Disclaimer: I don't own Will and Grace or its characters. The chapter
title is a song by Paul McCartney that I don't own, so are the lyrics.
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Here Today
"Okay everyone, that's all we're going to do today," Zach said, stepping onto the stage. "Remember you need to come back tomorrow night at four so I can give you some final instructions after I've watched the rehearsal tape."
With that, the cast of 'The Taming of the Shrew' left the stage, leaving only Zach there before Jack came out from his dressing room. The next day, the thirtieth of October was opening night for the play.
"Hey Jack, great rehearsal today," Zach said to him as he motioned out to the audience.
Jack looked out and said, "Thanks, who are you pointing to?"
"Hi poodle," Karen said, stopping at the edge of the stage.
"Kare!" Jack said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I went with Kath out shopping for a little bit and I decided to get you," Karen said as Jack pulled her up on the stage. "Thanks for letting me come in Zach."
"Yeah, well I figured if I didn't you'd make a big scene," Zach said with a grin. "I'm going to go, see you both tomorrow?"
"I'll be here Zach," Karen said as she put her arms around Jack's neck. "I always am there for Jackie's opening nights."
"See you at four tomorrow Zach," Jack said as he hugged Karen.
When Zach had left them, alone on the stage, Karen kissed Jack deeply for a long time. "Hmm, I can't wait to see you tomorrow in this play Jackie," she said when they pulled apart.
"Really?" Jack said as they left the stage to go home. "I thought you were disappointed because the costumes in this play are modern clothes."
"Oh I got over that a long time ago," Karen said, waving her hand. "Although I would have liked to see my poodle in tights."
"I told you Kare, anytime you really want to see that, just give me a pair of your stockings," Jack said teasingly as they got into the limo.
Karen laughed and wrapped her arms around Jack's neck, kissing his cheek. "That's okay Jackie, I'll wear the tights in this relationship," she said.
"And I wear the pants?" Jack said, putting an arm around her waist and pulling Karen close to him.
"Yep," Karen murmured as their lips brushed against each others. "But I have some say too."
Jack nodded slightly, and then pressed his lips against hers roughly, pushing his tongue into her mouth as they kissed passionately for the rest of the ride home.
~~~
The next day, at three in the afternoon, Karen walked up to hers and Jack's bedroom, a tray in her hands. She opened the bedroom door and walked inside, closing it again behind her. She walked over to the bed, setting the tray down on the nightstand. "Jackie, honey," she said, sitting on the edge of the bed. Karen placed her hand on Jack's forehead and stroked it gently as she tried to wake him up.
Jack sighed and turned over so he was now facing Karen. As she continued to stroke his forehead and then face, he opened his eyes slowly and then looked up at his wife. "Hey, what time is it?" he asked as he stretched his arms above his head.
"Three, poodle," Karen said, smiling at him. "I brought you something to eat before you have to go."
"I don't think I can eat..." Jack started to say as he sat up. He looked over at the tray and then trailed off. "Did you put that together?" he asked as he looked over the tray, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a glass of mineral water on it.
"Yep," Karen said, sounding a little proud. She was a little startled and a little hurt when Jack started to laugh. "What? Why are you laughing Jackie?"
"I never thought you would make me anything to eat ever," Jack said, immediately stopping when he saw that Karen appeared to be hurt by his laughing. "But I really appreciate this Karebear," he said, kissing her lips over and over.
"Then you should eat at least a bite or two," Karen said, putting her arms over Jack's shoulders.
"I don't think I'll eat right now," Jack said, putting emphasis on the second to last word.
"Then what are you going to do until you leave?" Karen asked, knowing what he would say.
"I need some help to relax Kare," Jack said, pulling her down on the mattress with him.
"And do you need me to help you?" Karen asked as he burrowed his face into her cleavage. She smiled and started to stroke his hair as Jack started to unbutton her blouse and move her bra so he could have access to her breasts.
"Kare, we're going to have to be a little fast right now," Jack said before he removed her skirt.
"I know poodle," Karen said, smiling. "It's okay; we'll have all the time we need tonight."
"I love you," Jack said tenderly as he removed the rest of her clothes.
"Oh Jackie, I adore you," Karen said enthusiastically as she helped him take off his clothes.
Very quickly, Jack kissed Karen as he lay on top of her body, entering her quickly. "I wish we could go more slowly," he said as he started to move in and out of her.
"Hush my sweet Jackie," Karen said breathlessly as she started to moan. "Just make love to me," she whispered into his ear.
"O-okay," Jack said, stammering a little as he started to move more quickly. A few minutes later, he felt Karen reach the edge and he kissed her deeply.
Karen pulled away from Jack's lips and cried out with all of her might as she climaxed around Jack, squeezing his shoulders tightly.
Jack breathed in deeply, making a hissing noise, and then buried his face into pillow Karen was resting on as he finally achieved his release, screaming Karen's name over and over. When he had recovered, he lifted his head and got off of Karen's body. He rolled over onto the other side of the bed and drew her body close to his.
"How much time to we have?" Karen asked, kissing his jaw a few times.
"About twenty minutes," Jack said once he had looked over at the clock on the nightstand. Pausing for a minute, he reached over and grabbed the sandwich that Karen had made for him. "Let's split this since you want me to eat something," he said turning back.
"Okay," Karen said, pulling the sandwich apart into two pieces, she handed the bigger piece to Jack and took a bite. After a few minutes she said, "That's not too bad. You know, it was so easy to make that sandwich, I think I'll make lunches for Ebie and Sophie when they go to school."
There was a long pause in the room before Jack and Karen glanced at each other and then started to laugh hysterically.
"Wow, I almost thought you were serious for a minute Kare," Jack said as they were both calming down.
"Oh honey, I almost believed myself," Karen said, wiping a tear of laughter off her cheek. "Hmm, maybe I'll just make them a sandwich one time, but that's it."
Jack smiled and kissed Karen's temple as they resumed eating their pieces of sandwich. After ten minutes, he glanced at the clock again and saw the time. "I have to go Kare," he said, sounding sad.
"Alright poodle," Karen said, wiping the crumbs off the sheets. She turned to her husband and kissed him deeply.
Smiling, Jack got out of the bed and hurriedly got dressed, getting his clothes from the pile that was next to the bed. When he was ready, he sat down on the bed next to Karen and said, "I hate leaving so soon after we made love."
"Why honey?" Karen asked. "You have to go to the theater."
"I know, but... it feels like I'm treating you as if you're nothing but a hooker," Jack said.
Karen laughed and sat up, keeping the sheets wrapped around her body. She hugged Jack and said, "Just as long as you don't give me money, then it's alright."
Jack gave her a wide smile and then kissed her deeply, pushing the bed sheets covering her down. He pushed her gently down onto the mattress and took her left nipple into his mouth, sucking on it eagerly.
"Oh! Jackie," Karen gasped. She then took his head in her hands and lifted it up. "Honey, as much as I want you again, you can't be late for opening night," she said with a small smile.
"I love you Karebear," Jack said, resting his forehead against hers. He kissed her deeply for a long time, before he ran his hand on her cheek as he got off the bed. "I'll see you tonight," he said, pausing at the doorway.
"I love you too poodle," Karen said, smiling. "I'll be in the front row at seven." When he was gone, she lay back on the mattress and stretched her arms above her head.
"You're daughters are up from their siesta lady," Rosario said, coming into the room a few minutes later, after Karen had put on one of her robes.
"Get Sophie dressed Rosie," Karen said as she got out of the bed. "And pick up those clothes on the floor, they need to be washed."
Rosario stooped down onto the floor and grumbled angrily as she hurriedly picked up Karen's wrinkled clothes.
Karen, meanwhile, took a very quick shower. When she stepped out, she called her sister and talked with her about the plans she had made to surprise Jack that night.
"Everything is all set Kare," Katherine assured her sister just before they hung up. "And I will double check before we leave for the play later on."
"Thanks so much Kath," Karen said in relief. "I'll come by your place at six thirty. Bye."
"Bye Kare," Katherine said before she hung up the phone.
~~~
That night, Jack was walking to his dressing room, the play having just finished.
"That was really great Jack," the woman playing Bianca said, hurrying past him.
"You did a good job too," Jack said smiling as the woman ran into her dressing room and slammed the door.
"Her boyfriend's coming backstage pretty soon," Zach said, catching up to Jack. "I hear they're pretty close."
Jack nodded, not really listening.
"What's wrong?" Zach asked, concerned for a minute.
"It's nothing," Jack said, trying to sound indifferent.
"You know that you can tell me Jack, I thought we were friends," Zach said, following him into Jack's dressing room.
"We are, it's just... kind of a stupid reason," Jack said, sitting in his chair and taking the powder off his face with a wet washcloth. "I didn't see Karen out there while I was performing."
"Oh, well you realize that it's really hard sometimes to see into the audience-" Zach started to say. He paused when he heard tiny footsteps approaching the room, along with the sound of high-heeled shoes. "I doubt Karen would ever miss one of your opening nights except for a dire emergency," he said. With that he left the room and smiled at the little girl who ran past him into the room.
"Daddy!" Elizabeth said, going over to her father. She threw her arms around his knee and hugged him tightly.
"Ebie?" Jack said in a surprised voice. "What are you doing here little one?" he asked as he picked her up.
"I thought that these two were old enough to see their daddy in a play," a voice said, coming into the room.
Jack got up off of his chair and turned to find Karen standing in front of the now closed dressing room door. "I didn't see you out there," he said as he walked over to her, holding Elizabeth's hand.
"Well of course you didn't poodle," Karen said smiling. "Those lights are way too bright."
"I'm glad that you brought these two," Jack said, kissing Sophia's cheek. He then let go of Elizabeth's hand and pulled Karen close to him, kissing her deeply.
After a few minutes, Sophia, who was getting bored, tugged on the collar of her father's shirt.
"What is it sweetie?" Jack asked as he and Karen stepped apart. He took the baby into his arms and kissed her forehead. "I'm ready to get out of here, let's go."
"You're not going to change?" Karen said.
"Nah, I'm fine in these clothes," Jack said. He paused for a minute and then handed Sophia to Karen. He quickly took off his tie and then the suit jacket before putting on the sweater and then coat he had been wearing earlier. "Okay, now I'm ready," he said, taking Elizabeth's hand and then following Karen out of the dressing room.
"I've got a surprise for you poodle," Karen said as they walked to the backdoor of the theater. "And we're going there right now."
"I hope it's dinner, 'cause I am starving!" Jack said as they got into the limo that was parked behind the theater.
Karen lightly slapped Jack on the arm and said, "No fair honey, you spoiled the surprise."
"Well, I can act surprised when we get there," Jack said with a smile on his face.
Laughing, Karen shook her head. "Oh Jackie, you are too much for me sometimes."
"And that's why you love me," Jack said, resting his head on her shoulder.
"You've got that right poodle," Karen said, turning her head and placing a kiss on the top of his head.
Not satisfied with that, Jack lifted his head and kissed Karen on the lips numerous times as the limo head to the restaurant where Katherine, Edward, Will, Grace and Zach were waiting for them.
~~~
When Jack and Karen got back to their penthouse that night, it was almost one o'clock in the morning. They walked up the stairs, each with one of their daughters in their arms, sleeping, and then they put the little girls to bed quickly.
"I know I said... that I would make love to you for longer tonight," Jack said, a large yawn interrupting him at the beginning. "But I'm exhausted."
"Me too Jackie," Karen said, rubbing her eyes. "Let's just get ready for bed and worry about sex tomorrow."
"Good idea Kare," Jack said. He sleepily walked over to the bathroom so he could change into his pajamas. When he came back into the bedroom, the site that was in front of him on the bed instantly woke him up.
"I hope you weren't being too serious about going to sleep," Karen said as she lay out on her side of the bed, having shed every article of clothing she had been wearing, including her shoes.
"Not now I'm not," Jack said, almost running to the bed. "But we are sleeping until four in the afternoon tomorrow."
"That's fine with me," Karen said, laughing as Jack started to attack her neck with kisses. "Wait honey," she said as Jack tried to move down to her breasts. "I want you naked too before we go any farther."
"Why?" Jack asked as he undressed himself.
"Because I like feeling your skin on mine," Karen said, putting her hand on the back of his neck when he was done and pulling him down to her for a long and intense kiss.
Moaning slightly, Jack let his right hand trail down Karen's body until he reached her leg. He slowly moved towards the inside of her leg, and then slipped two fingers into Karen easily since her legs had already been parted.
Karen broke off the kiss and gasped as Jack started to move his fingers in and out of her at a fast pace. "Oh Jackie, we need to only make love when we have the time to do this," she said.
"I don't know Kare," Jack said, kissing her deeply again. "A quick, 'shag,' like Kat would say is fun once in a while."
Wanting to laugh, Karen wrapped her arms tightly around her husband, holding him to her more and more tightly as she neared her peak. A few minutes later, she gripped at the skin on Jack's arms as she climaxed, throwing her head back as she cried out in pleasure.
Jack smiled and then took his fingers out of Karen while she recovered. He lay down next to her and watched her, her chest rising and falling as her breath returned to normal. While he stared at her, he suddenly felt an intense wave of passion run through him and he grabbed Karen's arm.
"Jackie, what are you doing?" Karen asked, a little surprised as Jack pulled her off the bed and into the bathroom.
Not answering her, Jack took her into the shower, where he closed the door behind them and then turned the water on.
"What's the matter?" Karen asked, a little taken aback by the way her husband was acting. "Why didn't yo-" She was cut off very suddenly when Jack almost shoved her up against the wall of the shower, kissing her forcefully.
Acting like a madman, Jack lifted Karen up on the wall and then plunged himself deep inside of her, making his wife cry out. At that point he hesitated a little, not sure if Karen was hurt or if that was a cry of passion. He got his answer quickly when she wrapped her legs around his waist, burying him even deeper into his body.
Karen gave another shriek of pleasure as Jack started to thrust in and out of her. She had never had such rough sex before in her life, and she loved every second of it.
Groaning and grunting, Jack kept his eyes closed as he kept moving faster and faster in and out of Karen's body. He started to kiss her neck a long while later, his hands running up and down her sides. When he felt Karen start to tighten around him, he opened his eyes and said, "Kare... s- scream for me."
"Oooh Jackie...ooo!" Karen screamed as she started to climax again and again.
"Fuck... Kare... you're so beautiful," Jack grunted as he reached the edge, climaxing inside of his wife repeatedly.
Feeling her body start to go limp after having at least five orgasms, Karen wrapped her arms more tightly around Jack's neck.
"Are you okay? Did I hurt you at all?" Jack suddenly asked, sounding extremely worried.
"Mmm, Jackie honey I am just fine," Karen said, nipping at his ear lobe lightly with her teeth.
Jack moaned slightly and then said, "Where next Karebear?"
"I don't think I can make it any further then the chez out there," Karen said as Jack set her down on the ground. She grabbed his arm and then pulled him out of the shower.
"What about the water?" Jack asked as Karen pushed him onto the chez lounge.
"Who cares," Karen said as she straddled his body. "It can wait until later." She lowered her body down and closed her eyes tightly as she let Jack's member into her slowly.
Gasping, Jack put his hands on Karen's hips and then helped her start moving up and down. Slowly at first, but then more and more quickly when it became apparent that both of them were hungry for each other.
Karen bit her bottom lip; trying not to scream from the pleasure she immediately felt when one of Jack's hands started to roam her body some time later, stroking and caressing her skin. When she opened her eyes and saw Jack's other hand reach out and start to stroke the sensitive spot above her entrance, she didn't bother holding back and she screamed Jack's name with complete abandonment.
Breathing harshly, Jack's hand clenched on Karen's waist, so hard that there would be a little bruise there the next morning, as he yelled his climax by saying Karen's name in the middle of a string of curse words. When he was spent, Jack went limp, his body completely drained of energy, and he opened his eyes and stared up at his wife.
"I love you poodle," Karen murmured as she lay out on top of Jack's body.
"I love you too Karebear," Jack said. He waited a few minutes before he slowly sat up.
"I don't want to sleep yet," Karen said.
"Neither do I, but the bed is more comfortable to lie down on than this," Jack said as he got up off the chez.
Karen wrapped her arms around Jack's neck and rested her head on his shoulder as he carried her out to the bed. When he lay her down on the mattress, she reached up and touched his cheek. "Give me a kiss Jackie," she said, smiling.
Jack immediately complied, kissing her deeply.
It didn't take very long after that for them to make love again.
~~~
On November sixth, Karen, Jack, Elizabeth and Sophia got out of the limo. Karen looked to be impatient to get up to the house in front of them.
"It looks like everyone else beat us here," Jack commented as he and Karen started up to the house with their daughters.
"Well if Driver didn't stop after that little fender-bender, we could have gotten here quicker," Karen said, rolling her eyes. "I don't see why he was so worried; the limo didn't get a scratch on-"
"Hey, you guys finally made it," Edward said, opening to the door of the Hamptons mansion.
"Yeah, no thanks to Driver back there," Karen said.
"Here, let me take those," Edward said as Driver came onto the porch with the suitcases.
"Kare, I was so worried!" Katherine said, a flash of copper colored hair as she threw herself at her sister.
"Easy Sister Katherine, you'll hurt the birthday girl," Jack said as he let go of Elizabeth's hand.
"Don't worry, I would never hurt my goddaughter," Katherine said when she had pulled away from her sister. She took Sophia and kissed her cheek. "Hullo love and Happy Birthday."
Sophia giggled and grabbed at Katherine's nose. "Mama, 'ose!" she said in triumph.
Karen laughed slightly and then took her daughter back from Katherine. "Her sister has been teaching her that," she said.
"Come on in you guys, dinner's all ready and everyone else is waiting to see Sophia," Edward said after he put the suitcases in front of the staircase.
They walked over to the living room and after everyone greeted Karen and Jack and their daughters, they all settled down to talk for a few minutes.
"Is it always so cold up here Eddie?" Will asked as he put another piece of wood on the already blazing fire.
"It's a little abnormal for November," Edward said. He glanced down at his son and daughter and then said, "I imagine that we'll be getting some snow sometime today or tomorrow."
"Really Da?" Patrick asked excitedly from where he was sitting with his sister and cousins on the floor.
Katherine, who had gone into the kitchen to put the now ready dinner on the table, said, "It's snowing right now."
Zach was the first to jump up from his seat, and he hurried over to the window. "I love snow, it's so romantic," he said, glancing at Will.
"It's fun too though," Amber said as she stood next to him.
"She's right Zach, snow is romantic, but once you get out there, it's nothing but snowmen and snowball fights," Grace said, giggling slightly.
"Why don't we all sit down to dinner," Edward said. He was standing in the doorway to the dinning room with Katherine, his arm around her waist. "Before the dinner grows cold."
It seemed as if those words spurred everyone into action, and they left the windows, going over to the dinning room to eat.
~~~
After the dinner was finished, Katherine had Karen and Jack sit on the couch that was in front of the coffee table with Sophia in Jack's arms, and Elizabeth sitting to Karen's right.
Hurriedly, Katherine went back to the kitchen and placed a round cake with green flowers in frosting on it. She placed a candle in the middle and then lit it. As she walked back out to the living room, she nodded for Edward to dim the lights and then she went to Jack and Karen.
Everyone, except for Jack, Karen and Sophia, started singing 'Happy Birthday.' When the cake was set on the coffee table in front of the McFarland family, Karen and Jack leaned down slightly and they blew out the candle on the cake.
A half-hour later, once the cake was cleared and everyone had finished their slice, Katherine then brought out the large amount of gifts for Sophie that were from everyone there.
Karen unwrapped all the gifts, trying to get Sophia to do so once in a while, as the baby didn't understand the concept of unwrapping. She pretended to be pleased with every single gift, but Karen really was cringing at some of them. One thing that really made her shirk in horror was a yellow dress from Grace. "Grace, this is... nice," Karen said.
"I'll give you the receipt when we go back to the city," Grace said rolling her eyes.
Since that dress was the last gift, Karen stood up and said, "We're going to give our gifts to Sophie in private, so good night everyone."
With that, Karen and Jack left the living room, Elizabeth being taken upstairs as well by her mother.
"Did they just ditch us Ma?" Patrick asked, looking surprised.
Katherine laughed and then shrugged. "Not according to them," she said. "Why don't we pull out some game boards since there are less of us now?"
"Sure, I want to play Clue!" Will said, getting off of his armchair.
On the second floor, Jack and Karen were settling on the bed in the room that Elizabeth and Sophia were going to sleep in.
"We got her six gifts, like Ebie," Karen said as Jack put the bag with the presents in them in front of her. "But I feel a little bad that we didn't get her something big like the bed."
"It's okay Kare," Jack said, smiling at her. "She's a year old; we'll have plenty of time to make it up to her.
Karen smiled and then picked up Sophie saying, "A year old already, it went by really fast."
"I know," Jack said, handing her the first gift.
"Here Ebie," Karen said, handing the little girl, who had been quiet all night, the present. "I know you're letting your sister get all the attention tonight," she said as Elizabeth took the gift. She then leaned over and kissed the top of their daughter's head. "Good girl," she whispered.
With a big smile, Elizabeth tore off the paper to reveal a jewelry box. She handed it to her father, saying, "Open Daddy."
"Sure thing little one," Jack said, taking the box, he lifted the lid and then pulled out a tiny silver bracelet. "It looks even better then the way they described it," he said as he put the bracelet on Sophia's wrist.
Sophia stared at the bracelet, which had a large blue stone, her birthstone, surrounded on either side by a couple of pearls, and then started to laugh.
"I guess she likes it," Karen said with a smile as Jack gave Elizabeth the next present to open for her sister.
~~~
The next day, Katherine got out of the four poster bed in the bedroom she and Edward were sleeping in, and went over to the window. She opened the curtain and gasped. "James, come look!" she cried in wonder to her husband.
Edward got up out of the bed and joined Katherine at the window. "Oh wow, it's so pretty," he said, seeing that the entire backyard of the house was covered in at least two feet of snow.
All of a sudden there was a flurry of footsteps and then a pounding noise on the door.
"That will be our children," Katherine said with a smile. She went over to the door and opened it. "Kare?" she said in surprise.
"Didn't you see the snow?" Karen asked. "We're all going down to play in it."
"You're going to play in it Karen?" Edward asked incredulously.
"Of course," Karen said with a smile. "If my daughter wants to play in the snow, I'm going with them. Now hurry up and get dressed!" With that she turned and then hurried down the hallway over to the stairs.
"Let's get ready then James," Katherine said when she had closed the door.
While Katherine and Edward were getting dress, Karen stepped outside onto the patio. "Hey Jackie, wait for me," she called to her husband, who was leading Elizabeth to the snow.
"Come Mama!" Elizabeth cried impatiently as Karen walked up to them.
Karen walked with Jack and Elizabeth onto the snow, and immediately fell forward.
"Oh Kare, are you okay?" Jack asked, unable to keep the laughter from his voice as he let go of Elizabeth's hand and helped her up.
"Just fine!" Karen said, suddenly pulling Jack onto the ground. Right away, she jumped on top of him and they rolled around in the snow, both of them nearly shrieking with laughter.
"Hey, cut it out you guys!" Will said from the patio. "You're going to ruin the nice clean snow."
"Oh relax Wilma," Karen said as Jack stood up and then helped her stand. "There's more then enough snow in the woods, why don't you and your lover boy go for a walk there?"
"Good idea Karen," Zach said, stepping forward and taking Will's hand. He then dragged him over towards the woods.
"Hey you guys, are your mom and dad coming down soon?" Jack asked Amber and Patrick as he walked over to them and Elizabeth.
"We're here," Katherine said, coming out. "Where's Gracie?"
"She stayed in the living room," Karen said. "She'll be sitting on the couch, eating all the marshmallows and chocolate bars. But she's keeping an eye on Sophie, so it's not too bad"
Katherine laughed and then took her sister's arm. "Let's see who can make a better snowman," she said. "The men or the women."
"Hey, that's not fair," Jack said. "You have four, and there are only 3 of us guys."
"Don't worry poodle," Karen said soothingly. "Ebie won't be doing as much as the rest of us."
"Come on, let's go, we're wasting time," Amber said a little impatiently.
With that, they divided into two groups to make snowmen.
~~~
That night, Katherine was inside the bathroom in hers and Edward's room, taking a bath in the old fashioned bathtub when Edward walked into the room.
"Hi," he said softly, unable to keep from staring at his wife's body which was visible under the water.
"Don't worry love, I'll be out in a few moments," Katherine said, recognizing the look in his eyes.
Edward nodded and then left the bathroom without saying a word. He sat on the edge of the bed, listening intently for the sound of Katherine coming out to him.
Katherine stepped out of the tub and pulled the plug out before she left the bathroom, not bothering to dry off. She walked over to the bed, and stood in front of her husband, her face red with embarrassment. "I told you I would be out quickly," she said, covering her breasts self consciously with her arms.
Smiling, Edward pulled her to him and then onto the bed. "I love you," he said, stroking her breasts with his hands gently. He gently kissed her and then together they took off his clothes.
"James," Katherine said, closing her eyes as Edward entered her slowly. "Do you ever get bored of us making love the same way over and over?"
"Why do you ask that?" Edward gasped as he moved in and out of his wife slowly.
"I'm just... wondering," Katherine said, putting her arms around his neck. She closed her eyes and joined him in the rhythm he was thrusting in and out of her.
"No, never tired... never tired of... your gorgeous... blue eyes," Edward said a few minutes later.
"Oh god, Edward!" Katherine cried out, arching her body up as they both reached the edge.
"I love you Katy," Edward breathed as he got off of her a long time later. He touched her leg and then paused, feeling something on her thigh. "Katy, what's this?" He sat up and turned on the light next to the bed. His eyes widened when he saw the red marks and scars there. "You're..." he said, looking up at his wife.
Katherine's eyes filled with tears and she jumped off the bed, running into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
Edward sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He looked over at the clock on the wall and then got up, pulling is clothes back on.
~~~
Karen was about to get into bed when there was a light knock at the door. Feeling a little surprised, she went to the door and opened it.
"Hey Karen, I didn't wake you up did I?" Edward said softly, looking a little spaced out.
"No, what's wrong," Karen said, instantly aware that he was worried about something.
"It's Katy, I-I noticed... she's starting to cut herself again," Edward said, looking down at the floor.
"Oh... no," Karen said, closing her eyes and clenching her hand into fists. "God damn it, I hoped that it wouldn't turn into that!"
"Huh?" Edward asked, looking up at her.
"I've noticed Kath acting more withdrawn and depressed in the past couple of weeks," Karen said, sighing. "I hoped it was just a little thing that would go away eventually."
"Do you think we should do anything?" Edward asked.
"Just let her know you love her," Karen said, shrugging. "And I'll talk to her tomorrow."
"Thanks Karen," Edward said. He stepped up to her and hugged her briefly. "You've been a big help for my marriage."
"Don't worry about it-" Karen started to say before the sound of the piano playing from downstairs reached her ears and his. "Go to her," she then said, pushing Edward down the hallway.
Edward went to the stairs and went down to talk with his wife. He stood in the doorway of the living room and watched her play and sing the saddest song he had ever heard pass through her lips.
And if I say I really knew you well
What would your answer be.
If you were here today.
Ooh- ooh- ooh- here to - day.
Well knowing you,
You'd probably laugh and say that we were worlds apart.
If you were here today.
Ooh- ooh- ooh- here to - day.
But as for me,
I still remember how it was before.
And I am holding back the tears no more.
Ooh- ooh- ooh- I love you, ooh-
What about the time we met,
Well I suppose that you could say that we were playing hard to get.
Didn't understand a thing.
But we could always sing.
What about the night we cried,
Because there wasn't any reason left to keep it all inside.
Never understood a word.
But you were always there with a smile.
And if I say I really loved you
And was glad you came along.
If you were here today.
Ooh- ooh- ooh- for you were in my song.
Ooh- ooh- ooh- here to - day.
Edward was going to go to Katherine, to comfort her, when she covered the keys and then rested her head on the piano, crying heavily.
Katherine was startled out of her tears when she felt a hand on her back. She looked up and felt a pang of guilt. She had been singing that song from the pain she had felt from missing Christopher. "James..." she started to say.
"Come to bed love," Edward said, reaching out and picking her up into his arms.
"I love you James," Katherine said, kissing his cheek as he went up the stairs.
"And I love you Katy," Edward said as he entered there room, closing the door with his foot behind them.
~~~
Jack stepped into the bedroom after having just finished taking a shower. He ran a hand through his wet hair and looked over at the bed where Karen was already sleeping. He got onto the bed, just sitting up and watching her sleep for a while. His eyes widened when she turned over suddenly and one of her breasts fell out of her nightgown, uninhibited by a bra. "Oh god," he groaned. Not able to help himself, he leaned down and placed his mouth on the nipple that was exposed to him.
Karen opened her eyes a few seconds later, realizing that Jack was sucking on her breast. "Poodle," she said, trying to make her voice sound normal. "I thought we were going to rest tonight."
"The hell with that," Jack said, lifting his head. "I want you Kare, right now."
"Okay I can go with that," Karen said, sitting up and taking off her night gown with a little help from Jack.
After he took off his pajamas, Jack quickly lay on top of Karen, entering her quickly. "Hmm, god I love being inside you Kare," he moaned.
"Wait, get off of me poodle," Karen said, stopping him from thrusting in and out of her. Jack looked down at her in surprise, but he did what she said, and she got out of the bed. She went to her suitcase and took out a book. "Here Jackie," she said as she threw the book to him.
Jack caught it and read the title. "Oh boy," he said, his body visibly reacting to the cover of the book. "When'd you get this?" he asked as Karen sat down next to him.
"Hmm, I don't remember," Karen murmured, nipping at his ear lobe.
Opening the book to no particular page, Jack looked down and his eyes opened wide, seeing the position on the page. "Th-that's... um... Kare?" he said
Karen took the book, purposely brushing her fingers against his already erect member. "I think that's a little out of our league honey," she said, closing the book. She threw it over onto the floor and then pushed Jack out onto the mattress. "Let's just wing it."
"Good," Jack said as Karen let herself down on his member. He groaned as she then lay on his body, her breasts pushing up against his chest.
"Do you want to move or me," Karen said, moving up and down his body slightly.
"I don't care, just move!" Jack gasped.
Smiling, Karen moved faster and faster and kissed Jack's cheeks as he moaned out his pleasure.
After five minutes, Jack rolled over, forcing Karen onto the mattress and he started to thrust in and out of her body frantically.
"Oh Jackie, I love you!" Karen cried as she climaxed ten minutes later. "Jackie, oooh fuck... JACKIE!"
"I love you too Kare, so much," Jack gasped out soon after as he achieved his release. He screamed, "Jesus, oh my god... KARE!"
Karen's arms relaxed around Jack's neck and she lifted her head to kiss her husband deeply. "Why did you wake me up earlier?" she asked when the kiss was over.
"One of the girls here fell out in front of me," Jack said. He pulled out of Karen's body gently and then went up to the headboard sitting against it. "Come here."
Getting up, Karen went over to him and then sat on his lap. "So you see one of my breasts and that's it?" she said as he entered her with his member, which had become erect again.
"I probably would have even if it didn't fall out," Jack sighed as he held Karen close to him as they made love yet again.
They were quiet after that, with only their moans and the occasional whisper of 'there,' being heard. When they climaxed at the same time around a half hour later, they made no sound, their screams and yells muffled because they were kissing each other deeply.
With a contented sigh, Karen got off of Jack and then lay down.
"Tired?" Jack said as he lay down next to her. He pulled her close and kissed her forehead softly.
"I am," Karen said simply as she rested her head on Jack's shoulder.
Jack pulled the covers over them and then paused for a second. "Do you still love me?" he asked.
"What kind of question is that?" Karen asked, raising her head and looking at him in surprise. "Of course I love you Jackie, with all my heart."
"I just wanted to make sure," Jack said.
Karen sighed saying, "I guess I'll have to show you,' and then she got on top of him, and they made love yet again, this time more slowly then before.
An hour later, Jack was holding Karen on top of his body as they recovered from their love making. "I love you too Karebear," he said as he started to stroke her hair.
"Hmm, I love you so much poodle," Karen said as she rested her head on his chest and then fell asleep quickly.
Jack held her even closer and then kissed Karen's forehead before he too fell a sleep with a small contented smile on his face.
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Here Today
"Okay everyone, that's all we're going to do today," Zach said, stepping onto the stage. "Remember you need to come back tomorrow night at four so I can give you some final instructions after I've watched the rehearsal tape."
With that, the cast of 'The Taming of the Shrew' left the stage, leaving only Zach there before Jack came out from his dressing room. The next day, the thirtieth of October was opening night for the play.
"Hey Jack, great rehearsal today," Zach said to him as he motioned out to the audience.
Jack looked out and said, "Thanks, who are you pointing to?"
"Hi poodle," Karen said, stopping at the edge of the stage.
"Kare!" Jack said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I went with Kath out shopping for a little bit and I decided to get you," Karen said as Jack pulled her up on the stage. "Thanks for letting me come in Zach."
"Yeah, well I figured if I didn't you'd make a big scene," Zach said with a grin. "I'm going to go, see you both tomorrow?"
"I'll be here Zach," Karen said as she put her arms around Jack's neck. "I always am there for Jackie's opening nights."
"See you at four tomorrow Zach," Jack said as he hugged Karen.
When Zach had left them, alone on the stage, Karen kissed Jack deeply for a long time. "Hmm, I can't wait to see you tomorrow in this play Jackie," she said when they pulled apart.
"Really?" Jack said as they left the stage to go home. "I thought you were disappointed because the costumes in this play are modern clothes."
"Oh I got over that a long time ago," Karen said, waving her hand. "Although I would have liked to see my poodle in tights."
"I told you Kare, anytime you really want to see that, just give me a pair of your stockings," Jack said teasingly as they got into the limo.
Karen laughed and wrapped her arms around Jack's neck, kissing his cheek. "That's okay Jackie, I'll wear the tights in this relationship," she said.
"And I wear the pants?" Jack said, putting an arm around her waist and pulling Karen close to him.
"Yep," Karen murmured as their lips brushed against each others. "But I have some say too."
Jack nodded slightly, and then pressed his lips against hers roughly, pushing his tongue into her mouth as they kissed passionately for the rest of the ride home.
~~~
The next day, at three in the afternoon, Karen walked up to hers and Jack's bedroom, a tray in her hands. She opened the bedroom door and walked inside, closing it again behind her. She walked over to the bed, setting the tray down on the nightstand. "Jackie, honey," she said, sitting on the edge of the bed. Karen placed her hand on Jack's forehead and stroked it gently as she tried to wake him up.
Jack sighed and turned over so he was now facing Karen. As she continued to stroke his forehead and then face, he opened his eyes slowly and then looked up at his wife. "Hey, what time is it?" he asked as he stretched his arms above his head.
"Three, poodle," Karen said, smiling at him. "I brought you something to eat before you have to go."
"I don't think I can eat..." Jack started to say as he sat up. He looked over at the tray and then trailed off. "Did you put that together?" he asked as he looked over the tray, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a glass of mineral water on it.
"Yep," Karen said, sounding a little proud. She was a little startled and a little hurt when Jack started to laugh. "What? Why are you laughing Jackie?"
"I never thought you would make me anything to eat ever," Jack said, immediately stopping when he saw that Karen appeared to be hurt by his laughing. "But I really appreciate this Karebear," he said, kissing her lips over and over.
"Then you should eat at least a bite or two," Karen said, putting her arms over Jack's shoulders.
"I don't think I'll eat right now," Jack said, putting emphasis on the second to last word.
"Then what are you going to do until you leave?" Karen asked, knowing what he would say.
"I need some help to relax Kare," Jack said, pulling her down on the mattress with him.
"And do you need me to help you?" Karen asked as he burrowed his face into her cleavage. She smiled and started to stroke his hair as Jack started to unbutton her blouse and move her bra so he could have access to her breasts.
"Kare, we're going to have to be a little fast right now," Jack said before he removed her skirt.
"I know poodle," Karen said, smiling. "It's okay; we'll have all the time we need tonight."
"I love you," Jack said tenderly as he removed the rest of her clothes.
"Oh Jackie, I adore you," Karen said enthusiastically as she helped him take off his clothes.
Very quickly, Jack kissed Karen as he lay on top of her body, entering her quickly. "I wish we could go more slowly," he said as he started to move in and out of her.
"Hush my sweet Jackie," Karen said breathlessly as she started to moan. "Just make love to me," she whispered into his ear.
"O-okay," Jack said, stammering a little as he started to move more quickly. A few minutes later, he felt Karen reach the edge and he kissed her deeply.
Karen pulled away from Jack's lips and cried out with all of her might as she climaxed around Jack, squeezing his shoulders tightly.
Jack breathed in deeply, making a hissing noise, and then buried his face into pillow Karen was resting on as he finally achieved his release, screaming Karen's name over and over. When he had recovered, he lifted his head and got off of Karen's body. He rolled over onto the other side of the bed and drew her body close to his.
"How much time to we have?" Karen asked, kissing his jaw a few times.
"About twenty minutes," Jack said once he had looked over at the clock on the nightstand. Pausing for a minute, he reached over and grabbed the sandwich that Karen had made for him. "Let's split this since you want me to eat something," he said turning back.
"Okay," Karen said, pulling the sandwich apart into two pieces, she handed the bigger piece to Jack and took a bite. After a few minutes she said, "That's not too bad. You know, it was so easy to make that sandwich, I think I'll make lunches for Ebie and Sophie when they go to school."
There was a long pause in the room before Jack and Karen glanced at each other and then started to laugh hysterically.
"Wow, I almost thought you were serious for a minute Kare," Jack said as they were both calming down.
"Oh honey, I almost believed myself," Karen said, wiping a tear of laughter off her cheek. "Hmm, maybe I'll just make them a sandwich one time, but that's it."
Jack smiled and kissed Karen's temple as they resumed eating their pieces of sandwich. After ten minutes, he glanced at the clock again and saw the time. "I have to go Kare," he said, sounding sad.
"Alright poodle," Karen said, wiping the crumbs off the sheets. She turned to her husband and kissed him deeply.
Smiling, Jack got out of the bed and hurriedly got dressed, getting his clothes from the pile that was next to the bed. When he was ready, he sat down on the bed next to Karen and said, "I hate leaving so soon after we made love."
"Why honey?" Karen asked. "You have to go to the theater."
"I know, but... it feels like I'm treating you as if you're nothing but a hooker," Jack said.
Karen laughed and sat up, keeping the sheets wrapped around her body. She hugged Jack and said, "Just as long as you don't give me money, then it's alright."
Jack gave her a wide smile and then kissed her deeply, pushing the bed sheets covering her down. He pushed her gently down onto the mattress and took her left nipple into his mouth, sucking on it eagerly.
"Oh! Jackie," Karen gasped. She then took his head in her hands and lifted it up. "Honey, as much as I want you again, you can't be late for opening night," she said with a small smile.
"I love you Karebear," Jack said, resting his forehead against hers. He kissed her deeply for a long time, before he ran his hand on her cheek as he got off the bed. "I'll see you tonight," he said, pausing at the doorway.
"I love you too poodle," Karen said, smiling. "I'll be in the front row at seven." When he was gone, she lay back on the mattress and stretched her arms above her head.
"You're daughters are up from their siesta lady," Rosario said, coming into the room a few minutes later, after Karen had put on one of her robes.
"Get Sophie dressed Rosie," Karen said as she got out of the bed. "And pick up those clothes on the floor, they need to be washed."
Rosario stooped down onto the floor and grumbled angrily as she hurriedly picked up Karen's wrinkled clothes.
Karen, meanwhile, took a very quick shower. When she stepped out, she called her sister and talked with her about the plans she had made to surprise Jack that night.
"Everything is all set Kare," Katherine assured her sister just before they hung up. "And I will double check before we leave for the play later on."
"Thanks so much Kath," Karen said in relief. "I'll come by your place at six thirty. Bye."
"Bye Kare," Katherine said before she hung up the phone.
~~~
That night, Jack was walking to his dressing room, the play having just finished.
"That was really great Jack," the woman playing Bianca said, hurrying past him.
"You did a good job too," Jack said smiling as the woman ran into her dressing room and slammed the door.
"Her boyfriend's coming backstage pretty soon," Zach said, catching up to Jack. "I hear they're pretty close."
Jack nodded, not really listening.
"What's wrong?" Zach asked, concerned for a minute.
"It's nothing," Jack said, trying to sound indifferent.
"You know that you can tell me Jack, I thought we were friends," Zach said, following him into Jack's dressing room.
"We are, it's just... kind of a stupid reason," Jack said, sitting in his chair and taking the powder off his face with a wet washcloth. "I didn't see Karen out there while I was performing."
"Oh, well you realize that it's really hard sometimes to see into the audience-" Zach started to say. He paused when he heard tiny footsteps approaching the room, along with the sound of high-heeled shoes. "I doubt Karen would ever miss one of your opening nights except for a dire emergency," he said. With that he left the room and smiled at the little girl who ran past him into the room.
"Daddy!" Elizabeth said, going over to her father. She threw her arms around his knee and hugged him tightly.
"Ebie?" Jack said in a surprised voice. "What are you doing here little one?" he asked as he picked her up.
"I thought that these two were old enough to see their daddy in a play," a voice said, coming into the room.
Jack got up off of his chair and turned to find Karen standing in front of the now closed dressing room door. "I didn't see you out there," he said as he walked over to her, holding Elizabeth's hand.
"Well of course you didn't poodle," Karen said smiling. "Those lights are way too bright."
"I'm glad that you brought these two," Jack said, kissing Sophia's cheek. He then let go of Elizabeth's hand and pulled Karen close to him, kissing her deeply.
After a few minutes, Sophia, who was getting bored, tugged on the collar of her father's shirt.
"What is it sweetie?" Jack asked as he and Karen stepped apart. He took the baby into his arms and kissed her forehead. "I'm ready to get out of here, let's go."
"You're not going to change?" Karen said.
"Nah, I'm fine in these clothes," Jack said. He paused for a minute and then handed Sophia to Karen. He quickly took off his tie and then the suit jacket before putting on the sweater and then coat he had been wearing earlier. "Okay, now I'm ready," he said, taking Elizabeth's hand and then following Karen out of the dressing room.
"I've got a surprise for you poodle," Karen said as they walked to the backdoor of the theater. "And we're going there right now."
"I hope it's dinner, 'cause I am starving!" Jack said as they got into the limo that was parked behind the theater.
Karen lightly slapped Jack on the arm and said, "No fair honey, you spoiled the surprise."
"Well, I can act surprised when we get there," Jack said with a smile on his face.
Laughing, Karen shook her head. "Oh Jackie, you are too much for me sometimes."
"And that's why you love me," Jack said, resting his head on her shoulder.
"You've got that right poodle," Karen said, turning her head and placing a kiss on the top of his head.
Not satisfied with that, Jack lifted his head and kissed Karen on the lips numerous times as the limo head to the restaurant where Katherine, Edward, Will, Grace and Zach were waiting for them.
~~~
When Jack and Karen got back to their penthouse that night, it was almost one o'clock in the morning. They walked up the stairs, each with one of their daughters in their arms, sleeping, and then they put the little girls to bed quickly.
"I know I said... that I would make love to you for longer tonight," Jack said, a large yawn interrupting him at the beginning. "But I'm exhausted."
"Me too Jackie," Karen said, rubbing her eyes. "Let's just get ready for bed and worry about sex tomorrow."
"Good idea Kare," Jack said. He sleepily walked over to the bathroom so he could change into his pajamas. When he came back into the bedroom, the site that was in front of him on the bed instantly woke him up.
"I hope you weren't being too serious about going to sleep," Karen said as she lay out on her side of the bed, having shed every article of clothing she had been wearing, including her shoes.
"Not now I'm not," Jack said, almost running to the bed. "But we are sleeping until four in the afternoon tomorrow."
"That's fine with me," Karen said, laughing as Jack started to attack her neck with kisses. "Wait honey," she said as Jack tried to move down to her breasts. "I want you naked too before we go any farther."
"Why?" Jack asked as he undressed himself.
"Because I like feeling your skin on mine," Karen said, putting her hand on the back of his neck when he was done and pulling him down to her for a long and intense kiss.
Moaning slightly, Jack let his right hand trail down Karen's body until he reached her leg. He slowly moved towards the inside of her leg, and then slipped two fingers into Karen easily since her legs had already been parted.
Karen broke off the kiss and gasped as Jack started to move his fingers in and out of her at a fast pace. "Oh Jackie, we need to only make love when we have the time to do this," she said.
"I don't know Kare," Jack said, kissing her deeply again. "A quick, 'shag,' like Kat would say is fun once in a while."
Wanting to laugh, Karen wrapped her arms tightly around her husband, holding him to her more and more tightly as she neared her peak. A few minutes later, she gripped at the skin on Jack's arms as she climaxed, throwing her head back as she cried out in pleasure.
Jack smiled and then took his fingers out of Karen while she recovered. He lay down next to her and watched her, her chest rising and falling as her breath returned to normal. While he stared at her, he suddenly felt an intense wave of passion run through him and he grabbed Karen's arm.
"Jackie, what are you doing?" Karen asked, a little surprised as Jack pulled her off the bed and into the bathroom.
Not answering her, Jack took her into the shower, where he closed the door behind them and then turned the water on.
"What's the matter?" Karen asked, a little taken aback by the way her husband was acting. "Why didn't yo-" She was cut off very suddenly when Jack almost shoved her up against the wall of the shower, kissing her forcefully.
Acting like a madman, Jack lifted Karen up on the wall and then plunged himself deep inside of her, making his wife cry out. At that point he hesitated a little, not sure if Karen was hurt or if that was a cry of passion. He got his answer quickly when she wrapped her legs around his waist, burying him even deeper into his body.
Karen gave another shriek of pleasure as Jack started to thrust in and out of her. She had never had such rough sex before in her life, and she loved every second of it.
Groaning and grunting, Jack kept his eyes closed as he kept moving faster and faster in and out of Karen's body. He started to kiss her neck a long while later, his hands running up and down her sides. When he felt Karen start to tighten around him, he opened his eyes and said, "Kare... s- scream for me."
"Oooh Jackie...ooo!" Karen screamed as she started to climax again and again.
"Fuck... Kare... you're so beautiful," Jack grunted as he reached the edge, climaxing inside of his wife repeatedly.
Feeling her body start to go limp after having at least five orgasms, Karen wrapped her arms more tightly around Jack's neck.
"Are you okay? Did I hurt you at all?" Jack suddenly asked, sounding extremely worried.
"Mmm, Jackie honey I am just fine," Karen said, nipping at his ear lobe lightly with her teeth.
Jack moaned slightly and then said, "Where next Karebear?"
"I don't think I can make it any further then the chez out there," Karen said as Jack set her down on the ground. She grabbed his arm and then pulled him out of the shower.
"What about the water?" Jack asked as Karen pushed him onto the chez lounge.
"Who cares," Karen said as she straddled his body. "It can wait until later." She lowered her body down and closed her eyes tightly as she let Jack's member into her slowly.
Gasping, Jack put his hands on Karen's hips and then helped her start moving up and down. Slowly at first, but then more and more quickly when it became apparent that both of them were hungry for each other.
Karen bit her bottom lip; trying not to scream from the pleasure she immediately felt when one of Jack's hands started to roam her body some time later, stroking and caressing her skin. When she opened her eyes and saw Jack's other hand reach out and start to stroke the sensitive spot above her entrance, she didn't bother holding back and she screamed Jack's name with complete abandonment.
Breathing harshly, Jack's hand clenched on Karen's waist, so hard that there would be a little bruise there the next morning, as he yelled his climax by saying Karen's name in the middle of a string of curse words. When he was spent, Jack went limp, his body completely drained of energy, and he opened his eyes and stared up at his wife.
"I love you poodle," Karen murmured as she lay out on top of Jack's body.
"I love you too Karebear," Jack said. He waited a few minutes before he slowly sat up.
"I don't want to sleep yet," Karen said.
"Neither do I, but the bed is more comfortable to lie down on than this," Jack said as he got up off the chez.
Karen wrapped her arms around Jack's neck and rested her head on his shoulder as he carried her out to the bed. When he lay her down on the mattress, she reached up and touched his cheek. "Give me a kiss Jackie," she said, smiling.
Jack immediately complied, kissing her deeply.
It didn't take very long after that for them to make love again.
~~~
On November sixth, Karen, Jack, Elizabeth and Sophia got out of the limo. Karen looked to be impatient to get up to the house in front of them.
"It looks like everyone else beat us here," Jack commented as he and Karen started up to the house with their daughters.
"Well if Driver didn't stop after that little fender-bender, we could have gotten here quicker," Karen said, rolling her eyes. "I don't see why he was so worried; the limo didn't get a scratch on-"
"Hey, you guys finally made it," Edward said, opening to the door of the Hamptons mansion.
"Yeah, no thanks to Driver back there," Karen said.
"Here, let me take those," Edward said as Driver came onto the porch with the suitcases.
"Kare, I was so worried!" Katherine said, a flash of copper colored hair as she threw herself at her sister.
"Easy Sister Katherine, you'll hurt the birthday girl," Jack said as he let go of Elizabeth's hand.
"Don't worry, I would never hurt my goddaughter," Katherine said when she had pulled away from her sister. She took Sophia and kissed her cheek. "Hullo love and Happy Birthday."
Sophia giggled and grabbed at Katherine's nose. "Mama, 'ose!" she said in triumph.
Karen laughed slightly and then took her daughter back from Katherine. "Her sister has been teaching her that," she said.
"Come on in you guys, dinner's all ready and everyone else is waiting to see Sophia," Edward said after he put the suitcases in front of the staircase.
They walked over to the living room and after everyone greeted Karen and Jack and their daughters, they all settled down to talk for a few minutes.
"Is it always so cold up here Eddie?" Will asked as he put another piece of wood on the already blazing fire.
"It's a little abnormal for November," Edward said. He glanced down at his son and daughter and then said, "I imagine that we'll be getting some snow sometime today or tomorrow."
"Really Da?" Patrick asked excitedly from where he was sitting with his sister and cousins on the floor.
Katherine, who had gone into the kitchen to put the now ready dinner on the table, said, "It's snowing right now."
Zach was the first to jump up from his seat, and he hurried over to the window. "I love snow, it's so romantic," he said, glancing at Will.
"It's fun too though," Amber said as she stood next to him.
"She's right Zach, snow is romantic, but once you get out there, it's nothing but snowmen and snowball fights," Grace said, giggling slightly.
"Why don't we all sit down to dinner," Edward said. He was standing in the doorway to the dinning room with Katherine, his arm around her waist. "Before the dinner grows cold."
It seemed as if those words spurred everyone into action, and they left the windows, going over to the dinning room to eat.
~~~
After the dinner was finished, Katherine had Karen and Jack sit on the couch that was in front of the coffee table with Sophia in Jack's arms, and Elizabeth sitting to Karen's right.
Hurriedly, Katherine went back to the kitchen and placed a round cake with green flowers in frosting on it. She placed a candle in the middle and then lit it. As she walked back out to the living room, she nodded for Edward to dim the lights and then she went to Jack and Karen.
Everyone, except for Jack, Karen and Sophia, started singing 'Happy Birthday.' When the cake was set on the coffee table in front of the McFarland family, Karen and Jack leaned down slightly and they blew out the candle on the cake.
A half-hour later, once the cake was cleared and everyone had finished their slice, Katherine then brought out the large amount of gifts for Sophie that were from everyone there.
Karen unwrapped all the gifts, trying to get Sophia to do so once in a while, as the baby didn't understand the concept of unwrapping. She pretended to be pleased with every single gift, but Karen really was cringing at some of them. One thing that really made her shirk in horror was a yellow dress from Grace. "Grace, this is... nice," Karen said.
"I'll give you the receipt when we go back to the city," Grace said rolling her eyes.
Since that dress was the last gift, Karen stood up and said, "We're going to give our gifts to Sophie in private, so good night everyone."
With that, Karen and Jack left the living room, Elizabeth being taken upstairs as well by her mother.
"Did they just ditch us Ma?" Patrick asked, looking surprised.
Katherine laughed and then shrugged. "Not according to them," she said. "Why don't we pull out some game boards since there are less of us now?"
"Sure, I want to play Clue!" Will said, getting off of his armchair.
On the second floor, Jack and Karen were settling on the bed in the room that Elizabeth and Sophia were going to sleep in.
"We got her six gifts, like Ebie," Karen said as Jack put the bag with the presents in them in front of her. "But I feel a little bad that we didn't get her something big like the bed."
"It's okay Kare," Jack said, smiling at her. "She's a year old; we'll have plenty of time to make it up to her.
Karen smiled and then picked up Sophie saying, "A year old already, it went by really fast."
"I know," Jack said, handing her the first gift.
"Here Ebie," Karen said, handing the little girl, who had been quiet all night, the present. "I know you're letting your sister get all the attention tonight," she said as Elizabeth took the gift. She then leaned over and kissed the top of their daughter's head. "Good girl," she whispered.
With a big smile, Elizabeth tore off the paper to reveal a jewelry box. She handed it to her father, saying, "Open Daddy."
"Sure thing little one," Jack said, taking the box, he lifted the lid and then pulled out a tiny silver bracelet. "It looks even better then the way they described it," he said as he put the bracelet on Sophia's wrist.
Sophia stared at the bracelet, which had a large blue stone, her birthstone, surrounded on either side by a couple of pearls, and then started to laugh.
"I guess she likes it," Karen said with a smile as Jack gave Elizabeth the next present to open for her sister.
~~~
The next day, Katherine got out of the four poster bed in the bedroom she and Edward were sleeping in, and went over to the window. She opened the curtain and gasped. "James, come look!" she cried in wonder to her husband.
Edward got up out of the bed and joined Katherine at the window. "Oh wow, it's so pretty," he said, seeing that the entire backyard of the house was covered in at least two feet of snow.
All of a sudden there was a flurry of footsteps and then a pounding noise on the door.
"That will be our children," Katherine said with a smile. She went over to the door and opened it. "Kare?" she said in surprise.
"Didn't you see the snow?" Karen asked. "We're all going down to play in it."
"You're going to play in it Karen?" Edward asked incredulously.
"Of course," Karen said with a smile. "If my daughter wants to play in the snow, I'm going with them. Now hurry up and get dressed!" With that she turned and then hurried down the hallway over to the stairs.
"Let's get ready then James," Katherine said when she had closed the door.
While Katherine and Edward were getting dress, Karen stepped outside onto the patio. "Hey Jackie, wait for me," she called to her husband, who was leading Elizabeth to the snow.
"Come Mama!" Elizabeth cried impatiently as Karen walked up to them.
Karen walked with Jack and Elizabeth onto the snow, and immediately fell forward.
"Oh Kare, are you okay?" Jack asked, unable to keep the laughter from his voice as he let go of Elizabeth's hand and helped her up.
"Just fine!" Karen said, suddenly pulling Jack onto the ground. Right away, she jumped on top of him and they rolled around in the snow, both of them nearly shrieking with laughter.
"Hey, cut it out you guys!" Will said from the patio. "You're going to ruin the nice clean snow."
"Oh relax Wilma," Karen said as Jack stood up and then helped her stand. "There's more then enough snow in the woods, why don't you and your lover boy go for a walk there?"
"Good idea Karen," Zach said, stepping forward and taking Will's hand. He then dragged him over towards the woods.
"Hey you guys, are your mom and dad coming down soon?" Jack asked Amber and Patrick as he walked over to them and Elizabeth.
"We're here," Katherine said, coming out. "Where's Gracie?"
"She stayed in the living room," Karen said. "She'll be sitting on the couch, eating all the marshmallows and chocolate bars. But she's keeping an eye on Sophie, so it's not too bad"
Katherine laughed and then took her sister's arm. "Let's see who can make a better snowman," she said. "The men or the women."
"Hey, that's not fair," Jack said. "You have four, and there are only 3 of us guys."
"Don't worry poodle," Karen said soothingly. "Ebie won't be doing as much as the rest of us."
"Come on, let's go, we're wasting time," Amber said a little impatiently.
With that, they divided into two groups to make snowmen.
~~~
That night, Katherine was inside the bathroom in hers and Edward's room, taking a bath in the old fashioned bathtub when Edward walked into the room.
"Hi," he said softly, unable to keep from staring at his wife's body which was visible under the water.
"Don't worry love, I'll be out in a few moments," Katherine said, recognizing the look in his eyes.
Edward nodded and then left the bathroom without saying a word. He sat on the edge of the bed, listening intently for the sound of Katherine coming out to him.
Katherine stepped out of the tub and pulled the plug out before she left the bathroom, not bothering to dry off. She walked over to the bed, and stood in front of her husband, her face red with embarrassment. "I told you I would be out quickly," she said, covering her breasts self consciously with her arms.
Smiling, Edward pulled her to him and then onto the bed. "I love you," he said, stroking her breasts with his hands gently. He gently kissed her and then together they took off his clothes.
"James," Katherine said, closing her eyes as Edward entered her slowly. "Do you ever get bored of us making love the same way over and over?"
"Why do you ask that?" Edward gasped as he moved in and out of his wife slowly.
"I'm just... wondering," Katherine said, putting her arms around his neck. She closed her eyes and joined him in the rhythm he was thrusting in and out of her.
"No, never tired... never tired of... your gorgeous... blue eyes," Edward said a few minutes later.
"Oh god, Edward!" Katherine cried out, arching her body up as they both reached the edge.
"I love you Katy," Edward breathed as he got off of her a long time later. He touched her leg and then paused, feeling something on her thigh. "Katy, what's this?" He sat up and turned on the light next to the bed. His eyes widened when he saw the red marks and scars there. "You're..." he said, looking up at his wife.
Katherine's eyes filled with tears and she jumped off the bed, running into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
Edward sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He looked over at the clock on the wall and then got up, pulling is clothes back on.
~~~
Karen was about to get into bed when there was a light knock at the door. Feeling a little surprised, she went to the door and opened it.
"Hey Karen, I didn't wake you up did I?" Edward said softly, looking a little spaced out.
"No, what's wrong," Karen said, instantly aware that he was worried about something.
"It's Katy, I-I noticed... she's starting to cut herself again," Edward said, looking down at the floor.
"Oh... no," Karen said, closing her eyes and clenching her hand into fists. "God damn it, I hoped that it wouldn't turn into that!"
"Huh?" Edward asked, looking up at her.
"I've noticed Kath acting more withdrawn and depressed in the past couple of weeks," Karen said, sighing. "I hoped it was just a little thing that would go away eventually."
"Do you think we should do anything?" Edward asked.
"Just let her know you love her," Karen said, shrugging. "And I'll talk to her tomorrow."
"Thanks Karen," Edward said. He stepped up to her and hugged her briefly. "You've been a big help for my marriage."
"Don't worry about it-" Karen started to say before the sound of the piano playing from downstairs reached her ears and his. "Go to her," she then said, pushing Edward down the hallway.
Edward went to the stairs and went down to talk with his wife. He stood in the doorway of the living room and watched her play and sing the saddest song he had ever heard pass through her lips.
And if I say I really knew you well
What would your answer be.
If you were here today.
Ooh- ooh- ooh- here to - day.
Well knowing you,
You'd probably laugh and say that we were worlds apart.
If you were here today.
Ooh- ooh- ooh- here to - day.
But as for me,
I still remember how it was before.
And I am holding back the tears no more.
Ooh- ooh- ooh- I love you, ooh-
What about the time we met,
Well I suppose that you could say that we were playing hard to get.
Didn't understand a thing.
But we could always sing.
What about the night we cried,
Because there wasn't any reason left to keep it all inside.
Never understood a word.
But you were always there with a smile.
And if I say I really loved you
And was glad you came along.
If you were here today.
Ooh- ooh- ooh- for you were in my song.
Ooh- ooh- ooh- here to - day.
Edward was going to go to Katherine, to comfort her, when she covered the keys and then rested her head on the piano, crying heavily.
Katherine was startled out of her tears when she felt a hand on her back. She looked up and felt a pang of guilt. She had been singing that song from the pain she had felt from missing Christopher. "James..." she started to say.
"Come to bed love," Edward said, reaching out and picking her up into his arms.
"I love you James," Katherine said, kissing his cheek as he went up the stairs.
"And I love you Katy," Edward said as he entered there room, closing the door with his foot behind them.
~~~
Jack stepped into the bedroom after having just finished taking a shower. He ran a hand through his wet hair and looked over at the bed where Karen was already sleeping. He got onto the bed, just sitting up and watching her sleep for a while. His eyes widened when she turned over suddenly and one of her breasts fell out of her nightgown, uninhibited by a bra. "Oh god," he groaned. Not able to help himself, he leaned down and placed his mouth on the nipple that was exposed to him.
Karen opened her eyes a few seconds later, realizing that Jack was sucking on her breast. "Poodle," she said, trying to make her voice sound normal. "I thought we were going to rest tonight."
"The hell with that," Jack said, lifting his head. "I want you Kare, right now."
"Okay I can go with that," Karen said, sitting up and taking off her night gown with a little help from Jack.
After he took off his pajamas, Jack quickly lay on top of Karen, entering her quickly. "Hmm, god I love being inside you Kare," he moaned.
"Wait, get off of me poodle," Karen said, stopping him from thrusting in and out of her. Jack looked down at her in surprise, but he did what she said, and she got out of the bed. She went to her suitcase and took out a book. "Here Jackie," she said as she threw the book to him.
Jack caught it and read the title. "Oh boy," he said, his body visibly reacting to the cover of the book. "When'd you get this?" he asked as Karen sat down next to him.
"Hmm, I don't remember," Karen murmured, nipping at his ear lobe.
Opening the book to no particular page, Jack looked down and his eyes opened wide, seeing the position on the page. "Th-that's... um... Kare?" he said
Karen took the book, purposely brushing her fingers against his already erect member. "I think that's a little out of our league honey," she said, closing the book. She threw it over onto the floor and then pushed Jack out onto the mattress. "Let's just wing it."
"Good," Jack said as Karen let herself down on his member. He groaned as she then lay on his body, her breasts pushing up against his chest.
"Do you want to move or me," Karen said, moving up and down his body slightly.
"I don't care, just move!" Jack gasped.
Smiling, Karen moved faster and faster and kissed Jack's cheeks as he moaned out his pleasure.
After five minutes, Jack rolled over, forcing Karen onto the mattress and he started to thrust in and out of her body frantically.
"Oh Jackie, I love you!" Karen cried as she climaxed ten minutes later. "Jackie, oooh fuck... JACKIE!"
"I love you too Kare, so much," Jack gasped out soon after as he achieved his release. He screamed, "Jesus, oh my god... KARE!"
Karen's arms relaxed around Jack's neck and she lifted her head to kiss her husband deeply. "Why did you wake me up earlier?" she asked when the kiss was over.
"One of the girls here fell out in front of me," Jack said. He pulled out of Karen's body gently and then went up to the headboard sitting against it. "Come here."
Getting up, Karen went over to him and then sat on his lap. "So you see one of my breasts and that's it?" she said as he entered her with his member, which had become erect again.
"I probably would have even if it didn't fall out," Jack sighed as he held Karen close to him as they made love yet again.
They were quiet after that, with only their moans and the occasional whisper of 'there,' being heard. When they climaxed at the same time around a half hour later, they made no sound, their screams and yells muffled because they were kissing each other deeply.
With a contented sigh, Karen got off of Jack and then lay down.
"Tired?" Jack said as he lay down next to her. He pulled her close and kissed her forehead softly.
"I am," Karen said simply as she rested her head on Jack's shoulder.
Jack pulled the covers over them and then paused for a second. "Do you still love me?" he asked.
"What kind of question is that?" Karen asked, raising her head and looking at him in surprise. "Of course I love you Jackie, with all my heart."
"I just wanted to make sure," Jack said.
Karen sighed saying, "I guess I'll have to show you,' and then she got on top of him, and they made love yet again, this time more slowly then before.
An hour later, Jack was holding Karen on top of his body as they recovered from their love making. "I love you too Karebear," he said as he started to stroke her hair.
"Hmm, I love you so much poodle," Karen said as she rested her head on his chest and then fell asleep quickly.
Jack held her even closer and then kissed Karen's forehead before he too fell a sleep with a small contented smile on his face.