Kare," Katherine said smiling.
Several hours later, the four were in the penthouse's entryway as Katherine and Amber were preparing to leave.
"I'll be going back to work on Monday," Katherine said, helping Amber into her jacket. "That gives me four days to rest Kare, so don't even start."
"Fine, but Jackie will go and make sure you're resting," Karen said.
"You're going to the office," Katherine said.
"I haven't been to work in three weeks," Karen said. "Grace's bugging me about that, so I figure I should go in at least for tomorrow so she'll get off my back."
"Alright then," Katherine said laughing. "I'll talk to you tomorrow Kare. Bye Jack."
"Bye you guys," Jack said as Katherine and Amber left.
"Good night," Karen then said.
Jack closed the door behind the two and then turned to Karen. "Crazy month huh Kare?" he asked, smiling.
"Come here poodle, I missed you," Karen said, smiling at him seductively.
Quickly closing the space in between himself and Karen, Jack put his arms around her and pulled her close, kissing her deeply.
"You know you two have a room where you can do that so the rest of us don't get sick," a familiar voice said, walking into the entryway.
Jack and Karen pulled apart and looked over at Rosario as she hung some coats in the entryway closet.
"No one said you had to watch us," Karen said. She stepped out of Jack's arms and then walked over to the stairs.
Jack watched her for a moment and then said, "Night Rosie." With out waiting for an answer, he walked to the stairs and up to his and Karen's room.
Inside, Karen was about to let her hair down from its bun. She was surprised when she felt Jack's fingers pulling out her hairpins one by one. "You love to do that, don't you poodle?" she asked as her hair fell down past her shoulders.
"Hmm," Jack murmured. He put his hands on Karen's shoulders and then kissed her neck.
Karen smiled, closing her eyes and leaning back on Jack. After a while, she reached up and grabbed one of his hands and then placed on top of her blouse, over her breast.
"You're nasty Ms. Walker," Jack said into her ear, nipping the lobe lightly.
"You know it Jackie," Karen said, grinning. She turned around and faced Jack, putting her arms around his neck. "It's been a long time-" she started to say when he kissed her deeply.
Still keeping their lips on each other, they stumbled back towards the bed. When Karen's legs hit the edge, they fell onto the mattress, a tangle of arms and legs. Before that night, their lovemaking had been slow and tender, but this night it was a hurried and frenzied affair, and they were almost always kissing each other hungrily.
Later on that night, as they were both falling asleep, Jack said, "Let's have Thanksgiving over here this year."
Karen yawned and turned over, resting her head on Jack's shoulder. "Thanksgiving is a month away," she said drowsily. "What made you think of it now?"
Jack shrugged and drew Karen closer to him. "Just thinking Kare," he said.
"Mmm, well, we'll see tomorrow poodle, okay?" Karen said. "I'm exhausted."
"Alright, 'night Kare," Jack said, kissing her temple.
"G'night Jackie," Karen said, snuggling closer to Jack and closing her eyes.
Disclaimer: I don't own Will and Grace or its characters.
Chapter Seven
Settling Matters
The next morning, Katherine, Jack and Karen got out of the limo and went into the lobby of the Plaza Hotel, where Robert and Sara Riley were staying.
At the front desk, Katherine had the clerk call her brother and sister- in-law's room to let them know they were there. When he had hung up the phone, the clerk said, "Lord and Lady Riley are on the eleventh floor. Suite Eleven Twenty three."
The three then walked over to the elevators and took one up to the eleventh floor.
Katherine knocked on the door of the suite and it was opened soon after by Sara.
"Hullo Kat," Sara said happily, hugging her. "I'm so glad you came to see us before we had to go. Come in please."
"Is Robert here?" Katherine asked, looking around the room nervously.
"He's in the other room there," Sara answered, pointing to a door to the right of her. "Talking with Mr. Henry who watches over our business when we go traveling."
"Sara, there's another reason why I came today," Katherine said. "Besides saying goodbye. Karen told me why Robert kicked off the manor."
"Oh," Sara said quietly, looking down. "Come and have a seat please."
"Why didn't you ever tell me Sara?" Katherine asked while Jack and Karen sat on a couch. "We were best friends and not once did you mention that."
"I didn't know until just after Robert and I were married," Sara said. "And when he told me, he swore me to secrecy."
"I was your best friend Sara, you should have told me," Katherine said a little angrily.
"Well he is my husband!" Sara cried.
"Is everything alright out her-" Robert said, coming out from the room. He paused when he saw Katherine standing next to his wife.
"My lord," Katherine said, nodding her head towards him.
"It's nice to see you here Katherine," Robert said softly. "And you as well Ms. Walker, Mr. McFarland."
"I need to speak with you alone for a moment sir," Katherine said, her voice trembling.
"I'm sure whatever you need to say can be said here," Robert said.
"Why can't you just listen to her for once?" Karen snapped and Jack put a hand on her arm to calm her down, which it did.
"Very well, I have something for you anyway," Robert said. With that he turned and went back into the room he had come out of, Katherine following him.
Inside, Katherine closed the door behind her and leaned against it for support for a moment.
"Well Katherine, what is it?" Robert asked, not looking at her.
"C-could you give me whatever it was you wanted to give me first?" Katherine stammered.
"Very well," Robert said exasperatingly. He walked over to where a small cedar chest was resting on a table and opened the top. He pulled out a blanket and then turned to Katherine. "Sara chided me for not giving this to you," he said quietly as she walked to him.
"Oh, sir," Katherine breathed, taking the blanket into her own arms. "Mum's blanket."
"I know she never got a chance to tell you this, but she made it especially for you," Robert said, again not looking at Katherine. "It's the Scottish plaid for the clan of O'Connor."
"My biological father's last name," Katherine whispered, running her hand over the green and dark blue stripes. "I-I suppose I should tell you..." she then began. "I know why you kicked me out of Eadoin."
Robert seemed to straighten slightly and he looked at Katherine. "Who told you?" he demanded.
"It doesn't matter," Katherine said quietly. "Why did you never tell me?"
A short bark of laughter escaped Robert's mouth and he turned from Katherine, walking over to the window. "Tell you I was in love with you?" he said. "And lose you forever? We were best mates at the manor, you and I Katherine, partners in crime." He looked out and then sighed. "I told Mum one day when I was fifteen. Do you know what she told me?"
Katherine shook her head.
"She said that that kind of love was disgusting and vile. That it was incest," Robert said. "I told Mum that it didn't really count for you and I, since we are not blood related. She told me that it didn't matter, and that I'd best get the idea out of my head."
"Mum was right, but you could have told me," Katherine whispered. "When we were older."
"No, I couldn't," Robert said. "I was engaged to Sara and then we got married. After Mum and Dad died, I thought the best thing for me to do was to exile you from Eadoin, so you wouldn't be around to remind me of the way I felt about you. And it didn't work, because in every room, there was something that reminded me of you." Shaking his head, Robert turned his head back out the window.
Katherine walked over to him and placed a hand on his arm.
"'Tis a fucked up life we lead," Robert murmured.
"I'm so sorry Edward," Katherine said.
Robert looked down at her and smiled slightly. "You've not called me that since we were young Emma," he said.
"Edward, I... There's something I want to do, please don't get angry," Katherine said. She put her arms around Robert's neck and kissed him squarely on the lips.
Robert put his own arms around her and returned the kiss with out a moment's hesitation.
The kiss was chaste and lasted only for a second or two. When the two pulled apart, they looked at each other for a long time.
"If only you hadn't been my sister," Robert said, touching her hair.
"Aye," Katherine said simply.
"Thank you for that Emma," Robert said. "And anytime you want, you and Amber can come back to Eadoin."
"Oh Edward, thank you!" Katherine cried, hugging him tightly again.
"You know that I will never stop loving you," Robert whispered into her ear. "But you'll always be my little sister."
Katherine looked up at her brother and smiled. "And you'll always be my big brother."
The door opened, and Karen and Jack found that the two siblings were hugging each other tightly. Jack cleared his throat suddenly, and Katherine and Robert jumped back from each other.
"I guess you guys patched up everything?" Sara said from behind Jack and Karen.
"That we did," Robert said, smiling. "Ms. Walker... Karen, you are welcome anytime at my family's manor. You and your fiancee."
"Thank you Lord Riley," Karen said, stubbornly sticking with the man's title.
~~~
Later that night, Katherine and Amber were at Jack and Karen's penthouse for dinner.
"So was your brother really serious that Kare and I can go to the manor?" Jack asked towards the end of the meal.
"I think he is," Katherine said. "And Amber and I will be off to the manor this coming summer."
"Can't we go sooner Mummy?" Amber asked.
"I've work and you have school love," Katherine said, answering. "Anyway, you two are welcome to join us. I plan on inviting Will and Grace as well."
"It sounds like fun Kath," Karen said, sipping her wine. "How far is it from a city with a decent designer store?"
Katherine sighed and said, "The nearest city for that is probably York. About two hours south of Eadoin."
"Hmm, I think I could stand that for a couple of weeks," Karen said. "Alright, Kath, we'll go along with you."
"Thanks Kare," Katherine said smiling.
Several hours later, the four were in the penthouse's entryway as Katherine and Amber were preparing to leave.
"I'll be going back to work on Monday," Katherine said, helping Amber into her jacket. "That gives me four days to rest Kare, so don't even start."
"Fine, but Jackie will go and make sure you're resting," Karen said.
"You're going to the office," Katherine said.
"I haven't been to work in three weeks," Karen said. "Grace's bugging me about that, so I figure I should go in at least for tomorrow so she'll get off my back."
"Alright then," Katherine said laughing. "I'll talk to you tomorrow Kare. Bye Jack."
"Bye you guys," Jack said as Katherine and Amber left.
"Good night," Karen then said.
Jack closed the door behind the two and then turned to Karen. "Crazy month huh Kare?" he asked, smiling.
"Come here poodle, I missed you," Karen said, smiling at him seductively.
Quickly closing the space in between himself and Karen, Jack put his arms around her and pulled her close, kissing her deeply.
"You know you two have a room where you can do that so the rest of us don't get sick," a familiar voice said, walking into the entryway.
Jack and Karen pulled apart and looked over at Rosario as she hung some coats in the entryway closet.
"No one said you had to watch us," Karen said. She stepped out of Jack's arms and then walked over to the stairs.
Jack watched her for a moment and then said, "Night Rosie." With out waiting for an answer, he walked to the stairs and up to his and Karen's room.
Inside, Karen was about to let her hair down from its bun. She was surprised when she felt Jack's fingers pulling out her hairpins one by one. "You love to do that, don't you poodle?" she asked as her hair fell down past her shoulders.
"Hmm," Jack murmured. He put his hands on Karen's shoulders and then kissed her neck.
Karen smiled, closing her eyes and leaning back on Jack. After a while, she reached up and grabbed one of his hands and then placed on top of her blouse, over her breast.
"You're nasty Ms. Walker," Jack said into her ear, nipping the lobe lightly.
"You know it Jackie," Karen said, grinning. She turned around and faced Jack, putting her arms around his neck. "It's been a long time-" she started to say when he kissed her deeply.
Still keeping their lips on each other, they stumbled back towards the bed. When Karen's legs hit the edge, they fell onto the mattress, a tangle of arms and legs. Before that night, their lovemaking had been slow and tender, but this night it was a hurried and frenzied affair, and they were almost always kissing each other hungrily.
Later on that night, as they were both falling asleep, Jack said, "Let's have Thanksgiving over here this year."
Karen yawned and turned over, resting her head on Jack's shoulder. "Thanksgiving is a month away," she said drowsily. "What made you think of it now?"
Jack shrugged and drew Karen closer to him. "Just thinking Kare," he said.
"Mmm, well, we'll see tomorrow poodle, okay?" Karen said. "I'm exhausted."
"Alright, 'night Kare," Jack said, kissing her temple.
"G'night Jackie," Karen said, snuggling closer to Jack and closing her eyes.