Disclaimer: I don't own Will and Grace or its characters.
Chapter Thirty-Two
To Eadoin
On the thirtieth of August, Jack, Karen, Will, Grace, Amber and Elizabeth all boarded a British Airways plane for their flight to London. They were all sitting in first class, but were sitting in separate seats. Jack and Karen were sitting with Elizabeth and Amber while Will and Grace were sitting more towards the back of the first class area.
"How long will it take us to get to London Auntie Karen?" Amber asked, an hour into the flight.
"It'll be another five hours Amb," Jack said, answering for Karen.
"Why don't you read to her for a while Jackie?" Karen asked. She was busy trying to calm down Elizabeth, who had been fretting since the plane had taken off.
"Sure thing Kare," Jack said, reaching over and kissing Elizabeth's cheek. He then took a book from Amber's backpack and then started to read to his niece.
~~~
The group walked through London's Heathrow Airport later that afternoon, looking tired, but they were also looking for Katherine, who was going to pick them up.
"There she is," Jack said, pointing ahead.
"Kath!" Karen cried. She hurriedly handed Elizabeth to Jack and then ran to her sister. When she reached Katherine, Karen wrapped her arms around her neck tightly. "It so nice to see you!"
"Oh Kare, I've missed you so much," Katherine said, hugging her sister just as tightly.
When she pulled back, Karen was surprised to see tears going down Katherine's cheeks. "What's wrong Kath?"
"Nothing Kare," Katherine said as her sister wiped away her tears. "I'm just very happy to see you, all of you," she said as the others gathered around them. She let go of Karen and then hugged Jack, Elizabeth, Will and Grace quickly. She stopped in front of her daughter and smiled, "Well love, are you going to give your mother a hug?"
Amber immediately threw her arms around her mother's waist, hugging her as tightly as she could.
"Well," Katherine said a few minutes later. "We'd better get going or we're going to miss our train to York." With a grin, she took Karen's hand and then her daughter's hand and led everyone out to the taxis that would take them to the train station.
~~~
They reached Eadoin at five in the afternoon, and they were led to their different bedrooms.
When Jack entered the room he and Karen were going to share, he stopped, completely floored at the opulence of the furnishings. "Hey Kare," he called out towards the nursery where Elizabeth would be sleeping. "Come and look at our room."
"What is it poodle?" Karen asked, walking inside. She looked around and said, "Wow, this is great."
"I know," Jack said, smiling. He walked over to her and then put his arm around her waist. "Look at this bed though."
"Ooo, I can't wait to sleep in that bed," Karen said slyly. She turned to Jack and kissed his cheek before nipping at his earlobe.
Jack was about to kiss her deeply when there was a knock on the bedroom door.
"It's me you guys," Katherine said from the other side. "Just wanted to let you know dinner'll be in about an hour."
"Okay Kath," Karen said, smiling up at Jack and putting her arms around his neck. "We'll be there."
After waiting a few minutes, Jack leaned down slightly and kissed Karen passionately.
Karen pulled Jack to her and then started walking backwards towards the bed. When she hit the edge of the mattress, she broke off the kiss and got up on top of the bed saying, "Come here poodle, we've got an hour until we need to go eat."
Jack grinned and then followed Karen up on the bed. When he was above her, he leaned down and kissed her deeply again. He unbuttoned her blouse and was about to take off her bra when there was a knock on the door.
"Mrs. McFarland," a feminine voice with a British accent called. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but your daughter has been crying for some time now and I can't seem to calm her down."
"I'll be there in a minute," Karen responded. She looked up and Jack and sighed.
"There's always tonight," Jack pointed out as they sat up and she started buttoning her shirt.
"I'll be counting on that," Karen said, putting her hand on his cheek and kissing him. She pulled back and then got off the bed. Before she left the room, she stopped and turned to Jack saying, "Why don't you unpack some stuff while I get Ebie."
Jack nodded and turned to where their suitcases were as she left.
~~~
When everyone gathered for dinner, Karen said to Katherine the first thing, "So where's your husband Kath?"
"He's gone to Wales to make sure Sara, Bobby and Richard get here from Glaeve okay," Katherine answered as the servants served everyone drinks.
"Why didn't you go?" Jack asked, eyeing Karen as she drank half of her martini in one sip.
"I told Bobby and Sara that I would rather pick the lot of you up," Katherine said. "Sara confided that Bobby wasn't too happy about Edward being the one to pick them up."
"Hope he doesn't do anything to Eddie," Karen said. "Bring me another martini," she said to the serving man standing behind Katherine.
"I doubt he'll do anything, he is a gentleman," Katherine said, sharing a glance with Jack.
~~~
After the dinner was over, Karen, who had drunk four more martinis and three rum and cokes, was obviously intoxicated. When everyone walked to a different room for coffee and scones, Karen knocked over a table in the hallway to the room and giggled in a high pitched tone.
"Are you okay Kare?" Jack asked, helping her up.
"I think I just knocked something over Jackie," Karen said, laughing high-pitched again.
"You knocked- Kare!" Jack cried as she suddenly seemed to collapse in his arms.
"What's going on?" Will said from the doorway of the parlor where he and Grace were standing.
"Is she okay Jack?" Grace asked.
"She's passed out," Katherine said quickly as Jack lifted Karen up. "Quickly Jack; put her in your bed." When he had left, Katherine said to Will and Grace, "I'd like for you two to make sure that my daughter gets to bed by eight thirty." Without waiting for a response from the two, she hurried over to the entryway so she could go up the stairs. "Peter, bring some extra blankets to my sister and brother in law's room as soon as you can."
Jack carefully set Karen down on the bed and took off her high heeled shoes when Katherine walked inside. "Can you get me a washcloth Kat?" he asked.
"Be right back," Katherine responded, going into the bedroom's bathroom.
The butler, Peter, came in then and set some blankets and towels on an armchair. "For your wife sir," he said.
"Thanks," Jack said absentmindedly as he took the washcloth that had been soaked in cold water from Katherine. He ran it over his wife's face and then put it on the nightstand. "I don't know what was going on with her tonight," he said, sounding annoyed as he turned Karen on her side.
"How long has it been since she's last drunk liquor?" Katherine asked, helping Jack cover her sister with the bed sheets.
"After Ebie was six months she started having a martini with dinner once every three weeks," Jack said. "It's been almost two years since she drank like she did just now. God, what the hell is the matter with her," he said angrily.
"Jack, try not to be too angry with her," Katherine said, putting her hand on his arm. "She's looking at this as a vacation, so she must feel she has the right to-"
"Get out Kat," Jack suddenly said, cutting her off.
"Jack-" Katherine started to say.
"Just go, I'll watch her," Jack said.
"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow," Katherine said hesitatingly.
"Good night Kat," Jack said, walking over to an armchair and sitting down. When his sister in law had closed the door behind her, he settled back in the chair and watched Karen breathe in and out deeply.
For the rest of the night, he looked at his wife, knowing that the next day he would have to have a serious discussion with her about her drinking.
~~~
Karen woke up with the worst headache she had felt in a long, long time. She sat up slowly, her hand on her forehead, and looked around the room. "Jackie?" she called out weakly.
"Oh, you're up," Jack said, coming out of the bathroom. He went over to the armchair he had been sitting in and sat down. "There's some water and aspirin for you."
"Thanks poodle," Karen said, reaching for the glass of water and medicine.
"Don't, I didn't bring it for you, your sister did that earlier," Jack said sullenly.
"Poodle, what is it?" Karen said after she had taken the aspirin. "What's wrong with you?"
"My problem is you Kare," Jack said.
"What?" Karen asked in surprise. She shook her head in confusion. "Come here Jackie and we'll talk."
"No, I'm afraid if I get too close to you, I'll do something I'll be sorry for later," Jack said.
"What the hell is the matter with you?" Karen demanded, a little taken aback by the anger in his eyes.
"Do you remember what happened last night at dinner Kare?" Jack snapped.
"I... Well, I talked..." Karen started to say. She paused and then said, "What did I do?"
"You drank so much you passed out," Jack said, his voice rising slightly. "I had to bring you up here and watch over you all night so you wouldn't choke to death on your own vomit."
Karen rubbed her left temple and closed her eyes. She knew already that she'd gotten drunk last night, but she didn't remember passing out. "I'm sorry Jackie, I r-"
"Sorry isn't going to make much of a difference Kare," Jack said. He suddenly got up from the armchair and paced the room. "What if you had been carrying Ebie when you had passed out? She would have been hurt and-"
"I wasn't carrying her last night Jack," Karen said, irritated. "And I would have had enough sense-"
"God damn it Kare, I don't want to watch you kill yourself with alcohol!" Jack suddenly screamed.
The room was silent for a long time as Jack and Karen stared at each other.
"You knew I drank when we got married Jack," Karen said slowly.
"I know, but I thought that Ebie and I meant something to you," Jack said loudly. "I thought that you wouldn't go back to drinking so much so you could stay with the both of us instead of dying. You're going back to killing yourself with alcohol Kare, like you were doing before we married. And I'm not going to let Ebie see that."
"What are you talking about?" Karen whispered.
"If I have to ever carry your passed out body up the stairs here, or at Glaeve or back in New York, so help me god I will take Ebie and she and I will leave," Jack said. He blinked a few times and then rubbed his eye frantically. "I love you Karen. And I know you love me, but you need to make a choice. Your husband and daughter, or your liquor." With that he turned and left the room, slamming the door shut behind him.
Karen stared at the door for a long time. She wanted to feel angry at Jack, but she couldn't, she knew he was telling the truth. Finally, she turned over and burrowed her face in the pillows, letting the sobs shake her body violently.
~~~
"Kare, are you awake?" Katherine whispered, rubbing her sister's back.
"Huh?" Karen said sleepily, looking up.
"You've been asleep for four hours," Katherine said. "I came in to make sure you're alright."
"Oh god Kath," Karen said, sitting up suddenly. "Jackie, he... he's- "
"I know Kare, he talked with me earlier," Katherine said. "You do realize that's he's right, you need to choose between them or killing yourself with liquor."
"Why didn't he say something about this when we first got together?" Karen said.
"Because there never was a time he had to catch you as you passed out," Katherine said gently.
"Where's Ebie," Karen said suddenly. "I want to see her."
"I'll go get her," Katherine said. She went over to the nursery, and got Elizabeth out from the crib. When she went back to her sister's room and gave her niece to Karen.
"Hello Ebie," Karen said tearfully, holding her daughter to her tightly.
"Mama!" Elizabeth said happily, patting Karen's cheeks.
"Oh honey," Karen said, crying softly. "I'm so sorry." She cried for a few moments, holding Elizabeth's head next to hers. Finally, she pulled back and kissed her daughter' forehead, saying, "There's no way I could choose vodka and gin over Jackie and our Ebie. But, Kath, you know I will take a drink now and then."
"I know, Jack said that after Ebie's birth you drank a martini every three weeks or so," Katherine said, putting her arms around her sister. "I'm sure Jack would be okay with that. You know you need to talk with him and set everything to rights between the both of you."
"After dinner," Karen said, smiling down at Elizabeth, who was grabbing her fingers.
~~~
Karen was the last to arrive at the table to eat dinner that night, she had Elizabeth with her.
"Here you are ma'am," a servant said, putting a high chair between Karen and Grace.
"Thank you," Karen said as she put Elizabeth in it. She sat down and then said to the servant, "I'll just have some ginger ale." When the man had left, Karen glanced over at Jack, but he wouldn't meet her gaze.
Katherine, Will and Grace kept up the dinner conversation, trying to ignore that Jack was very obviously ignoring Karen.
"So I got a call from Edward earlier," Katherine said as the dessert was served. "It looks like Bobby and the others will be arriving here tomorrow instead of the third."
"They'll be here in time for Ebie's first birthday," Karen said quietly, sipping her second ginger ale.
"I'm going to go to bed you guys," Jack said, standing up. "Good night." He walked over to Elizabeth and took her out of the high chair. With a curt, "I'll put her to bed," to Karen, he turned and left the dinning room.
Katherine leaned over to her sister and whispered, "Now's your chance Kare, go talk with him."
"'Night you guys," Karen said, standing up and then hurrying out of the room. She went up the stairs slowly, nervous as to whether she and Jack could patch things up between themselves.
Jack was standing at the large window in the room, looking out. He felt, rather than heard Karen walk in and he said, "We need to talk."
"Yeah, we do," Karen whispered as she closed the door behind her. She walked to the middle of the room and then stopped. "Jackie, I want to tell you first thing that I'm really sorry for last night and I hope you can forgive me." He turned towards her and Karen was surprised to see tears on his cheeks.
"I can forgive you for last night," Jack said. "But I can't really mean it until I know what you decided."
"Don't you know what I chose already?" Karen asked, surprised.
"I need to hear you say it Kare, that way I don't get my hopes up for nothing," Jack said. He looked at her with a tender expression on his face.
"I won't drink so much Jackie, I promise," Karen said. "I'll always have a martini here and there, but not like last night."
Jack quickly walked over to her and gathered Karen in his arms. "I was so scared when I watched you last night Kare. I was so worried that you would go back to drinking heavily and then you would leave me and Ebie.that you would die."
"No Jackie, I never would," Karen said.
"If you did die Karen.I don't think I could live without you," Jack said.
"Oh poodle, you're such a drama queen," Karen said, smiling. Then she said seriously, "I'll never leave you and Ebie, I promise."
"Thank you Kare," Jack said, hugging her tightly again. "I love you."
"I love you too Jackie," Karen said.
They stayed in the middle of the room, hugging one another for a long time until Jack kissed her forehead gently.
"Will you do something for me tonight?" Karen asked looking up at him.
"What?" Jack asked, kissing her cheek.
"Make love to me," Karen said softly.
"Man, I thought you would never ask Kare," Jack said, smiling broadly. He suddenly swung Karen up into his arms and carried her to the bed.
As she settled back on the mattress, Karen helped Jack undress her and then she undressed him.
Sighing happily, Jack put his lips down to Karen's and they kissed passionately, their tongues rubbing against one another. When he pulled back from their kiss, Jack placed soft kisses on her cheeks and eyes before he trailed his lips down to her breasts.
Running her finger's through Jack's hair as he sucked on her right breast, Karen suddenly thought of something. She lifted his head up and turned him over so he was on the bed. "I love you, so much Jackie," she said. Then she kissed his chest and moved down his body.
"Ohhhh...Kare," Jack groaned as Karen pleasured him. He moaned in ecstasy a few minutes later and he sat up so he could grab Karen. He held her close to him and kissed her deeply.
"You'll always love me, right poodle?" Karen asked. She gasped in shock as she felt Jack's fingers inside her suddenly. "Jackie?" she asked him in surprise.
"Forever Kare," Jack said as he moved his fingers slowly.
"God Jackie...Oh!" Karen moaned as he pleasured slowly. When she reached her climax, she screamed and threw her head back.
Jack took advantage of the position she was in and brought his mouth down on her left breast, sucking on it eagerly.
Karen sighed as she let herself fall back on the mattress, Jack still sucking her breast. As he sucked, Karen ran her fingers through his hair again, humming in pleasure.
Soon though, Jack lifted his head and looked at Karen. "You're so beautiful Kare," he whispered as he lifted her head and let her hair down.
"And I'm yours Jackie, don't forget that," Karen whispered, reaching down to stroke him gently.
"Oh god," Jack groaned, shuddering slightly. He put his lips to hers and kissed her roughly, pushing his tongue into her mouth.
There was a slight argument between the two then. Karen tried to move Jack so she was on top, but he wasn't letting her push him over.
"I want to...oh god! I want to be on top tonight," she groaned as he kissed her neck and lips roughly.
"Next time Kare," Jack said, coming down on top of her and starting to make love to her.
Moaning loudly, Karen put her hands on Jack's back and kissing the top of his head as he kissed her breasts. When she reached her edge, she yelled out Jack's name, lifting her head up slightly. When she was satisfied, she let her head fall back onto the pillow.
That same moment, Jack hit his peak and moved so he could burrow his head between Karen's breasts as he groaned her name a few times. Breathing heavily, he turned his head and sighed happily, stroking the skin on Karen's stomach.
~~~
Later that night, Jack and Karen were sitting at one of the two window seats in their room, both of them wrapped up in blankets. They had just taken a shower together, and they didn't feel too sleepy.
"It's really nice here," Karen said as she leaned back against him.
"You don't like it as much as Glaeve?" Jack said.
"Not really," Karen answered.
"Kare, listen, I didn't get a chance to say I was sorry for the way I talked to you this morning," Jack said, pushing Karen off him lightly so she could turn and face him.
"It's ok poodle," Karen said, taking a hand out from under her blanket and placing it on Jack's cheek. "I probably wouldn't have listened to you if you hadn't yelled."
"I feel bad about it though," Jack said, putting his hand on top of hers and kissing the palm lightly. "You still love me though, right Karebear?"
"You need more proof?" Karen asked. "I thought that making love to you three times would have told you that, but I guess not." She threw the blanket off of her shoulders and then took the one on Jack. As she kissed him, she settled down on Jack's lap and then pulled his head down so he could suck on her breasts as they made love again.
Jack cupped her left breast with one hand, stroking it tenderly while he sucked the other one.
"Ahhh...Jack!" Karen suddenly cried out a long time later as she reached her climax.
"I love you," Jack moaned a second later as he hit his edge, lifting his head from her chest.
Karen slumped against his body, sated but completely worn out.
"Time to sleep I think," Jack said.
"You wore me out Jackie," Karen said as he lifted her up into his arms and carried her over to the bed.
When he got under the covers, Jack immediately pulled Karen to him and kissed her lips gently. "Good night Karebear, sweet dreams," he said softly.
"'Night my sweet, sweet Jackie," Karen said, placing her hand on his cheek.
They snuggled together then and they fell asleep, smiling contentedly, now that everything was alright between them again.
Chapter Thirty-Two
To Eadoin
On the thirtieth of August, Jack, Karen, Will, Grace, Amber and Elizabeth all boarded a British Airways plane for their flight to London. They were all sitting in first class, but were sitting in separate seats. Jack and Karen were sitting with Elizabeth and Amber while Will and Grace were sitting more towards the back of the first class area.
"How long will it take us to get to London Auntie Karen?" Amber asked, an hour into the flight.
"It'll be another five hours Amb," Jack said, answering for Karen.
"Why don't you read to her for a while Jackie?" Karen asked. She was busy trying to calm down Elizabeth, who had been fretting since the plane had taken off.
"Sure thing Kare," Jack said, reaching over and kissing Elizabeth's cheek. He then took a book from Amber's backpack and then started to read to his niece.
~~~
The group walked through London's Heathrow Airport later that afternoon, looking tired, but they were also looking for Katherine, who was going to pick them up.
"There she is," Jack said, pointing ahead.
"Kath!" Karen cried. She hurriedly handed Elizabeth to Jack and then ran to her sister. When she reached Katherine, Karen wrapped her arms around her neck tightly. "It so nice to see you!"
"Oh Kare, I've missed you so much," Katherine said, hugging her sister just as tightly.
When she pulled back, Karen was surprised to see tears going down Katherine's cheeks. "What's wrong Kath?"
"Nothing Kare," Katherine said as her sister wiped away her tears. "I'm just very happy to see you, all of you," she said as the others gathered around them. She let go of Karen and then hugged Jack, Elizabeth, Will and Grace quickly. She stopped in front of her daughter and smiled, "Well love, are you going to give your mother a hug?"
Amber immediately threw her arms around her mother's waist, hugging her as tightly as she could.
"Well," Katherine said a few minutes later. "We'd better get going or we're going to miss our train to York." With a grin, she took Karen's hand and then her daughter's hand and led everyone out to the taxis that would take them to the train station.
~~~
They reached Eadoin at five in the afternoon, and they were led to their different bedrooms.
When Jack entered the room he and Karen were going to share, he stopped, completely floored at the opulence of the furnishings. "Hey Kare," he called out towards the nursery where Elizabeth would be sleeping. "Come and look at our room."
"What is it poodle?" Karen asked, walking inside. She looked around and said, "Wow, this is great."
"I know," Jack said, smiling. He walked over to her and then put his arm around her waist. "Look at this bed though."
"Ooo, I can't wait to sleep in that bed," Karen said slyly. She turned to Jack and kissed his cheek before nipping at his earlobe.
Jack was about to kiss her deeply when there was a knock on the bedroom door.
"It's me you guys," Katherine said from the other side. "Just wanted to let you know dinner'll be in about an hour."
"Okay Kath," Karen said, smiling up at Jack and putting her arms around his neck. "We'll be there."
After waiting a few minutes, Jack leaned down slightly and kissed Karen passionately.
Karen pulled Jack to her and then started walking backwards towards the bed. When she hit the edge of the mattress, she broke off the kiss and got up on top of the bed saying, "Come here poodle, we've got an hour until we need to go eat."
Jack grinned and then followed Karen up on the bed. When he was above her, he leaned down and kissed her deeply again. He unbuttoned her blouse and was about to take off her bra when there was a knock on the door.
"Mrs. McFarland," a feminine voice with a British accent called. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but your daughter has been crying for some time now and I can't seem to calm her down."
"I'll be there in a minute," Karen responded. She looked up and Jack and sighed.
"There's always tonight," Jack pointed out as they sat up and she started buttoning her shirt.
"I'll be counting on that," Karen said, putting her hand on his cheek and kissing him. She pulled back and then got off the bed. Before she left the room, she stopped and turned to Jack saying, "Why don't you unpack some stuff while I get Ebie."
Jack nodded and turned to where their suitcases were as she left.
~~~
When everyone gathered for dinner, Karen said to Katherine the first thing, "So where's your husband Kath?"
"He's gone to Wales to make sure Sara, Bobby and Richard get here from Glaeve okay," Katherine answered as the servants served everyone drinks.
"Why didn't you go?" Jack asked, eyeing Karen as she drank half of her martini in one sip.
"I told Bobby and Sara that I would rather pick the lot of you up," Katherine said. "Sara confided that Bobby wasn't too happy about Edward being the one to pick them up."
"Hope he doesn't do anything to Eddie," Karen said. "Bring me another martini," she said to the serving man standing behind Katherine.
"I doubt he'll do anything, he is a gentleman," Katherine said, sharing a glance with Jack.
~~~
After the dinner was over, Karen, who had drunk four more martinis and three rum and cokes, was obviously intoxicated. When everyone walked to a different room for coffee and scones, Karen knocked over a table in the hallway to the room and giggled in a high pitched tone.
"Are you okay Kare?" Jack asked, helping her up.
"I think I just knocked something over Jackie," Karen said, laughing high-pitched again.
"You knocked- Kare!" Jack cried as she suddenly seemed to collapse in his arms.
"What's going on?" Will said from the doorway of the parlor where he and Grace were standing.
"Is she okay Jack?" Grace asked.
"She's passed out," Katherine said quickly as Jack lifted Karen up. "Quickly Jack; put her in your bed." When he had left, Katherine said to Will and Grace, "I'd like for you two to make sure that my daughter gets to bed by eight thirty." Without waiting for a response from the two, she hurried over to the entryway so she could go up the stairs. "Peter, bring some extra blankets to my sister and brother in law's room as soon as you can."
Jack carefully set Karen down on the bed and took off her high heeled shoes when Katherine walked inside. "Can you get me a washcloth Kat?" he asked.
"Be right back," Katherine responded, going into the bedroom's bathroom.
The butler, Peter, came in then and set some blankets and towels on an armchair. "For your wife sir," he said.
"Thanks," Jack said absentmindedly as he took the washcloth that had been soaked in cold water from Katherine. He ran it over his wife's face and then put it on the nightstand. "I don't know what was going on with her tonight," he said, sounding annoyed as he turned Karen on her side.
"How long has it been since she's last drunk liquor?" Katherine asked, helping Jack cover her sister with the bed sheets.
"After Ebie was six months she started having a martini with dinner once every three weeks," Jack said. "It's been almost two years since she drank like she did just now. God, what the hell is the matter with her," he said angrily.
"Jack, try not to be too angry with her," Katherine said, putting her hand on his arm. "She's looking at this as a vacation, so she must feel she has the right to-"
"Get out Kat," Jack suddenly said, cutting her off.
"Jack-" Katherine started to say.
"Just go, I'll watch her," Jack said.
"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow," Katherine said hesitatingly.
"Good night Kat," Jack said, walking over to an armchair and sitting down. When his sister in law had closed the door behind her, he settled back in the chair and watched Karen breathe in and out deeply.
For the rest of the night, he looked at his wife, knowing that the next day he would have to have a serious discussion with her about her drinking.
~~~
Karen woke up with the worst headache she had felt in a long, long time. She sat up slowly, her hand on her forehead, and looked around the room. "Jackie?" she called out weakly.
"Oh, you're up," Jack said, coming out of the bathroom. He went over to the armchair he had been sitting in and sat down. "There's some water and aspirin for you."
"Thanks poodle," Karen said, reaching for the glass of water and medicine.
"Don't, I didn't bring it for you, your sister did that earlier," Jack said sullenly.
"Poodle, what is it?" Karen said after she had taken the aspirin. "What's wrong with you?"
"My problem is you Kare," Jack said.
"What?" Karen asked in surprise. She shook her head in confusion. "Come here Jackie and we'll talk."
"No, I'm afraid if I get too close to you, I'll do something I'll be sorry for later," Jack said.
"What the hell is the matter with you?" Karen demanded, a little taken aback by the anger in his eyes.
"Do you remember what happened last night at dinner Kare?" Jack snapped.
"I... Well, I talked..." Karen started to say. She paused and then said, "What did I do?"
"You drank so much you passed out," Jack said, his voice rising slightly. "I had to bring you up here and watch over you all night so you wouldn't choke to death on your own vomit."
Karen rubbed her left temple and closed her eyes. She knew already that she'd gotten drunk last night, but she didn't remember passing out. "I'm sorry Jackie, I r-"
"Sorry isn't going to make much of a difference Kare," Jack said. He suddenly got up from the armchair and paced the room. "What if you had been carrying Ebie when you had passed out? She would have been hurt and-"
"I wasn't carrying her last night Jack," Karen said, irritated. "And I would have had enough sense-"
"God damn it Kare, I don't want to watch you kill yourself with alcohol!" Jack suddenly screamed.
The room was silent for a long time as Jack and Karen stared at each other.
"You knew I drank when we got married Jack," Karen said slowly.
"I know, but I thought that Ebie and I meant something to you," Jack said loudly. "I thought that you wouldn't go back to drinking so much so you could stay with the both of us instead of dying. You're going back to killing yourself with alcohol Kare, like you were doing before we married. And I'm not going to let Ebie see that."
"What are you talking about?" Karen whispered.
"If I have to ever carry your passed out body up the stairs here, or at Glaeve or back in New York, so help me god I will take Ebie and she and I will leave," Jack said. He blinked a few times and then rubbed his eye frantically. "I love you Karen. And I know you love me, but you need to make a choice. Your husband and daughter, or your liquor." With that he turned and left the room, slamming the door shut behind him.
Karen stared at the door for a long time. She wanted to feel angry at Jack, but she couldn't, she knew he was telling the truth. Finally, she turned over and burrowed her face in the pillows, letting the sobs shake her body violently.
~~~
"Kare, are you awake?" Katherine whispered, rubbing her sister's back.
"Huh?" Karen said sleepily, looking up.
"You've been asleep for four hours," Katherine said. "I came in to make sure you're alright."
"Oh god Kath," Karen said, sitting up suddenly. "Jackie, he... he's- "
"I know Kare, he talked with me earlier," Katherine said. "You do realize that's he's right, you need to choose between them or killing yourself with liquor."
"Why didn't he say something about this when we first got together?" Karen said.
"Because there never was a time he had to catch you as you passed out," Katherine said gently.
"Where's Ebie," Karen said suddenly. "I want to see her."
"I'll go get her," Katherine said. She went over to the nursery, and got Elizabeth out from the crib. When she went back to her sister's room and gave her niece to Karen.
"Hello Ebie," Karen said tearfully, holding her daughter to her tightly.
"Mama!" Elizabeth said happily, patting Karen's cheeks.
"Oh honey," Karen said, crying softly. "I'm so sorry." She cried for a few moments, holding Elizabeth's head next to hers. Finally, she pulled back and kissed her daughter' forehead, saying, "There's no way I could choose vodka and gin over Jackie and our Ebie. But, Kath, you know I will take a drink now and then."
"I know, Jack said that after Ebie's birth you drank a martini every three weeks or so," Katherine said, putting her arms around her sister. "I'm sure Jack would be okay with that. You know you need to talk with him and set everything to rights between the both of you."
"After dinner," Karen said, smiling down at Elizabeth, who was grabbing her fingers.
~~~
Karen was the last to arrive at the table to eat dinner that night, she had Elizabeth with her.
"Here you are ma'am," a servant said, putting a high chair between Karen and Grace.
"Thank you," Karen said as she put Elizabeth in it. She sat down and then said to the servant, "I'll just have some ginger ale." When the man had left, Karen glanced over at Jack, but he wouldn't meet her gaze.
Katherine, Will and Grace kept up the dinner conversation, trying to ignore that Jack was very obviously ignoring Karen.
"So I got a call from Edward earlier," Katherine said as the dessert was served. "It looks like Bobby and the others will be arriving here tomorrow instead of the third."
"They'll be here in time for Ebie's first birthday," Karen said quietly, sipping her second ginger ale.
"I'm going to go to bed you guys," Jack said, standing up. "Good night." He walked over to Elizabeth and took her out of the high chair. With a curt, "I'll put her to bed," to Karen, he turned and left the dinning room.
Katherine leaned over to her sister and whispered, "Now's your chance Kare, go talk with him."
"'Night you guys," Karen said, standing up and then hurrying out of the room. She went up the stairs slowly, nervous as to whether she and Jack could patch things up between themselves.
Jack was standing at the large window in the room, looking out. He felt, rather than heard Karen walk in and he said, "We need to talk."
"Yeah, we do," Karen whispered as she closed the door behind her. She walked to the middle of the room and then stopped. "Jackie, I want to tell you first thing that I'm really sorry for last night and I hope you can forgive me." He turned towards her and Karen was surprised to see tears on his cheeks.
"I can forgive you for last night," Jack said. "But I can't really mean it until I know what you decided."
"Don't you know what I chose already?" Karen asked, surprised.
"I need to hear you say it Kare, that way I don't get my hopes up for nothing," Jack said. He looked at her with a tender expression on his face.
"I won't drink so much Jackie, I promise," Karen said. "I'll always have a martini here and there, but not like last night."
Jack quickly walked over to her and gathered Karen in his arms. "I was so scared when I watched you last night Kare. I was so worried that you would go back to drinking heavily and then you would leave me and Ebie.that you would die."
"No Jackie, I never would," Karen said.
"If you did die Karen.I don't think I could live without you," Jack said.
"Oh poodle, you're such a drama queen," Karen said, smiling. Then she said seriously, "I'll never leave you and Ebie, I promise."
"Thank you Kare," Jack said, hugging her tightly again. "I love you."
"I love you too Jackie," Karen said.
They stayed in the middle of the room, hugging one another for a long time until Jack kissed her forehead gently.
"Will you do something for me tonight?" Karen asked looking up at him.
"What?" Jack asked, kissing her cheek.
"Make love to me," Karen said softly.
"Man, I thought you would never ask Kare," Jack said, smiling broadly. He suddenly swung Karen up into his arms and carried her to the bed.
As she settled back on the mattress, Karen helped Jack undress her and then she undressed him.
Sighing happily, Jack put his lips down to Karen's and they kissed passionately, their tongues rubbing against one another. When he pulled back from their kiss, Jack placed soft kisses on her cheeks and eyes before he trailed his lips down to her breasts.
Running her finger's through Jack's hair as he sucked on her right breast, Karen suddenly thought of something. She lifted his head up and turned him over so he was on the bed. "I love you, so much Jackie," she said. Then she kissed his chest and moved down his body.
"Ohhhh...Kare," Jack groaned as Karen pleasured him. He moaned in ecstasy a few minutes later and he sat up so he could grab Karen. He held her close to him and kissed her deeply.
"You'll always love me, right poodle?" Karen asked. She gasped in shock as she felt Jack's fingers inside her suddenly. "Jackie?" she asked him in surprise.
"Forever Kare," Jack said as he moved his fingers slowly.
"God Jackie...Oh!" Karen moaned as he pleasured slowly. When she reached her climax, she screamed and threw her head back.
Jack took advantage of the position she was in and brought his mouth down on her left breast, sucking on it eagerly.
Karen sighed as she let herself fall back on the mattress, Jack still sucking her breast. As he sucked, Karen ran her fingers through his hair again, humming in pleasure.
Soon though, Jack lifted his head and looked at Karen. "You're so beautiful Kare," he whispered as he lifted her head and let her hair down.
"And I'm yours Jackie, don't forget that," Karen whispered, reaching down to stroke him gently.
"Oh god," Jack groaned, shuddering slightly. He put his lips to hers and kissed her roughly, pushing his tongue into her mouth.
There was a slight argument between the two then. Karen tried to move Jack so she was on top, but he wasn't letting her push him over.
"I want to...oh god! I want to be on top tonight," she groaned as he kissed her neck and lips roughly.
"Next time Kare," Jack said, coming down on top of her and starting to make love to her.
Moaning loudly, Karen put her hands on Jack's back and kissing the top of his head as he kissed her breasts. When she reached her edge, she yelled out Jack's name, lifting her head up slightly. When she was satisfied, she let her head fall back onto the pillow.
That same moment, Jack hit his peak and moved so he could burrow his head between Karen's breasts as he groaned her name a few times. Breathing heavily, he turned his head and sighed happily, stroking the skin on Karen's stomach.
~~~
Later that night, Jack and Karen were sitting at one of the two window seats in their room, both of them wrapped up in blankets. They had just taken a shower together, and they didn't feel too sleepy.
"It's really nice here," Karen said as she leaned back against him.
"You don't like it as much as Glaeve?" Jack said.
"Not really," Karen answered.
"Kare, listen, I didn't get a chance to say I was sorry for the way I talked to you this morning," Jack said, pushing Karen off him lightly so she could turn and face him.
"It's ok poodle," Karen said, taking a hand out from under her blanket and placing it on Jack's cheek. "I probably wouldn't have listened to you if you hadn't yelled."
"I feel bad about it though," Jack said, putting his hand on top of hers and kissing the palm lightly. "You still love me though, right Karebear?"
"You need more proof?" Karen asked. "I thought that making love to you three times would have told you that, but I guess not." She threw the blanket off of her shoulders and then took the one on Jack. As she kissed him, she settled down on Jack's lap and then pulled his head down so he could suck on her breasts as they made love again.
Jack cupped her left breast with one hand, stroking it tenderly while he sucked the other one.
"Ahhh...Jack!" Karen suddenly cried out a long time later as she reached her climax.
"I love you," Jack moaned a second later as he hit his edge, lifting his head from her chest.
Karen slumped against his body, sated but completely worn out.
"Time to sleep I think," Jack said.
"You wore me out Jackie," Karen said as he lifted her up into his arms and carried her over to the bed.
When he got under the covers, Jack immediately pulled Karen to him and kissed her lips gently. "Good night Karebear, sweet dreams," he said softly.
"'Night my sweet, sweet Jackie," Karen said, placing her hand on his cheek.
They snuggled together then and they fell asleep, smiling contentedly, now that everything was alright between them again.